Home Based Business Ideas
Updated July 28, 2007
You Know What We Need Around Here...
Do you ever find yourself looking for something you can't seem to find, thinking that surely somebody must have a business that does xyz? Chances are, other people wish that business existed too. If you can't find somebody who does xyz, maybe you should be the one to start doing it (and getting paid for it).
Exploit Your Talent
If you're a gifted artist, musician, mechanic, organizer, juggler, bike rider, driver, dog walker, silly voice maker, ... chances are, you can find a way to make money by doing it. Turn your hobby into a business. Do you like making model airplanes? Then make them and sell them, start a model airplane repair company, charge people to have you customize their model planes to fit their personality, teach people how to fly model airplanes, organize model airplane contests and events, and so forth. Even if it isn't exactly your dream job, it can lead you one step closer to your dream job.
Mine is Better
Is your recipe, method, handmade item, etc. better than what you've seen out there in the commercial world? If it really is better, you can probably sell it. Let's say you make hats, hats that are much nicer than the ones they sell at discount stores or the malls. They're better quality. They're fashionable. They fit perfectly. They keep your head warmer. Chances are somebody else will want to buy it because it really is better.
Other Business Ideas
So you still can't think of what you want to do? Here are some ideas to get you started:
Notes:
Some of these professions may require special certification, licenses, or permits by local, state, or federal government. Be sure to find out if you need such permissions before starting any business.
"Home-based" doesn't always mean that you're hanging out at home all day. Some home-based businesses may require you to have your office at home but conduct sales and services outside of the home at customer locations or in marketplaces.
Administrative
- Virtual Secretary
/ Administrative Assistant
- typing
- transcription
- telephone receptionist (making/receiving phone calls)
- data entry
- specializing in typing student papers at a college
- Billing / Collection Service
- Accounting / Bookkeeping
- Schedule Management
- Mail Management
- screening mail
- sorting mail
- preparing and mailing outgoing mail and packages
- Notary Public
Agricultural
Agriculture is a major foundation of human civilization. It's always in demand.
- Yard / Garden Maintenance
- lawn care (e.g. mowing, dethatching, aerating, fertilizing, etc.)
- leaf raking and debris removal
- weeding
- watering
- pruning
- tree / plant removal
- Landscaping
- organic gardening
- vegetable garden design
- herb garden design
- flower garden design
- window box or container gardening design
- Asian garden design (or designs from other regions of the world)
- formal garden design
- arid garden designs
- wet / pond garden designs
- rock gardens
- Compost / Fertilizer Sales
- organic fertilizer
- manure
- compost tea
- earth worm farming
- Ornamental Farming
(You can do this even with a small yard or by growing plants to sell at yard sales in recycled pots.)
- flower farming
- ornamental corn farming
- ornamental gourd farming
- landscaping trees farming
- landscaping shrubs farming
- Christmas tree farming
- seed farming (sell seeds to other gardeners)
- water garden plants farming
- Raw Materials Farming
- bamboo
- willow (often used in crafts)
- rattan
- cotton
- hemp
- flax (for linen)
- wool from livestock
- pinecones and cones from other confers (used in crafts and as kindling)
- firewood
- Food Farming
(Even if you have a small yard or only one tree, you can still sell what you grow and earn a few extra dollars, and you might even qualify for tax breaks.)- vegetable farming (sell as fresh, dried, canned, and processed foods)
- fruit farming (sell as fresh, dried, canned, and processed foods)
- herbs and spices farming (sell as fresh, dried, and processed foods)
- nut farming (sell as fresh, roasted, and processed foods)
- egg farming
- goat milk farming
- cow milk farming
- grain farming
- bean farming
- edible seeds farming
- sprout seeds/beans farming (for buyers to grow bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, etc.)
- birdseed farming
- wine grapes farming (for wine making hobbyists)
- mushroom farming
- hay/alfalfa/etc. farming (for animal feed)
- Bee Keeping
- honey production
- setting up and maintaining hives at farms for crop pollination
- Farm Sitting (taking care of a farm while the owners are away)
Animals & Pets
- Pet Care
- dogs
- cats
- horses
- Pet Sitting
- Pet Trainer
- Pet Groomer
- Pet Breeding
(Please be humane and consider the physical and emotional stress on the animals when breeding or selling, and take proper measures to ensure the animals are sold to a good home where they will be well taken care of. Also, be prepared to keep and care for any animals that do not sell.)
- fish
- birds
- frogs
- snakes
- lizards
- turtles / tortoises
- bunnies and rabbits
- rodents (e.g. hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, etc.)
- dogs (Since there are so many dogs in animal shelters already, please consider breeding a different type of animal.)
- cats (Since there are so many cats in animal shelters already, please consider breeding a different type of animal.)
- Raising live animal food (e.g. crickets, mealy worms, earthworms, etc. for feeding pets like amphibians and reptiles)
Automobile
- Car / Vehicle Washing
- get your car washed in the parking lot while you work / shop / etc.
- no need to wait in line at the car wash; we come to your house
- detailing
- waxing
- Vehicle Body Work
- touch up paint
- damage repair
- custom painting and artistic effects
- custom window tinting
- body design upgrades
- Vehicle Interior Work
- upholstery repair
- custom seat covers
- custom interior design
- gadget / electronics installation
- Vehicle Mechanics
- mechanical repair
- mechanical upgrades
Children
- Child Care
- babysitting (at clients' home)
- nanny-ing (at clients' home)
- day care center (at your house)
- Children's Programs
- classes
- play groups
- clubs
- Children's Events
- birthdays
- graduations
Cleaning / Organizing
- House Cleaning / Office Cleaning
- using allergy-free products
- using non-toxic products
- cleaning RVs
- removing cobwebs, built up dust, grease, etc.
- cleaning and renovating homes/offices after a fire, flood, etc.
- Graffiti Removal
- Pool Cleaning / Maintenance
- Professional Organizer
- Gutter Cleaning
- Window Washing
- Power Washer (cleaning siding, driveways, sidewalks, etc.)
Education
- Tutoring
/ Coaching
- math
- science
- English
- foreign language
- sports
- music
- Teaching Specialized Classes
- art / crafts
- cooking
- study skills
- business skills
- etiquette
- trade skills
- computer skills
- life skills
- Freelance Teaching Assistant (doing routine tasks for a small fee)
- Curriculum Designer
- freelance design for schools
- custom design for home-schoolers
- design workbooks, software, videos, audio, etc. for sale
Electronics
- Electronics Installation
- Electronics Repair
- Computer Repair and Upgrades
Entertainment
- Entertainer
- clown
- custom characters (you'll need to rent various costumes)
- balloon sculpting
- magic tricks
- acrobatics
- music skills
- Gag / Practical Joke Coordinator
Events
- Event Planning
- party planning
- event cleanup
- Holiday / Event Decorator
- hanging lights
- creating festive displays
- Talent Coordinator (auditioning, scheduling, etc. entertainers)
Fashion
- Custom Sewing
- Tailoring
- Fashion Consultant
- Hairstyling
- Cosmetology / Make-up Artist
Financial
- Accounting / Bookkeeping
- Insurance Sales
- Financial Consultant
- Fundraising
Food
Food sales are regulated by most governments and renting an industrial kitchen may be required.
- Cooking
- making "homemade" meals and delivering them to homes
- Baking
- baking products to sell at local stores and marketplaces and via distributors
- baking products to sell online and ship (must survive the shipping)
- Pastry Decorating
- custom cake decorating
- custom cookie decorating
- Candy Making
- making candy to sell via marketplaces and distributors
- making candy to sell online and ship (must survive the shipping)
- Catering
- preparing food for events
- preparing daily meals for companies and organizations
- Food Gift Baskets
- make gift baskets to sell online and ship (must survive shipping)
- make gift baskets to sell via marketplaces and distributors
- Menu Planning
Graphic Artist
- Desktop Publishing
- document design (e.g. brochures, posters, business cards, forms, etc.)
- website design
- Calligraphy
- Fine Arts
- selling completed works for display
- contract assignments
- painting designs on store windows
- Body Art
- tattoo art
- henna art
- face painter (especially at events)
- Photography
- portraits (e.g. professional, family, babies, pets, organizations, etc.)
- events (e.g. weddings, corporate, social, non-profit, parties, etc.)
- photojournalism
- Stock Art
- clip art for websites, brochures, etc.
- stock photographs
- Custom Framer
- Art Dealer
Health Care
- Personal Trainer / Sports Coach
- Health Coach / Consultant
- Massage Therapist
- Home Health Care Aid (assist with eating, bathing, etc.)
Hobbies
- Genealogy
- Scrapbooking
Home Maintenance
- Handy Man (basic home repairs and upgrades)
- Painting / Wallpapering
- Deck Refinishing / Resealing
- Plumber
- Electrician
- General Contractor
- Fireplace / Chimney Maintenance
- Snow Shoveling
- Electronics Installer
- Chopping Firewood
Moving
- Moving Organizer
- Packing / Unpacking
- Local Moving
- Hauling / Transporting Discarded Items
Music
- Musician
- instrument player
- vocalist
- songwriter
- DJ
- club DJ
- DJ for events (e.g. weddings, birthdays, etc.)
- Music Talent Management
- promotions
- event bookings
- distribution
- Recording
- production
- studio rental
- recording copies manufacturing
Personal Assistant
- Running Errands
- Managing Schedules (social, business, education, family)
- Handling Mail
- Household / Lifestyle Manager
- Researching
- travel
- events
- products
- contact info
Real Estate
- Real Estate Agent
- Rental Property Hunter (finding excellent rental properties for renters for a fee)
- Vacation Home Rental
(renting out your property)
- cabins / homes
- condos with amenities
Recreational Equipment
- Customization, Repair, and Maintenance
- bikes
- skateboards
- skates
- ATVs
- camping and hiking equipment
- ski and snowboard equipment
Recycling
- Scrap Metal Collector
- Building Materials Recycler
- Collecting, Restoring, and Reusing Discarded Items
- to refurbish
- to use as raw materials for new products
Safety Consulting
- Baby Proofing
- Modifying Homes for Older Adult
Shopping
- Mystery Shopper
- Personal Shopper
- Reselling (finding bargains and reselling them online, at consignment shops, at swap meets, etc.)
- used books
- clothes
- antiques
- hard to find items
- Assembling Gift Baskets
- Product Reviewer
- writing product reviews
- reviewing products on local television and radio shows
- creating lists of the best products to buy / services to us
- Coupon Clipping
Travel
- Travel Agent
- Vacation Planner
Video Production
- Event Videography (e.g. weddings, reunions, etc.)
- Independent Film Production
- directing
- audio
- filming
- Video Promotions
Website Design
- Custom Site Design
- Website Maintenance
- Template Design
- Site Programming
Writing
- Freelance Writer
- fiction books
- short stories
- non-fiction books
- articles
- tutorials
- screenplays / plays
- Editor
- Writing Coach / Instructor
- Copy Writing
- Technical Writing
- instruction manuals
- reference guides
- Resume Writing
- Translating
- Blogger
- Publication Promoter
Yard Sales
- Planning Sales
- Yard Sale Setup
- Managing Sales
- Removing / Donating Unsold Items
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