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:
(Note: some of these professions may require special certification by local, state, or federal government.)
Agricultural
- Yard / Garden Maintenance
- Landscaping
- Niche: organic gardening
- Niche: lawn care
- Niche: vegetable garden design
- Niche: herb garden design
- Niche: flower garden design
- Niche: Asian garden design
- Niche: formal garden design
- Niche: arid garden designs
- Niche: wet / pond garden designs
- Niche: rock gardens
- Niche: pruning
- Niche: tree / plant removal
- Compost / Fertilizer Sales
- Niche: organic fertilizer
- Niche: manure
- Niche: compost tea
- Niche: earth worm farming
- Bee Keeping
- Niche: honey production
- Niche: setting up and maintaining hives at farms for crop pollination
Animals & Pets
- Petcare / Petsitting
- Pet Trainer
- Pet Groomer
Automobile
- Car / Vehicle Washing
- Niche: costs less that the car wash
- Niche: detailing
- Niche: touch up paint
- Niche: waxing
Child Care
- Babysitting (at clients home)
- Certification may be required; check local laws
- Childcare center (at your house)
- Certification may be required; check local laws
Cleaning
- House Cleaning / Office Cleaning
- Niche: using allergy-free products
- Niche: using non-toxic products
- Niche: cleaning RVs
- Niche: removing cobwebs, built up dust, grease, etc.
- Niche: cleaning and renovating homes/offices after a fire, flood, etc.
- Graffiti Removal
- Pool Cleaning / Maintenance
Education
- Teaching / Tutoring
- Niche: math
- Niche: science
- Niche: English
- Niche: foreign language
- Niche: art / crafts
- Niche: cooking
- Niche: music
- Niche: sports
- Niche: study skills
- Niche: business skills
- Niche: etiquette
- Niche: trade skills
Financial
- Accounting
- Bookkeeping
- Adultcare
- Party Planner / Coordinator
- Niche: offer cleanup services
- Entertainer
- Niche: clown
- Niche: custom characters (you'll need to rent various costumes)
- Niche: balloon sculpting
- Niche: face painting
- Niche: magic tricks
- Niche: acrobatics
- Niche: music skills
- Gag / Practical Joke Coordinator
- Selling Products
- Virtual Secretary
- Niche: typing
- Niche: transcription
- Niche: telephone receptionist (making/receiving phone calls)
- Niche: data entry
- Niche: specializing in typing student papers at a college
- Billing / Collection Service
- Desktop Publishing
- Document Design
- Website Design
- Cooking / Baking / Cake Decorating
- Certification may be required; check local laws
- Computer / Electronics / Appliance Repair
- Sewing / Tailoring
- Freelance Writer
- Editor
- Copy Writing
- Resume Writing
- Translating
- Calligraphy
- Media Promotions
- Mystery Shopper
- Personal Shopper
- Bike / Sports Equipment Repair
- Concierge / Personal Assistant (running errands)
- Handyman
- Niche: setting up electronics
- Niche: basic home repairs
- Painting / Wallpapering
- Deck Refinishing / Resealing
- Gutter Cleaning
- Power Washing
- Window Washing
- Holiday Decorator
- Niche: hanging lights
- Niche: creating holiday displays
- Makeup Artist / Cosmetologist
- Massage Therapist
- Artist
- Niche: selling completed works for display
- Niche: contract assignments
- Niche: clip art for websites, brochures, etc.
- Niche: painting designs on store windows
- Niche: tattoo artist
- Niche: henna artist
- Photography / Videography
- Musician / DJ
- Niche: weddings
- Niche: parties
- Talent Manager
- Niche: musicians
- Niche: artists
- Niche: actors
- Custom Art / Photograph Framer
- Professional Organizer
- Local Mover
- Certification may be required; check local laws; help people move furniture, from one house to the next, etc.
- Referral Service
- Create a referral list for related services offered by other small companies and individuals
- Vacation Home Rental
- Niche: cabins
- Niche: condos with amenities
- Gift Baskets
- Niche: custom baskets
- Niche: hard to find items
- Recycler
- Niche: scrap metal
- Niche: sorting waste materials from demolition / renovation
- Niche: collecting items for thrift stores
- Used Books Sales
- Consultant
...by Feed