Starting a side hustle or full-time gig from the comfort of your own home is gaining momentum. Entrepreneurship or operating a small business is a dream for many people. You likely have a lot of ideas but are unsure where to begin.
What are the best home business ideas that can allow you to make a little extra money or allow you to quit your full-time job and operate your own home business? With a little know-how and ingenuity, you can get started running your own business and often for a low startup cost.
What Is the Best Home Business to Start?
The best type of business to start is something that makes you excited and you're passionate about. A successful business not only brings in money but is also fulfilling. When you choose an industry that sparks your interest — such as creating podcasts, running a nonprofit, or establishing a consulting business, you can put a lot of time and energy into it without losing your drive. Sure, some days may feel long and draining, but the reward of doing something you love far outweighs the level of work you put in.
Choose a business opportunity that sparks your interest or one you already have experience in. Stay true to your passions and capabilities, and the world is your oyster. Here, we'll cover eight great business ideas that let you work from your own home.
8 Great Business Ideas That You Can Do From Home
Are you ready to take the leap and open a small business that offers you the freedom of working from your own home? From technical to creative and everything in between, there's something for everyone. With some thought and planning, you can tap into new business opportunities. That passion and drive are elements of any successful business. Let's dive into some of the best business ideas you can do from home.
Photographer
Do you have a knack for telling stories through images? A photography business is a great way for visually creative people to earn extra income. With relatively low startup costs, you can start your own business as a freelance photographer.
Photographers have access to a wide variety of job opportunities, including engagements, weddings, senior portraits, and new baby arrivals. If family portraits aren't your thing, you can work with real estate agents photographing residential and commercial property listings. Food photography is another hot industry. In today's marketplace, content and images are necessary ingredients to the marketing mix. Just about every individual, large or small business, or brand is on the lookout for a qualified photographer who can tell their story.
E-Commerce Store
Have you always dreamed of owning a shop? An e-commerce store might be right for you. E-commerce is huge, and because of the pandemic, it experienced exponential growth.
To open an online store, you'll want to consider your niche and the products you want to sell. Avoid a hodgepodge of products and focus on a specific target market (Amazon already ran with that idea). When opening an e-commerce store, you may find it helpful to create a business plan that outlines your goals and ideas. This can help you prioritize the steps to take in starting your online business.
Of course, you'll need a storefront, aka your own website or an e-commerce platform. Be sure to share your grand opening on social media.
If you find the e-commerce realm overwhelming, there are other ways you can open an online store. Many sellers opt for online storefront sites, such as eBay, Amazon, and Etsy to make some extra money. Just create an account and start selling.
Freelance writer or copywriter
If you have a way with words and a persuasive streak about you, copywriting can prove a lucrative side hustle. Like an excellent picture, engaging content is something businesses and organizations want and need to stay ahead of. Just look on any job board! Freelance copywriters are in demand and write articles, take care of blogging, create newsletters, curate product descriptions … you name it.
To get into the field of freelance writing, you obviously need to enjoy writing. Impeccable grammar skills are essential, too. Digital marketing and current knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) best practices are an attractive plus that many businesses look for when contracting freelance copywriters. Other than that, the startup in physical terms is quite low. With a computer, word processing software, and an internet connection, you can be on your way to freelance writing.
Pet Sitter
Who doesn't want to work with fur babies all day? If four-legged friends are your cup of tea, why not consider pet sitting? Pet sitting services are essential for many pet parents. They need a trusted person who can look after their dog, cat, or even exotic animal when out of town or working long hours.
Pet sitting can include a variety of add-on services, such as dog walking, play care, and poop scooping. It's really up to you and how you want to run your own business.
Pet sitting is a great small business idea for those who have a genuine love for caring for all kinds of animals, and there are various ways you can get the word out about your new business. Sites such as Rover provide a network to connect pet owners with nearby pet sitting services.
Social Media Marketer
Social media is here to stay and a portal for effective advertising. While we use social media every day, many companies are unsure how to use it effectively to market their businesses. This is where you can come in.
To effectively market yourself as a social media marketer, choose a niche you understand inside and out. The more you know about an industry, the more you can communicate with a sense of authority and build trust. Start local and check out social media accounts for real estate offices, spas, health care, or small businesses in your community that could use a little push in the right direction. In time, you can build your client base and create a sustainable income for yourself.
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers are the creative minds behind digital and print images. These digital artists also create company logos that can later be printed on T-shirts, mugs, bags, or other promotional materials. Companies rely on graphic designers to convey their brand to their audience.
Understanding graphic design software and having an eye for dynamic composition is a necessary requisite for stepping into this at-home business opportunity. Worried you don't have design skills down pat? There are a variety of online courses available to improve or brush up on your design skills.
Finding clients as a graphic designer shouldn't prove much of a challenge. Freelance worksites have a multitude of businesses — small and large — looking for help, so you shouldn't have much of a problem getting your business up and running. As with any venture, a strong work ethic creates happy customers, which can lead to word-of-mouth referrals to your graphic design business.
Housekeeper
Busy households need help. From families with children to single executives, house cleaning services are on the most wanted list. While not specifically working in your own home, you get to call the shots when running your own house cleaning business and help others at the same time.
The startup costs of opening your house cleaning service are minimal. You'll need an arsenal of great cleaning products, including natural or unscented products for sensitive customers, and plenty of elbow grease to get started.
Bookkeeper
What is the least favorite aspect of running a business? Many business owners will say bookkeeping. Although an essential part of running any business, bookkeeping slides down the to-do list until it's no longer avoidable. Thus, leading to disorganization and a task you cannot tame.
Bookkeeping is an excellent choice for number-savvy people. You can work from home, your favorite coffee shop, or even the beach. To get started, you need excellent bookkeeping skills, which you can develop through online courses or self-study. Bookkeeping differs from being a certified public accountant (CPA), so formal training isn't required. Some bookkeepers also work as virtual assistants, providing help with day-to-day administrative tasks. Starting your own bookkeeping business is a low-cost endeavor, with the basic supplies being a computer and software.
Grow Your New Business With Skynova
Whether part time or full time, there is a wide range of opportunities for small business owners. You can take a hobby, interest, or skill and make it your own business and often with little to no investment.
While promoting and helping others with your talents, Skynova's accounting software can help you with your business finances. With an all-in-one invoicing template and accounting features, you can grow your business, get paid faster, and be confident that your books are up to date.
Notice to the Reader
The content within this article is a general guide and may not apply to your specific situation. Always consult with a professional to ensure you're meeting federal, state, and local standards for operating a small business.