Work at Home Business Ideas
There must be thousands of businesses that can be done at (or from) home such as accountancy or plumbing for instance but this list is really aimed at those simple businesses which do not require great qualifications and can largely be done at home. Therefore business ideas like say gardening and landscaping are deliberately not included here as the majority of the work is outside your own home. This list is more aimed at the WAHM or WAHD (work at home mom/dad) and includes part time as well as full time opportunities.
Affiliate Marketing
This is my favourite, selling products in return for a commission. This is easiest when the product or service is sold from a website though it does not always have to be that way. We’ll be coming back to this very important work at home method in more detail. If you want really in depth ongoing training I can genuinely recommend The Wealthy Affiliate an online training resource I belong to myself.
Antiques
There’s plenty to be made in this field. If you have an eye for it just trading in antiques can be very profitable however if you can also do some basic restoration work you can really gain quite large profits.
Arts and Crafts
If you have hobbies like woodwork, leather work, jewelery and the like you might find a ready market for your creations at local markets and fairs. You might also be able to sell to specialty stores. You can pick up a copy of Homecrafts Work at Home Catalogue here
Assembly and Installation Service
Got a knack for installing home theater systems or sound systems? How about assembling all those flat-packed furnishings delivered from furniture stores? This is an area just begging for neighbourhood services. You can maybe even get the stores to advertise your service for your area.
Bed and Breakfast
Living in a tourist area? Providing home accommodation and breakfast can be very lucrative. Regulations vary from area to area but your local tourist bureau will be able to help.
Bicycle Repairs & Maintenance (Suits other sports & hobbies too)
Turn your interest in bikes, surfboards or whatever into a little repair and maintenance business in your neighbourhood.
Blogging
Yup! see the post on this topic, some folks are ripping it up with affiliate sales, contextual ads, and pay per post. You can see more over at my post on Making Money with Blogs
Calligraphy Service
Got a good hand? Check out an art store for calligraphy pens and accessories and turn your neat handwriting into a service making up invitations and notices for everything from weddings to business events.
Candle Making
Got the knack for making candles? If you are pretty god at it you can turn this fun hobby into a designer business! Think I’m kidding? Go take a look at the prices some of the specialist candles are fetching in the shops! Before you start your business though arm yourself with a copy of Jean Ann Herley’s book for candle makers going into business: Stop Burning Time and Moneyin Your Candle Business
Child Care
If you love children you might be able to start a small childcare business looking after kids while the parents are at work. You’ll need to apply for the relevant licence for your location and otherwise will need all the usual furnishings and toys a parent is already familiar with. Get a copy of Starting a Day Care Center here
Children’s Party Planning
With children’s parties becoming more and more a burden on parents why not start a party planning service which could include arranging delivery of food and cakes, venue hire, invitation mailing, photographers etc.
Clothing Alterations & Repairs
Relatively few of us can take up a hem or sleeve and pay handsomely to have others do it, how are your sewing skills? Got a sewing machine? If you know how to do basic alterations and repairs you can make a nice little business out of it. See Home Sewing Secrets for more
Collectibles Dealer
This might include anything from old books to sports memorabilia and more. Even recently produced items may be collectibles if there is a shortage of them and a willing market looking to complete a set. Some collectors will pay any price for that last piece!
Computer Programming
If this is a skill you have why not pick from the many programming project jobs available online? Sites such as eLance have hundreds of projects listed at any one time some of which are very big dollar jobs.
Computer Skills Tutor
If you have the knack for computers and the internet you can teach your skills at community classes where this a a popular subject. Think about retirement homes also as a good market for this activity. If you have the knowledge you could also assist people set up home networks.
Consulting
If you have much experience in a field such as marketing, advertising, finance or maybe running a small business you can start a consulting service helping others on a contract basis which can be very lucrative. Start Consulting eBook
Desktop Publishing
If you have the creative flair you can for use your skills to design brochures, leaflets and newsletters for small businesses in your neighborhood. There are many courses available to help get you started and the software is very easy to use.
Direct Selling
There are lots of systems out there to support you in selling their goods for a commission. This is a bit like affiliate marketing in some ways but think more along the lines of Avon or Tupperware sales through networks of friends and neighbours.
Dog Obedience Training
Lots of dog owners particularly new owners just don’t have any idea as to how to train their dog so this area has become a huge industry. It can be done at your home in many cases or if your home is not suitable then by visit to customers homes. Read Kingdom of Pets to get you started
Domain Trading
Another completely at home type business. There are still many worthwhile domains to be registered and re-sold for a profit. Try to buy one or two word domains without the dashes or underscores. While .com is still the most active .net and country specific domains are fruitful too.
eBay Auctions
Another great way to make money at home if you have an eye for a bargain. If you can source goods cheaply and there is enough market interested in those goods, you can make some excellent returns. Sell new and used goods to a huge audience easily and cheaply with auction sites. Check out Express Profits Online here and see how its done.
eBook Publishing
With more people making use of PDAs and ebook readers for the daily commute, this looks to be a growing demand. If you’ve got something you are knowledgeable on, you can write an ebook and sell it on a website, you’d be surprised at the topics that sell well! Just browse through Clickbank’s enormous collection! Write and Publish your own eBook in as little as 7 Days
Events Coordinator
Events from corporate functions to weddings often require careful co-ordination of tasks and service providers. If you have a knack for organisation you can get lots of work in this area by advertising your services in local papers and business magazines.
Work at Home Ideas continued from Work at Home Ideas A-E
Family Trees
Tracing family roots has become a huge industry and there are several internet based services to help. Old government records are now often available online or through library indexing services. If you have a taste for research this can be a lucrative hobby or even full-time business.
Flowers & Plants
Got a green thumb? Live on a street with some passing traffic? Why not buy some nice wrapping paper and offer your flowers for sale. Take it a step further if you’re up to it by offering flower arrangements and maybe even vases.
Freelance Articles and Copy Writing
Lots of freelancers make a little extra writing articles for newspapers and magazines. There are web based exchanges where publishers and writers bargain over articles required with writers offering bids on the jobs. I’ve put a series of posts together on Article Marketing
Garage Sales
Ever notice how some people have lots of garage sales? It’s not always their own used goods they’re selling. There’s lots of garage sale goods to be had from neighborhood cleanups, opportunity shops and deceased estate sales.
Gift Baskets
Got a knack for making up hampers and baskets? Got good taste and an eye for gift presentation? Gift baskets can be made up for almost any occasion. Get yourself access to wholesale rates and make great mark ups in addition to the time spent on the arrangement. Start you own Gift Basket Business
Graphic Design
Got a flair for design? There are thousands of small businesses in need of basic graphics skills for leaflets, advertising, logos, website banners etc. If you are handy at photoshop you can market your skills to local businesses. You’ll need a selection of your work and of course any leaflets you make for yourself will need to be good!
Hobby Tables
A relative of mine was into model trains as a hobby until he discovered his knack for creating tables and table tops with whole landscapes built on them. He then turned that hobby into a nice little sideline. These can also be used by hobbyists into model soldiers and war games.
Home Deliveries
There are an increasing number of people who are too time poor to do the little things like picking up everyday needs. Everything from groceries to dry-cleaning presents an opportunity for a delivery service. How about getting local shops to recommend your services?
Interior & Theme Design
From bedrooms to nurseries, the opportunity here is to be creative in designing a themed room, a spaceship themed bedroom for a young boy, a rock-chic bedroom for a young girl. There is room to let your imagination run riot. Read the Interior Decorating Business Manual
Junk Removal
Someone’s trash is another persons treasure! We’ve seen some enterprising guys offer cheap junk removal and thus gain ownership of furniture and other goods which can be restored and/or resold for profit. Put this idea together with eBay and see what happens!
Mail Order
There are so many mail order businesses out there quietly making money and sometimes lots of it. You’ll need to pick your niche and find the right suppliers be they local wholesalers or offshore suppliers you import from. Place your adverts in relevant magazines and newspapers and wait for those orders to arrive.
Multi Level Marketing
This one I struggle with as while there are plenty of legit systems, there are many more where to make good money you have to develop a ‘downline’ and the money comes more from the introduction of new members than from commission on sales. Anything where success lies in your ability to attract others into the system smells a bit funny, in fact it smells a bit like a pyramid! Careful with these!
Online Stores
With folks now comfortable buying on the net there is lots of room to make a living or part time income from selling whatever you are into from a website. Collectibles do particularly well, if you don’t want to maintain your own site just use eBay instead.
Pets Enclosures
From birdhouses to rabbit hutches and kennels, there is a huge market for easy to make animal shelters. It may be just a little birdhouse with a perch for the visiting wild birds right up to large kennel for a big dog. These are easy and cheap to build with just a little practice.
Pet Sitting & Care
Lots of pet owners don’t like to leave their pets in large kennels or the like while away on vacation or business. If you have a love of animals maybe you can offer to look after them in your own home and of course ensure their care and exercise.
Photography
Both assignment photography and stock photography can be very rewarding. With stock photography there are several online agencies who will catalogue your efforts and market your photos to potential buyers, you get to keep about 50% of the royalties. Check out Profitable-Photography.com
Picture Framing
You’ll need a little workspace and some tools but framing pictures and photos is easy with a little practice. You can get work from advertising your service in local shops and galleries or artist classes.
Public Relations
This is another area which can be adapted to home business. If you have the skills and contacts you can easily run PR campaigns from the home office. Service local companies, clubs and identities, theres lots of opportunity.
Repair and Restoration
If you have the skills and experience at repair and restoration, there is a world of opportunity in this area from fixing torn teddy bears to restoration of furniture, electronic repairs and so many more.
Resume Writing
Work seekers often have difficulty in putting a resume together, with a little research and practice you can learn to write impressive resumes and cover letters. You could even start a website on the topic and earn from selling advertising space too. Check out the Amazing Resume Creator
Scrapbooking
Did you know you can make a small fortune at scrapbookong? Turn your hobby into a business and make anything up to $100 per hour. Read How to Make Money with Scrapbooking and start a whole new business
Sign Painting
Handy with a paintbrush? Offer your hand made signs to small businesses or as decorative house number or name signs.
Software Creation
If you have an interest in computers and software you might be good enough at it to design new software. If this is the case you’ll find several ways to market your products online.
Survey Taker
So many surveys and so many scams but plenty of real survey opportunities too. Not recommended for a full time income but useful for extra cash and gifts.
Telecommuting
Yes there really are real employment opportunities where you can work from home. This might be for you if you want to get out of the daily grind of commuting to and from the office.
Transcription
If you have good typing skills and of course a good command of language you can offer transcription services to local businesses. Doctors and other professionals often have a need of transcription services so check out the possibilities in your area. Read Start you own Medical Transcription Business
Translator
OK so its only for some, but if you have a second language by background or by study, you may be able to offer your skills as a document translator to businesses who do exports or even local authorities like police departments. For more info check out Bilingual? Make Money!
Tutoring
What do you know? From children’s math to computer skills and music, there is huge demand for tutoring of all kinds. One young man I know makes more money from teaching guitar than he does at his full time job.
Vending Machines
We’ve heard of some making heaps by placing vending machines in local shopping areas. You’ll need to supply the goodies ans either pay a rental for the floor space or share the takings with the owner of the premises your machines are placed on. Read Great Vending Locations Now
Virtual Assistant
Anything and everything that assists business people in your area. This can be a very variable job but is largely general office administration type tasks, organizing appointments, booking hotels, restaurants and flights etc.
Website Building
Another favourite! If you’re good at making them great that is a business in itself, market your website building services to small business and even individuals who would like a site but don’t know how to go about building one.
Website Marketing
You can market just about anything on the web and even if you just have a little personal site or blog you can host ads such as Google’s adsense ads (you can see some at the top of this page) to raise a little extra money. I sincerely recommend The Wealthy Affiliate for online training in internet marketing.
Wedding Planner
If you are the kind of person who is good at organizing events you can perhaps become a wedding planner. There are countless stressed families looking for help. Get yourself a copy of Amazing Wedding Planning to help get you started.
Word Processing
With some word processing software you could start a service designing and writing invitations, small business newsletters, notices, resumes and so many more.
Writing
Writing press releases and copy for product marketing etc is an excellent way to earn some cash. There are lots of small businesses who struggle with writing copy and are willing to pay for your services. Sites such as eLance have hundreds of projects listed you can bid on. You can also write articles and publish them on Hubpages or Squidoo which can be very lucrative – I’ll show you how to do this in another post.
