23 Home Business Ideas to Kick-Start Your Entrepreneurship Journey

Did you know that half of businesses start from home? You can own and operate all kinds of businesses remotely, from an online store that you manage by yourself to large-scale ventures with physical locations and teams of employees.

Ahead, discover 23 home business ideas to kick-start your entrepreneurship journey, along with guidance on how to make them work for you.

23 Best Home Business Ideas

Buy Products in Bulk and Sell Them Online
Sell Homemade Products
Start a Dropshipping Store
Start a Print-on-Demand Business
Offer Online Services
Teach Online Classes
Sell Digital Products
Grow an Audience You Can Monetize
Buy an Existing Small Business
Turn Your Pet into an Influencer
Play Video Games Professionally
Sell Your Art
Launch a Photography Business
Start a Beauty Business
Start an Affiliate Marketing Business
Start a Day Care
Flip Items on Marketplaces
Start a Dog-Grooming Business
Open a Pet Day Care
Sell Books Online
Start a Business with the Help of Subcontractors
Start a Home Catering Business
Run a Spa or Salon Out of Your Home

There are many types of businesses you can start from home depending on your skill set. Here are 23 to consider:

1. Buy Products in Bulk and Sell Them Online

When starting your first home business, don’t reinvent the wheel. Instead, try a reliable, low-investment business idea, such as importing popular products in bulk and selling them individually for a profit.

Find products consumers already want to buy, then purchase them by negotiating a deal with the wholesale supplier. After that, create an online store to promote your catalog and make your first sale.

The key to a successful home retail business is savvy product selection. Can you identify the next trendy item? Tips for sourcing profitable products include:

Analyzing social media for trending products
Importing products that are popular in foreign markets
Serving the needs of a niche market

2. Sell Homemade Products

If you’re a maker (or know someone who is), consider turning that hobby into a business by selling your own creations. From homemade soaps and candles to handcrafted jewelry and artwork, the possibilities are endless.

Items crafted in your studio, workshop, or kitchen can become well-known products with the right branding and marketing.

3. Start a Dropshipping Store

Dropshipping is the go-to business model for home business owners who don’t want to deal with inventory. In a dropshipping business, retailers promote and sell products that a third party produces and ships.

Many home dropshipping businesses find success by targeting a niche. Shopify dropshipping apps connect you with suppliers, so you can source and import products into your online store.

4. Start a Print-on-Demand Business

Print on demand services let business owners apply their branding and original designs to white-label products. When you make a sale, the print on demand company will print and ship the item to the customer on your behalf.

5. Offer Online Services

If you don’t want to sell products online, consider selling a service. Service platforms may be even simpler to set up than retail businesses, as there’s no inventory to create or manage.

6. Teach Online Classes

If you have a teachable skill, you can monetize and share that knowledge via an online course. Online audiences exist for almost any desirable skill, whether it’s English as a second language, advanced marketing, or everyday home maintenance hacks.

7. Sell Digital Products

With a digital product, you can generate income without acquiring inventory or making new products. Consider offering designs, patterns, or downloadable reports.

8. Grow an Audience You Can Monetize

If you’ve always dreamt of starting a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast, you could turn that idea into a home business by growing and monetizing a following.

9. Buy an Existing Small Business

Some home business entrepreneurs don’t start from scratch. Instead, they buy and manage an existing business.

10. Turn Your Pet into an Influencer

Pet influencers are all over social media, inspiring thousands of likes with cute videos. If you share your life with a pet, try turning them into a social media personality.

11. Play Video Games Professionally

Did you know that video gaming can make you money? Esports and video game streaming platforms like Twitch have opened the door for gamers to monetize their skills.

12. Sell Your Art

If you’re an artist, your creativity can become your livelihood. Whether you’re into painting, digital art, sculpture, photography, or music, there’s a market out there for your work.

13. Launch a Photography Business

There are several options for selling photos online, all of which can be highly competitive.

14. Start a Beauty Business

A popular niche for at-home businesses is health and beauty. You can work with a manufacturer to create your own makeup or skincare brand.

15. Start an Affiliate Marketing Business

Affiliate marketing is a popular home business model where you promote a brand’s products or services.

16. Start a Day Care

A reliable day care is a perennial home business idea. If you’re good with children, see how many day cares exist in your area.

17. Flip Items on Marketplaces

If you have old furniture laying around, flipping items on online marketplaces is one of the easiest businesses to start.

18. Start a Dog-Grooming Business

If you have space in your home, you could offer dog-grooming services. It’s an in-demand service with a market size of over $5 billion.

19. Open a Pet Day Care

If you love animals, consider starting a pet day care.

20. Sell Books Online

If you have creative writing skills, take inspiration from entrepreneurs who have successfully launched their own book businesses.

21. Start a Business with the Help of Subcontractors

Some businesses require subcontractors to help you complete tasks while you handle logistics from home.

22. Start a Home Catering Business

Love cooking? Transform your culinary passion into a business by becoming a caterer.

23. Run a Spa or Salon Out of Your Home

Create a luxurious, relaxing spa experience right from your home by offering services like massages, haircuts, facials, or manicures.

How to Start a Home Business

Once you have an idea that fits your skills and experience, it’s time to get to work on building your new home business. Here are the five basic steps you’ll need to follow:

1. Come Up with Your Business Idea

The first step in launching a home business is coming up with a unique idea that gives you a competitive edge.

2. Create a Business Plan

A business plan puts your idea into a recognizable and actionable structure.

3. Start the Legal Process

Choose your business type, apply for your business license, and set up your legal entity.

4. Open a Business Bank Account

Keeping your personal and business finances separate will make taxes less stressful.

5. Start Providing Your Products or Services

Finally, it’s time to start selling! If you’re creating an ecommerce business, platforms like Shopify make it easy to build and run your store.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Starting a Home Business?

Pros of Running a Home Business

Low overhead costs
Potential tax deductions
Flexibility in work-life balance

Cons of Running a Home Business

Need for dedicated office space
Responsibility for meeting regulations
Potential for loneliness

Find the Perfect Home Business Ideas for You

The best home business idea for you won’t be the same as for others. Succeeding as a small business entrepreneur requires knowing where your strengths lie.

Once you have an idea, start small, and always make your customers’ needs your top priority.

Home Business Ideas FAQ

How do I start a small business at home?

Identify a business idea
Create a business plan
Develop your product or service
Secure funding
Choose a business structure
Apply for licenses and permits
Open a business bank account
Get business insurance
Implement a marketing strategy

What are some low-cost home business ideas?

Dropshipping
Blogging
Virtual assistant
Freelance writing or design
Online tutoring

Which home business is most profitable?

Professional service-based businesses, such as consulting, programming, or design services, often yield the highest profits due to low overhead costs.

What kind of business can I start from home?

You can start a wide variety of businesses from home, including selling homemade crafts, providing specialized online services, or launching a subscription box service.

How can I market my home business?

Use digital marketing strategies like SEO, content marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, and pay-per-click advertising.

What legal considerations should I keep in mind when starting a home business?

Understand the legal requirements for your home-based business, including licenses, permits, and zoning laws.

How can I balance my home and work life?

Set dedicated work hours, create a separate workspace, and take regular breaks.

How can I scale my home-based business?

Invest in technology, hire freelancers, expand your offerings, or explore new markets.

With the right idea and determination, starting a home business can be a fulfilling and profitable venture.