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If you’ve ever dreamed of starting your own business and working from home, then I’ve got some ideas that may do the trick. There is no specific formula to starting a small business at home, but there are plenty of websites that provide advice on how to get your business off the ground.
You will find excellent information on the right resources and what to put into place before you make that leap. There are plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy working from home in a variety of ways. That is what this small business idea guide attempts to relay.
1. Make Some Jewelry
It’s always great to have a hobby. If you enjoy crests, logos and jewelry then you might like this. Make some custom jewelry. The key to having a business is that the customer has to see the value in your product or service. You might think people don’t want to buy custom jewelry, but they do.
You might want to consider making some jewelry. After all, the best part of running your own business is being able to pick what you want to do. You may not need lots of startup money since most items can be sold for under $20.
2. Sell Your Crafts On Etsy
Selling your crafts on Etsy might seem like a project but it’s a great way to make some money. I’ve done this for years. You have to be patient and not get discouraged, but you can make good money selling on Etsy! If you enjoy making things, then this is a good way to do so while also making some money. There’s a lot more to making money with Etsy than just listing your crafts though.
3. Open A Small-Batch Bakery
A small-batch bakery is different than a regular bakery. A small batch bakery usually produces less than 125 of a single item (like cupcakes, cookies, or brownies etc.). Small-batch bakeries are usually small businesses that sell their cupcakes and baked goods on a local level.
Starting a business from home actually has some benefits that might surprise you. Just because you work from home, doesn’t mean your business has to suffer. After all, the best businesses are usually built on trust and strong relationships.
4. Start A Blog And Monetize With Affiliate Products
Blogging. It’s one of the best online business models on the market right now. That’s because you can essentially serve as your own boss without needing to invest in a physical location and pay a cashier, server or other staff. Whether you operate it as a hobby or as a side business, you can earn a profit by outlining your expertise and sharing it with others.
Start a blog and make money online with the Amazon Affiliate Program. Affiliate marketing is a popular internet income strategy where you promote products, like the ones sold on Amazon, including a link that readers can use to purchase them. When your reader buys anything through the link you provided and you have adverts displayed in your blog, you earn a commission from Amazon.
5. Start A Home-Based Dog Walking Business
If you love dogs and want to work with them, starting a dog walking business at home is one of the best options these days. Let’s face it — people prefer to keep their pampered pets at home whenever they can, and some pet owners need someone else to walk or feed their dogs while they are away.
Unfortunately, when they go away for a short weekend break or on vacation, finding a neighbor who could keep an eye on things can be challenging. In that case, if you have some free time at home, why not start a home-based dog walking business? Starting such a business requires no previous experience in the pet service industry so you can easily make it happen if you enjoy owning dogs and taking care of them.
6. Sell Handmade Crafts Online
If you plan on starting a business out of your home, the first thing to consider is what the business will do. Will you operate it out of your home or are you looking for a special storefront? An important factor you’ll want to consider is how much operating cost (or overhead) will be involved.
For example, if you’re just planning on doing some web design, there’s more overhead with buying a computer, software and office supplies. On the other hand, if you’re planning to sell crafts online and ship those all over the world, that’s less overhead since you won’t need an office space and can use the job space in your home as storage for inventory.
7. Become A Virtual Assistant
One of the best ways to start a small business is to become a virtual assistant. This can be done from home or at an office but you will have to learn new skills. Learn how to use office software like Microsoft Outlook and Word. Gain computer skills by taking classes or continuing your education online. Many virtual assistants offer a wide range of services including administrative duties, filing and email correspondence for small businesses.
Do you have any idea how much a virtual assistant can earn money? The answer is surprising, based on the many virtual assistant companies that are out there.
These companies hire people to work form home who can work in different fields like copy-editing, appointment setting, web research, etc. Yes, you read it right. This means, you can also become a virtual assistant.
8. Sell Vintage Or New Clothes On EBay
Making a living from selling clothes may appear to be a daunting task, but it is possible. You can create a clothing boutique of your own and list your products on eBay. In case you want to sell both vintage and new clothes, you should stock up on anything that is in trend.
A good example is the designer Ralph Lauren, who designs clothes every season that are available in at least 3-4 different sizes. For these many sizes, you will have to order small and big ones at the same time. There is also the option of selling customized clothes where people select their own design and fabrics.
9. Make A Product Out Of Your Service Or Skill
As we just talked about, one of the worst things about having a service-based business is that you only get paid for your time, skills, and effort. If I Made’s Emily Newman turned her classes into digital courses by putting together recordings of her live sessions and selling them for less money.
Your business can make more money by “productizing” your service. Mean making physical or digital products that package up your expertise and simplifies or add to the service you offer. You can serve your current customers or even find a new target customer in the same space.
Gabriella and Andrew Morrison started their home-based business by putting together packages of their knowledge about living in tiny homes. They sell courses and plans on Tiny House Build and StrawBale.com, which they run from the comfort of their cozy, non-traditional home.
Here are some ideas for adding products to your own business:
- Courses
- Designs
- Licensable assets (stock footage, photos, music, etc.)
- Reports you can download
- Digital templates
- Merchandise
- EBooks
What Are The Drawbacks Of Starting A Business At Home?
A home-based business is a business that you can start and run from your own home, either full time or as a side job. Some home-based businesses, especially those that sell online and don’t need a lot of inventory, can even be run while you’re away from home.
When Deciding If A Home-Based Business Is Right For You, You Should Look At Both The Pros and Cons
Pros
- A low-cost business has fewer overhead costs, like warehousing fees, and you might be able to get tax breaks for it.
- The ability to sell goods or services locally or abroad.
- Flexible work-life balance is great if you are a stay-at-home parent or a retiree, for example.
- You can start a family business in which family members or your spouse can help out when needed.
Cons
- You might need to turn a room in your house into a business space (e.g., holding inventory, creating a home office, or storing equipment). It can be hard to do this without letting it affect your life at home.
- You still have to follow any rules that apply to the business you want to start. For example, if you want to sell food products, you may need to rent a commercial kitchen or get a license/permit to hold inventory.
- Your business may get too big for your home, in which case you’ll need to rent more space and hire more people.
- Working from home gives you a lot of freedom, but it can also be lonely. If you like being around other people, this might be hard for you.
There are a lot of ways to start a home-based business, but the following are some of the easiest ways to make money for you.