If you have ever thought of earning money from the comfort of your home, you will have realized that there are different options available to you. Also, there are ways to achieve your goal with the right blueprints and roadmaps, and this article will show you how.

Many home-based businesses you can start with very little money and very little experience. So even if you don’t have much experience or savings, you too can start your own home-based business and become highly successful with it.

• Top 20 Home-based Business Ideas
• How can you Start a Home Business?
• What Things can I make at Home and Sell?

Top 20 Home-based Business Ideas

Here are some of our favorite home-based business ideas.

1. Home Bakery

The only thing better than the smell of grandma’s chocolate-chip cookie recipe baking in the oven is watching cash roll in as customers order those delectable treats. Home baking is an approachable business idea in that it involves doing what you’re probably doing a lot of, anyway, if you love to bake. You probably have all the equipment and expertise you need to get started.

Read Also: How to Make Money From Home in The US

But be wary. Food service—even a delivery service, which is the most likely scenario for home bakers, as opposed to setting up a storefront—comes with built-in risks.

Prepare yourself, and read up on your local insurance requirements. And don’t be afraid to start out by making just one or two really great treats. Consistency is more important than variety in the baking business.

2. Freelance Writing

This is perhaps the cheapest business to start in terms of overhead. If you’re reading this on a computer, you’ve got what you need to become a freelance writer—at least in terms of equipment.

Expertise is another matter, but remember that writing can take many forms—from resumes to news articles to marketing materials and even thank-you notes. (You can even write for businesstown.com, although that gig doesn’t pay … yet.) There’s probably some form of writing you’re qualified to do.

Plus, if you’re good enough with grammar and punctuation, companies will pay you to be a freelance editor. One friend made good money editing posts on a popular travel site.

The key to freelance writing is never to stop selling yourself. Don’t get complacent once a project comes in—always look for the next one. Network like crazy online and in person. Ask for press passes to events in the field of your choice. Attend writing workshops and writer meet-ups; they happen everywhere.

There are loads of job listings for freelancers on major job boards, and you can always advertise your services (and look for work) on craigslist or LinkedIn. Once the jobs start rolling in, don’t be afraid to go to previous clients and ask for more work. Steady work is the best work for freelancers. If all else fails at first, just write. Start a blog. Build clips. Get writing!

3. Social-Media Specialist

Everybody’s on social media, which is both a blessing and a curse for the would-be social-media specialist. On one hand, every organization that sells anything needs a presence on social media, so the market for experts is huge. However, there is also no shortage of social-media experts—or people who think they’re experts, anyway.

How can you make a living as a real social-media expert? Practice. Build an audience for yourself before offering your services to others. Determine your target sector, build your own online presence in that community and start making contact with the social-media elite.

Twitter is a great place to start. Keep cranking out content and getting it to the right users, and you’ll find a way to get yourself hired even in an ever-expanding universe.

4. Selling on eBay

Believe it or not, eBay is now more than two decades old, but it’s still the most viable platform for setting up a home-based business online. Big success stories have been around for years now, but there is an enormous amount of competition on the site.

This is not an enterprise for the lazy. eBay sellers need to respond to customers quickly and politely, and ship items promptly. A seller’s success is in eBay users’ hands after all; a negative seller rating can sink an eBay business before it even gets started.

Sellers also need to familiarize themselves with eBay’s return policies, which tend to focus on making the overall experience better for buyers but not necessarily for sellers.

Perhaps most importantly, though, would-be eBay moguls need to specialize. Just throwing junk online won’t work. Sellers need to know what they want to sell and how they’re going to market it to their audiences. Again, competition is fierce, so research, preparation and strategy are critical. (For reference, eBay itself provides an extensive guide to selling on the site.)

5. Photography

The popular myth these days is that anybody with a smartphone can be a photographer. The truth, however, is that professional photography can be a cutthroat business, with demanding clients and fierce competition. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing as a profession for those who have a passion for it.

Of course, photography can take many forms, from photojournalism to portrait photography to general-interest stock photography.

You’ll most likely go for either setting up a studio in your home or taking pictures for use as stock photos, as true photojournalism requires years of experience and almost never involves actually working from home. Keep in mind that stock-photo sites work on a revenue-sharing model, so simply selling pictures to one is unusual.

Even the portrait and general-interest options, though, aren’t really for beginners. Photography businesses can be complex operations, with lots of equipment required and years of portfolio and relationship building necessary to really get steady income flowing.

Still, if you’re a hobbyist already, starting a photography business as a side operation is a great way to make some extra money and possibly begin a career change.

6. Graphic Design

Sure, there are a lot of graphic designers out there, but there are far more Websites, companies and organizations in need of design work than there are designers. That’s the good news. The more difficult news is that graphic design does require a certain level of expertise and possibly some pricey software, although designers can often get by without necessarily having the most expensive applications on the market.

But for those in position to do it, starting a graphic-design business offers an enormous opportunity—just remember to be creative with your business model and do something nobody else is doing.

7. Personal Computer Training

Believe it or not, a lot of people still don’t know how to use Microsoft Office (especially PowerPoint). You might already know enough about basic software applications to teach other people how to use them and set up your own computer-training operation.

Even so, you’ll need to develop a curriculum and a marketing plan for your new business, and you’ll need to decide whether students should come to you or you should go to them. But the opportunity exists to take what you might think of as fairly rudimentary knowledge and turn it into a profitable operation.

8. Home Tutoring

Competition to get into top universities is as tough as it has ever been, so nervous parents are willing to pay handsomely for tutoring for their kids. You need an area of expertise—math, and specifically SAT math preparation, is always a favorite—but almost any subject will work.

If you know how to market yourself locally, you can take advantage of parental paranoia and make money by tutoring right in your own home, or at a local library or coffee shop. Just make sure to do your homework on your local market in order to set prices and know which areas of expertise are most desired by parents in your area.

9. Web Design

Like graphic design, Web design requires skills that can take years to acquire and perfect. But if you have them, the market is there for creating attractive, useful Web sites for all sorts of organizations. Starting a Web-design business does require some up-front investment, particularly in software, although candidates to start Web-design firms might have those applications already.

The key with Web design is to carefully define a target market and, as is the case with graphic design, offer a service nobody else offers. Remember, too, that Web designers not only compete against each other but also against packaged software that assists with Web design, so a unique selling proposition is especially important.

10. Sports Coaching and Training

There’s more to being a coach or personal trainer than just being fit and loving to exercise. Finding a specialization is important, and licenses might be required for certain types of coaching roles. For instance, a friend in Boston obtained US and European soccer-coaching licenses before opening a successful one-on-one soccer-instruction business.

Still, the cost of licenses tends to be relatively low, and if you have space in your home to accommodate students, becoming a physical trainer or coach can be a low-overhead option for entrepreneurs who really understand fitness and nutrition. The key is to specialize—on a sport, a category of clientele or both—and to look the part.

11. Makeup Consulting

While it demands creativity, patience and expertise, makeup consulting is a business idea that requires relatively little formal training. There’s a market for customers who just want to spice up their personal looks as well as an opportunity to work with theatrical productions and other organizations that use stage makeup.

Weddings, house parties, kids’ parties and funerals present opportunities to makeup consultants, too. Networking is critical, as are a keen sense of organization and, of course, an eye for beauty. It’s also important to keep up with—or stay ahead of—fashion trends.

12. Speaking and Presentation Coaching

Never underestimate the terror some people feel getting up to speak in front of a live audience. High school and college students, as well as businesspeople, are excellent target markets for entrepreneurs who have some training and expertise in public speaking and presentations.

Starting a business in this field will require some experience, but as long as there is anxiety, there will be a market for coaching people to create and deliver presentations. Invest in video equipment or use a smartphone to record students as part of the coaching process. If you have a background in radio or TV or specific experience in high-profile public speaking, all the better.

In any case, advertise your business on bulletin boards in libraries and schools, particularly high schools and universities. Also consider email marketing. Pharmaceutical companies in particular tend to be in the market for presentation coaches.

13. Catering Service

Like starting a home bakery, developing a catering service comes with a unique set of food-oriented challenges. Right off the bat, you need to make sure that it’s legal in your state or municipality to use your home kitchen for commercial food production. If it is, you’ll still need to make sure that you’re following food-safety regulations and other relevant laws.

But if you get the green light to do it, starting a catering service is a relatively low-overhead way to create a new business. It’s a lot of work, but if you enjoy cooking, it could turn into a lucrative and fulfilling career.

To get started with minimal investment, you could first cook in your customers’ homes and use their dishes. Also, a narrow specialization on a particular type of cuisine or event may help you attract clientele as you work develop a strong customer base.

14. Podcasting

Let’s get one thing straight up front: Making money Podcasting is not necessarily easy. There are lots of Podcasts online, and if you think you can sell a few ads and bring in enough income to live off of, you’re very likely mistaken. But there are lots of options for driving revenue through Podcasting that go way beyond simple sponsorship.

The key to successful Podcasting isn’t just racking up listeners in big numbers. It’s getting listeners to engage. A small group of engaged listeners is more valuable than a large but passive audience.

Specialize in an area of your expertise and constantly remind listeners to participate in your Podcast via social media or your Website. Making money Podcasting isn’t easy, but it is possible.

There is free software online for Podcasting. You can use your home computer or laptop and the built-in microphone to start your Podcast.

15. Home Day Care

If you love kids—really, really love kids—starting a home-based day-care center could be a viable option. Just make sure you do your homework regarding zoning laws, background checks, and other regulations.

Also, make sure you’re up-to-date on CPR, first aid, and other emergency procedures. Then make sure your own kids are OK with sharing their home every day. Once all of that is wrapped up, go to your friends and neighbors, your kids’ teachers, your place of worship, and anywhere else busy parents are looking for day-care services, and get your word out.

16. Virtual Assistant

Just as there are people who don’t know how to use email, there are also those who don’t want to use it. Virtual assistants run clients’ email and voicemail accounts, aside from performing other digital duties.

You’ll need a Website, a strong brand, a service niche of some sort and a willingness to network, but opportunities to become a virtual assistant do exist for those who are organized and willing to help organize others.

17. Bookkeeping

The only word in the English language with three consecutive pairs of letters is also a great idea for a home-based business. You probably already have the equipment and software you need to start a bookkeeping business, and plenty of business owners would love to get the tedious task of keeping records off their hands.

Be their helper and make some money of your own. Networking at local business events is a key to getting started, as is advertising in local media.

18. House Cleaning

One of the more obvious ideas for starting a new business is still one of the best. Cleaning houses is hard work, but people who do it well can pick up desperate new clients at a rapid pace.

Of course, strictly speaking, this isn’t an at-home business, as the work takes place in someone else’s home. But it can be lucrative. You just need to make sure that your cleaning skills are up to snuff, which means some cleaning practice at friends’ houses might not be a bad thing to do before launching the business.

Another option is cleaning offices. One friend in Boston built a highly successful cleaning business focusing on small businesses. They trusted him with access to their businesses at night and were willing to pay him a hefty premium. He worked just 4 or 5 hours a night and made a very healthy living.

19. Party Planning

Having the knack to put on a good fete is only the beginning of building a party-planning business. You need excellent organizational and client-management skills as well as a willingness to market yourself and your services to everyone you know.

One way to get started might be to focus on children’s parities, which can be a bit simpler and less stressful to plan than adult get-togethers. Go further into specialization by following kid trends and offering superhero or Frozen parties.

Remember that you’ll be competing not just with other party planners but with local restaurants and facilities, so excellent networking skills and a personal touch to your services will be important.

20. Pet Sitting

Pet sitting usually involves going to someone else’s house to take care of furry loved ones. Pet sitting could even involve living in someone’s house while the client is away. You have to think about the types of services you’ll provide and the types of animals you’ll take care of, but generally pet sitting is a low-cost, high-pleasure business idea.

How can you Start a Home Business?

Starting a home-based business can create flexibility in how you spend your time and make your money. But it isn’t a quick process or a guarantee of financial success. It requires a long-term commitment and a clear understanding of the work involved.

To create a home-based business with a solid foundation and earning potential, you’ll need to invest time and resources into identifying the right business for you and creating a plan.

Assess Your Talents

Start by brainstorming your talents, or the things you are naturally good at. Your talents are the base for any successful business venture, including a home-based business. Are you:

• Creative?
• Detail-oriented?
• A strong communicator?
• Persistent?
• A quick learner?

Your talents are related to your personality traits, which are an important part of determining whether you are suited for self-employment. Common traits for successful business owners are:

• Openness to experience
• Self-reliance
• Motivation toward achievement
• Self-efficacy
• Comfort with risk

Be honest as you assess your talents and personality to determine whether a home-based business is the right path for you. If you don’t feel you are suited to self-employment, but you still want additional flexibility in your work life, consider looking for a job that allows telecommuting.

Examine Your Skills

You’re born with talents but you develop skills over time. For instance, a creative person may have excellent skills for writing, artistic, or design skills. A person who is naturally detail oriented may learn strong accounting or organizing skills.

Running a successful business often requires learning new skills, such as marketing or cold-calling. But when it comes to developing a business idea, start with the skills you already have. They will often indicate where you are best suited to use your natural talents.

Combine Your Talents and Skills to Generate Business Ideas

When it comes to developing a business, the skills you have invested time and energy in learning are often the foundation of great business ideas.

For example, a detail-oriented person with accounting and organization skills could start a home-based business as a:

• Tax preparer
• Bookkeeper
• Financial consultant
• Business manager
• Professional home organizer
• Virtual Assistant

Combining your talents and skills will help you generate multiple business ideas. Some of them will be jobs that don’t interest you, while others will require more education or certification than you currently have.

As you brainstorm, you get a sense for which business ideas are a good fit for your personality, skill set, and interests. This will allow you to narrow down your options to businesses that you are genuinely interested in pursuing.

Determine Whether Your Ideas Work As Home-Based Businesses

Not all businesses are going to work well as home-based businesses, and some won’t work at all. Starting a business out of your home requires considering a variety of factors, including your location, zoning, legal restrictions, licensing, work style, personality, and your family’s needs.

You are not going to be able to start a manufacturing business in a residential neighborhood, for example, and a business that involves a lot of clients coming and going may not be practical from a home office. Narrow down your list of ideas to businesses that:

• Are feasible to conduct from a home office, rather than needing separate workspace
• Allow most of the work to be done from home, rather than on site

This will leave you with a list of business ideas that are practical and possible for you to start from your own home.

Determine the Likely Profit

o start a successful home-based business, you need to consider its potential profitability. You may have a great talent for something and the skills that enable you to express it, but if people aren’t willing to pay you for the product or service, it won’t work as a business.

For each home-based business idea, you need to know:

• How much are people willing to pay me for this product or service?
• Can I make a sufficient income from that?

For instance, suppose that you want to start a creative business using your sewing skills to make homemade quilts. Because of the time involved, you’re only able to make two quilts per month. You discover that people are willing to pay $300 for each quilt you produce. That produces revenue of $600 per month, minus the cost of expenses related to quilt production and advertising.

If you are looking for a little extra income each month doing something you enjoy, this may be sufficient. However, if you want to make a living from your business, less than $600 per month will likely not be enough.

Most businesses need time to start generating a profit. Take this into consideration, and give yourself a window of time when you don’t expect your business to be profitable. However, you eventually need to be reliably meeting your income targets in order for your business to be successful.

Determine what your minimum income requirements are per month and only consider business ideas that have a real chance of generating that level of profit.

Create a Business Plan

Business plans aren’t just necessary for startups seeking a business loan. The primary reason to create a business plan is to find out if your idea has a chance of becoming successful.

Once you’ve chosen a home-based business idea you’re passionate about, write a business plan, including:

• An executive summary of your business idea
• Research into your target market and competition
• A description of your ideal customer
• Your marketing strategy
• Financial planning
• Your operating plan

The research and thinking that you do as you work through the business plan will help you refine your business idea and plan for how you will successfully launch yourself into your market without costly real-world trial and error.

If your business plan shows you that your idea isn’t viable, don’t be afraid to shelve it, choose another home-based business idea, and go through the process again.

What Things can I make at Home and Sell?

There’s no shortage of items that fit the bill for attractive, fast, able to be made in bulk and can get the fast turn around that you need! The following are just a few examples of things you can make and sell from home, that are almost always a hit with people.

1. Pillows

People love pillows and cushions. In fact, season pillows are a thing, there are lots of people who swap out their throw pillows to match the time of year. So take a look into this one. Not only it’s super simple to sew a pillow, but there’s also an endless variety of fabrics and patterns you choose.

You can easily develop a niche market for specialty throw pillows in no time.

2. T-shirts

Gone are the days of airbrushed t-shirts. From artful cutting, inventive dying, and at-home silk-screening, you can make fantastic unique, personalized t-shirts for any occasion. T-Shirts are a pretty difficult thing to pass up, so it’s worth your time to look into this craft idea.

3. Gift baskets

Let’s face it: gift baskets will never die. That doesn’t mean that we all have to make do with the standard sausage and cheese offerings, though. Custom gift baskets are remarkably high-end and a thoughtful gift, so don’t skip by this option. An added bonus is that you’re likely to have less competition in the market.

4. Personalized gifts

This can be anything from a date stamp on an item of jewelry, to a special screen-printed T-shirt or a door hanger. We just love to make our spaces our own with little, personalized touches, so definitely take personalized gifts into consideration.

You’re likely to get more advance orders than day-to-day sales, but in the end, it will all work out.

5. Jewelry

What began as a boho trend has now become a sophisticated jewelry option that incorporates polished beads, agate slices and natural gemstones in settings. Due to the popularity, gemstone crafter supply sources offer a wide variety of wires and settings, which make it easy to produce professional-looking results at home.

6. Candles

Honestly, is there anything better than a sweetly-scented candle? They’re everywhere in our lives, whether we realize it or not, so use some of that available market to turn a profit for yourself.

7. Sweets

This is one option where you can get inventive and creative! Be sure to check your state laws on edibles, and have some fun. Chocolates, cakes, and cookies are always in demand, and when you make your own, you can offer the public a higher-quality product than a mass-produced treat. Consider catering to special needs, such as diabetics, gluten-free or vegan to amp up your client base.

8. Homemade dog treats

We love our furry best friends, and sometimes, commercial treats can be a little scary. Help owners ensure their beloved canine friends stay in great health with tasty, good for them treats, and you’ll have a client base as loyal as the pet. It’s for this reason that dog treats are rapidly becoming one of the favorite crafts to make and sell from home.

9. Natural cosmetics

We all want to look our best, but the news regarding all the chemicals and additives in cosmetics is a little scary. Whip up some of your own and counter the market with a healthier alternative.

Read Also: Top 11 Legitimate Work-From-Home Jobs Perfect For 2021

This idea does take a little more time and effort with recipes and containers for all your beautifying products, but if you manage to deliver the goods that benefit and help people feel pretty, you could have a whole new venture.

10. Photos

Whether it’s stock photography or portraits, all you need to get started is a good camera and a better photo-editing software program. Start taking test shots and learning what you can about the technical aspects of good photography, and you might just find new business.

Final Words

Earning money from the comfort of your home is very possible if you apply the right approach. A lot of home-based business ideas has been mentioned for you to choose from. So you have all you need to earn money from your home.