If you’re looking to get away from the 9-5 hustle and create a life you love, it might be time to start a home-based business. In this article, we’ll share ten ideas for jobs you can do at home. We’ll also offer some helpful tips for you to get started with your at-home job.
Whether you’re interested in working for yourself or working remotely for a company, we have something for everyone. Whether you’re tech-savvy, an animal lover, or someone who enjoys talking, you’re sure to find a home-based business idea below that’ll work for you.
What is the best business to start at home?
No matter your skills, experience, or interests, there’s an ideal job you can do from home. From social media management to photography, the opportunities are endless.
Here’s a quick rundown of the best home based business ideas. Below, we’ll share more information about each of these jobs.
Table of Contents
1) Virtual Assistant
If you’re a great communicator who’s good with technology, starting a virtual assistant business might be ideal for you. Being a virtual assistant is suitable for someone who’s considering starting an online home based business for more flexibility and freedom. As a virtual assistant, you can choose the tasks you like. And while some people you work with may require you to be available for specific days and times, many virtual assistant projects can be done at flexible times.
Virtual assistants work with a business as their right-hand person. You might help with things like social media, website content, scheduling appointments, making phone calls, and planning travel.
2) Social Media Manager
Because having a social media presence has become so crucial for business growth, there are many possibilities for social media managers. In fact, social media managers can make a high income from the comfort of their home office.
You can do many things in social media management, including developing strategies, creating posts, engaging with an audience, and tracking analytics. And the world of social media is growing every day. This allows plenty of opportunities to offer various services and packages.
3) Freelance Writer or Editor
Another lucrative home based business is freelance writing or editing. Freelancing is perfect for remote workers because you can have a flexible schedule, work anywhere with WiFi, and only work with clients of your choice.
Freelance writing or editing jobs can include working with website copy, blog articles, email newsletters, and ads. Most freelance writers and editors have one to a few services they offer and a specific niche. There are endless niches you can work in as a freelance writer or editor, such as food, travel, health, or finance.
Read More: 10 Ways to Save Time Using ChatGPT (for Small Business Owners)
4) Graphic Designer
Do you enjoy getting creative and have an eye for design? Graphic designing is one of the best home based businesses for creatives.
Like with social media managers, many companies work with graphic designers, making this a great way to earn money at home. With the visual world bigger than ever, there are so many things you can do in graphic design. Graphic designers create visuals for countless projects, including brand identity, websites, apps, ads, product packaging, and so much more.
5) Photographer / Videographer
Photography and videography could be another profitable at-home job if you enjoy taking photos. While you’d probably have to work away from home during shoots, much of your work can be done at home.
Something to note is that photography and videography have a higher start-up cost than other jobs on this list unless you already have your equipment.
A wonderful thing about photography is that there are many ways you can make money doing this. Types of photography include still-life, photography, landscape, and architecture. Photographing people is one of the most common types of photography and making an income this way is pretty straightforward.
To earn money from other types of photography and videography, an excellent place to start is sharing your work on stock sites like BlackBox and Alamy. You could also sell prints at local markets or on an ECommerce website, which we’ll share more about with our next job idea.
6) ECommerce Seller
While most of the jobs on our list require a lot of work with technology, ECommerce selling is a perfect gig for someone who might not want to spend much time with tech.
The best way to do this is if you have a creative hobby that you can make into products and sell these products online. Etsy is a great place to do this. You can also create your online store on your own website, like Shopify.
7) Dog Walker
Dog walking is one of the simplest at-home gigs with low start-up costs. If you live in a dog-friendly community, you could become a full-time dog walker or do it as a part-time job. You could also offer overnight dog-sitting for even more earnings.
One of the most appealing aspects of dog walking is that it can be easier to market this than other home based business ideas. A few easy ways to get dog walking clients are by sharing your new job with everyone you know in your community, handing out fliers at a nearby dog park, and hanging posters in local businesses.
8) SEO Consultant
If you have any experience with digital marketing, you’ve probably heard of search engine optimisation (SEO) and its importance in promoting any business online. SEO consultants are one of the most in-demand professions because just about any company or person with a website wants to rank high in search engines. This is where SEO consultants come in handy.
Even if you don’t know anything about SEO, it’s a skill you can certainly learn with time and effort. However, it’s essential to become well-versed in search engine optimisation before promising businesses that you’re an SEO expert.
Read more: 16 Best SEO Tools for Small Businesses
9) Podcaster / YouTuber
If you’re not looking for a quick way to earn money at home, you might consider getting into podcasting or YouTubing. Many people who do one also do the other by converting their video into an audio file to create a YouTube video and podcast episode.
It’s important to understand that while podcasts and YouTube channels can grow enough to bring in a nice income, this can take time. Once you have a lot of listeners or viewers, you can earn money via sponsorships and paid ads. You might also use your podcast and/or YouTube channel to market another business you have.
Read more: What Makes a Podcast Successful? 10 Simple Steps
10) Recruiter
Whether you’re interested in starting your own home based business or you want to work remotely for a company, recruitment is an excellent option. As a recruiter, you’ll probably work with hiring managers to browse LinkedIn for potential employees, review resumes, and interview potential candidates.
Many larger companies hire recruiters to help them vet prospective employees. You can also be a freelance recruiter and work with one or more companies.
Top Tips for Starting & Running a Home Based Business
Working from home is a wonderful opportunity that allows you to have more freedom and flexibility in your life. That said, getting started and earning a comfortable income can be a lot of work. However, it can be well worth all the effort!
Here are some helpful tips for starting and running your home-based business:
- Make a list of your skills and interests to help you choose a job you can be successful with.
- If you plan to find your own clients, create a website or portfolio that you can use to market yourself.
- Start looking for a job or clients on specialised websites like these.
- Set yourself up for success to work from home efficiently.
- Create and follow a budget that can help you be successful.
We hope this article gave you some inspiration for starting a home-based business!
For more helpful information on starting a successful business from home, check out these articles:
10 Best Digital Nomad Jobs for Beginners —Remote Careers That Pay