Home-based business ideas are a dime a dozen, but you need to focus on what you do best. If any of these suggestions fit the type of work you like to do then you need to follow up with more research. Have a plan of attack when you start and learn to be adjustable. Here are some of the top home-based business ideas you can start right now. 

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Start a Blog (hopefully, write a book or two)

On nearly every home-based business ideas list you can find starting a blog. You don’t have to be a beautiful writer (although it will help), and you don’t have to be an expert in a specific area (can’t hurt to be though). What you do need is a clear and new voice in regards to what you were talking about.  At first no one is going to pay attention to you, and it’s going to be hard to gain traction. On average, gaining traction on a blog website can take 6 months to a year. Even longer if it’s not optimized for SEO. The great news about this, though, is it gives you time to suck. More importantly, it gives you time to find your voice and to perfect it. Most people are not going to come swinging out of the gate with a successful blog. It’s best for you to find something you’re passionate about, enjoy talking about, and can write content about. Writing is like a muscle. You’re only going to get better at it by working that muscle out. 

In addition, there’s always the option to write a book, preferably after you gain an audience on your blog. If you don’t think a blog is right for you though but still want to write a book, understand that there will be a lot of work. You can turn novel writing into a full-time job, but it will probably take you years to find success, so just be mindful of that. Unlike other home-based business ideas, there is no guide map on pricing and tracking success. Best of all, though, is you can easily start one of these side hustles while working full-time.

Start a YouTube Channel

YouTube is one of the biggest content platforms in the entire world. Millions of watch hours happen every single day. If you’ve ever wanted to be creative and want to do it on film, now is the perfect time to start. Content creators can make money through ad revenue, affiliate links, sponsorships, and promoting their own products. YouTube is one of the only places where you can build an audience just by showing off products. You also don’t need that many tools to start. Most YouTubers get their start while filming with a camera. If you plan to start a channel, make sure to write up a guide on how you plan to make content and come up with at least 40 episode ideas that you can create good content with. 

Before you begin your journey, come up with ways to grow and expand your content area. It’s best to start in a small niche and, as you gain a following, break out into other forms of content. Recording equipment is relatively simple if you already have a smartphone. Just make sure to pick up something like a phone tripod and Rode VideoMic to instantly boost the quality. Remember, everyone’s nervous when they first appear on camera, but that doesn’t mean you should stop filming!

Re-sell items online

Reselling items, whether it is items you already own or those found on eBay and Amazon, can be a great profitable online business. Imagine it’s like digital thrift shopping, except where you find a really good deal online and then turn around and sell that product for even more. Although you can start on a meager budget, it’s probably best that you save up some money before you start this venture. It heavily depends on what you’re reselling and how much information you know about the product. For instance, comic books are in each market and there are sellers willing to shell out hundreds of dollars for special editions. Except, when you buy a special comic book you’re also going to need a graded fire special authorization board. It needs to be vetted that it is the original item and is in mint condition.

Not considering factors like those and shipping costs can greatly diminish your returns when trying to resell. Before buying an item, make sure you know exactly what you were getting into.  don’t just spend money because you “think” you can make a profit. Pick a market that sells well and then learn it forwards and backwards. It’s one of a few home-based business ideas that make sense if you are an expert in some products.

Freelance Work

With the popularity of freelance websites like Upwork and Fiverr, freelancing has become accessible for just about anyone with a computer. There are so many things you can do when you are a freelancer. You can work as a website designer, proofreader, video editor, blog writer, T-shirt designer, graphic designer, voice-over artist, video production, audio production, and so much more! Basically, if you have a skill, you can make money off of it. However, you will have to start at the bottom. Without any reviews or recommendations, you’ll have to charge less for your services to start, but you can choose the jobs you want to do. Home-based business ideas like this give you the freedom to choose what you work on and how you plan to work on it. You can work collaboratively with others or on your own. 

Once you start gaining reviews and have examples of your work to show then you can start raising your prices. This will lead you to do higher volumes of work at a higher pay scale. Whether you want some extra side cash or eventually want to do this full time, you have the control to say and do what you want.

Online Tutoring

Know English? Then you can make money with this home-based business idea. Companies and countries will pay money for you to remotely teach English to international students. The only downside to this gig is that you have to physically do the work and can’t automate it away. But if you are looking for a part-time gig to eventually go full time, online tutoring can be your best option. In addition to this, companies are also hiring for online tutors with other subjects as well. You can tutor in math, science, and history or take a harder challenge like the ACT or SAT. Once you get your own foot in the door and start to learn the ropes, you can then branch out on your own and start your own home-based tutoring business. 

A word of caution however: make sure to iron out your tutoring skills. People are looking for guidance and will be paying their hard-earned money for help. Don’t be like some other charlatans and try and sell false hope. It’s not going to make you happy and that’s not the best way to run a home-based business. Always be wary of someone selling a program or service who doesn’t provide credentials and a way to measure success.

Pet Sitting

Pet sitting is simple. people bring their dogs over, you watch them, walk them, and feed them. The owners return and pick up their dogs and you get paid. The only downside is that you may have to work on the weekends, but if you love pets, it can be super rewarding. If you’re great with animals and don’t mind going on a walk or two, this may be perfect for you. Start locally first, offering your services on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Have your first customers leave positive reviews and build your business by word of mouth. Once you build up a reputation, it is time to start joining dog sitting apps or creating your own. The best part about these home-based business ideas is all the furry friends you get to make.

Podcasting

Much like starting a YouTube channel, podcasting can be done relatively cheaply. If you have an interesting take on a subject or you are an expert in your field, a podcast may be right for you. If you think that video may be too hard for you then focus on audio editing specifically. Podcasting is actually a great way to get into video, as you can take parts of your podcast show, film it, and then put it on YouTube. You can also get sponsorships for your podcast and patrons, and even sell your own products. All you need is a good mic and interesting content. You can even use free audio software like Audacity to edit your content. Personally, I recommend the Blue Yeti Microphone, which is a mid-range microphone that is very accessible to new-comers and can be plugged straight into your computer. If you plan on being in a noisy environment, I recommend the Audio-Technica AT2005USB, which has a cardioid pattern that can help block out background noise. Podcasting is one of many home-based ideas that doesn’t have much upfront cost.

Sell handcrafted items online 

Like knitting or crocheting? Then you need to be selling online. With large online platforms like Etsy or Amazon, you can easily get started right away. Getting noticed online is the hard part along with the upfront cost of materials. You’ll have to get creative with your digital marketing and designs to stand out, so don’t hold back, and have a long term growth plan. Make sure to leverage social media to your advantage and post about designs, or ask your friends and family what they would like. Items made out of wood or glass are always in high demand and if you have perfected that craft it can be easier to turn a profit. Before going online with this idea make sure you have a plan in order to source supplies and how to market yourself 

Virtual Assistant 

Companies and CEOs still need assistance, but that doesn’t mean they need to be in-house. If you have great organizational skills and great Microsoft Office skills, you could be a good fit. You can find work on freelance sites and other websites. You’ll be able to work from home and still make a living 

Travel Agents

Although some travel agents work within agencies, not all do. If you start your own website in your own agency, you can start from home and build your client list. Help others book trips and save money planning their next vacation. If you are familiar with travel and know how to get the best trips for the lowest money, it can be easy to pitch services to others. A lot of times people want to be guided through an expensive purchase like a vacation and you can help them. You’ll need research skills and need to build your client base slowly. 

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