30 work from home business ideas

Want to start a work from home business but don't have any ideas? Here's a list of 30 of the best home business ideas to get you inspired.

Let's look at each home business idea in a little more detail.

Work from home business idea #1. Blogger

Do you have a passion that you never stop talking about? Would you love to write about that topic with the aim of turning your passion into a business? Then blogging could be the right work from home business for you.

To get started as a blogger all you'll need is a website for your blog, you can learn how to start a blog you can earn money from in this guide.

The chief ways to earn a living from blogging are through including advertising on your site, affiliate marketing (see below) and paid endorsements.

It's a good idea to avoid free blog platforms as these may limit the ways you can make money from your blog.

Work from home business idea #2. Affiliate marketing

There are plenty of businesses out there who are looking for more customers, and they're willing to pay people who send new customers their way. This is the basic principle of affiliate marketing.

One of the most common ways of making money through affiliate marketing is by setting up a blog on a certain topic and then using it to promote affiliate schemes for products and services that relate to that topic.

But a blog isn't always required for affiliate marketing - plenty of people earn a good income from affiliate marketing via other forms of websites (such as review sites) and through social media.

You can learn more about affiliate marketing, how it works and how to make money with it in this guide.

Work from home business idea #3. Yoga teacher

If you're a yoga expert, why not start giving lessons from the comfort of your home own? Don't worry about having enough space for a class of 30 to fit into - video conferencing technology means that you can host classes of any size even if you've only just got enough room to throw your own mat down.

Work from home business idea #4. Web designer

One of the things that all of the 30 home business ideas on our list have in common is that they're all enhanced by having a website.

And that means that web design skills are in demand. Whether you've got the skills already, or you're willing to learn them becoming a web designer can help you earn a substantial monthly income from your own home.

Just don't forget to set up your own website to help you attract clients.

Work from home business idea #5. Business consultant

Do you have extensive experience in a particular field of business? Could you help businesses that operate in the relevant sector do things better? Then why not become a business consultant.

From coaching video calls to full business plans and reports, there are lots of areas where business consultants can offer their services.

Work from home business idea #6. IT support and repairs

Know a bit (or even a lot) about computers? Then why not offer your services in IT support and repairs?

Tasks that you consider to be simple, such as adding new memory to a computer or installing anti-virus software, are out of the comfort range of many people.

That means you can set up your own business to help them out.

Work from home business idea #7. Copywriter

Got a passion for writing and a way with words? Then you could turn your hand to copywriting (the question "what is copywriting?" is answered here.)

You might be an experienced writer looking to go freelance, or you might just be starting out.

You might want to consider jobs boards such as Upwork and Fiverr when you're starting out, but setting up your own website could help you land more profitable clients.

Know your way around Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and more?

If you do, and you've successfully grown your personal social profiles, or social profiles of businesses, then why not set yourself up as a social media marketer?

You might want to do it on a casual freelance basis, or you could set up your own social media marketing agency.

Work from home business idea #9. Photographer

If you're handy with a camera, there's a number of ways you could turn your passion into a business.

You could become a wedding photographer, or take family portraits. Or you could sell prints of your photographers via an online shop.

You could even try taking newsworthy pictures and selling them to the press.

If you decide a career in photography's for you, you'll likely want to set up an online portfolio so people can see what your work is like (you can find a list of WordPress themes that are great for photography portfolios here).

Work from home business idea #10. App developer

If you've got the programming skills, then developing apps can be an exceedingly profitable business.

Launching your own apps and then promoting them so they become successful isn't easy, but it is possible. Your apps can then be monetized through ads, subscriptions and in-app purchases.

Of course, you don't have to make apps for yourself - plenty of businesses need apps, so you could setup your own app design agency and take on clients.

Work from home business idea #11. Counsellor

One-on-one counselling sessions can take place in the comfort of your own home, and with video conferencing software your client can be anywhere in the world.

If you want to become a counsellor and don't have any experience or qualifications in the field, you'll probably want to study before setting up your business. You can find more information on becoming a counsellor in this guide.

Work from home business idea #12. Virtual assistant

Do you excel at admin? Do you love getting things organized? Are you willing to take on the dull tasks that have to be done but that people hate to do? Then being a virtual assistant could be the perfect job for you.

Virtual assistants are often hired by people who are running their own business and need a hand, but aren't able to pay for full-time employees.

Because of this virtual assistant work tends to be part-time, but that makes it a great choice if you need to fit it around other commitments at home.

You can learn more about becoming a virtual assistant in this guide.

Work from home business idea #13. Online store owner

Do you make things? Or do you have a product idea that you think would go down a storm? Or have you spotted a gap in the market for an already popular product?

There are plenty of successful online stores out there, and comparatively few of them are based around a killer idea.

If you like the idea of setting up your own online shop, checkout this guide on how to set up an online shop in the UK.

Work from home business idea #14. Music teacher

Got a musical talent that you could impart to others? Then why not set yourself up as an online music teacher?

Work from home business idea #15. SEO consultant

People will pay big money to someone who can get their website to rank well in search engines, and it's a skill that can be learned.

You might have worked in the field in the past, or you might pick up the skills needed while getting your other web-based business(es) to rank in search engines. Or you might even learn the whole process from scratch (you can find a guide to getting started with SEO here.)

Work from home business idea #16. Ebook writer

People love reading, and if you love writing then it's easier than you might imagine to start publishing ebooks using a platform such as Amazon.

You'll also need to learn how to promote your ebooks so readers can find you.

You can learn more about starting an ebook writing business in this guide.

Work from home business idea #17. Furniture upcycler

People throw things away when really all they need is a little TLC. If you've got the skills to turn old, worn out furniture into something desirable, then you could start a business that's both profitable and environmentally friendly.

You'll probably want to open an online shop to sell your upcycled furniture.

NB: Although this business is one that can be run from most homes at least on a small scale, you may need access to a workshop if you plan to deal with larger items, or have your sights set on expansion. Also be sure to read the section on possible restrictions relating to home businesses at the end of this list of ideas.

Work from home business idea #18. Collectables dealer

If you've got specialist knowledge about a certain type of collectable, then you can buy those items and resell them at a profit.

It's as simple as that.

Work from home business idea #19. Language teacher

Learning another language is one way people look to further themselves, so if you've got the skills needed to teach a language, then you'll find there's plenty of willing students out there.

And with video conferencing you can teach from the comfort of your own home.

Even if you only speak English, you may find you can teach English as a foreign language online.

Work from home business idea #20. Translator

Another option if you know more than one language is to offer translation services, either on a freelance basis, or by setting up your own agency.

Work from home business idea #21. Online tutor

Maths, science, English literature - parents are always looking for people to tutor their kids so they do better at exams.

If you're a teacher looking for a change or a second income, or a student in tertiary education looking to fund your studies, then online tutoring could be the right home business for you.

Work from home business idea #22. Graphic designer

Even in the age of the internet, there's still high demand for printed materials, and someone needs to design them.

If you've got graphic design skills, then you could set up your own graphic designer business.

Work from home business idea #23. Online advertising specialist

Pay-per-click advertising is a major income stream for many businesses, but often they don't have the skills or resources to do it themselves.

If you know about online advertising, or are willing to learn, you could set up your own ad business.

You can learn about getting started with PPC in this guide.

Work from home business idea #24. Transcript writer

If you've got typing skills then you could turn your hand to freelance transcription. Plenty of people and businesses need audio turning into copy, so there are opportunities out there.

Work from home business idea #25. Purchase an existing business

If getting something started from scratch doesn't appeal and you've got money to spend, then you could always consider purchasing an existing business.

The kind of business you choose will depend on your skills and interests, and you'll need to conduct due diligence to ensure that you're not wasting money.

You can buy an existing online business through sites like Flippa and FE International.

Work from home business idea #26. Event planner

If you've got top notch organizational skills, and a flair for customer service then event planning could be the home business for you.

You can learn more about becoming an event planner in this guide.

Work from home business idea #27. Dance teacher

As with yoga teaching and language lessons, dance can now be taught from the comfort of your own home.

In fact, there's nothing to stop you offering both dance and yoga classes via your business, along with anything else you have the skills for.

Work from home business idea #28. CV writer

Writing a good CV isn't easy, and people are willing to pay for help. If you've got a knack for writing the perfect CV, then this is a potential home business you'll want to consider.

You can learn about how to become a professional CV writer here.

Work from home business idea #29. Clothing alterations and repairs

People don't want to throw away expensive garments because of minor damage, or the need for alterations. But not many people have the skills needed to alter and repair clothes.

If you do, then it could be the perfect home business.

Work from home business idea #30. Freelance in your current field

If you want to launch a home business for better work/life balance, then you might not have to make drastic changes to your line of work.

Plenty of people operate freelance careers in a range of fields, from writers to voice over artists.

If you want to try your hand at freelancing, take a look on Upwork of Fiverr and see if people are offering the service you do in your current role. If they are, it's a good sign that there's a demand for freelancer in that field.

What to do after you've decided which work from home idea is right for you

Exactly what steps you take after settling on a business idea you want to pursue will depend on the specifics of that idea.

But there are a couple of general things that every new business should do. These are:

Secure a domain name and build a website

Buying a domain name and building a website is a crucial step for most home-based businesses, as it provides a focal point for things like lead generation, customer service and more.

Don't put off buying a domain name, particularly if you have your heart set on a certain name (someone else might snap it up first), and don't delay setting up a website - you don't want to be scrabbling around trying to get it online when you could be earning money.

You can learn about choosing a domain name here, and learn about how to create a website for your small business in this guide.

Or, you can take the plunge and set up your presence using GoDaddy's Website Builder, which includes an Online Store option. Regardless of the option you choose, if you’re going to start a home business, no matter the purpose, you should also get a proper email address, an email address for business that shows you’re a legitimate professional.

Register your business

Should you set up as a sole trader? A limited company? Or something else? These are questions only you (or a qualified business adviser) can answer.

We put together a couple of guides to help you in this situation:

Check out how to register a business with our guide

Learn how to start a limited company in 8 steps

Look at insurance and mortgage issues

Are you able to set up a home-based business under the terms and conditions of your home insurance and mortgage?

You'll often find that there are clauses restricting the type of business you can operate from home, especially if your business requires people to come into your home (which makes being able to talk to clients via video conferencing even more valuable).

There may also be other reasons you can start a certain kind of business at home. For example, a furniture upcycling business may have the potential to cause a noise nuisance.

Summing up

Hopefully you've found some inspiration in this article, and now have a solid idea of what kind of business you want to start, and what your next step should be.

And don't forget, GoDaddy will be here to support you both before and after you launch your new home based business.

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