10 businesses you can start from home

Do you have a passion or hobby that you want to turn into a living? Or maybe you’ve been dreaming of being your own boss for a while now, but are feeling held back? 

Fortunately, in the age of remote working, you can work from anywhere, and you don’t need much to get started. So, we’re here to share 10 easy business ideas you can start from home today.

1. Sell handmade products online

If you’re an arts and crafts enthusiast or you’re looking for a creative career, selling your handmade products online is a great way to turn your hobby into a business from the comfort of your own home. 

Whether you have a unique product idea, are considering a career change later in life, or you are seeking a harmonious work/life balance, the handmade industry is a great choice.

One of the biggest benefits of selling your handcrafted creations online is that it’s flexible and puts you in charge of your inventory. Typically, handmade products are made to order, meaning you don’t have to commit to large stock quantities, and worry about where you’re going to keep them before they sell. This is particularly ideal if you have limited space at home.

See also: How to set up an online business in the UK See also: How to sell on Amazon as a sole trader or limited company

If this is something you’d like to pursue, you’ll first need to decide what you will sell. Will it be scented candles, bespoke jewellery, unique art prints, or a mixture of different items? 

When you’re ready to launch your business, sign up to marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, and Not On The High Street. These platforms are designed to help local businesses start and grow their brands and reach millions of shoppers.  

2. Start a digital marketing agency

A digital marketing agency is another great business idea you can start from home. It can also be a highly profitable venture if you’re an expert in this field.

That’s because digital marketing services will always be in demand. Every business needs exposure and growth, but they don’t all know how to do it, or they lack the creativity or in-house resources.

As a home-based digital marketing agency, you could offer the following services:

• Web design
• Search engine optimisation (SEO)
• Email marketing
• Social media marketing
• Content production
• Pay-per-click (PPC) campaign management

If you have experience in one or more of these areas, we recommend sticking with what you know. However, you can learn new marketing skills through online courses, to start a one-stop-shop marketing agency. 

The great thing is that you don’t need an office or team to start a marketing business from home. Everything is digital, so you need access to relevant apps and programmes (like Semrush for keyword research and rank tracking, or Mailchimp for email marketing), a website, and a social media presence to launch your marketing brand and find your first clients. 

3. Try affiliate marketing

As an affiliate, your job is to promote other company’s products and services. In return, you earn a commission. 

Affiliates typically advertise on their social media channels, blogs, and websites, sharing affiliate tracking links with their followers. These links navigate interested shoppers to the promoted brand’s page, where they can buy the products or services they’ve seen and notify the business of your sales. 

One of the main benefits of starting an affiliate marketing business is that it’s completely digital. There’s no need to hold any inventory, and you don’t need to hire staff, making it an ideal business to start from home. 

It’s also inexpensive to launch and flexible, allowing you to align it with your personal schedule and commitments. You do, however, need to build a website and develop a sizeable social media following to maximise your earning potential.

4. Promote your pet to a ‘petfluencer’

Is your pet a star in the making? Well, the internet loves animal content, so why not promote your furry friend to a petfluencer and start your own social media business from home? 

The key thing to note is that your pet’s personality will be your brand, so you should focus on what makes them unique and what your followers would like to see. Maybe your cat is especially mischievous, your puppy has a unique sense of style, or your hedgehog makes funny faces. 

See also: How to promote your business on social media

Concentrate on what makes them different, amusing, or relatable to other pet owners. You can take inspiration from Venus the Two Face Cat or jiffpom. 

If this sounds like the perfect business idea, you’ll be pleased to hear it offers many great benefits, like a harmonious work/life balance. Animals are also well-known mood boosters, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety, improving productivity, and generally making us happier. 

The best perk, though, is that you can easily start this business from home. All you need to do is take even more photos of your pet and give the world an insight into their adorable character. 

5. Start a photography business

Are you a passionate and talented photographer, ready to turn your dream into a business? We’ve got great news – you can start a photography business from home today. 

Depending on your niche, you might not even need to set up a home studio. For example, if you specialise in wedding photography, your day-to-day job will be external. So, all you need at home is a suitable home office to run the admin side of your business. 

Another way to start a photography business from home is to sell your work online. You could sell stock photography or unique prints (like nature, fashion, food, or travel) for people to decorate their homes with. 

Before taking on your first customer, remember to take out essential business insurance, like professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ready to get started? See our step-by-step guide to setting up a photography business.

6. Become a personal trainer

If you’re a fitness fanatic and want to help others become healthier, you could become a personal trainer (PT). First, you must obtain an Ofqual regulated Level 3 Personal Training qualification. 

One of the main benefits of a PT business is that it doesn’t require any external premises of your own. PTs tend to visit their clients, or partner up with gyms and studios where they offer their services to their customers. 

Also, as a PT, a large portion of your job will take place online. This is where you’ll promote your fitness brand, so future customers can discover you and manage your clients and their personal regimes. 

Feeling inspired? Start your PT business from home with our handy guide.

7. Turn your knack for DIY into a business

DIY and handyman services are another business that you can easily start from home. Like a PT, most of your work will occur at customers’ homes, where you might need to assemble furniture or paint the wall. 

Again, your admin will all be digital, so there’s no need for a dedicated office outside of your home. You simply need internet access to register with relevant marketplaces and set up your website and Google Business Profile, so that customers can find you when they search for these services in their local area.

While you don’t need a lot of space at home to set up a DIY business, we recommend having a dedicated workspace where you can focus on your promotional activities, bookkeeping, and legal duties.  

8. Start a podcast

If you’re a creative person, passionate about entertainment and content production, you could start your own podcast. Podcasts are a hot business trend growing rapidly over recent years. 

As discovered by Statista research, the share of podcast listeners is on an upward trajectory. North America is by far the dominant market, but the rest of the world is predicted to follow a similar trend over the next couple of years. 

Podcasts are all about verbal entertainment, so when choosing your topic, be prepared to discuss it in depth. It could be sports, politics, or comedy, for example.

You also need to consider your podcast format. The easiest options to run this type of business from home are solo, co-host, or interview style. 

Initially, it’s worth investing in a good-quality microphone. Later, you could upgrade to additional equipment and, space permitting, even set up a home recording studio.

9. Start a dropshipping business

Dropshipping is an online retail business that works exactly the same as a physical store, except that you can run it from the comfort of your own home. You don’t need to worry about holding inventory or managing postage – this is all handled by the supplier.

See also: The Rapid guide to starting a dropshipping business

However, as the retailer, you are responsible for choosing your products, promoting them and your brand, setting your prices, and covering shipping costs. You are also the customers’ point of contact if they have any queries or issues. 

Dropshipping is an entirely digital venture, making it perfect for those who want to be their own boss and run their business from home. 

10. Start a cleaning business

A cleaning business is another excellent option if you want an attainable business idea you can start from home. Like DIY services or a PT, most of the work will occur externally, so all you need to do at home is have a suitable space to manage your admin. You’ll also need storage for your equipment and an appropriate vehicle. 

Cleaning services can be highly lucrative. Average cleaning costs are around £25 per hour, depending on the locations you want to cover. Some specialised services, like carpet, end-of-tenancy, and window cleaning, could earn you up to £200 per hour. 

To get started, consider the types of cleaning services you want to focus on, learn about health and safety regulations, get insured, and promote your business online. For more details, follow our guide to starting a cleaning business. 

Final step: incorporate your business

Hopefully, we’ve inspired you with our business ideas that you can start from home. Once you’ve chosen one that’s perfect for you, the final step is incorporation. 

You might be considering starting your business as a sole trader, which is a good way to test the waters and explore it as a side hustle. But once you’re ready to commit to it full-time, we recommend getting registered as a private limited company with Companies House. 

Incorporation offers an array of benefits, such as:

• Prestige and credibility – Customers will view your registered business as trustworthy.
• Limited liability – Unlike a sole trader structure, you won’t be responsible for the entirety of your company’s debts. You will be liable only for the unpaid nominal value of the shares that you hold. 
• Personal asset protection – A limited company is its own legal entity, meaning your personal finances are entirely separate from the company’s. 
• Tax benefits – Save on taxes, such as Corporation Tax, which is charged at a lower rate than Income Tax, which sole traders pay. You can also claim a range of allowable business expenses to reduce your bill.
• Ease of raising capital – A registered company can help you attract investors and instil confidence in lenders.
• Perpetual succession – Your company will continue to exist unless dissolved. You also have the option to share ownership with other shareholders and sell the company, should you wish to. As a sole trader, you are the business; there is no separation. 

With Rapid Formations, your business could be registered and ready to trade in just a few hours. Choose your company formation package, follow our quick and easy online registration process, and start your business from home today.

Thanks for reading

From retail and marketing to entertainment and wellness, there are many businesses that anyone can start from home. Whether you’re looking for a creative, practical, or flexible business idea, we hope our guide has inspired you to make your dreams a reality. 

Thanks for reading. Please leave any comments or questions below.