15 of the best home business ideas

Running a business from home has many benefits, from lower overheads to less time spent commuting.

Whether you want to start a side hustle or take the step of going self-employed, there are many business ideas to consider. From selling your creative skills to looking after children or pets, there’s a home-based business for everyone.

So, what are the best home business ideas and how can you get started? Read on for more information about home businesses you can start right away and others that may require some changes to your property.

11 home businesses you can start today

Although starting any business will take time and planning, there’s no time like the present to get going. 

Here are 11 small business ideas from home that you can start working on right now:

• homemade products store
• dropshipping store
• freelancer 
• teacher or tutor
• influencer
• second-hand item store
• childminder
• dog groomer or dog walker
• life coach or therapist
• clothes alterations or ironing business
• home baking or cookery business

Read more: Small business ideas – best businesses to start yourself

Sell homemade products

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s been a boom in the number of people starting businesses that sell homemade products.

Whether you create candles, skincare products, stationary, or art, people like to buy unique products that have been lovingly handmade. 

Of course, you can sell your products online using platforms like Etsy. But there are also plenty of craft and makers’ markets to consider, as well as pop-up shop opportunities.

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Open a dropshipping store

If you don’t have space at home to keep a lot of stock, you could start a dropshipping business.

Dropshipping is when you sell products online through your own shop front and brand, but the orders are fulfilled by a third party. 

This kind of business is popular with side hustlers and has unlimited income potential. That being said, it’s a competitive market and there are often logistical or supply chain issues to contend with.

Become a freelancer

Whether you’re a copywriter, graphic designer, business consultant, or accountant, there’s plenty of benefits to going self-employed and becoming a freelancer.

Being your own boss means you can choose who you work with and what projects you accept. There’s also likely to be more flexibility and potentially higher long-term earning potential than being employed.

Promoting yourself on LinkedIn is a good way to find new business, while there are plenty of freelance websites you can use to find work.

Start a teaching or tutoring business

Demand for tutors and teachers is always high. And if you’re already in the industry, setting up your own business shouldn’t take too long.

It’s important to think about your niche – do you want to focus on a specific subject like music and are there age groups you want to specialise in?

One of the benefits of running your own teaching or tutoring business is that initially, at least, you can fit it around an existing teaching job without too many issues.

Read more: UK business ideas for 2024 – top 10 trends to watch

Become an influencer

These days, there’s big money to be made in the influencing world. While you’re unlikely to make millions overnight, if you find your niche and create engaging content, you can start to build your following.

Influencers make money from affiliate marketing, brand deals, and advertising through platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

If you’re promoting products and services on social media, it’s crucial to follow the rules set out by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Resell second-hand items

Due to increased demand for sustainable items, selling second-hand products is a viable full-time job for many. The ease and popularity of platforms like Vinted, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay means you can get up and running in no time.

You’ll need to think about how to make your shop stand out, plus how to create listings that convert into orders.

Having an effective packaging and shipping process is also key if you want to get good reviews and encourage repeat customers.

Start a childminding business 

Do you enjoy working with children? Becoming a childminder could be the home business idea for you. 

Before you get started, there are childminding courses you can take, and it’s highly recommended that you register with Ofsted.

With working parents being able to claim up to 30 free childcare hours from September 2025, now could be the perfect time to become a childminder.

Become a dog groomer or dog walker

The number of dogs has been steadily rising in recent years – there’s an estimated 13.5 million dogs in the UK in 2024, up 1.5 million since 2023, according to UK Pet Food.

This means there’s increased demand for dog grooming and dog walking businesses.

Branching out into this industry is the perfect way to combine your passion for pets with your desire to start a home business. Make sure you come up with a solid business name and protect yourself with the right insurance.

Become a life coach or therapist

If you’re a good listener and want to help others, then you might want to consider starting a life coaching or therapy business. 

You can run this type of business easily from home, with flexibility one of the key benefits. 

If you choose to become a life coach or therapist, you may want to choose a niche such as addiction, relationships, or careers. It’s also important to identify what sort of qualifications you might need to get started.

Start a clothes alterations or ironing business

The rising cost of living and increased awareness of sustainability means that people are holding on to their clothes longer. As a result, there’s likely to be plenty of demand for clothes alterations. 

And as more businesses require employees back in the office five days a week, the need for ironing services may soon return to pre-pandemic levels.

When starting this kind of business, promoting your services in the local area will be absolutely crucial. Think about the online directories you could sign up for, as well as leafleting all your nearby streets. Once your business is established, word of mouth recommendations are likely to be a significant source of new business.

Start a home baking or cookery business 

Another business niche boosted by lockdown, home baking and cookery can allow you to work with your passion for food everyday.

As well as marketing your services, you’ll need to think carefully about food preparation areas in your home and food labelling for allergens. The Food Standards Agency provides all the information you need and steps you need to follow.

4 more at home business ideas to consider

Unlike the home-based business ideas listed above, others may require some work to your property, such as converting a garage or decorating a spare room. 

Here are some more brilliant home business ideas that may need a bit more time, thought, and capital to get started:

• personal trainer
• beautician
• hairdresser
• B&B owner

Become a personal trainer

If you’ve got a passion for fitness and helping others to achieve their goals, then becoming a personal trainer could be the path for you. 

As well as getting the right qualifications, you’ll need to buy equipment such as weights, mats, medicine balls, and ropes. If you want to create a home gym in a converted garage, for example, you may want to look at larger equipment such as a bench press or exercise bike. 

Advertising your services online is a good place to start, while these days most personal trainers have a strong social media presence.

Become a beautician

Whether you want to be a mobile beauty therapist or create a salon in your own home, demand for beauty treatment is always steady.

Before you get started, you’ll need to think about what treatments you want to specialise in and take the relevant qualifications. 

And if you decide to create a salon in your home, making sure the space is bright, calm, and relaxing will be a key consideration.

Start a home hairdressing business

Whether you’re an established hairdresser or just starting out, running your business from home could be a good decision. 

Some people prefer to have their hair cut in the comfort of the home, whether it be their own or their hairdresser’s. As well as visiting clients, you may be able to convert a spare room or garage into a home salon. 

Running your hairdressing business from home means you can be your own boss and won’t have to pay a salon owner a percentage of your takings. You’ll also be able to put your own stamp on your brand and could benefit from a better work-life balance.

Become a B&B owner

Have you been inspired by staying in an AirBnb or watching Channel 4’s Four in a bed? If you live in an area popular with tourists, you may want to convert your property into a bed and breakfast. 

While this will likely require big changes to your property and way of life, it could be a rewarding business to start if you enjoy hospitality. 

Not only will you need to think about things like holiday letting agents, but you’ll also need to focus on the presentation of your property and important smaller details such as a welcome pack.

How to get started with your home business idea

If you’re feeling inspired by our list of business ideas from home, it’s time to think about the practicalities of getting started, from business plans and balance sheets, to creating a website, and marketing.

Read our ultimate guide on how to start a business for all the information you need.

Are there any work from home business ideas we missed? Let us know in the comments below.

Useful guides for the self-employed

• What is a freelancer and how can you become one?
• A guide to working out your employment status
• How to get clients as a freelancer or contractor
• How to register as self-employed

Photograph: Zamrznuti tonovi/stock.adobe.com