43 Legit Home Based Business Ideas

by admin September 10, 2021

The post 43 Legit Home Based Business Ideas appeared first on Millennial Money.

If the past year has taught us anything — other than how many Oreos we can eat in one sitting — it’s that working from home is totally possible. In fact, a home-based business could be the key to living your best life.

Gone are the days of the endless commute and the nine-to-five office drudgery. Instead, folks are discovering they can work when they want, where they want. No shoes required!

There are countless ways to make money from home today. In the digital world, business opportunities are everywhere you look.

If you’re thinking about starting a new home-based business or taking on some part-time remote work, you’ve come to the right place. Here are forty-three legit ways to make money from home.

Start blogging
Become a YouTuber
Stream on Twitch
Become a virtual assistant
Sell items on Amazon
Start a tech support business
Help businesses with social media
Be a social influencer
Freelance on Fiverr
Pet sit
Become a dog groomer
Start a house cleaning service
Start a moving business
Flip furniture
Repair cars
Start a farm stand
Sell firewood
Rent out your space
Rent our your car
Turn your house into a workspace
Drive for Uber or Lyft
Sell your hair
Teach English online
Babysit or start a daycare
Teach music
Become a dance instructor
Teach Yoga
Sell photography
Publish books on Kindle Direct Publishing
Sell t-shirts
Sell graphics
Sell clothing and accessories
Work as a consultant
Try your hand at sales
Broker real estate deals
Provide customer support
Create online dating profiles
Work as a translator
Become an event planner
Become a life coach
Become a massage therapist
Launch a startup
Become an investor

Top Home Based Business Ideas to Consider

Here are forty-three legit ways to make money from home whether you want to sit in front of a computer or get your hands dirty.

Online home based business ideas

1. Start blogging

I can tell you from experience that blogging is one of the best home-based businesses you can start. You can blog about practically anything, from fashion to cars to celebrity gossip.

And once your blog is gaining followers, you can get paid via advertisements through AdSense or by approaching affiliates directly.

Blogging can be hard work. But with a little bit of planning and consistency, you could even turn it into a full-time business.

2. Become a YouTuber

Are you the kind of person who likes making videos? If so, think about launching your own business on YouTube. You can make money by streaming a variety of things — like cooking demonstrations, product reviews, or music performances.

You can make money on YouTube by creating quality content and amassing subscribers. Once you get 1,000 subscribers, YouTube will consider you a Partner. That means you can start making money with your content. If you’re not camera-shy, YouTube can be a fun way to pick up extra income.

3. Stream on Twitch

Folks handy with a controller have a unique opportunity to make money streaming on Twitch. It’s a social media platform for video gamers.

If you love playing video games, open a Twitch account and start posting regular content. If your content is unique, engaging, and valuable, people will subscribe to your channel and you could make a name for yourself.

Once you gain a lot of followers, you can reach affiliate or partner status and start hauling in the dough.

4. Become a virtual assistant

Virtual assistants make money by helping businesses with backend tasks like scheduling meetings, paying bills, and answering phones.

5. Sell items on Amazon

Consider dropshipping. With this business idea, you buy items wholesale and sell them for higher prices on Amazon. Best of all, the items are stored in an Amazon warehouse. So you won’t have massive piles of random stuff in your house.

Note that Amazon takes a 10 to 15 percent commission on sales. However, dropshipping is a potential long-term moneymaker if you are selling an in-demand product.

6. Start a tech support business

Tech wizards should look into providing IT support for local customers. This line of work requires being adept with technology and having a tremendous amount of patience. Support specialists need to be able to walk customers through difficult challenges and see problems through to completion.

This can lead to steady work and trusted client relationships with the potential for recurring revenue. Post advertisements around town or ask around in your personal network to see if anyone needs help.

7. Help businesses with social media

Another way to make money from home is by helping companies and nonprofits with their social media accounts.

Companies often struggle to resonate with audiences and create engaging content. Talented social media marketers can make money by creating compelling social posts, attracting followers, and engaging with customers throughout the day. And let’s face it, you’re spending all day scrolling anyway.

Social-savvy millennials should consider working as social media influencers and help brands market their products in organic ways.

One app that connects social influencers to brands is Collabor8. This is great for people who are excellent on sites like Facebook and Instagram.

9. Freelance on Fiverr

Another way to be your own boss is to freelance using a site like Fiverr, which is an online platform for freelancers.

This site connects people to freelance opportunities, giving them a platform to make money by taking on gig work. This is great for writers, artists, and other types of consultants who want to work on projects in their spare time or as side hustles.

Animal related home based business ideas

10. Pet sit

And if human kids aren’t your thing, you can start a home-based business by taking care of furbabies. Pet owners often pay people to watch their animals and take them out for walks.

Pet sitting can be just as lucrative as babysitting — especially if you’re able to visit every day while owners are at work. Look into the Rover app for pet-related jobs.

11. Become a dog groomer

Most pet owners won’t go near their beloved pets with a pair of clippers. Instead, they outsource to dog groomers and pay them handsomely to trim, clip, shampoo, and pamper their pets.

Home based business ideas for people who like to get their hands dirty

12. Start a house cleaning service

Cleaning houses can lead to steady income for people who are willing to work hard.

From the get-go, you may have to be the one doing the cleaning. That means you’ll be putting in the elbow grease.

However, as you build up customers, you can hire other cleaners to do the work for you. Once you take that step, you can run the business from home and focus your efforts on servicing customers and growing the business through marketing.

13. Start a moving business

This is a great word-of-mouth opportunity. If you’re strong as an ox, offer to move furniture, boxes, and appliances for people. You can service members of your community and businesses in your area.

The work pays well and is great exercise. You can cancel that gym membership! Best of all, you can use your home as your office.

14. Flip furniture

As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure — and this is especially true with furniture.

You can make money by finding cheap or unwanted furniture, restoring it, and selling it at a marked-up price.

For example, someone may throw a chair away. Consider picking it up, polishing it, and hawking it on a site like eBay. When you develop a good eye for undervalued products, you can start making some serious cash.

15. Repair cars

Good mechanics are always in demand. People who have a knack for repairing cars should consider starting an at-home garage.

That said, make sure you know what you’re doing if you are going to be charging people money. The last thing you want to do is break someone’s car, which can cost both you and your customers money. Consider getting official training before taking this route.

16. Start a farm stand

If you have a garden, you should consider growing vegetables and selling them in a local farm stand or to local grocery stores. Seeds cost very little, and they can lead to a healthy harvest.

Those with a green thumb and adequate yard space could also consider getting some chickens and selling their eggs.

17. Sell firewood

People who are fortunate enough to live near forested areas should consider sustainably chopping down trees, or sourcing fallen trees, and selling them for firewood.

Before taking this approach, it’s a good idea to talk to a local forestry professional and inquire about what you’re cutting down so that you can do it safely and smartly. In some cases, chopping down wood can actually help local wildlife by spurring growth.

One great resource to check out is Don’t Move Firewood, which offers a variety of educational materials on the topic.

Home based business ideas for people with assets to leverage

18. Rent out your space

People with room to spare in their apartment or house should consider renting it out on a site like Airbnb. This is a great way to make money from home, enabling you to bring in extra cash to make rent or mortgage payments.

You can also look at converting existing space into a separate, rentable dwelling unit. For example, if you have an unused attic, basement, or garage, this could become an easy income stream.

19. Rent out your car

The Turo app is like Airbnb but for cars. Car owners can list their vehicle on Turo and rent it out for a set period of time.

This is an excellent option for truck or van owners, who can rent cars for transportation purposes. For example, someone may need to transport some heavy furniture from one part of town to another.

20. Turn your house into a workspace

Here’s a unique idea if you have extra space: Capitalize on the work from home economy and convert your spare bedroom or basement into a rentable office. As more and more people work from home, there’s a growing demand for convenient, quiet places for remote workers.

21. Drive for Uber or Lyft

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft offer amazing money-making opportunities for those who are motivated and love driving around.

What makes these services special is that they never close. You can make money driving after hours, into the wee hours of the morning if you really need to.

Driving for Uber and Lyft can allow you to be your own boss and work your own hours. Plus, you’ll meet loads of interesting people. What’s not to like?

22. Sell your hair

This may seem like an odd choice for a home-based business, but think about it: You have hair and people out there need wigs.

So why not sell your hair? By doing so, you can help others feel more comfortable in their skin while getting compensated for your efforts.

To sell your hair, visit a site like HairSellon.

Home based business ideas for people who like to teach

23. Teach English online

There are countless people online who want to learn English. You can help them while earning money at the same time.

If this sounds up your alley, check out teaching platforms like VIPKid to get started. In order to teach English online, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, some teaching experience, and reliable technology.

Some online English teacher jobs may also require a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) certificate. Be sure to check the requirements before applying.

24. Babysit or start a daycare

Stop and think about all the people you know who have children. Chances are they may pay you to watch them — assuming you’re responsible and great with kids.

Babysitting jobs can lead to recurring paychecks. Look into Care.com for babysitting ideas outside your network or post ads on Craigslist and Facebook.

If you’re really good at babysitting and have the extra space at home, consider starting a local daycare. Be sure to check local and state requirements.

25. Teach music

You don’t have to be Mozart or Ariana Grande to have a successful career in music. All you have to do is know how to make music learning fun.

You can teach music in a variety of ways, ranging from reading sheet music to music appreciation to helping students learn how to play guitar or sing. If you have a relationship with music and a passion for what you do, consider starting a home-based music business.

Lessonface is an awesome online music teaching portal. You can also post advertisements on local sites like Craigslist or Nextdoor, or open a Udemy channel and teach virtually. You could also incentivize your students to give you referrals. Assuming you already have the gear, this is a low-cost business to operate.

26. Become a dance instructor

Those with a passion for cutting the rug can consider teaching others how to dance. All you need is an open space, a music player, and a few students to get started.

Start by seeing if any of your friends are looking for private dance lessons. You might be surprised that you already know a few steady customers. As your business grows, you may have to branch out and rent a studio, but let’s take it one step at a time.

27. Teach yoga

Many people are looking to get in better shape and take better care of their bodies. Help them by teaching yoga either in your own home-based yoga studio or online.

Building a yoga studio at home requires having a large enough room to accommodate at least four people simultaneously for it to be worth your time. As for the online angle, you could create a YouTube channel and reach a global audience right from your living room while cashing in on ad revenue. How cool does that sound?

Home based business ideas for creators

28. Sell photography

All you need to sell photography today is a smartphone with a decent camera and an eye for detail.

If you have these items, take some artsy pictures of stuff like flowers, dogs, urban skylines, and rivers and try to get accepted to sites like Shutterstock.

If you get accepted, you can receive royalties anytime someone downloads your work. This can lead to passive income — enabling you to earn money while you’re sleeping.

29. Publish books on Kindle Direct Publishing

It’s now possible to become a published author on a site like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

You don’t need to get approved, and the site will even publish paper copies upon request. If you write a page-turner, you’ll get royalties every time someone downloads your work.

30. Sell T-shirts

Everyone loves a nice, comfortable T-shirt with a cool design.

If you’re interested in this idea, look into making T-shirts with funny sayings or unique artwork and start a website using a service like Printify, Squarespace, CustomInk, or Shopify.

31. Sell graphics

People talented in graphic design should consider selling artwork on a site like Merch or Redbubble.

These sites are great because they enable users to sell graphics without having to go through the process of putting them on objects. Both sites will handle the heavy lifting for you, allowing you to spend more time on your artwork.

32. Sell clothing and accessories

Crafty artists should consider selling homemade clothes and accessories like sweaters, jewelry, and scarves. There are many e-commerce sites to explore, like eBay, Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and Facebook Marketplace, to name just a few examples. You can also take your sales offline and visit local craft fairs or try to see if retailers will sell your items on consignment.

Home based business ideas for people who like working with people

33. Work as a consultant

Subject matter experts in finance or marketing can make a lot of money working as consultants. These handy folks help companies streamline their operations and increase their profits.

For example, a company may hire a consultant to help with search engine optimization (SEO) to improve its Google rankings. Another company may hire an accounting consultant to improve its bookkeeping. A third firm may hire someone to help it secure a loan through the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Whatever the need may be, talented consultants are usually in high demand, and they don’t always have to be on site.

If you’re interested in consulting, LinkedIn is one of the best places to find work.

34. Try your hand at sales

Working in remote sales has never been easier to do, thanks to the variety of useful cloud tools available. People who are looking to hustle and have winning personalities should strongly consider working as sales consultants from home.

Here’s a tip: You don’t need to be an expert in any particular product, although it helps if you are. You just have to know how to talk with people, get them interested, and move them through the sales funnel. Ideally, you can partner with an innovative product or software solution that almost sells itself.

35. Broker real estate deals

Here’s a little secret that people who are new to real estate are often surprised to learn about: You don’t need to be a licensed real estate agent to broker real estate deals.

All you need to do is find people who are looking to sell and help them arrange a sale. In fact, you can get a commission just for finding buyers. Not bad!

36. Provide customer support

There is a massive demand for customer support specialists willing to help customers over the phone or online.

Check out Indeed for customer support jobs or consider approaching companies directly and telling them you’re interested in working as an agent or supervisor. You may be able to work from home, and you might also be able to work odd hours — like nights or weekends.

This is also a great thing to do around the holidays when companies need to scale their customer service teams.

37. Create online dating profiles

There are a lot of lonely people out there seeking online love. Unfortunately, many of them just don’t know how to create a compelling profile.

This is an opportunity for people who have a way with words and a desire to spread love and play matchmaker. It’s possible to get paid to create online dating profiles through apps like e-Cyrano. Or, if you’re feeling brave, put a post on Craigslist advertising your services.

Who knows? You just may arrange a lasting marriage between two lovebirds.

38. Work as a translator

If you can speak foreign languages fluently, you should consider working as a professional translator. You’ll answer emails, update websites, and interface with clients from different countries.

This is a great idea for people who speak languages like Spanish, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Hindi, and Mandarin, to name a few examples.

Check out Gengo to get started as a translator.

39. Become an event planner

If you’ve got a knack for pulling off the perfect party, consider offering your services to people who are less get-together gifted.

Believe it or not, you can make a lot of money as an event planner. You can specialize in anything from small corporate functions to weddings to huge professional conventions.

Being an event or wedding planner doesn’t require any formal training, but you must have excellent organization and problem-solving skills. You also need a positive attitude when dealing with clients. No party poopers need apply!

40. Become a life coach

Life can be difficult, and some people need a guiding hand to help them navigate through personal and professional challenges.

A life coach is someone who provides counseling and support for individuals and helps them find happiness and personal fulfillment. To get started as a life coach, you just need to get certified. A site like JRNI can help you get started.

Who knows? You may just change someone’s life and improve your own while you’re at it.

41. Become a massage therapist

Some people simply have a magic touch and are able to cure sore muscles and help others relax. And even if you don’t have that natural ability, you can always learn by taking a massage course.

Thinking about becoming a masseuse? Look into local certification requirements and consider becoming a trained massage therapist. You can then turn your spare room into a massage studio and make good money helping people relax.

Other Home based business ideas

42. Launch a startup

Some of the most profitable companies in the world, like Amazon and Apple, were launched out of home garages.

So if you have a great business idea that can change the world, don’t let anything stop you from giving it a whirl. Look into launching a startup and turning your idea into the next unicorn. Just watch out for high startup costs so you don’t go into debt.

Check out LegalZoom for an easy and affordable way to register your new business.

43. Become an investor

Okay, so it doesn’t fit the typical definition of a business. But investing can be a source of income for those willing to put in hard work. The key is to do your research, be patient, and avoid making rash decisions.

If you’re looking to pour some money into the market, consider opening a fee-free trading account on a platform like M1 Finance or Webull.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to run an online store?

The short answer is yes — running an online store is often much harder than people anticipate. Instead of building a site from scratch, consider sparing yourself the hassle and doing the majority of your operations on an e-commerce platform like Shopify or Etsy.

Can small business owners get rich?

It depends largely on what you do and the industry you’re in. Some small business owners get rich, while others struggle to profit.

To succeed, you need great products and the right attitude for entrepreneurship. The best business leaders are resilient, creative, and extra-hard-working.

They’re also financially savvy and capable of minimizing business taxes, claiming tax deductions, and driving profits. But this doesn’t mean that you need to learn about all of this yourself. You can and should probably hire an accountant.

The Bottom Line

It’s not easy being self-employed and running a successful business from home. But there are many ways to do it — from being a YouTuber to freelance writing and everything in between.

At the end of the day, there are countless types of businesses that can be launched from home. Think about your skills and what makes you happy. What are you truly passionate about? What would you enjoy putting in long hours toward building?

Once you hone in on the service you will provide, form your business plan and get to work. Your home-based business could turn into a smashing success before you know it.