The Top 25 Home-Based Business Ideas

/Home/f. Retirement and Employment/Senior Home Based Business Ideas

The Top 25 Home-Based Business Ideas
You are viewing page 1
If you are thinking about starting your own home-based business, the available options can be overwhelming. Here’s a look at some tried-and-true home-based business ideas that have growth potential, now and in the future.

1. Personal trainer: If you are fitness-minded, you can start your own business as a personal trainer, visiting clients in their homes. Check out the National Federation of Professional Trainers

Franchise Finder
Find the right franchise for you!
Choose your industry and location and let AllBusiness.com show you the most relevant franchises.
Industry: All Industries Automotive FranchisesBusiness-to-Business FranchisesChildren's FranchisesGeneral Service FranchisesHealth and Wellness FranchisesHome Service FranchisesPersonal Care FranchisesPersonal Finance FranchisesPet FranchisesRestaurant and Food FranchisesRetail FranchisesTravel and Leisure Franchises Location: All Locations United StatesAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingWorldwideAfricaAsiaAustralia/New ZealandCanadaCentral AmericaEuropeMexicoMiddle EastSouth America for information about the certification process.

2. Yoga instructor: You don’t need a studio to teach yoga; just like a personal trainer, you can visit clients at their homes or offices. The Yoga Alliance Web site provides information on yoga schools, certification, insurance, and more.

3. Tutoring: You can start a business tutoring students in their homes, at schools, or at local YMCAs or other child-care organizations. Talk to your local school district officials and school principals to determine their needs.

4. Business coaching: Do you have experience in management or some other specialized business skill? Share it with others by becoming a business coach. The International Coach Federation provides certification and a coach referral service for its members.

5. Consulting: If you are an expert in a specific industry, such as finance, marketing, or mediation, consider beginning your own consulting business.

6. Medical and legal transcription: If you have transcription skills and the necessary equipment, you can easily work from home for a variety of different companies. Check local community colleges or search online for transcription training courses.

7. Medical claims billing: This industry is one of the most popular work-from-home businesses. eLearners.com can help you locate legitimate transcription training courses online.

8. Accounting: There are many opportunities available for certified public accountants. If you are interested in getting certified, take a look at the Web site of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for information on specific state requirements.

9. Web design: If you can design quality Web sites, consider turning your skills into a home-based business. Because this industry is constantly changing, good Web designers are always in demand.

10. Senior care services: The rising number of senior citizens who want to stay in their own homes means big opportunity for nonmedical home care providers, who help seniors with tasks of daily living.

11. Photography: If you are skilled with a camera, you can open your own photography business. You can visit clients at their homes or, if you have space, set up a small studio in your home.

12. Home inspection: The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors Web site provides information on becoming certified to inspect homes.

13. Remodeling: If you are a gifted carpenter or contractor, you can turn your passion into your own business. Find a niche that’s in demand in your area and target it.

14. Interior design: If you have a flair for the creative, consider interior design. The American Society of Interior Designers Web site provides resources for aspiring interior designers, including a list of each state's requirements for licensing.

15. Catering or personal chef: Consider starting your own catering or personal chef business. Target a niche by providing specialized services such as low-carb or vegetarian menus. (Catering requires a food establishment license and a commercially equipped kitchen that meets state and federal health requirements. Contact your local city or county health department for more information.)

16. Gift baskets: Gift basket creation is a popular and creative home-based business. You can sell your baskets online and target both individuals and businesses to increase potential sales.

17. Wedding or event planner: If you are an ace at organizing important events and have a lot of contacts, consider becoming a wedding or event planner. There are numerous certification courses online, including one from Weddings Beautiful.

18. Personal shopper: If you love to shop and have an eye for people's personal styles, you can offer your services to people too busy to shop for themselves. Increase your profit potential by providing a gift-shopping service as well.

19. Concierge service: If you have a lot of energy, great organization skills, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks, consider providing a personal concierge service to busy businesspeople or upscale clients.

20. Custom jewelry creation: Designing your own custom design jewelry can be fun and lucrative. You can sell it online at your own sites or at crafters’ sites such as Etsy.

21. Computer repair: Are you the person everyone calls when they have a computer problem? Turn this into a business and start getting paid for fixing fatal errors. You can target small businesses, consumers, or both.

22. Cleaning service: If you are good at cleaning, consider offering your services to others. Both residential and commercial cleaning operations can easily be run from home.

23. Carpet cleaning service: A variation on cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning services are well-suited to operate from home.

24. Mobile pet grooming: If you love animals, offer consumers convenience by equipping a van and visiting clients at their homes to bathe and groom their pets.

25. Child-care services: Turn your expertise with children into a home-based day-care center. Be sure to stay abreast of your state’s regulations and insurance requirements for this type of business.

To learn more about franchises, visit the Franchise Center of AllBusiness.com. And for ongoing advice, see Frank Ross' Home-Based Business Blog.

1 2 Next Page
In addition, make sure to read these articles:
Hopeful Outlook Shines Through at Franchise Gathering
Quiznos Is Helping Franchisees Pay the Rent
What Are Some Good Franchising Ideas for Women?
The Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur
The Advantages of Franchises
More and More Women Find Success in Franchising
More Related Topics:
Industries:
Accounting , Accounting, Tax & Auditing Services ,
Subjects:
Franchises , Home-Based Businesses , Exercise & Fitness , Diet, Nutrition & Fitness , Small Business , Self Employment , Company Structures & Ownership , Medicine & Health
T T T Print Email Digg It del.icio.us
Related Resources
Related Posts
Hopeful Outlook Shines Through at Franchise Gathering
I've just returned from the International Franchise Association's annual convention in San Diego, where the franchising world's best and brightest seemed to be feeling generally ...
Read More Quiznos Is Helping Franchisees Pay the Rent
The fast-food chain is renegotiating store leases on behalf of some franchise owners.
Read More The Steps to Becoming an Entrepreneur
More than 50% of US adults think about self-employment.
Read More Podcasts
How to Evaluate a Franchising Opportunity
AllBusiness.com's Chris Bjorklund interviews Nick Bibby, one of the country's top franchising experts.
Getting Started: Franchisees Share Their Experiences
AllBusiness.com's Chris Bjorklund talks to two franchisees about their experiences, insights, and past mistakes.
Which Franchise Is Right for You? - Part 1
AllBusiness.com's Chris Bjorklund asks a leading franchising expert, David Kaufmann, senior partner at the law firm Kaufmann, Feiner, Yamin, Gilden & Robbins, about franchising trends ...
Forms and Agreements
Business Plan: Franchise Delicatessen Restaurant...
Business Plan - Pizzeria
Business Plan - Dollar Store
Business Plan: Accounting Consulting Company...
All Forms
Franchise Profiles
Stroller Strides
Prenatal and postnatal exercise classes ...
Personal Training Institute
Customized one-on-one fitness and nutrition program ...
Knuckleheads Gym
Interactive kids fitness centers for ages 4 to 14 ...
Premium Content
McDonald's goes gently into consumerism.
From here on out, Ronald McDonald may have to pay a higher deductible for claims on his health care insurance. No clowning around. Master of ...
Three British franchises awarded.(News)
FIRST Group has won the Greater Western and Thameslink/GN passenger franchises, in a deal which will see the company pay almost 2 billion [pounds sterling] ...How Much Training Do Franchisors Offer?Interview with Nick Bibby, a franchise expert with the Bibby Group. Site Map | Contact Us | FAQs | About Us | RSS Directory | Sign Up for Free Newsletters | Disclosure Policy

Copyright © 1999 - 2009 AllBusiness.com Inc. All rights Reserved.
No part of this content or the data or information included therein may be reproduced,
republished or redistributed without the prior written consent of AllBusiness.com.
Use of this site is governed by our Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy, Terms of Use Agreement and Privacy Policy.



Get In-Depth Company Information from Hoover's | Buy a D&B Credit Report | What is in Your Company's D&B Credit Report? | Article Archives
Online Business Database | Online Business Information | Sales and Marketing Solutions | Business Mailing Lists | Company Profiles
Information and opinions on AllBusiness.com solely represent the thoughts and opinions of the authors and are not endorsed by, or reflect the beliefs of,
AllBusiness.com, its parent company D&B, and its affiliates