101 Best Home Based Businesses
Below is my list of 101 best home based businesses with an indication of the cost of entry, growth prospects, and competition. Please note that all numbers below are estimates. You will have to do your own research to determine more appropriate cost estimates and other details for your proposed business.
Keys Used in
List
of 101 Best Home Based Businesses
Cost of Entry key: $ = $0 to $5000, $$ = $6000 to $20k, $$$ = $25k to $100k, $$$$ = $105k to $250k. This is the estimated amount of investment you will need to get started. You may also need to add to this dollar number an additional amount, say 20%, for working capital. This will be used to fund your business bank account.
Growth Prospects key: G = 1-10%, GG = 11-20%, GGG = 21-30%, GGGG = 31-40%. These numbers represent annual percentage of increase in sales.
Competition key: C = few competitors, CC = medium, CCC = many competitors.
I’ve divided this list of 101 home based businesses into 3 categories. All are adaptable to being home businesses. The offsite category includes businesses, such as consulting, where you are based at home but perform a service elsewhere.
There are thousands of types of home based businesses. This list is only a small part of what already exists. New types are added all the time. You might find several interesting suggestions in this list that you can put your own spin on. Your own spin, or your unique product benefits, can be rewarded by growth and profits. This list of 101 best home based businesses is mostly for use as an idea starter.
ONLINE Part of List
of 101 Best Home Based Businesses
(operated mostly
online and in the home)
Drop ship merchandizing (e-store), general $,G,CC
Specialized clothing $, GG, C
Custom skateboards and surfboards $, G, C
Video games $, GG, CC
Auto components $$, G, CCC
Costumes $, G, C
Hunting & fishing equipment $, GG, CC
Phones and other electronics $, G, CC
Niche bookstores $, G, CCC
DJ equipment $, G, CC
Cell phone accessories, $, G, CCC
Lawn & garden items, $, G, CC
Niche sporting goods, $, GG, CCC
Nutritional products $, G, CCC
IT services, general $$, GGG, CCC
Web site design $, GG, CCC
Web site hosting $$, GG, CCC
Software, custom, and support $$, GGG, CC
SEO business $$, GG, CCC
Computer drafting and engineering services $$, GG, CCC
Computer based games development and sales $, GGGG, CCC
Ebay, Amazon, Buy.com and other e-commerce $$, G, CCC
Fitness training online service $$, G, CCC
Custom education courses and course software $$$, GG, CC
Sales of online education, $, GG, CCC
Online banks and banking services $$, GG, CC
Freight dispatching service $, GG, CC
Movie distribution service $, G, CCC
Travel and relocation services $, G, CCC
3D design and printing services $$$, GG, CC
Retail of business & consumer goods online (from your inventory) $$, G, CC
Computer network products $$, G, CCC
Sports products $$, GG, CCC
Food products (not produced in home) $, G, CC
Home accessories $$$, G, CCC
Tractor parts $$$$, GG, C
Work boots $$$, G, CC
Sales lead generation $, GG, CC
Mobile phone text message marketing set up service $, GG, CC
Social networking business $$$, GG, CC
Travel agency $$, G, CC
Travel advertising $, G, CC
Software application program sales $$,GG, CC
Child-oriented website for parents $$, GGG, C
Marketing lists and market data sales $$, GG, CC
Online insurance brokerage $$, GGG, CC
Credit repair service $$, G, CCC
Medical equipment auction site $$$, GGG, C
OFFLINE Part of List
of 101 Best Home Based Businesses
(operated mostly offline and at home)
Gift basket assembly and delivery $, G, CC
Personnel agency, including technical personnel $$, G, CC
Machine shop $$$, G. CC
Welding and metal fabrication $$, G, CC
Lawn mower and small appliance repair $$, G, CC
Engraving of signs and trophies $$, G, CC
Sign making, electrical and un-lit $$, G, CC
Wood furniture and novelties fabrication, $$, G, CC
Auto repair $$$, G, CCC
Auto sales $$, G, CCC
Pet products $$, G, CCC
Beauty services $, G, CCC
Personal fitness trainer (in-home gym) $$, G, CCC
Printing services $$, G, CCC
Product development and inventing $$, GG, C
T-shirt and garment printing and embroidery $$, G, CCC
Custom fashion design and fabrication $$, G, CCC
Elder care and day care in home, $$, G, CC
Child and infant day care $$, G, CCC
Massage therapy, $, G, CCC
Physical therapy $$, GG, CC
Food product prep with online sales $$, G, CC
Printer ink refilling $, G, CCC
OFFSITE Part of List
of 101 Best Home Based Businesses
(operated from the home)
Building cleaning services $$, G, CCC
Food, grocery and goods purchasing and delivery, $, G, CC
Paid shopper $, G, CC
Mystery shopper $, G, C
Physical fitness coach $, G, CC
Consulting of many types $, G, CC
Financial advisor $, G, CC
Accounting and income tax advisor $, G, CC
Engineering, general $, G, CC
Mechanical design $, G, CC
Electrical design $, G, CC
Chemical engineering $, G, CC
Land surveying $, G, CC
Business Coaching $, G, CC
Real estate or rental property management $, G, CC
Home repair and remodeling $$, G, CCC
Mobile RV repair $$. G, CC
Lawn sprinkler installation and repair $$, G, CCC
Swimming pool maintenance, repair, and chemicals $$, G, CCC
Mobile food service $$, G, CCC
Lawn and garden care services $$, G, CCC
Tree and shrub trimming $$, G, CCC
Brush removal, $$, G, CCC
Hauling service $$, G, CCC
Moving service $$, G, CCC
Septic tank cleaning service $$, G, CCC
Air conditioning & heating services $$$, G, CCC
Roofing services $$, G, CCC
Food preparation in homes $, G, CC
Wedding planning and preparation $, G, CC
Party planning $, G, CC
Garment alteration services $, G, CC
House sitting $, G, CC
Pet sitting and other pet services $, G, CC
Vending machine service $$$, G, CCC
Business broker $$, G, CC
Real estate broker $, G, CCC
Security system business $$$, GG, CC
Bar & restaurant profit management service $$, GG, CC
Suggestions for
Discovering a Home Business for Yourself
When 101 Best Home Based Businesses Is
Not Enough
The
list of 101 best home based businesses may not include anything that
appeals to you. But we hope that it has some ideas that you can adapt to
your interests. Below are some other ways to discover your business
idea.
To decide on a business, or to develop a business idea, first consider your interests, any hobbies, and your fun activities. Consider any educational and work background that you have. Make lists. Look back through the above list. Think about what you want for yourself.
Look locally for businesses
that make a product or provide a service and make arrangements with them
to pay
you for sales you independently generate for them. Also look locally for
raw materials or components that you could use to make a product. Your
sales efforts can be entirely online using your own web site or a
service like eBay.
Look locally for growing firms or industries and find out what products or services they need that you can provide efficiently. Info for these types of businesses may be found on local TV, local publications and by talking with business people and others.
Consider the latest trends in technology, art, communications, real estate and any subjects that interest you. Look at advertising that appears on the media. See what new and interesting items you can find. Consider working with these products or services by making them and/or selling them.
Look for unwanted or low cost production equipment that you can turn into a business. Look for businesses that have closed or are going out of business. Sometimes a room full of equipment is available at a very low price and this deal may get you started in a business.
Search businesses that are for sale. See our page Web Business for Sale. Find there the web sites listed for all types of businesses, not just web-based.
Thank you for visiting 101 Best Home Based Businesses. There are more ideas for businesses to start at cheap home business ideas, top 10 home business ideas, and creative home based business ideas.