Home services business ideas you can run from home
30 ideas
These 30 ideas suit people who are practical, enjoy fixing or making things, and want to work from their own house or garage rather than rent premises. Some are bench-based trades, such as a home workshop washer and dryer repair service or a home-based sewing machine repair and servicing business.
Home-based garden design service
Draw garden layouts and planting plans for homeowners from your home office, with site visits as needed.
- A$1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Garden lighting design service
Plan outdoor lighting for gardens and building exteriors, then hand the install to a licensed electrician or landscaper.
- A$1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop mower repair and servicing
Service and repair petrol and electric mowers and garden tools from your garage or shed, with drop-off or pick-up.
- A$1k-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based furniture repair and touch-up
Fix wobbly chairs, scratched tables and broken drawers from a garage or shed workshop.
- A$1k-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based carpet trade supplier
Sell mill carpet and underlay to local flooring shops and fitters, with stock sent straight from the supplier.
- A$2k-10k
- Part-time
- From home
Awning sales with a subcontract fitter
Sell and quote awnings from home and hire a local fitter, so you need little kit or stock.
- A$1k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based shoe cleaning and polishing
Collect or receive dirty shoes, restore and polish them at home, and return them looking smart.
- A$200-1k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based sharpening service
Sharpen knives, scissors and garden tools in your garage or shed, with drop-off, pick-up or post.
- A$500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based watch repair bench
Fix battery, strap and basic mechanical watch problems from a tidy bench at home, taking jobs by post, online and from local jewellers.
- A$800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based shoe repair service
Repair shoes and bags from a home workshop, taking jobs by post, local drop-off or pick-up.
- A$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based lawn equipment hire
Hire out mowers, trimmers and hedge cutters by the day or weekend from your shed or garage.
- A$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Local house sitting service
Build a small, trusted team of sitters and match them to clients' homes and pets.
- A$1k-5k
- Part-time
- From home
Local house sitter matching agency
Match vetted sitters with homeowners going away, and earn a fee for each booking.
- A$500-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home help agency for private clients
Match reliable helpers with local households who need cleaning, errands and a hand around the house, run from your home office.
- A$1.5k-6k
- Part-time
- From home
Registered home help agency for funded clients
Supply domestic help to people whose home support is funded through aged care or disability programs, with a small team of workers.
- A$5k-25k
- Full-time
- From home
Home lamp repair workshop
Repair and rewire table and floor lamps from a home workbench, with drop-off, pick-up or post.
- A$1k-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based tool hire with delivery
Rent out a small fleet of popular power tools to local DIYers and tradies, delivered to their door.
- A$4k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based wood heater dealer
Sell wood heaters through a website and home consultations, with licensed installers doing the fitting.
- A$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based sewing machine repair and servicing
Service and repair sewing machines at a home workbench for local sewers, quilters and dressmakers.
- A$800-3.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based patio enclosure dealer
Sell and design patio covers and enclosures from home, and use trusted installers to build them.
- A$2k-10k
- Part-time
- From home
Benchtop supply service (no workshop)
Measure up, quote and order kitchen and bathroom benchtops from local suppliers for homeowners and builders.
- A$1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop microwave repairer
Repair household microwaves at a home bench. Customers drop off or post them, and you fix faulty ones that are worth saving.
- A$1k-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based made-to-measure curtain maker
Sew custom curtains from a spare room for homeowners, landlords and local designers.
- A$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop washer and dryer repair
Repair smaller or bench-side faults from your garage, and refurbish machines to resell.
- A$1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
About these ideas
Others lean on craft skills, like made-to-measure curtains, or on logistics, like home-based tool hire with delivery. Before you choose, think about where the work will physically happen, how much space and storage you need, and whether customers will visit or you will deliver. Check your skills and any licences or training the work might require, and talk to your local council about running a business from your home. Start with the idea that fits what you can already do.
More ideas
- Home-based small appliance repair bench
- Home workshop appliance repair
- Water softener dealer with service plans
- Home-based vacuum repair and service
- Home workshop appliance repairs
- Park and manufactured home letting agent
Questions
Do I need council approval to run a home services business?
It depends on your local council and the type of work. Noise, customer visits, deliveries, signage and storing equipment can all matter. Check your council's home business rules and any lease or strata restrictions before you invest in tools or stock.
Do I need a licence to do repair or installation work from home?
Some work, especially anything involving electrical, gas or plumbing connections, may need a licence or certification in your state or territory. Check with your state regulator before taking jobs, and confirm what your skills and training actually cover.
What insurance should I look into for a home-based service business?
Home and contents policies often exclude business activity, so check yours. Ask an insurer about public liability, tools and equipment cover, and protection for customers' items left in your care. Also check whether you need cover for deliveries or vehicles.