Hospitality business ideas you can start from home

14 ideas

Hospitality doesn't always mean a cafe lease and a full kitchen. These 14 ideas let you earn from home, whether that's by hosting guests or by working behind the scenes.

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Small-scale catering equipment hire from home

Hire out urns, chafing dishes, tables and chairs to party hosts and caterers from a garage or shed.

• A$2k-10k
• Side hustle
• From home

Holiday stay in your granny flat or spare unit

Furnish a self-contained unit at your property and rent it to holidaymakers by the night.

• A$3k-15k
• Side hustle
• From home

Short-stay management for property owners

Run listings, guests and cleaning for owners of holiday homes and flats, and take a share of the bookings.

• A$500-3k
• Side hustle
• From home

Non-smoking granny flat or studio stay

Rent a granny flat, studio or spare room on your property to holiday guests who want a smoke-free stay.

• A$2k-12k
• Side hustle
• From home

Spare-room bed and breakfast

Host travellers in a spare room or two of your own home and serve them a home-cooked breakfast.

• A$1k-6k
• Side hustle
• From home

Home-based holiday cabin letting manager

Manage a handful of local holiday cabins from home: list them, handle bookings and guests, and take a commission.

• A$2k-8k
• Side hustle
• From home

Holiday let in your spare room or granny flat

Host short stays in a spare room, studio or granny flat on your own property.

• A$500-5k
• Side hustle
• From home

Bed and breakfast from your own home

Rent spare rooms in your own home to travellers and serve a simple breakfast.

• A$2k-10k
• Side hustle
• From home

Home-based travel agent

Plan and book holidays for friends, family and local clients from your home office, earning commission and fees.

• A$500-3k
• Side hustle
• From home

Holiday home manager (home-based)

Look after a handful of local holiday rentals from home: bookings, guest messages and cleaner rosters, for a commission.

• A$1k-5k
• Side hustle
• From home

Spare room lodging in your own home

Rent one or two spare rooms to students, workers or travellers on weekly or monthly stays.

• A$500-2.5k
• Side hustle
• From home

Freelance cafe and restaurant consultant

Help local cafes, restaurants and bars sharpen menus, costs and day-to-day running for a fee.

• A$500-3k
• Side hustle
• From home

Walkers' bunkhouse on your own property

Turn a spare room, shed or cottage near a walking trail into a few low-cost beds for pilgrims.

• A$5k-25k
• Side hustle
• From home

Home-based rail holiday agent

Plan and book scenic rail journeys for clients from home, working under an established travel host agency.

• A$500-2.5k
• Side hustle
• From home

About these ideas

Some suit people with a spare room or granny flat, such as a spare-room bed and breakfast or a holiday stay in your granny flat or spare unit. Others are desk-based, like short-stay management for property owners or working as a home-based travel agent. They suit people who enjoy looking after others, are organised, and want low overheads. Before you choose, check your local council's rules, your lease or strata by-laws if you rent or live in a unit, and what insurance you would need. Think about how much privacy you're willing to give up, and how much time you can realistically commit each week.

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