Home services business ideas you can start from home
24 ideas
These 24 ideas suit people who are practical, reliable and happy to build a local reputation from their own base. Some are hands-on, like home-based small appliance repair or furniture repair in a home workshop.
Home-based residential landscape designer
Create garden plans, planting layouts and patio designs for homeowners from your home office, with site visits as needed.
- C$500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-run carpet supplier with low stock
Supply flooring shops and fitters from sample books, ordering from mills and distributors with little stock of your own.
- C$3k-15k
- Part-time
- From home
Home workshop furniture repair
Fix loose joints, broken chairs and scratched tables in a garage or basement workshop.
- C$1k-5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Restored cast-iron radiators sold online
Source old radiators, clean, test and repaint them in a garage or workshop, then sell them locally and online.
- C$2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Outdoor lighting design service
Draw up outdoor lighting plans from home for homeowners and landscapers, who then use their own installer.
- C$500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop shoe and boot repair
Repair shoes and boots from a home workshop, with local drop-off and mail-in service.
- C$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home garage mower repair workshop
Repair and tune up mowers and garden tools from your garage or shed, with drop-off or pickup.
- C$500-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home sharpening with drop-off and mail-in
Sharpen household knives, scissors and garden tools from a home workshop.
- C$300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop small appliance repair
Fix kettles, toasters, blenders and vacuums from a home bench, with drop-off, pickup or mail-in.
- C$500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based vacuum repair and servicing
Fix and service household vacuums from a workbench at home, with drop-off or pick-up from local customers.
- C$400-2k
- Side hustle
- From home
Wood stove sales without a showroom
Sell stoves and accessories online and by home visit, ordering from suppliers and booking certified installers.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based small appliance repair
Fix kettles, vacuums, toasters and small electronics from a home workbench, with drop-off and pick-up.
- C$800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop appliance repair and resale
Repair smaller washers and dryers in your garage or workshop, plus fix up used units to resell.
- C$1k-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home lamp repair and rewiring workshop
Rewire and fix table and floor lamps from a bench at home, taking drop-offs and mail-ins.
- C$300-1.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home workshop microwave repair
Fix microwaves dropped off or posted to your home workshop, from dead units to broken doors and turntable motors.
- C$500-2.5k
- Side hustle
- From home
Garage-based lawn equipment rental
Rent out mowers, trimmers and yard tools by the day or weekend from your garage, with pickup or local delivery.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based made-to-measure curtain maker
Sew custom curtains and simple blinds from a home workroom for local homeowners, landlords and designers.
- C$1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home help agency for seniors and busy households
Run a small agency from home that sends vetted helpers for errands, light housekeeping and company.
- C$2.5k-12k
- Part-time
- From home
Park home tenant-finding service
Find and screen tenants for owners of mobile and park homes, paid per placement.
- C$500-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based tool rental with delivery
Rent out power tools and equipment from your garage, with local pickup or drop-off, booked online.
- C$3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Local house sitter matching service
Connect vetted local house sitters with homeowners heading away, and earn a fee on each booking.
- C$600-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Full-service house sitting agency
Run a fully managed agency with trained sitters, check-in visits and cover for long absences like winters away.
- C$3k-15k
- Full-time
- From home
Patio enclosure design and sales dealer
Sell patio covers and enclosures from home, then use a manufacturer's crew or a local installer to fit them.
- C$1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Home-based sewing machine repair bench
Service and fix sewing machines from a workbench at home, with drop-off, mail-in or local pickup.
- C$800-4k
- Side hustle
- From home
About these ideas
Others are coordination businesses, such as a local house sitter matching service or a home help agency for seniors and busy households. Start by deciding whether you want to do the work yourself or manage other people, since that changes your costs, insurance needs and hours. Think about space, noise, storage and parking if customers or deliveries will come to you. Check your municipality's home-based business rules, any licensing or trade requirements, and what insurance your work calls for. Then test demand locally before you spend on tools or advertising.
Questions
Do I need a licence to run a home services business in Canada?
It depends on the service, your province and your municipality. Check whether your trade needs certification, whether your city requires a business licence or home occupation permit, and whether background checks are expected for work in people's homes.
What insurance should I look at for a home-based service business?
Ask an insurance broker about commercial liability, tools and equipment cover, and whether your home policy excludes business activity. If you work in customers' homes, or hold their belongings for repair, check how damage or loss would be covered.
How can I choose between repair work and an agency model?
Repair work relies on your skills, workshop space and tools, while an agency relies on finding, vetting and managing people. Compare your start-up costs, how much time you can commit, and whether you would rather do the work or coordinate it.