Business services ideas you can start from home

123 ideas

These 126 business services ideas are built around selling expertise, sourcing or support to other businesses and individuals, all from a spare room or kitchen table. They suit people with a professional background, strong organisational skills or a good network of contacts, such as a freelance market researcher, a home-based tax adviser for individuals or a freelance customs and import-export adviser.

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Under 1k 1k to 5k 5k to 20k Over 20k Out and about Own premises Online

Recruiter meeting a senior executive candidate in a modern office.

Solo niche headhunter

Find senior hires for employers in one sector you know well, paid a fee when your candidate is placed.

£500-4k
Part-time
From home

29,439 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Boxes of desk accessories and stationery stacked in a supplier's warehouse.

Home-based desk accessories wholesaler

Buy desk accessories and stationery in bulk and sell on to shops and small offices from a spare room or garage.

£1.5k-8k
Side hustle
From home

729 UK companies in this field, 16% registered in the last 2 years

A consultant reviewing building plans and documents with a construction site behind.

Independent building consultant working from home

Advise homeowners and small developers on costs, plans and building compliance, working from a home office and visiting sites.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

38,095 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

A finance broker reviewing loan documents with a client across a desk.

Business finance broker working from home

Help small firms find business loans and funding from lenders, and earn commission when a deal completes.

£600-3k
Side hustle
From home

9,891 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

A creative team planning an advertising campaign around a whiteboard in a modern office.

Home-based marketing for local businesses

Run social media, simple ads and email campaigns from home for small local firms on a monthly retainer.

£200-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

52,296 UK companies in this field, 45% registered in the last 2 years

An agent handing house keys to a tenant in front of a rental home.

Home-based lettings agent for landlords

Find tenants, run viewings and handle paperwork for local landlords, working from home and on the road.

£1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

37,124 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Couple viewing a holiday resort apartment with a pool and sea view.

Timeshare resale broker

Match timeshare owners who want to sell with buyers of resale weeks, earning commission only when a sale completes.

£800-4k
Side hustle
From home

37,124 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Estate agent shows a couple around a house with keys in hand.

Home-based local estate agent

Sell homes in your area from home, with online listings, viewings and a low-overhead fee.

£1.5k-7.5k
Part-time
From home

37,124 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Person typing information from paper documents into a computer at an office desk.

Freelance data entry from home

Type up documents, forms and records into spreadsheets or databases for small businesses.

£0-500
Side hustle
From home

1,929 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Smiling estate agent handing house keys to a new homeowner.

Local hybrid estate agent working from home

Sell and let homes in your area from a home office, with no high street shop to pay for.

£1.5k-6k
Part-time
From home

37,124 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Operator with headset taking a call and writing a message at a desk.

Home-based telephone answering service

Answer calls for small businesses from home, taking messages and booking appointments in their name.

£200-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

1,530 UK companies in this field, 38% registered in the last 2 years

An adviser discussing insurance paperwork with a couple at a desk.

Life insurance adviser under a network

Arrange life and protection cover for families by phone, video and home visits, working under an established regulated network.

£1k-4k
Side hustle
From home

8,071 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years

Agent wearing headset making calls at a desk in an office.

Freelance B2B appointment-setting caller

Call businesses from home to book meetings and demos for small firms that lack the time to chase leads.

£200-1k
Side hustle
From home

1,530 UK companies in this field, 38% registered in the last 2 years

Bookkeeper recording figures in ledgers at a desk with a laptop.

Home-based bookkeeper for small firms

Keep the books up to date for a handful of local small businesses, working from home on a monthly fee.

£200-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

24,556 UK companies in this field, 18% registered in the last 2 years

Recruitment consultant meeting a job candidate across a desk in an office.

Home-based niche recruiter

Fill permanent roles for local employers in one sector you know well, working from your own home.

£500-4k
Part-time
From home

29,439 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Financial adviser discussing pension and savings plans with a client at a desk.

Financial adviser with an adviser network

Advise people on pensions, savings and investments under an established network's regulatory umbrella, working from home.

£3k-12k
Part-time
From home

9,891 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

A worker printing large colourful promotional banners in a print shop.

Online banner printing from home

Design and sell custom banners online, using a trade print partner or a small wide-format printer.

£300-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

8,677 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years

Large technical blueprints being printed and laid out on a table.

Online plan printing with local delivery

Take plan files online, print them from a home workspace and deliver rolled or folded sets to sites and offices.

£1.5k-7k
Side hustle
From home

8,677 UK companies in this field, 19% registered in the last 2 years

Broker showing a white sailing yacht to a prospective buyer at a marina.

Independent yacht broker

Sell used boats for owners and find boats for buyers, earning commission on each sale.

£1k-6k
Side hustle
From home

4,307 UK companies in this field, 18% registered in the last 2 years

Staff packing and labelling parcels at a busy mailing counter.

Home parcel packing and posting for small sellers

Pack, label and send parcels for online sellers and busy locals, working from your spare room.

£150-800
Side hustle
From home

10,831 UK companies in this field, 43% registered in the last 2 years

Consultant reviewing budget charts with a client on a laptop in an office.

Small business finance consultant

Help local owners with budgets, cash flow and funding applications, working from home and visiting clients when needed.

£300-2k
Side hustle
From home

21,360 UK companies in this field, 24% registered in the last 2 years

A researcher interviewing a customer with a clipboard and notes during a survey.

Freelance market researcher

Run surveys and customer interviews from home for small firms that want to understand their customers.

£200-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

5,998 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

Agent showing a commercial lease to clients in front of an empty office.

Local office space finder

Match small businesses with rented offices and earn a fee from the landlord when a lease is signed.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

37,124 UK companies in this field, 28% registered in the last 2 years

Accountant reviewing tax forms and using a calculator at a desk.

Home-based accountant for small businesses

Run a small accounts and tax practice from home for sole traders and small limited companies.

£500-3k
Part-time
From home

43,225 UK companies in this field, 16% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

Others, like a niche equipment importer, run from home, involve stock and suppliers as well as knowledge. Before choosing, think about whether the work needs a regulated qualification or authorisation, how you will find your first clients, and whether you need storage space or insurance. Start with the idea that best matches skills you already have, then compare start-up costs and how quickly you could win paying work.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need qualifications to start a business services company from home?

It depends on the service. Advice on tax, insurance or property can be regulated, so check whether you need authorisation, professional membership or specific qualifications. Consulting and sourcing work is often less restricted, but clients may still expect proven experience.

Can I run a business from home if I import or store stock?

Possibly, but check your tenancy or mortgage terms, home insurance cover and any local planning rules. For imports, also look at customs registration, product safety requirements and where you will store goods safely and keep records.

How do I find clients for a home-based business services firm?

Start with your existing contacts, former employers and professional networks, then build a simple website and a Google Business Profile. Consider trade bodies, LinkedIn and local business groups. Check whether you need data protection registration and clear client terms before taking work.