Creative business ideas you can start from home

92 ideas

These 92 creative business ideas can all be run from a spare room, garage or kitchen table. They suit people with a craft, artistic or design skill who want to turn it into income without renting premises.

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

An artist working on a painting on an easel in a bright studio.

Home studio painter taking commissions

Paint to order from a spare room: pet portraits, houses and landscapes for people who want something personal.

£150-800
Side hustle
From home

41,489 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

Silversmith shaping a silver ring with hand tools at a bench.

Home studio silver jewellery maker

Make handmade silver jewellery in a small home workshop and sell it online, at craft fairs and to local shops.

£1.5k-5k
Side hustle
From home

3,801 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years

Editors reviewing printed book pages around a publishing office table.

Niche book imprint run from home

Publish a small list of books for one niche, such as local history or hobby guides, using print on demand.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
From home

11,341 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Composer writing notes on a score beside a piano.

Home studio composer for video and games

Write and produce original music from home for films, games, adverts and online creators.

£500-4k
Side hustle
From home

41,489 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

A tailor taking measurements of a client for a made-to-measure suit.

Home studio bespoke tailor

Make and alter made-to-measure suits and clothes for private clients by appointment from a home workroom.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
From home

5,604 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

A photography studio with softboxes and a seamless backdrop ready for a shoot.

Home photography studio for portraits and products

Turn a spare room or garage into a small studio for portraits, family shoots and product photos.

£1k-4k
Side hustle
From home

3,823 UK companies in this field, 31% registered in the last 2 years

A production crew filming video content in a modern media studio.

Small content studio for local businesses

Make short videos, articles and podcasts for local firms and charities from a home setup.

£800-4k
Side hustle
From home

15,512 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Person reading an ebook on a tablet with digital audio and video icons.

Niche ebook publishing imprint

Publish ebooks for a niche readership, from your own writing or other authors, and sell them through online stores.

£200-2k
Side hustle
From home

11,341 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

Music producer working at a mixing desk in a recording studio.

Home studio music producer

Record, produce and mix tracks for local artists and bands from a home studio.

£800-4k
Side hustle
From home

19,836 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

Home embroidery studio

Stitch names, logos and designs onto clothing and gifts using a machine set up at home.

£1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

1,565 UK companies in this field, 23% registered in the last 2 years

A sound stage with film lights and cameras set up for a shoot.

Small video production company

Make promo, corporate and short documentary films for local businesses and organisations from a home base.

£2k-8k
Side hustle
From home

20,931 UK companies in this field, 24% registered in the last 2 years

Students collecting rented instruments from a music hire counter.

Student instrument hire from home

Hire out violins, flutes, clarinets and other starter instruments to local families on a monthly basis.

£1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

1,108 UK companies in this field, 41% registered in the last 2 years

Rolls of newsprint running through a printing press producing daily newspapers.

Free printed community newspaper

Publish a monthly local paper for your town or villages, paid for by local advertisers and delivered free to homes.

£1.5k-8k
Part-time
From home

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

Printed sheet music and songbooks stacked on a desk in a publishing office.

Home-based sheet music publisher

Publish your own arrangements and teaching pieces as PDFs and print-on-demand copies from home.

£200-1k
Side hustle
From home

19,836 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

Small press for printed songbooks

Produce printed songbooks and tutor books and sell them to teachers, music shops and schools.

£2k-10k
Part-time
From home

19,836 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

A designer sketching floor plans and drawings for a home extension.

Home-based building designer for extensions

Draw plans for home extensions and loft conversions from a home office, for local homeowners and builders.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
From home

20,452 UK companies in this field, 15% registered in the last 2 years

A consultant coaching a client before a television interview in a studio.

Freelance media and PR consultant

Help small businesses and charities get press coverage and handle media requests, working from home on a retainer or project basis.

£200-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

15,610 UK companies in this field, 29% registered in the last 2 years

A camera crew filming content with lights and monitors in a production studio.

Podcast production service from home

Edit, produce and publish podcasts for businesses and organisations that want audio content.

£300-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

27,358 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years

Frosted etched design appearing on a clear glass panel being prepared in a workshop.

Personalised etched glass gifts

Etch names, dates and designs onto glasses, mirrors and keepsakes from a spare room or garage.

£200-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

351 UK companies in this field, 14% registered in the last 2 years

Artist painting on a canvas in a light, airy studio.

Home studio artist taking commissions

Paint or draw from a spare room and sell originals, prints and custom commissions to private buyers.

£200-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

41,489 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

Engineer mixing music on a console in a professional recording studio.

Home project recording studio

Record, mix and master for local bands, singers and podcasters from a treated spare room.

£1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

19,836 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

Designer pinning a made-to-measure gown on a client in an atelier.

Bespoke clothing studio at home

Design and make one-off garments for private clients, with fittings by appointment in a studio at home.

£1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

5,604 UK companies in this field, 37% registered in the last 2 years

Sculptor shaping a bronze or clay figure in a studio.

Home studio sculptor taking commissions

Make sculptures in a garage, shed or spare room and sell them to collectors, galleries and private clients.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

41,489 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years

Sheet music scores and licensing paperwork spread across a desk.

Boutique publisher for local songwriters

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

19,836 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

You might look at a home studio artist taking commissions, personalised etched glass gifts or a home-based design studio for small businesses. Before choosing, think about space, noise, materials and storage, and whether customers will visit you or you will post work to them. Check what equipment you need and whether your skills are good enough to charge for. It also helps to test demand with a few paid orders before you invest heavily. Look at how you will find customers, such as online marketplaces, social media or local word of mouth.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need permission to run a creative business from home in the UK?

It depends on your situation. Check your tenancy agreement or mortgage terms, and ask your local council whether planning permission is needed, especially if customers visit, you make noise or you store lots of stock. Also check your home insurance.

How do I register a home-based creative business?

Check whether you need to register as self-employed with HMRC, which is usually something to look at once you start trading. You may also want to check rules on business names, record keeping and whether your products need any safety labelling.

How can I find my first customers from home?

Consider showing your work on social media, online marketplaces and local community groups, and ask friends for early commissions. Check each platform's fees and rules, and keep photos of finished pieces so you can build a portfolio and gather reviews.