Business Ideas You Can Start From Home

707 ideas

Working from home keeps overheads low and lets you fit a business around family, another job or your own routine. This page brings together 707 ideas, from desk-based services such as freelance market research or media and PR consulting, to hands-on trades such as home saw and blade sharpening or a home print studio for small runs.

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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

Rows of potted shrubs and seedlings growing in a plant nursery.

Home plant nursery selling online and locally

Grow perennials, herbs or veg plants in your garden and sell them through online listings, gate sales and local plant fairs.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

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

Pallets of boxed computer components and hardware stacked in a large warehouse.

Home-based refurbished kit trade supplier

Buy used or surplus computers and parts in bulk, then sell to local repair shops and resellers.

£2k-10k
Side hustle
From home

4,389 UK companies in this field, 40% registered in the last 2 years

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

Students working quietly at shared desks in a bright study centre or library.

Home-based tuition and study group

Run small after-school tuition and study sessions from a spare room or dining room at home.

£300-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

41,442 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years

Technician repairing a camera lens with small tools on a workbench.

Home camera and lens repair bench

Repair and service cameras and lenses from a home workbench, with customers posting items to you.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

1,549 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years

A worker buffing a metal component on a polishing wheel.

Small-batch metal polishing from home

Polish small metal items like motorbike parts, brass and trim from a garage or outbuilding in your spare time.

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

1,263 UK companies in this field, 15% registered in the last 2 years

Shelves of paper, pens and folders in a stationery store.

Office supplies delivered to local businesses

Supply stationery, paper and consumables to small local firms from home, with an easy order form and next-day local delivery.

£1.5k-8k
Side hustle
From home

2,265 UK companies in this field, 25% registered in the last 2 years

A craftsperson repairing a leather bag at a workbench with tools.

Home leather repair workshop

Repair bags, jackets and shoes from a spare room or garage, with customers posting or dropping items off.

£500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

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

Financial planner showing a retirement savings plan to a smiling couple.

Financial planner under an adviser network

Advise clients on savings, retirement and protection under an FCA-authorised network, so you skip the cost of setting up your own firm.

£2k-8k
Part-time
From home

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

Small guest house bedroom with a breakfast table set for visitors.

Spare-room bed and breakfast

Let a few spare rooms in your own home to tourists and business travellers, with breakfast included.

£1k-5k
Side hustle
From home

18,586 UK companies in this field, 25% 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

Bonsai trees displayed on benches in a nursery greenhouse.

Home bonsai nursery selling online

Grow and train bonsai at home, then sell trees, pots and tools to hobbyists and gift buyers online.

£500-3k
Side hustle
From home

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

Vinyl decals being cut and weeded on a plotter in a sign-making workshop.

Home-based custom decal and sticker shop

Cut vinyl decals and stickers at home and sell them online to small businesses, clubs and hobbyists.

£400-2k
Side hustle
From home

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

Rack of formal dresses and tuxedos ready for hire in a shop.

Home-based formal wear hire by appointment

Hire out prom dresses, suits and occasion wear from a spare room, with fittings by appointment.

£1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

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

Event planners setting up a conference hall with tables and stage for guests.

Freelance meeting and conference planner

Plan and run business meetings, away days and small conferences for companies, working from your own home office.

£300-2k
Side hustle
From home

6,379 UK companies in this field, 43% registered in the last 2 years

Bright self-catering holiday cottage living room with a no-smoking sign.

Non-smoking holiday let in your annexe

Let a self-contained annexe, cabin or garden room to guests on a no-smoking basis, charged per night.

£1.5k-7.5k
Side hustle
From home

15,500 UK companies in this field, 34% registered in the last 2 years

Tailcoats and evening gowns displayed on a rack in a formal wear rental shop.

Dress and formalwear hire from home

Hire out gowns, prom dresses and formal outfits by appointment from a spare room, with a small, carefully chosen collection.

£1.5k-7k
Side hustle
From home

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

A colourful buffet table with snacks and sandwiches laid out for a children's party.

Children's party buffets from home

Prepare party food in your home kitchen for parents to collect or have delivered to the venue.

£300-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

27,708 UK companies in this field, 40% registered in the last 2 years

A young foal stands beside its mother in a green horse paddock.

Small-scale horse or pony breeder

Breed one to three mares a year on your own land and sell foals or youngsters to riders.

£5k-25k
Side hustle
From home

2,434 UK companies in this field, 25% 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

A worker operating a lathe to shape a metal part in a machine shop.

Garage workshop for one-off and repair parts

Turn small metal and plastic parts on a bench lathe and mill for hobbyists, repairers and local firms.

£4k-20k
Side hustle
From home

3,013 UK companies in this field, 11% registered in the last 2 years

About these ideas

Start by thinking about your space: do you need a quiet desk, a dedicated workshop, or a kitchen that can cope with food production? Consider noise, storage, deliveries and visitors, and how your neighbours might be affected. It is also worth checking your tenancy or mortgage terms, and your home insurance, before you begin. Pick an idea that matches the skills you already have and the hours you can realistically give.

More ideas

Questions

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

Often not, but it depends on your situation. Check your tenancy agreement or mortgage terms, ask your local council whether planning permission could apply if your home's use changes, and speak to your insurer, as standard home policies may not cover business activity.

What should I check before starting a food business at home?

For ideas like home baking, you will usually need to register as a food business with your local council, and you may need a food hygiene qualification. Also check allergen labelling rules and whether your insurance covers selling food to customers.

How do I tell HMRC about a home-based business?

If you work for yourself, you may need to register as self-employed and report your income through Self Assessment. Check on GOV.UK whether you are above any reporting thresholds, and keep clear records of income and expenses, including any home-use costs.