731 Business Ideas You Can Start From Home

721 ideas

Running a business from home can keep your costs low and your schedule flexible, but the right idea depends on your space and your household. This page lists 731 home-based ideas.

Swipe through these ideas →

A craftsman shaping a metal bracket at a bench in a small workshop.

Garage metalwork and repairs

Make and fix small metal items such as brackets, railings and custom fittings from your garage in evenings and weekends.

$1.5k-7k
Side hustle
From home

2,827 US businesses with employees in this field, +0.9% in a year

Stack of plain white envelopes arranged on a warehouse shelf.

Home-based envelope reseller

Sell envelopes in bulk to local printers and offices, with orders shipped straight from a wholesaler.

$500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

3,190 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.9% in a year

Designers reviewing room layouts and material samples at a studio table.

Home-based residential interior designer

Plan room layouts, finishes and furnishings for local homeowners from a home office, with clients paying design fees.

$500-4k
Side hustle
From home

16,797 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.8% in a year

Florist arranging colourful cut flowers into a bouquet at a shop counter.

Home-based florist for gifts and small events

Design bouquets and arrangements at home for birthdays, gifts and small events, sold online and by local delivery.

$800-4k
Side hustle
From home

11,834 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.4% in a year

Wedding and event florist

Design flowers for weddings and events, from bridal bouquets to ceremony and table arrangements.

$2k-10k
Part-time
From home

11,834 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.4% in a year

A fabricator welding sheet metal in a workshop with sparks flying.

Garage metal fabrication for small custom jobs

Make custom brackets, racks, gates and frames from a well-equipped garage or backyard shop.

$3k-10k
Side hustle
From home

4,652 US businesses with employees in this field, +1.0% in a year

Crates of fresh farm produce stacked in a wholesale warehouse.

Local farm produce broker

Connect small local growers with restaurants and grocers, and earn a margin on each bulk order you arrange.

$1.5k-8k
Side hustle
From home

1,120 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.0% in a year

Workers at sewing machines on a garment production line in a factory.

Home-based clothing alterations and repairs

Hem, taper and mend clothes for local clients from a spare room, with drop-off or pickup.

$500-3k
Side hustle
From home

2,094 US businesses with employees in this field, -9.6% in a year

Customer service agents wearing headsets taking calls at desks in an office.

Home-based answering service for local businesses

Answer calls and book appointments for local trades and small offices that can't pick up the phone.

$500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

3,106 US businesses with employees in this field, -7.8% in a year

Craftsperson bending glowing neon tubes to shape a custom sign in a workshop.

Custom neon sign studio (home workshop)

Bend glass neon signs in a small workshop for bars, shops, weddings and home decor customers.

$4k-15k
Side hustle
From home

5,895 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.2% in a year

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

Home studio portrait photography

Turn a spare room or garage into a small studio for headshots, family and newborn portraits.

$1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

11,483 US businesses with employees in this field, +3.3% in a year

A smiling nanny playing with a young child in a family living room.

Local nanny placement agency

Match screened nannies with families in your area and earn a fee for each successful placement.

$1.5k-6k
Side hustle
From home

7,679 US businesses with employees in this field, +9.2% in a year

A printing press running sheets of colourful brochures in a print workshop.

Home short-run print studio

Print brochures, cards and stationery in small batches for local businesses from a spare room or garage.

$3k-12k
Side hustle
From home

15,140 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.9% in a year

Baker decorating a tiered wedding cake in a bakery kitchen.

Home-based wedding cake baker

Bake custom wedding cakes and dessert tables to order from a legally approved home kitchen.

$1k-5k
Side hustle
From home

9,219 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.7% in a year

Craftsperson cutting and polishing a gemstone on a lapidary wheel in a workshop.

Home gemstone cutting studio

Cut and polish gemstones on commission for jewelers, collectors and people with stones to recut.

$2.5k-10k
Side hustle
From home

1,844 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.9% in a year

A machinist checking a machined metal component at a workbench in a workshop.

Home garage machining and repair side hustle

Use a bench lathe and mill in your garage to make small custom parts and repairs in your spare time.

$5k-25k
Side hustle
From home

17,156 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.6% in a year

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

Home-based tax return preparer

Prepare personal and simple self-employed tax returns for neighbors and local workers from your home office.

$500-2.5k
Side hustle
From home

47,699 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.7% in a year

Two people shaking hands over documents during a company sale agreement.

Business broker with an established firm

Help local owners sell their businesses under a brokerage's name, training and listing network. Paid by commission.

$5k-30k
Part-time
From home

163,894 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.0% in a year

Independent business brokerage in one niche

Run your own small brokerage selling one type of local business, such as landscaping, HVAC or restaurants.

$3k-15k
Full-time
From home

163,894 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.0% in a year

Sheet gaskets being cut from material on a factory floor.

Home-based gasket maker for repairs

Make hand-cut and outsourced replacement gaskets for hobbyists, small repair shops and classic machinery owners.

$500-4k
Side hustle
From home

620 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.9% in a year

Recruiter meeting a senior executive candidate in a modern office.

Solo executive recruiter in one niche

Find senior hires for employers in an industry you know well and earn a fee when they accept an offer.

$1k-6k
Part-time
From home

5,897 US businesses with employees in this field, -5.5% in a year

Cleaner applying conditioner to a leather armchair with a soft cloth.

Leather jacket, bag and shoe cleaning from home

Clean and condition leather jackets, handbags and boots in a home workspace, with drop-off or mail-in.

$300-1.5k
Side hustle
From home

6,673 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.3% in a year

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

Home-based plan printing with delivery

Print large plan sets for local builders and architects from a home workspace and deliver them to job sites.

$4k-15k
Side hustle
From home

15,140 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.9% in a year

Shelves of power tools and construction equipment in a trade supply store.

Small tool rental from home

Rent out power tools and small equipment to local tradespeople and DIYers from a garage or storage unit.

$3k-15k
Side hustle
From home

4,701 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.1% in a year

About these ideas

Some need little more than a laptop, like an independent niche recruiter or back-office support for small businesses. Others use a spare room or garage, such as home studio drawing lessons or a home studio potter selling tableware. A few, like home-based dog day care, bring animals or visitors to your property. Start by asking how much space you can set aside, whether clients will visit, and how much noise or traffic your neighbors would tolerate. Then look at your lease or HOA rules, and think about how you will keep work and home life separate. Browse the ideas, then shortlist two or three to research further.

More ideas

Questions

Do I need a permit to run a business from home in the US?

It depends on your city, county and state. Check local zoning rules for home occupations, whether you need a general business license, and any permits tied to your specific activity. Your city or county clerk's office is a good first call.

Can my landlord or HOA stop me running a business from home?

Possibly. Leases and HOA rules often limit customer visits, signage, deliveries, noise or parking. Read your lease and community rules before you start, and ask in writing if something is unclear, especially for ideas that bring clients or animals to your property.

How do I choose between home business ideas?

Compare each idea against your available space, startup budget, existing skills and the hours you can commit. Check whether you need insurance, licenses or equipment, and whether customers must visit. Shortlist a few, then test demand locally before spending much money.