Starting your own business is a goal quite a few of us have, and although we normally assume it requires quite a bit of capital and an office, a lot of companies were started right in the comfort of their founder’s home. If you’re looking to do the same, here are a few helpful examples of some businesses you can easily start and work from home.
Design
If design is something you’ve always been interested in, this is a great business to possibly start at home. While it may take some learning to get up-to-date on the different software involved, as long as you have a passion for visuals, this is a job you can pick up rather quickly. Plus, the pay scale can be great too; according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average pay for a designer is around $22.90 per hour. Of course, you may need some time and a portfolio before you can charge that much (or more).
No matter how much design skill or experience you currently have, it’s never a bad idea to brush up on industry standards and new trends. Try looking through some tutorials for InDesign and Photoshop, as these are the primary software tools used in the design world.
Additionally, start small in your outreach for gigs, as you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with projects above your skill level. For example, taking on projects like social media ads or email blasts can be good entry level work that will get you accustomed to the process of designing, but a full custom website build may be a little beyond your abilities. Finally, while it will take some time, the eventual goal is to develop your own aesthetic, which will become your biggest selling point and allow you to charge more for your services.
Dropshipping
Another great business you can start from home is dropshipping, which is an ecommerce model in which you play intermediary between the customer and supplier. Dropshipping can be one of the best ways to make money online from home; it’s a great avenue to go down if you’ve wanted to start a webshop, but don’t have the capacity for inventory. According to SaleHoo, ecommerce is worth over $350 billion, so even capturing a fraction of that revenue could be a significant income.
In setting up your dropshipping business, you first have to decide what type of inventory you’re going to carry. Many entrepreneurs find that selling a product they are passionate about helps to drive sales, but it isn’t necessarily a requirement. You’ll also want to deliver a unique lineup of products in a one-stop shop. Additionally, you’ll want to find partners for products, as well a dropshipping host that seems reliable and serves your needs. All-in-all, a dropshipping model takes some legwork up front, but once you have everything set up the business can nearly run itself.
Coding
While a lot of people consider it to be a complex practice, coding can actually be much more accessible than you might have thought. With online schools like CodeAcademy and Treehouse, hopping on and starting to learn the ins and outs of web code has never been easier. Coding can pay pretty well too; in fact, the average entry-level salary comes in at around $61,000, according to US News. For a gig you can literally do from your living room at any time of the day or night, that’s not a bad deal. Plus, demand for this skill is steadily rising.
Writing
If you’ve ever had a passion for words, then taking on writing for others might not be a bad idea. Although this is a gig many avoid out of fear there’s not enough demand, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, 53 percent of marketers say blogging is their top inbound priority, according to Hubspot. Most businesses are looking to content creators to help increase their engagement and boost their numbers, so if you have a knack for writing and an interest in the industry, you could really make some coin by writing web content.
Reselling
Finally, becoming a reseller can produce some excellent margins, particularly for the collectibles and fashion industries. According to the National Association for Resellers, U.S. revenues came in at around $17 billion last year, which just goes to show that one man’s “trash” really is another man’s treasure. If you love memorabilia or vintage clothes, becoming a reseller on a platform like Etsy or your own private ecommerce store could be a great option.
What businesses or side hustles are you working from home? Share your stories in the comments.