72 Home-Based Businesses You Can Start Today

Small businesses have always been the backbone of the American economy. Despite the attention that large corporations receive in the media the majority of businesses in America are actually small businesses. In fact, according to statistics provided by the US Census Bureau, 74% of US firms reported receipts of less than $100,000 in 2002 [1]. The US Census Bureau's Survey of Business Owners (SBO) further identified that half of the 16.7 million business owner's surveyed were operating home-based businesses in 2002 [2].

Anyone considering launching a home-based business is in good company. These government statistics only consider businesses that are reporting business activity - not people who conduct a part-time hobby from their home but do not consider it to be a business. Yet half of US businesses in 2002 were being operated in a home. The SBO data also reveals that 33 percent of non-employer small business owners started or acquired their business with no capital at all [3]!

There are many reasons to start a home-based business. In fact, there are probably about as many reasons as there are small business owners! Starting a small business is hard work, but it is also rewarding work. Working for yourself also provides a measure of security and flexibility not available in any job. How much security and how much flexibility depends on the type of business you operate as well as your motivation and determination to succeed.

The Great Recession, as the 2008 economic recession has come to be called, has resulted in frightening numbers of layoffs for American workers. There are many areas of impact with this level of recession, including significant losses in retirement and investment funds, distrust of corporate decision-makers and executives, and a loss of confidence that any job is really safe from sudden downsizing or layoff.

For many people, being self-employed or operating their own home-based business has always been a dream. Leaving the corporate world behind, eliminating long commutes to work, spending more time at home with family, and a desire for a simpler lifestyle have all been listed as reasons why people decide to trade the "security" of a corporate job for a home-based business.

Individuals with disabilities are also frequently attracted to self-employment or small, home-based businesses. "Information from the 1990 national census shows that people with disabilities have a higher rate of self-employment and small business experience than people without disabilities (12.2 percent of people with disabilities versus 7.8 percent of people without disabilities)" [4]. This is not surprising for several reasons, whether ease of accommodation or greater scheduling control than would be available with a conventional job.

There are many reasons to start a home-based business. In fact, there are probably about as many reasons for starting a small business as there are small business owners! Starting a small business is hard work, but it is also rewarding work. Working for yourself also provides a measure of security and flexibility not available in any job. How much security and how much flexibility depends on the type of business you operate as well as your motivation and determination to succeed.

Starting and operating a small business is an exciting adventure filled with variety and surprises. You will not be alone on this exciting journey though. Small businesses have always been an important part of the American economy and continue to be so today.

I have compiled a list of 72 business ideas that are well suited to operating as small, home-based businesses. Several of these ideas are businesses that I have actually participated in myself. Other ideas are businesses that I have known others to participate in starting and running. Not every idea will appeal equally to everyone; however, there should be at least a few ideas that are interesting to everyone. Most of these ideas can be started on a true shoestring budget using tools or equipment that you probably already own or can readily access. A few are seasonal, may require a larger investment to run well, or may require some degree of experience or training thus limiting who may be able to start that particular business. Overall this list should be a useful too to anyone considering starting a home-based business but unsure of which direction to explore.

72 Home-Based Business Ideas

1. Web Design / Hosting
2. Handyman / Property Maintenance
3. Income Tax Preparation
4. Home Care
5. Lawn Maintenance / Snow Removal
6. House Painting
7. eBay Auctions
8. eBay Reseller Service
9. Pet Care / Dog Walking
10. Recycling Service Pickup
11. Writing - Articles, Web Content
12. Photography
13. Videography
14. Call Center / Answering Service
15. Telemarketing
16. Virtual Office Assistant
17. Computer Repair
18. Home / Office Cleaning
19. Catering
20. Event Planning - Weddings, Conferences, Reunions, etc.
21. Social Media Marketing
22. Dry Cleaning Pickup and Delivery
23. Grocery Shopping and Delivery
24. Restaurant Take-Out Delivery
25. Driveway Sealcoating
26. Computer / Software Tutoring
27. Academic Tutoring
28. Fitness Trainer
29. Life Coach
30. Consultant
31. Seminar / Public Speaking
32. Window Washing
33. Auto Detailing
34. Tailoring / Clothing Repair
35. Photo Framing / Matting
36. Fly Tying / Lures
37. Jewelry Making
38. Mobile Mower Repair / Blade Sharpening / Snowblower Repair
39. Small Engine Repair
40. Handmade Clothes - Sew, Knit, Crochet, etc.
41. Scrapbooking - Parties or Custom
42. Desktop Publishing
43. Junk Removal / Recycling
44. Translation Services
45. Mobile Oil Change
46. Virtual Public Relations
47. Beauty Consultant
48. Financial / Credit Counseling & Planning
49. Cake / Cake Decorating
50. Interior Decorating
51. Music Lessons - At Home or Client's Home
52. Landscape Design / Installation
53. Internet Research / Information Broker
54. Internet Marketing - Service, Consulting
55. Advertising - Design, Consulting
56. Bicycle Repair / Sales
57. Video Editing / DVD Preparation
58. Toner / Ink Refilling
59. Resume Writing
60. Antiques and Collectibles
61. Bakery Business - Special Order
62. Bookkeeping / Accounting
63. Coffee Shop - Mobile or Home Based
64. Mobile Food Vendor
65. Grant Writing
66. Image Consultant
67. Personal Chef
68. Nanny / Child Care
69. Business Coaching
70. Pressure Washing
71. Affiliate Marketing
72. Blogging

I hope you have found this list useful and thought-provoking. I plan to add more articles in this series highlighting each business suggestion. Please consider subscribing to my RSS feed or becoming a fan so you will know when a new article is published. I also welcome feedback on which business ideas you are most interested in seeing highlighted in future articles. I would also love feedback on more ideas that I may not have thought of already!

SOURCES
[1] US Department of Labor / Office of Disability Employment Policy - http://www.dol.gov/odep/programs/promotin.htm
[2] US Census Bureau / Survey of Business Owners (SBO) - http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo/02/cbsof.html
[3] US Census Bureau / Survey of Business Owners - http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo/02/cbsof.html
[4] US Census Bureau / Survey of Business Owners (SBO) - http://www.census.gov/econ/sbo/02/cosumsof.html