Simplicable Guide

99 Examples of a Home Business

John Spacey, February 18, 2021

A home business is independent self-employment whereby an individual pursues a business model without employing anyone. This may literally occur in the home or may involve other locations. Most home businesses are based on a handful of business models such as consulting, freelancing, reselling, retailing and product marketing. The following are common types of home business.

Accounting	Antique Dealer
App Developer	Appraisals
Architect	Art Gallery
Babysitting	Bartending Service
Bricks & Clicks	Business Process Outsourcing
Business Services	Caregiving
Carpentry	Caterer
Cleaning Services	Coaching
Commission Sales	Computer Repair
Consulting	Crafts
DJ	Daycare
Ecommerce Seller	Event Planning
Event Producer	Event Promotion
Farming	Fashion Design
Flea Markets	Florist
Food Products	Freelancing
Furniture Making	Game Developer
Graphic Designer	House Painting
Import / Export	Information Security
Installation Services	Jewelry Making
Junk Removal	Landscaping
Language Instruction	Lawn Services
Licensing	Local Marketing Service
Made-to-Order	Maintenance Services
Manufacturing	Marketing Affiliate
Music Producer	Music Teacher
Musician	Online Shop
Patents	Pet Grooming
Pet Sitter	Pet Training
Photographer	Plant Nursery
Podcasting / Streaming	Pool Cleaning
Popup Shop	Product Design
Professional Services	Proofreading & Editing
Property Management	Property Renovations
Publishing	Real Estate Agent
Recycling	Refurbishing
Rentals	Repair
Reselling	Restoration Services
Retail	Reuse
Security Services	Sewing & Tailoring
Snow Removal	Social Media Manager
Software Development	Software Support
Tax Preparation	Teaching
Tech Support Services	Tours
Toy Products	Trades (e.g. Plumbing)
Training	Translation & Localization
Tutoring	Upcycling
Used Goods	Value Added Reseller
Vending Machines	Wood Products
Writer

Notes

Many of the ideas above require qualifications. For example, you may require a certified facility to manufacture food or to run a daycare. Likewise, professional services such as accounting require professional qualifications. Generally speaking, it is a bad idea to try to act as a consultant or freelancer without the requisite experience and education.

All businesses involve risk and the failure rate of small businesses is extraordinarily high.

Before starting a business it is important to understand your business model and risks. A SWOT analysis can help.

Home businesses think small. For example, a game developer that creates marketable mods for a popular game. This is perhaps more realistic that developing and marketing a full game.

If a business idea sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't genuine.