At-home business ideas
At-home business ideas
Whether you’re interested in writing a book, creating digital courses, or managing social media for brands, there are numerous opportunities for home-based businesses.
Self-published author
Cookbooks, picture books, comic books, poetry books, photo books, coffee table books, and novels—if you have the knowledge or creativity, you can bring various original books to the market. The options are endless—that’s why it’s one of the best small business ideas to start.
Print-on-demand book services are a safe way to test the waters and get started with self-publishing. They also provide control over the quality and look of your book.
Lulu and Blurb are popular platforms for creating, ordering and distributing books as physical and digital products. You could also sell them on third-party marketplaces like Amazon.
While you can print one book at a time, costs naturally decrease when buying in bulk. Consider preselling or crowdfunding your book idea to ensure there’s demand and to guarantee a certain number of sales so you can bulk order. Publishing your own book can be a great way to monetize a blog.
Digital creator
Digital products like music, courses, podcasts, and templates are unique on this list of low-investment small business ideas. They don’t come with recurring manufacturing or shipping costs, so your margins can remain high.
The trick is figuring out what makes a good digital product and how much people will pay.
Some digital product ideas include original instrumental beats, stock photos that can be licensed to other creators, and information products and templates that help people level up their skill sets in a particular field.
If you have a talent that can be turned into a digital product, consider packaging it into a new income stream. Shopify’s free Digital Downloads app allows you to sell digital products as easily as physical products.
App developer
Creating a million-dollar app business takes work. In fact, 99.5% of consumer apps fail. Most apps need more product-market fit, require lots of marketing, and are costly to develop.
So, why include this business idea? Because consumer app development isn’t the only path for entrepreneurs. New B2B apps for the Shopify App Store are released daily, with a market of motivated businesses eager to find the necessary tools. You can generate a healthy profit by offering a simple solution to a common problem encountered by website designers or store owners.
Coffee seller
Selling coffee can be profitable with a strong brand and the right marketing plan. Sure, coffee has a lot of competition, but this multibillion-dollar industry has many benefits:
There is a high volume of customers.
Customers typically associate small brands with higher quality than corporate brands.
There are many positioning opportunities.
Coffee Bean Direct sells a range of coffees and coffee-related bundles.
Because coffee is widely available, it’s relatively easy to sell. People already want coffee—you only need to make them want your coffee. Los Angeles–based Canyon Coffee achieved popularity on Instagram by sharing its founders’ relaxed California lifestyle.
Translator
Are you fluent in another language? If the answer is yes, you have an in-demand skill. Translators can translate everything from website copy to in-person conversations.
Consider specializing in a specific form of translation, such as medical journals or finance publications. Then, create a website or flyers to advertise your services.
Travel adviser
If you enjoy planning trips for friends and family, why not turn your passion into a business? Social media marketing makes connecting with travelers who can benefit from your niche expertise easier than ever. As a self-employed travel adviser, you might specialize in:
A specific country or region, especially if you speak the language
A particular interest like food, hiking, or theme parks
Booking flights and hotels with credit card points
Group travel, such as organizing family reunions or bachelorette weekends
For example, Mexico in My Pocket sells a 60-minute travel consultation on its Shopify site along with the option to create a full itinerary for trips to Guanajuato, Mérida, Mexico City, Oaxaca, and more.
Website developer
The growing digital landscape calls for more coders (a.k.a. developers) to build websites and apps.
Online courses will teach you the basics, but practice is the best way to improve your coding skills. Build a website to showcase your skills, reach out to brands you’d like to work with, and create a portfolio of websites and apps.
Grow your business by focusing on a particular niche, such as building Shopify stores for ecommerce entrepreneurs.
Data entry clerk
Every business uses data, and data entry clerks play an important role in collecting, storing, and managing vast quantities of information. If you love spreadsheets or are adept at systems and process setup, this could be the business for you. Start by contacting local businesses to offer your services and promote them on social media to reach a broader range of potential clients.
Bookkeeper
Good with numbers? Why not start a bookkeeping business? You’ll monitor and record small business accounts each month to ensure your clients are on top of their finances.
You might need a relevant degree or certification before you start, but once you set up your business, you can work with clients from the comfort of your home. You can even generate passive income by selling financial literacy worksheets, courses, or ebooks.
AHD Consulting Solution is here to help you with tools and insights to not just deal with these challenges but turn them into opportunities for innovation success. Accessible to corporations of any size, our sprints and programs include interactive workflows, videos, pre-structured workspaces, and much more. If you want to discuss a potential project, you can email on services@ahdconsultingsolution.com or get in touch with us here. Alternatively, you can book in a free 15-minute consultation call here.
