Are you looking for side business ideas? Do you want to be an entrepreneur?
Even if you work a full-time job, having a side income is always nice, especially if you can find something you enjoy. Plus, there are more options than you can imagine for female entrepreneurs.
I know not everyone loves sitting at a computer all day, so you’ll find a combination of online-based side businesses and others that provide more movement or time away from the computer.
And if you’re looking to start a business on a budget, you’ll be pleased to find that many of these home business ideas can be started with low startup costs.
Ready to dive in? Hopefully, one of these ideas will spark inspiration that you can use to start your very own business.
1. Affiliate Marketing
If you use social media or browse blogs or websites, you probably encounter more than a dozen affiliate links per day.
An affiliate link takes you to a product, and the owner of the link receives a commission when you buy that product using their link.
Even if you have a small following, you can start using affiliate links on social media, in a newsletter, or on a website or blog. You can join some of the best affiliate networks and make money even without a website.
Many people start with Amazon Associates because they have a great affiliate program, and many people use Amazon on a weekly or daily basis. The key with affiliates is to make sure you read all of the rules and guidelines, so you know if you meet the qualifications to start or continue with the program.
2. Social Media Management
Do you spend more time than you care to admit on social media? Do you enjoy writing, creating captions, taking photos or videos, and making engaging content? If so, consider becoming a social media manager.
I fell into this side hustle a few times simply because I was at the right place at the right time and had skills that were a few steps ahead of the business owner I was helping. I helped small businesses with Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, and Pinterest.
If you have experience with any of these platforms or others, you can start a small business in social media marketing.
Websites like Upwork, Guru, LinkedIn, and Fiverr are good places to start if you want to find clients looking for social media managers. Or companies like BELAY, VaVa Virtual Assistants, and LiveWorld hire social media marketers for freelancing roles.
Read more to learn what social media mistakes to avoid.
3. Teaching or Tutoring
If you have a subject you enjoy and are knowledgeable about, and like helping others learn, consider working as a teacher or tutor. You can also opt for online tutoring or in-person tutoring.
I’ve been teaching Business English online through Education First for almost a decade and enjoy it.
First, decide on the topic you want to teach, and then choose whether to find students through a company, a marketplace, or independently. With marketplaces like Preply, iTalki, or Studypool, you typically create a profile that shares your experience and skills, allowing students to find you through that profile.
Read more to learn about teaching online or how to start a tutoring business from home.
4. Coaching
If you have a specific area of expertise, enjoy interacting with people, and are passionate about helping others achieve tangible changes, coaching could be an excellent fit for you.
The coaching industry is not regulated, but having some training in coaching and the topic you’re helping with will give you more credibility.
For example, I did a year-long Health Coach training with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition about a decade ago. While I’m not a coach today, I’ve been able to use the coaching skills I learned in many different jobs and volunteer positions throughout the years.
Here are some areas of coaching to consider: Business Coach, Career Coach, Personal Coach, Health Coach, Sleep Coach, and Fitness Coach.
If you don’t think coaching could ever be a lucrative business idea, think again! This woman earns $27,000 per month in her coaching business.
5. Laundry Services
If you’re one of the few people who love doing laundry (like me), this could be the perfect business idea for you.
You can either work through a company or go out on your own.
Some people choose to start with a company so they don’t have to handle payments or find customers when they are just getting started.
Then, once you have some experience, you might decide to operate independently.
You’ll typically charge customers per pound of laundry, and each load will likely be around 10-20 pounds. You can earn around $15-$30 per load, but this amount may vary.
If you offer additional services, such as pickup, delivery, or ironing, you can charge even more.
6. Video and Audio Editing
Today, there are so many people who have a YouTube channel or podcast! Yet, if you’ve ever tried either of these, you’ll know that editing can take a substantial amount of time, especially if you’re new to it.
To learn more about editing, you can either watch free videos online or take a course in podcast editing and production or video editing.
Years ago, I helped start a podcast for a non-profit I worked with and taught myself the necessary skills to edit my episodes through Pat Flynn’s podcasting course. It was a little pricey, but it taught me everything I needed to know.
A year or so into podcasting, I was offered a job editing for another podcast. I didn’t have the time to take that on, but even my basic skills created an opportunity simply because the podcast host didn’t have time to do it herself and saw that I had the skills.
7. Photography
Have you ever had people compliment the photos you take of your kids or your vacation pictures? You can make money with a photography business even if you’re not a professional photographer. No prior professional experience is required to get started.
A photography business can allow you to combine a creative hobby with a way to make some extra money.
You might even consider creating a specific niche for yourself. You could try wedding photography, graduations, family portraits, baby and maternity, stock photography, influencer photos, or even become a food photographer.
Or, try offering some more unconventional photography services.
At first, you might try all of these, but as you gain more experience, you can narrow your focus to what you enjoy most or is the most profitable in your area.
You can also learn more about what it takes to run this type of business from home.
8. Sewing and Crafting
If you enjoy working with your hands and have experience sewing or crafting, consider adding this to your list of side business ideas. This could look like doing alterations out of your home for people in your community or selling your creations online on a marketplace like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Shopify, or MakerPlace by Michaels.
You might start by browsing Etsy to see what others are selling, how much different items cost, and how much you’ll need to spend on materials to get started.
Also, do some research and learn how to start an Etsy shop from home and how to be successful on Etsy.
9. Freelance Writing
I got my first paid gig as a freelance writer while I was browsing on Reddit. A woman was looking for an entrepreneurship writer, and I thought, “Oh, I could do that.” Personally, I think freelance writing is one of the best businesses.
When I landed my first Upwork writing job, I was able to work with that client for over a year, and it was truly a dream situation for me – writing about something I loved.
Finding clients who have ongoing work for you can be a win-win. Sometimes, your personality and work ethic can get you the job even when you don’t have the most experience.
When you’re just starting out with your freelance writing business, I’d recommend choosing a specialty – such as business writing or copywriting – and then finding your niche from there.
To find freelance writing clients, try these sites:
Read more to learn how to land a writing job when you’re a beginner.
10. Pet Sitting
Dog walking or pet sitting can be a win-win situation for animal lovers or those who don’t have pets but would like them.
If you don’t have any word-of-mouth contacts, you can start with a website like Rover and then branch out on your own. If this sounds interesting but is completely new to you, you’ll enjoy this Rover review.
Sound intriguing? Learn more with this article on how to become a professional pet sitter and how to make money with house sitting jobs.
For more pet-inspired business ideas, read 15 Home-Based Business Ideas and Jobs For Pet Lovers.
11. Content Creation
Content creation is not necessarily the quickest way to make a side income. Still, it can be a profitable business idea over time and is a popular choice for women entrepreneurs.
Content creation can be worth it and lucrative if you’re willing to put in the time and effort. As you grow your audience, you can earn a substantial income from online advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored blog posts, selling online courses, participating in creator funds, and selling online merchandise, such as T-shirts, among other opportunities.
Depending on your niche, you may also receive inquiries from individuals seeking consulting or coaching services. This has happened to me a few times!
While starting a WordPress blog is the most common way to begin, there are many different platforms that you can create content for, such as Medium, Vocal, and Substack, or social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
If you want to start immediately and don’t want to take the time to set up your own blog, Medium is a great platform to consider.
You can create a profile in a few minutes and start writing and posting immediately. Plus, posts on Medium tend to rank highly on search engines, which can help you get more eyes on your articles as a beginner.
Like the majority of side businesses on this list, you can create content during your free time, making this an excellent way to make money alongside your day job. Of course, many content creators start part-time and then transition their efforts into a full-fledged business.
12. Becoming a Yoga or Fitness Instructor
Do you love taking new fitness or yoga classes?
Maybe you’re the person in your friend group who’s been doing yoga for a decade and loves showing your friends and family members new poses to help with their backaches or to help them get better sleep.
And, if you prefer the WFH lifestyle, you can always teach classes over Zoom from the comfort of your own home.
You can also become a yoga instructor YouTuber by posting videos online like Yoga With Adriene or Yoga With Kassandra, both of which have over a million subscribers.
13. Event Planning
Becoming an event planner is a good option for those who are organized and design-savvy.
You’ll also want to have good people skills to get along with all sorts of clients and vendors.
You can either plan events for clients or host your own events in person or virtually.
A good way to start is to read interviews or talk to someone with some event planning experience. This can give you a better idea of whether or not this would be a good side business for you.
You can also read more about pay and how to get started working from home as an event planner.
14. Design and Sell Printables
Another side business you can start from home to earn extra income is designing and selling printables on Etsy. And no, you don’t need a graphic design background to get started. With Canva, a free online design program, anyone can create beautiful printables to sell online.
What exactly are printables?
Printables are digital PDF files you design in Canva, such as planners, coloring sheets, templates, gift tags, party game sheets, checklists, calendars, and more! Once you’ve created your printables, you’ll open up an online store using Etsy.
Why Etsy?
Etsy is an online selling platform that is easy and affordable to use. Simply create an account, set up your shop by following their prompts, and upload images and descriptions of your printables. Each product you upload to Etsy will incur a $0.20 fee, which is valid for four months. Besides being simple and inexpensive, Etsy has a built-in audience of buyers. Just incorporate the right keywords into your product descriptions, and you can tap into their worldwide customer base of 400 million users each month.
Besides being able to create printables in your spare time, this is a fun and passive side gig. Once you create a printable, you can sell it over and over again without doing any additional work. Some side hustlers are so successful with this business idea that it becomes their full-time gig.
If designing and selling printables sounds like a fun online business idea, be sure to check out this free workshop from Cody and Julie of the popular E-Printables Course.
15. Become an Online Reseller
If you’re looking for a great side business idea that doesn’t require any special skills or experience, think about becoming a reseller.
Most resellers start their journey by selling items they have around their homes that they no longer use. Seeing how easy it is to sell items online, they start sourcing inexpensive goods from places like garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores.
What platforms can you sell on?
Depending on what you’re selling, you may want to explore options such as Craigslist, eBay, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, and Poshmark. Each platform has its pros and cons, but they are all easy to use, and most are free to get started.
The nice thing about this side business is that you can do it part-time, or if you find you love sourcing and listing items, you can turn it into a full-time six-figure business.
The husband-and-wife duo, Rob and Melissa Stephenson, have turned their passion for finding hidden treasures and selling them online into a full-time, six-figure business. If you’re interested in this business model, consider attending their free online training session to determine if this is the right side business for you.
Side Business Ideas Wrapup
Sometimes, the most challenging part for small business owners is just coming up with a great business idea, so we’ve done the hard work for you. Ultimately, the best business ideas for you will be the ones that align with your skill set and interests, allow you to set your own hours, and fit into your current lifestyle.
Just remember that for any of the online-based options, you’ll want to be certain that you have a strong internet connection.
Use these ideas as a starting point and see which ones interest you the most. If you’re looking for even more small business ideas, you might enjoy these side hustle suggestions.
Ready to launch your side business? Grab your free business plan template here!
