6 Home Business Ideas to Help You Kick Off Your Next Venture

Key takeaways

Home-based small businesses can sell products through drop-shipping or subscription boxes or provide professional services virtually.

• As of 2025, the US had 36.2 million small businesses, according to the US Small Business Administration [1].

• Product-based businesses require a high capital investment and are easily scalable, while service-based businesses require a lower initial investment but may be more challenging to scale.

• You can sell homemade products or offer online tutoring, digital marketing, or writing and editing services.

Learn more about home business ideas, including product-based and service-based opportunities. If you’re ready to develop your skills, consider enrolling in the Google Digital Marketing and E-commerce Professional Certificate. In as little as six months, you’ll have the chance to learn the fundamentals of digital marketing and e-commerce. By the end, you’ll have earned a career credential to share with potential employers.

What you need to know about starting your small business ideas from home

Small businesses abound in the United States. In fact, according to a report by the US Small Business Administration, there were an estimated 36.2 million small businesses in the country, accounting for approximately 99.9 percent of all US firms in 2025 [1].

While these businesses technically include everything from one-person operations to companies with 500 employees, the sheer number of small businesses in the US illustrates both the feasibility of starting your own business and the competition that can inevitably develop from such a crowded playing field. 

To throw your hat into the ring, you should first decide on the type of business you will run: a home product business or a home service business. 

In simplest terms, a product business sells physical products, while service businesses sell services that do something for someone [2]. For example, a grocery store is a product business because it sells physical foodstuffs, such as fruit and vegetables, to customers. A tax accountant, however, is running a service business because they sell their time and expertise to customers looking for help on their tax returns. 

Both product businesses and service businesses have advantages and disadvantages. Typically, product businesses require a higher financial investment than service businesses because they need to have a stock of physical goods to sell. However, product businesses are usually much easier to scale than service businesses because they sell manufacturable products rather than the time of individuals with a specialized skill set [2]. 

Read more: 16 Small Business Ideas and How to Find Yours

Home-based business ideas: Products

You don’t need a brick-and-mortar store to start selling products to customers. Today, the internet makes running a product business from home easier than ever. 

The following home-based business ideas highlight three distinct ways to sell products online. 

1. Drop-shipping

Drop-shipping is an order fulfillment business model in which a seller acts as a middleman between a customer and a manufacturer. Drop-shippers don’t own their own product stock but, instead, purchase products directly from manufacturers and wholesalers when a customer makes a purchase. The product is then directly shipped to the customer from the manufacturer or wholesaler. 

Today, drop-shipping is a growing industry worth billions of dollars annually. A report from Oberlo, for instance, found that the drop-shipping industry made an estimated $435.0 billion in 2025, a figure that is projected to grow to $2,241.8 billion by 2033 [3]. 

Compared to a traditional storefront that maintains a physical inventory of products, drop-shipping allows businesses to sell products that they don’t physically stock or technically even own yet. Drop-shipping is one way for entrepreneurs to start a product business without investing the capital typically required to purchase stock and store it. 

2. Subscription boxes

Subscription boxes are boxes containing curated items that customers receive on a regular basis through a subscription. Today, there are subscription boxes offering a monthly stock of everything, including cocktail mixes, gourmet cheese, and patterned socks.

Subscription boxes are a multi-billion-dollar industry that spans the globe and is only growing. According to research by Market Research Future, the US market for subscription boxes will grow from $5.83 billion to a projected $10.82 billion by 2035 [4]. The market value for subscription boxes will have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.78 percent through 2035 [4]. 

Subscription boxes are likely to appeal to entrepreneurs who are knowledgeable and passionate about a specific niche product or market. Subscription boxes can be practical, silly, or anything in between—it’s up to you. Some fun and unique subscription boxes include: 

• Munch Addict: A subscription box that sends recipients a box of snacks from all around the world

• History by Mail: A subscription box that sends reproductions of historic documents to recipients every month

• Book of the Month: A subscription service that sends recipients a curated selection of books every month

3. Make your own products

Making your own products and selling them online is one of the most common home businesses. The products you sell can be everything from artisanal soaps to handcrafted knives or anything else you can conceivably make.

The wide reach of the internet has made online storefronts selling handcrafted goods a common enterprise. According to Etsy, the storefront had 5.6 million active sellers and 86.5 million active buyers in December 2025 [5]. 

Selling handmade products will likely appeal to entrepreneurs who want to flex their creativity and have the resources required to create and store their own goods. At the same time, it can also be a good option for entrepreneurs who have a pre-existing skill set that is not currently being employed, such as ceramics or knitting. 

At-home business ideas: Services

Service-oriented businesses sell customers the time and energy of a skilled professional in a particular field. Thanks to the internet, it’s never been easier for customers and individual service providers to connect. 

The list below includes some of the most common home service businesses operating today. 

4. Online tutoring

Tutors help students of all levels learn course material and prepare for important exams, such as the SAT. Students range from elementary school students to graduate students working toward their doctorate degrees. 

Today, more and more people are learning online. In 2026, for example, the global online learning market was expected to grow to $375 billion [6]. 

Online tutoring is a potentially good business idea for patient individuals who enjoy teaching and working with others. It could also be ideal for college-educated individuals looking for a business opportunity that allows them to work from home with a flexible schedule. 

5. Writing and editing

Writing is everywhere, from the blog posts you read online to the manuals that come with your new vacuum cleaner. As a result, freelance writers are in demand in virtually all industries that require some kind of communication. 

Writing is a growing field with the potential to earn an income above the median in the US. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for instance, writers and authors made a median annual salary of $72,270 in 2024, and that number is expected to grow by 4 percent between 2024 and 2034, with 4,900 job openings each year [7]. 

Freelance writing and editing are best suited to individuals who are talented communicators who don’t mind spending time alone. Not all writing assignments are the same. While copywriting requires writers to collaborate with clients and craft compelling copy for marketing purposes, technical writing requires writers to create documents that clearly describe how a reader should use a product. SEO content writers, meanwhile, craft original writing to help draw online search engine users to a specific website. 

6. Digital marketing

Businesses use marketing to get the word out about their own products and services. If you have experience in marketing, then why not parlay your skills into your own digital marketing business? 

Today, billions of people around the world are online. Forty-one percent of US adults report almost constantly being online, with another 43 percent online several times a day [8]. In response to this massive audience, marketing firms are dedicating more and more of their budget every year to digital marketing, which will grow at a projected CAGR of 9.38 percent between 2026 and 2035 [9]. 

Starting a home-based marketing business could be a good fit for entrepreneurs with a keen understanding of digital marketing. Some of the most common services that digital marketers provide include affiliate marketing, search engine optimization, content creation, and social media management. 

How to decide what business to open

Deciding what business to open is a personal decision that hinges on a number of factors. When deciding, start by considering your interests and passions. What type of product or service speaks to your skill set? Once you have a general idea, you can look for any market gaps and research the profitability of different options. This can help you balance your interests with sustainability and help you make an informed choice.

Access free resources to build your home-based business

Stay up-to-date on industry trends by subscribing to Career Chat on LinkedIn. Then, check out the following resources as you consider your home business options:

• Take a quiz: Digital Marketing Career Quiz: Is It Right for You? Find Your Role

• Watch on YouTube: How to Grow a Small Business with Social Media 

• Explore emerging trends: Future-Proofing Your Business Strategy with GenAI

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses. 

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