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Best home business ideas (2020)

Aching to find a side hustle or a full-time job that you can do from the comfort of your own home? Check these out.

Lily Jones
Lily Jones

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Is it the idea of being your own boss that interests you? Or perhaps being able to set your own working hours? Whatever it is, working from home appeals to lots of people. All you need is a good bit of motivation and a decent Wi-Fi connection.

We've put together a list of the pros and cons of working from home, along with a few ideas to get you started. So, once you've decided that working from home is for you, you can get going with one of these businesses straight away.

Pro and cons of working from home

  • Set your own working hours and find a better work-life balance.
  • No daily commuting time or travel expenses.
  • Spend more time with the people who matter thanks to a flexible work schedule.
  • Create your own work environment that helps you to be as productive as possible.
  • Take autonomy and ownership over your work.
  • Manage your stress levels by having a cup of tea when you need it, taking a walk or heading out to a cafe to work.
  • It can be difficult to separate your working life from your private life.
  • With little to no colleagues around you, it can feel a little isolating.
  • You may incur additional costs by working from home, like needing an extra room in your property to act as an office, paying for more bandwidth along with electricity and heating bills.
  • If you lack self-motivation, disciplining yourself at home can be hard.
  • There are fewer opportunities to learn from colleagues or take part in funded courses through your company.

25 home business ideas

This list is no means exhaustive, but it's a good start if you're considering taking the leap of faith and starting your own business from home.

1. Copywriter/Content writer

If you're a dab hand at grammar and being creative comes easily, writing copy for websites, magazines and blog posts can be a lucrative career choice. Don't worry if you don't have much experience. Try to build up a portfolio with your own blog posts and articles and share them with potential employers. Sites like Upwork and Fiverr are also great places to start your career as a writer, with jobs listed by potential clients from all over the world.

2. Baker

Baking bread, cake, pastries or any other sort of delicious treat can be a great way to make a bit of money on the side. Start by selling to local cafes or at a weekend market to find your best sellers. Afterwards, you can begin to think about setting up an online shop or perhaps your own storefront.

3. Web designer

As we move towards a virtual world, most businesses are realising the importance of having an online presence. That's where a web designer comes in. Mastering the art of creating sleek, attractive and functional websites for clients can not only be extremely rewarding, but it can also bring in a good amount of money. If you don't have the skills to be a web designer, don't worry. There are plenty of online courses that'll teach you the basics and beyond. There are a bunch of tools you can use to get started.

4. Clothes reseller

You don't have to be a fashionista to learn the art of buying and selling clothes online, but it'll definitely help. Being able to pick clothes out and sell them on for a profit is a real skill and one that is learned over time. Pick out a hidden gem though, and you could be bringing in a tidy sum. Check out our how to sell on Ebay guide for more tips.

5. Language teacher

There are heaps of people around the world hoping to better their English skills, and you don't always need a qualification to teach them – although a TEFL certificate can definitely help. Online platforms like LearnMate and Teach Away make it easy for tutors and pupils to connect from across the world.

6. Blogger

Becoming a blogger is one of those things that you can start to work on right away.

All you need is a keen interest in something, whether it be food, travel or sport, and a desire to share it with the world. Unfortunately, blogs are a slow burner and are generally monetised through selling ad space.

This means you'll need to get yourself high reader numbers before you start pulling in the big bucks.

Check out how Jake Falkinder paid for his home renovation from the money he made from blogging.

7. Personal trainer

A passion for fitness, lots of energy and a qualification or two are all you need to excel as a fitness professional. Building up a reputation and a reliable client base can take time, but it can be more than worth it. Just remember, the importance of social media is huge in this industry, so get posting those workouts on your Instagram and nutritional cooking videos on YouTube.

8. Beauty therapist

Hairdressers, make-up artists, waxing and eyebrow technicians are just a few of the beauty professions that can be made mobile. All you need is to invest in a small amount of equipment and potentially a car so you can get to your clients' houses. Otherwise, you can always operate from your own living room to avoid transportation costs.

9. Business consultant

Consultancy work is perfect for anyone that has spent years becoming an expert in their field. Opportunities range from HR and technology to marketing and social media. First, you'll need to build a business website, and then you can start advertising your services to potential clients and build up your base.

10. Pet sitter

Combine a love for animals with a love for the outdoors and you have yourself a pet-sitter/walker/minder. Sites like Mad Paws mean you don't even need to create a website or a flyer to advertise your services. Simply sign up with a website to connect with pet owners that need your help.

11. Upcycler

Does the idea of hitting up antique markets, car boot sales and vintage stores fill you with excitement? Then a bit of upcycling could be your perfect side hustle. Upcycling is particularly common with furniture but is easily done with clothes, jewellery and bags too. Getting set up on eBay is a great way to reach a wide audience and sell your creations for a fair price.

12. Chef

Nowadays, talented chefs have plenty of job choices beyond working in a restaurant or cafe. Busy lives mean more and more households are requesting personal chefs for special occasions or fresh ready-made meals to be delivered to their doors, and a rise in foodies calls for more food blogs and online recipes.

13. Accountant

Companies, big and small, are starting to relinquish the traditional in-house roles and have begun to outsource jobs that aren't part of their core business. For businesses, this means spending less on salaries. For us, that means a working-from-home opportunity. If you haven't already got a qualification in accounting, there are plenty of courses online that can get you up to speed.

14. Vlogger

Growing your online following, whether it be on YouTube, Instagram or Facebook, has never been so lucrative. If you think you've got what it takes to create engaging video content that will entertain thousands of subscribers, you'll be able to start making money from ads. Check out these top tips for making money on YouTube.

15. Virtual assistant

Organising emails, writing up to-do lists and updating calendars are all things that virtual assistants find themselves doing on a daily basis. If you're organised, professional and can market yourself well, you won't find it hard to get yourself a virtual assistant role on sites like Upwork.

16. Market research

Ever wondered how businesses conduct some of their large-scale market research? They send out online surveys and questionnaires and pay people to fill them out and send them back. Although this kind of thing won't generate a full-time income, it can be a great pocket money earner.

17. Translator

If you're blessed with linguistic skills and have a few different languages floating around, acting as a freelance translator is a great way to make money. Rates for translators are usually calculated on a cent-per-word basis, with unusual language pairings and those with many years of experience receiving the best rates of pay. Check out our expert comparison of the top freelancer websites, where you can find the latest translation jobs.

18. Podcasting

Millions of us tune into podcasts daily. Sometimes on the commute to work, sometimes as a way to switch off at the end of the day. It's an opportunity that's on the rise, especially if you think you've got the gift of the gab. Like blogs, podcasts are monetised by selling ad space, so you'll need to be patient and build up a good audience before you start benefiting from your podcast.

19. Travel agent

Share your experience and knowledge of travel with clients hoping to get away, both within Australia and around the world. Having strong negotiation and research skills are key to getting the best deals for your clients. Working on a per-project basis, you'll also need a strong online presence, like a blog or Instagram, to guarantee a continuous string of work

20. Brewer

Brewing your own beer is something that's worth pursuing as a hobby before you quit your full-time job completely. Start-kits are available across the Internet so you can start perfecting the recipe as soon as possible. Just remember, you'll need a licence to sell any of it to the general public.

21. Airbnb host

Have you got a spare room in your house? Or perhaps a holiday home that sits empty for most of the year? Advertising your property on a site like Airbnb is a great way to monetise these assets quickly. All you need to do is set up an account, take a few photos and name your price.

22. Gardener

Not everybody has time to tend to their garden, which is why gardeners make a living. Sometimes it can be as simple as mowing the lawn, other times you might be asked to build a vegetable bed or lay some turf. Whatever it is, gardening is a great way to keep fit and make some extra pennies on the side.

23. Music teacher

If you have a hidden talent, like playing the piano, drums or clarinet, hosting music lessons is a great way to make money. These can take place in your own home if you've got the space or in your client's home if you'd rather meet there. Some people even teach online nowadays!

24. Event planner

Weddings, birthday parties and company events all have one thing in common – they all have someone behind the scenes making sure that everything is running smoothly. Just remember, you'll need to be super organised to excel in the role, along with having excellent communication skills so you can understand exactly what your clients want.

25. Data entry clerk

Data collection is a huge part of what makes the world go round, and almost every single large corporation has huge amounts of data to input each and every day. Good news is, they'll pay you to do it. All you'll need is access to Excel and touch-typing skills.

Top tips for working from home

  • Build a relationship with colleagues and clients whether it be over FaceTime or via a quick coffee meeting.
  • Make yourself a comfortable and professional working space in your home, and remember to clock off at a reasonable time.
  • Head to a local cafe when you're not feeling motivated and try to work from there. It might just spark a bit of inspiration.
  • Go out into the fresh air every single day, whether it's for a walk to the shops or a workout in the park.
  • Get dressed every day as if you're going to work. It'll help your brain engage more and lead to fewer distractions.

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