Home based businesses have been increasingly flourishing. More and more people are entering this field every day. Finding the right business idea is often the most difficult part of setting up a home based business. For those who need a little inspiration in finding that elusive beginning of an idea, here are 175 to explore. Make a list, then research, gather information, look at competitors and critically analyze your short-listed ideas to determine which one will work best for you.

Great ideas and business degrees only go so far. It is persistence and determination that, I believe, are the true sources of success for most businesses. But they are just ideas – hopefully they will spark some inspiration, but you have to apply all the diligence and hard work to turn it into something.

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Business Services
1. Lunch Delivery Service: Ideal if you live near offices. Do your research before starting. See if you have competitors and what they are offering at what price. Survey office workers – what type of sandwiches would they like to have? What are they currently paying and willing to pay you? Use pamphlets with a list of sandwiches and prices, and when you will deliver. Deliver on time!

2. Product Distributor: The initial challenge will be finding a product to distribute. Look at local handcrafts, research magazines or fairs. Use parent organizations, direct mail, pamphlets, newsletters and a website to promote and sell your product.

3. Virtual Assistant: Depending on your training, skills and experience, you could offer an array of services such as administrative support, technical support, customer service, research, data entry and website maintenance. Anyone can become a virtual assistant.

4. Bookkeeping. This is a perfect business idea for trained accountants who would like to work from home, although it is not necessary to be a Certified Public Accountant in order to become a freelance bookkeeper—it’s just necessary to have the background knowledge that bookkeeping courses at any community college can offer. This kind of freelance work is especially helpful for small businesses that do not need or cannot afford a fulltime bookkeeper, making it possible for you to have full time work through several smaller clients. You will need to be competent in using Excel or bookkeeping software.

5. Concierge: Personality is the most important requirement. You will have demanding clients who expect you to deliver what they want on time and be extremely pleasant. For this you need to be efficient, have the ability to make things happen and do so with a smile.

6. Business coaching: If you have experience and expertise in business, why not use your skills to coach business owners and managers to set and achieve their goals.

7. Green/Eco Consultant: Consumers and regulators are putting pressure on companies to become more eco-friendly. Small business owners cannot afford to employ large consulting firms to do this for them. You could meet with them, review their environmental impact and make recommendations regarding energy use, waste and costs to create a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly operation.

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8. Warehousing and Shipping for E-Commerce: If you have extra space at home such as a basement or garage, you could try this. Find businesses that want to outsource their inventory and shipping. You will then be responsible for keeping inventory and shipping orders as they come in.

9. Mobile Employee Monitoring Service: For companies with mobile employees, it is difficult to keep track of these employees for payroll and billing. This creates an opportunity for entrepreneurs, especially if you add some outsourced human resources functions.

10. Business Presentations: If you are good at putting together presentations, why not offer your services to others? There is plenty of training available online.

11. Flier Distribution Service: All you need is a telephone and good walking shoes. You can employ casual staff to help scale your business. Research what the current flier delivery services are charging.

12. Home Office Planner: Assist business owners and employees in making the transition to a home based office by offering a planning service focused on office layout design, storage solutions, ergonomics, work routine schedules, suitable equipment and supplies, communications systems and security systems.

13. Mystery Shopping: You will be required to dine or shop at restaurants or retail outlets as an ordinary patron and then give a verbal or written report to owners or managers on customer service and food quality. Other mystery shopping opportunities are reviewing the quality of care at hospitals or reporting on the service from collection agency representatives. In addition, you may be asked to do undercover surveillance of staff (if theft is suspected). Some states view mystery shoppers as private investigators, in which case you will need a license.

14. Referral Service: Match people to their required service online and by phone. You could specialize in niches such as apartment rentals, babysitters or a homeowners’ network of plumbers, painters, cleaning services, gardening services and electricians.

15. Paper Shredding and Recycling Business: Many businesses--such as banks, financial institutions and medical facilities--are required by law to protect the confidentiality and security of patrons. Many businesses have an overload of documents that, for security reasons, cannot be thrown in the trash. Hiring a paper shredding service is an investment for them. A mobile document shredding service goes to its clients and shreds their documents on-site, then removes the shredded paper and takes it to a recycling center.

16. Drive for Uber – Becoming an Uber driver has quickly become a great way for people to get their own business off the ground.  You will need to pass a background check and have valid instate driver's license and auto insurance.  The process is pretty painless and will get you rolling on your own business.  Many people start as an Uber driver to pay the bills while they work on another business that they are more passionate about.

17. Courier Service. If you live in a bustling area, chances are local businesses could use a local courier service. Unlike the big name services, you can offer more flexible pick-up and drop off times, which can be a godsend to many small businesses.

18. Marketing Consultant. Whether you are helping a business with traditional marketing materials or instructing them on the fine art of blogging (ahem) and social media, this is a business that has almost unlimited potential for freelancers.

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19. Editing. Like copywriting, this is a freelancing gig where it’s helpful to have a background in English or communications—but any eagle-eyed writer could do great job.

20. Web Design. Helping clients design the best website for their needs is a great way to make a living from home.

21. Translation. If you know a second (or third) language, you can make a living at home translating documents. It’s a global marketplace, and even the best translation software can’t understand linguistic nuance.

22. Grant Writing. Non-profits, universities, hospitals and other community organizations all have a great need for grant money to supplement their budgets, but grants are notoriously tricky to write for the first time. If you have experience writing grants, or are willing to learn how to do it by practicing your skills without pay for a few non-profits, you can start a lucrative freelance grant writing business.

23. Debt Collection. It takes a very thick skin to go into this business, but debt collectors only need a telephone and a computer to work, making it a great work-at-home business. It’s also a recession-proof (or even recession-loving) business. Licensing requirements vary from state to state, so make sure you do your homework before setting up shop.

24. Call Center Representative. Believe it or not, it is possible to actually reach a woman named Peggy (and not a man with a Russian accent) when you call customer service. That’s because of the homeshore movement, which is trying to hire more independent contractors to work from home on customer service issues. If you’ve got a phone line and an internet connection, you can work from home as a call center rep.

I will be moving to Maintenance and Cleaning Services.

What's your thought on the business services?

Maintenance and Cleaning Services

25. Graffiti Removalist: Get contracts for the monthly cleaning of buildings or walls. Make sure you have the necessary cleaning products to cover all types of graffiti on all types of surfaces.

26. Commercial Office Cleaning: Research what price local competitors are charging. Send a flyer with a list of your services to all the local businesses. Try and get on-going contracts for more regular income.

27. Lawn Care: For this you need some gardening skills. Think about upgrading your skills to stand out from the rest. You need to be physically fit, reliable and disciplined to protect your reputation. Put your business hat on and think about what to do in the winter months.

28. Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Service: First research what equipment you will require and the cost. Then research what training, certification, licensing and insurance you will need and assess your competition.

29. Window Cleaning Service: Learn how to do this professionally. Research what licenses and insurance you will need and the need for this service in your area.

30. Pet Clean–up Services: Dog and/or cat clean up services for busy owners. You offer to keep the lawn clean and clean and refill the cat litter tray. The benefit to owners is that they do not have to worry about buying kitty litter and can use the lawn and garden safely.

31. Indoor Plant Care Service: Target local businesses, hotels, shopping malls and busy home-owners. It involves, watering, feeding, trimming and replacing plants when necessary. This is a luxury item so may be the first to go when budgeting.

32. Deck Maintenance Service: This is usually an annual requirement, so you should get repeat business. Deck maintenance includes checking and repairing damaged or loose boards, cleaning and applying a sealant. Research license and insurance requirements, equipment required, competition, market needs and how to market your business.

33. Gutter Cleaning Service: You will need proper safety equipment and insurance. It is a potential hazardous occupation, as you will be climbing ladders and roofs.

34. Hauling Service: Most people have rubbish or refuse that they would like to get rid of. Plus you can offer a service to haul large or bulky purchases from stores to your clients’ homes. You will need to have a truck or trailer.

35. Computer Cleaning Service: Commercial office cleaners do not normally clean computers. You could establish a computer cleaning business and use the commercial cleaning companies for recommendations. You will need proper equipment and insurance.

36. Awning Cleaning Service: Ideal for a business run from home with flexible working hours, no skills required and low start-up costs. Target homes and commercial awning signs. Have a list of all the benefits your cleaning service provides and start door knocking.

37. Toner Cartridge Recycling: It is easy to learn how to refill the cartridges with new ink. Offer fast and free delivery of recycled cartridges to offices, stores and homes. Franchises are available.

38. Swimming Pool Maintenance: Consider working for a local swimming pool service to learn the ropes before starting your own business. It is not as easy as it sounds. Research the need for this service in your area, your competition and what licenses and insurance you will need. A truck or trailer and a safe place to store chemicals are required.

39. Garden Maintenance: From lawn mowing, cleaning and pruning to garden preparation, planting, pest control and watering.

40. Cleaning: As long as dirt and grime exist, there will be a need for house-cleaning services. In many homes and apartments, people want to enjoy the luxury of not having to scrub floors and dust furniture.

41. Interior Designer. While you do not need a degree or certification in order to set out an interior designer shingle, it is really necessary in order to make sure you can meet the needs of many clients. An education in the history and theory of design will allow you to understand trends that you may not like, but your clients do.

Over to Internet & Technology Services

What do you make of the Maintenance and Cleaning Services?

Internet & Technology Services

42. Copywriting/Ghost writing/Magazine article writing/Webpage content writing: If you have a way with words and can write creative and compelling articles, then this may be for you. All you need is a computer. There are many sites like guru.com or elance.com that employ writers. There is also CloudCrowd (through Facebook). This article about building a freelance writing business has lots of ideas.

43. Internet Security Consulting. If you’re tech savvy and understand the ins and outs of internet security, consider becoming a consultant for small businesses. Unlike the big boys, these companies can’t afford the huge security budgets, but they still want to be able to protect their internet customers.

44. Website Consultant: Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants a website these days, but they don't know how to do it themselves. If you are running any kind of business today, a website is just as important as naming your business. From hosting domain names to managing web content, a website consultant builds and maintains websites. Having an understanding of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a plus. As a website consultant, you will need experience in links, banners and affiliate programs, and a talent for graphics and copywriting. You can do courses online to learn how to do this. Research training options and licensing requirements. Initially, you will need to network extensively (to find work) and market your skills

45. Medical Transcription: You hear about these opportunities, and they often sound like scams. But the truth is that the medical industry has a great need for individuals to transcribe audio dictations into coherent reports. Transcriptionists do need education—generally a two-year degree—to make sure they are clear on the arcane medical terminology. You will need a computer, headphones, printer, medical dictionary and software for audio playback.

46. Legal Transcription: You need to be able to listen and type at the same time. You will need a computer, headphones, printer, legal dictionary and software for audio playback. You may require some training in legal formatting and terminology.

47. Translation services: If you are fluent in 2 or more languages, you can offer a translation service from your home. All you need is a computer.

48. Website Flipping: Buy established websites that can be improved to increase revenue and build your portfolio of websites. Flippa.com is a good source of websites.

49. Digital Forensic Service: This involves recovering lost, deleted or corrupted computer content. Do your research on regulations and start-up costs.

50. Internet Marketing Consultant: If you have good internet marketing skills, you could help small business owners promote their businesses online. You can either offer this as a “done for you” service, or coach business owners in doing it themselves.

51. IT Security Consulting Service: Many businesses store their clients’ personal information on computer. Small businesses cannot afford to hire a data security specialist. You will need a background in IT. Research what training, experience and licenses you need and what the regulations are.

52. Freelancing: You only have to look at Freelancer.com, Elance.com or Guru.com to see more than a million freelance projects on offer.

53. E-Book Publishing: Write and publish your own how-to books, storybooks or informational books. Automate your system by delivering your e-books via downloads. If you have an idea but do not want to write the content, you can always outsource the content writing to freelance writers (for example: guru.com, elance.com, odesk.com and others).

54. Video Production: If videography is your hobby, this is a great business idea. You can offer to make, edit and download videos (online or to DVD) for your clients. You will need professional equipment. Display your portfolio on your own website. Rates vary by area and equipment.

55. Start a Blog: This is not for everyone as it is hard work with no guarantee of income. Research and learn before starting. It takes some time to grow an audience and find ways to monetize your blog, but if you love to share your point of view with the world, this can be a good way to work from home. Niche blogs are a particular area of growth in this ever-growing profession. Pay can vary widely, but the income potential is nearly limitless.

Over to Home and Personal Services

What do you make of the Internet & Technology Services?

Home and Personal Services

56. Party Planner/Coordinator: Take the stress off clients by offering to plan and co-ordinate their parties, including invitations, entertainment and catering. You will need to build up a good list of resources, so do your research first to get all the contacts. You may need extra help at short notice as your business grows, so have a back-up plan. You will need to be well organized and disciplined.

57. Party Rentals: You will need some initial capital to invest in equipment, and a trailer or truck. You will also need to be prepared to work weekends. Do your own deliveries to cut costs. You can provide a range of items from inflatables, interactive games, jousts, giant slides, obstacle courses, video games, casino equipment to fun foods. Insurance can be expensive, so check insurance rates first.

58. Event Planning: Events range from parades, weddings, reunions, birthdays, anniversaries, conferences, meetings, graduations, product launches, political rallies, fashion shows, memorials, fundraisers, receptions, trade shows, conventions, company picnics, holiday parties and meetings for staff members, board members or stockholders and athletic competitions to civic events. This may take time to learn unless you are already a qualified event planner. You will need to either spend time in an event management company to learn the tricks of the trade or get a qualification from a local college.

59.Travel Planning. While anyone can check an aggregator site for the best price to fly to Saint Louis, planning a more elaborate trip might be too much for some travelers. This is where a travel planner comes in, using his skills to find the best trip—including flight, accommodation, rental car, and tours—for the budget.

60. Meal Planning. One of the best ways to keep a grocery budget—and a waistline—in check is to do meal planning. But for some, this kind of planning is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. A meal planner could put together a list of a week’s recipes, along with a grocery list, for a harried but budget-conscious shopper.

61. Local Travel/Tour Guide: You do not have to travel all over the place but can concentrate on your local travel business such as a historical walking tour business. Do research and get some interesting facts and some myths to make it interesting but also fun. Design or acquire a map for clients to make it interesting.

62. Coach/Advisor: Have you always been the one people come to for advice? Why not use that skill of listening and mentoring in a career coaching business? If you are good at counseling, use your network of contacts to get clients.

63. Home Inspection: Research what training, experience and licensing you will need. Work on establishing good communication with real estate agents to get leads. Ongoing education is essential as new products are being produced continuously and safety legislation is updated regularly. A home inspector needs to meet the state regulations for the profession, which varies from state to state, although anyone who has worked in the construction or housing industry will have a leg up.

64. Household Organizer: Are you a great organizer with creative ideas and good communication skills? You can either offer a service to organize customers’ houses, rooms or garages or do consulting work. You need to offer a professional service, so set up a portfolio of design ideas and checklists and questionnaires to get an idea of how the family use the space. Once established, you can expand into other related areas.

65. Wedding Planner/Consultant: You will have to be the expert on the latest trends, fashions and more. Offer a full service, from minor details to wedding gowns. You will need some capital for start-up costs. Create a uniqueness to stand out from the rest – why would they pick you? You will need a working knowledge of what goes into planning a wedding, including resources and price ranges for everything from invitations to musicians.

66. Sitting and Dog Walking Business: This is a great job for animal lovers who enjoy getting paid for caring for and playing with other people's pets. Dogs and cats are the most common pets that need care when owners are away, but you will occasionally be asked to take care of rabbits, hamsters, birds and tropical fish. Dog walking can bring in good cash, especially if you market your services in retirement communities, where many residents may lack the energy and motivation to take their pets for their daily walks.

67. Computer training: Teach seniors the basics on how to use a PC and send e-mails. It can be a very rewarding experience.

68. Moving Service: You do not want to compete with large moving companies. Target small local household moves. You will have to convince them that you can do it better than they can do it on their own. Advertise locally with, for example, pamphlets, signs and business cards and get to know your local estate agents for possible leads.

69. Day Care: Most parents prefer to have their children cared for in a home environment. You will need to thoroughly research what training, equipment, insurance and licensing you will need. Licensing for in-home daycare varies from state to state, but you will want to make sure you comply with your local regulations.

70. Off-Hours Daycare. Though this is basically the same as above, it does deserve its own description. Finding someone to regularly watch children during off-hours, like second shift, weekends, or very early mornings, can be extremely difficult for parents. Offering care during off-peak hours means that you can command a higher fee.

71. Tutoring: You will need experience and references. Tutoring can be at homes, schools, care centers or online. Research tutoring needs in your area. There are agencies that match tutors and students. A background in education is helpful for tutoring, but not necessary. All you really need are mad skillz in one or more academic area, and you can help local students do better in their classes.

72. Senior/Elder Care Services: This involves helping seniors with tasks such as house cleaning, transportation, bathing, assisting with taking medication, companionship and meals. Research how many seniors there are in your area and what their needs are as well as what training, licensing and insurance you may need.

73. Child Proofing. Keeping our kids safe is so important, but the details of how to do so can be confusing. A professional child proofing business is inexpensive to start up, but there may be state regulations to follow. It’s also a good idea to apprentice with a child proofer in order to learn the business.

74. Junk Removal: People always have junk. Anyone who has ever had the unenviable task of cleaning up a house for sale after the death of the owner knows just how important this job is. Junk removal can be as simple as hauling away unwanted stuff to the dump, or it can be as complicated as separating out the trash from the treasures and handling the actual sale of the goods. Research what junk removalists there are in your area, where there is a particular need, what certification you need and what equipment you will need.

75. Mobile Pet Grooming Service: You will need a well-equipped van and training on pet handling and grooming. Research the competition and find a point of difference for yourself.

76. Dog walking/Running Service: This is great for any fit outdoor type of person who loves dogs. Research what training, licensing and insurance you need. You will need to be disciplined and provide great customer service, as word of mouth will be your best source of business.

77. Home Staging: Sellers want to be able to sell their properties quickly and a well-staged home will enhance the appeal for buyers. You can develop a good working relationship with your local estate agents for leads. Research homes that have sold quickly and see how they were styled.

78. Dog Obedience Training: First you need to decide whether you want to train dogs or teach people how to train their dogs. Then you need to learn the principles and practices of dog training. You can either do this online or look for a course. A good way of marketing your services is to use a temperament evaluation card to show potential clients your training programs.

79. Nanny Service: You will have to gain the trust of your clients and be prepared for a background check. Keeping the children and their parents happy can be a challenge. Having good references is essential.

80. Installation of Home Theatre Systems and TVs: Most households have a TV, but fewer have home theatre systems. There is a great opportunity to enhance the TV viewing experience for home owners. As technology is changing rapidly, you will have to stay on top of this.

81. Satellite Installation: Most households have a TV, but fewer have satellite connected to it. There is a great opportunity to enhance the TV viewing experience for home owners. As technology is changing rapidly, you will have to stay on top of this. You can also learn to install satellite for other purposes. You may want to obtain any necessary certification.

82. Packing/Unpacking Service: For people or businesses moving to new premises. You need to be organized and efficient at packing and labeling, have good communication skills and be good with dealing with stressful situations. Target homeowners, businesses and rental accommodation. Use fliers to advertise your services. Think about supplying the packaging materials as well.

83. Art lessons: If you have the knowledge and talent for drawing or painting, why not teach others?

84. Antique and Rare Auto Finder: If you love old cars and have a good knowledge of them, why not use this to help clients find their dream cars and earn a commission?

85. Transportation Service: Find a niche such as the aging population, after school service, medical or events and research your potential clients and their needs. Also research what licenses and insurance you will need and the regulations governing this industry. You may need start-up capital if you don’t already have a suitable vehicle. Or, perhaps, you may have an interesting, antique or unique vehicle that people may want to have a fun ride in.

86. Personal Chef: There's nothing like satisfying a hungry stomach with a hearty meal and getting paid for it. Personal chefs can market their business to just about anybody who likes to eat well and is willing to pay for it. In addition to cooking skills, personal chefs also need a working knowledge of nutrition and excellent organizational skills. A sound understanding of safe food handling practices, health regulations and product liability laws are also essential.

87. Patient Advocacy. With the byzantine complexity of modern medical billing practices, there is a definite need for patient advocates. These individuals take the time to track down hospital billing paperwork and potentially argue with insurance companies. Considering the fact that many of those who need to hire advocates are either ailing or grieving, this is a very necessary service.

88. Personal Trainer. You love to work out and you know the ins and outs of nutrition and exercise. Share your passion with novice exercisers, either out of your home or through a local gym.

89. Appraiser. We all love the moment in Antiques Roadshow when the owner learns how much their heirloom is worth. Becoming an antiques appraiser will allow you to live that moment every day. This does require a background education in the subject and access to an excellent reference library.

90. Home Staging Professional: Or you could offer a more specific type of service like home staging, where you arrange furniture and other decorative elements for clients who are looking to sell or rent their homes.

91. Fundraiser: There are plenty of charities and other organizations that use events or organized campaigns as a primary fundraising method. If you enjoy organizing events or other money making opportunities, you might be able to do so by creating a home-based business.

92. Poultry Farming: Thousands of tons of chickens and eggs are consumed on a daily basis. Various individuals and businesses have grown small poultry farms to large entities generating millions every year. With a small space in your backyard, you can start a little poultry farm and overtime expand to larger plots of lands. The potential in poultry farming can never truly be satisfied. This home based business, is one venture that’d turn overly profitable if executed right.

93. YouTube Personality: There’s never a guarantee of making it big on YouTube. But you can create and post a variety of video content to the platform right from the comfort of your own home, and maybe even make enough from ads to run it as a business.

94. Publicist: If you have a knack for promotions and working with media, you may be able to work from home as a publicist for various clients.

Over to Health and Beauty-Related Services

What do you make of the Home and Personal Services?

Health and Beauty-Related Services

95. Pregnancy Fitness Classes: You will need a certificate in pregnancy fitness. Create a comfortable and secure environment for these classes. And then keep up to date with new developments in pregnancy fitness training.

96. Mobile Personal Fitness Trainer: If you enjoy exercising and keeping fit, why not become a fitness trainer? You will be the best advertisement for your business, so you need a good physique.

97. Massage Therapy: If you have an interest in alternative health and enjoy working with your hands, consider specializing in one of the different types of massage therapy such as craniosacral, aromatherapy, Shiatsu, reflexology, trigger point and sports massage. Research what training and/or license you need in your area. Massage therapists can either work out of their own home or make house calls with a portable massage table.

98. Birth Doula: Ideally you need to be a calm and patient person to be a birth doula or a postpartum doula (assisting new moms). You can start by working with an experienced doula to gain confidence and experience and determine if this is suitable for you (and get a good reference as well). A birth doula provides emotional and physical support for couples during labor and delivery. A postpartum doula provides help for new moms while recovering from childbirth such as support on breastfeeding, bathing or handling siblings. While licensing for doulas is not required by most states, getting certified by DONA International, the only certifying body for this profession, is a good idea. Doulas do have to deal with unpredictable schedules, but they easily can do this work from home.

99. Yoga Instructor: Yoga appeals to all ages. You can have classes at your home or a venue or visit clients at their home.

100. Stress Management Service: If you have experience and training in meditation or yoga or other stress management techniques, you can help others with their stress management.

101. Home Beauty: Body Piercing, hair removal, make-up artist, manicure (and pedicure) salon, mobile foot massage service, wigs, organic hair and skin products are just some of the options for a beauty business.

102. Medical Spa: Check with the medical board in your state to determine its position on medical spa treatments. Opening a medical spa can be a sensitive issue in certain areas of the industry because there is controversy in the field. Next, determine which type of medical spa you want to start. Popular medical spa treatments include Botox, laser hair removal and anti-aging skin-care services.

103. Mobile Spa Business: Bring the spa experience to your clients via a mobile day spa. Mobile spa treatments can be offered in homes, offices or hotels. A mobile spa offers facials, massages, bridal hair and makeup, body treatments, manicures and pedicures. Mobile spas have low startup costs. There are no ongoing costs like those involved in operating a storefront operation such as rent, utilities, maintenance and insurance. Massage therapists, manicurists and hairdressers can run a successful mobile spa business. Market your business to clients who are working from home and do not have time to go to a spa, older folks who cannot leave their homes and working professionals who want a break during a high-stress period.

104. Medical Billing Business: Medical billing is the process by which doctors and hospitals receive payment from health insurance companies. It also involves resolving any disputes and following up on claims that have been delayed or rejected. Medical billing services provide coding, invoicing and collection services to different types of health-care facilities. Individuals can get certified by enrolling in schools that have medical billing programs, or via online courses.

Over to Product-Based Home Businesses

What do you make of the Health and Beauty-Related Services?

Product-Based Home Businesses

105. Balloons Decorating Service: Find a unique angle such as designing and delivering balloon arrangements, a balloon decorating service or balloon themes for parties or weddings. The best marketing strategy is to demonstrate your product with a free display and lots of flyers. Find restaurants, supermarkets or other local places that will attract your potential customers.

106. Online Store Owner: Sell products online through E-bay, Etsy or your own website. You will need to research registering the business name and what licenses you require (you can find most of this on our site). Use social media to promote your store or website. Research what others are doing, how they sell and learn as much as you can before you launch.

107. Jewelry Making: You can work with various types of material such as metal, glass, plastic, beads, wood or feathers. Research what skills, tools, training or licensing you may need.

108. Gift Basket Service: Trying to provide for everyone’s tastes will be an enormous challenge, so choose a niche market such as pet lovers, animal lovers, women, men, teenagers or seniors and cater for their specific needs. If you have hand made products such as soaps, why not create a gift basket service around your product? Try to find something unique that will give your service that extra boost. Do some research on what the people in your chosen niche would like to buy?

109. Delectable Desserts: If you love making desserts and you have a knack for making amazing desserts, why not start your own dessert business? Research what regulations govern having a food business at home.

110. Baking From Home: Whether it is cakes, cake decorating, cupcakes, cookies, artisan breads or pastries, people always prefer homemade. Do thorough research on what the regulations are for home food producers, licensing requirements and health regulations. Also research your niche to see if it is a potentially profitable business.

111. Dog Clothing and Accessories: If you have good sewing skills and enjoy designing, this could be a great business for you. Research what is in fashion and what appeals to dog owners. Sweaters, rain jackets, T-shirts and even dog boots are popular.

112. Pet Travel Accessories and Toys: Travel accessories such as pet carriers and car seat covers are in demand. Pet owners buy toys for their pets to play with and to exercise them. You can sell them through EBay, Etsy or your own online store.

113. Handmade Chocolates: Make unique chocolates to sell locally or online.

114. Online Shoe Sales: This is a growing online business. If you have a passion for shoes and can find a special spin for selling your shoe line, this is worth researching. You can design and market your own niche shoe range. This can be anything from flip flops to heels.

115. Vending Machine Operator: You could do the traditional soda and chips or the more niche health-oriented vending machine franchise. You can start small and build your operation as you generate cashflow.

116. Craft Kits: Sell ready-to-make kits of materials for craft projects aimed at a specific market (kids, teenagers, bird lovers…). Keep the projects simple, as you will have to include assembly instructions. Research what is popular, easy to assemble and fun. To start with, market your products through demonstrations, fliers, local newspapers and online.

117. Scrapbooking: Create and sell custom designed scrapbooks, scrapbook kits, templates, accessories and how-to books online. You can also give classes and/or do webinars.

118. Cosmetics: Decide whether you want to join a direct sales organization, make cosmetic products yourself or find your own wholesale supplier. Register your business name and research what licenses and liability insurance you may require. Use product samples, catalogues, price lists and order forms at host parties.

Lengthy but worth the read. Although this wasn't primarily written for Nigerians, a lot of the ideas can be applied here.
Thanks for sharing @ Op.

bro na naija u dey oo

porozhniy:
Lengthy but worth the read. Although this wasn't primarily written for Nigerians, a lot of the ideas can be applied here.
Thanks for sharing @ Op.

Quite lengthy but the idea is for everyone to see something they can do and that is why I segment it. The business ideas listed here are based on my own personal research and experience working on some. They are all practically applicable to the Nigeria audience. I am currently working on writing full guide on how to start each of the businesses from home. Depending on where you live, some of the business may not work. I stay in Lagos and I can say virtually all the business listed above are practiced here. In fact I have been personally impressed with the level of creativity in some individuals.

a lot of the ideas can be applied here

Thanks for the acknowledgement though.

Over to Skilled Home-Based Business Services

What do you make of the Product-Based Home Businesses?

Skilled Home-Based Business Services

119. Pet Photography: If you love pets and enjoy photography, why not combine the two and offer pet owners unique memories of their beloved pets. Use a digital camera and offer discounts things like referrals or more than one pet.

120. Graphic Designer: Use your training and creative skills to create logos, images, sales brochures, business cards, advertisements, packaging and more from your home. You will need a computer and relevant software. Target small businesses, individuals or companies and assist them with their marketing. Other than the cost of design software, this business has very little overhead and can be done anywhere with a dedicated computer.

121. Building furniture. Everyone loves a well-built and handmade piece of furniture. If you’re already spending time in your workshop, why not sell your wares? Etsy is an excellent place to start selling without having to have a physical storefront.

122. Sewing. Whether you’re making onesies and quilts for sale online or at local markets or doing repairs and alterations for locals with ill-fitting clothes, your sewing machine could be your ticket to a work-from-home business.

123. Electronic Repairs. If you’re the sort who takes apart the computer for fun, operating an electronics repair shop out of your home is a natural decision. In particular, repairing iPads and other tablets would provide you with a great deal of business, as many tablet users are looking for a less expensive way to fix smashed screens and other damages that can be costly through the manufacturer. To limit costs, ask clients to bring their small electronics to you. Make sure to have a plan for getting spare parts quickly to reduce your stock holding costs.

124. Furniture Refinishing and Repair. You might have made a hobby of refinishing and repairing garage sale finds. Now, make your skills profitable by offering to make old furniture as good as new. After all, retro is definitely in. Buy functional furniture cheaply at garage sales and repair or modernize it. Select a particular niche such as furniture for kids, lamps, or coffee tables. Invest in business cards, advertise locally or use pamphlets.

125. Upholstery Repairs: You can learn how to do this through books and videos. Ideally working with an experienced upholsterer would help you learn the skills quickly. Make sure you also have a list of good reliable furniture repair people that you can offer your clients.

126. Appliance repairs: Either do small and/or large appliance repairs for your own clients or contract to appliance stores to cover their warranty service calls or both. Check what training, experience and licensing you require.

127. Music lessons: Use your training, skills and experience to teach individuals, groups and “introduction to” classes (for those that think they may want to but are not sure). Your service could be for school children, adults or families.

128. Photography: Find a niche such as portraits (families, individuals or homes), events (weddings, birthdays and special occasions) or landscapes. Research what training and licensing you may need.

129. Making Furniture: If you already have a workshop, why not turn your hobby into a business selling handmade furniture? You can use sites such as E-bay and Etsy to sell your items.

130. Catering: Identify a niche where you can start. Research licensing requirements and health regulations.

131. Mobile Hairdressing Service: Offer a hairdressing service at home and a mobile service for seniors or disabled people. You will need experience and training. Research what licenses and insurance you will require. Make sure that you follow all of your state’s requirements for doing salon care in a home, as they can be stringent.

132. Tablet/Smartphone Repair Service: Almost everyone has a tablet or smartphone these days but getting it repaired is impossible and costly. If you have the skill and knowledge to do this, it is a great business opportunity.

133. Contracting: If you are an electrician, plumber, roofer, carpenter, cabinet-maker, welder or painter, now is a good time to start your own contracting business. Start small and build your business.

134. Handicrafts: Create custom or made-to-order items of sewing, knitting, crochet or quilting. You could also sell patterns. Have a look at this Pinterest page for inspiration.

135. Financial Advisor: You will need certification, a diploma or a degree. Refer to CFP Board for more information.

136. Window/Mural Painting/Sign Writing: Put your artistic skills to work by painting windows, signs or murals for businesses. Establish a portfolio of your work for marketing your business.

137. Mobile Bartender: You will need some start-up capital to invest in purchasing your mobile bar (or you could build one) and stock. Research what licenses or certification you may need. Choose a catchy fun name for your business that is easy to remember. Advertise your services to local event planners and use social media.

138. Tax Preparation: This is seasonal work and you will have to consider other accounting or bookkeeping options for continuous income. Check to see what educational qualifications you need for tax preparation (depending on what state you reside in) and register with the tax body as a tax preparer. Since there are annual changes to the tax code, you will need to refresh your training each year.

139. Mobile Oil Changes: Building off the previous idea, what if you offered a service where you came to the customer’s house and changed the oil in the street? I would pay to do that – and would be willing to pay more since I didn’t even have to do anything but make a phone call.
140. Car Mechanic: Do you know how difficult it is to find a good and trustworthy mechanic? Maybe it is just me, but I feel like I have had way too many experiences with mechanics not be truthful with me that I would gladly pay more and give all my business to an honest one.  If you know your way around a car and have a few tools, this could be a great business idea for you.
141. Musician: While it may require a dedicated studio space, you can record and release music from your home if you have the talent and drive.

142. Clothing Designer: Whether you stitch intricate gowns from scratch or just design t-shirts, there are plenty of opportunities for designers to create and sell their own clothing from home.

143. Drone Trainer: Drones are gaining a lot of popularity, both with businesses and individuals. That means there are lots of people who are looking to learn how to use them. So you can offer them lessons right from your home.

144. Bicycle Repair Professional: If you love bikes and enjoy fixing things, you could convert your garage into a workshop and offer bike repair services.

145. Tie-dye Shirt Designer: Tie-dying shirts and other clothing and accessory items can be a fun activity. If it’s something you enjoy, you can sell those items online or at craft shows or similar events.

Over to Hobbies Home Based Business.

What do you make of the Skilled Home-Based Business Services?

Hobbies Home Based Business

146. E-book author. Publishing is dead; long live the e-reader! Now that anyone can have their work e-published, it is possible for anyone to make a fortune off their writing. The biggest recent example is the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, but there are many authors taking advantage of the ease of e-publishing. If you love to write and are willing to do your own promotion (and having a blog can really help in that case), writing an e-book is an excellent way to make money at home.

147. Organizer. If you’re someone who reorganizes closets for fun, offer up your services to harried and disorganized individuals and businesses.

148. Home Staging. If rearranging furniture is your idea of fun, home staging is a great home-based business. You will help sellers get their homes looking beautiful so they sell as quickly as possible.

149. Herb Farming. Herb Farming: Herbs are very much in demand. With both the increased interest in alternative therapies and the demand for locally grown and organic foods, an herb farmer can find plenty of customers, particularly if you’re in an urban area. While this does require some space for growing, herbs are fairly small and nearly any home can be slightly modified to allow for an extensive herb garden. . Decide whether you will sell them in pots, freshly picked or dried. Research your potential market (chefs, local markets…).

150. Personal Chef. As a personal chef, you would spend your time whipping up delicious meals for those who don’t have time to cook but do have money to burn. The best way to make a name for yourself as a personal chef is to offer meals that fit stringent dietary or allergy requirements.

151. Baking. Beautifully decorated cakes and cookies, artisan bread, and artful pastries have become all the rage, partially thanks to shows like Ace of Cakes.

152. Mystery Shopping. For many people, the idea of getting paid to shop is a dream come true. There are many mystery shopping scams to beware of, however. Never accept a gig that requires an upfront fee—that’s a good sign it’s not legit. According to the website Scambusters, legitimate mystery shopping can pay anywhere from $8 per job up to $50 to $100 per job.

153. Bargain Hunting. If you love a bargain and know how to make coupons, specials, and unadvertised deals your penny-pinching bitch, then you could help others learn how to save money—and turn a profit.

154. Personal Stylist. You have an eye for clothes and know what styles look best on what body types. So turn your passion for fashion into a business by becoming a personal stylist/shopper. You’ll feel good about making others look great.

155. Catering. If you love to cook on a grand scale, why not start a catering business out of your home? How much you make depends on the scale of the assignments you take, and your ability to correctly decide how much your materials will cost. But this is also an industry where you can start small and work you way up to bigger gigs—and profits.

156. App Designer. Creating a profitable app for smart phones isn’t necessarily about having the best or most innovative idea: it’s about creating the best user experience for that idea. That’s how app designers are able to make their work-from-home a full time job—and then just live off the passive income.

157. Landscape Design. If you’re never happier than when you are landscaping your yard, landscape design might be the home-based business for you. This is a relatively new field, so you can get some background knowledge through a degree, although schools that offer these degrees are somewhat rare, or you can intern with another landscape designer.

158. Tour Guide. You may love exploring all the fun corners of your hometown, but it might not occur to you to make that hobby a business. This is an especially good idea if you can offer themed tours or other niche tours.

159. Party Clown: Being a clown for kids’ birthday parties and similar events can be a fun job if you enjoy entertaining and working with children. You’ll, of course, need to leave your home for the actual events. But you can do the booking and prep work from home.

160. Dance Instructor: Anyone with a background in dance and access to clients with similar interests can offer dance classes from home. You can either set up the actual studio in your home or rent a space and use your home to do the administrative work.

161. Jewelry Maker: There are plenty of different methods and supplies you can use to create your own jewelry. You can then sell it online or even at craft shows or via wholesale.

162. Baker: Bakers, you can buy some professional equipment and set up a commercial kitchen in your home. You can either sell your baked goods to local shops or set up a storefront online.

163. Florist: Creating beautiful flower arrangements can be a fun activity for anyone with an eye for design and a love of plants. And you can turn that activity into a career by selling flower arrangements and other plants that you create in your home.

164. Glass Blower: Glass blowing is a hobby that you can use to create everything from jewelry to home décor elements. You can sell those unique creations online, wholesale or at events.

Over to Opportunities That Didn’t Exist 15 Years Ago.

What do you make of the Hobbies Home Based Business?

Opportunities That Didn’t Exist 15 Years Ago

165. Online Store. It used to be that if you had a product to sell, you also had to have a storefront and all the costs associated with it. These days, you can sell anything to anyone anywhere in the world. Whether you’re marketing the organic honey from your backyard apiary, or selling personalized linens that you embroider yourself, you can find a market for your products online.

166. eBay Sales. The other option for online sales is to simply become the eBay middleman. Millions of vendors sell their wares on the online auction house. If you can find an inexpensive source for (legally!) saleable merchandise, you can get into business.

167. Micro Jobs. With the advent of Fiverr, we saw a brand new way to assign and accept work: little jobs for small payouts. But it’s no party trick. Apps like Gigwalk and sites like Mechanical Turk make it possible to cobble together a living with lots of little assignment each day.

168. Internet Marketing Affiliate. If you already have your own website or blog, you can earn money by becoming an affiliate. You can either sell products directly and earn money that way, or you can sign up others as affiliates, much like multi-level marketing.

169. Get Paid for Social Media. Some Twitter users are able to leverage their huge following into a paid gig for advertisers. Prolific bloggers have been known to get paid for commenting on other blogs. If you are a social media expert, you can use that expertise to earn money. People want to reach your audience and are willing to pay you for it.

170. Digital Media Conversion. It’s time consuming to convert old school media like CDs into digital files. If you have excellent tech skills, this is a service you can offer to the tech-phobic and time-crunched alike.

171. Facebook Page Designer: In addition, you can use your design expertise to work with clients to add some unique elements to their Facebook pages.

172. Social Media Consultant: Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest have become popular not just for business use, but also for plenty of individuals who simply enjoy using them. You can have the best of both worlds by starting a business where you help businesses shape and carry out their social media strategies on the sites you already use.

173. Vacation Rental Owner: Do you have an extra room, apartment or space in your home that isn’t being used? If so, you could be able to turn it into a vacation rental and list it on sites like Airbnb.

174. Vintage Clothing Reseller: Online platforms like eBay and Etsy have made it simple to start a business selling vintage clothing and similar goods. You can shop for those items online, scour thrift stores, or just sell items you already own.

175. Internet Network Marketing: Network Marketing is not a new home based business opportunity but with the advent of Internet, many network marketers have created passive income combining the power of digital promotion and network marketing opportunity. It is a new phenomenon that is gaining momentum each year.