Working from home is becoming more attractive as people seek for ways to supplement their income or to turn their business ideas into a fully functional business from home.
Not everyone can do this. Many have started and faltered along the way for various reasons. Some did not 
have what it takes to be their own boss. Some didn’t have the accountability factor. Some didn’t have the personality to build the necessary relationships. And the list goes on and on.
Let no one tell you that this is easy. It is not. I know first hand what this is like.
I’ve been working on my business from home while I continue to do a sort-of 9-5 work schedule. I say sort-of because I only work as of this writing 3 days per week as a contract professional. On the other days, I work my butt off trying to get my side business aka from home business, to be a sustainable one. My goal is that it will become my only type of work. I’m very passionate about it.
Just in case you are wondering what my from home business is, it’s a service and product based business. I offer these services: Career Transition Coaching, Consulting, and Speaking. I also create online products such as ebooks, printed books, and courses.
The business idea you have may not be product/service oriented. It may simply be service or product. You will see my list of nine businesses you can do from home, below.
Even though it is not easy to implement a from home business, it can be one of the most rewarding thing to do. Simply doing what you love, when you want, and how you want, is rewarding. I would not trade what I do with having to be subject to someone else’s vision that might not be compatible with my values and morals.
There are times when you can do both. If you are in an organization where you are able to truly enjoy your work and be your best self, by all means, stay with that. Don’t give that up. Simply find a way to make time to do your side-hustle from home.
Before I list the 9 business ideas, let me briefly share about optimization. This will be true for all the ideas I mention below.
By optimization I mean, getting your business the most online exposure as possible and making it easily accessed and discovered.
In recent article, 5-content-marketing-techniques-to-boost-brand-perception, I shared some important information that is supplemental to what I’m sharing here. I encourage you to take a few minutes and read it.
You can optimize any of the following businesses through Social Media posts, Facebook Ads, Blogposts, Articles submitted to online platforms, strategically placed keywords, just to name a few.
Here are the 9 Business Ideas You Could Do From Home:
1. Private Lesson Instructor
Being a private lesson instructor requires that you have some certification denoting your expertise. You may have learned the arts of the skill you want to instruct someone in, but the foundational aspect is very important to build on.
Therefore having the certification makes you credible and more likely to be chosen over someone who might be more adept, but doesn’t have that piece of paper.
With your certification, you can “hang your shingles” saying you are open for business. Using additional methods, promote what you’re doing to friends, families, co-workers, neighbors, and anyone who dares to listen. This promotional method is true for all the others as well, so I won’t repeat this last paragraph.
2. Event Planner
You don’t need a certification with this business idea. Having one could be an added benefit, but more than likely, word of mouth and you demonstrating your expertise, is going to be the driving force of your business.
Along with your website where people can know more about you and your business, you would do well to maximize the usage of Social Media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, LinkeIn and of course, Facebook.
Networking with other business owners who offer services such as photography, videography, and other specialty services like these would be beneficial to your business.
3. Personal Trainer
If As a Personal Trainer, you simply have to demonstrate your skill sets. Not only that, you need to look like a Trainer.
I’m amazed sometimes to see some of the people promoting themselves as a Trainer who looks like they could use one.
Having a certification would be an added benefit. It helps people knowing that you know what you are talking about and not just making up what works for one’s body shape and mass. Your knowledge of muscles and how they work and respond to stress is important. You will stand out from the majority who can only try to replicate what they’ve been able to achieve for themselves. What works for you may not work for your clients.
4. Videographer
Your ability to demonstrate your skills will be the main selling point for this kind of business. Having testimonials along with short examples of your past or current work is the key. You don’t need to be certified. I don’t know of someone who hires a videographer and asks them for their certifications. If it happens, it is the rarity. It is based mainly on your experience and expertise.
People are going to get drawn to you by referrals and from coming across your work that you have strategically placed on different online platforms.
Networking with others who are in an event based industry will be beneficial to you. Don’t try to don this all by yourself. Seek help with promotion and in joint ventures.
5. Tutor
I recall times while in college that I reached out to others who were better at the subject matter than I was. Thank God, they were friends and didn’t charge me for their time. If they did, it would easily be a few hundred dollars. I probably would take a failing grade, because I would not have been able to afford it.
I also know of others who have paid a lot of money for tutoring like I received.
Here is the thing: I never asked my tutor if he was certified or qualified to tutor. All I knew is that he was 1) referred to me and 2) was better than me at the subject matter.
If you are able to demonstrate your skills in a particular subject matter and became a specialist in that subject, you could promote your service to others. This specialty will automatically eliminate some people looking for tutoring, but it is okay. You will end up getting the right people to work with. Those who would allow you to focus on your strengths.
Be a specialist.
6. Lawn Care Business
This business is super easy to get started as long as you’re willing to do the work. Having referrals is good, but you really don’t need any. The biggest hurdle was battling the changes in weather, but it was a good business overall.
In the past when I’ve had someone do my lawn care, I didn’t ask for referrals. I saw him cutting my neighbors yard and saw the great job he was doing. With that, I hired him.The biggest hurdle was battling the changes in weather, but it was a good business overall.
He would have the job as long as he does satisfactory work and as long as I could afford to pay him. If either of those two things wasn’t true, I would 1) do it myself or 2) find someone else who was better or whose rate I could afford.
One of the biggest hurdles to this business is battling the changes in weather. Where I live, we have seasons of lots of rain. When that happens, this business is put on hold. The same is true for places where it snows.
However, if you can create margin in your life for these predictable times, is not afraid of hard work, and is an outdoor kind of person, this is a good business to get into.
7. Photographer
A few years ago, a family friend of ours took some professional pictures for me. She did an amazing job. I still use some of those shots from then. By the way, they are not ones that make you look one way and when someone sees you in real life, you look another way. I hate those. Don’t you?
Because she was a family friend, she gave me a huge discount on her prices. Thank God she did because when I did research on what those pictures can cost, I realize how much money she saved me.
If you are an expert with photography and its something of a passion for you, then this is a great business to be in. Yes, it will require you do a lot of legwork in the beginning as you establish yourself. People know that these pictures could make the difference between a good experience or a bad one. Sometimes, you only have one chance to get it right. You miss a key moment or angle, and you could ruin something that money cannot buy.
With your experience, expertise, great referrals and samples of your work, you could have an amazing and lucrative business. You could become a world class photographer. It will take lots of time and patience as is most new business ventures.
8. Web Designer
This business idea requires a little more than the technical skillset. Some people have the skills but lack the artistic expression. They are not able to conceive what a great website looks like.
This business requires that you prove yourself. Having integrity is a key component. People need to know they can call upon you when needed and know where to find you.
I remember years ago, I hired someone to make me a website. I lacked the skills and knowledge I now have. This guy took me to the cleaners. Not only did he charge me a lot of money, which at the time I really couldn’t afford, but when it came to making some changes on the site, he was nowhere to be found. This was so frustrating for me and I decided that I would never recommend him to anyone. Maybe I wouldn’t need to because I wouldn’t know where to send them.
Being able to demonstrate your knowledge through examples of your work and having great referrals, will be your winning combination.
9. Blogger
Do you love to write? Is writing your strengths? If it is, blogging is for you.
You may know people who make their living by writing. I know some who have done so through blogging alone. Others have combined blogging with creating products such as ebooks and printed books and selling them.
There are many ways you can use blogging as a business. You can generate revenue from advertising, affiliate sales, products, and eBooks as mentioned above – but it takes time. Most bloggers who are now using their blogs as a business began writing blogs as a hobby. They would simply share their life almost in a journal format.
Their stories and other valuable information, become the drawing card for people who are resonating with what is being shared.
Sometimes readers may make suggestions as to what they would like more of and as a blogger, you decide how to distribute what they are asking for. Always be generous with your content, but look for ways to monetize it. Remember, it is a business.
One of my friends Leslie Samuels who is the owner of the site Become A Blogger is a good example of using blogging to create a successful business.
These are just some of the ways you can turn your business ideas into a do it from home business (DIFH). This is surely not an exhaustive list, but I believe it gives you a good idea of what you could do with your business ideas. Go ahead and get started. I would love to know which of these meant the most to you and what you’ve done.
If you want to hear how I personalized and fleshed out these 9 Business Ideas, you could listen to 9-business-ideas-that-qualifies-as-work-from-home-business.
