Work From Home: 35 Ideas to Start Your Own Mom-Run Business

If you’ve put your career on hold to be a stay-at-home mom, you can still become a business owner and run it from home. Colloquially called a “mompreneur,” the number of women running businesses from home while raising families is on the rise. In fact, women own 42% of all the businesses in the U.S. Becoming a small business owner doesn’t have to be daunting; with the 35 stay-at-home-mom businesses mentioned below, you could get started with minimal investment in your spare time! 

Why You Should Start Your Own Stay-at-Home Mom Business?

We don’t need to tell you that staying home and raising children is already a full-time job. In fact, one study from Welch’s found that women who work and raise children clock in an average of 98 hours a week. That’s the equivalent of two and a half full-time jobs! 

Working from home can give you greater flexibility to work the hours you choose. You can also outsource work to assistants or employees so that you have more time to focus on the aspects of the business that need your attention. 

With stay at home mom businesses, you set the hours and decide how much you want to work. With many of these careers, you could even start working a couple of hours a day or only while the kids are at school and still build a profitable business over time. 

Other reasons to start a stay at home mom business include:

• Demonstrate work ethic to your children
• Earn extra income 
• Save for special goals
• Teach your kids business skills and management
• Pursue something you love

35 Business Ideas for Stay-at-Home Moms

Stay at home mom businesses have one thing in common: you can set your hours and work from home, or go to your favorite co-working space or coffee shop. They’ll rely more on your creativity and intelligence than a physical storefront or location. Consider everything from writing a book to starting a coding school from your home. Here are 35 home business ideas to get started:

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants work for other businesses or individuals online. You can choose to work with one client or several. While many businesses will require a next-day turnaround on tasks, you can do them when it fits your schedule. Virtual assistant tasks include scheduling, email writing, social media management, course development, and more. 

Freelance Writing

Freelance writers work for one or several companies to produce content as needed. This can include articles, brochures, websites, technical manuals, and more. Freelance writers can work on a long-term contract or continue to market their skills for short-term projects. 

Proofreading 

Proofreading focuses on the editing side of writing and can be a profitable career. You can work for online publications, authors, print journals, newspapers, or local magazines. Proofreaders charge by the hour or by the project. 

Social Media Manager

If you love social media and have good engagement on your platforms, you could parlay it into a career. Social media managers create and schedule content for clients’ social media. Social media managers will also interact with followers and build engagement across social media platforms. You’ll need a website and social media profiles to market your services.

Course Writing 

Course writing is a high-demand and interesting career. Courses may include videos, written lessons, and handouts on specific subjects. You could offer courses on your website through platforms like Coursera or Udemy, or develop courses for others on a per-project fee basis. 

Web Design 

A web designer ensures a simple, engaging design for all types of websites. To get started, you’ll need some web design experience and (ideally) certification, and a website showcasing your services. You would need to market your services to local businesses and find clients online, as well as list your services on sites like Fiverr and Upwork. 

Author

If you love writing or want to share your experience on a topic, you could become an author. Authors write books of all lengths on varying topics, from non-fiction to fiction. You can publish your book yourself or as an ebook on Amazon, through a hybrid publisher, or get an agent to approach traditional publishers.

Transcribing

Transcribing involves transferring audio or video files to written content. Transcribing is paid by the word or by the hour. Transcribing on specific subjects, like medicine, often pays higher fees because of the specialized knowledge required. 

Internet Researcher

Internet researchers are paid to look for a wide variety of information on the internet. This mostly involves market research for businesses. You can work as an internet researcher for a single company or for multiple companies as a freelancer. 

Translation Services

If you’re fluent in more than one language, you could work as a translator. For maximum flexibility, consider written translation so you can work around your schedule. You can also do online translation through Zoom or offer translation services to businesses during set hours that fit your schedule.

Blogging

Blogging is the classic stay at home mom business, as you can fit it around your schedule and create content on topics that interest you. For blogging success, consider a niche or combination of niches where you can provide exceptional content and stand out. While blogging may start as a hobby, you could turn it into a full-time career as you build traffic. 

Social Media Influencer

If you have a large (or even modest-sized) social media following, you could become a social media influencer and promote brands for sponsorship. It can be a fun way to earn income, but it is also a serious career that requires regular schedules and dedication.

Podcaster

For those who enjoy speaking or broadcasting, podcasting can be a fun career. As you build a following, you can secure sponsorship and advertisements from companies of all sizes to build your business income. There are also companies that can help you launch a professional podcast for a fee.

Travel Agent

You can work from home as a travel agent and help others plan their dream vacations. Consider specializing in one type of travel or offering a broad base of services. Specializations could include cruises, flights, hotels, all-inclusive resorts, exotic locations, or luxury travel.

Bookkeeping 

If you are good with numbers or have a financial background, you could work as a bookkeeper for local businesses or online. Starting a bookkeeping business from home only requires bookkeeping software and a computer or laptop.

Affiliate Marketing

You could work as an affiliate marketer and earn a commission on each click or sale. This is a passive income opportunity for bloggers and social media influencers. Even if your blog is relatively new, you could start including Amazon affiliate links and earn commissions. 

Graphic Design

If you’ve got a digital design background, graphic design is a business opportunity in high demand; you can launch a business from home offering your services. You’ll only need a website showcasing your services. Sites like Upwork and Fiverr promote you for free and can help to get clients. You can also consider advertising online and approaching local businesses to build a client base. 

Grant Writer

Grant writing is a specialized career that requires understanding the grant application process. If you have past experience or are ready to learn, grant writing offers long-term projects that are paid by the hour or as a percentage of the grants received. 

Business Plan Writer

If you have a business background, helping others create a solid business plan can be a lucrative career. You can charge for each plan and offer add-ons like in-depth financial or market analyses. 

Personal Fitness Training

With a fitness background or training certification, you could train clients at their homes or local gyms. Online personal training sessions are increasingly popular, making it easier for you to train clients from home. 

Consulting 

Consulting is most commonly seen in business, where you offer expertise and advice on a specific topic or project. However, you could offer consulting in any area of expertise, from gardening to knitting to app development, coding, or market analysis. 

Flea Market Flipper

Flea markets are often a treasure trove of undiscovered value. If you have an eye for value and an understanding of antiques or have worked in similar careers, working as a flea market flipper can be a fun stay at home mom business. You can even involve your kids in the search! 

Event Planning

Event planning doesn’t require a storefront, so you can easily start an event planning business from home and set your working hours around your schedule for a flexible business opportunity. Consider partnering with local venues, bridal studios, and businesses to start building a client base for events like weddings and business conferences.

Online Store

If you’ve dreamed of having your own store, you could do the same from home with an online storefront. You’ll need a website and a curated list of products you love (or make). Drop-shipping options will significantly lower your start-up costs compared to a physical store. 

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is when you store and deliver the goods of other businesses. You’ll need a large storage area like a garage or rental unit warehouse to start this stay at home mom business. Beyond that, you can build your business by networking online and with local companies. 

Direct Sales

In direct sales, you’re paid a commission for each sale you make. You can pursue this career in many areas, such as auto sales and software sales. If you love to connect with people and present value, a direct sales career could be a fit while you’re a stay-at-home mom. 

Craft Business

Craft businesses don’t only offer the crafts you create. You can also source the best crafting supplies and ideas to become a go-to location for local and online crafters. 

Tutoring Business

You can tutor on many online sites on everything from math to foreign languages. If you enjoy teaching, this can be a way to share knowledge and connect as a stay-at-home mom. You can also choose to tutor students of all ages and levels, from small children to business professionals. 

At-Home Daycare

An at-home daycare is a way to combine two careers and make a business opportunity out of what you’re already doing. You could set up a dedicated space in your home and advertise with local parents and at schools. At-home daycare requires minimal startup costs, and you can set hours around your schedule. Learn more about starting a babysitting (or daycare) business here. 

Stock Photography

If you’re a photographer or aspiring to be one, selling your photos as stock photos on sites like iStock or Unsplash can help build a following and client base while earning extra income. With time, you could build it into a full-time career.

Meal Prep Service

If you love to cook, you could offer a meal prep service with weekly or daily delivery. A popular niche for meal prep is healthy homemade meals that adhere to specific diets like keto, vegan, Mediterranean, low-carb, etc. To get started, check if you need certification for your kitchen or a local license.

Catering Service

If you prefer cooking for a large number of people, consider a catering service for business events, fundraisers, graduations, and weddings. It’s a lot of work in a short time, and you may need certification for your kitchen or to rent a commercial kitchen, but you can set your own schedule. 

Wholesale Baking

If you prefer baking, working as a wholesale baker can be a fulfilling career. You can supply bread, pastries, cakes, pies, or other baked goods to local bakeries, grocery stores, and restaurants. 

Become Airbnb Host

If you have extra space like a spare room, an apartment over the garage, or a guest house, becoming an Airbnb host is a great way to make extra money with minimal startup costs. This business opportunity allows you to work at your convenience. You’ll want to ensure exceptional cleanliness, ease of check-in, and amenities to garner good reviews and build your Airbnb business. 

Laundry Service

Laundry services can include stain removal, pressing, and washing. You can let customers deliver and pick up laundry at your home, or you can offer pickup and delivery services for a premium fee. Some laundry services only work on certain days or certain hours, so the business can adapt to your schedule. 

Alteration Service

If you enjoy sewing, an alteration service is a fun and highly-sought after stay at home mom business option. You could charge according to the type of alteration and also offer sewing and design services. Advertise online, on local chat boards, and on community bulletin boards. Also, ask friends and family to spread the word to build a client base and gather positive reviews!

How to Start Your Stay-at-Home Mom Business in 8 Steps

Starting a stay at home mom business does not require a huge amount of paperwork and filing. You can often be up and running in a week or less. Here are the key steps to starting a stay at home mom business:

Step 1: Write a Business Plan

A good business plan will start with your vision and mission, then expand on a summary of what you’ll do, the company description, and market analysis. Be sure to look at projected income, break-even point, client base, and total costs. You’ll also want to consider the legal structure of the business, which is the next point. 

Step 2: Decide on Your Business Structure

You could open your stay at home mom business as a sole proprietorship (you’ll work as an individual), partnership, LLC, or corporation. Consider a business structure that allows for company growth, ease of management, and legal protection. You can apply to open an LLC or corporation online and not register as a sole proprietor.

Step 3: Register Your Business

If you work as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC, you can report income on your individual income tax report, so you won’t need to file anything with the IRS for the business. 

However, you may choose to register your business with the IRS and get an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which will allow you to open a business bank account and hire employees.  

You can also register your business with the local Chamber of Commerce and with business groups in your area to network with other local professionals. 

Step 4: Obtain the Necessary Licenses and Permits

For some businesses, like consulting or craft businesses, you might not need any permits. Other businesses, such as food service, fitness, and finance may require a certification, license, or permit. Check with the local chamber of commerce or online to confirm which permits do you need to get started. 

In food service, for example, you may need to get your kitchen inspected and certified for commercial use. And for most careers, certifications and permits can help build business authority. Depending on the business, you may also need insurance (such as for event planning or at-home childcare). More on that in step 7.

Step 5: Open a Business Bank Account

Opening a bank account for your business can simplify accounting. You’ll need an EIN to open a business bank account. See more on getting an EIN here. 

If you’re a sole proprietor, you can also open a separate personal checking account for your business. However, business bank accounts have perks and liability protection that personal bank accounts don’t offer. 

Step 6: Secure Funding

Most stay at home mom businesses listed here don’t have big startup costs because they rely on your creativity and skills. You might need a new computer, a website, and basic supplies. 

You can obtain funding through a business or personal loan or borrow money from a friend or family member. Remember, you can start small and build your business once you start generating income. 

Step 7: Avail of Business Insurance

Business insurance offers protection in case of property damage, lawsuits, loss of income, and other losses. Of course, coverage varies depending on the plan. A basic business insurance plan can offer protection and peace of mind even for a simple business. For businesses that offer services, additional insurance can protect your assets.

Step 8: Market and Advertise Your Business

Marketing can initially be simple: spread the word among family and friends, post information on local bulletin boards, or signup on free sites like Upwork and Fiverr. Depending on the business and your budget, you can also consider online marketing and local advertising. 

Finally, pick a great business name! Find LLC business name ideas here to get you started.

Become a Mompreneur Now 

As it’s clear from this list of stay at home mom business ideas, you could start your business without any inhibition. If you’ve earned a degree and have a passion or skill set, starting a business can be a fun way to earn income and gain independence while pursuing something you love. Finding the home business opportunity that fits your routine and expertise can lead to a fulfilling career and that too on your terms. From being a music teacher to an app developer, there’s no limit to what you can become as a mompreneur! 

Once you launch your business, you’ll need a good accounting service provider. Check out Doola’s bookkeeping services to help manage your accounts so that you can focus on other aspects of the business.

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