Thanks to today’s new at-home business environment, more people than ever are starting their own part-time or side-gig businesses. Previously, people who were home with small children or people who needed better workplace access found employment opportunities limiting. However, working from home and, indeed, running a business from home is open to everyone, regardless of circumstances or degree of physical abilities.  

Every business, large or small, once started as an idea, a passion, a desire to take something they loved and share it with the world. So the first step in any business is to ask yourself, what do I love doing? It’s important because if you’re about to invest a great deal of time and probably some financial resources into something, it will need to be something that brings you joy or you won’t stay in for the long term. 

There are a lot of crafters and hobbyists who took what they enjoyed doing in their leisure time and turned it into very successful businesses. 

Some crafts or hobbies that can become lucrative ventures are:

  • Furniture or antique refinishing. This involves picking up pieces at yard, garage, and antique sales for reselling online or for consignment sales at antique or vintage shops.
  • Teaching music in your home – instruments, or vocals. It can be easy to market this business at local schools that have music departments.
  • Language instruction or translation via video conferencing. Global marketplaces need qualified language instructors and translators.
  • Photography. Many small businesses need someone skilled in product photography, and a home studio can be adapted easily for large or small products. 
  • Crafts such as candle and soap making, cabinetry, sewing and knitting, jewelry making, pottery, and home decor items are popular sellers on online craft sale sites like Shopify and Etsy. 
  • Craft wines and beers are becoming more popular with people who want to have something unique to give as gifts or serve on special occasions.

Starting your business isn’t complicated

It isn’t complicated, but it does require you to follow specific steps and those are laid out in the ZenBusiness guide on how to start a business and include:

  • Developing a business plan strategy, including writing out a detailed business plan. A business plan is the road map you’ll follow from how you plan to pay for your start-up, how you’ll implement it all, and what goals you’ve set for it. 
  • Choosing a business structure such as LLC or sole proprietorship
  • Deciding on a unique name and ensuring it’s not already in use.
  • Getting a tax ID.
  • Applying for permits and licenses. 

Take advantage of free resources

There are many free resources you can find online that will help you with things like:

  • Make your own business cards. You can not only save money and time designing your own business cards, but you can add your own style and flair to them too. 
  • A business plan mind map that lets you keep all your business plan ideas in one place. Know where you’ve been and where you want to go in one place.
  • An invoice maker. An online invoice generator allows you to choose from pre-made templates to create customized invoices that include text, photos, your logo, and more. This invoice maker can help as it allows you to download your invoice in your preferred format. 

No matter your circumstances, the sky is the limit when it comes to running your own small business from home. Part-time or side-gig, it can be a fun, money-making, and esteem-boosting start to a brighter financial future.