Everyone is looking for a winning home business idea. It’s mostly about identifying your talents and skills, taking them out to the public, and finding a way to make money on it. But if you’re struggling to find ideas that you think will work, here’s a list of 10 ideas for a home business to help get you started.

1. Virtual Assistant

Many businesses, especially small ones, have a need for people on an occasional or part-time basis to handle fairly routine assignments that they cannot afford to pay a regular employee for. You can offer your services as a virtual assistant working from home.

Most of these positions are filled by inexpensive labor from low-wage countries. At first glance you may think that means you can’t compete because your fees will always be higher. However, as a native English speaker, you will have an advantage that businesses will be willing to pay a premium for.

2. Tutoring

Everyone needs help learning something, and it’s not just high school and college students. You can teach almost any subject where you are above average in comprehension. You can run this business from home, either handling it online or visiting student’s homes.

You can tutor in math, writing, science and other traditional subjects. But you can also go outside the academic realm and tutor on computer applications, business operations or even cooking and repair work. In academic subjects, tutors typically make in excess of $30 per hour.

3. Dog Sitting/Walking

Many two income households are forced to pay outsiders to care for their pets because they are at work all day or on business trips. This could be something simple, such as walking dogs at certain times of the day, or it could involve full care of the animals. If you are an animal lover this could be a natural choice for you.

4. Childcare

Many working couples need someone to care for their children during the workday, but are uncomfortable putting them in daycare centers. If you are good with children, you can care for one or more in your home, or at clients homes and build your own business that way.

This can be somewhat more complicated than most at-home businesses because licensing and insurance may be required.

5. Light Hauling

If you have a heavy-duty pick-up truck or even a van, you can start doing light hauling around town. A lot of people need to move furniture or equipment, but not enough to justify hiring a moving company or renting a truck.

You can start doing this in your spare time and eventually work it into a regular business.

6. Landscaping

If you like to work outdoors, you can get business from the people don’t by cutting their lawns. Because of demanding work schedules, millions of people no longer have time to do the landscaping work around their homes.

If you have a lawn mower and a hedge clippers, you can do it for them for fee. Get a few customers and you’ll be in business, and the referrals will keep your business growing.

7. Teaching Music

If you can play a musical instrument, you can start a business teaching other people how to do the same thing. And it’s not just schoolchildren either. There are no small number of adults who never learned how to play a musical instrument, or started early in life but dropped it and want to get back in.

If you can play an instrument, and have the patience and skill to teach others, this can be a home business for you.

8. Teaching A Language

As the world continues to go global, and millions of immigrants find their way to North America, there is a constant need for people to teach languages. Teaching English as a second language is a big one, but if you know any language other than English you may also be able to teach it as a second language for native English speakers.

While it’s true that there are courses for this purpose, a lot of people would prefer to learn on a one-on-one basis. They represent in natural market.

9. Blog Writing

There are thousands of blogs on the world wide web, and many of them need writers. You can offer your services and get some clients. Start by commenting on sites that interest you. Leave intelligent comments to generate interest in your responses from other readers.

If you can do that on a regular basis, it will just be a question of time before blog owners will be interested in your skills.

10. Computer Training And Troubleshooting

If you are a wizard with computers you may find a niche for a home business. Most people know very little more about computers than how to turn them on, use them, then turn them off. For everything in between, you can be the expert that helps get them to where they want to be.

And if you can handle at least routine computer repairs, you’ll have an even bigger advantage. Not everyone wants to pay the Geek Squad $150 a look at the computer and make a minor repair. If you can make routine repairs for less, you’ll find clients in a jiffy.

Pick a business that you feel comfortable with, and then start running with it. It may take a while to get it to the point where you’re making any kind of real money, but the only way to get there is to get started.

Are there other home business ideas you can think of or recommend to others?

photo credit: Daveybot via photopin cc

