Published 13 Jan 2021
The Best Home Business Ideas: 30 Businesses You Can Start Today
Are you looking for a new business venture that you can comfortably run from your own home? Home business opportunities in 2021 in Australia are more abundant than ever! Here are some home business ideas to get you started.
Get excited to learn new skills and make some money while becoming your own boss!
2020 was a challenging year for most, and we are still feeling the effects in 2021. Remote work has now become our new normal, and for some, this is a daunting and confusing reality to face. Whether you’re looking for:
A home business is a fantastic option. That’s why we’ve created a list of the best home-based business ideas, grouped by industry interests.
Table of Contents
But first, why is a home-based business a good move?
Running your own business from home is cheap, and the start-up is easy. For most home-run businesses, the most important considerations are a good Wifi connection and self-discipline. Most of our ideas are online businesses, so some tech knowledge is highly recommended. Here are some major pros to starting the next chapter of your professional life from home:
30 of the best home business ideas
If you’re ready to consider some ideas to help you become a business owner, you now have a choice! You can either read the list top to bottom or skip to the industry area that best suits you and your personality.
These business ideas are sorted into different ‘job clusters’, or groupings of jobs that require similar skills and kinds of experience. If you have the skills for one job, it’s likely you can bring them easily to another in the same cluster.
Carers
People seeking a career centred around helping others by improving their mental or physical health. Business ideas for Carers.
Coordinators
People who enjoy being a part of the background operations in a business. Often these people fall into administrative or service roles. Business ideas for Coordinators.
Creatives
People who are looking for a career as well as a creative outlet. People with an eye for designing, creating, and taking an idea through to production will thrive in creative professions. Business ideas for Creatives.
Generators
Often, these people will centre their business around sales. People who thrive in jobs involving high degrees of interpersonal interaction belong here! Business ideas for Generators.
Informers
People who seek to teach, inform or offer their professional knowledge to others. Business ideas for Informers.
Technologists
People who are skilled in the use, design and administration of digital technology. Business ideas for Technologists.
Carers
‘Carer’ orientated home business ideas suit people who ultimately want to help others. They seek the feeling of fulfilment we get when we know our work has helped someone else.
These home business ideas are people-focused. Hence, personal contact with clients and customers will be central to their success. Some businesses will do this through online video call programs, while others call for home visits.
Our top 5 Carer business ideas
Pet grooming
Invite pet owners to drop off their furry friends to you or offer home visits. Remember that all grooming equipment will need to be supplied by your business.
Family daycare provider
Offer parents the opportunity to place their kids in a safe, homely environment while tackling other life responsibilities!. Please note that your home must meet the Australian government’s Family Daycare Requirements and Regulations to operate as a legal daycare provider.
Naturopathy service
Provide clients with the guidance, education and services required to achieve overall wellbeing. A home-run naturopath business will most likely need a mix of online and in-person contact. You may need to offer home visits to perform alternative therapies, coupled with virtual check-ins and education sessions.
Massage therapy
De-stress, de-knot and help the wellbeing of your clients. You can either set up an at-home studio or run a mobile service and perform home-visits.
Online counselling service
This business idea relies heavily on good computer skills to conduct most of your work over the phone or video chat programs. Offer the same supportive experience as an in-person counsellor, while allowing your clients to stay in the comfort of their own home!
Coordinators
For some, the devil is in the detail, and they love to ensure the background details run flawlessly. Many of these businesses require you to register as a ‘sole trader’ (or freelancer) and allow you to offer your services remotely, to other companies.
Our top 5 Coordinator business ideas
VA (Virtual Assistant) service
Complete administrative tasks for other businesses or professional individuals, such as emails, scheduling meetings, and digital filing. This business requires you to be tech-confident!
Bookkeeping service
Offer bookkeeping or accounting services to businesses or individuals from the comfort of your own home. Once again, confidence with the relevant software required for these professions is necessary.
Florist
Create, design, package and deliver stunning blooms to your clients from your at-home florist. This business idea requires you to have a supporting website or social media presence to connect with customers.
Travel agency
Help your clients design, book and logistically organise their dream holidays by offering an online service. This business requires you to be tech-savvy in your customer communication and researching skills.
Website management or administration
Update and maintain the back and front end of business’ websites from your home computer! All you need is backend access to the relevant platforms to help others keep their online presence in tip-top shape.
Creatives
If you’re looking for an opportunity to let your creative flair shine while making an income, a home-run creative business is just the thing for you. Creative home businesses usually involve setting up an eCommerce shop (online store) to sell your products; or creating an excellent portfolio of your work to impress potential clients. Most often, you will work as a sole-trader.
Our top 5 Creative business ideas
Handmade crafting business
Design, create, sell, package and send your handmade goods to your clients from your dream home office. You choose the design, the price, and how much you sell. Check out Maker’s Market for some crafting inspiration.
Multimedia design service
Design and create workable products within your speciality for other businesses. Multimedia designers work with videography, animation, social media and illustration.
Photography business
Start your home photography studio and attract your type of client as a freelance photographer! Remember to create an eye-catching portfolio to show potential clients. Read more about professional photography careers here.
Blogging
Start writing about the things you’re passionate about and create a blog, website or online presence that fulfils you! As you attract more web traffic, you can start to charge a fee for subscribers to access your work. Or collect advertising revenue from brands that align with your ‘blogger brand.’
Freelance graphic design
Freelance graphic designers often work on multiple jobs simultaneously. You will need an eye-catching portfolio to attract potential clients and a computer with all the relevant programs required to get the job done.
Generators
If you thrive in people-facing roles and have a knack for connecting with others, these business ideas are for you. Many businesses that fall under this category are sales-oriented and require significant interpersonal interaction with clients and customers. These businesses require a good knowledge of virtual communication methods.
Our top 5 Generator business ideas
Boutique real estate agency
As a licensed real estate agent, you can register your home-run boutique real estate agency as a sole proprietorship. Complete all the administrative duties from the comfort of your home office, while travelling to meet clients at locations as you see fit.
Recruitment consultation service
Help companies find suitable candidates for their vacancies as a short-term contracted recruitment consultant. Just follow the company’s brief and get researching!
Online personal training
Give your clients the power of fitness anytime, anywhere. Provide video call consultations, video exercise sessions, and programs all from your computer or phone. Read more about setting up an online personal training business.
Affiliate Marketing service
Help businesses raise awareness around their online presence to boost product sales by generating more web traffic. IT skills are essential for this business! Read more about affiliate marketing here.
Freelance online sales representative (IT enterprise software)
Work for several businesses as a freelancing sales representative. Answer customer questions online and via the phone to better help everyone understand the provided product or service.
Informers
Teaching, educating or guiding others through specialist areas is the role of an informer. These businesses aim to help others via more practical skill-based means. They can offer both virtual and in-person contact, depending on what you enjoy.
Our top 5 Informer business ideas
Online teaching or tutoring
Support people through their education journey from kids through to adults. Choose your specialty and get teaching.
Content marketing management
Take accountability for business’ content strategies for their branding. You can work solo, or bring on multiple freelancing creatives to head specific content creation that you ultimately oversee for your clients.
Translation agency
Have a knack for languages? Become a translator for companies and individuals who need help deciphering important documents or communicating with important clients. Read more about professional photography careers here.
Business consultancy
Provide your expert advice in your areas of expertise to businesses small and large. Contracts can be short and long term.
Transcription agency
Aid companies (usually in the legal or medical field) clearly and accurately transcribe important videos, recordings and live events for their records and future use.
Technologists
These business ideas are for those already skilled or looking to become skilled in anything computer technical. Often, technologist businesses aim to provide tech support and services to other companies. Home-run technologists can start their business by becoming a freelance service provider, often providing service to multiple clients simultaneously.
Our top 5 Technologist business ideas
Computer programming business
Write and test code for your clients to ensure their applications and software run optimally. Knowledge of numerous coding languages is imperative.
Web development service
Combine web and graphic design to create an on-brand, user-friendly product for your client. Functionality and aesthetics are central to a successful job done as a web developer.
SEO specialty agency
Increase your clients’ web ranking, functionality and traffic by improving their SEO tactics. Read more about setting up an online personal training business.
Data entry specialist (sole trader)
Organise, clear and shift companies’ paper data to a usable digital source. Knowledge of numbers and digital tools are imperative for starting this service. Read more about affiliate marketing here.
UI design service
Work with companies and businesses to perfect the user interface of their digital presence. Customer interactivity and user- satisfaction are essential for modern companies to stay ahead of the curve, and your service helps them do this.
Starting your own business is more achievable than ever in 2021. Take the next step in your professional journey: choose an idea you’re passionate about and make it your own.
If you’re unsure about your experience or knowledge to do so confidently, consider completing a short course to bolster your understanding.
Before You Go, Why Not Sign Up To Our Newsletter?
Stay up to date with the latest career advice, quizzes and industry insights.