Women are perfectly designed to run a business online and it has never been cheaper or easier to learn about this exciting new business world. I will outline 18 lucrative small business ideas for women to give you a taste of what you can dream about doing in your life.
But first, let’s catalog the reasons that women are perfectly suited for online marketing.
1. You are brilliant at building relationships
2. Your multitasking skills are legendary
3. Quick to learn and apply new knowledge
4. The patience to nurture a growing business
5. Flexible enough to build around a busy family life
6. Brave enough to learn from others
Do you see yourself in these skills? Of course, you do and now all you have to decide is what type of business will suit your lifestyle best.
As the main caregiver’s women are expected to have the children, do all the housework and meals, care for the parents, and also work part or full-time. This doesn’t leave a lot of time or energy to build up Super for when they retire and the rate of homeless women over 50 is spiraling up every year.
Women need to build their own online businesses. It’s a perfect environment for the clever nurturers in our world.
Table of Contents
Finding Just the Right Business Idea
When you search for business ideas, there is a lot of suggestions that keep us in the physical service industries, and although these can give you money to live on today. Most are low-paying jobs that won’t give you an easy retirement.
This list is your guide! It contains a variety of business ideas. Take a look and decide which one is best for you and your family.
I have always loved this basketball quote: “You miss 100% shots you don’t take”. It is important to get out there and start. You can do this, I know because I was in your shoes and wondering how on earth to get started with no money and no experience.
This list of business ideas for women will not only provide you with a steady income but also allow you to spend more time with your loved ones and create an empire. You can work whenever you can fit it around your day.
Build a Business Around Your Life
That may be an hour in the morning before a busy breakfast and getting the children to school, 2 hours in the middle of the day after you have done the housework and shopping, or 2 hours after you come home from work. A few hours on the weekend will build a passive income over 2 to 5 years. Those years will go by anyway. It’s a wonderful feeling that every day you are doing something that will break you free financially.
One thing that I have learned over my life is that you never have ‘spare’ time, you have to take a little from other things to build your financial future. It’s not being selfish, it’s survival.
Because I have explored many of these online business ideas to create my own income, I feel passionate about them. These are just a few of the top online and offline business ideas for women. Some are typical that you can start earning straight away but the money will disappear if you are unable to work.
I encourage you to consider an online business that you will own and build forever.
18 Best Business Ideas for Women from Home
1. Start a Business Blog 2. Become a Freelance Proofreader
3. Sell Real Estate 4. Sell on Amazon
5. Become a Virtual Assistant 6. Become an Online Freelance Writer
7. Flip items from flea markets and Op shops 8. Sell Printables on Etsy
9. Become a life coach 10. Start an Online Dropshipping Business
11. Rent out Baby Equipment 12. Start a Childcare Business
13. Transcribe Voice to Text 14. Be a Travel Agent from Home
15. Become a Photographer 16. Clean Homes and Employ a Team
17. Buy Websites and Flip Them for Profit 18. Become an Interior Designer
1. Start a Business Blog
Blogging is the best online business idea. Inspired by moms who blog as a business, and have the benefit of being able to stay home to raise their children, I decided to do it in my retirement for extra income to travel. I never realized just how much fun it could be and I love being part of an entrepreneurial community that is always there to advise me.
Here is my number one # Recommendation to start a blog for free and I will even mentor you. Don’t take my word for it, just read about the results others have had.
Blogs are a great job for stay-at-home moms and retirees because you can set your own hours.
After looking at blog income reports ranging from $2k to $50k per MONTH, I thought, “Why can’t that be possible for me?”
Blogging is my Favourite Passive Income Source
People who read my posts make me money. You will make a good income if you have a lot of people reading your content and I will show you how.
To be a blogger you don’t need to be a great writer. You just need to convert your speech into writing.
Blogging is a great business idea because you can learn so many skills, such as SEO, social networking, how to build a WordPress website, and more which are all marketable skills in themselves. You could even start a business creating websites for local businesses later.
Keep in mind that it takes time to make a decent living blogging. It took me 18 months to start earning from my first blog. That time will pass anyway, but you can choose to make some profit from learning new skills in your own business.
2. Become a Proofreader
Are you prone to discovering mistakes in reading? Do grammar errors make you cringe? You might be a good Proofreader if you do. Because we have a keen eye for detail, this is one of the best businesses for women.
Proofreaders are always needed, as I have proofread myself.
Some people earn $40,000+ their first year proofreading part-time. Many others make between $1,000 and $4,000 per month. Gather all the skills you need and start your freelance proofreading business today.
3. Get into Real Estate
This is called Property Preservation or Repairing Foreclosed Home. You can outsource all the work and do only admin work.
Although the amount you can make will vary, Danielle believes it is possible to earn $100k+ in revenue within 18-months.
4. Sell on Amazon (FBA program)
Amazon’s FBA (Fulfillment By Amazon) program is a great business for women who enjoy shopping and looking for bargains. Find great deals at brick-and-mortar stores and elsewhere, and then resell them on Amazon at a higher price.
5. Become a Freelancer Virtual Assistant
You can work whenever you like and earn lots of dollars from freelancing jobs. One of these skills may be part of your skillset already:
- Virtual Assistant
- Social media management
- Design tech
- Pinterest marketing
- Copywriting
- Customer service
All these skills you can learn as you build your own website.
It’s time to explore if you have ever been interested in any of these!
Boss Mom Micala is a woman who helps women start up a successful freelance business.
Her job as a teacher was 50-60 hours per week. She earned $2,300 per month. It was miserable to drop her baby at daycare every day. She wanted to work on her terms. She turned to freelance work.
After a few months of freelancing, she was working 15-20 hours per week and earning twice her salary. She had her baby with her every step of her journey. Now she teaches mothers/women how she does it.
6. Become a Freelance Writer
Are you a writer and looking for a business idea? Writing can be a lucrative career. I know about Holly Johnson, who earns over $200,000 per year as a freelance writer.
She has the key to writing well and charges the right rates for her work. She offers a free training course on how to start a six-figure career in writing.
I recommend Holly’s course if you are looking to make a career out of writing from home and follow her path to success.
7. Flip Items from Thrift Shops and Flea Markets
Rob and Melissa are flea market flippers.
Rob, the Flea Market Flipper, is MASTER Flipper. I know that he’s not married but he does this together with his family. He earned over $130,000 by flipping items at Flea Markets or thrift stores PART-TIME.
Rob suggests that his students start with a $20-$50 budget to locate items. They are expected to earn between $100 and $300 selling items on eBay, and then retain some profits and repeat the same process.
Rob designed a workshop that will help you turn your love for thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets into an income-generating reselling business in just 14 days. It’s easy to follow their lead.
8. Sell Your Printables on Etsy
You could earn $500-$1,000 per Month passively by selling printables on Etsy. It’s possible to make much more. People earned thousands of dollars monthly selling printables on Etsy. It’s passive income, which is the best part.
Printing a printable is easy and you can reuse it many times. This is a great way for you to make some extra money at home.
9. Become a Life Coach
Are you passionate about helping others and personal development? Would you like to operate under your own establishment? You should consider becoming a life coach if this is you.
The market you are targeting will determine how much you charge. You can charge $47 an hour if you target lower-income clients, while you could charge $297 for higher-income clients. It all depends on what type of coaching you do and how popular you become.
10. Create an Online Store with Dropshipping
Dropshipping allows you to sell third-party products directly from Drop Shipping Companies without actually shipping the product. It is when the seller has sent products directly to the customer that you have made a sale to.
Your profit is the difference in the price you charge customers and the amount you pay the dropshipping companies.
Even easier is becoming an affiliate marketer where you don’t touch the product, you only promote it on your website and earn a commission from any sales. Read how it works below.
11. Rent out Baby Equipment
Are you a resident of a tourist destination? You might be able to make a side business renting baby equipment to families traveling. Although I was skeptical, a lot of people do this business and make a living from it.
Ashley earns over $3,000 monthly from renting out baby equipment.
12. Start a Childcare Business
This is an excellent opportunity to start a home-based childcare business if you are passionate about children and want to make a difference in the lives of young people. Additionally, your children will enjoy playtime and socialization. Care.com offers opportunities to start your own daycare business.
You can charge as little as $30 per day depending on where you are located. This would be $600 per month for one child (assuming it is for 8 hours each day), while daycares may charge up to $900 per month.
To remain competitive with daycares in your local area, you can raise your prices.
Important Note: Include a childcare endorsement in your home owner’s policy to protect against injuries. Also, check your state regulations regarding the maximum number of children that you can care for with or without a license.
13. Transcribe Voice to Text
This job is great because of its flexibility and high pay. Transcriptionists listen and type what they hear.
Transcribing companies can pay you $7-$21 an hour. If you start your own business, you could make even more. This is highly flexible work that can be wrapped around caring for small children and the elderly.
14. Be a Travel Agent
Do you enjoy helping others and would you like to work remotely? You might start a travel agency business.
I absolutely love designing holidays (especially for myself) and making sure that it is a wonderful experience. You can create a business from home using apps on your phone to create wonderful holidays for people.
Glassdoor says that the average salary is between $29,000 and $58,000 per year. However, it all depends on experience and how many clients you have.
Either you can start your own company or work for an agency.
15. Become a Photographer
You should consider becoming a photographer if you are a family photographer and enjoy taking photos. It’s a sure business that will bring ROI in no time.
Take photos of everything to get started. Then, enroll in classes and learn Photoshop so you can polish your photos and add quality finishing touches.
Similar: Take pictures with your Smartphone using the best apps (no prior experience necessary). Start your portfolio online on 500px by posting your best work to social media. It’s free!
You can also:
- Reach out to your local Real Estate agents and ask them if you can do their professional photos for their new listings.
- License your photos through stock photography websites like iStock or Shutterstock
- Send images to The Sun Magazine to gain notice
Friends and family can offer your services at a small charge to anyone who is interested in taking holiday, senior, or wedding photos. You could make a living by doing a great job and have people coming back for more. Wedding photographers are always needed.
You might consider charging:
- Wedding Photography: $700 to $3,500+
- Senior Portrait Photography: $100-$300 a session
- Image for small local businesses: $25 to $200
16. Clean Homes and Employ People
You can start a home cleaning business and later employ a team for all the work.
Are you a cleaner? Or do you just enjoy it and want to make extra cash? This is a great opportunity to make lots of money.
These side-business ideas are perfect for women who want to earn their own money – Part-time income of up to $1,000.
17. Buy Websites and flip them after Restoration
Once you have learned how to create and run a profitable website then you can buy websites, update their posts and sell them at a profit. Less messy than renovating houses and much cheaper to get into.
Check out Chelsea Clarke and how she has made a six-figure income from flipping websites.
You can also check out these 11 more business ideas for women:
- Graphic Designer
- Web Designer
- Publicist
- Wedding Planner
- Event Planner
- Fashion Designer
- Sewing and Alterations
- Baker
- Massage Therapist
- Personal trainer
- Pet Business
18. Interior Designer
Are you able to arrange furniture and decorate rooms? Are you inspired by HGTV? Boss Mom Julie P. started this business and managed to make a six-figure income.
You can become an Interior Decorator, which is a different job than Interior Designer. I suggest creating a website and taking quality photos. Build your portfolio to impress future clients.
Once you have a clear picture of your work, you can charge for it. You can decorate homes that are for sale.
As an Interior Decorator, your hourly wage can be anywhere between $50 and $150. You can also make six figures as an Interior Designer.
Create a website for free to show off your pictures. You can be building a passive affiliate income as you spruke your designer business.
Conclusion
There are many ways to make money online, whether your goal is to open your own business or work for a company. And if you don’t mind working for companies, you can apply to agencies like TELUS for jobs. They are currently hiring Raters in the States.
We live in changing times for women and we should grasp the opportunity to be paid the same as any man for the amazing work we do for our families and society. When you are financially secure you can make the best choices for your family and for yourself.
Come join me in business and learn that there are people who will support and encourage you to be the best you can be.
If this has helped you in your research, I would love you to leave a comment, or a like and share. Don’t be shy, tell me what you think!
Thanks for visiting.
LILY
This is a great read. Very inspirational all around. Yet, still very informative. It kept me engaged throughout the entire article.
I also enjoyed the comprehensive list of your favorite passive incomes! All of them are great options. Thank you, I hope you continue to create more just like this!
Hi Travis, thanks for having a read. I hope that my list will inspire women to get out there and start a business for themselves.
With having a lot of interest and motivation in your topic and often searching for Small Business Ideas I find the topic a great resource for myself and many women who are starting out with a small business. A lot of your points are very accurate and a good reminder of things to remind me of on a daily basis. Thanks
Absolutely true Page, we really do underestimate all the natural talents that women have at their disposal. The aim is to find something you love to do and that makes you the most money.
I enjoy reading your article. Like a woman, I want to thank you for this. I think that starting a business blog is one of the easiest ways. Every woman has a talent or a field of interest to help the other through her blog. Some of the ideas in your list attracted me more. The FAB program, dropshipping, or start a childcare business are great ideas. They also need some money to start with.
I thank you for sharing references on how to learn and start for each of these business ideas.
Best
Alketa
Hi Alketa, I’m so pleased that you found some ideas for starting your own business. Women need to be looking outside of the traditional business models into better-paying incomes. The world of online marketing is actually a great fit for the natural skills of women.
Hi Lily, thanks for your great post on things women can do to earn a living outside of the office. You give a number of things to think about. I am certain that there is money to be made if you pick an area that you are interested in and have some knowledge about. Flipping websites, and web design would be great for the woman who is good at it.
Absolutely Carolyn and there is a wonderful young woman who can teach you all about flipping if that is of interest to you. https://itsnotyour9to5.com/how…
Hi Lily, I love it how you start off by saying why women are great to build their own business, and the one that really resonates with me, is multitasking.
I started blogging about two years ago, also with the idea to build up additional funds for my retirement. I can certainly recommend it if you want to work online. Having a mentor and being part of a supportive community helps tremendously.
Thanks for sharing some great ideas and suggestions, all very doable.
Hi Line, I thought it was about time we told women why they will be successful at online marketing. I’m so pleased that it resonated with you. Wishing you great success.