Be your own boss with my list of business ideas for women.
From dog walking to virtual bookkeeping to setting up an Airbnb, you can choose your own business that can help you earn money on the side or achieve financial freedom.
Whichever your goal, I’ve collected some great small business ideas with varying difficulties and requirements.
Keep on reading and find the perfect fit for you with some tips that have personally helped me find my own path.
Let’s get started.
Local and Small Business Ideas for Women
For the best small business ideas, find and seize opportunities within your community, offering personalized services that can strengthen your local economy.
I know other small business owners, including female entrepreneurs, who’ve built their roots in their local community then went on to reach greater heights elsewhere.
These profitable business ideas can also help you create meaningful connections and directly shape your community.
1. Babysitting
Babysitting can be a profitable business idea if you have a lot of neighbors needing childcare. The best part is you can have an in-home childcare business as long as you have proper childproofing.
Note: This job requires a lot of patience and responsibility. You may also have to get some certification, like CPR and first aid, for added safety and credibility.
2. Dog Sitting and Walking
You can offer to walk your neighbor’s dogs for a fee, or spend the whole day supervising them. It’s the perfect business idea for animal lovers.
Begin by building a network through friends and social media, and perhaps get certified in pet first aid and CPR to stand out.
3. Homecooked Meals or Catering
As a personal chef or caterer, you can offer meal preparation for families or catering services for events.
To start, create a menu, price your services competitively, and promote your offerings through local advertising, social media, or by partnering with event planners.
4. Home Cleaning Services
If you don’t mind the dirt, cleaning homes is a relatively easy job to start.
You only need some tools, cleaning materials, and elbow grease. However, you do need to be thorough to get far in this business.
Start by offering cleaning services to friends and family, then expand your customer base through referrals and local advertising.
5. Home Organization Services
If you have the knack for it, you can offer decluttering and organizing services for homes. This business goes beyond cleaning as you must also rearrange your clients’ spaces.
Organization and tidiness are key skills here. Though, you also need a lot of creativity to maximize the available space.
Market your services through before-and-after photos of your work, and find more clients word-of-mouth referrals.
6. Laundry Business
A laundry service can be a lucrative business idea, especially in urban areas where people may not have time for this chore.
You can start this easily if you have a washing machine and dryer at home. Then, you can expand to a commercial space when you have more funds.
7. Tutorial Services
If you’re knowledgeable in a particular subject or skill, you can offer tutorial services.
Create a curriculum, market your services to parents and students, and consider online options to expand your reach.
8. Massage Therapy
As a massage therapist, you can offer your services in your own home or you can do home service.
To start, you need proper training and licensing. If you want to do this at home, you must have a dedicated space where your clients can relax.
9. Sewing and Alterations
Know how to work the needle? You can offer sewing and alteration services in your community.
This great small business idea can become a good source of side income if you manage to become the go-to seamstress in your neighborhood.
To give you an idea, our trusted local seamstress has been doing custom projects and alterations for years. She has since managed to turn this side job into a full-blown women-owned business.
10. Delivery Service
If you have a car or even a bike, you can deliver food and groceries in your free time.
You can use apps like UberEats, InstaCart, or DoorDash. These platforms allow you to go on the road when you want to, although they won’t likely replace a full-time job.
11. Small Errands
With apps like TaskRabbit, you can offer more than delivery services. You may be able to score some odd jobs like helping a neighbor move or clearing snow on the driveway.
You can offer any type of services you want and set your own rates. I personally think it’s a nice way to earn some extra money in your free time.
12. Food Truck
A food truck business would take a lot of effort, but it can be the right venture for you if you love cooking.
You might need a sizable capital to start, but you can buy a used but clean truck, then refurbish it to fit your equipment.
Ensure you research local regulations and get the necessary permits.
13. Clothing and Antique Reseller
This business involves finding and reselling vintage clothing or antiques. You can sell from home or set up a brick-and-mortar business.
You must have an eye for valuable items, as you might find them in somebody’s driveway, the thrift store, or even the landfill.
14. Airbnb Business
Do you have extra space in your home? Or perhaps a property you don’t use?
You can turn it into an Airbnb and welcome guests for a short- or long-term stay. This can become a lucrative business venture if you know how to price competitively, offer great experiences, and grow your properties.
To start an Airbnb business, you must invest in furnishing the space attractively and performing accurate calculations to ensure you’re earning a good profit.
15. Lawn Care Services
If you enjoy outdoor work, consider starting a lawn care service business.
Of course, you’ll need gardening and landscaping skills. You don’t need much equipment as you can start small and offer only the basic services.
Best Women’s Businesses To Start at Home
You can definitely pursue an emotionally and financially fulfilling venture right at home. These businesses can help you free up more time to take care of other duties, whether it’s house chores or taking care of kids.
Here are more business ideas you can start and do at home.
16. Travel Agency
If you love to travel and plan trips, starting a travel agency is a great business idea.
You can easily do this at home as you can connect with clients and network with vendors through the internet. Your tasks would include creating itineraries, haggling prices, and designing an awesome experience for your clients.
17. Content Creation
Content creation covers blogging, vlogging, podcasting, and everything in between. This online business idea can become lucrative, but it takes a lot of effort, research, creativity, and luck.
To start, find a niche you’re interested in and start creating engaging content. You’ll have to work to build a following, then you can start to earn through advertising, affiliate marketing, or sponsored posts.
18. Event or Wedding Planning Business
Event planning requires organizational and multitasking skills. It goes beyond just throwing parties.
Every detail – from picking the perfect venue to coordinating with vendors – must go perfect the day of.
As an event planner, you can organize various events like social gatherings, concerts, trade shots, charity events, and weddings. Pick a niche, then develop your network of vendors to establish your place in this industry.
19. Online Store
I’ve helped many clients become successful in setting up an online store to sell online, and it’s easier than you think.
You can sell on Walmart, Etsy, Amazon, and numerous other marketplaces. You can also sell on your own website. I’ve set up guides to help beginners, and you can also find loads of information on the internet.
All it takes is a load of research. Granted, that’s the hard part, but many have found success by picking the right product to sell on the right platform.
20. Dropshipping Services
Start an online store without holding inventory by starting a dropshipping business. You find a product to sell, partner with a supplier, manage your ecommerce store, and let the supplier handle the fulfillment process.
21. Blogging and Affiliate Marketing
Building a blog or social media presence takes time, but it can be profitable through sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and brand collaborations. It also has potential for passive income if you set it up correctly.
To start, you must identify your passion and a niche with high demand. You also need some considerable competence in your chosen subject and knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO).
You can start even with little knowledge. I started with some level of expertise, but I’ve learned many of the things I know now by just doing it.
22. Life or Fitness Coaching
To become a fitness or life coach, you should have expertise in these areas. Obtain relevant certifications if needed, create a coaching program, and market your services online through a website or social media.
Fun and Creative Businesses for Women Entrepreneurs Ideas
These top business ideas allow you to transform your creative ideas into tangible products, ensuring you have some fun while earning extra or full-time money.
Here are some ideas that are popular with women business owners.
23. Photography Business
Turn your photography skills into a freelance business. All you need need is quality equipment, professional editing software, and a laptop.
The market and income potential of your own photography business would depend on your niche. For example, you can offer your services for events and weddings.
You can also take some pictures and sell them on stock photo sites like Shutterstock and Getty Images.
24. Interior Design
If you have an eye for aesthetics, interior design is a rewarding field.
Get certified if necessary, build a portfolio, and promote your services through social media, local networks, and design showcases.
25. Handmade Items Boutique
Do you love creating something with your hands? Monetize your hobby.
You can sell your handmade crafts through platforms like Etsy or your own e-commerce store. You can also join bazaars and fairs.
The best thing about this idea is that you already likely has the tools for it, so there would be minimal startup costs.
26. Custom Cakes and Bakery
You can turn your love for baking into a home-based business and offer pastries in your community and online. You can even join food bazaars and local events to reach a broader audience.
If you have some artistic skills, you can also offer custom cakes for birthdays, wedding, and events. This business idea can be a part- or full-time opportunity, depending on your availability and level of commitment.
27. Make-Up and Beauty Industry
If you’re skilled in makeup artistry, offer your services for weddings, special events, or as a freelance makeup artist. Build a portfolio and market your services through social media and bridal networks.
28. Fashion Boutique
Channel your passion for fashion into a business. You can design and sell your clothing line through e-commerce platforms, local boutiques, or fashion shows.
Alternatively, you can resell clothes from wholesalers, find a white label supplier, or consign fashion items from other designers.
29. Personal Shopping
Another way to have a fashion business is by using your sense of style to help clients shop for clothes. You’ll help them find the best purchase based on their taste and budget.
Build a network of clients and promote your services through social media and referrals.
30. Furniture Restoration
Furniture restoration is becoming one of the most popular women-owned businesses. If you search on social media, you’ll see a lot of female content cretors successfully running this great side business idea.
You can easily adjust your level of commitment for this venture, as many work on their finds only on the weekends.
You can find pieces for refurbishing on Facebook Marketplace, at the curbside, from friends and family, or the landfill.
Your task is basically to turn another man’s trash into another man’s treasure.
31. Digital Products
You can also create art on a tablet or computer, then make money online by selling them as a digital product. There’s no need to pack and ship anything, as you can send them over the internet.
Some examples of profitable digital products to sell are e-books, digital art, online course, planners, and printables.
You can then sell digital downloads on Etsy, Shopify, and other online marketplaces.
32. Beekeeping
Beekeeping is one of the most unique side business ideas I’ve heard of, but it makes sense.
It’s environmentally friendly, and you can earn more money by selling honey or the bees themselves.
It can take a while to learn how to successfully set up a hive, but it can be a lucrative venture.
33. Yoga Instructor
Do you have a passion for yoga? Teach other people how to incorporate this discipline into their lives by becoming an instructor.
You have several options of teaching yoga – online through a YouTube channel, private sessions, or local studios.
Just make sure you get certified to become a yoga instructor.
34. Floral Design
Working with flowers is a refreshing way to earn income while expressing your creativity.
You can open a boutique or offer custom floral arrangements for events and special occasions.
35. Subscription Box
Curating and selling subscription boxes with niche products or experiences is one of the most profitable businesses right now. You can do snacks, fashion, meals, grocery, or any other products that you think your audience needs regularly.
This business model relies on auto-renewals, so you’ll have to set up a platform that can take recurring payments. If you do it right, you can enjoy profit margins of around 40% to 60%.
Freelance Opportunities for Women
Looking for more online business ideas?
I’ll suggest a few business ideas that provide you the flexibility to work on your own schedule and work your own hours.
You can start with your existing skillset or learn a completely new trade – anything is possible as there are plenty of work-from-home jobs you can do in your free time.
You can find work in numerous places, such as freelance platforms, online job boards, and digital companies.
36. Transcription and Translation Services
As a transcriber, you’ll be responsible for accurately transcribing audio recordings, while as a translator, your role involves converting written content from one language to another.
Consider specializing in specific industries or niches to enhance your marketability.
37. Data Entry
Data entry requires meticulous attention to detail as your tasks entail entering information into various databases, spreadsheets, or systems.
You may work with numerical figures, text, or other information. Moreover, you also need a good understanding of data organization and categorization.
38. Virtual Bookkeeping Business
You can offer bookkeeping services purely online, targeting small businesses and entrepreneurs. Your duties may include tracking financial transactions, managing invoices, and complying with regulatory requirements.
You don’t need an accounting degree, but it will surely help. If you have an unrelated degree, you can take courses and certifications online.
39. Virtual Assistance
Virtual assistants use their organizational and administrative skills to support individuals and businesses over the internet.
With your own VA business, your job is to handle tasks like email management, scheduling, and data entry to allow your clients to focus on core business activities.
40. Social Media Management
A social media manager creates strategies to enhance the client’s online presence. Your main responsibility is to develop campaigns, but you may also have to work on content creation and customer service.
41. Graphic Design
Graphic design has various niches, such as marketing materials, website design elements, and logos. There are endless opportunities, but you must find your specialization to improve your credibility and expertise.
42. Freelance Writing Business or Editing
If you have the skills, writing blog posts can be a good side hustle. You can also have an editing or proofreading business if you have more expertise.
You can contribute to publications, websites, or clients looking for content. This opportunity can also become a full-time career, but you can also do small projects at a time depending on your availability.
43. App or Web Development
If you have some programming skills, you can develop apps or websites. You can freelance independently or collaborate through platforms, earning income per project.
44. Online Consulting Business
You can also exercise your expertise by becoming a consultant in a specific field. Whether it’s IT, legal, marketing, social media management, or any other discipline, you can offer your services to individuals or businesses online.
45. Online Teaching
Similarly, you can also tutor students or professionals in general or specialized subjects. You can teach anything from high school math to SEO, depending on your knowledge and audience.
You can also create courses you can sell on your website or through teaching platforms.
How To Choose a Business Idea: 4 Tips
Which start up business for women is right for you?
If you find yourself seeking that spark of inspiration for your entrepreneurial journey, I’ll share some tips that allowed me to discover my own path.
1. Identify Your Passion.
The most successful businesses often stem from passions and interests.
Reflect on what ignites your enthusiasm and align that with potential business opportunities. Your genuine interest can drive motivation and commitment in your chosen field.
2. Assess Your Skills and Resources.
Take an inventory of your existing talents, skills, and available resources. Consider what you excel at or what you’re highly interested in learning.
More importantly, consider your resources. How much time, money, and energy can you commit to starting your business?
I personally didn’t have a positive cash flow for the first few months of my ventures. With this in mind, ensure you can cover the incoming expenses.
3. Perform Market Research on Demand and Trends.
Analyze the market to understand the demand for certain products or services. Research on the internet or assess your local community.
You might find a market gap that you can fulfill with your skills and passion.
4. Evaluate Feasibility and Viability.
Aside from the costs, consider things like:
- Regulatory requirements
- Competition
- Potential customer base
Remember: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only around 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more.
Your business’s survival relies on your groundwork, so it’s important to cover all your bases before starting it.
The Bottom Line
Let me give it straight: starting a new business is a long journey, whichever of my ideas above you choose.
The most important thing is to choose an idea that aligns with your passion, resources, and commitment.
Hopefully, my guide here helps you find the best fit for you. If you want to learn more about a business idea, let me know in the comments below.
