Home-Based Small Business Ideas

Fitness Coach

• Part personal trainer, part exercise buddy, a fitness coach helps clients with their exercise and health expertise. Depending on your experience and qualifications, start a business that will make the most sense. If you lost 50 pounds by running, for example, get certified as a running coach and target an audience of overweight people looking to start an exercise plan. You can also consider holding yoga classes in your home or yard, starting personal training programs in partnerships with gyms and spas, or providing one-on-one personalized fitness sessions to target the individual needs of clients.
  
  

Home Staging

• When real estate agents and homeowners are trying to sell their homes, a redesign--or "staging"--can help make homes easier to sell. If you have interior design experience or a great eye for home design, start a home staging business. Buy or borrow furniture that can be placed in a home to give viewers a sense of what it could look like; this is particularly effective in homes not selling because of an outdated or ugly design scheme. Network with real estate agents and individual homeowners to get business, and charge a flat fee or a percentage of the sale.
  
  

Administrative Support

• In tough economic times, many businesses are forced to let go of non-essential staff, which often includes administrative positions. Because the need for admin support does not disappear, you can start a home-based business providing part-time assistance for businesses. The service is valuable for clients because they will not need to provide benefits, a full-time salary, or an office. You can combine multiple clients until you reach your desired level of business. To advertise your services, put together a media packet explaining your qualifications and rates and distribute the packet to businesses.
  
  

Video Editing

• Some businesses cannot afford professional video services. If you have video editing software and a basic video camera, you can start a business as a video editor. Offer services for small and medium businesses shooting advertising videos that can be put on DVDs, embedded on websites, and uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo. By handling the work of editing and exporting various formats, you can provide a valuable service with simple equipment.