Best Business Ideas for Housewives
A housewife is no longer the woman depicted in the television shows of the 1950s, always in the kitchen or dusting the furniture. Today’s housewife is a person on the go, managing many tasks while living their best life. Many of today’s housewives are also ambitious, looking to create something of value as an entrepreneur.
Here we’ll cover some of the best business ideas for housewives that may spark your interest and put you on the path to entrepreneurial success.
Gift Baskets
If you want to get creative, you could make unique gift baskets to sell online, or from a mall kiosk, or to business owners to give as corporate gifts. Gift baskets come in all shapes and sizes and are purchased for a host of reasons. A mall kiosk that sells gift baskets can be particularly successful, as passing frustrated shoppers might turn to a gift basket as a last-minute option. The gift basket industry has grown to a multi-billion value, and that number is climbing, so a gift basket business could prove quite profitable.
Event Planning
If you are a housewife, you’ve no doubt planned parties or other events, so why not make a business out of it? Businesses hosting corporate events could be a great target market, or you could focus on birthday parties, anniversary parties, or wedding receptions. An event planning business takes very little cash to get started, and the average payout is 15 to 20% of the total cost of the event, so you could bring in a nice income only doing a few events per month. And you’d be getting in on an industry that’s worth more than $5 billion!
Freelance Writing
If you’re a good writer, you could join the more than 70 million people in the U.S. who freelance their various skills. Many websites exist where freelance writers can find gigs, including Upwork, so it’s not difficult to stay busy using your writing skills. You can generally charge $25 per hour or even more, depending on the complexity of the work and the subject matter, and you can do it all from home on your own time.
Online Bakery
Starting a brick-and-mortar bakery takes some serious cash to get started, but an online bakery is an alternative that you can start for very little money. If you have baking skills, you could choose your specialty, whether it’s cakes, muffins, cookies, or pies, invest in some ingredients and packaging, set up a website, and you’re off to the races. During the pandemic, many people started turning to online bakeries to get their tasty treats, and the trend is continuing, so you’d have a large target market in a growing industry.
Tutoring
Kids today are often under academic pressure to be able to pass state testing requirements, making tutors in high demand. If you’re the expert when it comes to helping with homework, a tutoring business could be for you. You’d be contributing to the education of students, while making a nice hourly income. Online tutoring has even become a growing industry, worth more than $6 billion, so you could even expand your reach beyond your community. You just need a website and an app like Zoom, along with your knowledge, to get started.
Bookkeeping
Many small businesses turn to bookkeeping services rather than handling it in house, making the bookkeeping services industry worth more than an astounding $66 billion. If you have a bookkeeping background, a bookkeeping business could be quite profitable, even if you only have a few clients. Bookkeeping services typically charge between $500 and $2,000 per month depending on the complexity of the work, so it could add up to a nice income.
Digital Marketing
If you want to enter a booming industry, look no further than digital marketing! The digital advertising agencies market has grown a shocking 25% annually over the last five years and shows no signs of slowing. Of course, you’ll need education and experience to get started, but if you have the background you can build a very lucrative business. If you don’t have the background, it’s never too late to continue your education to get in on an exciting opportunity.
Proofreading
Like freelance writing, proofreading gigs can be found on many freelancer websites. If you have a keen eye for grammar, a proofreading business can bring in a nice extra income. Proofreading services are used for all sorts of written content, from website copy to marketing materials to entire books, so your services could be in high demand. If you have the skills, you could expand into editorial services, which go beyond grammar and allow you to show your creativity.
Interior Design
Is your home interior the envy of all your friends and your nickname Martha Stewart? If so, interior design could be right up your alley. You’ll get to use your creativity, have fun, and create comfortable and aesthetically pleasing spaces for your clients. The interior design industry is worth $25 billion and growing, so it’s a great time to seize the opportunity. A successful interior design business can bring in up to six figures, even if you’re just doing it on your own!
Photography
Hobbies can often turn into great businesses, so if you’re an avid photographer you could put your skills to work and start a photography business. Whether you do wedding photography, portraits, or landscape photography, you can make a nice living. Real estate photography is also an option, and a growing industry. The possibilities are endless, and you’d be following your passion, whatever route you decide to take.
Crafting
Etsy has created a whole new world of crafters turned entrepreneurs. People enjoy handmade items of all types, so whatever your crafting skill, you could sell your wares on Etsy or from your own website. It’s a great way to make some extra income while doing what you enjoy. You just need to choose your niche and buy some supplies, and you can start bringing in money right away.
Secondhand Goods Ecommerce
Secondhand goods of all types have become a popular choice for consumers seeking to reduce their environmental footprint. Secondhand apparel, in particular, has become its own industry worth nearly $100 billion. You could easily find used items of any kind at garage sales, estate sales, or flea markets, and sell them from an online store on Amazon or Shopify.
In Closing
If you’re a housewife looking for an entrepreneurial path, the world is your oyster, with opportunities abounding. Whether you choose one of the ideas presented here or follow another passion, there’s no reason that you can’t live your dream of owning a business. You already know how to work hard, so all you have to do is channel that work ethic in a new direction, and you can be successful!
