12 Home-Based Business Ideas with Low Startup Costs

Home-based businesses have become a favorite way to earn an income for many people who are tired of commuting to their workplace and prefer working from the comfort of their homes.
The good thing about starting a home-based business is that you don’t have to have a lot of capital to begin. After all, many expenses have been reduced or eliminated.
For example, when starting a homebased business, you will not have to rent, lease or buy a space to set up your store or office. In some cases, all you require to start a successful home-based business is a phone or a computer.
Depending on your interests, skills, and the resources you have, there are numerous ways you can make money at home, even on a budget. You only need to be ready to invest your time, utilize the available resources, and put in the effort required for your home-based business idea to succeed.
So, if you want to make a living working from home, continue reading this post to find out the best home-based business ideas with low startup costs.
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Top Home-Based Businesses with Low Startup Costs
- Blogging
If you love writing, then blogging should be at the top of your list of profitable home-based business ideas that are easy to start.
Starting a blog only requires you to have a phone or a laptop, an internet connection, and enough money to purchase a domain name and web hosting.
When starting as a blogger, it may seem like earning a stable income through blogging is a far-off dream. But it is possible to make good money blogging.
To make your blog a successful home-based business, you need to choose the right niche, write high-quality content, learn Search Engine Optimization(SEO) strategies, promote your blog, and be consistent.
Once your blog starts receiving decent traffic, you can earn an income through advertising, affiliate marketing, selling your own products, sponsored content, etc.
- Writing

Another way you can use your writing skills and knowledge to start a home-based business with low startup costs is by offering your services to business websites, blogs, authors, and students.
Like blogging, writing requires you to have a computer and a high-speed internet connection.
Some writing services you can offer include; freelance writing, copywriting, web content writing, book ghostwriting, proofreading, editing, transcription, etc.
READ ALSO: Debunking 9 Most Common Myths about Freelance Jobs
- A YouTube channel
People are making money and even becoming millionaires by uploading videos on YouTube from the comfort of their homes. What is stopping you from starting your own YouTube channel? It is a good home based business idea with low startup costs.
When starting a new YouTube channel on a budget, don’t go broke by buying the most expensive equipment available. Instead, you can start small with just your phone camera or computer and then download free apps to help you edit your videos.
Next, create valuable, original, interesting content and post it on YouTube to gain subscribers and viewers.
When you reach 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours on your YouTube channel, apply for monetization to start earning from your videos.
READ ALSO: The Digital Revolution: 7 Modern Tools For Career Success
- Podcasting
Podcasts have become quite popular in recent years. Podcasting involves recording audio episodes and posting them online, where they are distributed via RSS feeds to subscribers.
A podcast is one of the best home-based business ideas to start because it has low startup costs. Most of the tools used to record and distribute it are free.
If you want the best results, you should choose a niche first and create a posting schedule to keep your listeners interested. You can earn an income through advertising and selling products on your podcasts.
- Become a virtual assistant
These are similar to secretaries or customer service agents in the workplace. The only difference is that they offer assistance to businesses and individuals remotely, usually on a part-time basis.
To try out the home-business idea of being a virtual assistant, all you need is a phone, computer, internet access, and a little experience to qualify.
You can get clients on platforms such as Upwork, Belay, PeoplePerHour, and Zirtual, among others.
Some of the tasks you might be required to do as a virtual assistant include; making calls, organizing travels, preparing reports, managing schedules, data entry, blog posting, social media management, researching, etc.
READ ALSO: Why Being Self-employed Is so Hard and Tips to Make It Easier
- Sell products online

People have been turning to online shopping more and more in recent years. Why not take advantage of this and create a product to sell, whether a physical or digital one? You can sell it on your website or through platforms such as Amazon and Etsy.
Selling products online is a good home-based business idea with low startup costs because you will not have to spend money on acquiring and maintaining a physical shop.
- Affiliate marketing
Becoming an affiliate marketer is another profitable home-based business idea with low startup costs. You will make money by promoting another business’ products and services.
Once you have signed up for an affiliate program, you can recommend a brand and share links to their products and services on your blog posts or social media channels.
When a customer buys a product after clicking on your link or using your promotional code, you will earn a commission.
If you want to start affiliate marketing, AWIN is a great platform where you can find and join affiliate programs for various businesses.
- Services-based business
This home-based business idea requires you to tell people how you can help them using your skills and knowledge, and then you charge them a fee when they request a particular service.
Examples of services you can offer include babysitting, pet sitting, tutoring, handyman services, interior design, car cleaning, laundry, organizing closets, etc.
- Drop-shipping
Drop-shipping is another profitable home-based business that is easy to start because it has low startup costs. You begin by finding a drop-ship products supplier online and partnering with them.
When someone purchases a product from you, you contact the supplier about the sale; pay on behalf of the customer, and then the seller takes over packaging and shipping the item to the buyer.
You will not need a physical store because you never come into contact with the product. It is stocked by the seller or manufacturer.
Nonetheless, if you want to increase lead generation and sales, you can create a website to promote the products.
READ ALSO: How to Start a Profitable Dropshipping Business
- Launching an online course

Record videos of yourself doing something you are an expert on, and then create online courses on your blog or another platform such as YouTube or Instagram. However, don’t limit yourself to online platforms only.
To earn more with your home-based business, you could also offer these courses to clients either at your home or theirs.
Some online courses you can provide include; tutorials, life coaching, music coaching, and personal training, among others.
- Forex currency trading
It would be a crime not to include Forex trading on this list of the best home-based business ideas with low startup costs. It is one of the easiest ways to make money online while at home.
Forex trading requires you to have some cash flow, technical skills, a phone, computer, and internet access.
You will have to find training tutorials to learn how to make informed decisions to avoid losses. It will involve trading between two world currencies through buying and selling to make a profit.
- Listing your spare house
Do you have a guest house? Or even some extra rooms no one is using?
It is time to make some money with them by making them your home based business. Use websites such as Airbnb and advertise your place as a vacation spot with a pleasant, clean environment.
Alternatively, you can rent out your home when you go out of town. It will be a simple way to make a passive income.
READ ALSO: 8 Signs You Are Ready to Buy a House
Final words
You don’t have to be rich to start a successful business, especially not when it is home-based. As you can see above, there are many home-based business ideas that have low startup costs.
Running your own business from home is wonderful because you have a more flexible working schedule and are most likely doing something you love. Nonetheless, for your home-based business to succeed, you need to develop self-discipline and focus on achieving your goals.
Use the above ideas to start a profitable home-based business that suits your interests and budget. It will help you earn a stable income from the comfort of your home, and who knows? Perhaps, you will become a millionaire even though you are starting with nothing but your skills and knowledge.
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