When you think about owning a business, you probably picture renting a place, managing people or commuting to work. As a busy mom, that scenario might be too much to juggle. But, today, thanks to technology and access, a business can be started from the comfort of your own home.
Read on further to find out which are the most lucrative at-home business ideas for moms and how you, too, can become a successful woman in business.
40 At-Home Business Ideas for Moms
The first step towards becoming a mompreneur is coming up with a business idea that works for you and your lifestyle.
Below, find our list of 40 at-home business ideas for moms that can inspire you to don the “boss” hat. The majority of these small business ideas utilize your existing skill set, require minimal investment and can be scaled up whenever you choose to do so.
Let’s get started, shall we?
To further help you, we have broken down the top home businesses for moms by potential annual earnings, including business ideas that earn you over $100K/year.
Want to see a certain income level? Jump to at-home business ideas to earn:
At-Home Business Ideas to Earn $10K-$30K/Year
1. Transcriptor
A transcriptor converts audio files into text. Startup costs range between $500-$1,000 and monthly revenue averages between $500-$3,000 a month. Clients can range from doctors, nonprofits and attorneys. This work isn’t very demanding, it just requires a good Internet connection, computer and solid typing skills. Sign up on websites like GoTranscript (average monthly earnings of $150) or TranscribeMe and get started — it’s that easy.
2. Grocery Shopper
In our busy lifestyle, even grocery shopping can get tedious for a lot of people. But for many moms, the grocery aisle is meditative. And, yes, grocery shopping can be turned into a business. There are many ways to set up — you can partner with a local store and promote your services or sign up on an online portal like Instacart or WeGoShop that hires shoppers. Instacart shoppers earn an average of $10 per order when they fulfill a shop and delivery request.
3. Gift Basket Business
It’s always the perfect time to give a gift, isn’t it? If you’re a mom with a creative flair and always know the perfect gift to give, you can start a gift basket business. Decide what sort of baskets you can curate, maybe even partner with other local, small businesses. Build a client list by targetting mom groups or joining a franchise. You can also tap into the fast-growing corporate gifting segment. Earnings vary between $10,000-$20,000 annually if you do this part time.
4. Start a Dog Treats Bakery
Why should only children get goodies and not our pets? For an increasing number of people, their pets are their kids and they are seeking different options to treat and celebrate their four-legged companions. There are some licenses you’ll need to get and investment costs range from $100-$500. A newbie pet bakery can easily bill $500-$1,000 a month.
5. Cleaning Service
Are you the go-to mom who knows how to remove the greasiest of stains and keep a place spick and span, no matter what the mess is? A profitable and in-demand at-home business idea is to open a cleaning service. This top business for a mom doesn’t require a degree or certification; you just need to invest in the right cleaning supplies. Average earnings are around $30,000 annually, but you can charge more once you get stellar reviews and a steady customer base.
6. Online Vintage Clothes Reseller
Reselling vintage clothes is a great way to earn $50-$100/hour and start a business on a small budget. The online marketplace for reselling clothing is expected to grow 16 times faster than the retail clothing market. Many people love the vintage touch but don’t have the time or expertise to sort through racks of clothes in hopes of finding a gem. Source from flea markets, vintage stores and auctions and put the pieces for sale on Poshmark or Refashioner.
7. Laundry Service
Laundry is a boring task and for many, it's one they will hand off happily. This is one of the top home businesses for a mom because you can earn $10-$20 per bag of laundry without much startup investment. Publicize your business locally by listing it on Facebook Marketplace or via flyers at neighborhood restaurants. You can also offer pick-up and drop services and charge a premium for it.
8. Sell Digital Printables
Is art your calling? You can monetize it by creating and selling digital templates and printables. These printables could be meal planners, kids' coloring sheets, or financial trackers. The best part is that a printable’s shelf life is forever, meaning you can keep earning money from it over and over again! Digital printables can fetch you $50-$1,000 per month.
9. Fix Broken Toys
Yes, this is a business that’s ideal for moms who know to put things back toys and electronic items together. Kids are always breaking their doll or another and now parents have a place where they can take these toys to — you! Promote your business at local restaurants, toy stores and Craigslist.
Top Home Businesses for Moms to Earn $30K-$50K/Year
10. Seamstress/Alterations Specialists
If you’re handy with needles, threads and a sewing machine, consider starting a specialized business as a seamstress. This skill (which actually can be learned) is in high demand and can earn revenues upwards of $40,000/per year.
11. Pet Sitting
Approximately two-thirds of U.S. families have a pet that will need some looking after when they have to step out for emergencies or go on extended leave.
As a pet sitter, you’ll watch over your clients’ dogs, cats or other pets at their house or yours. You’d be responsible for feeding them, playing with them and taking them for walks. You’ll also need to regularly update your clients on how their pets are doing.
The average earning of a pet sitter is $31,671.
12. Edit Podcasts
The podcast market has just boomed! A whole 51 percent of the American population, or 144 million Americans, have heard a podcast at least once in their lifetime. With more and more people starting a podcast, there is a great demand for podcast editors. If you have some audio editing or content creation skills, you can easily earn $4,000 a month.
To learn how to make a good edit, you can take an Audacity course online or follow a guide.
13. Translation Services
Know a second language but rarely get time to use it? Leverage your language skills and become a translator. According to IBISWorld, the translation market is predicted to see a major uptick. Translator services can get you $52,330 in the bank annually. The best part is you can set your work according to your schedule and time.
14. Homecare Healthcare Service
You have an 80-year-old mom who still wants to live on her own but needs help. Many other working professionals face a similar situation. With assisted living care costs skyrocketing, many are in need of extra hands for their loved ones. As a home healthcare provider, you’d assist in non-medical tasks such as grocery shopping, pick and drop services and cleaning. This profession is strictly regulated, so ensure you have the right permits and certifications before you begin.
15. Grant Writer
Securing a grant is extremely tough, but nonprofits and schools are always in the need of funding. Brush up your grant writing skills by shadowing the full-time or part-time grant writer of the local school district, university or city governing body. As a freelance grant writer, you have the flexibility to work with multiple nonprofits at once and bring in $20-$150/per hour. Your attention to detail and writing skills will be the key to success in this business.
16. Medical Courier Service
This is an at-home business you can start with minimal startup costs; you’re technically only responsible for maintenance on your own vehicle. In this business, you can expect earnings to be around $48,000-$50,000. As you’ll be dealing with medical items, you need to be up-to-date on regulations set by OSHA, HIPAA and Federal Motor Safety Administration. Get certified via sites like Avantor and start building a clientele by promoting at local clinics.
17. Home Decorator
If you have the eye for creating homes that look straight out of a Pottery Barn magazine, this is a good home business to start. Set up a website and post pictures of spaces you have designed to attract customers. The median income for a home decorator is $45,000/per year.
18. Real Estate Agent
While this may not be one of the quickest businesses to start as you need your license, it’s certainly one where you can strike a good balance between mom life and career. Moms who became real-estate agents earn an average of $50,000/year. Use these tips to set and grow your real estate business.
At-Home Business Ideas to Earn $50K-$75K/Year
19. Bookkeeper
Moms are all about the little details, aren’t they? Turn your affinity for numbers, details and record keeping into a bookkeeping business. Today, Influencers, content creators, bloggers and other small businesses could use a helping hand with the financial side of things. To gain some expertise and earn the top bucks, get certified as a bookkeeper. Once you gain more experience, you can even apply for jobs at AccountingDepartment or Belay.
20. Stylist
Celebrities aren’t the only ones who want to be styled. Today, everyone wants to put their best foot forward and could use some help. If you have a knack for style and putting together looks and outfits, offer your services and stand the potential to earn over $50,000 a year! Start off by styling your friends and family for the next event and build a clientele from there.
21. Business Plan Writer
As the uptick in entrepreneurship shows, many people are turning to self-employment to sustain themselves. However, while many people might have a great idea, they might not know how to translate that into a full-fledged plan. A seasoned business plan writer can rake in over $55,000/annually by working with aspiring business owners get their dreams on paper.
22. Children’s Book Author
As a mom, you’re probably used to creating stories on the go. Why not try publishing one of your ideas as a book? With Amazon’s self-publishing option and the boom of ebooks, it’s easier than ever to reach a mass audience. You can test ideas with an app and quickly put the most popular idea out on market without actually stocking any inventory.
23. Online Cooking School
Starting an online cooking class business is a great way to monetize your passion for cooking. Teach people your favorite, easy-to-follow recipes. You can mail clients a menu and ingredient list beforehand. You can also explore offering a series of classes or a cooking membership. Depending on your niche, you can enter the market with a low-cost price of $20-$25 per class/per person or offer something premium at $100 per class/per person.
24. Teach Music for Toddlers
Music is instrumental to childhood development and you gotta admit some of those songs are outright addictive. If you enjoy spending time with kids and have a musical passion (instrument or singing), you can build a home business teaching music to little tots. You can reach out to pre-schools, daycare centers or even local libraries to see if you can come in to run a music program. Set up a demo or free session and see what sort of response you get. You can set your own teaching hours. Anna Schafer’s work hours vary between 3-12 hours a week, all around her kid’s needs.
At-Home Business Ideas to Earn $75K-$100K/Year
25. Sell Your Voice
You know those audiobooks or automatic answering machines…that’s someone’s voice. Having a lovely sounding voice can make you between $30 and $60 (if not more) an hour speaking into your microphone. Get started on sites like Snap Recordings, which specializes in telephone greetings, ACX (narrator of audiobooks) or Voices.com.
26. Proofread
There is so much content being written, someone has to proofread it all and fix all the syntax, spelling and grammar. Caitlin Pyle earned $43,000 as a part-time proofreader. What’s best about this home business is that you can complete work around your other priorities — just make sure you hit the deadline.
27. Teach Gardening
If you have a green thumb, then why not share your knowledge with others? As a gardening instructor, you can host workshops and classes (at a local nursery, community center or online) on how-to topics like “how to plant flower beds,” “how to prepare the soil” or “how to plant a bulb.” The best part about this idea is that you can scale your gardening skills into creating flower arrangements for events. Market your business by partnering with a local nursery or website.
28. College Financial Consultant
Tuition rates continue to grow through the roof. Trying to get all the possible financial aid so their child to go to college can overwhelm almost everyone. As a college financial consultant, you’d help parents navigate the labyrinth around selecting a college, applying to it and securing the best aid package.
Build your credibility by familizaring yourself on Byrd Scholarships, Stafford Loans and private and federal grants. Stay up-to-date on saving programs like 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and Charitable Remainder Unitrusts.
29. Professional Photographer
Are you the go-to photographer for your family and friends? Consider starting a photography business. Decide which photography niche appeals to you (wedding, family, corporate) and gain clients by posting your best work on social media or signing up on a website like Flytographer or Mom365, where you can earn $40-$50 an hour. In this business, you can easily create multiple revenue streams by selling stock pictures or digital copies of your print or teaching a photography or photo editing course.
30. Bridal Consultant
Weddings will always be in season, and in today’s Insta world, everyone wants to be a unique bride, but few know how to do that. That's where you can carve out an at-home business as a bridal consultant. You’ll work with brides and advice them on decor, wedding registry and everything in between. The best part is you can predominantly work from home and earn $3,000 in commissions per wedding.
31. Become a Dropshipper
If you are allured by the world of ecommerce, check out dropshipping. Investment costs are $100-$500 (mainly for platform fees, internet connection and marketing) and moms have generated an average of 15-20 percent commission on each sale. The best part is you never have to see the product or hold any inventory. Get started by setting up a profile on Shopify or a marketplace like AliExpress or U.S. Direct. Need more info, this guide from WooCommerce can help.
32. Personal Chef
Not everyone has the time to curate balanced meals. A personal chef is a top at-home business if you are passionate about cooking. You can pick a niche like healthy or vegan meals or offer a multi-cuisine menu — it’s all about your expertise in the kitchen. Add multiple income streams by building a weekly meal subscription plan and offering to cook for special events and gatherings. Private chefs stand to earn upwards of $80,000.
At-Home Business Ideas to Earn $100,000+
33. T-Shirt Printing Service
Like designing and doing something creative? If you have extra garage space, you can easily set up a T-shirt screen printing business. You’d take others’ designs and screenprint them onto T-shirts or make your own. The necessary tools like paint, emulsion and reclaimers are easy to acquire from wholesale providers. The average screenprinting shop earns over $100,000 a year.
34. Mom Blog
Blogging is an incredibly fulfilling, fun and creative way to share your passion and monetize it. Successful mom bloggers like The Realistic Mama earned just over $24,481 in December 2021. You can blog about whatever you feel you can create consistent content around and engage an audience. Earn the “dollars” by creating merchandise, doing affiliate marketing or running ads on your blog.
35. Professional Organizing
A lot of people get their dream home but then struggle to organize and declutter it. It’s a huge undertaking to create systems and habits and many don’t have the time for it. Build a website, grab a lot of storage bins and a label maker and get publicizing! This home business has average annual earnings of $76,337.
36. Childcare Provider
One of the easiest ideas for a stay-at-home mom to start is to provide childcare services. Set up service from your home for a daily or weekly fee and you won’t even have to fret about daycare costs for your own kids. However, there could be some special licensing or training required (CRP/first-aid), so check with your local licensing body for the specifics.
37. Sell Handmade Jewelry
You can start a homemade jewelry business by first identifying your niche — bridal, vintage or punk. Perfect a few products and then it’s all about marketing. Promote your line of jewelry amongst WhatApp groups, mom circles and social media. If you don’t want to build your own website, you can offer products on marketplaces like Etsy or Poshmark. Be sure to consider the startup costs that might include any specialized equipment and packaging material in addition to the cost of raw material.
38. Become a Baby Sleep Consultant
“Sleep like a baby” is possibly the biggest myth ever because, as a mom, you know that babies hardly sleep. It takes some real expertise to get a baby to sleep uninterruptedly. Enter a sleep consultant. You’d work with parents and devise a strategy to get their child to sleep better. Jayne Havens earns over $120,000 as a sleep consultant. While there is no governing body for a sleep consultant, we highly recommend getting a certification.
39. Graphic Designer
If you are a creative person and know your way around design software like Adobe Photoshop, then freelancing as a graphic designer is a profitable at-home business. You can design websites, logos, print brochures or even fabric prints — the options are endless. Keep an online portfolio of your design work that can be used to secure new clients from Upwork, 99Designs or DesignCrowd.
40. Become Airbnb Host
Travel is back and with a vengeance. So, put that extra guest bed or outhouse to good use by remodeling it into an Airbnb rental, especially if you live near a tourist area. Take some professional pictures and list them on Airbnb to start getting bookings. The platform’s app texting feature allows you to be as hands-on or hands-off as you like with your guests. You can estimate your earnings based on area.
How Can I Be a Successful Mompreneur?
Becoming a successful mompreneur requires an idea, passion, planning, acknowledging your strengths and a strong support system. It might sound challenging, but we like to say that for moms, nothing is impossible.
If you don’t believe us, hear it for yourself from these successful mompreneurs who share their tips on starting their own business.
And while we're speaking of support, Incfile's Mompreneur Guide has all the details and inspiration you need to bring your successful mom business vision to fruition. So go ahead, give it a read, and be on your way to becoming a bonafide Boss Mom!
Swara Ahluwalia
Swara Ahluwalia is a freelance content writer with experience in the technical, B2B and SaaS domain. She also has curated content for various lifestyle brands. In her downtime, you will most likely find Swara training for her next marathon or spending time with her two daughters.
