19 Home Business Ideas Perfect for Stay at Home Moms

Stay at home moms have a lot of responsibilities. From managing the household to caring for children, we have a lot on our plate!

Even so, some stay at home moms feel the pull to contribute financially to the household. Whether you need the income to make ends meet or you simply want an outlet for some of your creativity, there are many business ideas for stay at home moms that fit the bill.

These home business ideas for moms are flexible enough to do on your own time or with your kids around, and they’re all totally doable right from your house.  

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. 

Top Home Business Ideas for Moms

Do you feel like starting a home business might be the right move for you? Get started with one of these top ideas.

1. Start a Home Daycare Business

If you’re a stay at home mom, you’re already taking care of your own kids during the day. This puts you in a good position to open up a home daycare if you so choose.

Chances are, you likely already have a lot of the items necessary to run a daycare, like toys, highchairs, books, and games. This means this could be a low-cost business idea for many women.

If you’re interested in this type of business, you must go through the proper protocols of getting certified with your state. You’ll also need to make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage. I can’t guide you here, as the guidelines and specifications do vary depending on where you live.

Check with your local government to find out what you need to do to set up a daycare business from your home.

2. Work as a Freelance Writer

Freelance writing is an excellent business to start if you want to make money from home.

In fact, I’ve been doing it for nearly 11 years.

I love freelance writing because it’s one of the most flexible jobs out there. This makes it ideal for busy moms who are taking care of kids. This is a job you can easily make to fit into your schedule.

Get work done while your kids are napping or in school, or get a few hours in after they go to bed at night.

There’s many different kinds of freelance writing you can do, from article and blog post writing to eBooks or marketing materials.

To find out more about this work at home business, read my article, The Ultimate Guide to Freelance Writing.

3. Run a Virtual Assistant Home Business

A virtual assistant business is another great way to earn money, especially if you’re a stay at home mom. A virtual assistant business allows you to offer so many different online jobs to entrepreneurs and businesses who need the extra help.

For instance, you could manage emails, offer customer service, outline articles, conduct research, and so much more (check out this article for a more comprehensive list).

When you’re choosing what to offer, you call the shots.

If there’s something that you don’t enjoy doing or aren’t really knowledgeable at, simply don’t offer it to your clients. This is a big difference from other “assistant” jobs outside the home, where you’re often asked to do a whole lot of tasks you don’t like to do. Remember, you’re your own boss here.

As a virtual assistant, you can do your work whenever you have the time. This leaves you free to really plan your day around the needs of your children.

To learn more about starting a virtual assistant business, check out this free course from VA guru Abbey Ashley.

4. Blogger

Working as a blogger can make you thousands of dollars per month (many bloggers make much more than an average full-time income), BUT it’s not something that’s achieved quickly.

There are many ways to make money blogging. If you get enough traffic, you can put ads on your blog and get paid that way. Many bloggers make thousands per month with ad revenue alone.

Another way is to promote other people’s products as an affiliate. When someone purchases that product through your link, you’ll receive a commission.

If you want to make even more money, you can develop your own product and sell it on your blog. This could be anything like a course, a book, or a printable product.

Finally, you can use your blog to promote your services to others. For instance, if you’re interested in freelance writing, you can use your blog to promote that business. Since you’ll presumably have lots of written content on your blog, you can use that as your online portfolio.

Building a successful blog is doable, but it is a lot of work. While I won’t say it’s impossible, I will say that it’s very, very difficult to achieve success without some sort of training.

There are many different programs out there that can teach you how to blog, but I really love Suzi at Start a Mom Blog. She caters to busy moms like you and I, and her teaching style is just so warm, personable, and effective.

Want an easy way to learn about blogging? Check out Suzi’s Blog By Number eBook a step-by-step guide to getting your blog started on the right foot.

5. Transcription Business

Working as a transcriptionist means you’ll listen to audio files and type them out into a written format.

Believe it or not, there are many businesses that use transcriptionists even today in the age of voice-to-text. That’s because transcriptionists offer a level of accuracy that’s hard to come by with a technological program.

I had heard of transcription before, but I never realized that it was a viable home business until I heard of Janet Shaughnessy.

After Janet went through some changes in her life and needed to find a way to make money from home, she turned to transcription.

Eventually, she built up a six-figure transcription business for herself!

Janet has several programs that walk you through how to create your own transcription business from home.

If you’re interested in learning more about how this can be done, check out her free course Transcribe Anywhere training.

6. Start a Tutoring Business

There are many parents who will pay to get their children the academic help they need. If you love kids and have an academic or educator background, starting a tutoring business might make a lot of sense for you.

There are several ways you can run your tutoring business. For example, you could open up your home and offer tutoring sessions right at your dining room table. Or, you could travel and meet in a client’s home or a public place like the library.

These types of in-person tutoring sessions aren’t the only way to make money. If you want to expand your client base, consider tutoring online.

You could opt to enlist one of the many online tutoring companies or find your own clients and conduct sessions over Zoom.

Finally, if you’d like to specialize in tutoring foreign schoolchildren who want to learn English, take a look at becoming an online English teacher. Earn an average of $22 per hour with this work-at-home job.

7. Photography Business

If you have a knack for taking pictures, photography is one of the best home business ideas for stay at home moms.

There are so many different ways you can make money as a photographer, like wedding photography or family photography. You could even take gorgeous landscape shots and sell these online (find more ways you can get paid to take pictures here).

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average photographers make over $36,000 per year, while the top ten percent make more than $80,000. If you’re looking for a flexible business idea with the potential to bring you a nice income from home, don’t overlook photography.

8. Dog Sitting Business

dog sitting work at home business idea

Love pets? Make taking care of them an at-home business.

There are lots of ways that you can make caring for dogs a viable business idea. Offer dog walking or pet sitting for busy people who have to be away from their furry friends all day while they’re at work.

If your family is on board, you could expand to offer overnight care. There are some supplies you’ll need to invest in if you want to offer this business. For instance, you’ll need dog toys, feeding and water bowls, and some spare leashes on hand.

This is a very flexible home business idea, and it’s one where you could easily get your kids involved to help.

9. Online Coach or Consultant

If you have professional experience out in the world of business, you don’t have to put that on the shelf once you become a stay at home parent. Instead, you can start your own business as an online coach or consultant.

What does a coach or consultant do? Well, it’s really up to you and how you decide to market yourself.

You could offer one-on-one coaching sessions to entrepreneurs or businesses who need it most, you could offer to come on board and consult through certain projects, or you could just be available on retainer whenever your client needs some could advice.

If you have the experience and a good network of connections, this can be an easy way to make money while you’re home with your kids.

10. Sell Crafts Online

Lots of mamas sell crafts online. If you have that kind of creative spirit, you can be one of them.

There are plenty of outlets you can use to sell your crafts. Opt for marketplaces like Etsy, create a platform on Shopify, or build your own website and have total control over the selling experience.

This is another work at home business that ticks all the boxes – it’s flexible enough to do in your spare time, and easy to do while your kids are around.

Find out more about how to sell any kind of homemade craft (not just jewelry) in this article, How to Sell Handmade Jewelry Online.

11. Run a Sleep Consultant Home Business

Sometimes it feels like a magic touch is needed to help kids go to sleep. If you have that magic touch and/or the right kind of training, start a business as a sleep consultant.

As a mom of four children myself, believe me when I say, parents will definitely pay for help if they have a little one with sleep issues.

This is obviously something where you’ll need training and experience, but it’s worthwhile to look into if you have both of those things. Don’t forget that you can leverage the power of the internet to offer your services to clients around the world.

12. Build a Subscription Box Service

Subscription boxes are becoming increasingly popular. You can get a box delivered to your door each month for a wide variety of items, ranging from clothing to crafts to food.

Have an idea for your own subscription box service? If so, this could be a busines you could create. While you would need to figure out the logistics of getting and shipping all your products each month as well as marketing your business, you stand to have good success if you get these elements in place.

This is a really great business idea for stay at home moms because it’s so flexible. You aren’t doing client work and you aren’t working on a timer. This means you really have the freedom to fit this job into your schedule without impacting your day-to-day life with your kids.

13. Online Event Planner

Love logistics and itineraries? If so, a business as an online event planner might be right up your alley.

There are many events you can help plan, from conferences to weddings. Help book venues, arrange vendors, plan meals, and so much more as an online event planner.

This type of business is really great for those extrovert moms who want to be home with their kids but really crave interaction with people outside the walls of their home.

14. Travel Agent

People love to take trips. What they don’t love is all the planning that goes into making sure those trips run smoothly.

If you run a travel agent business, you could be the person to do all the “heavy lifting,” leaving your clients to enjoy their vacations without the stress and hassle that goes into planning them. Book flights, find hotel deals, make restaurant reservations, and plan tourist trips as a travel agent.

As a licensed agent, you’ll also be able to score deals for people that they’d have difficulty finding on their own.

The best part? It’s easy to do this job from your computer at your home. Work whenever you have the time while your kids are home with you.

15. Direct Sales Business

There are many moms who run direct sales businesses and are making a great income from home. There are direct sales programs for all kinds of products,

This is also an area where you could stand to lose a lot of money if you aren’t careful. Direct sales businesses are best for people who are outgoing, love to network, and are very convincing salespeople. If you love to shop and throw parties, this could be an ideal business for you.

As with anything, make sure you thoroughly research before going into business with any direct sale company. You’ll want to make sure that it is not a scam. It’s probably best to have a personal connection with someone you trust who’s already selling the product you like. That way you can be sure it is legitimate and worth your time.  

16. Start an Amazon FBA Seller Business

If you like shopping you can make big money as an Amazon seller.  The key to this home business is to know how to spot a deal. You make purchases on items that are a good deal at brick and mortar stores, and then resell them for a higher price on Amazon.

It might seem unusual, but this is a totally legitimate work from home business. It’s also easy to do if you’re a stay at home mom since you’re likely already shopping with your kids in tow. This means you can totally do it while you’re spending time with them

17. Offer Music Lessons

violin home business idea

Musically-inclined mamas may find plenty of fulfillment and joy running a business that offers music lessons. This is a great business idea for stay at home moms because again, it’s easy to fit in around your kids schedule. You only need to book lessons at a time that is convenient for you.

What’s more, you can even offer lessons virtually thanks to the beauty of technology. This could be a good option if you wanted to expand your client base and potentially reach people all over the world!

18. Web Design Business

Are you a techy mom? If so, there is a lot of demand for your services!

Create a web design business and offer to set up and maintain blogs or websites for businesses who just don’t have the manpower or know-how to do this themselves.

While there are many people you can market to, you may have the most success with pitching locally.

Look to small businesses and restaurants in your area that might not have a strong online presence. Create a marketing package that explains how you can help, and show them how having an intuitive website can do wonders for business.

If you have the skills to set up this business idea, this is a great service you could offer from home in your spare time or even while your kids are playing.

19. Offer Bookkeeping Services

A bookkeeper keeps track of the accounting for a business. If you’re good with numbers and are well-organized, this is something that is easy to do from home.

What’s better, with a bookkeeping business you could take on several clients at once and earn a very good income from home.  

Benefits of Starting a Home Business

There are so many perks of starting a home business, especially if you’re a mom. If you’re on the fence, consider the following benefits:

  • You get to be home with your family all day. This means no missing out on kid-time and no running the rat race that comes with juggling work and daycare
  • You’re your own boss. This gives you complete control over your business and what you make of it. The possibilities are truly endless here.
  • Work when you have the time. When you have a home business, you aren’t stifled by a 9 to 5 schedule. Work whenever makes sense for you, and give yourself days off as often as you like.
  • The earning potential is limitless. You’re no longer tied down by an hourly wage or salary, and you get to set your own rates. Depending on your business, you can scale as you grow. The sky’s the limit here!
  • A home business allows you to save money on a lot of extras that come with working outside the home. No more commute, no more expensive business clothes, no more eating out. You get the idea.

Things to Consider When You’re Comparing These Home Business Ideas

Not all of these home business ideas are equal, and that’s a good thing.

There is a lot of variety out there when it comes to something you can do to make money from home. As you’re evaluating your choices, consider the following questions:

  • How much up-front investment is required? While some businesses require very little in terms of upfront costs, others require materials or training that involve a substantial investment. While it’s good to expect some expenses at first, consider how much you can afford before diving in.
  • How much time can I offer to this business? This will totally depend on your own circumstances. If your children are older and in school much of the day, maybe you’ll have a big chunk of time each day to devote to your business. On the other hand, if you only have toddlers at home you might need a job that’s more hands-off or flexible in terms of time. Pick your profession accordingly.
  • What is the income potential? Does your business’s earning potential equal the income your family needs? For instance, if you choose to start a home daycare, your income will be pretty firm. As a freelancer, you have the potential to earn a lot more – but also the potential to earn a lot less. Consider the risk involved as well as your earning potential.
  • What do you like to do? It kind of goes without saying that you should choose something you enjoy!
  • How much of a learning curve is involved? There are some businesses that will require you to do a lot of learning before you can implement and succeed. Things like blogging or transcription aren’t necessarily hard, but there is definitely a learning curve. Take this into consideration before you decide to get started.

Final Thoughts on Starting a Home Business

These home business ideas are meant to help you find the best way that you can work from home while you’re with your kids. There’s nothing that compares with the freedom of running your own business while you’re raising children.

It might be a lot of work, but it is totally worth it.

If you’d like to learn even more ways you can earn money from home, don’t miss these top articles:

HOME BUSINESS IDEAS FOR MOMS

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