20 Business Ideas For Housewives [2024]
Are you a housewife looking for new ways to balance your family responsibilities while pursuing your own business ventures? In 2024, there are fantastic opportunities that you could explore which match your skills, interests, and daily routines. This article will guide you through some practical business ideas that could fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.
By choosing the right business venture, you could earn extra income without sacrificing time with your loved ones. Whether you have a passion for crafting, cooking, or online services, there's a business idea out there for you. Let's delve into some of these possibilities that could transform your everyday routine into a profitable endeavor.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other housewives businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business is a fantastic way for housewives to supplement their income, make extra money, or even run a full-fledged business from the comfort of their homes. With the high demand for niche products delivered monthly, this business model offers both flexibility and profitability, while allowing you to leverage your creativity and knowledge about specific interests or hobbies.
Subscription boxes can cover a wide range of themes such as beauty products, gourmet foods, children’s toys, or fitness gear, providing ample opportunity to find a niche that you are passionate about. Building a successful subscription box business involves understanding your target market, offering quality products, and maintaining excellent customer service.
Why start a subscription box business?
- You could run the business on your own schedule, making it perfect for balancing household responsibilities.
- It's a low investment business with potential for high returns, especially if you find and cater to a specific niche.
- By curating products that you love and believe in, you could add a personal touch that enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty.
For more tips and insights on starting a subscription box business, check out the starter story.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
2. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog is an excellent way for housewives to share their expertise and passion with a wider audience while generating a supplemental income. By focusing on a specific topic, you can attract a dedicated readership that values your insights and recommendations, whether it’s on fashion, cooking, or film reviews. With ongoing engagement and quality content, you could build a loyal following, opening doors for monetization through affiliate links, brand collaborations, and ad revenue.
For more insights on building a successful niche blog, check out this link on Starter Story.
Why start a niche blog?
- Flexible work hours: You can blog at your own pace, fitting it around your daily household responsibilities.
- Low startup cost: Launching a blog requires minimal investment compared to other business ventures.
- Passive income potential: Once established, your blog can generate income through ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts, even when you’re not actively working.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
3. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)
Starting an online course sales business can be a perfect entrepreneurial pursuit for housewives looking to supplement their income or start a side business. If you have a skill or passion, such as cooking, music, or web design, you could transform it into a source of passive income by creating and selling online courses. With the e-learning market projected to be worth over $645 billion in the next few years, there's tremendous potential in this field.
You need to target a specific audience, develop your course, and select an online platform to sell it. By sharing your expertise online, you can leverage your skills to earn extra money while contributing to the growing online education industry. For additional insights, check out how to start creating online courses on Starter Story for success stories and marketing ideas.
Why starting an online course sales business?
- Transform your passion into profit. You could make money by teaching something you love and are knowledgeable about.
- Flexible work hours. Create and manage your courses around your household responsibilities, making it easier to balance work and family life.
- Scalable income potential. With a well-crafted course, you could continuously enroll new students, generating passive income for years to come.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
4. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
Starting an eCommerce reselling business can be a smart way for a housewife to supplement her income and potentially turn a side hustle into a full-fledged business. As an eCommerce reseller, you could purchase goods or services for resale, avoiding the high production costs associated with manufacturing your own products. This approach allows you to dip your toes into the business world with minimal initial investment and risk. Plus, you don’t need a website to get started, you could begin with a social media-based business and expand as you grow.
Why Starting an eCommerce Reselling Business?
- Flexible Schedule: You could work from home and set your own hours, making it easier to balance family responsibilities with your business.
- Low Startup Costs: Minimal initial investment is needed as you don’t have to produce goods yourself; you could focus on purchasing and reselling.
- Scalability: Start small with social media and grow your business at your own pace. Explore more about eCommerce reselling business startup costs.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
5. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Starting a social media automation business is a promising opportunity for housewives to supplement their income and even establish a full-fledged business. By managing multiple social media accounts and automating interactions, you could help small businesses and influencers enhance their online presence while generating a steady stream of revenue. With an increasing need for consistent and strategic social media engagement, this business model is both lucrative and fulfilling, especially if you have a knack for technology and marketing.
Click here to learn more about how you can make this business a reality.
Why consider a social media automation business?
- Flexible work environment that can be managed from home, allowing you to balance family and business.
- High demand for social media automation services can translate to a steady client base and recurring income.
- Leveraging technology for efficiency frees up your time, allowing you to focus on scaling your business further.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
6. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
Starting a dropshipping business could be an excellent opportunity for housewives looking to supplement their income or even launch a full-fledged business from home. Since dropshipping doesn’t require you to hold any inventory, it minimizes risk and reduces upfront costs significantly. By setting up an online store and partnering with reliable suppliers, you could focus on areas such as marketing and customer service—perfect for those who have spare time throughout the day.
Why consider starting a dropshipping business?
- Low startup costs make it accessible without significant financial investment.
- It provides the flexibility to manage your business from home, fitting around household responsibilities.
- No need to handle inventory or shipping logistics, freeing you up to focus on growing your business.
For more information on how to start a dropshipping business, visit Starter Story’s page on dropshipping business tips.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $8,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.
7. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business could be a perfect opportunity for housewives looking for a flexible way to supplement their income. By promoting products and services from other companies, you could earn commissions on each sale, creating a passive income stream that works around your busy schedule. All you need is to find the right products and brands that resonate with your audience and use your creativity to market them effectively. For more details, visit Starter Story's profitability guide.
Why consider starting an affiliate marketing business?
- Flexible hours allow you to work around family commitments.
- Potential to earn passive income without a substantial upfront investment.
- Opportunity to use your unique perspective to promote products you truly believe in.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
8. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business could offer you an excellent opportunity to balance your household responsibilities while supplementing your income. By investing in good photography gear and developing an online portfolio, you could easily upload and sell high-quality images to businesses and marketers. This kind of business can provide a passive income stream, as your photos continue to sell over time, freeing up more of your schedule for family and other commitments.
Explore stock photography profitability stories.
Why start a stock photography business?
- Flexible work environment allows you to balance family life while pursuing a creative venture.
- Earn a passive income by selling the same photos repeatedly, allowing more free time for other activities.
- Low initial investment costs; just need decent photography equipment and an internet connection.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
9. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast can be a fantastic way to supplement your income, share your experiences, and connect with a broader audience. As a housewife, you could create content centered around home management tips, parenting, or personal hobbies which could resonate with many listeners, making it easier to attract a dedicated fan base. With minimal investment in basic recording equipment and free hosting platforms, the barrier to entry is low, and potential monetization through sponsorships or advertisements could turn this side hustle into a sustainable business.
Why start a podcast?
- You could turn your daily experiences into valuable content that others are eager to listen to.
- Building a podcast from home allows for flexible scheduling, making it easier to balance with household responsibilities.
- Growing an audience might open up opportunities for sponsorships, advertisements, and even paid content.
For more insights and ideas, you can check out tips for starting a successful podcast on Starter Story.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
10. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business might be the perfect opportunity for housewives to supplement their income or even build a full-time venture from home. This business model eliminates the need for upfront inventory costs since products are only printed when ordered, offering a low-risk way to test the market. By utilizing platforms like Amazon, Etsy, or eBay for your virtual storefront, you could focus on creating unique, trendy designs that cater to niche markets and global audiences.
With minimal startup costs and the flexibility to manage everything from home, a print-on-demand business allows you to combine creativity with entrepreneurship at your own pace. You could design and sell custom apparel, home goods, phone cases, and more, turning your imaginative ideas into tangible products loved by customers worldwide. For more insights on how to get started, check out some success stories.
Why start a print-on-demand business?
- It's low-risk and requires minimal initial investment since you don't need to hold inventory.
- You can manage and grow the business from the comfort of your home, making it ideal for housewives.
- The opportunity to design and sell unique products allows you to tap into your creative side and generate extra income.
How much you can make: $200 — $3,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.
11. Become a legal nurse consultant
Starting a business as a legal nurse consultant would be an excellent fit for any housewives who have a background in nursing and are seeking to supplement their income or branch into a new career path. This role involves leveraging your clinical expertise to support legal professionals on medical-related cases. Working from the comfort of your home or on a contract basis allows you the flexibility to balance family responsibilities while providing critical insights into legal proceedings.
With the flexibility of choosing your own hours and the ability to work remotely, you could seamlessly integrate this profession into your daily life. As a legal nurse consultant, you would not only continue to use your medical knowledge but also diversify your skill set by delving into the legal aspects of healthcare. Interested? Learn more about what it takes to get started as a legal nurse consultant on the Starter Story.
Why becoming a legal nurse consultant?
- Flexible work hours align well with managing household responsibilities.
- Remote opportunities allow you to work from the comfort of your own home.
- Utilize and expand your nursing skills in a new and exciting legal context.
12. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel might be your next big move if you have a knack for creating compelling video content. As a housewife, a YouTube channel offers you the flexibility to share your expertise, passions, or hobbies while potentially earning revenue through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. Your channel can focus on how-to guides, vlogs, educational content, or entertainment; it's a versatile platform where creativity meets opportunity.
Building a successful YouTube channel requires consistency and quality, so plan your content, shoot and edit videos, and engage with your audience regularly. A good understanding of SEO for videos and social media marketing can also drive traffic to your channel. Despite the hard work involved, the payoff can be significant; from the flexibility to share your unique voice to the potential for financial reward, a YouTube channel can be a fulfilling venture.
Why start a YouTube channel?
- You can create content anytime, making it perfect for a flexible schedule.
- Starting a channel requires minimal upfront investment, especially if you already have a smartphone or camera.
- You'll have the opportunity to connect with a global audience and potentially earn substantial revenue.
For more insights on starting a YouTube channel, including success stories and profitability tips, check out this link.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
13. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
Are you looking for a focused online business that offers both creative freedom and potential revenue? Consider building a niche website. A niche website centers around a specialized topic, serving a dedicated audience with targeted content and products. This kind of venture could be an excellent fit for entrepreneurial housewives who want both flexibility and a steady income stream.
Starting this venture involves selecting a niche you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in, creating compelling content, and driving traffic to your site. You'll need to invest time in research, content creation, and SEO to attract loyal followers. Monetization options are varied—whether through affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products, your specialized content can generate income. A niche website can become a reliable source of passive income once established. If you’ve got a specific interest and the drive to dive deep, building a niche website could be your next rewarding project. Explore success stories to get inspired.
Why start a niche website?
- It allows you to turn your passions into profits by sharing content you love.
- It offers flexible work hours, making it easy to balance with household responsibilities.
- Once established, it can generate passive income, providing financial stability without constant effort.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
14. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
Unlock the potential of artificial intelligence to supplement your income or start a new business as a housewife with an AI-based business solution. Leveraging AI can streamline various business processes like customer service, inventory management, and data analysis, making it easier to balance work and home responsibilities. With user-friendly AI platforms and growing market demand, you don't need a tech background to capitalize on this opportunity.
Using AI, you could enhance efficiency, reduce operational costs, and provide invaluable insights for data-driven decision-making. It's a smart way to differentiate your business, automate mundane tasks, and stay competitive in today’s fast-evolving market landscape. To help you get started, here are some reasons why launching an AI-based business solution could be a strategic move.
Why start an AI-based business solution?
- AI can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, freeing up more of your day for family or other business activities.
- You can provide personalized customer experiences and gain competitive insights that are otherwise hard to achieve manually.
- The demand for AI solutions is increasing, offering a lucrative avenue to supplement your income or establish a successful side business.
For more insights and startup tips, explore this link on Starter Story: AI-Based Business Solution Profitability.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
15. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
Turning your brilliant idea into a mobile app as a housewife could be a highly rewarding venture. With the potential to solve everyday problems or entertain users, developing a mobile app allows you to tap into a vast market. Whether you dive into the coding yourself or hire a skilled developer, your primary tasks will include planning user experience, designing interfaces, and ensuring the app works flawlessly.
A mobile app could be the perfect side business or even a full-time income stream. It offers flexibility, allowing you to work around your household responsibilities. For more inspiration and success stories, check out some mobile app business ideas.
Why consider mobile app development?
- Mobile apps are integral to our daily lives, providing numerous opportunities for innovative solutions.
- You could achieve substantial revenue if your app gains traction and significant downloads.
- Working on a mobile app can be done from home, offering perfect flexibility for housewives.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
16. Start a cold email service business ($170K/month)
If you're a housewife with a talent for compelling writing and an interest in digital marketing, starting a cold email service business could be an excellent way to supplement your income. Cold emailing is an effective, old-school method modernized with technology to help businesses reach new clients directly through well-crafted, targeted email campaigns. You could aid small to medium-sized businesses in generating leads by analyzing their needs, understanding target audiences, and using marketing software to track metrics like open rates and conversions.
The potential for scaling is significant: start small, and as your success stories accumulate, your clientele could grow. With your strategic mindset and ability to connect through words, this could turn into a rewarding and in-demand business venture. For more insights, you might find this page on Starter Story particularly helpful /ideas/cold-email-service-business/success-stories.
Why consider starting a cold email service business?
- Starting this business requires minimal initial investment, making it accessible even if you are working with a tight budget.
- You could work from home, creating a flexible schedule that fits around household responsibilities.
- The demand for your service will always be high, as businesses continually seek effective ways to reach new clients.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $450,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)
GMass, an email marketing platform that allows users to send cold emails and email marketing campaigns with Gmail, has attracted over 500,000 user signups, including major tech companies like Uber, LinkedIn, and Google, and now generates over $200K in monthly recurring revenue through a successful content marketing strategy and focused ad spend.
17. Start a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
Starting a stock investing business can be an ideal way for housewives to supplement their income, providing flexibility and the potential for high returns. By leveraging personal knowledge and continuously learning about financial markets, you could analyze trends, make informed decisions, and strategically buy and sell stocks for profit. This business model offers the chance to work from home, allowing you to balance household responsibilities with your financial goals.
The world of stock investing is dynamic and exciting, with numerous educational resources available to help you get started. Utilizing online trading platforms can simplify the process, enabling you to manage your investments efficiently. With dedication and an analytical mindset, stock investing can become a fruitful entrepreneurial venture.
Why start a stock investing business?
- You could work from home, giving you the flexibility to balance different responsibilities.
- It offers the potential for high returns if approached with a well-informed strategy.
- Numerous educational resources and trading platforms are available to support your learning and growth.
For more insights, check out these success stories.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Ticker Nerd is a monthly subscription service for investors that surfaces and analyzes trending stocks before the hype train arrives, and now has $4.5k in monthly recurring revenue from its newsletter without spending a single dollar on advertising, having validated the business via subreddits and organic Product Hunt launch strategy.
18. Start an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
Starting an email marketing tool as a housewife is a fantastic way to supplement your income or even begin a side business. With the email marketing industry booming, and the market expected to reach $2.53B by 2028, there is a substantial opportunity for growth and profitability. You could easily manage this venture from home by buying a domain and hosting account, and soon, you will see the endless possibilities for creating tools entrepreneurs, startups, and real estate agents will find invaluable.
Why start an email marketing tool?
- The growing market size provides ample opportunity for success and profitability.
- Working from home allows for flexible hours, making it easier to balance household responsibilities.
- You can tap into a wide client base, from entrepreneurs to real estate agents, maximizing revenue potential.
Discover more insights and tips for starting an email marketing tool business on Starter Story here.
How much you can make: $120 — $20,833,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
19. Start a mobile bookshop
Starting a mobile bookshop can be an excellent way for housewives to supplement their income or launch a side business. This venture allows you to capitalize on your love for books while contributing to your household's finances. Additionally, the flexibility of a mobile bookshop means you can set your own hours, making it easier to balance family responsibilities.
A mobile bookshop gives you the freedom to bring books directly to your customers, setting up at local fairs, farmers' markets, and other community events. You could also explore opportunities to partner with schools and libraries for special events. With relatively low startup costs compared to a brick-and-mortar store, a mobile bookshop is a viable and rewarding business idea.
Why a mobile bookshop?
- Low overhead costs make it financially accessible.
- Flexible work hours allow you to manage family and business simultaneously.
- You meet many like-minded individuals, fostering a sense of community and shared love for reading.
Explore more about starting a mobile bookshop here.
20. Start a real estate investment firm ($398K/month)
Starting a real estate investment firm offers housewives a flexible and profitable way to supplement their income. This business involves purchasing, managing, and selling real estate assets for profit, allowing you to tap into the substantial profit potential of the property market. Whether it's residential homes, commercial buildings, or even vacant land, the appreciation over time can result in impressive financial returns. Additionally, rental properties offer a steady stream of income, making this a versatile and rewarding enterprise.
If you have a passion for real estate and a knack for identifying valuable properties, starting an investment firm might be the ideal venture for you. While the path to success requires diligent market research and strategic planning, the potential financial rewards make it a worthwhile endeavor. This could be the perfect opportunity to turn your interest in real estate into a lucrative business.
Why start a real estate investment firm?
- Flexibility: You can work on your schedule, making it ideal for balancing family responsibilities.
- Profit Potential: The real estate market offers substantial profit opportunities through property appreciation and rental income.
- Long-Term Investment: Real estate investments often grow in value over time, providing a reliable source of wealth accumulation.
For more insights on starting a real estate investment firm, you might find these success stories interesting.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 210 days (?)
Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
