Home Based ‘shoestring budget’ Business Ideas for Stay-at-Home-Moms
Most stay-at-home moms would love to have their own business, but they often don’t have the money it takes to get started. But there are actually several ideas for businesses that can be started on a tight budget, which are great for stay-at-home moms.
So if you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own business but don’t have the funding to do so, you may want to consider one of these small budget home based business ideas.
1. Starting a blog
This is one of most common business ideas for stay-at-home moms, and it’s easy to get started. All you need is a domain name, web hosting, and basic website design skills. Then, you can start blogging about your passions or sharing useful information with others, and eventually make money through affiliate marketing or sponsored posts.
How much you can make depends on the amount of time and effort you are able to put in, your niche, as well as the size of your audience. But if done right, blogging can be a great and profitable way for stay-at-home moms to build their own business from home.
You can always speed up your writing using tools like Jasper, Anyword or Scalenut, but ensure you spend a bit of time learning how to use these tools.
If you want to start absolutely cheap, sign up to Medium.com or similar platforms for free and train your writing muscles before you start your own blog.
2. Freelance writing or editing
If you have a knack for writing, you can start your own freelance writing business. There are a number of ways to find clients, such as through online job boards like Upwork or Freelancer or by contacting businesses directly. Once you have a few clients, you can set your own rates and work as much or as little as you want.
Alternatively, you could also start your own editing or proofreading business. This is another great option for stay-at-home moms who have a good eye for detail and are comfortable with grammar, spelling, and sentence structure.
To get started, you can offer your services to local businesses or online clients, creating and editing documents for them.
3. Virtual assistant business
For stay-at-home moms who have strong administrative or secretarial skills, starting a virtual assistant business is another great option. As a virtual assistant, you can work from home to provide services such as administrative support, client relations, data entry, marketing, and more to your clients.
To get started, you can sign up for a virtual assistant platform like Zirtual or Upwork. There you can find clients, advertise your services, and get started right away. With the right marketing, you can build a successful virtual assistant business that helps busy professionals manage their day-to-day tasks.
4. Home organizing services
If you love organization and helping others get their homes in order, then a home organizing services business might be the perfect small business idea for you. You can start the business by creating your own website and marketing it to potential clients in your local area or online.
As with any business, there are a number of steps that you will need to take to get started. You’ll need to set up a space for your organizing supplies and create a system for organizing the different items that you help your clients with. The key is to be as organized and efficient as possible, so that you can work quickly and help as many clients as possible.
5. Child care or tutoring services
If you have experience working with children or have a background in education, then you can start your own child care or tutoring business. This is a great option for stay-at-home moms who have experience working with children and want to help other parents out.
To get started, you can create a website or social media profile that advertises your services, or you can find clients through local word-of-mouth or online job boards.
The goal is to make a good first impression and let your clients know that you are reliable and trustworthy. Child care works by word of mouth, so if you can build a good reputation, that will go a long way.
6. Customized arts and crafts business
If you love to make new and different art projects, then a customized arts and crafts business can be a great way for stay-at-home moms to make extra money.
For example, you might design and paint a custom set of kitchen cabinets or create a line of hand-painted greeting cards. To be successful in this business, there is a need for both creativity and marketing skills that cannot simply be taught. You will have to be able to come up with unique designs and marketing strategies that will stand out among the competition.
You might also want to learn how to sell them online or at craft fairs and local art shows. You can also set up a website, or you can simply use social media to advertise your services.
7. Teach a Language
With platforms like Verbling, you can make money from home by teaching others a new language.
This is a great option for stay-at-home moms who are passionate about teaching, and want to make a little extra money without having to commute or be away from home for long periods of time.
To get started, you’ll need to create an account and post your listing on Verbling. You’ll need to prove your language proficiency with a certificate.
From there, you’ll be able to set your own rates and create a schedule based on when you are available.
The classes are fully online, so you can teach students from all over the world right from your home office. And with Verbling’s platform, you’ll be able to easily connect with students and manage all course materials.
Common Skills required to succeed in a home based business
Most businesses fail within the first couple of years and home businesses are no exceptions.
In order to be successful in a home-based business, there are a number of skills that you will need to possess. Here are some of the top ones.
1. Self-Motivation
One of the most important skills required to succeed in a home based business is self-motivation. Without self-motivation, it can be very difficult to stay on task and get work done. Individuals who are self-motivated are typically more organized and better able to manage their time.
So when you pick a business, make sure it is one in which you are highly motivated, and that will help keep you on track and focused throughout the day.
2. Time Management
Time management is another key skill for individuals who want to be successful in a home based business. Those who are able to effectively manage their time will be able to get more work done and not get drained and are likely to last longer.
You are the CEO, CFO, CTO and janitor of your home-based business. Only you can decide when you work and for how long. Make sure you set achievable goals and manage your time well.
3. Marketing Skills
Marketing skills are also important if you want to be successful in a home-based business. Whether it’s online marketing tactics or networking and social media marketing, you will need to be able to effectively promote your business and connect with potential customers.
Fortunately, you can learn almost all of this for free from a variety of online resources. So, if you are not a marketing expert, it’s a good idea to take some time to learn the basics and develop a marketing plan that works for your business.
4. Financial Management Skills
Along with marketing skills, you will also need to have strong financial management skills. This includes things like accounting, budgeting, and cash flow management. You will also need to be able to manage taxes, expenses, and revenue.
The excitement of starting a new business can make it easy to overlook the need for financial management skills. But if you want your home-based business to be successful in the long term, you will need to be able to track your income and expenses, and know how to plan for the future.
Wrap Up
The number of home business opportunities for stay-at-home moms is virtually endless ( some ideas here). The only limit is your own imagination and the time and effort you can devote to getting your business up and running.
Just remember that a successful small business takes hard work and dedication, and with the right planning and effort, you can achieve your financial goals.
About the author
Ilam lives in Denmark and has two decades of experience in technology/financial services. He’s also a keen AI enthusiast. He’s not as popular as Elon Musk (yet), but thinks of humanity’s future & AI as much as Musk does without the media attention and the money to buy companies!
