Over 20 Easy Low-Cost Business Ideas for Stay at Home Moms

As a stay-at-home mom, you likely have dreams of turning a hobby or passion into a thriving side business. But with limited funds and availability between parenting duties, launching a startup can feel daunting.

The good news? Plenty of smart, creative business ideas exist that you can launch on a shoestring budget right from home. With some hustle and know-how, these businesses can earn you extra income, flexibility, and the pride of entrepreneurship.

Read on for over 20 easy, low-cost business ideas for stay-at-home moms.

Consulting

Leverage your expertise to earn income helping others through consulting. With low overhead, you can get started immediately while working flexible hours. Possible niches include:

• Social media consultant – Advise businesses on building their brand and marketing strategy on platforms like Instagram or TikTok.
• Freelance writing consultant – Provide feedback and coaching for writers looking to improve their craft and get published.
• Home organization consultant – Create home organization systems and advise clients on decluttering.
• Relocation consultant – Help clients moving to your city with school/neighborhood research, recommendation lists, and settling in smoothly.
• Parenting consultant – Offer virtual classes and consultations on topics like potty training, managing tantrums, establishing routines, etc.

Virtual Assistant Services

Provide professional administrative or technical assistance to clients remotely as a virtual assistant. Requires just a computer and great communication skills. Possible services include:

• Administrative support – Calendar management, email, travel coordination, data entry, etc.
• Social media management – Managing clients’ social media accounts, content scheduling, analytics.
• Blog maintenance – Drafting posts, formatting, SEO optimization, managing comments.
• Lead generation – Building email lists, research, outreach.
• Event coordination – Venue research, vendor booking, managing online registration.

Freelance Writing

Offer your writing talent for hire in areas like blogging, Web content, marketing materials, journalism, and more. Freelance writing has endless flexibility, earning potential, and no inventory or overhead. Possible writing gigs:

• Blog posts – Pitch ideas or apply to write for blogs. Start your own blog to showcase clips.
• Ebooks and guides – Research and write short informative ebooks to sell online.
• Web copy – Write product descriptions, website content, landing pages for businesses.
• Newsletters – Craft engaging email newsletters showcasing your tone.
• Ad/marketing copy – Create compelling ad copy, sales letters, email sequences for clients.

Graphic Design

Unleash your creative side with graphic design services. Stay-at-home moms can conveniently work flexible hours and build a visual portfolio. Services may include:

• Logos – Design custom logos conveying brands’ unique identities.
• Social media graphics – Create eye-catching graphics, quotes and ads for social platforms.
• Product packaging – Design product boxes, labels and wraps showcasing brands’ visual identity.
• Marketing materials – Design infographics, brochures, flyers, and presentation decks for businesses.
• Book and ebook covers – Design book covers that capture readers’ attention and visually represent authors’ works.

Sell Handmade Goods

Start a small handmade goods business turning your crafting hobby into cash. Possible mediums include:

• Crochet and knitting – Hats, scarves, baby blankets, toys, home goods.
• Sewing – Totes, bibs, baby onesies, scrunchies, face masks.
• Paper crafts – Party decor, signs, memory books, stationery.
• Candles – Aromatic soy candles with custom scents.
• Soap and bath products – Soaps, scrubs, lotions with natural ingredients.

Initially invest in supplies from craft stores. Then photograph and list items on Etsy or your own site. Reinvest earnings to keep growing your homemade inventory.

Baking/Food-Based Business

Whip up tasty treats or healthy eats to sell. Low startup costs make food businesses ideal for stay-at-home moms. Possible ventures include:

• Cottage bakery – Cookies, cakes, pies, artisan bread. Double recipes and freeze excess inventory.
• Meal prep delivery – Prepare healthy portion-controlled meals for clients.
• Jams, jellies, sauces – Create small-batch handcrafted spreads.
• Granola, snacks, trail mixes – Make crunchy, satisfying snack mixes in your home kitchen.

Check local regulations and consider rental commercial kitchen space if required. Promote offerings through social media and local listings to drive orders.

Pet Care Services

As an animal lover, provide pet sitting, dog walking, training, or other animal care services in your community. Key advantages of pet care include flexibility, low costs, and great word-of-mouth marketing. Services to consider:

• Pet sitting – Visit homes to feed, walk and play with pets while owners travel.
• Dog walking – Offer neighborhood dog walking packs.
• Pet waste removal – Help keep yards tidy by picking up pet waste.
• Pet grooming – Give baths, clip nails, clean ears.
• Training – Obedience or behavioral modification for dogs.

Promote services through listings sites like Rover as well as flyers and social media. As your business grows, consider hiring other sitters to scale.

Sell Stock Photography

Turn your photography hobby into earnings. Build a photo library of nature shots, textures, landscapes and other marketable images. Then sign up for a stock photo site like Adobe Stock, Getty Images or iStock. Earn money each time your images are downloaded.

Photography requires only a quality camera and laptop. Use your own surroundings for inspirational still life and outdoor images. Keyword photos carefully so people can discover your work during searches.

Teach Music Lessons

Share your musical talents and inspire kids by offering private music lessons. Popular instruments to teach include piano, guitar, drums, violin and voice. Lessons can take place in your students’ homes or virtually.

To start, create fliers outlining your credentials, hourly rates and lesson policies. Reach families through social media, school bulletin boards and local listings. Consider investing in books, sheet music and teaching aids. But otherwise, costs are low for this musical side business idea.

Become a Tutor

Help students learn and succeed by tutoring in academic subjects or creative pursuits. Possible focus areas include:

• Core subjects – Math, science, English, history, test prep.
• Languages – English as a second language, foreign languages.
• Arts – Music, visual arts, dance.
• Computers and technology – Coding, design, digital literacy.

Tutoring lets you flexibly set your own hours and rates. List services on platforms like Wyzant, network locally, or use word-of-mouth referrals. Ensure you have proper experience before taking on students in specialized subjects.

Jewelry Making Business

Design and handcraft beautiful jewelry pieces to sell. With minimal startup costs, this creative venture allows stay-at-home moms to build a business around their design aesthetic. Steps for launching a jewelry business include:

• Obtain necessary supplies - beads, wire, jewelry tools, packaging.
• Create jewelry samples and test designs to assess demand.
• Photograph pieces professionally against clean, bright backgrounds.
• Set up an Etsy shop, online store or sell at markets/boutiques.
• Promote through social media and email newsletters to drive sales.

As your business grows, outsource production or take on apprentices to scale up.

Garment Sewing Business

Offer sewing services like hemming, mending, alterations, custom clothing and more. Market to clients in your neighborhood and surrounding communities. Services may include:

• Clothing repairs – Replace zippers, buttons, seams, etc.
• Custom sewing – Window treatments, baby items, costumes.
• Clothing reconstruction – Turn old clothes into new fashions.
• Alterations – Hem, take in, or let out garments.

You’ll need a quality sewing machine, tools, and materials. Consider renting commercial space, but many moms operate sewing businesses successfully from home. Market through social media, old-fashioned word-of-mouth and listings sites.

Voiceover Services

Make money using your voice! Stay-at-home moms can conveniently provide professional voiceover and narration services right from a home studio. Types of gigs include:

• Audiobook narration – Turn novels into audio format.
• Commercial voiceovers – Record ads, promos and messages for brands.
• Cartoon voice acting – Provide voices and sound effects.
• Corporate narrations – Create training videos, e-learning courses or on-hold messages.
• Audio transcriptions – Convert speech to text for clients.

You’ll need quality recording equipment, editing software like Audacity, and a soundproof space. Promote your voice on sites like Voices.com or Fiverr to land initial clients.

Calligraphy Services

Transform handwritten words into artful displays. Offer calligraphy services for weddings, events, stationery, home decor and more. Get started with quality pens, ink and practice. Then promote services through a website, social media and local wedding vendors.

Bookkeeping or Accounting

Help clients keep their finances in order as a part-time bookkeeper or accountant. Provide services like payroll, Quickbooks, tax prep, budgeting and more. Virtual services allow you to work flexible hours from home. While certification demonstrates your expertise, on-the-job training or a community accounting course can also get you started.

Life Coaching

Guide and support clients in reaching personal or professional goals as a life coach. Sessions provide accountability, encouragement and structure on the path to positive change. Helpful traits include compassion, optimism and strong listening skills. Promote your services through networking with other professionals who refer clients, social media, and your own website.

Sell Handmade Candles

Combine creativity with the comfort of candles by starting a candlemaking business. Make customized scented soy candles in unique containers. Market beautiful, giftable products on Etsy, social media, and local shops. Low startup costs make candles an accessible venture.

Party Planning

Make celebrations special by launching a party planning business. Help clients with events like birthdays, weddings, showers and corporate gatherings. Services may include venue selection and design, catering coordination, managing rentals and decor. Promote your services through event vendor networks and social media outreach.

Freelance Web Design

Design, build and customize websites for small businesses as a freelance web designer. Offer services like site layout, programming, content loading, SEO optimization, and tech troubleshooting support. Start by creating sites for friends and family to build a portfolio.

Sell Digital Products

Create informational products like ebooks, courses, planners, guides and more to sell online. Topics like fitness, cooking, parenting, finance, and productivity attract motivated buyers. Self-publish through platforms like Etsy Digital or Gumroad which handle delivery and payments for you.

Start a Blog

Launch your own blog sharing your insights and expertise with the world. Monetize through ads, affiliate links, digital products, and coaching. While launching a profitable blog takes time, it needs little upfront investment beyond your creativity and consistency.

Sell on Etsy

Open your own Etsy shop selling handcrafted goods, vintage wares, or collectibles. The site handles payments, traffic, and shipping logistics. Focus on great photos, smart keywords, and top-notch customer service.

Proofreading/Editing

Provide proofreading and editing services to indie authors, businesses, students, and bloggers to improve their writing. A strong grasp of grammar and spelling is essential. Promote through online job boards and writing groups.

Resume Writing

Help job seekers put their best foot forward by crafting compelling, keyword-rich resumes tailored to their skills and target roles. Also consider offering LinkedIn profile optimization services.

Interior Design Consultant

Provide personalized design recommendations for homes or businesses as an interior design consultant. Offer services online or in-person. Help clients understand their style, assess spaces, and pull together beautiful, functional interiors.

Create Online Courses

Turn your teaching talent or expertise into income through online courses and classes. Topics like cooking, photography, career skills, yoga, and management attract subscription revenues. List classes on platforms like Skillshare or teach your own through sites like Teachable.

Transcription Services

Convert audio or video files to text documents by providing transcription services. Listen closely and type what you hear. Opportunities include legal proceedings, conferences, interviews, podcasts, and more for both general and specialized content.

Sell Origami Creations

Fold colorful paper into stunning origami art, jewelry, decorations, gifts, and more. Origami makes a low-cost creative small business idea for artistically inclined moms. Sell origami creations through Etsy or local artisan markets.

Create Scents for Diffusers

Blend and bottle essential oil mixtures for diffusers, perfumes, room sprays, and more. Use your creativity to craft natural scent blends. Design eye-catching labels. Sell through online shops or local boutiques. Aroma creation taps into the booming wellness market.

Make and Sell Soap

Produce all-natural handcrafted soap bars, bath bombs, and bath and body products to sell online or locally. Formulate soothing, nourishing soaps using natural ingredients and essential oils. Package creatively and market through gift shops or Etsy.

Provide Childcare

If you love kids, consider launching an in-home daycare where you care for a small group of children. Alternatively, offer babysitting or nanny services to nearby families needing regular or occasional care for their kids.

There are so many options for easy, affordable businesses that busy moms can launch right from home. With passion and hustle, you can earn income doing what you love on a schedule that fits your family’s needs.

Once you identify a promising idea, research legal requirements in your state, create a business plan, and take early steps to test the market and get set up. Leverage resources like SCORE and the SBA to access free education and mentoring along your entrepreneurial journey.

Don’t let limited funds or time hold you back. With creativity and determination, you can turn your purpose and skills into a thriving endeavor. Wishing you much success as you make the leap to start your own stay-at-home mom venture!