10 Business Ideas For Women Who Want To Be Their Own Boss
For many women, having the chance to be your own boss is the ultimate dream job, and one that many of us would take in a heartbeat if we could. It allows you the flexibility to choose how much you work and when, as well as when and how you can move up in your career ladder if that’s something you want to do. For these reasons and more, being an entrepreneur can give you all of these things and more. Here are 10 business ideas for women who want to be their own bosses!
10. Become a Homemaker
While it may seem like a return to archaic gender roles, being a stay-at-home parent, or homemaker, is one of today’s fastest growing careers. More and more women are opting out of traditional corporate jobs to become their family’s primary breadwinner; these women take care of kids and make money with creative home businesses or by renting out extra space in their homes for an hourly fee.
9. Start a Food Delivery Service
If you have a big kitchen, a great way to make money is by starting a home-based food delivery service. We’ve previously written about how to start your own restaurant delivery business and one of our team members actually started his career by delivering food for someone else! Start off on your own as a sole proprietor, then apply for licenses to serve alcohol and obtain commercial liability insurance coverage when required. Keep your initial focus small so that you don’t bite off more than you can chew. That way, if it becomes too much of a hassle with too little return, you can always just stop doing it. After all, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger—
8. Teach Yoga Classes
You don’t need to be a yogi, or even someone who can do a handstand, to start teaching yoga classes. Yoga is a growing business—the market for yoga products in North America is worth over $6 billion and is expected to grow to more than $9 billion by 2019—and more people are signing up to take classes each year. If you want to get started with little startup costs, check out these resources from The Huffington Post: How to Start a Yoga Class at Your Workplace, How to Start a Home-Based Yoga Studio and The Beginner's Guide to Starting an Online Yoga Business. As with many other businesses, you can also teach private classes or run workshops through your website.
7. Start A Consulting Firm
If you’re itching to break free from your desk job, start your own consulting firm. A one-person business can be a great way to earn extra money while working at home and spending more time with your family. Whether you start out small or land clients right away, being your own boss puts you in charge of how much work you take on—and how much you earn each month.
6. Become An Event Planner
If you’re naturally organized and good at multitasking, event planning could be a great career for you. Since events are typically planned months in advance, it’s always helpful to keep your ear to the ground and listen for upcoming conferences or conventions that are looking for more help. In addition to making money from each event you plan, there is also potential money to be made by booking speakers, consulting with clients on how their events can run more smoothly and even starting up your own business as an event planner if you can prove yourself with some big-name clients. Event planners make anywhere from $40,000-$80,000 per year depending on their experience level and clientele.
5. Nanny or Babysitter
If you’re a mother and looking for a new way to make money, consider babysitting. You can find families who will pay you well to watch their children during any hours that work best for you—morning, afternoon, or even overnight. Search your local classifieds to get started. The Babysitter’s Club has an online presence as well as a nationwide network of babysitters who are available via phone call or text message (either one is free). And you don’t have to be licensed to start—all that is required is CPR certification.
4. Part-Time Dog Walker
If you love dogs and can’t imagine life without Fido by your side, consider starting a dog-walking business! You can set your own schedule and save a ton of money on pet care. Plus, it’s fun to get outside for a change of scenery—and because you’re in charge, no one is going to complain about how much time you spend with Otis or Ralphie. Here are some tips for getting started:
You’ll need all of these things (except your clients) to start walking dogs right away. And if you have a few extra dollars, here are some other items that will make dog walking even more enjoyable:
3. Dog Grooming Services
There’s money to be made grooming dogs, and it’s a fun way to start your own business. Dog owners can be loyal customers; they often know where you live, they call with last-minute requests, and they bring their pets to you. Of course, if you’re not comfortable around pooches, you might want to rethink starting a dog grooming service! Think about what kind of service would work for your skill set and location—what are other dog groomers charging? Do you have enough room in your home or garage to store equipment? Do you need special licenses or insurance? Get answers to these questions before jumping into dog grooming.
2. Rent Your Home Out On Air BnB Section: . Etsy Shop
More than 3 million people sell their wares on Etsy, and opening your own shop is a low-cost way to get started selling your work. The website has plenty of tools to help you design a professional-looking storefront and connect with potential customers, but keep in mind that it costs $0.20 per listing plus 3.5% of each sale you make. 2. Rent Your Home Out On Air BnB: If you have an extra room or two, why not lease them out on Airbnb? This can be a great side business idea if you live near popular tourist destinations or local hot spots. As with any business endeavor, make sure you do your research before signing anything. Read up on local laws governing short-term rentals and Airbnb’s legal requirements for hosts so that you don’t end up breaking any rules.