Starting a Business from Home: UK Business Ideas

Creating your own business from home and becoming your own boss is something many of us in the UK dream of.  However, starting a business from scratch isn’t for the faint-hearted. Not only is it time-consuming, but there will be setbacks and occasional failures. How you overcome this is what helps turn you into a successful business owner. But where do you start? Below we’ve listed a few ideas that could help you could develop your own unique business.

1. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is one of the best low-cost ways to start a business. You won’t have to spend hundreds if not thousands on stock inventory nor will you need the space to store the products! Dropshipping is a business method that uses third-party suppliers to stock, store, pack and ship products to your customers without you lifting a finger. You just need to find the sales, inform the supplier of your orders, and let them do the work!

To start off, you should create a website or have a platform where you can display the products you’re interested in selling. It’s always best to follow a niche that you’re passionate about, as opposed to stocking loads of different types of products. As the business owner, you’ll be the one handling the customer service and marketing side whilst the supplier fulfils the orders on your behalf.

2. Candle & Wax Melts

If you have a creative touch then why not start your own candle and/or wax melt business! Who doesn’t love to fill their homes with some amazing scents? Scope out the market and make your business unique by introducing some delicious smells people may not have heard of before. Of course, this business involves trial and error, so start off with a small batch of wax and begin testing your creations!

Don’t just focus on the smell, the candle design will also be the main factor in a customer choosing your business over somebody else’s. The design could be something gothic, witchy or simplistic but it should represent you! It’s important to study the market before launching to give you an idea of what sells. You won’t have to spend hundreds of pounds creating a website either as you could sell these goods on sites like Etsy! Not to mention the possibility of your products going global!

Whether you’re starting a business from your back pocket or through personal loans, it doesn’t have to be costly if you track and research before spending your cash!

3. Phone Accessories

Who doesn’t own a phone nowadays? You could easily tap into this industry, especially since the price for the stock is relatively cheap. Do a bit of market research and find out what sells best. Search for wholesalers and find some quality products that won’t break your bank. You could also sell worldwide. Below we’ve listed a few ideas of phone accessories you could stock.

• Headphones
• Phone charms
• Chargers
• Phone cases
• Speakers
• SD Cards
• Screen protectors
• Phone holders
• Car mounts
• Selfie sticks

4. Digital Products

If you’re tech-savvy then you could start a business online selling digital products. This could include logos, graphics, e-books, articles, podcasts, music and so on so forth. It’s a low-cost way to start your own business and involves less hassle as you won’t need to store any inventory, so the profit margins are high.

Before creating your own brand or limited company, you can get started by creating an online portfolio through freelance platforms. This way, you have something to showcase first to attract more customers in your direction. You could also use social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to find new clientele.

5. Laundry & Ironing

Let’s face it, who likes to do their own laundry and ironing! If you’ve got a washing machine and iron at home, why not offer this service to those in your local area. You could even charge an extra cost for pickup and collections!

6. Food & Home Baking

Home baking is a great way to start off a small business from your kitchen. So, if you know how to create some tasty bakery products then you should launch your own baking business. It doesn’t have to just be cakes, cupcakes and cookies, you could also factor in pastries, and even some tasty homemade bread.

Food delivery in the UK is worth billions. Depending on your cultural background and the dishes you specialize in, why not start a food business from home? If you’re able to offer a delivery service via bicycle, moped or car you could add on a few extra quid!

7. Pet sitting/Dog walking

Visit your local parks and get to know the dogs in your local area. Since the Covid boom of puppy buying and with many people returning back to work, you could capitalize on this by starting your own pet sitting and/or dog walking business! It’s a dream job for those that genuinely enjoy animals! Just make sure you get insurance. This starts from around £40 annually.