13 Best Side Business Ideas for Ladies

Even if you work full-time, having a side income is always nice, especially if you can find something that you enjoy. Plus, there are more options than you can imagine for female entrepreneurs.

I know not everyone loves sitting at a computer all day, so you will find a mix of online side businesses and others that provide more exercise or time away from the computer.

And if you’re looking to start a business on a budget, you’ll be happy to know that many of these home business ideas can be started with low startup costs.

Are you ready to dive in? Hopefully one of these ideas will spark some inspiration that you can use to start your own business.

1. Affiliate marketing

If you use social media or browse blogs or websites, you probably come across more than a dozen affiliate links a day.

The affiliate link will take you to the product and the link owner will receive a commission when you purchase that product using their link.

Even if you have a small following, you can start using affiliate links on social media, in your newsletter, or on your website or blog. You can join some of the best affiliate networks and make money without a website.

Many people start with Amazon Associates because they have a great affiliate program, and many people use Amazon on a weekly or daily basis. The key to affiliates is to make sure you read all the rules and guidelines so you know if you qualify to start or continue with the program.

2. Social media management

Do you spend more time on social media than you care to admit? Do you enjoy writing, creating captions, taking photos or videos, and creating engaging content? If so, consider becoming a social media manager.

Several times I got into this side hustle simply because I was in the right place at the right time and had skills that were a few steps ahead of the business owner I was helping. I’ve helped small businesses with Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram and Pinterest.

If you have experience with any of these platforms or others, you can start a small business in social media marketing.

Websites like Upwork, Guru, LinkedIn, and Fiverr are good places to start if you want to find clients looking for social media managers.

Read more to find out what social media mistakes to avoid.

3. Teaching or tutoring

If you have a subject you enjoy, are knowledgeable about, and enjoy helping others learn, consider becoming a teacher or tutor. You can also do online tutoring or in person.

I’ve been teaching business English online through Education First for almost a decade and I love it.

First, decide what topic you want to teach, then choose whether to find students through a company, a marketplace, or independently. On a marketplace like Preply, iTalki, or TutorFly, you’ll typically create a profile that shares your experience and skills, and students will use that profile to find you.

Read more about tutoring online or how to get started with tutoring from home.

4. Coaching

If you have a specific area of ​​expertise, enjoy talking to people, and enjoy helping others make tangible changes, coaching could be a good fit for you.

The coaching industry is not regulated, but having some training in coaching and the topic you are helping with will give you more credibility.

For example, ten years ago I completed a year of Health Coach training with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Although I am not a coach today, I have been able to use the coaching skills I have learned in many different jobs and volunteer positions over the years.

Here are some areas of coaching to consider: Business Coach, Career Coach, Personal Coach, Health Coach, Sleep Coach and Fitness Coach.

If you don’t think coaching could ever be a lucrative business idea, think again! This woman earns $27,000 a month in her coaching.

5. Laundry services

If you are one of the few people who love doing laundry (like me), this could be the perfect business idea for you.

You can either work through a company or go out on your own.

Some people choose to start a company so they don’t have to process payments or find customers when they’re starting out.

Then, once you have some experience, you can decide to work independently.

Typically you will charge customers per pound of laundry and each load will probably be around 10-20 pounds. You can earn around $15-$30 per load, but this can vary.

If you offer additional services such as pickup, delivery, ironing, etc., you can charge even more.

6. Video/audio editing

There are so many people today who have a YouTube channel or podcast! However, if you’ve ever tried any of these options, you’ll know that editing can take a significant amount of time, especially if you’re new to it.

To learn more about editing, you can either watch free videos online or take a podcast editing and production or video editing course.

Years ago I helped start a podcast for a non-profit I worked with and learned the necessary skills to edit my episodes through Pat Flynn’s podcasting course. It was a little expensive but it taught me everything I needed to know.

About a year after the podcast, I was offered a job editing another podcast. I didn’t have time to take it, but even my basic skills created an opportunity simply because the podcast host didn’t have time to do it herself and saw that I had the skills.

7. Photographs

Have you ever had people compliment the photos you take of your kids or vacation photos? You can make money with a photography business even if you are not a professional photographer. No professional experience is required to get started.

A photography business can allow you to combine a creative hobby with a way to make some extra money.

You might even consider creating a specific niche for yourself. You can try shooting weddings, graduations, family portraits, babies and maternity, stock photography, influencer photography or even become a food photographer.

Or try offering some more unconventional photography services.

At first, you can try all of these options, but as you gain more experience, you can focus on what you enjoy the most or what is most profitable in your field.

You can also learn more about what it takes to run this type of home business.

8. Sewing/crafting

If you enjoy working with your hands and have sewing or crafting experience, consider adding this to your list of side business ideas. This could look like remodeling your home for people in your community, or selling your creations online on a marketplace like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Shopify, or Michaels’ MakerPlace.

You can start by browsing Etsy to see what others are selling, how much different items cost, and how much you’ll need to spend on materials to get started.

Also, do your research and learn how to start an Etsy shop from home and how to be successful on Etsy.

9. Freelance writing

I got my first paying gig as a freelance writer while browsing Reddit. A woman was looking for a business writer and I thought, “Oh, I could do that.” I personally think that freelance writing is one of the best businesses.

When I got my first Upwork writing job, I was able to work with this client for over a year and it was really a dream situation for me, writing about something I loved.

Finding clients who continue to work for you can be a win-win. Sometimes your personality and work ethic can get you a job even if you don’t have the most experience.

When you’re just starting out in your freelance writing business, I’d recommend choosing a specialty — like business writing or copywriting — and finding your niche from there.

To find freelance writing clients, try these sites:

Read more to find out how to get a writing job when you’re a beginner.

10. Babysitting

Dog walking or pet sitting can be a win-win situation for animal lovers or those who don’t have pets but would like to.

If you don’t have any word of mouth, you can start with a site like Rover and branch out on your own. If this sounds interesting but is completely new to you, you will enjoy this Rover review.

Does that sound interesting? Learn more in this article on how to become a professional pet sitter and how to make money working from home.

For more pet-inspired business ideas, check out 15 Home Business Ideas and Jobs for Pet Lovers.

11. Blogging

Being a blogger isn’t necessarily the fastest way to make extra money, but it can be a profitable business idea over time and is a popular choice for female entrepreneurs.

Blogging can be worthwhile and lucrative if you are willing to put in the time and effort. As your blog followers grow, you can earn money from ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored blog posts, and more.

Depending on the topic of your blog, people may also contact you for consulting or coaching services. This has happened to me a few times!

If you want to get started right away and don’t want to take the time to start your own blog, Medium is a great platform to consider.

You can create your profile in a few minutes and start writing and posting right away. Additionally, posts on Medium tend to rank highly in search engines, which can help you get more exposure for your articles as a beginner.

One note about blogging in 2024. With artificial intelligence and ever-changing algorithms from search engines and social media sites, the key to success is diversification in terms of both monetization methods and traffic.

12. Become a yoga or fitness instructor

Do you like new fitness or yoga classes?

Maybe you’re that person in your friend group who’s been doing yoga for ten years and likes to show your friends and family members new poses to help with back pain or help them sleep better.

And if you prefer the WFH lifestyle, you can always teach classes via Zoom from the comfort of your own home.

You can also become a yoga instructor YouTuber by posting online videos like Yoga with Adrien or Yoga with Kassandra, both of which have over a million subscribers.

13. Event Planning

Becoming an event planner is a good choice for those who are organized and design savvy.

You’ll also want to have good people skills to deal with all kinds of clients and vendors.

You can either plan events for clients or host your own events in person or virtually.

A good way to start is to read interviews or talk to someone who has some experience in event planning. This can give you a better idea of ​​whether this would be a good side business for you.

You can also read more about salary and how to start working from home as an event planner.

Collation of side business ideas

Sometimes the hardest part for small business owners is coming up with a great business idea, so we’ve done the hard work for you. Ultimately, the best business ideas for you will be those that speak to your skills and interests, allow you to set your own schedule, and work with your current lifestyle.

Remember that with any online option, you’ll want to make sure you have a really strong internet connection.

So use these ideas as a starting point and see which ones interest you the most. If you want even more small business ideas, you might like these side hustle ideas.

Are you ready to start a side business? Get a free business plan template here!