Home-Based Business Ideas for $5,000 or Less

Need a Business Idea? Here are 55. You can start any of these home based businesses for less than $5,000.
By Entrepreneur Press & Cheryl Kimball May 20, 2009

This article has been excerpted from 55 Surefire Home Based Businesses You Can Start for Under $5,000 by Entrepreneur Press & Cheryl Kimball, available from Entrepreneur Press.

Today, tens of thousands of people are considering starting a home based business, and for good reasons. On average, people can expect to have two and three careers during their work life. Those leaving one career often think about their second or third career move being to their own home. People who have been part of the traditional nine-to-five work force and are on the verge of retiring from that life are thinking of what to do next. The good news: Starting a homebased business is within the reach of almost anyone who wants to take a risk and work hard.

$1,500 or less to start up

1. ACCOUNTANT
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

2. BICYCLE REPAIR

3. BOAT CLEANING
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

4. BUSINESS PLAN SERVICE
Has expansion possibilities.

5. CHIMNEY SWEEP

6. CLEANING SERVICE

7. COMPUTER REPAIR
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

8. CONSULTANT
Has expansion possibilities.

9. DOG BREEDER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

10. EBAY ASSISTANT

11. EDITORIAL SERVICES
Has expansion possibilities.

12. ELECTRONICS REPAIR
Has expansion possibilities.

13. EVENT PLANNING
Has expansion possibilities.

14. EXPERT WITNESS SERVICE
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

15. FINANCIAL PLANNER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

16. FLEA MARKET
Has expansion possibilities.

17. GOLF COACH
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

18. HOME ENERGY AUDITOR
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

19. HOME INSPECTION
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

20. HOUSEHOLD ORGANIZER
Has expansion possibilities.

21. IMPORT/EXPORT SPECIALIST
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

22. INTERIOR DECORATOR
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

23. JEWELRY MAKING
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

24. MARKETING COPY WRITER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

25. NOTARY PUBLIC/JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

26. PERSONAL CONCIERGE

27. PERSONAL TRAINER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

28. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

29. SMALL ENGINE REPAIR
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

30. SOLAR ENERGY CONSULTANT

31. TAX PREPARER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

32. TAXIDERMIST
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

33. UPHOLSTERING

34. USED BOOK SALES

35. WEDDING PLANNER

$1,500 to 3,000 to start up

36. APPLIANCE REPAIR
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

37. COMPUTER TRAINING

38. DESKTOP PUBLISHER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

39. FENCE INSTALLATIONS

40. FREELANCE GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

41. GIFT BASKET SERVICE
Has expansion possibilities.

42. GRAFFITI REMOVAL

43. HAIRSTYLIST
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

44. HERBAL FARM STAND

45. LANDSCAPER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

46. MASSAGE THERAPIST
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

47. MOVING SERVICE

48. MUSIC LESSONS
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

49. PHOTOGRAPHER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

50. RUG CLEANING

51. WEBSITE DEVELOPER
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

$3,000 to $5,000 to start up

52. BED AND BREAKFAST

53. CHRISTMAS TREE SALES

54. DAY CARE
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.

55. PET SITTING
Experience, training or licensing may be needed.