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50 Business Ideas for Women

Nina Godlewski helps make complicated business topics more accessible for small business owners. She covers small business topics such as payroll management and launching a business. She was previously a staff writer at Newsweek covering technology, science, breaking news, and culture. She has also worked as a reporter for Business Insider and The Boston Globe.

Sally Lauckner is an editor on NerdWallet's small-business team. She has over 15 years of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet in 2020, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content and specializing in business financing. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She is based in New York City.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

New small businesses pop up every day across the country, and a significant portion of those new businesses are started by women. Women are starting businesses doing everything from accounting and bookkeeping to dog walking and freelance graphic design.

The options can seem endless and deciding which small business idea you find most interesting or want to start for yourself can be tricky. The good news is, if you’re considering starting a business, you aren’t going it alone. From 2017 to 2018, there were about 1,800 new businesses started by women each day, according to American Express’s 2018 report “The State of Women-Owned Business.”

Some people start their businesses for a little extra money on the side of their regular income while others start them with the intention of the business being their full-time job and sole source of income. Before starting your business there are a number of things to consider like what you’re looking for and what your existing skills are. Here's what to consider before deciding to start your own business and how to choose one that’s right for you.

How to choose a business idea

Step one of how to start your business is finding the perfect business idea for you. Choosing something you’re passionate about, and considering the skills and resources you already have can be helpful.

There are a number of businesses you can consider like personal service providers, animal care, educational services, marketing and freelance work, technology services, travel services, and more.

Below we’ve listed 50 of the best small-business ideas for women.

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

The 50 best business ideas for women

Marketing and sales business ideas for women.

A number of businesses fall under this category and you might already have experience with some of them. If you do have experience, that can work to your advantage and make you a more in-demand freelancer in that field.

A lot of the work listed below can be done on a freelance basis giving you more flexibility. You can diversify your clients if you want to, or work as much or as little as you would like, on your own time. Businesses specializing in some of these services are great for working from home or on your own schedule.

Graphic design

Editing and proofreading

Marketing copywriting

Content creation

Public relations consulting

Brand ambassador

Photography

SEO consulting and strategy

Social media management

Event planning

Personal service business ideas for women

There are a few different types of work that all fall under the personal services category. There’s a demand for almost every task out there that people have to get done, whether that be helping prepare their kids for the SAT or getting the dog groomed. That means there are also plenty of business opportunities and needs for you to fill.

Some of the businesses below are seasonal, making them ideal if you’re looking for a bit of extra cash but not a full-time job.

Educational services

College essay editing

SAT/ACT prep

College application counseling

Music teaching

Animal care

Dog walking

Pet sitting

Pet grooming

Veterinary services

Dog daycare provider

Dog training services

Animal photography

Home services and repair

Home cleaning

Interior design

Lawn and garden grooming and planning

Personal shopper

Personal assistant

Career counselor

Personal fitness training

Home organizing

Massage therapy

Business support ideas for women

Businesses can always use a little extra help and it can be your business’s job to help them. Accounting and bookkeeping services are just two of the heavy lifting tasks that some companies need help with and you could provide that extra support.

But there are plenty of other tasks your business could help with too. Supportive business services are something more businesses need and find useful.

Bookkeeping

Payroll services

Business coaching

Remote customer service

Business event planning

Creative services and goods business ideas for women

If you’re crafty or artistic there’s a good chance you’ve considered how you could turn that skill into some extra cash, or maybe even a whole business. There are a number of ways you could go with this, starting an online store or opening your own brick-and-mortar shop are just two of many.

Online shops like Etsy allow you to easily turn your crafting hobby into a stream of extra income. Other hobbies like baking can also be turned into your own business, maybe it starts with making a cake for an anniversary or birthday party but that business could quickly grow. Some other creative services and goods that can turn into a business are listed below.

Online e-commerce platforms are created specifically for helping you list your business and products online. Some of the most popular ones include Shopify and Squarespace. If you’re looking for something more simple you could also try selling on Facebook using Facebook’s business pages as your online shop.

Handmade item retailer

Boutique owner

Antique or thrift shop owner

Travel advisor/trip agency

Bakery owner

Technology business ideas for women

Just like with marketing and creative freelancing and consulting, the world of tech has a lot of opportunities for people looking to make it freelancing and doing contract work. There are opportunities to work on short- and long-term projects in the tech field and — like with marketing — work on your own schedule.

Freelance website designing

Freelance coding

App developing

IT consulting

Web securities specialist

What to consider before starting your own business

Even if you feel like you’re ready to go ahead and start your own business, there are still so many factors to consider when choosing the type of small business you want to start. You might not be sure where to start, so here are some of the top considerations you should make before deciding on one of the businesses we list later on.

Will this be your main source of income, or in addition to the income you already make?

What will the business startup costs be? How much do you have to invest in the business as of now, will you need further financing and if so, where will it come from?

How much time do you want to spend on your business? This relates to the first one, is this your main job or a side gig?

Do you want to use skills you already have and monetize them? Or do you want to learn new skills entirely for this new business?

Once you’ve thought about what you’re looking for in your new business, you can start considering the type of work you’d like your business to do. Keep in mind that your small business can be just you as a sole proprietor, it doesn’t necessarily require that you have more than one person working there.

LLC Formation

What advice do other female entrepreneurs have?

No matter what you choose as your business you can use the wisdom of others who have gone down the same path as you before with their own businesses. Advice from other female entrepreneurs can help you avoid making the mistakes others have made before you.

Other entrepreneurs have emphasized the importance of making time for resting and relaxing, learning from your mistakes, finding your confidence and more. Articles about female entrepreneurs and women in business can be helpful, but there are other business resources for women specifically available as well.

Development programs, forums, networking sites and more are also all available for women online and in communities. Groups of businesswomen online on LinkedIn and Facebook can be helpful for women looking to get into business. Search for some groups related to women in business or the type of business you’d like to enter to find a forum that could be helpful to you.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

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20 Best Small Business Ideas for Women in 2024

If you’re looking to start an entrepreneurial venture, these business ideas can help you make your dream come true.

Women’s entrepreneurship is rising. Of the approximately 33 million small businesses in the US, just less than 40% are women-owned, and from 2019 to 2022, women entrepreneurs were responsible for half of new US business filings .

According to the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the US GDP would grow by $1 trillion over the next decade if women’s labor market participation increased to match that of countries like Sweden and the United Kingdom. To bolster this growth, the report recommends enhancing support and mentorship for women business owners . This includes boosting funding for Women’s Business Centers and aiming for a 5% allocation of federal contracting dollars to women-owned businesses.

If these changes are enacted, women entrepreneurs will see increased access to mentorship and capital—but it doesn’t mean you need to wait to start your business. Many business ideas require limited upfront investment, and you can use the abundance of existing online resources to learn how to run your company.

Here are profitable business ideas to help anyone get started with entrepreneurship.

Business ideas for women

• Photography business
• Makeup and hairstyling business
• Interior design business
• Digital marketing business
• Social media management business
• Freelance editing business
• Real estate business
• Graphic design business
• Event planning business
• Wedding planning business
• Small business consulting firm
• Pet-sitting business
• Freelance writing business
• Retail business
• Coaching business
• Virtual assistant business
• Landscaping business
• General contracting business
• Digital publication
• Dropshipping business

These small business ideas for women (or anyone) are profitable, flexible, and—dare we say—fun:

1. Photography business

If you’re a skilled photographer with a talent for making your subjects feel comfortable in front of the camera, earn money by starting your own photography business . Some women may feel more comfortable having other women photograph them. Consider focusing on events—like weddings, reunions, and corporate celebrations—portrait photography, family photos, or special sessions like engagement photo shoots or boudoir photography. You can also find a niche in areas that serve other businesses, like real estate photography, food photography, and stock photography.

2. Makeup and hairstyling business 

You don’t need to open a hair salon or give professional cuts to start a successful business in the beauty industry. If you have a talent for blowouts and updos, you can offer mobile styling services to clients who want to look their best for a big event or just want to learn a few styling tips in a hands-on way. If you’re a skilled makeup artist, consider adding makeup applications for a full-service package.

3. Interior design business

Designing functional, aesthetically coherent interiors can be challenging—and many homeowners will pay for professional help. If you know how to make indoor spaces more attractive and comfortable, start your own interior design business and help clients envision and furnish their dream homes.

4. Digital marketing business

If you have marketing experience, consider starting your own digital marketing agency to help businesses develop and implement marketing strategies tailored to their goals. You can hire contractors—like graphic designers and writers to augment your services—or eventually hire full-time employees as your business grows.

5. Social media management business

Social media managers need writing chops, graphic design skills, and a solid understanding of popular social media platform norms. If this describes you, earn money by helping businesses develop social media strategies, plan social campaigns, write copy, create graphics, and schedule social media posts .

6. Freelance editing business

If you have strong writing and copy editing skills, start your own online business as a freelance editor . Help clients revise written work to improve clarity and structure and fix typos, spelling, and grammatical errors.

7. Real estate business

Real estate agents are state-licensed professionals who help sell and purchase property. Their responsibilities include helping sellers prepare, list, and advertise properties, helping prospective buyers make informed decisions, and facilitating the legal elements of real estate transactions.

If you’re detail-oriented, like to work independently, and have strong interpersonal skills, obtain your real estate license and earn money as an independent real estate agent.

8. Graphic design business

Graphic designers help clients develop a unique visual brand identity and create eye-catching ads and brand collateral (such as website images, presentation graphics, email headers, and brochures). If you’re a skilled designer, start your own graphic design business and offer freelance design services.

9. Event planning business

A skilled event planner is an organizational mastermind with solid communication skills, an eye for detail, and a talent for understanding and manifesting their client’s aesthetic vision. If this sounds like you, consider starting an event planning business. Plan to spend most of your time designing décor and programs, communicating with vendors, and handling logistics.

10. Wedding planning business

You can also target a lucrative event-planning niche with a wedding planning business. Depending on your interests, you might focus on a particular type of celebration, like rustic outdoor weddings, destination weddings, or big-budget events.

11. Small business consulting firm

If you’re an experienced entrepreneur passionate about supporting business owners, start a consulting business and earn money helping small business owners overcome obstacles and meet their goals. To narrow down your target audience, you might focus on a particular business type, like retail businesses, ecommerce businesses, or service-based businesses.

12. Pet-sitting business

Dogs and cats occasionally travel with their owners. Fish, goats, and potbellied pigs—they rarely do. These animals need the same care they’re used to while their owners are away, and loving pet parents will often pay big bucks for this service.

If you like pets and are good at keeping them happy and healthy, pet-sitting can be a lucrative and fun business idea. You can board pets in your home, house-sit for clients, or offer drop-in visits for pets whose owners work long hours away from home.

13. Freelance writing business

Freelance writers offer contract services to businesses and individuals who need help producing high-quality written work. Offer a range of services suited to your skill set, such as writing emails, blog posts, and sales and marketing collateral like webpages or sales sheet copy. You might also offer a ghostwriting service and take on projects like thought leadership articles, speeches, or even full-length books.

14. Retail business

Start an online or brick-and-mortar business selling apparel, home goods, books, tools, plants, jewelry, furniture, electronics, or just about any other category of consumer products. Make products you can sell online or curate a collection and become a reseller . You might even consider establishing a niche and supporting other female entrepreneurs by featuring products from female-identified makers and business owners.

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15. Coaching business

Start a coaching business if you’re good at helping people set goals, stay accountable, and achieve personal growth. Depending on your areas of interest, you might offer your services as a life coach, fitness coach, or nutritional coach. You might even set up an online course to support your business model.

Coaches typically set their hours and meet with clients virtually, making coaching a great small business idea for stay-at-home moms and dads or people who want to earn extra money while holding a full-time job.

16. Virtual assistant business 

Virtual assistants offer administrative support to business owners and private individuals. Help clients respond to emails and messages, schedule appointments, make phone calls, arrange travel, and handle data entry and bookkeeping tasks.

17. Landscaping business 

If you’re looking for a profitable business idea that uses your design skills and involves time outside, start a landscaping business to help business owners and homeowners create gorgeous outdoor spaces. You can narrow in on a particular niche, like eco-friendly landscapes, English gardens, or working with fruit-bearing plants.

18. General contracting business

If you’re a DIY expert with a library of tools and a passion for hands-on projects, becoming a general contractor may be your next great business idea. Increase client confidence in your work by obtaining a license from your state and business insurance from your chosen provider.

19. Digital publication

Earn money by starting a blog or digital magazine. You might focus on subjects appealing to a specific audience like exotic plant care, model trains, or competitive dressage. You can write content for your blog, accept guest blog posts from other contributors, and earn money by hosting ads or affiliate links on your site.

20. Dropshipping business

Dropshipping business models involve using an online store to sell products provided by suppliers who ship purchases directly to customers, eliminating the need to warehouse products or handle fulfillment logistics.

Dropshipping can be lucrative because it requires limited up-front investment and minimal ongoing maintenance, making it one of the best online business ideas for passive income.

Business ideas for women FAQ

How do you choose the right business idea.

These steps can help you choose the best business ideas for you:

• Determine how much time and money you can invest.
• Make a list of your skills, talents, and areas of interest.
• Brainstorm business types that suit your strengths, preferences, and start-up budget.
• Conduct market research to identify relevant opportunities.
• Select a lucrative business idea that meets customer needs.

What should you consider when starting a business?

Great business ideas meet a market need, so consider market demand for your products or services. Be sure to also factor in start-up costs and obtain necessary licenses .

What is the cheapest, most profitable business to start?

Dropshipping and affiliate marketing businesses are lucrative business ventures that require relatively limited upfront financial investment and provide a quick way to earn extra money online.

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More women are starting their own small businesses every day. Working women continue to face unique challenges, especially as small business owners, so what are the absolute best business ideas for women? Starting with the most profitable businesses , best online business ideas , low investment business ideas , and best side hustles , we’ve curated a list of industries where women entrepreneurs are set up for success.

These business ideas either offer flexibility for when you work, flexibility for where you work or are in women-dominated industries. Some of the business ideas are a combination of all 3. We’ll walk you through some of the top business ideas for women, pointing you to helpful resources to help turn your idea into reality.

Let’s look at the 26 best business ideas for women. With creative ideas, home business ideas, and service business ideas, there’s something for every entrepreneur.

Table of Contents

Creative Business Ideas for Women

Home business ideas for women, service business ideas for women, how to start a small business, are there other business ideas for women, questions to ask before you start your small business, business ideas for women faqs, real stories of successful women entrepreneurs.

You may already have experience working in one of these creative fields, which will give you a leg up when starting your own business. Many of these small business ideas can be done as freelance work, which involves the shortest launch time. You can also incorporate your business and work as a consultant or form your own agency, which gives you the opportunity to scale and hire employees in the future.

1. Start an Etsy Shop

Etsy provides a space for creative female entrepreneurs to market their products to an existing customer base. In 2022, there were 95.08 million active buyers on the platform worldwide. If you make something that fits into a particular niche, if you’re known for a scalable craft, or if people are always complimenting you on your embroidery or bridal denim jackets, then you might want to start an Etsy shop .

Opening an Etsy shop isn’t a guaranteed win. While there are millions of active buyers on the platform, there are also millions of active sellers (7.5 million in 2021). To stand out and grow a successful business on the platform, you’ll want to:

• Learn how to optimize your product titles and descriptions for Etsy’s search. You can use a keyword tool like this one to research the best terms to use so your listings show up in search results.
• Grow your own social media presence so you can drive customers to your shop directly from your social media profiles.

2. Interior Design

Interior design and decorating can help you monetize your impeccable taste. While many interior designers go through professional training and licensing, they are generally not required to work as an interior designer in the US (In some states, you need to be licensed to work in commercial spaces ).

Interior design can be a great career for women entrepreneurs looking for flexibility. If you run your own design business, you can decide how many clients and projects to take on. Because it’s client-based work, you can adjust your workload to make it heavier or lighter depending on your personal, family, and financial circumstances.

If you want to start your own interior design business, you can begin by creating an Instagram account to showcase your work. Because Instagram is a visual medium, it’s well-suited towards boosting your interior design profile within the industry and to prospective clients. Many of the most popular interior designers, like Studio McGhee, have found their success in large part due to the platform.

But how do you grow your Instagram followers? Learn the top growth tips to help your Instagram reach 10k+ followers.

3. Graphic Design

With the emergence of digital marketing as a driving force for most brands, there is a greater need for graphic design than ever before. A graphic designer might begin their career at an agency or in-house at a brand and then later go out on their own. Graphic design is one of the professions best suited towards a consulting model. When you start your own graphic design business, you can control what you charge and who you work with.

4. Build an AI Tool or App

Would any 2024 article on the future of business be truly complete without mentioning AI?

While the snake oil salesmen climb over each other to try and sell get-rich-quick AI courses that will ultimately come crumbling down, you can get to work on using AI to produce a proper business, such as building a new AI tool or app, either by yourself or with the help of freelancers.

As AI in the mainstream is still very much in its infancy, now is the perfect time to try and get in on the action and build your own AI business .

5. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is another business that has boomed thanks to the advent of digital marketing. To turn your words into a profitable business, you’ll want to ensure that you develop a solid understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) or social media engagement. You don’t have to know both, but you will want to specialize in at least one of these areas.

Here are some resources to help you get started:

• The Art and Science of Writing Good Instagram Captions
• A Proven 10-Step Framework for Writing Copy That Converts
• 5 Important Steps to Becoming a Highly Paid Freelance Writer

6. Social Media Marketing

Social media is driving sales for everything from clothing to education. According to research from The Content Factory , the average organization spends $250-$300/day on social media. That’s an average of $6,000 to $10,500 every month. Given the demand, there’s a wealth of opportunity for savvy entrepreneurs to carve out a niche for themselves in social media marketing.

One of the reasons social media marketing has become such a hot business for female entrepreneurs is that it can be done fully remotely. Because posts are usually scheduled (there’s always the odd exception), you can also organize your work around your lifestyle, making this an ideal creative career for working moms.

An easy way to differentiate yourself is by becoming an expert at TikTok, the fastest-growing social media platform. Here’s some TikTok 101 info:

• How to Make Money on TikTok: 14 Surefire Ways
• How to Use TikTok for Your Business (Ultimate Guide)
• TikTok Ads Guide: How to Capitalize on the Fastest-Growing Social Platform

7. Brand Ambassador/Content Creator/Influencer

Instead of helping a business with its social media, why not get paid for doing it yourself? You can swap out labels like an influencer , brand ambassador , or content creator , but they essentially are all the same thing .

Do you have a social media presence that has enough influence that brands want to work with you?

This doesn’t mean you need 100K followers to earn income as a content creator. Many microinfluencers can earn four to five figures speaking to a niche audience. Here are some of the fields in which brands are looking to partner with ambassadors or influencers to promote their products:

• Fitness and exercise
• Diet and health
• Cooking and baking
• DIY and home improvement
• Parenting and childcare
• Beauty, skincare, and makeup

So, if you have a passion or hobby that people are interested in hearing about on social media, think about how you can leverage your following to get compensated.

Pro Tip: Women can carve out a niche in stereotypical male hobbies and interests like sports, hunting, fishing, grilling, beer/whiskey. 

Over the past couple of years, more and more people have discovered the joys of working from home. These business ideas are mostly online, so you can run your small business from your home. We’ve collected some of the most profitable, low-investment home business ideas for women.

8. Become an AI Consultant

As we have already touched on, the world of AI within the workplace is still in its infancy, making now the perfect time to strike.

A few decades ago, some individuals made the bold decision to become experts in a little-known industry called “computing.”

Needless to say, many of those gentlemen went on to become extremely valuable, in high demand, and successful.

But it’s 2024. So this time, why can’t women lead the tech revolution? Check out this great video on how to get started.

9. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a type of advertising where a company pays an affiliate based on the performance of their referrals. Think of it like working a commission sales position, only instead of earning commission from in-person sales, you use affiliate links and referral codes.

You’ve likely come across affiliate marketing on your favorite influencer’s posts. While it might seem like the kind of profession that only the already-internet-famous can do, it’s actually a lot more accessible than that—and it can be profitable.

Want to start your own affiliate marketing business? Check out these resources to hit the ground running:

• The Ultimate Guide to Affiliate Marketing for Beginners
• Is Affiliate Marketing Worth It? Yes.

10. Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a business model that allows an entrepreneur to sell products without having to keep those products in stock. The store (often an ecommerce store) sells the product, and then the order is fulfilled by a third-party supplier and sent to the customer.

So what makes dropshipping a fantastic business for a female entrepreneur? Think of it like the anti-Lula Roe. Instead of being required to purchase stock before you can sell anything, dropshipping allows you to start selling without having any products on hand. It’s a really accessible business to start because it requires low investment, outsources many of the logistics of order fulfillment, and it’s incredibly flexible.

In recent years, Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) has become a popular hybrid dropshipping option. Amazon FBA isn’t a true dropshipping business because you’re only outsourcing the shipping to Amazon. They’re not responsible for inventory. Small business owners have found this to be a profitable dropshipping model because it allows you to leverage Amazon’s substantial logistical and shipping resources to sell products, along with making products available on one of the internet’s most popular marketplaces.

11. Ecommerce

Ecommerce refers to any business selling goods or services online. Ecommerce consistently ranks as one of the most profitable businesses you can start. It doesn’t require significant investment to get your ecommerce business up and running, and you can start making money relatively quickly.

Considering whether you should start your own online store? You won’t want to miss these resources.

How to Start a Profitable Online Store in 12 Weeks or Less How to Start an Ecommerce Business 13 Free Resources to Help You Start an Ecommerce Business Scaling to 7 Figures Ecommerce Masterclass

12. Life Coach

A life coach counsels their clients on personal and professional challenges. Many life coaches work with the intention of helping their clients find greater fulfillment and success. If you’re someone who really enjoys helping others find their path, this might be the business for you. There aren’t any state or federal agencies that regulate life coaching, so pretty much anyone can be a life coach. That’s both good and bad. It makes it a really easy career to enter or test as a side hustle, but it can also be harder to make yourself seem credible to prospective clients without a certification. While it’s not required, some formal training will likely help you make more money as a life coach.

You can also make your life coaching business more marketable by getting more specific. There’s tons of competition out there for general “life coaches,” but by getting more specific about the strengths of what you can offer and who would be served by it, you can carve out a highly profitable niche for yourself. Think “life coaching for working moms,” “body-positive life coach,” etc.

13. Career Coach

Career coaches help professionals navigate job searches, career development, career transitions, and meet their professional goals. If you have developed certain expertise through your years in the workplace and you enjoy working with people, career coaching might be the business for you . Thanks to Zoom, there are no longer strict geographical limitations to career coaching, meaning you can offer your services as an online business without ever leaving your home.

14. Online Tutoring

Online tutoring platforms are booming, and many are in search of new tutors. If you are an ace in a certain subject or if you have teaching credentials but don’t want to commit to working in person, you might want to consider becoming an online tutor.

15. Online Course

An online course, where students can sign up to learn on-demand, requires time and effort upfront with the potential to turn the course into passive income. The beauty of an online course is that you only have to build it once, and then students can continue to enroll over time. This business model can be equalling appealing to a woman entrepreneur who is working a high-stress job full-time and would like to make some side money or for a woman business owner who is trying to minimize the hours she spends bringing in revenue so she can maximize the time she can spend with her family.

To start building your online course, you first need to determine your niche. Then you need to do market research, decide which platform you want to use, build your course, and market it. Want to learn more about building an online course? We’ll help you learn absolutely everything you need to know to start making money from your personal expertise.

How to Create an Awesome Online Course How to Sell an Online Course Without Being an Expert Every Tool You Need to Create Your Online Course

16. Real Estate

Real estate is another business that has the potential to turn into a passive revenue stream. There are different ways to make a business out of real estate. If you want to create a real estate business from home, you’ll probably need some capital to start. Let’s start with the downside, real estate requires substantial investment to start and it does carry some risk.

But the upside is huge in that you can potentially generate a passive income that’s relatively low risk compared to other investments (assuming you’re investing in a rental property and not trying to flip houses with no experience).

It is important to note that the real estate market is ever-changing, meaning there are certainly better times than others to get involved. Before investing heavily, we recommend speaking to market experts to get their advice on what the best way to enter the market is and what the right time to strike might be.

17. Web Design

Web design includes many disciplines related to website maintenance, including interface design, web development, user experience (UX) design, search engine optimization (SEO), and interface design.

You can approach your web design business in a couple of ways. You can go direct-to-consumer and help end-users design websites, or you can sell your services to other businesses to help design their customer-facing websites.

18. Digital Marketing

Digital marketing encompasses many disciplines, including social media marketing, freelance writing, graphic design, and email marketing. Digital marketing is a booming industry, and you can do the work from anywhere. All you need is a computer and an internet connection, making this an ideal home business idea. If you’re just starting out, you might want to begin working in digital marketing as a freelancer. It’s often easier for a company to hire a freelancer than an agency (there’s typically less vetting required), so you can drum up business and start making money faster that way.

Once your digital marketing business is well established, you can always incorporate it, giving you the opportunity to hire employees and grow your business(if that’s something you want to do).

19. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant provides administrative, technical, or creative support to clients in a remote capacity. Most virtual assistants are self-employed and work from their homes. If you’re looking for a way to make some extra cash, this can be a great option.

20. Virtual HR

One of the only benefits that came from the recent years many of us spent working from the kitchen table (or hunched over by the washing in the spare room), is that it showed employers that virtual work can, well, work!

And in some instances, it’s not just a solid substitute but a better alternative to in-person work. As a result, there are many more companies open to the idea of hiring virtually, with industries like HR becoming on of the popular options for this.

It allows the employer to keep costs low and meet business requirements, and it allows you to keep impartiality when dealing with issues, all without getting out of your slippers.

The service industry, the business sector that provides customers with services or intangible goods, is ripe with business ideas for women. Many sectors of the service industry have been dominated by working women historically, so why not leverage your power within the industry to start your own small business?

21. Wedding Planning

Weddings are one of the most important days in life for many, and they’re usually one of the most complicated. A wedding has many moving parts—from navigating the catering to the ceremony and reception decor, coordinating with vendors, and managing the families—there’s a lot that couples need help with when planning a wedding. If you’re a really organized person who loves details, solving problems, and helping couples realize their dream weddings, then wedding planning might be the business idea for you. You can begin by leveraging your network to find clients. Ask for referrals and testimonials when you work with a client, so you can continue to build your business by word of mouth.

No matter what’s happening in the world, people keep getting married. Even during the height of the pandemic, optimistic couples found innovative ways to tie the knot and celebrate their nuptials. For this reason, wedding planning can be an incredibly stable business to start. It also has a seasonal cadence, allowing you portions of the year to relax and regroup while gearing up for the next wedding season.

Not sure you want to work all the time? That’s easy to control. Once you get your business started, you’ll have a sense of how much time and energy each wedding takes. Then you can determine how many clients you want to take on based on how many hours you want to dedicate to the business.

Keep Learning: This Founder Turned Her Wedding Hacks into All-in-One Bridal Business

22. Personal Chef

Personal chefs work in private settings to cook for an individual or family. There are a few different ways to approach a personal chef business. Many chefs work in a family’s home to prep the meals for the day. Then they leave the family with heating/cooking instructions so they can finish the meal themselves and enjoy a private family meal. Other chefs cook the meal from start to finish with the client present. There’s also a hybrid model, where a chef might cook for several clients at once at an offsite kitchen and then deliver packaged meals with reheating instructions to their clients. As you can see, there’s a lot of flexibility for what kind of business model and what kind of workday you have as a personal chef, making it one of the best business ideas for women.

23. Event Planning

An event planner manages the process of planning a ceremony, party, meeting, convention, tradeshow, or other events. While the industry took a hit during the pandemic, it’s returning to continued growth now. You might make a great event planner if you enjoy being around and working with people, you’re organized, you’re a quick thinker who knows how to problem solve, and you love to process of bringing a vision to life.

Tech-savvy? Know how to run a Zoom event like a pro? The pandemic has ushered in a new market for hybrid and virtual events. These events come with their own set of challenges, which means that you can tailor your services to meet these new needs directly.

24. Makeup Artist

If you’re a pro with makeup, you might want to consider starting your own makeup artist business. Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have provided novel ways for makeup artists to showcase their work and create a portfolio. If you’re just starting out, you can start by posting your work on social media. Eventually, you can build a bustling business helping people look their best for work events, holidays, special events, and anything else that calls for a professional beauty touch.

25. Animal Care

70% of US households own a pet, and at some point, they’re going to need help taking care of them. So, whether you walk dogs, have space for overnight care, or are willing to pick through fur as a groomer, pet care is a booming industry. Because a majority of pet owners need care during business hours or while on vacation, this is an easy way for stay-at-home moms to earn extra cash while their kids are at school.

26. Cleaning Business

People are messy. This universal truth has long made a cleaning business a solid, reliable business idea. But the pandemic (and our subsequent need to disinfect literally everything) made a cleaning business one of the most opportunistic small business ideas out there. Everyone needs cleaning, especially spaces where people gather. You can offer commercial cleaning for office spaces, restaurants, or other businesses. Or you could carve out a niche for yourself by offering “pre-event” cleaning to help clients feel safe as they gather with friends and family. Now, more than ever, there’s an enormous opportunity in the cleaning sector to carve out a niche for yourself. All you need is an idea and the wherewithal to test it.

Now that you’ve combed through all our small business ideas and nailed down the business that works for you, how do you go from idea to revenue-generating machine? We’ll review the major points in every entrepreneurship journey. For a step-by-step walkthrough, check out our guides 15 Steps to Starting a Successful Small Business and Learn How to Start a Small Business at Home .

Test Your Idea as a Side Hustle

Before you put all your resources into your new small business idea, you want to test it to ensure that there’s demand in the market and that your idea has the potential to make money. One of the best ways to do that is to start your small business as a side hustle. This requires a smaller investment, will help you make some extra cash, and will give you valuable information about your business—allowing you to see what’s working and what needs adjustment.

Our Start Your Side Hustle course can help you create a roadmap for how to start an online side hustle in 30 days or less, including how to “fail-proof” your ideas, how to come up with your unique value proposition, and how to identify your money-making skills.

Create a Business Plan

A business plan states what your business is, what you’ll do, and how you’ll do it. It will act as a road map to help you determine how your business will achieve its goals. A business plan will help you avoid losing money. And it will also help you secure outside capital if you need it.

Here are some helpful resources to help you craft the perfect business plan:

• How to Write a Business Plan (Tips, Templates, Examples)
• The Guide to Defining Your Target Market
• The Complete Guide to Market Research: What It Is, Why You Need It, and How to Do It

Determine How Much Capital You Need

Money. You can’t start a business without it. To set yourself up for success, you need to first determine how much money you need to start your business. Your business plan should give you a sense of how much capital you’ll need upfront.

Find Funding if You Need It

Once you have that estimate, you can figure out how to get it. Many small business owners raise money first by bootstrapping (the process of self-financing) and asking friends and family to invest. A business loan is another popular, common way to finance a new small business. Venture capital, on the other hand, is a less likely form of financing. Venture capitalists tend to prefer investing in established, scalable businesses.

For a full rundown of everything you need to know about getting funding for your new small business, read our guides:

• Startup Funding: How Does It Work and What Are Your Options?
• How to Find Investors

What if you have an idea that wasn’t on this list? Are there other business ideas for women? Yes, the world is full of opportunities for entrepreneurs. When starting a small business, the 2 most important things to consider are whether you’re passionate about the work and whether there’s an opportunity to make money. Without the first, you won’t have the energy or the fortitude to put in the work required to start a small business. Without the second, it’s going to be a money pit.

These questions will help you determine whether your idea has what it takes to become a successful small business.

• What products or services will you offer? (It’s best to begin by getting as specific as possible. It’s better to do one thing well than 10 things poorly, especially for a new business)
• Who needs your product or service?
• Do you already have the skills, experience, certifications, or licenses required to start this business? If not, what would be the financial and time investment needed to acquire them?
• How much money would be required to cover startup costs? Will you need further financing down the road? If so, how much?
• Are there people in your network who can help you—either financially or by lending their expertise?
• What are your goals for this business? Do you want it to become your main source of income? Are you hoping it will become the primary income source for your family? Do you want it to be a side hustle? (Get specific. It will help you reach your goals.)

Is it worth starting an LLC for a part-time business?

First and foremost, we always suggest talking to a tax professional about business finances. The rule of thumb is that if your side hustle earns you $600 or more net profit, you'll need to file that as income as a self-employed freelancer. However, if you hope to turn your side hustle into a full-time business, then as soon as it financially makes sense, get started on filing for an LLC and securing your trademarks. If your business involves contracts or anything that could be liable to legal action, separating your business and personal finances is a must.

When is the best time for women to start a business?

Yesterday. If not, today. There's never a perfect time to start a business, so don't get caught up in the timing. Instead, focus on your long-term purpose of starting a business. Timing can be even more difficult for female founders trying to navigate starting and raising a family. Make sure you have a robust support system and understand the sacrifices it will take to make your business sustainable.

What challenges do women face in starting a business?

Unfortunately, we still live in a world where women earn less on average than men. That trend trickles into business ownership as well. As a female founder, you will face unique challenges because of your gender, especially in a traditionally male-dominated field like IT, finance, or consulting. The key is not to go it alone and seek out female mentors, female-friendly incubators and investors, and a community of customers that will have your back.

There’s nothing that matches the inspiration or information you can get from stories of real women entrepreneurs who’ve turned their ideas into highly successful businesses. Here are some of our favorite resources and stories from women business owners who have been there .

• What It’s Like to Go On Maternity Leave When You’re a Founder
• Why Kendra Scott Risked Everything on the Customer Experience
• 3 Ways to Build Confidence from Quest Nutrition Cofounder Lisa Bilyeu
• How This Ukrainian Female Founder is Building an Agency in a Time of Crisis
• How Samantha Brett Built Naked Sundays into Australia’s #1 SPF Skincare Brand
• How Jessica Sepel Built JSHealth’s Women-Run Brand
• How Holly Thaggard and Supergoop! Took Sun Protection Global
• Eat My Baby Co. Founder Turned Nostalgic Snacks into an Apparel Brand That Celebrates Heritage
• Brow Code’s Melanie Marris Doesn’t Need Motivation to Innovate – Founder Q&A

This article was updated with support from Graeme Whiles .

About Mary Kate Miller

Mary Kate Miller writes about small business, real estate, and finance. In addition to writing for Foundr, her work has been published by The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, Bustle, and more. She lives in Chicago.

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47 Best Home Business Ideas for Women (My Top Picks)

Online and Offline Business Ideas

So you’re wanting to start a small business from home , but at this stage you literally don’t have any idea as to what type of business to start.

Choosing the best home business idea for you is crucial as to whether you will be successful or not.

In this guide, I have laid out the best home business ideas for women (both offline and online) no matter what your age is, what your life circumstances are and what you like and dislike.

This article is in two parts:

Part One: 47 Best Business Ideas for Women At Home

Part Two: Frequently Asked Questions

I see so many women (me included) that have started yet another new home business because the original one didn’t work out for them. So wouldn’t it be much easier, more cost-effective, and much less stressful, to find and start a home business which you enjoy, and a one which will have the best chance of success, from the onset?

I can say this because there are so many different business models to choose from, that there is bound to be a one for you.

BUT – how do you:

• Know what all the home business ideas for women are in the first place?
• How do you go about choosing one for you, and…
• How will you know if you’ve made the right choice?

We’ll start with my top 47 home business ideas for women, and then we’ll take a look at some frequently asked questions:

• Business Ideas for Women at Home
• Frequently Asked Questions

My Top 47 Home Business Ideas for Women

This list is in no particular order, but I’ve tried to list them as to how popular they are.

1. Proofreader

Online Business

Do you have a good grasp of the English language? And more importantly, do you have excellent knowledge with punctuation and grammar?

What Is It? Ideally it would be beneficial to have a Degree in English Language, but you can also offer proofreading services if you sincerely have a good grasp of the English language.

Basically, you will become a self-employed freelance proofreader and you have to go out and find proofreading jobs. These jobs can easily be found online on freelancing website such as www.fiverr.com .

This is actually a really good business or side-gig for teachers , or ex teachers. But of course, anyone can do this as long as your spelling and grammar is up to par.

Income Potential

Proofreading writing can be very lucrative. This is especially true if you have a Degree in English because you can demand higher rates because of your professional qualification.

• Learn more about being a freelance proofreader

2. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is a very popular home business, especially with women.

So if you have a very good grasp of English, spelling and grammar, then you can certainly make a very good living simply by writing.

What Is It? You would be a self-employed freelance writer where you would look online for freelance writing jobs.

Whilst there are already thousands upon thousands of freelance writers, there’s always room for more because they are so in demand. And whilst there are many freelance writers out there, a lot of them are very mediocre writers, so if you have excellent writing skills, along with a creative mind and being able to do some basic research, then you can easily be a stand out and in demand freelance writer.

You can easily command a price of $300 for an article length of 2,000 words.

Many freelance writers also work with clients on monthly retainers. A monthly retainer is where you have an agreement and a contract with the client where you as the writer would write and produce, say 4 articles a month, for a monthly retainer fee of $1,200.

• Learn more about becoming a freelance writer

HOME BUSINESS IDEAS FOR WOMEN

3. become a virtual assistant.

If you have previous experience of secretarial, clerical or administrative work, then this is the ideal opportunity for you. The Internet and digital technology era are making more and more home-based entrepreneurs and Internet small businesses who are looking for clerical support on a virtual nature.

What Is it? Office-based clerical and secretarial positions are now being replaced with virtual assistants (VA’s) within the small businesses and sole-entrepreneurs. The reason being is that it is much cheaper for the business owner to hire a virtual assistant than employing and housing a permanent (or even temporary) member of staff.

Potential Income This is really hard to say as the rates of pay structure can vary depending on what type of service you offer. However, for example’s sake, you could earn between $15.00 – $25.00 an hour.

More Information If this is something that you are interested in then you need to write down the skills that you have (typing, powerpoint, general admin etc.) and then target the potential customers who would need your skills.

So for example, if you can answer emails and organize Online events, then you should target online entrepreneurs who would require these services.

• How To Become a Virtual Assistant With No Experience
• Free Virtual Assistant Training

4. Blogging

Do you love to write and have a subject matter which you would like to share with others?

What Is It? From the onset, you have to get into the right mindset that your blog is your business model. It’s not a hobby blog where you write a little blog post here and there, you have to treat your blog as a business – because it is.

Blogging is a lot of initial hard work, but once you have a few exceptional blog posts and a solid digital marketing strategy in place, then you can earn passive income from your blog with a variety of monetization methods e.g. digital products and promoting affiliate products.

Just like earning passive income with digital products, the earning potential is unlimited with blogging.

I know many bloggers who earn $2,000-$5,000 a month, and there are many bloggers who earn upwards of $10,000 a month.

• Learn how to start and launch a blog business

5. Email Customer Service Agent

This one is for the moms/mums who can only work one or two hours a day while your little ones are having their daytime-nap.

Have you heard of the phrase ‘if it sounds too good to be be true then it probably is’ Well, this phrase isn’t true or relevant any more – you literally can make at least a part-time income from working only a few hours a week from home on the Internet.

What Is it? There are many online entrepreneurs who sell products and need a support help desk to answer email queries. These online business owners don’t have time to answer the emails so they hire somebody else to do it.

This is where you would come in. You would log-in to the HelpDesk software and simply answer emails.

Potential Income This depends on the business owner, but you could expect to get paid anywhere from $10.00 – $20.00 per hour.

Some business owners like to pay their staff per email (50p earned for each email query).

Further Information I did this job from May 2011 to June 2012 and literally only worked ‘on average’ 7-8 hours a week.

If you’re good at this, then the online entrepreneur may give you other ‘admin’ jobs to do as well.

• Read more about making money with email

6. Typing From Home

No typing from home scams here! What I’m talking about is starting your own typing business from home . This is a great opportunity for all you typists out there.

What Is It? You’re not relying on others to get typing from home jobs. You’re creating your own typing from home business working the hours that you want to work and earn the income you want to earn!

You don’t even need to be a super-fast typist either. As long as you can reach deadlines, then you can offer this service.

Potential Income You can earn in excess of $1,900/£1,200 per month. There are different pay structures for different types of typing work, but they all earn a good hourly rate.

Further Information I’ve ran my own typing business on two separate occasions. The first time was tar targeting offline business and clients, then a few years later, I started up again and targeted online work.

I honestly would advise to take matters into your own hands (to avoid scams) is to start your own freelance typing business.

• Learn more about freelance typing from home

7. House Cleaning

Offline Business

Wherever there’s dust, there’s money to be made. Anyone can run a house cleaning business as there are no special qualifications or skills needed. You just need an eye for ‘attention to detail’ to make sure you do a very good clean!

What Is It? This business requires very little start-up capital, all you need is a few cleaning products and you’re on your way. You don’t necessarily need a car (although this helps enormously), but you would need to be very specific in what areas you clean as to cut down on travelling time.

This is a great business idea for housewives / home makers as you can start to profit from house cleaning!

Potential Income If you do lots of advertising and are prepared to work a full week, you could earn $450/£300 a week. However this business is very flexible and you will find that customers tend to want the same slots each week or bi-weekly. This means that you can plan your cleans to allow you to work on a part-time basis if you so wish.

More information There’s not a great lot of preparation that needs to go into the setting-up of this business, but there is a few things which you need to know in order to run a professional and profitable house cleaning business .

• How To Start a Cleaning Business from Scratch
• How To Start a House Cleaning Business With No Experience
• House Cleaning Business eBook Guide

8. Home Based Jewelry

Make your own jewelry and sell it at craft fairs, party’s or Online. This is a good little side-business if you are into crafts so you can enjoy your hobby but earn from it at the same time.

What Is It? Learn how to make your own jewelry, find good wholesalers with a big variety of jewelry make equipment and learn how to sell it to a mass audience.

Income Potential I cannot put a figure on here as there are too many variances, but I do know that you can earn at least a part-time income this from. If you put a lot of effort and time into it, then earning a full-time income is very doable too.

9. Home Based Cake Decorating

Do you love baking cakes, and love decorating them even more?

Women tend to start to decorate their cakes for fun and and then decorate cakes for family members, for birthdays and anniversary’s etc.

What Is It? You enjoy decorating cakes, you have a talent for it and now you’re thinking of making this hobby into a business, whether that be a sideline or a full-time business.

Income Potential This business can be time-consuming so it depends on how many cakes you make per week and how much you charge for them. But if you enjoy this as a hobby then it’s a great little earner.

Further Information This business model is definitely on the ‘up’ as creatively decorated cakes are definitely in demand, especially among moms who want them for their children’s birthday parties.

• How To Start a Cake Decorating Business from Home

BUSINESS IDEAS FOR WOMEN AT HOME

10. home based day care.

If you love children and have a calm temperament, then get paid for looking after little ones.

What Is It?

A day care in your home may be a great way for you to start a home based business. In this business, you will be caring for children of your clients. This includes playing with them, keeping them safe, and sometimes offering a bit of education, too. This type of business can be very successful if you love children and are passionate about caring for them.

There are some very strict laws in place regarding this type of business, so you will need to do some additional local research before getting started.

The hourly rates varies depending on which country you live in, which area and and and in what state (if in US), but you can expect to charge anywhere from $15-$30 per hour.

11. Bookkeeping

Offline & Online Business

Do you have a qualification in bookkeeping? Do you do this as your main job?

What Is It? You can start by doing bookkeeping as a side hustle around your main job and then when you’ve saved enough money and have a backlog of potential clients, then you can take the leap to do this as a full-time business.

With many more people starting home based and small businesses there’s always a demand for both a local and virtual bookkeeper.

Bookkeepers tend to charge between $35-$55 per hour.

• Learn how to become a virtual bookkeeper here

12. Wedding Planning

you just love all things weddings? Are you great at organizing events with confidence and have attention to detail?

What Is It? As a bridal consultant / wedding planner you will help with locating venues for the wedding and reception. You will help find entertainment, photographers, wedding attire, and transportation. The job of a consultant is often multifaceted, for example, you will need to work with the bride and groom to make decisions while keeping the wedding within budget.

As a bridal consultant you must spend a lot of time ensuring that tasks have been completed, which is why organization is so important.

Taking into consideration that there is a lot of work involved and that the stakes are high (bridezilla’s), you can expect to charge in the region of $1,500 per wedding. However, some wedding planners charge a lot more, say $3,000+ per wedding, depending on who their clientele are.

13. Virtual Tutoring

This is an excellent extra source of income for teachers, retired teachers, mom teachers on maternity leave, postgraduate students, or anybody with a Degree.

What Is It? Thanks to the Internet and the advancement of online learning resources, virtual tutoring has took a dramatic upturn.

There are many websites now which provide a platform for online tutors to register and marketing their services. An example of such a website is https://www.tutorhunt.com/

You would obviously provide tutoring in a subject matter which you have a qualification in and are qualified to teach.

Not everyone is qualified for this position, but for those who are, the options can be endless.

Home tutors can charge anywhere between $20 and $80 per hour depending on the type of  subject matter they teach. For example, you would charge more for very specialist and in-depth subjects.

14. Voice Over Artist

Do you have a voice that stands out from others? Do you feel as if you could use this natural talent to make you money and even into a full blown business?

What Is It? Also known as a voice actor, is a freelance side hustle where you would become an auditory performer.

Voice actors are in demand for TV commercials, radio, video games, e-learning courses, apps, audio books and online videos.

Normally a voice artist would get paid per individual job and the income potential can be huge.

You can do a quick voice over job for $20 and can potentially earn hundreds of dollars just for an hours work.

• Learn more about voiceover work

15. Travel Agent

Do you love to travel and enjoy all the research, organization and booking that comes with it?

What Is It? A freelance home-based travel agent, also known as a Personal Travel Consultant , is where you would book and arrange travel for a variety of clients.

Not everyone enjoys the research and booking aspect of going on holiday or on a trip of a lifetime, and so a lot of people are more than happy to pay someone else to do this for them.

As an independent travel agent you would earn money on a commission basis. So each time a client books a holiday with you, you earn a commission.

So when you book a flight, a cruise or a holiday, you would earn the commission from the travel supplier.

16. Dog Walking

Do you love dogs? Do you like to go out for walks?

Why not combine the two and get paid for it!

What Is It? Dog walking has become very popular over recent years. This is mainly due to the fact that people who would not normally buy a dog, because they go out to work, are now buying dogs because they know they can hire a dog walker.

Dog walkers can charge per dog walk, per 30 minutes or per 1 hour walks.

This can range from $10-$20 per walk, $20-$30 per 30 minutes and $30-$50 per hour.

• How to Start a Dog Walking Business

17. Creating & Selling Digital Products

Fancy earning passive income with little digital products?

What Is It? Digital products are the currency online when it comes to sharing information. Apart from blog posts, you read and learn from digital products such as PDF ebooks, printables, online courses and membership sites.

And the great news is that creating digital products is no where near as complicated as you might initially think. For example, to create and sell an ebook, it’s simply the case of typing your information into Word or the free Google docs, saving it as a PDF document and then using a digital delivery service such as SendOwl to automate the delivery of your ebook.

The income from selling digital products is unlimited!

You create the digital product once , and then you can sell it 24/7 for months and even years ahead.

• Learn how to create and sell digital products

More Business Ideas For Women

Still not found a home business which you think you might enjoy?

Here are some more home business ideas…

• Personal Trainer
• Tax Preparation
• Business Consultant
• eBay Selling
• Amazon Fulfillment
• eCommerce Store
• Direct Selling / Multi Level Marketing
• Graphic Design
• Ironing Service
• Sewing Alterations
• Podcast Editing
• Video Editing
• Create an Online Course
• Start a Monthly Membership Site
• Create an eBook
• Create and Sell Printables
• CV/Resume Writing
• Children’s Author
• Publish Kindle Books

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What’s The Difference Between a Small Business v Home Business

I know that some people might think that there is no difference between a small business and a home business, but for the sake of this article I’m going to say there is.

Because there are so many types of businesses out there now to choose from, we have to try and differentiate and put them into some sort of categories in order to make it easier for us to choose from.

So from this point of view, this is how I would separate a small business from a home-based business.

Small Business

A small business is where you run a business with five or less employees and this business is run out of a small outlet or rented accommodation.

A small business could also just be you as a sole-trader, but you have to travel to your office or small shop.

Examples of small businesses:

• Fashion boutique
• Dog grooming
• Flower shop
• Business consultant
• Hairdresser

Home-Based Business

A home-based business on the other hand is… well… exactly what it says on the tin! A business where you are based at home.

But I do want to point out here that you don’t actually have to work at home to be classed as running a home-based business – remember, this is just my own personal point of view of how the different types of businesses are categorized and classed.

So yes, you don’t have to work from home all day long to earn your income, because you can literally just be home-based.

Examples of work-from home businesses:

So here are some examples of businesses you would literally run from your own home.

• Jewelry making and selling online
• Typing service
• Bookkeeping
• Hairdressing (your clients come to your home)
• Beautician (your clients come to your home)
• Cake decorating

Examples of home-based businesses:

You don’t earn your money by working from inside your home, but you also don’t rent office space – your ‘base’ is literally your home.

• House cleaning service
• Dog walking
• Mobile hairdresser
• Mobile beautician

Q. What Are The Best Businesses for Women To Start?

Of course this is a difficult question to answer as I’m sure you will appreciate because it’s literally asking the same kind of question such as ‘how long is a piece of string?’

Because all women are so diverse and different that it’s really difficult to put a list of home business here to suite everyone – one size does not fit all.

What I would say is that you really need to dig deep and find the answers to these questions:

• What are your personality traits?
• What experience and knowledge do you have?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you personally want from a home business?
• What type of lifestyle do you want to live?

All of these questions have a bearing on what type of home business to choose.

Q. What Are The Easiest Businesses To Start?

The easiest businesses to start are ones which you already have great experience and knowledge in. It sounds pretty obvious when reading this out loud, but you would be surprised at how many people start a home business where they have no prior experience or knowledge of it.

You also have to take into consideration any start-up costs and if there are many steep learning curves.

I know a lot of people who are now making money blogging and they all started their blog with no previous experience or knowledge in blogging. Yes, they blogged about a subject they knew and were maybe passionate about, but the learning curve for blogging is very, very steep.

Therefore, this makes blogging not the easiest business to start.

In a contrast example, I’m a trained typist and I used to be a (very fast) copy and transcription typist. So it made sense for me to start my own Typing Service business from home. I already had the experience and knowledge, I just needed to do some advertising and before I knew it I had three new clients.

So ask yourself the question ‘ What experience and knowledge do I already have that I can turn into a business? ‘

• Are you good at admin tasks? You could be a virtual assistant to either local offline businesses or an online entrepreneur.
• Are you already a bookkeeper for a local firm? Can you start this up as a home business?
• Hairdresser? Beautician? Nail technician?

This doesn’t have to be work related either, it can be a hobby or interest:

• Can you make and sell jewelry?
• What about decorating and selling celebration cakes?
• Do you have a love for dogs? Start a dog walking or dog sitting business.

You also don’t have to have a qualification in something either where you’ve had to attend College or University.

• Anybody can dust and clean. Start your own independent house cleaning business.
• Any able person can walk dogs… dog cleaning business.
• Do you enjoy, and are good at, your own social media? Offer that as a service (this is in huge demand!)

So do you see that when you dig deep and categorize the different types of businesses, some will automatically ‘pop’ out to you and will become a strong contender?

Q. What Are The Best Low-Cost Businesses to Start?

This is the great news when it comes to starting a home-based business – the start-up and overhead costs are extremely low – especially when you consider how much it costs to start a small business in a rented outlet or shop.

If you’re offering a service, which most home-based businesses do, then you need minimal or no stock at all.

For example, you can start a house cleaning business with zero start-up costs.

If you start an independent cleaning business, then all you would do is:

• Use word of mouth to get your first 2-3 clients.
• Use your clients’ cleaning supplies.

The only money you would need is for petrol or transport fares to get to your house cleans.

The same goes for a dog walking business or a bookkeeping business – you either need no inventory at all, or you would have it already.

Think what you could offer as a service which requires non, or minimal start-up costs?

So now you know that you need to do a self-evaluation to find out what type of business would suit you, and then categorize all the home businesses so you can rule out some, and look more deeply into those businesses which match your self-evaluation.

If you need more help in finding your dream home business, then you might be interested in this Home Business Roadmap eBook .

It categorizes 70+ home business ideas so you can easily see which types of businesses you’re drawn too, and then the second part consists of a self-assessment followed by four other exercises and worksheets.

When you’ve worked through this section of the workbook, you should have identified your dream home business.

But the book is sooo much more than finding your dream home business. It then goes on to show you the very next steps to take once you’ve found your ideal business idea.

>> Learn more about the Home Business Roadmap here…

Hi, I’m Claire Bullerwell

I’ve ran dozens of home-based businesses, both offline and online, since my early twenties. I started this blog to share all my wealth of knowledge and experience to help women just like you; to find your dream home business and to live your best life.

Follow me and let’s get acquainted…

30 Business Ideas for Women to Start in 2024

Home » Blog » 30 Business Ideas for Women to Start in 2024

No specific business idea aptly suits women.

The perfect business idea for a woman is the one she wants to start.

But here’s the thing. 

Women often need an idea that suits their demanding situations, like getting paid less than their male counterparts, being a single mom, or running a family household. 

That’s why many women need a second income, want to quit their jobs to work from home and be with their children or have a burning desire to become an entrepreneur.

Whatever your reason, if you’re a woman looking to diversify your income source and build equity, this list of business ideas is for you.

Online Businesses for Women

Are you looking for an additional revenue stream or want to start a business that enables you to live your entrepreneurial dreams without selling your soul to the corporate machine?

If so, one of the following business ideas could be the answer you’re looking for!

1. Online tutoring

Online tutors provide students with education, guidance, and support in every subject imaginable.

For example, you could offer pre-exam/project academic advice, study strategies, or course materials. 

You only need a knowledgeable subject, delivery skills, and the right marketing platform to attract your target audience. 

Online tutoring is a low-cost way to start an online business with high profit margins; Tutorme.com reports tutors can earn between $20 and $60 per hour.

2. Online fitness coaching or yoga instruction

The online fitness and yoga industries are booming, with some coaches earning $100,000 per year on platforms like Exercise.com .

Fitness coaches/yoga instructors can work one-on-one with clients or with groups or create fitness programs their target audience can purchase and download.

All you need to start is an accredited National Commission for Certifying Agencies certificate and an online fitness coaching platform.

3. Provide remote tech support

Our digital world needs 24/7 global tech support to keep running, which means enormous opportunities for anyone with experience in this field.

Tech experts offer their skills and knowledge to fix any tech problems their customers may encounter.

Glassdoor reports remote tech support salaries range from $40K to $60K per year. 

To become a remote tech support entrepreneur, you only need technology experience, excellent problem-solving skills, and a Wi-Fi connection!

4. Social media management

Social media managers create, schedule, and publish content to interact with and grow their employer’s online community. Managers also monitor the content’s performance to develop strategies with the highest engagement rates.

And it’s lucrative, with social media managers earning between $35 to $350 per hour!

To start an online social media management business , get a certification, choose your niche and the services you want to provide.

5. Virtual assistant

VAs provide professional services like administrative duties and technical help to other business owners and large corporations on a full or part-time self-employed basis.

VAs can earn between $10.75 to $27.46 per hour, depending on your service. Your primary investments are your laptop and internet connection, so it’s a profitable online business idea.  

To start a virtual assistant business, you’ll need computer skills and experience with software and business programs, and you can find clients using a virtual assistant agency .

6. Online wedding planner

Wedding planners help design and run every aspect of a couple’s big day, from drawing up a budget, finding and hiring vendors, structuring and setting a timetable for the ceremony and reception, and overseeing everything on the wedding day. 

Wedding planners can charge between $40-$70 per hour for online consulting services.

You don’t need a degree to become a wedding planner , but experience (and contacts) are essential. 

7. Dropshipping

Fancy running a low-risk online business where you don’t buy, handle, or deliver the stock?

Welcome to dropshipping. 

Drop shippers promote and sell other businesses’ products via their websites. When they receive an order, it goes to the supplier, who ships it to the buyer; the drop shipper then gets a commission for making the sale. 

To start dropshipping , choose a niche, perform competitor product research, find a reputable supplier, build your online store, and market your dropshipping business.

8. Etsy shop

The Etsy online marketplace platform enables independent artists, designers, crafters, and collectors to sell their creations, and 80% of its sellers are women! 

Etsy is popular because it’s a quick and cheap way to sell digital products or handmade goods online. 

To sell on Etsy , create a free account, open your shop, upload your product images, and set your prices and shipping fees.

9. Start an eBay business

eBay is an e-commerce platform that allows you to sell (almost) anything.

It’s a great way to enter the e-commerce world as it has a global customer base, and you could begin selling today by advertising anything you have but no longer need!

To start an eBay business , create your listing and follow the instructions; it’s the easiest way to start an online business!

Home business ideas for women

Do you fancy running a business where the commute is a short walk from your bedroom to your home office via the espresso machine?

The following business ideas for women at home could be the perfect fit.

10. Home-based bakery

Home bakery entrepreneurs use their kitchens rather than renting expensive commercial spaces to bake bread, pies, cakes, cookies, pastries, muffins, cookies, and similar items for private and commercial clients.

Home bakery incomes are rising, with monthly profits ranging from $300 to $2,500, depending on what they bake and their clientele. 

To start a home-based bakery business , contact your location’s Environmental Health department to inform them of your new business and to get the relevant permits.

11. Home-based catering business

Home-based caterers can run their business in 2 ways:

• Prep from home and then cook at the venue.
• Cook everything from home and deliver.

Home-based catering businesses suit aspiring culinary entrepreneurs who need low start-up costs and high-profit margins, as pretax profits are 15% more than restaurants !

Contact your local Environmental Health department for permits and licenses to start a home-based catering business .

12. Home-based daycare

Home-based daycare provides care for children, from infants to elementary, during working hours, Mondays to Fridays. However, some offer extended care for parents working weekends or non-traditional schedules. 

Daycare is a lucrative business, with an average monthly cost of $1,230 per child.

To start a daycare business, contact your state’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to research regulations . And research the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website for qualifications.

13. Sewing and alterations

Alterations and sewing are popular in the wedding and fashion industries and for individuals who need to make clothes larger or smaller. 

Starting a sewing and alteration business could be highly lucrative as these skills are becoming rare and difficult to find. Research shows that home-based alteration businesses can earn a 40% profit margin, which is handsome in any industry! 

All you need to start is the experience (not essential as you could take a course) and the right equipment.

14. Personal laundry business

Now for a business that could clean up by providing laundry services to other local companies like B&Bs, boutique hotels, busy individuals, and large households in their local vicinity. 

To start a personal laundry business, get the licenses and permits , and source 2nd-hand commercial equipment on websites like lowlaundry.com .

15. Candle-making business

Starting a candle-making business is affordable and requires little experience.

But the rewards could be red hot as the U.S. candle market is worth over 3.2 billion annually , and profit margins per candle are around 300%!   

You can start your candle-making business at home , learn online, begin with essential equipment, and sell at farmers’ markets, church sales, wholesale outlets, and online using eBay, Amazon, Houzz, and Modalyst.

Airbnb entrepreneurs use their properties (or others with contracts) to provide short and long-term rental spaces to businesses and private individuals.

Startup costs depend on your property’s condition and your profits on its location. Still, with a global audience, it’s a business opportunity that unlocks your asset’s potential to create additional income.

Airbnb reports hosts earn (on average) $924 a month, but many make far more!

To start your Airbnb business , join the platform, list your property, write your property description, upload quality images, set your rates, include your contact information, and contact your local Department of Revenue or county clerk’s office to learn about the legalities in your area. 

Business ideas with little to no cash upfront

It’s hard to start a business with no money; most need some financial investment.

However, the following ideas tick the box of little or no cash upfront.

17. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a low-investment, high-margin business idea where you partner with other brands to sell their products or digital services from your website/landing page through an affiliate link. 

To start an affiliate marketing business, you’ll need a website and relevant content that ensures people find you when searching for that product or service. You receive a commission once they click the link and buy the product. 

A solid social media following would be advantageous as you can promote your affiliate links to your audience.

18. Create a print-on-demand business

Print-on-demand is a low-investment order fulfillment business idea where a supplier prints your design on your chosen products when you make a sale.

You join a POD platform , choose your products (of which there’s an endless choice), create your designs, sell them on your website or your PODs platform, and your supplier prints and delivers, taking a commission for each product sold.

The POD advantage is you can outsource your designs to freelancers on websites like Fiverr or Upwork, and you only pay for what you sell.

19. Freelance services

Freelancers are independent contractors (like me) who earn their wages on a per-task, per-job, or retainer basis. 

Freelancing has many benefits, like a flexible work schedule, working from home (or a beach), and a better work/life balance.

Freelancing startup costs are low; you only need a website, a LinkedIn account, or a profile on a freelancer job site like Fiverr.

Some freelance ideas are:

• Photography or photo editing.
• Graphic design.
• Social media management services.
• Email marketing.
• Website content.
• Business consulting.

20. Selling digital products

Digital products are digital information you deliver electronically via a website and email, like online courses, eBooks, software, digital art, music, and virtual goods.

The advantage of selling digital products is that they become a lucrative passive income once you create them and begin marketing. 

To sell digital products, you’ll need expertise in a specific subject or industry, and you can learn how to develop and launch your digital product business on websites like Teachable and Kajabi.

21. Creating and monetizing content

Monetizing content is a comparatively new and highly lucrative business idea.

You monetize content by becoming a social media influencer, creating podcasts, or creating a YouTube channel, then promoting other brands ‘ products (or your own) and advertising space.

As these marketing channels are free to join, monetizing content can be a low-cost, profitable business idea.

22. Handywoman

Now for an off-line low-cost business idea that people always need and pay good money for.  

Handywomen do odd jobs in people’s homes that are too small for a tradesman, like repairs, basic carpentry, and interior and exterior maintenance. 

Anyone with basic craftsmanship or trade skills can become a handywoman, and it’s a lucrative niche with high hourly rates because of high demand and low startup costs.  

If that sounds up your alley, check out my guide on how to start a handyman business . 

Business ideas for women without experience

You don’t need experience to start a new business; instead, you can work within your strengths and weaknesses, get help from others with the skills your niche requires, and learn as you go.

Some business ideas, however, are more suitable for inexperienced budding entrepreneurs, so let’s look:

23. Dog care/walking service

If you love dogs, exercise, and need flexible working hours, a dog care/walking business is perfect for those with zero entrepreneurial experience. 

Your startup costs are low, and according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can earn up to $33,873 annually! Not too shabby for doing something you love, right?

To start a dog walking business , you might need a local business license and liability insurance; you can find clients using social media (local dog-loving Facebook groups), word-of-mouth referrals , and a website to take bookings and promote your glowing testimonials.

24. Cleaning Business

There are 2 types of cleaning businesses: commercial and residential. For inexperienced entrepreneurs, residential offers a lucrative opportunity to clean up financially!

Residential cleaners work in people’s homes, cleaning bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, etc. But you can also provide specialized services like window cleaning, pressure washing, disinfection, and chimney sweeping.

To start a cleaning business , you need a local business license, a permit, and insurance. And a range of cleaning products like mops, brooms, dust rags, a commercial vacuum cleaner, certain chemicals, and transport.

25. E-commerce reselling

You don’t need experience to become an online entrepreneur! You can start your business today using e-commerce reselling. 

E-commerce reselling involves buying products in bulk from wholesalers and selling to individuals at a higher price. And you can also resell 2nd hand goods on sites like eBay, Poshmark, The RealReal, Depop, and thredUp. 

Reselling has low startup costs and high profit margins, so it’s an attractive option for inexperienced entrepreneurs.

26. Online transcription

Online transcription involves converting speech into written text for business, legal, and medical clients.

While you need little experience, you require fast typing skills to make it profitable. 

Average pay rates range from $15 to $30 per hour. All you need to start is a computer, a messaging service, and software like Grammarly or Pro Writer to ensure your transcripts are always perfect. 

To start your transcription business , pick a niche, set your rates, and find clients using websites like indeed.com .

Small Business Ideas for Women

Small business ideas are ones you can start and run without the expense of hiring part or full-time staff but with the potential of expanding with demand. 

The beauty of small business ideas is you call the shots and only outsource when you know it`ll be profitable. 

Okay, here are my favorite 5:

27. Freelance photographer

Freelance photographers work as self-employed contractors providing images per their clients’ requests or for sale on photography platforms like iStockPhoto, Shutterstock, and Unsplash, which pay royalties when individuals use your pictures.

The job involves meeting client contract specifications or taking images of your favorite hobby (travel or nature). Simply put, you’re a lens for hire as a freelance photographer.

And you have many niches, like real estate, portraits, products, food, weddings, events, and sports.

Salary.com reports freelance photographers earn between $40,028 and $52,770 annually. 

To start your freelance photography business , create your business plan, choose your niche, purchase the proper photography equipment and software, set your prices, market your business, and develop your portfolio.

28. Jewelry brand

Entrepreneurs with a flair for jewelry could start a jewelry brand. And with low startup costs and high-profit margins (on average 42.6%), it’s a financially viable niche!

Jewelry has 3 categories: custom, handmade, and fine jewelry, and all are in high demand.

All you need to start your jewelry business is some jewelry-making knowledge ( which you can get online ), a jeweler’s bench, and tools. Or you can focus on the designs and outsource the production!

Then, use social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram to promote and sell your products or book a stall at local jewelry markets.

29. A personal trainer

Gym Bunnies can turn their love for fitness into a thriving business by becoming a personal trainer and offering virtual, group, or private fitness seasons.

The fitness industry is booming, with trainers’ wages starting at $25 and rising to over $100, depending on your target market and experience.

To become a fitness trainer , you’ll need an accredited certification from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies ( NCCA ), training equipment, the proper licenses, some liability insurance ( an LLC is perfect for that ), and a stimulating attitude that inspires your clients to reach their fitness goals.

30. Nutritionist

Nutritionists advise clients on what to eat to lead a healthy lifestyle and achieve health-related goals, like reducing blood pressure or losing weight.

The nutritionist’s average salary is $52,785 annually, but what you can earn depends on your certifications, experience, location, and target market.

To start your nutritionist business, you’ll need an accredited diploma in nutrition and dietetics . You can advance your nutritionist skills (and earn more) by completing an undergraduate degree in health science.

31. Esthetician

Esthetician professionals provide skincare and beauty services to clients to help improve their appearance. Services include hair removal, waxing, facials, makeup applications, and body treatments.

Self-employed estheticians may earn as much as $52,100 per year . But estheticians specializing in skin care treatments, like cosmic dermatology, medical esthetics, and laser treatments, can earn far more because of the high demand. 

To become an Esthetician, research your state’s Board of Cosmetology requirements and get an esthetician license.

Famous women entrepreneurs to take inspiration from

We all need inspiration to start a business , and who better to inspire us than famous women entrepreneurs who’ve changed the business landscape and contributed to society?

The famous women entrepreneurs below are household names, but some you might not know; however, all are inspirational!

Oprah Winfrey: 

Media mogul and philanthropist known for her influential talk show and media empire.

Sara Blakely: 

Founder of Spanx (Oprah funded Sara when others refused), a famous shapewear brand, and a self-made billionaire.

Coco Chanel: 

Founder of the iconic fashion brand Chanel, revolutionizing women’s fashion in the early 20th century.

Arianna Huffington: 

Co-founder of The Huffington Post, a successful online news and blogging platform.

Estée Lauder: 

Founder of the Estée Lauder Companies, a significant player in the cosmetics industry.

Indra Nooyi: 

Former CEO of PepsiCo, recognized for her leadership in the corporate world.

Sheryl Sandberg: 

Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and author of “Lean In” which promotes women’s empowerment in the workplace.

JK Rowling: 

Author of the Harry Potter series, who went from a struggling single mom to one of the world’s most successful authors.

Melinda Gates: 

Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focusing on global health, poverty, and education.

Gloria Steinem: 

Feminist icon, journalist, and co-founder of Ms. Magazine.

Sofia Vergara: 

Actress and entrepreneur, co-founder of Latin World Entertainment, a talent management and entertainment marketing firm.

Diane von Fürstenberg: 

Fashion designer and founder of the iconic wrap dress.

Mary Kay Ash: 

Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, a successful direct-selling cosmetics company.

Business Resources for Women

Below, you`ll find business resources to help you start and run your business.

National Association of Women Business Owners ( NAWBO ): NAWBO provides resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy for women business owners.

Women’s Business Enterprise National Council ( WBENC ): WBENC is a leading advocate for women-owned businesses, offering certification, networking, and educational resources.

SCOREWomen’s Business Center: SCORE provides mentoring, workshops, and resources tailored to women entrepreneurs.

Small Business Administration ( SBA ) Office of Women’s Business Ownership: The SBA offers resources and programs to support women-owned businesses, including the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program.

Women 2.0: Women 2.0 promotes women in technology and entrepreneurship, providing events, content, and resources.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day ( WED ): WED celebrates and supports women entrepreneurs, offering events, mentorship, and resources.

Association of Women’s Business Centers ( AWBC ): AWBC supports a network of women’s Business Centers across the U.S., providing resources, training, and counseling.

Ellevate Network: Ellevate offers networking opportunities , resources, and events to support professional women and entrepreneurs.

Women’s Venture Fund ( WVF ): WVF provides training, financing, and support for women entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

SheEO: SheEO is a global community supporting female entrepreneurs through a unique funding model and mentorship.

Business grants for women: A list of resources , including mentorship, networking opportunities, funding information, and educational resources.

Check out relative forums: You can also find business resources on discussion forums like Reddit and Quora .

What is the cheapest, most profitable business to start?

Businesses with low startup costs and high profit margins include affiliate marketing, dropshipping, e-commerce reselling, and local handywomen services.

What is the easiest business to start right now?

Dog walking, house cleaning, home (or online) tutoring, pressure washing, virtual personal assistant, and Airbnb hosting are all simple businesses to start.

What is the most fun business to start?

Fun is subjective, so it depends on what you enjoy doing. For example, if you love gardening, starting a landscaping business could be a blast; if animals get you giddy, pet sitting or grooming could be the perfect business.

What small business is the most successful?

Like fun, success is subjective, so the answer depends on what you want to achieve by starting a business. For instance, to spend more time with your family, choose an online business like virtual freelancing or selling on eBay.

Now, launch your business and begin taking the steps toward becoming an entrepreneur.

And remember, regardless of what anyone thinks, go for it if you can and want to do it.

I’ll leave the last words to Barbara Ann Cocoran, founder of the Cocoran group, one of New York City’s most successful real estate businesses. 

                       “Don’t you dare underestimate the power of your instinct.”

Powerful words from a powerful woman.

This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness.

Terry OToole

Terry is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building businesses across multiple industries – construction, real estate, e-commerce, hotelier, and now digital media. When not working, Terry likes to kick back and relax with family, explore Taoism’s mysteries, or savor the taste of fine Italian red wine.

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Small Business Trends

20 business ideas for women.

Business Ideas for Women Entrepreneurs

You can run online stores, a brick-and-mortar business, or even a combination of the two. Make sure to do other research, such as whether you should get a women-owned business certification before pursuing anything.

Our Methodology for Selecting the Best Business Ideas Tailored for Women Entrepreneurs

By applying these criteria, our goal is to guide women towards business ideas that not only align with their professional and personal aspirations but also offer opportunities for growth, empowerment, and meaningful impact.

Best Online Business Ideas for Women Entrepreneurs

1. subscription box business, 2. own a blog.

If you’re interested in the fashion business and looking for a lucrative business venture in that realm, one of the best business ideas is to start your blog with fashion advice, reviews from the beauty industry, and other lifestyle content. You can earn money by posting outfits and using affiliate links so that every time readers buy something linked from writing your blog post, you earn money as a social media influencer.

3. High-Fashion Reseller

4. dropshipping store owner, 5. virtual bookkeeping business, 6. app developer.

If you’re interested in learning to code, becoming an app developer is a perfect business idea for women entrepreneurs. You can take online courses to learn programming languages for app development and create bespoke apps for businesses and other mobile services.

7. Life Coach

8. online boutique, 9. sewing and alterations, 10. own business as a va.

Virtual assistants are one of the top business ideas for women because it’s easy to get started, and there are plenty of flexible and scalable business opportunities. You can create a profitable business by being a virtual assistant to small business owners, freelancers, and others. In addition, you can set up your own VA business by offering services such as managing a business social media account, calendar assistance, monitoring financial transactions, and more.

11. Freelance Writing Business

12. market research, 13. stock trading, 14. dog walking.

If you love dogs and have some spare time, you can offer dog walking services in your neighborhood. It’s a new business idea that has become more popular and something that many people are looking for. You can offer to walk dogs during peak working hours such as lunchtime and the morning for those with full-time jobs as part of your own business.

15. Online Tutoring

Brick & mortar small business ideas for women entrepreneurs, 16. clothing boutiques, 17. antiques.

Antiques and rare goods are another new business idea that could be worth pursuing. If you can find interesting and unique items, you can start your own antique store and sell a curated collection of unique items.

18. Foodservice business

19. photography business, 20. wedding planning business, 21. laundry business.

When it comes to more small business ideas to consider, another one is a laundry business. You can ask neighbors and friends if they’re looking for some extra help with laundry or even work with small hotels and bed and breakfasts that need regular laundry. Once you have the right laundry and cleaning products, you can quickly get started.

22. Interior designer

23. daycare business, 24. baby equipment rental business, what is the most profitable small business idea for women.

Many of the business ideas for women listed have the potential to be immensely profitable. Some of the most profitable types of small businesses include:

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Business Landscape

The array of options, whether online or brick-and-mortar, allows women to find their niche and make their mark in industries they are passionate about. The power of digital platforms and the ability to connect with customers worldwide have democratized business ownership, offering a level playing field for women to thrive. Whether you’re a creative thinker, a problem solver, a trendsetter, or an innovator, there’s a business idea waiting for you to turn into a reality.

Home > Business > Business Startup

66 Small Business Ideas for Women

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Whether you’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur or you’re leaving behind the office to avoid sexism in the workplace , you can join the millions of other women who own small businesses.

But if you don’t have that perfect business idea just yet, don't worry―lots of entrepreneurs need a little help getting started.

That's why we've come up with this list of dozens of business ideas for women across many industries. Plus, we'll tell you how to get started with the next steps so you can take your favorite idea from dream to reality.

Let's find your perfect business.

Meet the all-in-one online platform designed for freelancers. You’ll get free access to banking, invoicing, bookkeeping and tax software and accept money from anyone, anywhere.

Best business ideas for women

Whether you’re into dogs, cats, horses, or something more exotic, you can find a way to spend time with animals as part of your startup business :

• Dog daycare
• Dog walking
• Pet sitting
• Pet training
• Veterinary services (traditional or mobile)

B2B (Business to Business)

Interested in using your business to help other businesses? Consider one of these options that lets you be your own boss while supporting other bosses:

• Bookkeeping
• Business coaching
• Content writing
• Payroll services
• Remote personal assistant
• Virtual accounting

For women who enjoy making things, one of these creative business ideas might be just the ticket for turning your hobby into a profession :

• Art commissions
• Bespoke clothing
• Clothing alterations/tailoring
• Hair styling
• Freelance writing
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If you’ve got a knack for teaching, you might like one of these educational businesses. And keep in mind―you can gear your business toward many different ages. Lots of adults want music lessons, for instance, so you don’t have to love children for these business ideas:

• Test prep (ACT, SAT, LSAT, and more)
• Music lessons

Love feeding people? Whether you want to work out of your home or bring people to your eatery, we’ve got some food-related business ideas for you:

• Franchised restaurant
• Personal chef

These ideas let you take on gigs as your schedule allows. You can use apps like Uber, Postmates, and TaskRabbit if you like. They’ve made it easy to become an independent contractor . Or you can try to set up your own solo service:

• Delivery service
• Driving and ride-sharing
• Personal shopper
• Vacation rentals

The healthcare industry offers tons of space for new businesses. Some of these ideas will take degrees or certifications, so they’re not right for everyone. But if you’ve got the education (or want to put in the time), you just might love having a healthcare business:

• Hospice care
• In-home nursing
• Lactation consulting
• Medical practice
• Newborn care

Home and real estate

These home and real estate business ideas let you work from home―though it might be someone else’s home:

• Home organization
• Interior design
• Investment property flipping
• Landscape care
• Landscape design
• Real estate agent

You don’t need much capital or setup to start a marketing business. You can start freelancing with almost no investment (except of your time):

• Copywriting
• Editing/proofreading
• Event planning
• Graphic design
• Product photography
• SEO consulting
• Social media management
• Technical writing

If you’re a natural saleswoman, you can put your skills to work with one of these retail businesses:

• Art gallery
• Consignment shop
• Used media sales

Love working with computers and the internet? Then take a look at these tech business ideas. You can start as a freelancer or contractor worker―or you can start your own consulting firm:

• App development
• Coding/programming
• Information security
• IT services

Many MLM (multi-level marketing) and direct sales companies pitch themselves as letting you start your own business and be your own boss. Don’t fall for it! Studies show that the vast majority of MLM participants lose money. 1

How to know if a business idea is a good fit

There are so many good business ideas for women out there―so how do you know what could be the right business for you?

Well, first of all, you’ll want to pick something that interests you. If you love animals, for example, look for a role like being a vet or groomer that lets you be around them. Or if you like helping people, maybe a business in service or healthcare would be best.

Don’t just look for the most profitable business idea you can―that’s a recipe for burnout.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure there’s a market for your business idea. Do a little research before you start your new business. You need to find the right balance―something that has demand but not oversaturation.

For instance, if your city already has five bakeries in a one-mile radius, then maybe you shouldn’t start another one. But a lack of competition doesn’t always mean you have a surefire business idea . (Maybe your city doesn’t have a shop specializing in Beanie Babies resales because there isn’t a demand.)

So try to find the sweet spot. Make your business something that people want and need―but not something they’re already overwhelmed with options for.

And finally, yes, you should consider the money. You’ll need to think about this both as you choose your business idea and as you set your prices.

For example, pretty much all crafters have been told to start an Etsy shop at some point. But as you consider that option, make sure you really factor in the price of materials and your time. You don’t want to sell a quilt that took dozens of hours for $20 over the cost of materials. But also, you need to price things so that they sell.

In other words, you’re again looking for a good balance. What idea can you charge a decent amount for―and find someone to pay for it?

How to start your new business

Once you’ve found the perfect business idea, you’ll need to do a few things to get it off the ground. (We’ve got a checklist explaining how to start a small business that can help.)

For starters, make sure you do all the necessary paperwork to keep things legal. In most cases, you’ll need to organize your business and register it with your state. And if you plan to have employees, you likely need to get an from the IRS.

You may also want to come up with some kind of business plan ―even if it’s pretty basic. That way, you’ll have a clear direction for your small business.

Funding your new business

When you're first getting your new idea off the ground, you'll probably need to self-finance your business .

That doesn't mean you have to have tons of cash on hand to start a business. Some business ideas (like freelance writing) require very little money to get off the ground.

And if your idea does need a little more working capital, you can try these methods of getting funding:

• Family and friends
• Home equity loan
• Retirements accounts
• Grants for women

Just don't run out to the bank and ask for a business loan for your brand-new business. That would, unfortunately, be a waste of your time. Traditional lenders prefer to work with more established businesses with a track record of success.

Once your business has been around for at least six months, you can start applying for small-business financing―including for the best small-business loans for women . 

The takeaway

Women who want to become small-business owners can choose from dozens of ideas.

Whether you want to work with clients or never interact with people, work from home or sell from a bustling location, we have business ideas that can work. Just choose the idea that hits on the right combination of your interests, a good market, and potential money.

Good luck on your new venture!

Get your business started on the right (financial) foot by learning about small-business bookkeeping basics .

Related reading

• The Best Cities for Women to Start a Business
• 8 Tips to Launch and Run a Home Business
• Launch a Business on a Budget: 10 Small Business Ideas Under $1,000
• iFundWomen Review 2023
• The Complete Guide To Starting An Online Business

Business ideas for women FAQ

Almost any business idea can become a profitable business idea for women, assuming you have the time, energy, and capital to invest.

But technology-based businesses are always a good bet. You can set high prices for your coding, IT, and other tech services―and so far, demand only seems to be growing.

Some of the easiest business ideas are freelance services, like freelance writing, editing, web design, and so on.

Freelance businesses tend to have almost no overhead to get started, and they often don’t require specific education or licensing.

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

AARP, “ AARP Study of Multilevel Marketing: Profiling Participants and their Experiences in Direct Sales .” 2018. Accessed October 7, 2022.

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31 Profitable & Simple Small-Scale Business Ideas For Women 

Welcome to the world of female entrepreneurship! If you're a woman looking to dip your toes into the ocean of business ownership, you've come to the right place.

In this article, I'll uncover the world of small-scale business ideas for ladies, helping you find the perfect niche for your passion and skills.

Whether you're a creative spirit, a tech-savvy wizard, or a people-oriented service provider, there's a multitude of business ideas suitable for your unique talents.

This resource is a treasure trove of profitable small business ideas for women, spanning both traditional and online business ideas. Join me as I explore this empowering journey of women entrepreneurs, and let's help you find your perfect business idea!

Small-Scale Business Ideas For Ladies

Each idea is unpacked, providing actionable insights and tips to guide aspiring women entrepreneurs as they navigate the exciting journey of business ownership . Let's explore these opportunities.

1. Personal Fitness Training

In the realm of small-scale business ideas for ladies, personal fitness training pops up as a strong contender. It's a route that merges a passion for fitness with the desire to help others achieve their health goals.

What and Why?

Personal fitness training involves assisting clients in reaching their fitness objectives through personalized workout plans and one-on-one coaching.

Why is this a great business idea? The fitness industry is growing rapidly as more people are prioritizing their health and well-being. If you have a knack for motivating others and a solid understanding of physical fitness, this could be a perfect fit.

Where and How?

This venture can be done anywhere – at a local gym, at clients' homes, or even online via video calls. To start, you'll need to become certified as a personal trainer, then establish your business model.

Maybe you specialize in senior fitness or post-natal recovery. Find your niche, and then market your services to your target audience.

Practical Takeaways

• Focus on building excellent interpersonal skills, essential for motivating and inspiring your clients.
• Consider a blended business model offering both online and in-person services to reach a wider audience.
• Regularly update your fitness knowledge and training techniques to stay competitive.
• Niche specialization, such as senior fitness or post-natal recovery, can differentiate your services in the fitness industry.

2. Mobile Spa Services

If you have skills in beauty treatments and enjoy making people feel pampered, consider starting a mobile spa service.

A mobile spa service provides various beauty and relaxation treatments like facial treatments, massages, and manicures at the client's location. Given the busy schedules of today's consumers, mobile spa services are a convenient option and a great small business idea.

You'll need to invest in high-quality products and portable equipment. A vehicle is also necessary to travel to clients' locations. Social media can be an effective tool for promoting your services.

• Obtain necessary licenses and permits.
• Train in various beauty treatments and services.
• Establish relationships with suppliers for spa products.
• Offer flexible scheduling and exceptional customer service.

3. Personal Chef Service

For those with a love for cooking, starting a personal chef service is an excellent business idea. It's one of those small-scale business ideas for ladies that allows you to combine your culinary skills with a desire to run your own business.

A personal chef service involves preparing meals for clients based on their preferences and dietary needs. It's a great business idea due to the increasing demand for healthy, home-cooked meals by busy professionals and families.

You can operate this business from your clients' kitchens, making it a flexible choice that requires little overhead. To get started, create a portfolio of your best recipes, consider a culinary course if you're not formally trained, and start spreading the word.

• Enhance your culinary skills with professional training or self-taught techniques to offer diverse cuisine options.
• Adaptability is crucial; be ready to cater to a variety of dietary restrictions and preferences.
• Use professional photos of your meals to create an appealing portfolio .
• Word-of-mouth advertising is powerful; consider offering initial discounts for referrals to grow your client base.

4. Handmade Jewelry Business

Making and selling jewelry is not only a creative and rewarding job but also a highly profitable business idea. It's an excellent option for ladies passionate about fashion and design.

Handmade jewelry has a certain appeal that mass-produced items lack. The unique, high-quality pieces reflect personal style and attention to detail, which consumers appreciate.

Moreover, the desire to support small businesses, local artisans, and ethical sourcing practices has given a significant boost to the handmade jewelry market.

You can start this business from the comfort of your home. To begin, you'd need basic jewelry-making tools and materials. You can sell your products online via Etsy or your own e-commerce website or offline at local craft fairs and boutiques.

Social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest can also be lucrative business venture channels to showcase your designs and connect with potential customers.

• Conduct thorough market research to understand current trends and customer preferences.
• Invest in quality materials and tools.
• Learn basic jewelry-making techniques through online courses or local workshops.
• Consider taking professional photographs of your pieces for online marketing.

5. Photography Services

Photography is a skill that can be turned into a profitable business, providing an opportunity to monetize a hobby you're passionate about.

Photography services cater to a variety of events and needs, from weddings and corporate events to family portraits and product photography. The demand for skilled photographers is constant, making it a promising business idea.

Starting your own photography business will require a decent camera and photography skills. You can operate from home, travel to clients' locations, or rent a studio space if necessary.

Marketing can be done through your photography website , social media platforms, and networking in relevant circles.

• Develop a portfolio showcasing your best work.
• Specialize in a particular type of photography to target a specific market.
• Continuously upgrade your photography skills and equipment.
• Network with other professionals to get referrals.

6. Event Planning Service

If you're an organized, detail-oriented person, starting an event planning service could be one of the best business ideas for you.

Event planning involves organizing occasions such as weddings, corporate functions, birthday parties, and more.

With the right marketing strategy and a solid reputation, event planning can become a lucrative business venture. Plus, clients are always in need of skilled professionals to help them manage their events.

Starting an event planning business may require little to no capital if you initially work from home and provide services in the clients' locations.

Building a strong online presence through a business website and social media platforms will be crucial for reaching potential clients.

• Gain experience by volunteering or interning with an established event planner.
• Build a robust network with vendors like caterers, florists, and photographers.
• Stay updated with the latest trends in the event planning industry.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills are essential for success in this field.

7. Social Media Consulting

For those well-versed in platforms like Instagram and TikTok, starting a social media consulting business could be one of the best small-scale business ideas.

In today's digital age, businesses understand the significance of having a strong online presence. However, not all small business owners have the time or expertise to effectively manage their social media channels.

As a social media manager consultant, you can provide businesses with strategies to boost their online presence, reach their target audience, and increase sales.

Starting a social media consulting business requires little to no financial investment. All you need is a reliable internet connection, a computer, and comprehensive knowledge of various social media platforms. You can offer your services remotely, making this a versatile business opportunity.

• Familiarize yourself with the latest trends and best practices in social media.
• Choose a niche or industry you're particularly interested in to target specific clients.
• Build a portfolio showcasing your success with previous clients.
• Continuously learn and adapt to the ever-changing social media landscape.

8. Content Creation and Blogging

Creating engaging online content, from blog posts to videos, is a versatile and lucrative business idea.

Content creation involves producing entertaining or informative material for audiences. As more businesses and individuals recognize the value of quality content in attracting and retaining customers, the demand for skilled content creators has skyrocketed.

Starting a content creation business is a cost-effective venture. You can work from home, creating content based on your skills and interests. You can start a blog , YouTube channel, or podcast and monetize through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing .

• Identify your niche based on your expertise and audience interest.
• Consistently produce high-quality content to establish your credibility.
• Learn SEO strategies to increase your visibility online.
• Use social media to promote your content and engage with your audience.

9. Online Tutoring

With the increasing shift towards digital education, online tutoring is a promising business opportunity, especially for women who excel in particular subjects.

Online tutoring involves providing one-on-one instruction to students via digital platforms. It can be a fulfilling and lucrative business idea for women who enjoy teaching. The demand for online tutors has increased, with more students seeking personalized learning experiences.

Starting an online tutoring business requires subject expertise, a computer, and a stable internet connection. You can offer your services through platforms like Chegg Tutors or Tutor.com, or you can set up your own website to reach students.

• Decide on the subjects and age groups you want to tutor.
• Develop engaging and effective teaching materials.
• Establish a pricing structure that matches the value you provide.
• Promote your services on social media and through word-of-mouth referrals.

10. Freelance Writing Services

For women with a knack for weaving words and crafting compelling narratives, a freelance writing business could be an appealing and profitable business idea.

Freelance writing involves creating content on a contract basis for various clients. These can include articles, blog posts, ebooks, or even specialized content like resumes.

With businesses recognizing the value of quality content for their online presence, the demand for skilled freelance writers is robust and growing.

Freelance writing can be done from anywhere, and startup costs are low. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and a solid grasp of the language. To gain clients, consider showcasing your work on a personal website or platforms like Upwork and Freelancer.

• Find your niche, whether it's blogging, technical writing, or resume writing service.
• Develop a strong portfolio to demonstrate your writing abilities to potential clients.
• Network with other writers and potential clients via social media and writing communities.
• Always meet deadlines and communicate clearly with clients to build a good reputation.

11. Graphic Designing

The graphic design business is a fantastic idea for creatively inclined women, combining art and technology in a vibrant and ever-evolving industry.

Graphic design involves creating visual content for clients, which can range from logos and branding materials to website design and social media graphics. This field is in high demand as businesses require unique, custom visuals to represent their brand.

As a graphic designer, you can work from home or anywhere else. All you need is a good computer, graphic design software, and your creativity. You can showcase your work on platforms like Behance or your own website.

• Brush up on your design skills and keep up-to-date with the latest design trends.
• Build a robust portfolio showcasing your best work.
• Price your services competitively while ensuring you're adequately compensated for your time and skill.
• Network actively online and locally to find potential clients.

12. Life Coaching

For those with a passion for helping others and a knack for guiding people toward their goals, becoming a life coach can be ideal.

Life coaching involves working with individuals to help them overcome obstacles, achieve their goals, and make significant changes in their lives. It's a growing field as people seek guidance and motivation to navigate life's challenges.

To start a life coaching business, you need a strong understanding of personal development strategies and excellent communication skills.

While certification isn't always required, it can enhance your credibility. You can offer your services online via video calls, making it a flexible and cost-effective business opportunity.

• Develop your listening and empathetic communication skills.
• Choose a niche in life coaching, such as career coaching or wellness coaching.
• Consider gaining a life coach certification to enhance your credibility.
• Network and use social media to reach potential clients.

13. Home-Based Catering

For women who love cooking and have a knack for creating delicious meals, a home-based catering business could turn that passion into a profitable venture.

Home-based catering involves preparing food for events like parties, business meetings, and weddings from your own kitchen. It's an excellent way for talented cooks to monetize their skills and is one of the most profitable business ideas in the food business industry.

This business can be launched right from your home kitchen. The initial investment may include quality cooking utensils and packaging materials. Marketing can be done through social media, a dedicated website, or local advertising.

• Develop a niche and create a unique menu that distinguishes your business from others.
• Take food safety courses and follow local health regulations.
• Network with local businesses and event planners to spread the word about your services.
• Always maintain high-quality standards for food preparation and presentation.

14. Soap and Candle Making

Soap and candle making are enjoyable, creative hobbies that can transform into a lucrative business, particularly for those interested in natural, artisan products.

Soap and candle making involve creating and selling custom soaps and scented candles. As people become more interested in natural and handmade products, these items can command high prices, especially when they're well-branded.

You can start this business from home with basic supplies and equipment. Selling your products online through your online store or platforms like Etsy can help you reach a broad market.

• Learn the basics of soap and candle making and always prioritize safety.
• Use high-quality, natural ingredients to set your products apart.
• Branding is crucial – develop unique, attractive packaging.
• Use social media and craft fairs to market your products.

15. Online Reselling

Online reselling can be a great business idea for ladies who have an eye for fashion and trends and a knack for finding items of value.

Online reselling involves buying trendy products at a low cost and selling them for a profit. From vintage clothing to collectible items, this business idea can be surprisingly profitable with good marketing and branding skills.

This business can be started from home with an internet connection and an initial investment to purchase items for resale. You can sell on platforms like eBay, Amazon, or even Instagram.

• Understand your market and what items are in demand.
• Develop your eye for quality and value when sourcing items.
• Create a strong online presence with high-quality product photos and descriptions.
• Provide excellent customer service to build a strong reputation and encourage repeat business.

16. Virtual Assistant Services

Starting a virtual assistant business is a terrific small business opportunity for those with strong organizational and communication skills.

A virtual assistant (VA) provides remote administrative support to businesses, entrepreneurs, or busy professionals. As more companies move online, the demand for VAs has skyrocketed, making it a viable and profitable venture for aspiring female entrepreneurs.

This business can be started from home, requiring only a computer, a stable internet connection, and standard software tools. Networking on LinkedIn and joining platforms like Upwork can help find initial clients.

• Identify your strengths and offer services tailored to these skills.
• Take online courses to learn the necessary software and tools.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Regularly communicate with your clients to understand their needs better.

17. Self Publishing

For all the writers out there, self-publishing offers a platform to share their novels with the world and earn money in the process.

Self-publishing involves writing and publishing your own books, usually as e-books or print-on-demand (POD) books. It's a great business idea for anyone who loves writing and wants to control every aspect of the publishing process.

All you need is your imagination, writing skill, a computer, and an internet connection. Services like Amazon KDP and IngramSpark make it easy to publish your own e-books and paperbacks.

• Invest time in crafting a compelling story.
• Consider hiring a professional editor to polish your work.
• Design an eye-catching book cover or hire a professional to do it.
• Market your book online, especially on social media platforms.

18. Personal Styling Services

Do you have an eye for fashion? Or a passion for helping others look their best? If yes, starting a personal styling service could be your ticket into the fashion industry.

Personal styling involves helping clients enhance their image by advising them on clothing and accessories that suit them. As a personal stylist, you help people feel confident about their appearance, making it a rewarding and potentially profitable business idea.

You can start this business from home and meet your clients in their homes or shopping malls. You can also offer virtual consultations via virtual meeting platforms . Social media platforms like Instagram are perfect for showcasing your work and attracting clients.

• Keep up to date with the latest fashion trends and brands.
• Develop excellent communication and listening skills to understand your clients' needs.
• Create a diverse portfolio to cater to different styles and preferences.
• Leverage social media platforms to showcase your work and attract clients.

19. Health & Wellness Coaching

Another profitable business idea in the wellness space is health and wellness coaching. This is a field where you can make a significant impact on people's lives while building a rewarding business.

Health & wellness coaches provide guidance and counseling to clients seeking to improve their health and well-being.

This is a fantastic business idea for those passionate about holistic health and who enjoy helping others. The rise of health consciousness and self-care trends make this a high-demand service.

The great thing about this business is that it can be conducted virtually, meaning you can reach clients from all over the world.

Begin by obtaining any necessary certifications and identifying your niche – stress management, nutrition, or even life balance, to name a few. Then, set up your own business online, offer initial consultations, and start helping people to live their best lives.

• Strong communication and empathy are key skills for a successful wellness coach.
• Stay updated with the latest research in your chosen niche to provide your clients with the best advice.
• Consider offering group coaching sessions or workshops in addition to one-on-one coaching.
• Develop an effective online presence using social media and a professional website to attract clients globally.

20. Interior Decoration

Do you have an eye for design and a love for creating beautiful spaces? If so, an interior decoration business could be your ideal venture.

Interior decorators work with clients to beautify their homes or offices. This involves choosing color schemes, furniture, and accessories that reflect the client's style and needs.

With more people seeking professional help to create comfortable and aesthetic spaces, interior decoration presents attractive business opportunities.

Starting an interior decoration business requires an eye for design and knowledge of different styles and trends. Networking with furniture and décor suppliers, along with a strong online presence, can help grow your business.

• Keep up-to-date with the latest trends in interior decoration.
• Understand the tastes and preferences of your target clientele.
• Build relationships with furniture and decor vendors for the best deals.
• Showcase your work online to attract potential clients.

21. Online Course Creation

If you're an expert in a particular field and enjoy teaching, creating online courses can be a highly profitable business venture.

Online course creation involves developing and selling educational content on a chosen subject. With people increasingly turning to e-learning for flexibility and convenience, this is one of the best online business ideas for women who love to teach and share their knowledge.

All you need to start an online course business is a computer, a good internet connection, and deep knowledge of your chosen field. You can use an online course platform , such as Udemy, to host and sell your courses.

• Identify a niche topic in which you have the expertise, and there's a demand for learning.
• Invest in good equipment to record high-quality audio and video lessons.
• Create engaging and interactive course content.
• Promote your courses on social media and through email marketing .

22. Home-based Yoga Studio

Starting a home-based yoga studio is a fantastic business idea for those who are passionate about yoga and wellness.

A home-based yoga studio offers classes and training to individuals seeking to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. With the increasing focus on health and wellness, this could be the right business idea for women proficient in yoga.

With a suitable space at home and the necessary yoga equipment, you can start your yoga studio. Promotion through social media, local community boards, and word-of-mouth can help attract clients.

• Become certified as a yoga instructor for credibility.
• Design a variety of classes for different skill levels.
• Ensure your home has a quiet and serene space for classes.
• Consider offering virtual classes for wider reach.

23. Home Renovation Consultation

For those with a knack for remodeling and improving spaces, starting a home renovation consultation business is a promising path to explore.

A home renovation consultant provides professional advice to homeowners looking to remodel or renovate their spaces. With a rise in home improvement projects, this is an excellent small business idea for women who possess the required skills and knowledge.

This business can be started from home, requiring only a computer, a phone, and expert knowledge. You'll need to network with local contractors and suppliers, and promoting your services online or through word of mouth can help attract clients.

• Stay informed about the latest trends in home renovation.
• Develop relationships with reliable contractors and suppliers.
• Offer virtual consultation services to reach a wider clientele.
• Ensure clear communication of your ideas and plans to clients and contractors.

24. In-Home Childcare

If you love children and have space at your home, starting an in-home childcare business could be your path to becoming your own boss.

In-home childcare businesses provide care and supervision to children while their parents are away. With many working parents in need of reliable and quality childcare, this is a promising business opportunity for women business owners.

You can start this business right from your home, but you'll need to ensure your house is safe and child-friendly. Local advertising and word-of-mouth referrals can be effective ways to attract clients.

• Get certified in first aid and CPR.
• Create a daily schedule of activities for children.
• Meet all local licensing and safety regulations.
• Offer flexible hours to meet the needs of working parents.

25. Digital Product Selling

With the surge in online shopping and digital consumption, selling digital products is becoming an increasingly attractive option.

Digital product selling involves creating and selling non-tangible products like ebooks, digital art, music, or software.

The advantage? Low overhead costs, no shipping hassles, and the ability to earn passive income. It's a great side business idea .

You can sell digital products through an online store on platforms like Etsy or your own website. Effective marketing strategies , like social media marketing and search engine optimization , can drive traffic to your products.

• Identify a niche that aligns with your skills and interests.
• Create high-quality digital products.
• Optimize product listings for visibility.
• Build a strong online presence to promote your products.

26. Custom Clothing & Tailoring

If you've got a knack for design and sewing, a custom clothing and tailoring business could be your runway to success.

This business involves creating custom clothing items or providing tailoring services. As people increasingly seek unique and personalized fashion, this small business idea for women can provide a good income.

You can operate from home or a small workspace. While an online presence can help attract a broader audience, a local brick-and-mortar business can also thrive with good word-of-mouth referrals.

• Master sewing skills and keep up with fashion trends.
• Network with local communities and online platforms for exposure.
• Maintain a portfolio of your work to showcase it to potential clients.
• Provide exceptional customer service to encourage repeat business.

27. Personal Brand Consulting

If you're a branding expert or have a keen understanding of how to build strong personal brands, this might be the new business idea you've been looking for.

Personal brand consulting involves helping individuals build and manage their personal brands. This service is crucial for professionals, entrepreneurs, influencers, and public figures looking to establish their unique brand image.

You can offer your consulting services remotely, making it a versatile business that you can run from anywhere. Your marketing strategy can include networking, online marketing, and referrals.

• Understand your clients' goals to create a compelling personal brand strategy.
• Stay informed about the latest branding trends and statistics .
• Develop strong communication skills to articulate your client's brand effectively.
• Showcase successful client case studies to attract more clients.

28. Custom-made Gift Baskets

Gift-giving occasions abound, and people are always on the lookout for unique presents. That's where custom-made gift baskets enter the scene as a thoughtful, personalized solution.

This business revolves around curating themed gift baskets tailored to specific occasions or individual preferences. It's a great business idea for the creatively inclined and can be an excellent source of making money online around holidays and special occasions.

You can start this business from the comfort of your home, sourcing products locally or online. Leverage social media platforms and e-commerce sites to reach potential customers.

• Focus on creating visually appealing and thoughtful gift baskets.
• Develop relationships with reliable vendors for quality products.
• Offer customization to cater to individual client needs.
• Promote your business, especially during holiday seasons and special occasions.

29. Digital Marketing

As businesses strive to build an online presence, the demand for digital marketing expertise is soaring. If you're savvy with SEO, social media, and content creation, consider launching your own digital marketing agency.

Digital marketing involves promoting businesses online through various strategies, including SEO, email marketing, social media marketing, and more. This field provides profitable business opportunities and allows you to work with a variety of clients.

You can start this business from anywhere; all you need is a computer and a reliable internet connection. Build relationships with clients through networking, partnerships, and delivering excellent results.

• Stay updated with the latest digital marketing trends and statistics .
• Specialize in a few areas of digital marketing but understand all aspects.
• Build a strong portfolio to showcase your expertise and win clients.
• Develop communication and reporting skills to maintain transparency with clients.

30. Bespoke Stationery Services

In an increasingly digital world, the charm of bespoke, high-quality stationery hasn't diminished. In fact, it's become a way to stand out and show care in communication, making it a unique business opportunity.

Bespoke stationery services offer personalized paper products like invitations, letterheads, business cards, and more. They provide a touch of luxury and personalization that many individuals and businesses are willing to pay for, making it a potentially successful business.

This can be started as a home-based business with the necessary design software and printing equipment or through outsourcing. You can sell your products via your online store, social media, or local businesses.

• Understand your customers' needs to create designs that resonate with them.
• Develop relationships with quality paper suppliers and printing services.
• Invest time in creating a stunning portfolio to showcase your work.
• Network with event planners, business owners, and other potential clients.

31. Day Trading

Day trading, a fast-paced financial venture, can be a potent mix of strategy, research, and intuition.

With technological advances and a shift towards more flexible work-from-home scenarios, day trading has become more accessible. This goes to show the potential of profitable avenues for female entrepreneurs interested in the financial market.

Day trading involves buying and selling financial instruments, like stocks, within the same trading day. Traders aim to make profits from small price movements in highly liquid stocks or indexes.

The appeal? You can start this business from home, armed with a good internet connection and a well-researched understanding of the stock market.

As a day trader, your office can be anywhere, from a home study to a cozy cafe. What you need is a reliable internet connection, a laptop, and a trading account with a reputable brokerage.

Learn to analyze market trends, read financial charts, and understand indicators. Trading platforms also offer demo accounts where you can practice before committing real money.

• Understanding the basics of day trading, market mechanisms, and analysis techniques is critical. Numerous online courses can help you gain these skills.
• A well-crafted trading plan can keep you grounded, helping you make informed decisions and minimize impulsive moves.
• Never risk more than 2% of your trading account on a single trade. It's about longevity and consistently making profitable trades over time.
• Keep up with financial news and events, as they can greatly impact the stock market.

What Are The Best Small Business Ideas For Women?

After exploring a plethora of small-scale business ideas, I've come down to my top five picks. I believe these options offer the greatest potential and are particularly well-suited to female entrepreneurs.

• Online Course Creation: This taps into your expertise, has low startup costs, and allows flexibility. Sharing knowledge can be truly rewarding, both personally and financially.
• Home-Based Catering: It's ideal for those with culinary skills, and the demand for customized food services is growing. Plus, who doesn't love good food?
• Digital Marketing Agency: It leverages the booming digital space and caters to all businesses that need an online presence. It requires your skills and creativity, not heavy investments.
• Personal Styling Services: If you have an eye for fashion, this is your calling. With the ever-changing fashion industry, style guidance is always in demand.
• Virtual Assistant Services: Perfect for organized multitaskers. More professionals seek assistance for administrative tasks, allowing you to capitalize on a variety of skills.

These options encapsulate creativity, passion, expertise, and the ability to scale, making them our top picks.

However, the best business idea for you would be something that aligns with your passion and skills, meets market demand, and fits your lifestyle. Go for it, and become your own boss!

Explore Further

• 17 Passive Income Ideas 2023
• 9 Steps To Achieving Financial Freedom Fast
• 21 Small Business Ideas To Make Money Online
• 12 Most Successful Women Entrepreneurs

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Anastasia belyh.

Anastasia has been a professional blogger and researcher since 2014. She loves to perform in-depth software reviews to help software buyers make informed decisions when choosing project management software, CRM tools, website builders, and everything around growing a startup business.

Anastasia worked in management consulting and tech startups, so she has lots of experience in helping professionals choosing the right business software.

46 great business ideas for women entrepreneurs

Have you always dreamed of being an entrepreneur and want to know the best business ideas for women? If you’ve answered “ yes! ” to this question, I have 46 suggestions for you!

One in five businesses with a revenue of $1 million+ is a women-owned business, and those businesses generate $1.7 trillion in sales as of 2017. More and more women are looking for new ways to find a fulfilling career, and for many of them, that means venturing out on their own and starting their own businesses.

Over 40% of businesses in the United States are owned by women, and they generate over $1.8 billion in revenue every year according to Forbes . More and more women are looking for new ways to find a fulfilling career, and for many of them, that means venturing out on their own and starting their own businesses.

So, if you are one of them and are looking to leave your full-time job for good or simply want to make extra money from a brick and mortar, or home-based business, I will cover business ideas in the following categories:

Small business ideas for women

Online business ideas for women, entrepreneur ideas for women, side hustles for women, fun business ideas for women.

• Best businesses to start from home for women

1. Freelance photographer

Freelance photography is a highly sought-after business skill. If you have photography skills or have always wanted to learn photography, you can easily find work taking photos for brands worldwide.

Freelance photographers can make anywhere between $25 and $100 per hour on average.

2. Interior designer

You can start your own interior design business if you have an eye for design. If you always get compliments when someone visits your home, it’s a sign that you have good taste and skills in decorating. So, utilize them and offer interior design consulting, either in-person or online.

3. Yoga instructor

The pandemic made it easier than ever to get certified to be a yoga or pilates instructor (you can find certification courses online!), and it also increased the demand for at-home workouts.

So, if you are into wellness and have a passion for teaching, becoming a yoga instructor can be a great business idea. You can teach at the studio, get your own private studio or offer classes online.

4. Jewelry brand

Have a passion for jewelry? Always get compliments on pieces you’re wearing and could spend hours shopping for just the right necklace? Then you might consider starting a jewelry brand. You can either take a course and learn to create jewelry yourself. Or you can stick with design alone and outsource the production to professionals.

5. A personal trainer

If you love fitness and the gym, you could get a certification and start working as a personal trainer . It’s fairly easy to get certified in most countries, and you can start by getting clients through friends and family until you build a regular roster of clients.

A personal trainer’s salary starts from $25 per hour and can go up to thousands, depending on the clientele and location.

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6. Nutritionist

Getting a certification for being a nutritionist might take longer, but it’s also a great option if you love food and a healthy lifestyle. You can find clients through friends and family and work with them face-to-face or offer online coaching.

If you are passionate about fashion, why not start your own styling business? Many people are looking for styling advice, and you can start by offering free consultations until you build a reputation.

8. Personal chef

Personal chefs are becoming more popular in large cities where busy professionals don’t have time to cook but still want something nutritious and delicious. You can find clients through friends and family, working with people locally.

9. Esthetician

The beauty industry is worth over 500 billion US dollars . And the demand for various beauty treatments is growing every year. If you love taking care of your skin, you might want to consider getting a certification as an esthetician and opening your own beauty salon.

10. Make-up artists

Another beauty-related business idea is becoming a make-up artist. You can do make-up without a certificate, but you can get one in any beauty school if you want. Start with doing make-up on friends and family and get referrals that way.

11. Freelance illustrator

If you have always loved to draw and create art as a hobby, you might want to consider becoming a freelance illustrator. You can work with ad agencies, create ads, work with authors to create book covers or simply take on commission work with brands.

12. Freelance graphic designer

As a graphic designer, you can create brand identities and website designs for corporate or private clients and work with ad and marketing agencies to help them design promotional materials.

13. Ghostwriter

If you have always wanted to be a published author and write a book but want to remain anonymous, you could start a ghostwriting business. You can ghostwrite blog posts, articles, books, and everything in between from the comfort of your own home.

14. Video editor

If you love filming and editing videos, then starting a video editing business is a good way to go. Video editing skills are in demand , so you’ll be able to find a ton of work, commercial and private (working with Youtube creators or other small entrepreneurs).

15. Podcast producer

Podcasting is also on the rise, and all podcast shows need audio editors and producers. If you have the skills or want to take an online course and learn the skill, then you might consider starting a podcast production company.

16. Freelance web developer

Building websites is a lucrative business idea for you if you have a passion for IT and coding. Every business needs an online presence, and with the technologies always changing, they will always need someone to help them build the perfect website.

17. PR agency

If you work in public relations or are passionate about working with people, then starting your PR agency might be a good business idea. You can work with individual influencers or brands, helping them craft their identities and grow their businesses.

18. Online community

Online communities are thriving in the age of social media. There are plenty of free online communities where people with common interests or goals can connect. And there are also paid communities that offer different benefits for their members.

Good examples are BossBabe , a community for women in business, and Freelancing Females , a community for women who work as freelancers.

19. Travel agency

If you love to travel, you might want to consider starting a travel agency. Travel agents scour the world for the best holiday destinations and deals, put together holiday packages for different occasions and work with people to ensure they have the best vacation experience.

You will have to connect hotels and local tour guides with tourists, so it might be beneficial to be familiar with the country or even speak the language to ensure you can get the most authentic offers and experiences for your clients.

If you enjoy communicating with people and helping them find purpose and a path in life, you might consider becoming a life coach. Life coaches work with people, helping them navigate certain areas of their life. You can be focused on productivity, time management , confidence, dating, relationships, body confidence, end more.

21. Online course

Creating and selling online courses is one of the best online business ideas for women. You can create an online course on a variety of topics, from wellness to business, and make money sharing your knowledge on a topic with other people.

Online course platforms like Teachable make hosting and running an online course effortless and possible for everyone. It’s easy and affordable to set up, and you have many different tools to help you create landing pages to sell and promote your course.

22. Content creator

If you have always dreamed of creating and sharing content on social media, then content creation might be the right business idea for you. Content creators can work with brands directly, creating content for their platforms, like BuzzFeed.

Or, you can go solo and grow your social media following by posting online and building your audience. Content creators have many different ways to monetize their business, from affiliate marketing to brand sponsorships, and the sky is the limit when it comes to how much you can make as a content creator.

One downside to this business is how often the social media landscape changes. As a content creator, you’ll always have to be ready to adapt and learn new platforms and how to utilize them for your business.

23. Online store

Ecommerce is a popular women-owned business idea. You can start an online store in a few steps with Shopify and sell anything, from clothing, and jewelry, to kitchen appliances. And social media is one of the easiest places to promote your online store and get more eyes on your products.

24. Wedding planning

Wedding planning is a lucrative business idea. As a wedding planner, you’ll work with clients to help them prepare for their weddings, helping them find the best venue and catering, send out invitations and make sure that the program for the event goes smoothly.

You can organize weddings locally where you live. Or, you might opt for starting a destination wedding planning business, planning celebrations abroad.

25. Open an Amazon store

Selling products on Amazon is a very lucrative business idea. You can pick out products from wholesalers, create a store on Amazon, and sell them for a profit.

26. Transcription

You can find transcription work from home. If you’re a fast typer and don’t mind repetitive admin work, then this side hustle is perfect for you. You can find companies hiring and applying without any prior experience or certification needed.

27. Teach English

If you love language and teaching people, then you might want to consider teaching people English online. There are companies that allow you to register with them and find people, or you might put up an ad on Facebook or Craigslist and find clients yourself.

If you have a love for math, science, or another subject, you might start a tutoring side hustle, either in person or online. You can tutor small kids or teenagers, depending on your knowledge levels.

29. Dog walking

Dog walking can be a great side hustle for animal lovers. You can start by asking your neighbors or putting up local ads to let people know about your services.

30. Consulting

If you work in business, finance, IT, or any other sector but want an extra way to make money, you might consider doing consulting on the side. A lot of firms hire outside consultants and pay top dollar for their services.

31. Sell art

All the artists have the opportunity to sell their art online, either through social media or places like Etsy. If you’re passionate about painting, put up your art for sale to make extra money.

32. Customer service

33. Candlemaking

Candles are extremely popular everywhere. You can create themed candles for every season, book-related candles for book lovers, or massage oil candles for couples and sell them on Etsy.

34. Organization expert

If your home is always organized and your favorite time to pass the time by organizing your home, you might want to consider starting a professional home organization business. You can have fun helping other people organize their lives and homes.

35. Podcast

Podcasting can be a great business idea if you have a passion for media. The demand for audio content is growing, brands are always looking for new podcasts to advertise on. And some podcasts are even able to build large enough audiences that they’re legitimate multi-million dollar businesses.

36. Start a Youtube channel

YouTuber is one of the most popular career choices for the younger generation. And not without reason. Top YouTube creators report earning millions from turning their channels into businesses.

You are free to choose whatever topic you’d want your channel to revolve around, and as it grows, you can monetize it in various ways like affiliate marketing, AdSense, brand deals, and more.

37. Vintage reseller

Reselling clothing and vintage furniture on eBay or Facebook Marketplace can turn into a profitable business. One of the best examples is the clothing store Nasty Gal , which started out as an eBay store selling second-hand vintage clothing.

You can find stock to sell in your local second-hand and charity shops and find the best deal on furniture. You might want to look for local yard sales.

38. Voice actress

Narrating audiobooks is a great business idea for those with a pleasant voice. The damn for audiobooks is growing amongst book lovers each year. You can start with companies like ACX or start your own company offering voice-acting services for authors.

Best business to start from home for women

39. affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is one of the most lucrative online business models. It’s a form of marketing when you make money by earning a commission for recommending products and people using your affiliate link to purchase the products. It’s a form of passive income that can make you up to $50,000+ per month.

Most companies have an affiliate marketing program available that you can sign up for direct and start earning a commission. Alternatively, you can join an affiliate network.

40. Blogging

Blogging is a perfect home-based business idea for stay-at-home moms or anyone looking for freedom at work. You can blog about anything you want, there is a niche for most topics, and you can always monetize your blog , even with a smaller audience.

41. Proofreader

Proofreaders work with publishing houses, independent authors, and corporate clients to help them make sure their written content is free from grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. If you have attention to detail, then proofreading might be a good business idea.

42. A virtual assistant

If you’re looking for a business idea where you would have an opportunity of working from home, then starting out a virtual assistant business might be for you. Virtual assistants do a variety of tasks like invoices, emails, agenda management, social media management, and more.

Average earnings for virtual assistants are $24 per hour. But it can go up to $60+ per hour.

43. Freelance editor

If you have a good grasp of the English language and have attention to detail, you can start a freelance editing business. Freelance editors work with bloggers, corporate clients, and authors to make sure that written content is grammatically correct or help develop structure and plot and ensure its quality.

44. Freelance writer

As a freelance writer, you’ll work with a range of different clients in writing blog content, product descriptions, website copy, ebooks, white papers, magazine articles, SEO writing, and much more. Freelance writers can earn anything between $10 to $1,000+ per piece of content, depending on their skill set, the industry they’re in, and experience.

45. Sell on Etsy

Etsy is the best place for small businesses. You can open an online store and sell various things without the fuss of managing an online store. Anything from vintage clothing to handcrafted bowls and digital downloads can be sold on Etsy, so you have many options to choose from.

46. Social media management

Social media management is the type of business that gives you flexibility and allows you to choose how you want to run it from a few different options – you can work with individual brands or creators to help them manage their social media accounts. Or you can create an agency where you employ social media managers who manage various social media accounts for different clients.

Let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions about business ideas for women.

What is the best business for a woman to start?

The best business for a woman to start is the one that she is passionate about and has expertise in. One of these two things is key to building a successful, profitable business and ensuring its longevity.

Building a business from the ground up can be lonely and stressful. It might take a while to see any profit, and depending on the idea, it might require a lot of investment, money, or time-wise. So, if you want to start a business, make sure that you are ready to commit to the idea long-term and be patient with it before you see any results.

Which business is good for beginners?

Any business that doesn’t require a large monetary investment or the investment is small enough that you won’t have to take on debt just to get started. Most businesses that fit this criterion are online businesses like selling digital templates, online courses, and affiliate marketing.

Alternatively, you might start a business by utilizing your skills like writing, or editing, because they don’t require any upfront cost. Also, starting a YouTube channel or becoming a social media influencer as you can do most filming and editing with your phone without needing to invest in professional equipment.

How can a woman start a small business?

The process of starting a business is fairly straightforward. First, you’ll want to decide on what kind of business you want to have:

• Online or brick-and-mortar business?
• Product or service-based business?
• B2B (business-to-business) or B2C (business-to-consumer)?

Once you decide, the next step will be to register your business. Depending on what type of business you decide to build, you might want to register as self-employed (a popular option for service-based businesses) or register as an LLC.

You’ll also probably want to create a website for your business and start posting on social media so your target audience can find you. After you have everything ready and set up, you’ll want to work on building a connection with your audience, creating a community of superfans who will want to buy and support your business.

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Karolina Wilde , Karolina Wilde is a freelance writer. Her work has been published on Better Marketing, The Ascent, and Sexography reaching over 25,000+ readers. In her free time, you can find her podcasting, reading, or creating TikTok videos.

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27 Best Business Ideas For Women 2024

Did you know that 42% of small businesses are started by women? But wait—it gets better! Female business owners break the glass ceiling by earning more revenue and growing businesses faster than men. That’s why we created a list of the best business ideas for women.

These business ideas cover the full span of the U.S. economy, showing that the ladies can do anything men can do—and often, they do it better! 

Click on some of the business ideas below to find out more about how to start your own business.

3 Best Business Ideas For Women

3 manufacturing business for ladies ideas, 3 online business ideas for women, 3 best small business ideas from home for ladies, 3 self-employed ideas for females, 12 unique business ideas for ladies.

#1. Real estate

• Average Annual Revenue: $298,870 • Average Profit Margins: 44.6% • Startup Costs: $500-$5K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.3% • Best for: strong saleswomen and negotiators, female entrepreneurs who want a passive income

If you want to pick up on strategies and methods to get into the real estate business, watch how Thach Real Estate Group became a successful business through the learnings and experience of the founder, Thach Nguyen.

Two of the largest real estate companies in the U.S., Howard Hanna and Perry Homes, are owned by women . If you have financial resources, investing in real estate is among the best business ideas for women who want to grow their company to 7 figures and beyond.

Multi-unit residential properties are among the most reliable recession-proof investments available. That’s where Emma Powell built her company, which today manages more than 300 units and earns revenue of over $25,000 a month. Listen to her podcast interview below to hear how she got started in investing: 

#2. Restaurants

• Average Annual Revenue: $1,177,860 • Average Profit Margins: 4% • Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M • Time To Revenue: 6-18 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.2% • Best for: foodies and cooks, people with strong customer service and time management skills, effective leaders, managers, and motivators

Opening a restaurant is a risk, but it’s one that can pay off big time. The female-owned Panda Express chain of restaurants had revenue over $4.5 billion in 2022 , for example. The industry as a whole was projected to reach $997 billion in 2023, so there’s plenty of revenue to go around in this industry. 

For those who don’t have the financial resources to open a brick-and-mortar business, food trucks are great business ideas for women. Jen Gustin started Boss Mama’s Kitchen to break free from her corporate job and become her own boss. Two years later, she was named Food Truck of the Year by South Sound Magazine. Hear how she grew her business in this video:

#3. Human resources

• Average Annual Revenue: $216,855 • Average Profit Margins: 10.2% • Startup Costs: $500-$5K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.4% • Best for: system-driven and organized entrepreneurs who are strong leaders and communicators

When Janice Bryant Howroyd started her human resource management company, she only had $1,500 to her name. Now, it’s a $2.5 billion firm with more than 17,000 clients around the world. 

What makes HR one of the top business ideas for women is that it’s always in demand. Every company needs employees to function, and managing that team is a challenge for many entrepreneurs. If you excel at communication, leadership, and organization, you can make a good living helping them solve that challenge. 

Jessica Miller-Merrell started her HR firm, Workology, in 2005, and has gained national recognition, being honored by Forbes as one of the top recruitment resources. Hear her story and advice in this podcast:

#1. Build custom sheds

• Average Annual Revenue: $696,950 • Average Profit Margins: 3.4% • Startup Costs: $1K-$100K • Time To Revenue: 1-6 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.3% • Best for: designers, makers, and builders, people with strong visualization, problem-solving, and sales skills

If you’re looking for fun business ideas and love building things, a small business making custom sheds can be a great way to earn money. While you will need some construction knowledge and permits, the licensing requirements are less stringent than with full home construction, giving it a lower barrier to entry. 

Susan Frair drew on her expertise in sales when she started Shed Gal, and in a few short years, grew to the number one shed dealer in the state of Washington. You can learn more about her business model and how she finds business opportunities in this video:

#2. Make your own beauty products

• Average Annual Revenue: $1,489,574.8 • Average Profit Margins: 5.7% • Startup Costs: $500-$250K • Time To Revenue: 3+ months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2% • Best for: make-up artists, beauty influencers, cosmetic chemists, hair and skin care experts

The manufacturing segment of the beauty industry is massive, valued at $49.7 billion in 2022 . There are still plenty of underserved niches in this market, too, and if you have ideas for products to fill them, it can be a very lucrative business idea. 

Charmaine Nicole started her small business, Black Hair and Skincare, based on her own struggles to find beauty products designed for people with alopecia. She’s grown it not just into a successful business, but also a community for people of color around the world. Learn how she started and grew her business in this podcast interview:

#3. Start your own shoe or clothing line

• Average Annual Revenue: $114,700 • Average Profit Margins: 10.3% • Startup Costs: $500-$250K • Time To Revenue: 3+ months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.0% • Best for: fashionistas tuned into fashion trends, designers, and artists with strong sales and marketing skills

The fast pace of change in the fashion industry is both a challenge and an opportunity for female entrepreneurs. On the negative side, it can make sustaining your own business a challenge. That said, the fashion world is always looking for what’s next, and that makes a clothing or shoe line good business ideas for women able to anticipate these trends. 

Afshan Abbas was inspired to start a new business, Fuchsia Shoes, after buying a unique pair of artisan shoes in Pakistan. That proved to be a lucrative business venture, especially once she partnered with online influencers. Hear her full story in this video:

#1. Start an online store

• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K • Average Profit Margins: 5-15% • Startup Costs: $100-$10K • Time To Revenue: 30-90 days • Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3% • Best for: artists and makers, graphic designers, women entrepreneurs with strong sales and marketing skills

Selling products through an online store is one of the easiest and most affordable online business ideas to start. It can be a very profitable business idea, too, especially if you have digital marketing skills or a large social media presence. 

As far as what you can sell, the options are just about endless. Jewelry, custom apparel, and home decor are popular niches, especially for those who enjoy productive crafts like knitting and woodworking. 

Jazmin Richards, for example, started making clean-burning candles for her own use. She turned that into an online store, Blk Sunflower, and made $300,000 in her first 18 months. Hear how she grew her business in this video:

If you’d rather not deal with inventory, a print-on-demand store can make an excellent small business for women. Kerry Egeler from The Shirt School shared his advice on starting a custom apparel business online in this podcast: 

#2. Make and sell online courses

• Average Annual Revenue: $234,540 • Average Profit Margins: 5.8% • Startup Costs: $100-$1K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1% • Best for: people with in-demand or niche skills and knowledge, teachers and educators

One advantage to online courses is that they’re a mostly-passive source of income once you make and release them. Because of this, an online course is one of the best online business ideas for women who are parents, students, or otherwise can’t always devote full-time hours to a business. 

The biggest challenge with an online course is that you have to put in a lot of time to make it before you can start earning revenue. People who already create educational content have an advantage here since they can repurpose blog posts, lesson plans, or other materials into their courses. 

For more advice on how to make money online selling courses, check out this podcast interview with Jacques Hopkins. He turned his hobby playing piano into a very lucrative business idea:

#3. Social media management

• Average Annual Revenue: $817K • Average Profit Margins: 6.9% • Startup Costs: $100-$10K • Time To Revenue: 1-6 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 19.4% • Best for: writers, marketing and digital media experts, women entrepreneurs with advertising and PR expertise

Social media marketing has become the go-to way for both online and brick-and-mortar business owners to connect with customers. Many small business owners don’t have the time or skills to effectively use social media for their small businesses, though, or the budget to hire an in-house social media manager. 

This makes opening your own digital marketing agency a good business idea for a business woman who has social media management skills and experience. With a 2022 market size of over $193 billion and an annual growth rate of 19.4%, there is ample profit to go around in this industry. 

The biggest challenge of opening your own business as a social media manager is often finding clients and building their trust. Jason of Socialistics shared how he started and grew his marketing agency in the video below:

#1. Photography business

• Average Annual Revenue: $50K • Average Profit Margins: 7.3% • Startup Costs: $1K-$10K • Time To Revenue: 1-6 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.3% • Best for: photographers and visual artists with strong customer service, communication, and organization skills

Have you ever wanted to turn a hobby into a lucrative business? Check out how Korbin and Whitney started out, turning their passion into a business they find enjoyment in doing.

There are a variety of ways to start your own photography business from home. You could convert a spare room into an in-home portrait studio, provide mobile photography services for events, or work with other small business owners to help them make marketing materials and promote your brand. 

If you’d rather set your own schedule, a photography business can also make money online by selling prints or print-on-demand products in an online store, taking on freelance clients, or selling stock images to websites like Shutterstock or Getty Images. 

The variety of potential revenue streams is one reason it’s among the best business ideas for women at home who have an artistic eye and photography skills. As you gain skills and grow your brand, you can even make money sharing those skills through a coaching business or online course. That’s how Katelyn James Photography makes a mostly-passive 7-figure revenue with her photography business. Hear how she did it in this podcast interview:

#2. In-home childcare business

• Average Annual Revenue: $143,110 • Average Profit Margins: 0.9% • Startup Costs: $0-$1K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 51.7% • Best for: stay-at-home moms, teachers, and babysitters who are detail-oriented, patient, and have strong interpersonal skills

Offering childcare services is an excellent way for moms and caregivers to become small business owners. As more companies call their workers back to the office, babysitting and childcare services are increasingly in demand, especially in urban areas with a high number of potential customers.  

The advantage of an in-home daycare, as opposed to a nanny or babysitting service, is that you can watch multiple kids at once, expanding your potential revenue. 

#3. Wedding planning business 

• Average Annual Revenue: $93,796 • Average Profit Margins: 13.8% • Startup Costs: $500-$5K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.9% • Best for: strong networkers with organization, planning, and customer service skills

If you excel at organizing parties, meetings, and other gatherings, event planning is a great business idea to pursue. Wedding planning specifically is one of the most profitable business ideas in the event planning niche, with a market value of around $900 million in the U.S. in 2022.

While people of any gender can work in event planning, the majority of wedding planners are female entrepreneurs. Not only is this an easy small business idea to start from home, it also has low startup costs and ongoing expenses, with typical profit margins of up to 90%.

These low costs are one reason it’s among the top home business ideas for women who are skilled planners and communicators. Since most weddings take place on the weekend, it’s also among the best side business ideas for ladies looking to make extra money to supplement a full-time job.

#1. Freelance writing business

• Average Annual Revenue: $712K per employee • Average Profit Margins: 14.6% • Startup Costs: $100-$200 • Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 years • Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.5% • Best for: language experts, bloggers, writers with search engine optimization and marketing skills

Freelance writers can make money in a lot of ways. The type of content you write can range from a blog post or news article to an entire book. The flexibility freelance writers enjoy makes it a great side business idea, as well as a potential full-time job. If you’re skilled with grammar and detail-oriented, you can expand your services with a freelance editing business.

It also doesn’t cost anything to become a freelance writer, and you can start your business online from home. This puts it among the most popular small business ideas for girl students, as well as an affordable online business for women with a strong command of the English language.

#2. Graphic design business

• Average Annual Revenue: $123,240 • Average Profit Margins: 13.5% • Startup Costs: $500-$5K • Time To Revenue: 3+ months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 2% • Best for: visual artists, creative entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs with web design, user interface, or similar tech skills

For visual artists, doing freelance graphic design work is a great way to make extra money, and is among the best home business ideas for ladies with artistic skills. People and businesses who need logos, website graphics, and other images often hire freelancers on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork . Create an account, and you can start making money right away.

You don’t need to take on clients to start your own business in graphic design, either. Another option is to sell products featuring your designs. That’s what Vlad Kuksenko did when he started his 7-figure Etsy shop TagPup (see his story in the video below):

#3. Data entry

• Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K • Average Profit Margins: 10.5% • Startup Costs: $100-$200 • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9% • Best for: detail-oriented and organized entrepreneurs, fast typers, coders, and automation experts

You don’t need much to offer data entry services—just some basic computer equipment, an eye for detail, and decent typing skills. The low barrier for entry and flexibility of the work are ideal for women seeking home-based small businesses they can easily fit into their life.

#1. Interior design

• Average Annual Revenue: $168,360 • Average Profit Margins: 10.6% • Startup Costs: $1K-$100K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2% • Best for: creative entrepreneurs with strong communication, collaboration, and organization skills

Interior design is among the best small business ideas for women who don’t just have an artistic eye but are also able to bring other people’s creative vision to life. Making connections with other local small businesses is often the best way to grow a business in this niche, so it’s a great small business idea for creative women who excel at networking.

#2. Virtual bookkeeping business

• Average Annual Revenue: $206,910 • Average Profit Margins: 13.9% • Startup Costs: $500-$5K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.6% • Best for: accountants, business and financial experts

Keeping track of financial transactions is critical for a small business, and virtual bookkeepers help business owners to do so. While you will need strong math and accounting skills, you don’t need to be licensed as a CPA to start. 

That lower barrier to entry, along with the flexibility and low startup costs it offers, is why a virtual bookkeeping business is among the top business ideas for women who are mathematically-minded.

#3. Resell shoes or vintage clothes

• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K • Average Profit Margins: 5-15% • Startup Costs: $100-$1K • Time To Revenue: 30-90 days • Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3% • Best for: shoppers and collectors, fashionable entrepreneurs, women with strong sales skills

If you have a knack for finding the best items at thrift stores and garage sales, reselling is one of the small business ideas you should consider. 

All you need to get started is knowledge of fashion trends and brands and a minimal budget to get your first items. You can reinvest the profit from those sales to grow the business further. Sneak City started this way, with just $50 and working out of a garage. Now they’re a thriving brick-and-mortar business with multiple storefronts. They shared their story in this YouTube interview:

#4. Professional organizer

• Average Annual Revenue: $168,360 • Average Profit Margins: 10.6% • Startup Costs: $1K-$100K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2% • Best for: highly organized entrepreneurs, strong planners, communicators, and collaborators, creative problem-solvers

Being a professional organizer is among the best business ideas for women who have both right-brain and left-brain intelligence. 

Organizers help others to declutter and order their homes, offices, or other spaces, improving their clients’ mental health along the way and giving them tools to maintain the system you help them establish. To do this, you need a lot of empathy and strong communication skills, along with analytical, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills.

Since you’ll work in the client’s space, this is among the top business ideas for women at home, and it also offers a low start-up cost and high flexibility. The biggest challenge is often establishing your reputation to build a client base. If you’re a strong marketer or networker, that can be an advantage for growing your new business faster.

#5. Start a farm

• Average Annual Revenue: $263,500 • Average Profit Margins: 27.9% • Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M • Time To Revenue: 6-18 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.5% • Best for: women entrepreneurs who love working outside with their hands; hard-working, patient, and organized problem solvers

People don’t think of farming as a lucrative profession, but the truth is the median household income of farmers was $92,239 in 2021 , higher than the American average. Roughly 89% of farms in the U.S. are small businesses, so there’s a lot of room in this space for future women entrepreneurs who want to work the land for a living. 

Marion Acres started from scratch in 2012 as a way for two families to grow their own food. It’s now a thriving chicken farm with its own market and processing plant. You can see how they got started in this video:

#6. Dropshipping business

• Average Annual Revenue: $36K-$50K • Average Profit Margins: 5% • Startup Costs: $150-$500 • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 25% • Best for: experts in social media and marketing, process-oriented and organized entrepreneurs, people seeking flexibility and passive income

Dropshipping is an ideal way for women entrepreneurs to make money online and set their own schedules. In a dropshipping business model, the things you sell are stored and shipped from elsewhere, giving it very low start-up and ongoing costs.

The flexible time commitment of dropshipping makes it a great way to start your own online business while still working a full-time job, and it can bring in enough revenue to serve as your sole income stream if you have the time to commit to it. 

Heather Johnson started her print-on-demand dropshipping business to make extra money when her hours were cut during the pandemic. In a few short years, she’s grown it to $15,000 a month in revenue. Hear her story in this interview:

#7. Open a bakery business

• Average Annual Revenue: $1.52 million per year • Average Profit Margins: 5.4% • Startup Costs: $100-$3M • Time To Revenue: 1-6 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1% • Best for: food-lovers, creative entrepreneurs with strong customer service skills

Like other businesses in the food industry, opening a bakery can be a big investment, but with an equally big potential payoff. It’s among the best small business ideas for women who love to bake and love interacting with people.

There are many niches you can choose as a bakery, too. Some focus on treats like cupcakes and pastries, while others make bread and other baked goods to sell to restaurants and stores.The right niche for you will depend on both your interests and your local market.

#8. Personal trainer

• Average Annual Revenue: $16,867 • Average Profit Margins: 10.9% • Startup Costs: $500-$5K • Time To Revenue: 1-6 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.6% • Best for: athletes and fitness experts, outgoing female entrepreneurs who excel at motivating and communicating with others

The fitness industry is large and growing, projected to reach a total market value of $5.77 billion by 2027. This makes a fitness training business a great small business idea for female entrepreneurs who are passionate about exercise and health. It’s also a potentially profitable business, with the average independent personal trainer earning just over $54,000 a year in take-home income. 

A personal trainer business has very low upfront costs, in part because you don’t need your own brick-and-mortar storefront. You can open a home-based studio if you have the space, or offer mobile services, working with clients in their homes. You can even offer remote services with video conferencing, or in an online course that can serve as an extra passive income stream.  

In this interview with Bedros Keuilian, see how this self-made entrepreneur went from eating from bins to making $200 million a year with his franchise Fit Body Boot Camp and business coaching company Empire Systems.

#9. Home, office, or Airbnb cleaning business

• Average Annual Revenue: $74,880 • Average Profit Margins: 6.7% • Startup Costs: $1K-$30K • Time To Revenue: 1-6 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2% • Best for: housekeepers and homemakers, organized and tidy entrepreneurs

Cleaning is one of those things every home or business needs but most people don’t like to do. This makes it a perfect business idea for women business owners who enjoy bringing order to chaos and don’t mind getting their hands dirty now and then. 

Chris Mondragon started Bumble Bee Cleaning Services (formerly Queen Bee) with about $5,000 and now teaches other business owners how to do the same in his 7-Figure Cleaning Business Blueprint . You can see what a typical day in his life is like in this video if you’re curious about the day-to-day of starting your own business:

The variety of cleaning jobs available is another reason this is a great business idea. Chris gets a lot of his revenue from cleaning Airbnbs, in addition to his residential cleaning clients. If you’re not sure which niche to choose, do some market research on the services already offered in your area to see where there’s a gap you can fill. 

#10. Life coach

• Average Annual Revenue: $63,400 • Average Profit Margins: 10.5% • Startup Costs: $500-$5K • Time To Revenue: 1-3 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.5% • Best for: Strong motivators and communicators, problem-solvers, mental health professionals

A life coach helps their clients overcome challenges in their career, relationships, or other areas of their life. That makes it a very rewarding career and the best business for women who love helping others thrive. If you’re the person your friends always turn to for advice, becoming a life coach is a natural way to start your own business sharing that problem-solving talent with others. 

#11. Laundry business

• Average Annual Revenue: $311,220 • Average Profit Margins: 22.1% • Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M • Time To Revenue: 6-18 months • Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.1% • Best for: customer service pros with high attention to detail

Laundry is a universal chore, but not everyone has the equipment at home (or the time) to do it themselves. A laundry business provides a useful service that’s consistently in-demand, making it a great choice as a woman-owned small business. 

Opening a laundromat does require more up-front investment than other options on the list. On the plus side, though, it has potential to be a mostly-passive income stream with the right team. Hear how Rosie Wash Express Laundry started and grew her laundromat business in this interview:

#12. Baby equipment rental business

• Average Annual Revenue: $2,157,420 • Average Profit Margins: 3.9% • Startup Costs: $500-$250K • Time To Revenue: 3+ months • Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.7% • Best for: moms, childcare professionals, organized and system-oriented entrepreneurs

Baby equipment is expensive—which makes it even more frustrating considering how quickly they grow out of it. A rental business lets you help parents get high-quality equipment for less. It’s among the best business ideas for parents because you can make money from items your kids have outgrown rather than letting them sit unused. 

FAQs About What is a Good Business to Start for a Woman

What is the best business for a woman to start.

Great new business ideas for women can come from any industry. According to the most recent data , the most popular entrepreneur ideas for women are in retail (26%), health, beauty and fitness (17%), and food and restaurants (14%). That said, though, the number of female-owned businesses is growing across sectors, and any of the business ideas for a woman on this list can be a great choice for the right entrepreneur.

What percent of women own businesses?

49% of startups are women-owned , but only 7.1% of the female population are business owners. (We calculated this figure using the number of female-owned businesses divided by the number of women in the population.)

Meanwhile, 10.8% of men are small business owners.

How to start a business as a woman

UpFlip’s ultimate guide on how to start a business is an excellent resource that answers this question step-by-step.

Where can I find women in business scholarships?

There are several organizations that offer scholarships for women in business. This College Guidepost list of 16 national business women scholarships is a great place to explore your options.

What is the best way to get a business loan for women?

The Small Business Administration has women-owned business loan resources that you can explore. You can also get advice on finding and obtaining start-up business loans for women in this podcast interview with National Business Capital founder Joseph Camberato, whose company has helped entrepreneurs secure more than $2 billion in funding:

Which Business Idea Will You Choose?

Ladies, y’all are doing phenomenal at raising the bar, creating a more compassionate business culture, and driving success in business. 

It doesn’t matter what business you choose to enter—you are more likely to find success than men.

Keep doing what y’all do well, and, hopefully, we’ll get the better world many of us are trying to build. I hope whatever industry you choose, you make it better for everyone. 

Which of the small business ideas for women will you choose for your next business venture?

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Business Plan for Women: The Fast-Track to Launching Your Dream Venture!

Stephanie Ayala

November 24, 2023

Entrepreneurship

June 19, 2023

Crafting Your Blueprint to Success

Let’s face it, ladies: Stepping into the world of entrepreneurship is like venturing into a wild jungle – exciting yet fraught with unknown challenges. It’s a test of skill, courage, and resilience.

But there’s a secret weapon that can help you navigate this wild ride: a tailored, well-strategized business plan for women .

Every great adventure starts with a roadmap; in business, that roadmap is your plan. It’s not just a document but a guiding light that can illuminate your entrepreneurial path, transforming your passion into profits and your dreams into reality.

If you’ve ever questioned, “Why do I need a business plan?” or if you’re on the fence about creating one, then my friend, you’ve landed on the right page.

In the words of the empowering Eleanor Roosevelt, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

So, ladies, let’s prepare to seize control of our future, embrace the challenges, and discover the joy of creating a robust business plan tailored to our unique needs .

Together, we’ll explore the trials, triumphs, inspirational stories, and even humorous missteps along the journey. So, buckle up, for we’re about to embark on an enlightening journey to demystify the business plan for women.

Ready to join us?

Let’s turn the page and start this exciting chapter of your entrepreneurial story.

Here's What You Will Find

Why Are We Focusing on Business Plans for Women?

The call for business plans is louder than ever in an increasing entrepreneurial spirit. But today, we’re not just discussing any business plan but focusing on business plans crafted specifically for women.

You may ask, “Why this particular emphasis?” The reason is simple yet significant.

While making massive strides in business, women often face unique challenges in their entrepreneurial journeys. From juggling multiple roles to overcoming societal biases, women entrepreneurs navigate a landscape shaped by distinct experiences and responsibilities.

Recognizing these unique needs and addressing them specifically is crucial. And this is precisely where a well-crafted, tailor-made business plan comes into play. It becomes more than a roadmap for business; it’s a compass navigating the trials and triumphs of being a woman in the entrepreneurial world.

By concentrating on business plans for women, we aim to provide a targeted tool. This key resource speaks to the distinct realities, needs, and aspirations of women entrepreneurs who are or will start their businesses .

Understanding the Unique Entrepreneurial Challenges Women Face

For women stepping into the entrepreneurial world, the journey often comes bundled with a unique set of hurdles. By understanding these challenges, we can construct a business plan that serves as a valuable tool to navigate these obstacles.

What are the Specific Hurdles Women Entrepreneurs Often Deal With?

Balancing multiple roles.

Many women entrepreneurs balance their professional aspirations with personal responsibilities, including caregiving and household roles. These dual demands can make time management a significant challenge.

Access to Funding

Research has shown that women entrepreneurs often face difficulties when seeking venture capital. Bias, lack of representation, and limited networks contribute to this funding gap.

Societal Expectations and Bias

Women in business often confront gender stereotypes and biases that can impact their confidence, influence their decision-making , and affect how others perceive them.

Networking Opportunities

Industry networks can sometimes feel like “old boys’ clubs,” making it challenging for women to find mentors, partners, and valuable contacts.

Lack of Representation

With fewer women in leadership roles, there’s a lack of role models and mentors for budding women entrepreneurs.

Why is a Tailored Business Plan Crucial for Addressing These Challenges?

A business plan tailored for women is not just a blueprint for a business—it’s a strategic tool that acknowledges and addresses these unique challenges.

It can help women entrepreneurs set clear professional and personal boundaries , enabling them to manage multiple roles efficiently. It can also be used as a convincing tool to secure funding, presenting a well-researched, compelling case for the viability of the business.

A business plan can guide building strong networks and partnerships, providing strategies for effective networking.

Featuring success stories of women leaders can help counteract the lack of representation and serve as a source of inspiration.

In essence, a business plan crafted specifically for women empowers them to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence, resilience , and foresight, preparing them to overcome any hurdles that come their way.

Key Differences Between a Regular Business Plan and a Business Plan for Women

A business plan is a universal tool that can serve all entrepreneurs. However, to fully empower women entrepreneurs and address their unique challenges and needs, certain modifications and additions can make this tool even more beneficial.

How are the Needs of Women Entrepreneurs Different?

Women entrepreneurs often have to navigate a different set of challenges compared to their male counterparts. As we have discussed, they often grapple with balancing multiple roles, accessing funding, overcoming societal biases, and dealing with a lack of representation and networking opportunities.

Thus, the needs of women entrepreneurs are shaped by their unique experiences and challenges. They need strategies that don’t just work in a business context but also respect and consider their roles outside of work. They require tools to help them overcome systemic barriers, build supportive networks, and inspire them to challenge the status quo.

What Unique Elements Should a Business Plan for Women Include?

Work-life balance strategies.

A business plan for women could benefit from a section dedicated to strategies for managing multiple roles and achieving a healthy work-life balance . This might include time management techniques, delegation strategies, and tools for setting boundaries.

Funding Guidance

Given women’s challenges in accessing funding, a detailed guide on funding sources that are friendly to women entrepreneurs and tips for presenting compelling cases to potential investors can be an invaluable inclusion.

Strategies to Overcome Bias

A section offering advice on addressing and overcoming societal biases and expectations can be empowering. This might include tips on building confidence, handling negotiations, and managing impressions.

Networking Guide

A comprehensive guide to building professional networks can help women tap into industry circles and find mentors and partners. This could include advice on networking strategies, finding mentors, and leveraging social media for business connections.

Inspiring Success Stories

Including stories of successful women entrepreneurs can serve as motivation and prove that success is possible despite the odds. It can also provide real-world examples of how different challenges can be effectively navigated.

By including these unique elements, a business plan for women goes beyond being a traditional business roadmap. It transforms into a comprehensive guidebook that is in tune with the realities, needs, and aspirations of women entrepreneurs, enabling them to carve their path to success.

Step-by-Step Guide: Writing a Business Plan for Women

Creating a business plan that addresses the unique needs of women entrepreneurs requires thoughtfulness and a firm understanding of these specific challenges.

Below is a detailed guide on the key sections of a business plan for women and strategies for writing each effectively.

What are the Sections of a Business Plan for Women?

Executive summary:.

This is the introductory section of your business plan but is typically written last. It summarizes your business and its plans, generally not exceeding two pages. Include your business’s name, nature, ownership structure, and the specific problem it solves.

Detail the products or services you offer, your target market, and your unique selling proposition. Mention your objectives and how your business intends to achieve them. The executive summary is your elevator pitch and can influence whether investors decide to read the rest of your plan.

Company Description:

This section provides a high-level view of your business, its history, current status, the needs it addresses, and how it fulfills those needs uniquely. You should also describe the customers, organizations, or businesses your company serves and what differentiates it from competitors. This is where you communicate your vision and goals, including how your products or services fulfill a gap or provide value in the market.

Market Analysis:

Market analysis presents your research about your industry and market. It includes a review of industry trends, statistics, growth rates, and any major changes in the industry. A thorough customer analysis detailing demographics, psychographics, needs, and how those needs are currently met is essential.

A competitive analysis is also necessary, where you identify your competition, understand their strategies, strengths, and weaknesses, and explain how you’ll establish your market presence.

Organization and Management:

Here, outline your business’s organizational structure and the team leading it. Include the legal structure of your business (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation), the roles and responsibilities of key team members, their experiences, and what they bring to the table. If you have an advisory board, include them too.

Use organizational charts to visualize the hierarchy and flow of responsibility.

Service or Product Line:

Describe what you’re selling or what service you offer in detail. Explain the benefits to customers and how it meets their needs or solves their problems. Include information on the product life cycle, intellectual property rights, and any research and development activities that might lead to new products or services.

Marketing and Sales:

This section defines your marketing and sales strategies. For marketing, detail how you plan to position your business, the pricing model, promotion strategies, and how you’ll distribute your products or services. For sales, describe how you’ll sell your products or services and the sales process.

This could be direct sales, selling through a retailer, online sales, etc.

Funding Request and Financial Projections:

If you’re seeking funding, specify the amount required and how you intend to use the funds over time. Include financial projections such as income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets for the next five years. Provide a break-even analysis and when you expect to make a profit.

This section will demonstrate your business’s financial health and potential profitability.

Work-Life Balance Strategies:

For a woman-centered business plan, this section is particularly important. Here, you can discuss strategies you plan to employ to balance business responsibilities with personal life. These might include time management techniques, outsourcing/delegating tasks, or leveraging technology for efficiency. Also, consider discussing strategies for handling stress and maintaining well-being.

Networking and Mentorship Plan:

Discuss your strategies for building professional networks that can support your business growth. Also, consider including a plan for finding and engaging with mentors who can provide guidance based on their own experiences. Identify networking events, groups, or organizations you plan to join and how you intend to build relationships within your industry.

Strategy to Overcome Bias:

Address how you plan to tackle potential gender bias within your industry. This could involve negotiating techniques, assertive communication, confidence-building strategies, or advocating for women’s rights within your industry.

This section is vital to show your preparedness to handle the gender-specific challenges that may arise during your entrepreneurial journey.

How Can These Sections Be Effectively Written?

Start your business plan with a compelling summary that provides a snapshot of your business. It should include your business name, what you do, your mission statement, and an overview of your plans. Remember, this is your chance to grab the reader’s interest, so make it engaging.

In this section, provide more detailed information about your company. Explain the problems your business will solve and how it will address the needs of your target customers. Highlight the competitive advantage that your business holds.

Demonstrate your industry knowledge here. Detail your understanding of your industry, market size, and trends. Describe your target customer segment, including their needs, demographics, and how your product or service fits into the market.

Outline your business’s organizational structure, ownership information, and the qualifications of your management team. This section will showcase the team’s ability to drive the business to success.

Describe what you’re selling or what service you’re providing. Highlight customer benefits and how the product or service will meet their needs. Don’t forget to discuss the product life cycle and any intellectual property rights.

Outline your marketing and sales strategy. Describe how you plan to attract and retain customers. Consider including unique marketing strategies tailored towards women, if appropriate.

If you’re seeking funding, explain your funding requirements, the purpose of the funds, and future financial plans. Provide a detailed projection of income, cash flow, and balance sheet for the next five years. This will demonstrate your business’s profitability and financial health.

This section should detail how you plan to balance your business and personal life. You might include strategies for delegation, time management, self-care, and setting boundaries.

Discuss your plan for building professional networks and finding mentors. Highlight any existing networks you plan to tap into and how you intend to forge new ones.

Address how you plan to handle potential gender bias in your industry. This could involve strategies for negotiations, building confidence, and assertive communication.

Each of these sections should be tailored to your unique business context. Remember, your business plan is not set in stone.

As your business grows and changes, so too should your business plan. Regular updates will ensure that your plan continues serving your needs and supporting your success journey.

Practical Steps Towards Drafting Your Business Plan

Crafting a business plan for women is a process that requires thoughtful planning, strategic decision-making, and a keen understanding of your business’s unique attributes. Here are some practical tips and strategies to help you start drafting your business plan effectively:

1- Start with a Clear Vision:

Before you put pen to paper, clearly understand what you want to achieve with your business. Define your vision and align it with your personal goals and values. As you detail other business plan sections, this will serve as your guiding light.

2-Use a Business Plan Template:

A business plan template can provide a helpful structure, ensuring you don’t overlook essential sections. Plenty of free templates are available online and tailored to different types of businesses. Find one that aligns with your business needs and use it as a starting point.

3-Conduct Thorough Market Research:

Knowledge about your industry, market, and competition is crucial for a sound business plan. Dedicate time to gather information about your target audience, competitors, and industry trends. Use this data to inform your business strategies.

4-Be Realistic with Projections:

While optimism is crucial in entrepreneurship, it’s equally important to ground your financial forecasts in reality. Overestimating revenues or underestimating costs can lead to strategic missteps. Use historical data, industry benchmarks, and realistic assumptions for your projections.

5-Review and Revise:

Your first draft will likely need revisions. Don’t hesitate to make changes. Review your plan critically—does it make sense? Is it feasible? Do the financials add up? Revisit and revise your plan until it’s a document you’re confident in presenting to investors, stakeholders, or your team.

Pitfalls to Avoid When Drafting Your Business Plan

While drafting your business plan, here are a few pitfalls to avoid:

Ignoring the Competition

Every business has competitors. Ignoring them in your business plan is a red flag to investors and strategic oversight. Include a thorough competitive analysis in your plan.

Inconsistency in Information

Ensure that all information across different sections of your business plan aligns. For example, your marketing strategies should reflect the customer behaviors you’ve identified in your market research section.

Overcomplicating the Plan

A business plan should be comprehensive but not overly complicated. Avoid industry jargon where possible, and explain your business concept, strategies, and projections.

Failing to Consider Risks

Every business faces risks. Failing to acknowledge and plan for potential risks can undermine your credibility. Instead, highlight key risks and your strategies to mitigate them.

Overlooking the Importance of Design

A business plan’s content is important, but so is its presentation. Ensure your business plan is neatly formatted, grammatical error-free, and visually appealing. This demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail.

Remember, a well-crafted business plan can significantly increase your chances of business success. It’s worth investing the time and effort to get it right.

Implementing the Business Plan

Strategies for success.

Creating a business plan is just the first step toward entrepreneurial success. The real challenge lies in transforming this written plan into reality.

We will explore how to implement your business plan and the strategies to help women entrepreneurs use it effectively.

How to Put the Business Plan into Action?

Action steps:.

Start by breaking down the larger goals of your business plan into smaller, achievable tasks or action steps. Each step should be associated with a specific timeline to maintain the momentum.

Let’s assume you have a larger goal in your business plan: “Launch an online store for handmade crafts.”

This larger goal can be broken down into smaller, actionable steps with specific timelines.

Here’s an example:

• Market Research (Weeks 1-2) : Understand the demand for handmade crafts, identify your target audience, and analyze your competition.
• Product Development (Weeks 3-8) : Create a diverse inventory of handmade crafts that appeal to your target market.
• Website Development (Weeks 9-14 ): Hire a website designer or use a website builder to create your online store. Ensure it’s user-friendly, visually appealing, and functional.
• Setting Up Logistics (Weeks 15-17) : Establish relationships with delivery services for shipping your crafts.
• Marketing Plan Development (Weeks 18-20) : Develop a detailed marketing plan to promote your online store and attract customers. This could include social media advertising, email marketing, content marketing, etc.
• Website Testing (Week 21) : Before launch, thoroughly test your website to ensure all functionalities work correctly.
• Launch (Week 22) : Officially open your online store to the public and execute your marketing plan.

By breaking down your larger goal into smaller action steps, you create a practical roadmap toward achieving your objectives, making the process less overwhelming and more manageable.

Resource Allocation:

Identify the resources needed for each action step. This could be financial resources, human resources, time, or materials. Plan how you will obtain and allocate these resources effectively.

Let’s continue with the example of the goal: “Launch an online store for handmade crafts.”

For each of the action steps we outlined previously, we’ll identify the required resources:

• Resources: Time for research, access to market research data, and possibly a subscription to a market research platform.
• Obtaining and Allocating: You could allocate a few hours each day for research and consider purchasing a one-month subscription to a market research platform to access relevant data.
• Resources: Materials for creating crafts, your artistic skill, and time to create the products.
• Obtaining and Allocating: Source the materials from a reliable supplier and dedicate a specific number of hours daily for product creation.
• Resources: Budget for website development, a website designer or a website builder platform, your input, and time for coordination.
• Obtaining and Allocating: Set aside a budget for website creation. If hiring a professional, start searching early and choose someone who fits your style and budget. If using a website builder, allocate time to learn the platform and create the site.
• Resources: Research time, contract with a delivery service, packaging materials.
• Obtaining and Allocating: Dedicate time to researching different delivery services and comparing prices and services. Once a service is selected, set up a contract with them. Purchase appropriate packaging materials.
• Resources: Marketing knowledge, potentially a marketing consultant, budget for marketing activities.
• Obtaining and Allocating: If you’re confident in your marketing abilities, allocate time to create a marketing plan. If not, consider hiring a marketing consultant. Set a budget for marketing activities.
• Resources: Time, potentially a professional tester.
• Obtaining and Allocating: Schedule time for thorough testing of the website. If you’re not confident in your testing abilities, consider hiring a professional.
• Resources: All the developed materials and plans, time for overseeing the launch.
• Obtaining and Allocating: Ensure everything is in place for the launch – the products, the website, the delivery service, and the marketing activities. Dedicate the day for overseeing the launch and addressing any issues that may arise.

By identifying and planning for resource allocation, you can ensure a smoother and more organized path to achieving your goal.

Regular Review and Adjustments:

A business plan should be a living document, subject to regular reviews and adjustments. Market conditions, customer preferences, and competitive landscapes can change, and your business plan needs to adapt to these changes. Schedule regular reviews of your business plan and adjust strategies as required.

What Strategies Can Help Women Entrepreneurs Use Their Business Plans Effectively?

Leverage networks.

Women entrepreneurs often have access to unique networks, both personal and professional. These networks can provide support, feedback, and resources that can be instrumental in implementing your business plan.

Focus on Work-Life Balance

A business plan for women should include strategies to manage both business responsibilities and personal life. Following these strategies and maintaining a healthy work-life balance can increase productivity and reduce burnout.

Seek Mentorship

Having a mentor can provide valuable guidance, especially during the early stages of implementing your business plan. Mentors can provide insights, help troubleshoot problems, and offer advice based on their own experiences.

Harness Strengths

Every entrepreneur has unique strengths. Identify your strengths and leverage them in implementing your business plan. Your strengths could be in networking, problem-solving, creativity, or resilience.

Address Bias Head-On

Gender bias can present significant challenges in implementing a business plan. Having strategies in place to address bias can improve negotiation outcomes, build resilience, and contribute to long-term success.

The journey from a business plan to a successful enterprise is not a straight line but a path filled with twists and turns. However, with a well-structured business plan and effective strategies for implementation, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate this journey.

Inspirational Stories: Women Entrepreneurs Who Leveraged Their Business Plans for Success

Even facing challenges, countless women entrepreneurs have soared to success, turning their dreams into reality.

Let’s take a moment to gain inspiration from a few trailblazers who leveraged their business plans to build successful enterprises.

Who are Some Successful Women Entrepreneurs Who Have Benefited from a Well-Structured Business Plan?

Sara blakely – spanx.

Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, is the first self-made female billionaire in the world. When she first came up with the idea for footless pantyhose, she did not know about the industry or business operations. However, she put together a detailed business plan that helped her chart the course for Spanx. Her plan included her target audience, marketing strategies, and her unique selling proposition.

Arianna Huffington – The Huffington Post

Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post, created a comprehensive business plan describing a news website’s operation and how it would stand out in a crowded market. Her business plan, which focused on producing fresh and original content around the clock, helped attract initial investors to her venture.

Julia Hartz – Eventbrite

Julia Hartz co-founded Eventbrite, the popular event management and ticketing website. Hartz’s business plan focused on creating a platform to serve a broad audience— from event organizers of small community gatherings to large concerts. Her emphasis on scalability in her business plan was instrumental in the widespread success of Eventbrite .

What Strategies Did They Use?

• Clearly Defined Unique Selling Proposition (USP) : All three women explicitly defined their USP in their business plans. Sara Blakely highlighted the unique design of Spanx, Arianna Huffington emphasized fresh and round-the-clock content, and Julia Hartz stressed the scalability of Eventbrite.
• Identified Their Target Audience: They knew exactly who their customers would be. This helped them tailor their products and marketing strategies to meet their customers’ needs.
• Strategic Marketing and Sales Plan : They understood the importance of an effective marketing strategy and included detailed marketing and sales plans in their business models.
• Financial Planning: Each woman recognized the significance of a well-structured financial plan. They knew their numbers well and could convince investors of their ventures’ profitability.

These success stories underscore the power of a well-crafted business plan. It not only helps structure your business idea but also acts as a guide that navigates you through the entrepreneurial journey to success.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs through Strategic Business Planning

In the world of entrepreneurship, the power of a well-structured business plan for women cannot be overstated. It acts as a compass, guiding your business through the uncertain journey ahead.

But remember, just as your business evolves, so should your business plan. Embrace the process of continuously updating and refining it to mirror your growth and the ever-changing business landscape.

Yet, remember you are not alone on this journey. Share this enlightening post with other aspiring women entrepreneurs. Sometimes, our most powerful tool is each other’s experiences and knowledge. Encourage your circle to delve into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship and arm themselves with a potent weapon—a business plan tailored for them.

And most importantly, believe in yourself! There’s an extraordinary strength in you that has brought you this far. Empowerment begins with you, and this is just the beginning. Your dreams are valid, your ambitions are achievable, and your efforts will pay off.

As you embark on this exhilarating journey, remember we are here for you. If you have any questions or need help, please get in touch with us. We’re committed to making your entrepreneurial journey a success story.

So, go forth and create, innovate, and conquer your world, one business plan at a time.

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Top 20 Unique Business Ideas for Women Entrepreneurs

Sahil Bajaj

Senior Specialist - Marketing @ Shiprocket

March 1, 2024

15 min read

Prerequisites For Launching a Business

1. online retail store, 2. content creation, 3. health and wellness coaching, 4. eco-friendly product manufacturing, 5. digital marketing consultancy, 6. event planning services, 7. educational services, 8. fashion designing, 9. home baking business, 10. fitness training, 11. jewellery making, 12. freelance photography, 13. interior designing, 14. personal shopping services, 15. freelance web development.

• 16. Beauty Salon 

17. Handmade Soap and Beauty Products

18. virtual assistant services, 19. bookkeeping services, 20. craft workshops.

From kitchens and home-grown creative ventures to CEO positions in big corporations and seats in the parliament, women are increasingly taking center stage. They are breaking barriers, and setting new benchmarks. According to the World Bank, one in three businesses globally has a woman as its principal owner.

The desire for financial independence and an aspiration to manage work-life balance leads many women to hunt for suitable business avenues. Business opportunities for women are endless today.

This article sheds light on practical and innovative business ideas that promise profitability and success for women.

Before we dive into the business ideas for women, it’s important to understand the foundational steps to launch a business:

1. Business Idea

At the base of any new or successful venture lies a strong business idea that sets a solid foundation. This idea should be unique and must solve a specific problem or fulfill a need in the market. The business idea doesn’t have to be revolutionary, but it must bring something different to consumers or improve existing products or services. You should start by conducting thorough market research to validate the need for your business idea. Then, understand your target audience and assess your rival companies or potential competitors.

2. Business Plan

Drafting a well-crafted business plan becomes an insightful roadmap for your business. It outlines some of the most important aspects of creating a successful business: 

your vision, mission, objectives, market analysis, marketing and sales strategies, financial projections, and management structure. Your business plan must detail how you plan to grow your business, your revenue model, and how you plan to reach your target market. A solid business plan is like an engine that drives your strategic preparation and even helps secure funding. It informs the investors or lenders of the potential profitability and viability of your business.

Securing funding is the next essential step for launching your business. Now, you have a few ways to arrange for this investment: bootstrapping (using your own savings), seeking loans from banks or financial institutions, finding investors, or applying for grants and subsidies designed for startups or women entrepreneurs. Scan through the abundant funding options available and choose the one that best aligns with your business model and growth plans.

20 Business Ideas That Promise Success 

There are several creative and unique business ideas in different sectors for women to try. Many of these ventures may require only a small capital to start with. Here’s a list of riveting business ideas for women: 

Convenience and fast-paced life are the slogans of a rapidly developing eCommerce world. Accordingly, many platforms like Shopify and Etsy have emerged that provide a user-friendly interface to sell products. If you’re a woman who creates unique handmade items or has an eye for curating collections that appeal to a niche market, this business model may be perfect for you. Your business’s reach and earnings can be enhanced by starting an eCommerce business in this digital age. The international revenue of the online retail market has crossed over USD 6 trillion at the end of 2023 . The experts expect it to touch USD 6.9 trillion in 2024 and USD 8.148 trillion towards the end of 2026.

You can very well monetise your skills by creating content for various platforms if you have a knack for writing, photography, or video production. The numerous flexible and creative earning opportunities that content creation offers are like starting a blog, a YouTube channel, or managing social media for businesses. 

There is a massive demand for content creators in the market. From Instagram reels and Spotify podcasts to digital and AI art, everything contributes to persuasive content that keeps people glued to their screens. Appealing content is one of the best ways to reach customers, which enhances the scope for creative minds all the more. 

Fitness and a healthy lifestyle are common goals of many people these days, and this number is only going to rise. There is an increasing focus on holistic health, as you see teenagers to aged people hitting the gyms or yoga centers every day. Thus, this area offers substantial business scope for women. You may choose to offer services such as nutrition planning, fitness training, or mental health coaching online to help clients achieve their health goals.

How many times do you see or hear the words eco-friendly or sustainable when dealing with brands or ordering products online? There is a reason that businesses are increasingly marching towards a sustainable approach. Sustainability is like a new anthem for environment-conscious people worldwide, as the concern for preserving the ecosystem and decreasing the carbon footprint is growing. Experts have projected the global sustainability and green technology market size to grow from USD 16.50 billion in 2023 to USD 61.92 billion in 2030 , with a growth rate of 20.8% . Therefore, businesses that offer eco-friendly products are in popular demand. 

Producing eco-friendly products ranging from biodegradable goods to sustainable fashion can become a great manufacturing business for ladies. It will provide you with a great opportunity to make profits and a positive impact simultaneously.

With more and more businesses finding their space online, there’s a gushing demand for digital marketing experts in the market. Starting your digital marketing agency and catering services like SEO (Search engine optimisation), social media management, graphic designing, or email marketing is a lucrative business idea for women. It has a high-income generating potential. You may invest in hiring experts who have relevant digital marketing skills and create a team to serve your clients. 

If you have creativity and organisational skills all locked up in the back of your mind, you may be a woman built for event planning. Event planning is a vigorous field that requires mainly three things: creativity, meticulous organisation, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. 

Successful women event planners like Vandana Mohan (Founder of The Wedding Design Company and Priti Sidhwani (Co-founder of DreamzKrraft Weddings)

have built their reputations creating memorable experiences and orchestrating high-profile weddings in India. Good networking and partnerships with vendors, venues, and service providers are the fuel for this business. You may build a portfolio that showcases your unique style and successful events to attract clients later.

The raging success of e-learning platforms like Khan Academy, Coursera, etc. has shown the potential for educational services online. You can consider tutoring on various subjects, offering online courses, or conducting workshops in your area of expertise from the comfort of your home. The online platforms multiply your scope by manifolds to reach students globally. 

Women can implement this business idea by leveraging technology to provide an interactive and personalised learning experience to students. If you have the knowledge or specialisation in a particular subject or can cater to specific educational needs, it may set your services apart in a crowded and highly competitive market.

Fashion and women mostly go hand-in-hand. The feminine side in a person is known for exhibiting creativity. Many women have a knack for creating fashion styles or statements. Fashion designers like Ritu Kumar, Anita Dongre, and Masaba Gupta are a bunch of women who made their mark by creating distinctive lines of outfits that resonate with specific audiences. Launching a clothing line or boutique online can be an excellent business idea for women. Experts predict India’s apparel market’s revenue to reach USD 105.50 billion in 2024 , growing by 3.81% annually in the 2024-2028 forecast period.

Starting an online clothing venture reduces overhead costs and enables you to tap into a global market easily. Famous platforms like Myntra, Nykaa Fashion, and others can also provide you with a spot to promote your outfits. You need to keep these few things in mind to get success in this business: understanding your customer base, staying true to your brand identity, and taking advantage of social media for marketing.

We see fancy cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other innovative bakery items all around us nowadays. People want to add more charm to the special occasions of their loved ones by gifting delicious bakery. Many home-based baking businesses have created success stories. One such bakery is ‘Dezertfox’ by Aishwarya Bhende which started as a small bakery and grew into a popular one citywide in New Delhi. 

The key to making this venture a success is to offer something unique in terms of custom designs, local ingredients, or specialty flavours. You can use eye-catching photography on social media spaces like Instagram to display your creations and attract local customers.

Women fitness trainers and influencers like Sapna Vyas gained popularity and recognition through her transformation journey and dedicated work in the field. She motivates a large number of people through her fitness programmes and workshops. She also uses social media platforms to share tips on exercise, diet plans, and healthy lifestyle habits.

As staying in shape is the new buzz, it has propelled the fitness industry’s growth. Thus, specialising in areas like yoga, pilates, or specific fitness goals can help you stand out and create an audience for yourself. You could offer online sessions or create fitness apps to expand your reach beyond the local clientele.

Adorning your neck, hands, or ears is nothing new, but you may see its prevalence among people now more than ever. Men and women both like to wear a few pretty ornaments. Famous fashion bloggers like Komal Pandey and Siddarth Malhotra have contributed to accelerating this trend. Handmade jewellery businesses like Suhani Pittie, renowned for their innovative and contemporary designs, started as small ventures. They found their place in prestigious fashion weeks and are a favourite among celebrities. 

If you love jewellery, then starting small, focusing on quality craftsmanship, and creating a strong brand story can help you attract customers who seek unique ornaments. Make a presence online and collaborate with fashion influencers to reach an audience that would appreciate your creative designs.

With people needing high-quality and creative photography for their products, portfolios, and more, freelance photography has become an in-demand job. If the click of the camera ignites passion in you, and you possess photography skills, you have several opportunities to capture images for many brands globally and earn well.

Freelance photography in India brings with it a varied income potential. The level of income largely depends on the photographer’s skill level, specialisation, client base, and the volume of work they can get. On average, a beginner freelance photographer may earn around INR 17,000 per month. Beginners might find themselves at the lower end of the income range, while experienced photographers with established brands and clientele can earn toward the higher end or even more. However, you must understand that the earnings can fluctuate based on the season. Certain times of the year, like the wedding season, potentially bring in more work and higher income.

Sunita Kohli, a celebrated interior designer known for her expertise in historical interior architectural restoration and design, began her career in 1971 with no formal training in design. She eventually established herself as a leading interior designer in the field. 

The love for aesthetics and beautifully designed personal or commercial spaces is growing among people. Interior designing may serve as a fruitful business idea for women who like to decorate and give a charming touch to interiors.  

As a personal shopper, you can provide much value to people who lack the time or expertise to shop for themselves. Individuals with a busy lifestyle who are barely able to find a work-life balance struggle to take time to shop. You can cater to many such clients looking for fashion, groceries, or unique gifts by providing them with personalised shopping experiences. All you need to do is have a keen eye for the right products that align with your client’s preferences and build their trust in you. 

Which business doesn’t need a website today? It’s a top priority for most businesses, especially eCommerce ones. A cracking business idea for women during the surging demand for having an online presence is creating websites for brands. If you have a keen interest or excel in IT and coding, this may be a profitable venture for you. There’s a constant demand in the market for skilled individuals who can assist brands in developing the ideal website.

16. Beauty Salon 

The beauty sector, a booming multibillion-dollar industry, is a source of income and employment for over two million women globally. The prolonged skincare routines of today make a vast array of cosmetic products a staple in nearly every woman’s collection.

Launching a beauty salon or cosmetic studio is one of the prime entrepreneurial opportunities for women. This business has a perennial demand and minimal initial investments. If you can secure a suitable venue and assemble a small team for support, a beauty salon can become a viable income stream and a profitable business. Many women even start their home-grown parlours if they have enough space in their house.

Women-owned brands like The Sass Bar, featured on Shark Tank India, have shown the rising demand for organic and cruelty-free beauty products. Making handmade soaps requires only a small investment and is an easy process. You can start with a product line and adopt sustainable practices to attract the ever-growing eco-conscious consumers. A few effective ways to market these products involve online sales and craft fairs.

The market has a growing demand for virtual assistants as businesses often look to outsource administrative tasks. It’s a great business idea for women who can or want to provide these services from home. Remote work offers them flexibility and the opportunity to work with clients locally and globally. If you specialise in areas such as social media management, customer support, or bookkeeping, this business can increase your value and get you potential clients.

Small businesses often seek a helping hand for maintaining financial records, which makes bookkeeping a valuable and in-demand service. Beginning a bookkeeping service requires an understanding of accounting software and financial management principles. You must focus on building a reputation for reliability and accuracy to fetch some long-term client relationships.

Craft workshops may be better for women who are skilled at any craft work. Focusing on popular crafts like pottery, painting, or sewing and providing a welcoming, instructional environment to customers helps you conduct successful workshops. You may have heard of or attended one in your locality. People conduct pizza-making, pottery, self-makeup, painting, and other types of classes for 1-2 or more days in different locations. You can use social media and local community boards to attract participants interested in learning creative hobbies.

Each of the business ideas for women mentioned above lays a pathway to success through passion, dedication, and a strategic approach to meeting customer needs. Regardless of the type of business you opt for, the key is to leverage your strengths and create something of value and interest to your target audience. The business ideas presented above are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unique business ideas for women. Tapping on the right idea, plan, and funding sources will bring success within your reach. Identify your passion, understand the market, and deliver value to your customers for making the most of your venture.

Recognising this potential of women entrepreneurs, Shiprocket’s Aarambh has come with a unique opportunity for women-led SMEs across India. This initiative is designed to empower women-led businesses, providing them with the platform and resources needed to scale and succeed.

The type and scale of your business decide the amount of investment you’d need to start your venture. You must also consider ongoing expenses such as website hosting, marketing, and insurance. For instance, digital-based businesses such as content creation or virtual assistant services are low-investment ventures with minimal upfront costs. They mostly primarily require a reliable internet connection, a computer, and relevant software. In contrast, businesses like online retail stores require inventory or specialised equipment. Therefore, such businesses need substantial investment to cover the costs of goods and equipment and possibly even to buy or rent a dedicated space for operations.

You can start many types of businesses, like freelance services, craft workshops, cloud kitchens, online stores, and more, from your home. They are not only feasible but have become increasingly popular, especially owing to the global shift towards remote work.

Marketing is what takes your business to places and makes potential customers aware of your products or services. You could use many effective marketing strategies to promote your business and enhance your reach, like social media marketing,  SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), content marketing, and networking.

A business that demands minimal financial investment while avoiding the need for substantial borrowing to commence operations is one of the most suitable options for a beginner. Particularly, online ventures such as selling digital templates, offering online courses, and engaging in affiliate marketing make excellent examples of such businesses. Furthermore, many doors open for talented individuals who can leverage their talents in areas such as writing or editing. It’s a cost-effective approach as these activities do not necessitate initial financial input. Another economical option is venturing into content creation by starting a YouTube channel or becoming a social media influencer since you can do much of the filming and editing using a smartphone. It eliminates the need for expensive professional gear and heavy investments.

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Clothing Boutique Business Plan Template [Updated for 2024]

• by Emily Polner

minute read

A business plan is a document that outlines its intended purpose and goals and helps serve as a reference to keep you on track after you open your doors. If you plan to raise capital, you can send your boutique business plan to friends, family and other potential investors so they have a clearer idea of what they’re investing in. 

In this article, we outline what to include in your clothing store business plan, as well as a blank business plan template for you to use however you see fit. You can be as detailed as you like when writing your plan. 

Here’s what you need to know and include to get started: 

How to start a clothing store business in 2023

Executive summary, business description and mission statement.

• Product services and pricing

Competitor and market analysis 

Clothing marketing strategies, business structure, clothing boutique startup costs and funding , growth forecast, clothing store boutique business plan template, the ultimate clothing boutique guide.

From managing always-evolving inventory to making personal connections during sales, your clothing store needs tools that help you do it all.

How much does it cost to open a clothing store? 

The cost of opening a clothing store varies depending on the size and location of your store. Leasing a retail space costs more in certain geographic areas than others. The average initial cost of opening a store can be anywhere from $48,000 USD to $150,000 USD, and this figure doesn’t include an upfront payment of first month’s rent or utilities. 

Having an accurate idea of your initial cost—and, as such, how much funding you need—is one of the key benefits of a thorough boutique business plan.

How to start a clothing store business in 2022

The costs and logistics involved in starting a clothing store business in 2023 are different than they were even 10 years ago. 

You need a rock-solid niche for your business, so you can make a splash in a crowded market. You need a brand identity that stands out, too. Those pieces aren’t new, though creativity is more important than ever—you want your new boutique clothing store to stand out online, after all. 

It’s the online aspect that really matters in 2023. Instead of picking between a brick-and-mortar or ecommerce store, your boutique business plan should take both into account. In an era of high-tech stores (even Amazon is getting in on the industry with its Amazon Style ), customers have come to expect more from retailers. 

Keep in mind the technology you need to start a clothing store today: that includes a POS system with an eCom platform and integrated payments, inventory management software that syncs your online and offline stock in real time and loyalty programs to reward them for shopping. These costs, and the time required to manage multiple sales channels, should be built into your business plan.

How to write a clothing boutique business plan

A business plan can be as long or as short as you’d like, but it needs to be clear to others, not just members of your organization. Other parties will read your plan in order to determine whether or not to invest, so each part needs to be understandable. 

Here is an example of a business plan for a boutique clothing store that gets funders on board (and what you should be putting in each section). 

The executive summary should be a summary of your entire business plan. It typically appears at the beginning of a business plan, but you should write this last so you can draw from the rest of the sections for a more accurate blurb. 

Think of this as the elevator pitch for your boutique business plan. If this summary was all someone read, they’d come away with an idea of what you want to open and why; detailed enough that they get the big picture, but not so detailed that they get lost on the page.

An executive summary should be at most 10% of the entire document. For example, if your clothing store’s business plan is 15 pages long, the summary should be a page and a half at most; if your plan is five pages long, try for a half-page executive summary. 

Example executive summary template

Business name: Corner Store

Founders and executive team: 

• John Retail, President
• Jane Ecom, CFO
• Ranjeet Sales, VP of Human Resources
• Kamala Brick, VP of Merchandising
• Frank Mortar, VP of Marketing

Products and services: 

Target demographic: Corner Store targets college students and young professionals ages 18 – 34. Our demographic is ambitious, on the go, health-conscious and environmentally aware.

Marketing strategies: 

Future plans and goals:

• 5 locations by next financial year
• 15% of sales through ecommerce
• Launch on third party delivery by second quarter

The next section should be a description of what your clothing business is and does. For example, are you a children’s clothing boutique? Are you selling in store, online or both? What kinds of styles are you going to cater to? For instance, do you sell basics like plain tee shirts or pieces with a more bohemian aesthetic?

This is also where you should define your mission and company values. Your mission should answer the questions: why are you starting your business and what will your new store bring to the table? Your company values are the characteristics your business aligns itself with and uses to make informed decisions. What values are most important to you and which qualities will you make a priority? 

This is your opportunity to really sell potential funders on why your clothing store will succeed. What’s more compelling: describing yourself as a new apparel retailer, or as a new clothing boutique with a focus on personal styling for young professionals that carries local designers in a high-foot-traffic area in your city’s financial district? 

Example company description template

Mission statement:

Corner Store combines athleisure and food and beverage retail into one convenient extended-hours offering. In addition to bespoke lines of healthy energy drinks, Corner Store offers comfortable workout clothing made from recycled fabrics.

Corner Store is open longer than competing athleisure stores, and is more focused on health than competing 24-hour convenience stores.

Core values:

• Ease of access
• Productivity
• Affordable healthy options

The structure of your business will have a big impact on how it’s taxed and managed. Define your plans for incorporating as well as your org chart: 

• How is your business defined, legally ? Is it an LLC, an S-Corporation, a partnership or unincorporated? 
• Who is running the clothing business? List the founders and what each person brings to the table in terms of skills and capital.
• What kinds of roles will you be hiring for? Who reports to whom? Create a preliminary organizational chart that includes the current hierarchy of your business and which roles will need to be filled. 

Example business structure template

Legal structure: 

Business leaders:

• John Retail, President – 35 years of experience in retail
• Jane Ecom, CFO – 10 years of experience heading financial operations 
• Ranjeet Sales, VP of Human Resources – 23 years of experience with HR, including founding a successful HR agency
• Kamala Brick, VP of Merchandising – launched 3 successful product lines targeting college students 
• Frank Mortar, VP of Marketing – co-founder of Digital Agency, leading marketing agency in the office supply retail space

Hiring plans: 

Products, services and pricing

With your executive summary and business description having introduced potential funders to your vision, your boutique business plan should next move into the concrete details. Your products and services section should outline: 

• What kinds of items you’ll be selling
• Any services you’ll be offering (i.e. tailoring or clothing rentals) 
• The main benefits and features of what you’re selling
• How much each item will cost you vs. what you’ll be selling it for 
• How each item will be created or sourced: which suppliers are you getting your inventory from, if any? Do you have existing relationships with suppliers or will you have to create them? 

If you plan to offer more or different products later down the line, outline that in this section as well.

Example products, services and pricing template

Description of each product and service: 

• Corner Store energy drinks: low sugar energy drinks with upscale flavors to appeal to a health-conscious consumer. Packaging made entirely from recycled materials, featuring inspirational quotes for productivity. Three flavors available in 330ml cans at launch (grapefruit tarragon, yerba mate, coconut lime) with two more launching in the third quarter (coffee, watermelon rose).
• Corner Store performance underwear: breathable, gender-neutral stretch tops and bottoms made for movement, to go under clothes for exercise or fashion. Made from recycled and end of line materials. Five colorways releasing at launch, with new updated styles every season.

How you plan to price each item:

Supply chain details: 

It’s important to look at what your competitors are doing to get a sense of which needs are being met and where the biggest gaps in the market lie. Make sure you explain how you’re positioning yourself and why you offer something different or better than what already exists. Include the following information: 

• Competitor analysis: who are your competitors? What seems to be working for them and what doesn’t? How long have your competitors been in business? Are they growing? Make sure you categorize your competition into direct and indirect competitors in your boutique business plan. Direct competitors will be anyone who is targeting your exact niche, while indirect competitors will be big chain retailers and department stores who offer an alternative experience to what you’re building.  
• Industry trends: talk about the current trends and future predictions for your industry. Is it popular or growing? How have these trends impacted your niche? Can you expect these trends to keep growing—and what proof do you have that the popularity of your chosen focus isn’t just a passing fad?
• SWOT analysis: a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis details exactly what it sounds like it does. Think about what your biggest strengths and opportunities are, as a business. On the flip side, is there anything that may be a potential threat to your success? 
• Target customer: what kind of person you’re aiming to target. Who is going to shop at your store? Where do they live, how old are they and what are their main pain points? What are they looking to get out of a clothing store, and how will you serve their needs? Do you have any data about your particular target’s spending power and shopping habits?

Example competitor and market analysis template

Competitor analysis:

• KiKiLime: 10 years in business, 7 locations across California and Texas, $60.8m in sales in 2022. Direct competitor Strong sales on launch, but recent supply chain scandal has impacted growth Opportunity to capture disillusioned customers who want truly sustainable options

Industry trends:

Market size:

SWOT analysis:

Target customer: 

• 18 – 34
• Lives or works in or near city centers
• Busy lives, looking for a store that’s open before and after work
• Health conscious, but price conscious 
• Focus on sustainability

As a new business, you’ll need to promote yourself to bring customers in the door. Use this section of your boutique business plan to explain to investors and your team how you intend to do that.

• Which marketing channels do you plan to use? Are you going to use email marketing, social media marketing , SEO blogging, PR or influencer marketing ? 
• Do you plan to run paid advertisements or only market your business organically, or both? If you plan to pay for advertising, you’ll need to include this budget in your costs section. 
• How will you measure the success of your marketing efforts? Which metrics will you examine to determine whether or not you met, exceeded or fell short of your goals? 
• What sort of loyalty program will you use to ensure customers keep returning? How will you split your budget for marketing to new customers and reaching out to returning customers? 

Example marketing strategies template

Which marketing channels you’ll be using:

• Social media: focus on Pinterest ( average age 25-34 ), Instagram (average age 18-24), TikTok (average age 18-24)
• Email marketing nurture flows: tied to loyalty program and in-store sales
• Influencer partnerships: launch partnership with Gia Influ, wellness influencer with 300,000 followers
• Content marketing: four online activations a month

Plans for paid vs. organic marketing: 

Loyalty program outline: 

Marketing goals:

There are many upfront purchases to be made as well as recurring expenses that come with starting a clothing store. This is where you’ll list what you need to buy and the funding you’ll need in order to make sure you get everything you need. Here are some examples of costs you might include: 

One-time costs

• Lease, security deposit and other fees associated with signing a retail lease
• Furniture and façade costs 
• Initial inventory
• Technology hardware, such as computers, tablets, phones, credit card readers
• Website design costs (if you’re not using an eCom platform with a built-in site builder)
• Grand opening costs for the store’s launch day

Recurring expenses  

• Rent and utilities
• Employee wages
• Marketing and advertising
• Retail commerce platform subscription 
• eCom platform subscription and web hosting costs
• Domain name registration
• Accounting services 

In addition to listing expected expenses and funding needs, also add a projected profit and loss statement, cash flow and balance sheet, if you’re able to. This will help paint a more complete financial picture.  

Example startup costs and funding template

What you need to buy: 

How much funding you need: 

Profit and loss statement: 

Need a profit and loss template? Download one free here.

Balance sheet: 

Growth forecast 

In this section, list how much inventory you’ll have on to start and your initial assets. Plan how much cash you’ll have on hand for your grand opening. 

Here is where you can predict how quickly you will grow and in what ways you intend to expand. How much revenue do you intend to generate after one year in operation? Do you plan to offer more products in the future? Are you envisioning outgrowing your first retail space? Do you intend to open more locations? Describe these plans to the best of your ability. 

Example growth forecast template

Assets: 

Cash on hand: 

Revenue (projected or actual): projected revenue $4m per location in first year, expanding to $10m per location by year five

Other growth plans or predictions: 

• 10 stores across the US by year five
• Enter the Canadian market by year seven

Now that you know what goes into a business plan, you’re ready to make one. Fill in this free template to set your future clothing store up for success. 

Executive summary 

Business name:

Founders and executive team:

Products and services:

Target demographic:

Marketing strategies:

Company description

What does your business do?

What gap does it fill in the market?

Legal structure:

Organizational chart: 

Supply chain details:

Competitor and market analysis

Industry trends: 

Marketing strategies

Startup costs and funding.

Revenue (projected or actual):

Create your clothing business the way you envision it

A clothing store business plan can help you solidify your thoughts and ideas so that you can start your business the way you intend to. Taking time to ask yourself important questions like how and why you’re starting will serve you well in the long run. 

Clothing retailers use Lightspeed’s commerce platform to take sales, manage inventory, create a website and so much more. If you’d like to learn about how Lightspeed can help you accomplish your business goals, watch a demo .

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Emily is a Content Specialist at Lightspeed, where she brings her passion, knowledge, and expertise to give you helpful tips on how to take your retail business to the next level. When she’s not behind the keyboard, Emily can be found thrifting, getting iced lattes at local cafes or endlessly scrolling through TikTok.

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45 Best Business Ideas for Women in India

Key learnings.

●   Starting a business for a woman has become considerably easy and convenient in this digitized society. If you have a crazy business idea, it’s the most convenient time to try it. Dive into this blog and discover such business ideas for women.

●   Don’t let capital stop you from starting a new business venture. There are many low-investment business ideas for women to consider and capitalize on.

Table of Content

●      Why can women be great entrepreneurs?

●      How to choose the perfect business idea for you?

●      Suitable business ideas for women in India

●      How Amazon Business will help in setting up your business and beyond

We've all had those a-ha! moments as women. You know, those times when you suddenly have an amazing business idea out of the blue that you're sure will make you a millionaire. You get so excited about it that you can't even think straight.

So you go ahead and quit your day job, take out a loan, and start your business, only for the realities to hit hard a few months down the road. Sound familiar? What could be the reason? Probably you might have started with the wrong business idea.

Don't worry, you're not alone. This happens. You need to pick one business idea that, even if it is ridiculous, describes your passion. Don't shy away from ideas that are branded as ridiculous or common. In fact, some of the most successful businesses started with what seemed like ridiculous ideas.

So the next time you have some "crazy" business ideas for women, don't write them off so quickly—you might just be on to something!

Here, we cover some of the unique business ideas for ladies. But first, let's understand what business is.

Why Can Women Be Great Entrepreneurs?

Being a great entrepreneur requires some innate qualities and skillset. And women possess most of these skills and qualities, making them great entrepreneurs. Here are major reasons why women should pursue business ideas rather than treating them passively:

➔  Resilience

The world of entrepreneurs has many ups and downs and unpredictable situations. Women are highly resilient in navigating the challenges and setbacks coming their way. This quality is extremely beneficial for leading ahead and not losing morale even when business is tough, and you have hardly made any sales. The story of how Cafe Coffee Day was saved from a whopping debt of 7,000 plus Crores by Malvika Hedge shows the kind of resilience women possess.

➔  Creativity and Innovation

Women tend to be creative and bring innovative business ideas, products, and services to the table. Startups feed on creativity and innovation. For instance, Gauri Nanda created Clocky , an alarm clock that runs away from sleeping individuals, forcing them to wake up and turn it off. Although a small business idea, it is highly effective for over-sleepers.

➔  Collaborative Leadership

Women excel at inclusive and collaborative leadership that fosters employee engagement and great team dynamics, which are, again, very important for any entrepreneurial venture to steer ahead.  Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, follows a similar leadership style. She encourages employee engagement by asking them to pitch ideas and go through them personally, handpicking the ones she thinks would benefit the organization.

➔  Adaptability

Adapting to change is something most women are good at. In the entrepreneurial journey, change is the only constant that is assured. Adapting to technology is necessary for small or large businesses. Nykaa has ensured that through their virtual make-up trying option, consumers can assess whether that shade suits their skin tone. This technological addition to Nykaa’s app enhances the customer experience and convenience of online shopping.

➔  Emotional Intelligence and Empathy

The strong suits of women overpowering the opposite gender are their emotional quotient and empathy. These two qualities are vital in understanding the needs of consumers more deeply and crafting products or services that clearly address their concerns. The story of how Joy Mangano invented the miracle mop displays these factors clearly.

➔  Risk Management

Women entrepreneurs approach risk with strategy, palling, and caution, making them good at mitigating risks. One example of Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the founder of Biocon, comes to mind. She faced many challenges while starting Biocon in 1978, including a lack of funding when biotechnology was nascent in India, however, through strategies like diversification, partnership, and financial prudence.

➔  Community Building

Community building and networking are things women are good at quickly. These two skills come in handy for growing the business, forming collaborative partnerships, and reaching the required consumer base.

How To Choose The Perfect Business Idea For You?

There are a few things to consider while coming up with unique business ideas for ladies or any business for women:

➔    Answering questions like, what are you passionate about? What are you good at? What does the market need? It may help you narrow your options and choose small business ideas in India for ladies you're excited about.

➔    Consider your target market and research to create a business that aligns with their needs and sets you apart from the competition.

➔    Don't be afraid to think outside the box. There are always new and innovative businesses being created, so don't be afraid to brainstorm unique ideas. When it comes to choosing business ideas for women, the sky's the limit!

45 Business Ideas for Women to Shine!

Low-investment Businesses

Low-investment businesses are perfect for starting a business for the first time. They help you better understand how to grow a business . Here are some business ideas for ladies with low investments without spending money or time.

1. Candle Making

You know what they say, "the best business ideas for women are the ones that are right in front of you." Candle-making isn't just a small-scale business with low startup costs—it's also a high-margin venture with plenty of room to grow.

Let's be honest, who can resist a perfectly scented and beautifully crafted candle?

Candle-making is the perfect business for women because it combines creativity and multitasking. What’s exciting about candle making is the festive season. You could create Christmas tree candles for the holiday season or ladoo candles for Diwali. And what's even better? Offering discounts for bulk orders and making the festive season even more exciting for your customers!

2. Reselling

You can start a reselling business by sourcing products from thrift stores, garage sales, or wholesale suppliers and reselling them for a profit on different platforms. Another way is to get products wholesale, like wholesale beauty products or office and stationery supplies in wholesale for a lesser rate and sell them at their original price.

A minimal investment is needed to purchase inventory or if you are planning to set up an online storefront. As you build your reselling business, you'll develop valuable skills in market research, negotiation, marketing, and customer service.

3. Based Hobby Classes

Moms out there are gearing up for the holidays and wondering how to keep their kids entertained. Some wonder if there's a chance to explore themselves further. This is where home-based hobby classes step in as a perfect solution.

You could offer art and craft workshops where kids can show their creativity and baking classes where they learn to whip up delicious treats under your guidance. With gardening and plant care sessions, moms and kids can bond over nurturing greenery and cultivating a love for nature.

For moms looking to prioritize their health and well-being, fitness and wellness classes provide a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Language and music lessons are also great choices for those eager to learn something new.

Not only is this a great way to earn some extra money, but it's also a great way to meet new people and share your passion with others.

4. Cloud Kitchen

A cloud kitchen is a commercial kitchen that is not open to the public. It focuses on delivery and take-out service, eliminating the need for costly real estate and making it more affordable to start up.

All you need is a smartphone and a passion for cooking. Start by creating a WhatsApp group and inviting friends to join. Encourage them to spread the word and invite their friends, too. Once you've engaged your community, share your daily menu offerings in the group.

Here’s the fun part! Customers place their orders directly through the WhatsApp group. With each order, you'll cook delicious, homemade meals. Get some wholesale packaging materials to cut packaging costs. Then, simply arrange for convenient delivery to your customers' doorsteps.

Your cloud kitchen is all about offering healthy, home-style food to those who long for homemade food.

5. Personalized Gift Creator

People are making emotionally meaningful products like memory candles, custom pet portraits, digital art featuring a lost loved one alongside a family photo, personalized wallets with names, photo magnets, jewelry made from breast milk to remember the breastfeeding journey, etc.

Customers really like these products. They're special because they mean something important and offer a special way to remember or celebrate important things or people. Doesn't it sound like these items would mean a lot to someone?

Online Business Ideas for Women

Online businesses are unique business ideas for ladies that offer flexibility, creativity, and the opportunity to learn more about the digital world.

6. Home Tutoring

Home tutoring is a small-scale business idea for women to try. Here's why:

●      This job offers flexibility as it can be done around the schedule of children and families.

●      Home tutoring businesses are usually pretty small, minimizing the financial investment.

●      Women are often natural teachers and have a lot of patience - two essential qualities for tutors!

Online learning platforms have become more popular. Now, you can teach students through video calls from your home, which is really convenient and safe, something many parents want.

Home tutoring is a great way to make a difference in the lives of children while also earning a good income.

7. Social Media Influencer

Nowadays, everyone is trying to become a social media influencer. However, the most successful influencers are ones with a niche audience and unique perspective.

This could include sharing tips, tutorials, product reviews, behind-the-scenes glimpses into your life, or inspirational stories. Be authentic, relatable, and consistent in your posting to build trust and loyalty with your followers.

As your following grows, you'll have opportunities to collaborate with brands, promote products or services, and even monetize your content through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, or selling your own products.

Plus, being a social media influencer allows you to work from home on your own schedule, giving you the flexibility to balance work and family life.

8. Dropshipping

There are a lot of great business ideas for women out there, but dropshipping business in India is hands-down the best home business for women. Here's why:

●      Dropshipping is a low-cost way to get started in e-commerce without the hassle of inventory management. You can start your business with very little money.

●      It is flexible and scalable. You can run your business part-time or full-time, and it's easy to scale up as your business grows. It can be molded into a great wholesale business idea as well.

●      Whether you want to work from home, a coffee shop, or anywhere else, dropshipping gives you the freedom to work from wherever you want.

●      You can be your own boss and in charge of your own business, and you'll have the freedom to make all the decisions.

9. E-commerce Store Owner

Start an online store that sells handmade crafts, fashion accessories, beauty products, baby products, or specialty foods to a niche audience. There are many other e-commerce business ideas that may suit your interests.

Make sure to utilize social media, email marketing, and content creation to connect with your audience, establish relationships, and increase traffic to your store. Additionally, consider offering exceptional customer service, including easy returns and exchanges, to ensure a positive shopping experience and encourage repeat business.

10. DIY Craft Vlogger

Wouldn't it be awesome to start your own YouTube or social media channel? You share DIY craft tutorials, creative project ideas, and inspiration for those looking to explore their artistic side at home.

As a DIY Craft Vlogger, there are endless possibilities for the types of projects you can share with your audience. You could demonstrate how to make handmade greeting cards, create beautiful floral arrangements, repurpose old furniture into stylish decor pieces, or even teach basic sewing and knitting techniques.

Once you have a trusted audience, you can even step up to the next level and conduct classes online or plan strategies for business expansion.

Unleashing Creativity for Ladies

Certain ventures not only encourage self-expression but also enrich your skills, personal growth, and creativity along the way.

11. Art Therapy Facilitator

Therapy is really important for our mental health. Art therapy is a way for people to deal with feelings that are hard to talk about. It's especially helpful for those who feel anxious, sad or have been through tough times.

As an Art Therapy Facilitator, you can organize sessions where women can use art to express themselves. They can paint, draw, sculpt, punch needling, make pots, or create collages. These activities help them show their feelings without having to say anything out loud.

12. Fashion Designing

When it comes to fashion design, women have a clear advantage over their male counterparts.

For one thing, women tend to have a better sense of color and proportion. They also tend to be more detail-oriented, a critical skill when it comes to creating well-crafted clothing.

Women are generally more familiar with the latest trends in fashion. They know how to accentuate the positive and create both flattering and stylish clothing. It's no wonder that so many of the world's top fashion designers are women.

When you start your own fashion brand, you're not just making clothes. You're also giving jobs to different people, like those who make patterns, sew clothes, do marketing, and sell the clothes. Isn't this one of the coolest business ideas for women from the lot?

13. Bakery business

Why starting a bakery business is one of the best business ideas for women? For one, the bakery industry is predicted to grow in the next decade, so there is a lot of potential for growth and profitability. It offers you scalability whether you are looking for small business ideas for ladies or converting them into a chain.

Moreover, baking is a creative and satisfying activity that can bring joy to both the baker and the customer. And finally, owning a bakery allows you to connect with the local community and build relationships with other small businesses.

14. Handmade Crafts

For women looking to start their own businesses, crafting handmade goods is the perfect opportunity to do something they're passionate about while also making a living.

There are numerous advantages to starting a handmade business. For one, it's relatively easy to get started since you likely already have many of the supplies you need at home.

Additionally, there's a growing demand for handmade items, as more people are interested in supporting small businesses and buying environmentally friendly and ethically produced products. Macrame, resin art, knitting, and pottery are currently popular handmade crafts.

So, if you're searching for a business idea that's both creative and rewarding, look no further than starting your own line of handmade crafts. With a little hard work and some elbow grease, you'll be on your way to success in no time!

15. Creative Retreat Coordinator

As a Creative Retreat Coordinator, you arrange various activities where people can explore their artistic side and leave feeling revitalized and inspired.

Your job is to take care of everything, like finding places for people to stay, planning workshops, organizing transportation, and making sure everyone has food. You also get to work with awesome teachers, artists, and health experts to create a program that's all about chilling out, feeling inspired, and growing as a person.

Skill Based Ideas

Ever wondered how your unique talents could spark a whole new business venture? Here are some skill-based business ideas

16. Fashion Consulting

Women who have a passion for style and creativity can try fashion consulting for a business idea. Here's how they can do it:

➔   Personal Styling : Women can offer one-on-one styling consultations to clients, helping them create outfits that suit their body type, personality, and lifestyle.

➔   Wardrobe Assessment: They can assess clients' existing wardrobes, identifying pieces that can be updated, replaced, or styled in new ways to create fresh looks.

➔   Shopping Assistance: Women can accompany clients on shopping trips or provide virtual shopping services, helping them select clothing and accessories that align with their style goals and budget.

➔   Fashion Trend Forecasting: They can provide insights into upcoming fashion trends, helping clients stay ahead of the curve and incorporate new styles into their wardrobes.

➔   Special Occasion Styling: Women can offer styling services for special occasions such as weddings, parties, or photoshoots, ensuring clients look and feel their best for important events.

17. Master of Ceremony (MC)

Women make fantastic Masters of Ceremony (MCs) at events due to their natural charisma, communication skills, and ability to engage audiences.

To succeed as an MC, women need to hone their public speaking, presentation, and interpersonal skills. They should be comfortable speaking in front of large audiences, able to command attention and keep the event on track while also being flexible and adaptable to changes.

Being an MC can also be a great business opportunity for women. By establishing themselves as skilled and reliable MCs, they can attract clients looking for someone to host their events professionally.

18. Graphic Design Services

If you're good at graphic design, you can start a business by showing off your work on Instagram or other niche places. Social media is great for finding clients, so don't forget to share your work consistently and talk to people who might need your help.

Visual elements such as logos, color schemes, and typography that effectively communicate the brand's identity and message are looked upon by most businesses. By using social media and reaching out to potential clients, you can grow your business and find more people who love your designs!

19. Virtual Assistance

Many women, particularly those with strong organizational and administrative skills, have successfully provided virtual assistant services to clients both within India and internationally.

Virtual assistants can work with a diverse range of clients, including small businesses, entrepreneurs, executives, freelancers, and even busy individuals who need help managing their personal affairs.

Virtual assistance is all about managing emails, scheduling appointments, travel arrangements or handling administrative tasks. Its flexibility allows it to work from anywhere, making it an attractive option for women who may need to balance work with other responsibilities.

20. Photography Services

Photography is a great way for women to show their creativity and tell stories through pictures. More and more people want professional photos for weddings, events, and businesses. This means women photographers have many chances to show their talent and get clients.

Baby photography, especially newborn photography, has become increasingly popular as parents seek to capture the precious moments of their little ones' early days.  So, women who are good at taking pictures of babies have a big opportunity to make families happy with their photos.

There is a growing demand for professional photography services, and it can be a great business idea for women.

Freelancing Ideas for Women

Freelancing provides economic opportunities for women by breaking down traditional barriers to entry into the workforce and offering a level playing field for entrepreneurship.

21. Blogger

Blogging is one of the perfect freelance business ideas for women at home since it can be operated around the clock from anywhere in the world (to learn more, read our blog on how to start an online business in India ).

It is a creative endeavor that allows women writers to share their stories, insights, and knowledge with an audience of interested readers.

It has very low startup costs, making it among the small business ideas for women in India with minimized financial risk. So, if you're a woman looking for the perfect business venture, look no further than blogging.       

22. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is another excellent option for women who are new to the business and looking for a flexible and low-risk way to earn income. As an affiliate marketer, you can promote products or services from other companies and earn a commission for every sale or lead generated through your unique affiliate link.

Here's how it works: You sign up for affiliate programs offered by companies that align with your interests or niche. Once approved, you'll receive a unique affiliate link to share with your audience through various channels, such as your blog, social media, email newsletters, or YouTube videos.

You'll earn a commission when someone clicks on your affiliate link and makes a purchase or completes a desired action (such as signing up for a free trial). The more people you refer to the company's products or services, the more commissions you can earn.

23. Voice Narration

Women often have a natural knack for communication and storytelling, making voice narration a perfect fit. Whether it's narrating audiobooks, podcasts, commercials, or educational videos, your voice can captivate audiences and bring scripts to life.

Voice narration offers flexibility in terms of where and when you work. You can set up a home recording studio and work from the comfort of your own space, allowing you to balance your work with other responsibilities and commitments.

As you gain experience and expand your portfolio, you can increase your rates and take on more challenging projects.

24. Multi-level Marketing

In MLM jobs, you sell products or services directly to people and earn money from your sales. What's interesting is that as you recruit more people to join under you, you earn commissions from their sales too. The products typically include things like cosmetics, supplements, healthcare, and home products.

If you're active on social media and have many followers, you can partner with MLM companies to promote their products online. You may also get opportunities to host training sessions and webinars to support others in the business.

25. Fitness Coaching

If you're passionate about health and fitness, offering online coaching services can be a great option. You can provide personalized workout plans, offer guidance on nutrition, and motivate clients to achieve their wellness goals.

To get better at coaching, try joining fitness groups where you can learn from others and share what you know. These groups might have programs or classes that teach you more, like explaining macros (stuff in food like carbs, proteins, and fats) and how they affect your fitness goals. They might even make you a mentor, where you can guide others on their fitness journey.

This could lead to more clients wanting your help, and you might even get requests to start your own gym someday! Once you become a mentor, you might want to consider getting gym equipment in bulk.

Traditional Ideas

Traditional business ideas for women are about using old-time skills and practices that have been around for a long time, bringing a classic vibe to starting their own businesses.

First, the beauty industry is growing rapidly, and there is a high demand for salon services. Second, starting a salon allows women to be their own boss and run their businesses according to their schedules. Third, salons are relatively low-cost businesses to start, and they have the potential to generate high profits.

Sticking to tradition can be a smart move for women starting their own salon businesses. Traditional salons have a special appeal because they remind people of the past and offer cozy, familiar experiences. They attract customers who like classic services and a friendly atmosphere.

With all of these factors working in its favor, it's no wonder that starting a salon is one of women entrepreneurs' most popular business ideas.

27. Catering

Catering is a great business idea for women because they're often really good at cooking naturally. Many women have learned cooking from their families and can make yummy food that brings people together. This talent makes them perfect for catering.

Here are other reasons why catering is one of the prospective business ideas for women:

●      It is a versatile business that can be scaled to meet your needs. Whether you are catering small parties or large events, there's a market for your services.

●      Catering is a great way to get involved in the social scene and build a network of potential customers.

●      It is a relatively low-cost business. You don't need to lease a commercial kitchen or invest in expensive equipment, making it the best business for women in India.

●      It is a people-centric business. Catering could be the perfect business for you if you love being around others and enjoy creating memorable experiences.

28. Homemade Beauty Products

Women have been using homemade remedies for centuries, passing down recipes for things like herbal face masks, soothing creams, and aromatic oils. There's a growing demand for natural skincare products as people become more conscious of what they're putting on their skin. Women can tap into this trend by creating their own line of natural beauty products, using ingredients like essential oils, plant extracts, and nourishing butters.

What's more! They can infuse a touch of tradition by drawing inspiration from age-old beauty rituals and time-tested ingredients. They also take pride in offering products that are not only good for the skin but also environmentally friendly and cruelty-free.     

One of the best options for women is opening a café because they bring a warm vibe, making you feel like you're among friends, even if you just walked in. But traditional cafes are super special because they're more like a family!

What sets these cafes apart is their focus on great quality and being real. They make handcrafted chai and coffee and homemade snacks, all done with lots of care. When you sip chai or bite into a crispy samosa, it feels like a special treat because these cafes work hard to make everything perfect. So if you're looking for a business venture that ticks all the boxes, opening a café is a great option

30. Laundry Services

In big cities where people are super busy and might not have time or space to do laundry at home, laundry services come to the rescue! These services offer different choices, like washing and folding clothes or doing special stuff like dry cleaning and ironing. Some laundry services have their own stores, while others are part of bigger chains like hotels or apartments.

Starting a laundry business can be an awesome idea for women! They can provide a helpful service for busy people while also running their own show. It's flexible and lets them be their own boss!

You can reach your target audience through online ads, word-of-mouth, or even flyers and posters in local businesses. Register with Amazon Business and set up your laundry shop easily.

Small Business Ideas

If you are looking to start a small-scale business for women, you may want to consider these business ideas.

31. Jewelry Brand

Women across the globe adore jewelry and are looking for different, quirky, and unique designs to go with their style, theme, and mood. This is a great market to capitalize on if you love jewelry and don't mind hours spent designing new pieces. The best part is you can start small by creating either a statement necklace, earring, ring, or even bracelet. Once you start getting noticed for your talent, you can easily turn this into one of the most profitable business ventures .

32. Stylist

Do you have a good eye for style? Do you love styling others? Then, you should probably think about becoming a stylist. From small to big, celebrities, movie stars, and artists rely on the instincts and skills of a stylist to put together an outfit. If you have a good eye for style, then the only hurdle in your way is getting clients. Don't shoot for starts as soon as you begin, look around your neighborhood, peer group, and circle and pick the people you think would benefit from your advice and consulting. Then, build up your work from there.

33. Nutritionist

People are recognizing the importance of healthy living and gut health as the fast-paced city lifestyle is taking a toll on their health. Becoming a nutritionist is a good business idea for women interested in healthy eating. You can easily get certification as a nutritionist and get clients through family and friends. You can even try specializing as a child nutritionist and gain access to a larger customer base.

34. Personal Chef

Do you love cooking and enjoy making different dishes? Then, becoming a personal chef could be a great business idea for the women in you. This way, you could get paid for something you enjoy doing. However, in this business, the more cuisine you know, the more it would come in handy to impress culturally diverse clients.

35. Make-up Artist

If you are among the women who enjoy giving makeovers to friends or if you are the one running around in a family function putting on makeup for your cousins, then becoming a makeup artist is just right for you. This could be a based business for women or a great business idea for women with low capital investment. You can even go big as a make-up artist if you bag famous clients and get social media exposure.

36. Esthetician

Skincare has slipped into the daily routine of most women and some men. If you like skincare and want to pursue it professionally, try becoming an esthetician. You can easily get certified for the same and even specialize in different areas of skincare like face or hair. This is definitely a good business idea for young ladies and older women alike. However, it is important to stay updated with the latest skincare regime, products, and techniques for client retention and attraction.

Side Hustle Ideas

There are many side hustle business ideas for women who wish to moonlight and earn some passive income. If your side hustle performs well, you can even make it your primary source of income. Here are some of the side hustle business ideas for housewives or working ladies to make some extra money on the side:

37. Customer Service

Many companies are outsourcing their customer service to make it more convenient and efficient for their customers. This gives a rare opportunity for the ladies or housewives to pick up some part-time or full-time hours. Many big companies like Amazon and Flipkart are outsourcing work-from-home opportunities. If you have extra hours to spare, then this is a good idea for a side hustle.

38. Becoming a Proofreader 

Proofreading is another great idea if you are good at editing. The best part about this is that you can either freelance or make this the main source of income. The crucial aspect about proofreading is to ensure the quality and accuracy of the content regardless of the sector, industry, or domain.

39. Transcription

Transcription is also increasingly becoming a popular side hustle for many. It's a good idea for ladies. You need to be good at typing, listening, and attention to detail to be a good transcriptor. There are many domains and niches to pick from, such as general, medical, business, and legal. Many platforms, like Upwork, Fiverr, etc., offer freelance transcription work.

40. Consulting

Consulting is a worthwhile business idea for ladies with specialized expertise in any field or domain. As a consultant, you can offer your experience and knowledge to businesses or individuals seeking advice or guidance in that area. It is also a good start-up idea for women. To start a consulting business, you need to identify your niche and target audience, start by making a social media presence, and then slowly build up your business.

Start-up ideas

Start-ups are a great way to begin your entrepreneurial journey and dab into the business world. We have curated some unique start-up ideas for women to pursue a business career. Check out our picks:

41. Content or PR Agency

Staring at a content or PR agency is also a good start-up idea. Both have a lot of work scope. Digital content marketing is a keen marketing strategy used by many businesses and firms, and with a content agency, you can do that. Similarly, with a PR agency, you can help other start-ups or businesses gain media visibility and brand penetration.

42. Ethical Fashion

Ethical fashion is another unique business idea for ladies to try. You can launch a marketplace selling ethically sourced or produced fashion products, offering visibility in manufacturing and trade policies. This marketplace can showcase all ethical fashion brands that target a unique consumer base. This idea can be very lucrative if properly implemented with a good marketing strategy as it caters to a special consumer demographic. (Our blog on the planning process in business will come in handy.)

43. Clean Beauty

Consumers are shifting their consciousness towards sustainable choices nowadays, which has also extended to the cosmetics industry. Keeping this in mind, starting a clean beauty brand would be a great start-up idea. You can either provide a marketplace for clean beauty brands or come up with a new brand promoting clean beauty altogether.

44. Customized Gift Boxes

Who does not like getting gifts? How about starting your own business when you custom-make gift boxes for your clients for different occasions and themes? Customized gift boxes are one of the unique business ideas for ladies to try, which can tap into their creative skills. Channelize your innate creativity, ladies, and make customized boxes for weddings, holidays, parties, celebrations, etc.

45. Eco-friendly Subscription Boxes

Another lucrative and unique business idea for ladies is to create eco-friendly subscription boxes. The idea is to handpick and source environmentally friendly products like beauty, snacks, household items, etc. You can even use clean beauty brands and skincare products, organic munchies, etc., and warp them in an eco-friendly box, making the idea more wholesome.

Bonus Idea!

Cultural exchange platforms.

If gift wrapping and subscription boxes aren’t your thing, then you can try something refreshing, like a cultural exchange platform. If you love bringing people across cultures together and enabling their engagement and dialogue exchange, then this idea is perfect for you. You could start by creating an online platform where people can connect and eventually host one another. You can run the platform and even host offline events for them where they can meet and greet.

How Can Amazon Business Help You Set Up Your Business and Beyond?

Amazon Business is the ultimate solution if you want to kick-start any business. Whether you have a small business or a unique business idea you are passionate about, we have all the tools you would need to set it up. Here’s how Amazon Business works to ensure your business can flourish:

●      Whether you are running a small store from home or setting up your business, you need to procure goods and products. At Amazon Business, purchasing for wholesale across product categories proves beneficial and cost-effective for any women's business to flourish.

●      You can add team members and align the workflow with an Amazon Business account. There’s also a provision to set compliance and restrictions on purchases to align with your organization’s policies and regulations.

●      We also have compliance and business analytics tools to analyze, track, and monitor the purchasing history to discover any order patterns and streamline your business procurement needs better.

●      Amazon also has several platforms for small and new businesses to introduce new products. For instance, there are Amazon Launchpad (for innovative and new product launches), Saheli ( for women-owned businesses), and Karigaar (for all artisans).

●      Our registered vendors come in handy for getting multiple quotes until you find the one you are looking for. Moreover, you can also get a discount on bulk purchasing with an Amazon Business account. Also, the benefits of GST invoice purchase add to your savings as a small business owner.

●      You can also become an Amazon Seller and list your products, where Amazon Business will take care of the shipping and delivery. And we are known for our impeccable shipping and doorstep delivery services.

●      Our inventory is no joke. We ensure businesses of diverse scale, size, and sector can procure goods easily and conveniently. Therefore, no matter the kind of unique business ideas for ladies you have swirling within your mind, we have the tools and products to implement them.

We understand how business owners are always on the run and hustling, which is why we have an Amazon Business app to make your business purchases easier and more convenient. What are you waiting for? Start making a business plan right away. Amazon Business is there to back you up.

How can a woman start a small business?

The most important aspect of starting a business is the willingness to do so. Business ideas for women entrepreneurs need only a little bit of grit and power. Be willing to take up the challenge, decide what type of business you want to undertake, create a business plan, research the licenses and permit requirements, look for financing options, and get started!

Are there any government loan schemes for women?

There are various government loan schemes available to fund business ideas for women. Some of them are listed below:

●      Annapurna Scheme

●      Mudra Yojana Scheme

●      Cent Kalyani Scheme

●      Udyogini Scheme

●      Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana

●      Stree Shakti Yojana

●      Bhartiya Mahila Bank Business Loan

●      Dena Shakti Scheme

●      Mahila Udyam Nidhi Yojana

What are MSME schemes for women entrepreneurs?

Women entrepreneurs add to the economic development of the country. Business ideas for women will find their funding in these schemes. Here are some of the Micro, Small, and Medium Business Loan Schemes for women entrepreneurs:

● Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD) Scheme

● Cent Kalyani Scheme

● Udyogini Scheme

●  Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Yojana

●  Stree Shakti Yojana

●  Bhartiya Mahila Bank Business Loan

●  Dena Shakti Scheme

●  Mahila Udyam Nidhi Yojana

●  Mudra Yojana

Can I start a business with low capital?

Yes, you can start a business with low capital. Create a business plan and capital requirement plan before you start looking for funding. To start with low capital, make sure you create a business plan that requires less funding in the beginning. Some of the low-capital ideas include:

●       Content creation

●       Event planning

●      Social media consultant

●      Online tutoring

●      Affiliate marketing

●      Graphic design

What are some startup ideas for women?

Here are some of the startup ideas for women to try:

●      Online business ideas for women include tutoring, consulting, career counseling, content strategy, etc.

●      Home business ideas for women include bake shops, flower shops, food/ tiffin services, yoga instructors, etc.

●      Small business ideas for women include tailoring, salon/ beauty parlor, skill classes, content writing, graphic designing, etc.

What are some new business ideas for women?

Some of the new business ideas for women include:

●      Stock trading

●      High fashion reseller

●      Virtual bookkeeping

●      Dropshipping store

●      Market research

●      App Developer

Starting a home business for women is also a good idea to kickstart your journey.

What is a casual business idea for women?

No business idea is casual, as all require equal or more amount. But here are some interesting ideas you could try:

●      Subscription box making

●      Customized gift boxes

●      Book Boxes

Which business is best for women?

Here are some of the best business ideas for ladies or women to try out:

●      Consulting business

●      Ed-tech and online tutoring

●      E-commerce store

●      Cloud kitchen

●      Home-based businesses

●      Fashion and beauty salon

●      Health and wellness business

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But, if you don't plan to share your plan with anyone outside of your business—you likely don't need everything.

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Small Business, Big Impact: Empowering Women SMEs for Success

At a Glance

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of the global economy, employing up to 70% of the workforce, and driving half of the world's GDP.
• In India, 63 million MSMEs contribute 30% of GDP and provide jobs to 110 million people.
• IFC's FY24 investments are amplifying access to credit and expected to enable clients to extend 30 million MSME and micro loans.
• 110 million Jobs provided by MSMEs in India
• 30 million MSME and micro loans enabled by clients

By Anya Aftab with contributions from Ankita Bhalla

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of the global economy, representing over 90% of businesses employing up to 70% of the workforce , and driving half of the world's GDP. Despite their critical role, they face a staggering $5.7 trillion financing gap globally, which increases to $8 trillion when including informal businesses.

In India, the MSME landscape reflects global trends, with 63 million MSMEs contributing 30% of GDP and over 40% of exports. They are also a powerhouse for employment, providing jobs to 110 million people. Yet, a financing gap of $333 billion persists.

Beyond these numbers, India’s women entrepreneurs are forging a new path. They lead nearly 15 million MSMEs, predominantly in manufacturing, and are redefining the future with their innovative ventures. However, the financial hurdles coupled with societal bias often make it difficult for women to sustain their businesses, thus calling for targeted empowerment and support.

IFC recognizes the urgency to bridge this gap, particularly for women-owned SMEs. By partnering with India's leading banks and Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), IFC is committed to enhancing credit access, fostering job creation, and promoting inclusive growth.

This World MSME Day, we celebrate the resilience and success of three women microentrepreneurs in India and spotlight IFC’s partners who are exemplifying how the right support and financing can ignite growth and success. 

Spicing up the Globe

Sector: Food Manufacturing

Banking support: Federal Bank 

When Jimmy Raju started her family’s small pickles business in Marady, near Kerala’s Muvattupuzha town in 1994, her ambition was simple: to build a high-quality pickle company ‘Grandma’s’, in India. The success of Grandma’s hot and lime pickle, named after a cherished homegrown recipe and certified locally as the first branded pickle without preservative, revealed to Raju the potential of expanding into new markets. Two years later, she was well on her path of growth, though the opportunity came with its challenges.

Like many women entrepreneurs, she hoped to export her products far beyond the Indian domestic market but struggled to secure funding initially. Women entrepreneurs too often face challenges in accessing financial services, as Jimmy discovered. With limited assets to pledge as collateral and traditional lenders hesitant to extend loans, she turned to her husband for financial support and steadily built her business, earning the trust of lenders along the way.

Her efforts paid off.

With a fleshed-out business strategy and improved operations history, she approached Federal Bank for a loan. Through the bank’s financing support, Jimmy was able to expand her business beyond regional markets and export to European countries. “This support has been a morale booster in my journey as an entrepreneur,” says Raju. Today, with over 200 employees, Grandma’s is not merely a business, it's a critical source of livelihood for many.  

Since 2006, IFC and Federal Bank have partnered to improve access to finance. Last year IFC invested $117 million in Federal Bank to enhance its capacity to lend to MSMEs and meet the increasing credit needs of entrepreneurs, including women like Raju. This support is enabling the bank to provide nearly 60,000 SME loans, empowering individuals, and advancing women's economic participation.

  Milking the Way to Success

Kulwinder Kaur

Sector: Livestock

Banking support: Moneyboxx and Vivriti Asset management (VAM) 

In Mansa, Punjab, Kulwinder Kaur has been running the family’s independent dairy farm, determined to revitalize the struggling business. Faced with decreasing profits and low milk yields, she knew something had to change. However, securing a loan without any credit history presented a serious challenge.

To tackle this challenge, she approached Moneyboxx, an NBFC that provides small-ticket business loans to micro and small enterprises in rural areas, a largely underserved area by larger banks, to apply for an INR 200,000 (Approx $2400) loan. The support was a welcome change for her family. Moneyboxx provided personalized banking support and crucial business coaching to help improve her credit profile and secure the loan her business required. With this financing, she was able to purchase high-quality cattle breeds, construct cattle sheds, and afford veterinary services.

The support didn't just double her family's income—it revived their livelihood. “I had no prior credit history which made it impossible to get a loan,” says Kaur. But it wasn't just financial aid, it was a partnership with Moneyboxx that ensured she and her business thrived. “The guidance and knowledge I received helped save my business.”

Thanks to this partnership, the farm's daily yield has soared from 20 to 50 liters.

Moneyboxx, an investee company of Vivriti Asset Management, is supported through the Vivriti Retail Assets Fund, a fund backed by IFC, which has facilitated financing for over 73,300 loans to women-owned small businesses in India, including Kaur’s.

Weaving the Way to Financial Independence  

Balpreet Aulakh

Sector: Textile & Apparel

Banking support: Shriram Finance 

Some 114 kilometers away in Moga, Punjab, Balpreet Aulakh, a microentrepreneur, owns another SME. Sippy Aulakh Fabs is a clothing manufacturing company that supports both local artisans and craftsmen alike.

Founded in 2019, Aulakh’s enterprise specializes in stitching and embroidery, providing crucial income for local workers and offering unemployed individuals a chance to earn a living. To keep her clothing business running amid soaring demand and increased operational costs post-pandemic, Balpreet tried borrowing from banks but faced hurdles familiar to many women entrepreneurs. As a businesswoman, she found it tough to establish trust and prove herself as a reliable borrower.

Enter Shriram Finance, a leading NBFC in India specializing in working capital loans for underserved MSMEs in rural India. Backed by IFC, Shriram finance recognized Balpreet’s business potential and supported her with a business plan and provided the funds needed to continue her business. “I feel empowered and happy to inspire other women to become self-reliant, too,” says Aulakh. “Initiatives like these enable women entrepreneurship.”

IFC invested $150 million in Shriram Finance in March 2024 to help ramp up its lending to small-scale entrepreneurs and deepen financial inclusion. The partnership is expected to result in 9 million micro loans and nearly 200,000 SME loans, benefiting smaller businesses in India's underserved markets and prioritizing support for supply chain financing to boost women's participation. 

Beyond the Glass Ceiling

IFC’s work in championing women’s entrepreneurship in the private sector is helping to address gender inequality and to leverage India’s demographic dividend.

Over the past year, IFC’s investment will help clients to extend 30 million micro and SME loans, with over 20 million of these loans, valued at over $15 billion, and $8 billion of this designated specifically for women.

More recently, to support India’s women-led development and foster greater inclusivity in financial markets, aligned with the World Bank Group Group’s Gender Strategy , IFC is taking steps to address the gender gap by integrating women better into business operations, advancing women leadership in corporate and fostering job opportunities. Women and men both need equal access to finance, and this initiative aims to better serve the banking and financing needs of women-owned and managed enterprises across the country.

Along with the government and the private sector, the MSME sector can achieve greater scale, create opportunities for women, and empower more small businesses, especially those led by women—not just on World MSME Day, but every day of the year.

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Small Business Administration offers $30 million in grant funding to Women’s Business Centers

The U.S. Small Business Administration logo is shown on the agency website on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 in New York. The Small Business Administration will offer $30 million in grant funding for Women’s Business Centers for a variety of projects, including funding to open a center in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

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NEW YORK (AP) — The Small Business Administration will offer $30 million in grant funding for Women’s Business Centers for a variety of projects, including funding to open a center in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Eligible organizations that are selected will be awarded up to $150,000 to open and operate a Women’s Business Center.

There are currently 152 in-person Women’s Business Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For the first time, organizations that provide mostly or entirely virtual counseling and training services to women-owned small businesses across the country will be eligible for the grants along with in-person offices.

The grants will be awarded in four areas: funding to support women business owners in government contracting; funding to provide entrepreneurial development services to women-owned small businesses focused on providing child care services; funding to provide general entrepreneurial development services to women in areas outside of where the centers currently exist; and funding to support the opening of a center in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Every new WBC helps open doors for women entrepreneurs who need access to training and practical assistance to stand up and grow their small businesses,” said Christina Hale, Assistant Administrator for the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership.

Anyone with questions about these grants can contact the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership at [email protected] . That office was established by executive order in 1979.

Biden's bad week just got worse after he said he was the 'first Black woman to serve with a Black president'

• Joe Biden said in an interview he was "proud" to be the "first Black woman to serve with a Black president."
• It comes just days after Biden's disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump.
• Biden has said he needs to get more sleep and stop holding events after 8 p.m., reports say.

Joe Biden 's argument that his disastrous debate performance last week was a one-off is seemingly falling apart.

In his latest verbal slipup, the president said he was "proud" to be the "first Black woman to serve with a Black president."

The 81-year-old president mixed up his words during an interview with Philadelphia's Wurd radio station when referring to his vice president, Kamala Harris, and former President Barack Obama.

"By the way, I'm proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first Black woman, to serve with a Black president," he said.

Biden likely jumbled the sentence because he'd earlier spoken about being the first vice president to serve under a Black president.

Earlier in the interview, he also spoke about how he was the first president to have a Black woman as vice president and had appointed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

It comes just days after Biden's debate with former US president Donald Trump, which was marked by verbal gaffes and confusing statements.

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Biden is now facing increasing pressure to drop out of the presidential race . In a poll by Reuters and Ipsos , one in three Democrats said Biden should quit.

The Biden camp has offered multiple explanations for the president's slurred words, nonsensical phrases, and vacant stares, including jet lag, a cold, and incompetent aides.

But donors have publicly voiced their concerns with what they say are Biden's age-related problems.

On Thursday, the millionaire heiress Abigail Disney announced she'd stop donations to the Democratic Party until they "replace Biden at the top of the ticket."

Her statement echoed that of the Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings, who told The New York Times , "Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous."

Biden has told supporters he doesn't speak as "smoothly" or "debate as well" as he used to but has publicly vowed to fight on.

Axios , citing people close to the president, said Biden worked best between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and struggled to function outside that window.

His press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said to reporters that "he's a little slower than he used to be."

Biden told governors he needed to get more sleep and stop holding events after 8 p.m., CNN and The New York Times reported.

Biden's campaign didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider about the reports.

On Friday, Biden's mental acuity is set to be scrutinized when he sits for an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, who used to be head of communications at the White House during Bill Clinton's presidency.

Biden's previous interactions with Stephanopoulos include a rare sit-down appearance in 2021, during which he defended the US's decision to pull its troops from Afghanistan.

Watch: Can Biden survive mounting fallout from the presidential debate?

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