15 Profitable Small Business Ideas For Women

Last Updated May 9, 2024 by Davina Kelly

Do you want to be your own boss and make money on your terms? These small business ideas for women can help you do just that. 

Times have changed, we are now seeing many more female-led businesses and I love it! Women are remarkable.

We break barriers and shatter stereotypes, there is really nothing we can’t do. 

Whether you are tired of working a 9 – 5 or are a stay-at-home mom who wants to make money these small business ideas will help you. 

When it comes to businesses there isn’t one size that fits all. You have to choose the business that works best for you and your lifestyle.

Whether you are driven by passion, necessity or a desire for independence there is a business that will suit you. 

In this post, you are going to learn the best small business ideas for women along with business for ladies with low investment. 

After reading this post, you will have many small business ideas for women at home that are rewarding and profitable. 

This post is all about small business ideas for women.

15 Best Small Business Ideas For Women:

1. Interior Design

If you have a passion for creating aesthetically pleasing spaces you can start an interior design business. This is a lucrative small business idea that will allow you to express your creativity.

Us women know how to transform a space and turn a house into a home so why not monetise those skills?

As an interior designer, you can offer residential or commercial design, home staging services or renovation projects. You can also offer interior design consulting services, space planning and decor selection.

To attract clients and get your business started you need to build a portfolio. You can do this by offering to work on projects with family and friends and documenting the process. Networking with small local businesses and real estate agents is a good way to find opportunities. Also, show your work on social media to build a following and show off your impeccable style. 

If you want inspiration watch this video to learn how a blogger went from writing about dorm room decor to building a 7 figure interior design business. 

2. Event Planning

Are you the person your friends and family call on to organise events? Why not use your talents to start an event planning business? This is the perfect small business idea for women who are organised, pay attention to detail and know how to throw a fabulous party. 

There is always something to celebrate and people like to do it in style so you can help them by adding your personal touch. You can plan weddings, parties, corporate events and conferences. If there is an event you prefer planning you can niche down and offer a high-end service. For example, you can focus on being a wedding event planner and become known for planning high end beautiful elegant weddings. 

Starting an event planning business is a fun lucrative venture but it can also be demanding. You will have to locate venues, deal with vendors, coordinate logistics and keep your clients happy. So it is important to keep on top of communication and manage your time and energy well.

To get your venture started you can utilise your network. Offer to plan the next family event and take photos to show the before and after. This will help you build your portfolio which is key for clients. Social media is a great place to show your skills and attract potential clients so ensure you show your work there.

3. Beauty Business

Starting a beauty business is a rewarding venture for women who are creative and passionate about beauty. Women understand the importance of beauty not only for aesthetics but as a form of self-care. When you look good you feel good and your beauty business can help other woman look and feel their best. 

You can offer makeup services, eyebrow grooming, hairdressing and eyelash extensions. Start with one service to begin with and once you have perfected your skills and built a client base you can expand. These services can be done from home or you can offer mobile services where you go to your client’s home.  

Some beauty services require you to have a qualification before you can operate. So once you have decided which beauty service you want to provide do your research. It is important to ensure that you are following the correct protocols. 

The first step in starting your beauty business is to build your portfolio. You can do this by offering your services to your friends and taking pictures to show the results. I’m sure your friends will be more than happy to be your model client lol once they see their transformation they may even become paying clients. 

Showcase your work on social media to build a digital portfolio and draw in clients. Also, network with other small beauty business owners and bloggers and attend local events.

Related: 17 Beauty Side Hustles To Make Extra Money

4. Coaching

If you love all things development and helping people to become their best selves consider starting a coaching business. Coaching is a powerful tool for personal and professional development and can help people transform their lives.

If you have expertise in a certain area you can leverage your skills to empower others. For example, you can be a life coach, career coach or wellness coach and build a successful business. 

As a coach, you can offer your clients guidance, support and accountability in pursuit of their goals. You can do this through one-on-one sessions, workshops and online courses. The best coaches are empathetic, trustworthy, great listeners and committed to lifelong learning. As women, we possess these qualities and put them into practice daily. Now you can get paid for these amazing qualities. 

It might be hard to find clients in the beginning so you can offer to work with a friend or colleague for free. In exchange you can ask them to write a testimonial, this will give you credibility and show clients proof of your results. 

You can also join Facebook groups, attend events and network with other coaches to find opportunities. 

5. Tutoring

Tutoring is a rewarding small business idea for women who are passionate about education and enjoy working with others. This is a great way to share your knowledge and make a positive impact on people’s lives. 

You can offer tutoring in academic subjects such as English and Maths. These are the most popular subjects students need help with so you will have plenty of clients. Or you can tutor in areas like music, art or language learning. To upscale you can offer services to help students prepare for tests and personalised support. The lead-up to exams is usually the busiest period so you can offer extra hours and increase your earnings. 

You can also provide training materials like guides and flashcards and create a passive income stream for your business. 

The great thing about having a tutoring business is that it is flexible so it can easily fit around your busy schedule. You can be an online tutor and enjoy the perks of remote work or you can offer in-person sessions. The face-to-face sessions tend to have the most impact so you can offer both options for flexibility. 

To find clients you can let your network know about your business venture. If they don’t need your services they will recommend you to others. You can also sign up to platforms like My Tutor or Tutorful to find opportunities. 

Best Online Business For Ladies at Home

6. Social Media Content Creator

The social media content creation business has taken over and isn’t going anywhere. Content creators are the new marketers. Businesses work with creators to promote their products and services and it’s a very lucrative venture. Running paid ads is still a good strategy, but getting your products in front of your target audience has drastically higher returns. You probably use social media every day anyway so why not become a content creator and make money from the platforms you spend most of your time on? 

If you are not shy in front of the camera you can create captivating videos and build a community. But if you are shy you can build a faceless platform. For example, if you are into Tech you can create videos reviewing the product and do a voiceover. As long as your content is valuable you can still build an audience. This has taken off over the last few years and now thanks to AI it is even easier to get started. 

The first step in becoming a content creator is deciding what you’ll create content about. Do you love cleaning? Have you started living a minimalist lifestyle? Or do you love travelling? The great thing about social media is there are no limits, you can create content about anything and you will attract your tribe. Take some time to think and choose a niche. 

Once you have chosen your niche you need to choose a platform. The most popular platforms for creators are YouTube, Tik Tok and Instagram. Choose the platform that you enjoy using the most and start creating content. You don’t need a lot of equipment to get started. You may need a ring light but that’s it, you can record on your phone to get started. Once you start making money you can invest in equipment.

How To Monetise

The key to growing on social media is consistency. If you can only upload once a week then do that every week and in time you will build an audience.  

As I mentioned before social media is a money maker. Once you have built an audience you can make money in a lot of different ways. You can make money from ads, sponsorships and affiliate marketing. This can easily be a 6 figure small business. 

7. Podcast

Podcasting is a fairly new business. It has only been around for the past decade or so but it has exploded over the last few years. If you enjoy talking about certain topics and love sharing your point of view consider starting a podcast. 

One of the many things women are good at is supporting each other through conversations. We like to talk, unpack situations and get to the bottom of things. Through a podcast, you can share your insights and stories with a global audience. Just like social media, you can talk about anything. Whether it is business, money, family, relationships, wellness or lifestyle, there is an audience for every interest. 

To get the ball rolling on your podcast business choose a niche. If you want to talk about multiple topics you can start with one and expand over time. 

You’ll need to make some small investments to get started, but your return will be well worth it. You will need to buy a good-quality mic and hire an editor. If you know how to edit yourself even better you can save yourself some money. 

Now you are all set to create your episodes and build a loyal audience. Once you have built up your listeners you can monetise your podcast through sponsorships and advertising. 

8. Start a Blog

Blogging is a timeless small business idea that still remains very lucrative. Starting a blog is a great way to express yourself and showcase your expertise through writing. Whether you’re passionate about food, fashion, travel or self-improvement blogging allows you to share your unique perspectives with the world and build a community.  

Writing about what truly matters to you is how you will build a successful blog. The readers will be able to tell through your writing if you are passionate about the topic or just writing to make money. So authenticity is key. 

To start choose a niche that you are knowledgeable about and have a lot of interest in. Once you have decided on your niche you can start creating your blog. This part can feel confusing so if you feel lost and want some guidance check out this post. It includes a FREE 7-day email course to help you learn the ropes. 

Once your blog is up and running you just need to create content. Creating a schedule and content calendar will be helpful so you can stay organised and publish posts consistently. 

I have to be transparent, blogging is a lucrative business, but it is a lot of work. You can’t get rich quickly with a blog, it takes a lot of time and effort to build. So if you are not patient this small business idea may not be right for you. 

However, if you are patient over time you will gain traffic and start making money. Once you start getting traffic you can monetise your blog with ads, affiliate marketing and sponsored posts. There is no limit to your earning potential, I know plenty of bloggers who make over $10,000 a month. 

9. Bookkeeping

If you have some finance knowledge and enjoy working with numbers you can start a bookkeeping business. Small businesses and entrepreneurs often need help to manage their finances so bookkeepers are always in demand. 

You can offer basic bookkeeping services like recording income and expenses, producing reports, bank reconciliations, tax calculations and providing valuable insights. To upscale you can provide payroll services, budgeting, forecasting and file year-end accounts. 

This venture will allow you to create your own schedule, work from anywhere in the world and have control of your income. You can take on more clients during busy times like the end of the tax year and increase your income. Or you can have fewer clients and work less around the holidays. It is completely your choice. 

I started my bookkeeping business over a year ago and it’s the best thing I have done. It has allowed me to use my skills to make extra money outside my 9 – 5 job and gain more confidence in my abilities. 

You don’t have to be a qualified accountant to be a bookkeeper. If you have some experience it is better, but you can teach yourself. Read here to learn how to become a bookkeeper with no experience. 

If you are ready to get started you can look for clients on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and LinkedIn. You can also let your network know about your new business, this is how I got my first client. I was at brunch with a friend and told her I was starting my bookkeeping business. Around the same time, she was also starting her own business and needed help so she became my first client. See how powerful your network can be?

10. Video Editing

If you are creative and know how to edit videos you can start a video editing business. With the rise of video content across social media platforms skilled video editors are in constant demand. 

Running your own video editing business means you can set your own hours and create a schedule that works for you. It also allows you to express your creativity. 

You can edit content for small businesses and content creators who want to enhance their visual content. From editing vlogs to promotional videos and branded content, there are many opportunities for video editors. 

If you focus on editing videos for a specific type of content you can become known as an expert and charge your clients a premium price. For example, you can offer video editing for YouTube shorts. This will help you stand out from the crowd and attract more clients. 

To get started you can pitch to small businesses or creators you want to work with. Send them a personalised email and include some ideas you have to help them improve their content. You can also advertise your services on social media.

11. Become an Etsy Seller

Etsy has revolutionised the way artists and crafters sell their handmade goods, providing a global marketplace for unique and creative products. If you have skills in crafting, jewellery making, sewing or any other artsy pursuits you can become an Etsy seller. Thanks to Etsy crafting can be more than just a hobby. It can become a lucrative business. 

If making crafts isn’t your vibe you can create digital products such as social media templates, planners and trackers. 

Etsy has made it easy to get started. Once you have decided what you want to create you can open your shop and list your product. Read here to learn how to open an Etsy shop. 

As someone who shops on Etsy often I will say the key to attracting customers is to have good quality listing photos. There are millions of sellers on Etsy so to stand out you need to catch the buyer’s attention fast. This can be achieved by having good listing photos and accurate product descriptions. 

12. Online Community Manager

As online communities have become more popular the role of a community manager has become more important. If you have good communication skills and are good at building relationships you can become a community manager. 

You might be thinking what exactly is a community manager? Think of membership groups and online forums. There is always someone monitoring them to ensure the community members get answers to their questions and everything is running smoothly. 

As a community manager, you are responsible for maintaining your client’s online community. This includes moderating discussions, engaging the audience and maintaining forums, social media and cultivating a sense of belonging among community members.

To find jobs look on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. You can also reach out to small businesses you want to work with and network online to find opportunities.

13. Sell Online Courses

The online learning market is booming. People like to learn new things and online courses provide them an easily accessible way to do this. They can complete the course at their own pace from the comfort of their home. 

Before only people from accredited institutions made courses, now anyone can create a course. If you have expertise and knowledge in a certain area you can teach others and make a lot of money. I am talking 6 figures and it is passive income. You create the course once and can continuously sell it. 

You can create a course to teach people anything from how to start a business and drawing to fitness and investing. The possibilities are endless. Selling online courses allows you to benefit from location and time flexibility which is what most people desire.

Is selling courses a lucrative small business idea for women? Yes, but it isn’t necessarily easy. You will need to create a script and record interactive videos to teach the content and create any materials to go with it. This can be very time-consuming and draining, but your efforts will pay off.

Once you create your course you can sell it on your website. This is a good option if you already have an audience. If you don’t have an audience you can list your course on platforms like SkillShare and Udemy which have a large audience. 

14. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is the perfect small business idea for women who have a way with words. With the rise of online content businesses and publications are constantly seeking writers so there are plenty of opportunities. 

I know that being a freelance writer can seem pretty vague, but in essence, you are required to create content that stands out. Whether it is a blog post, marketing copy or social media post your words will speak for your client.

This small business venture is ideal if you want to work from home or anywhere in the world. You can write while sitting on the beach or on the sofa in your pyjamas, it’s your choice. As long as you produce high-quality work and meet your deadlines you will make money. 

You can find writing jobs on platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork. Or you can pitch to clients you want to work with. For example, if there is a creator you follow but you think their social media captions could be better you can send them an email. Another option is to write posts on Medium. You can create an account, build a community and make money. 

15. Virtual Assistant

The rise in online businesses has led to an increased demand for virtual assistants. This isn’t a passing trend it is an opportunity to build a profitable business. If you are organised, know how to communicate well and have good time management skills consider becoming a virtual assistant. 

This is a great small business idea for women who want to set their own hours and rates and decide when to work. 

As a virtual assistant, you can provide administration, technical and creative support. The most common tasks are responding to emails, calendar management and social media scheduling. But there are a variety of other things you can do. For example, if you are good at using Pinterest you can specialise in providing Pinterest marketing services. 

You already have the necessary skills to start a successful Virtual Assistant business, but embracing new tools will help you. For example, learning how to use systems such as Asana and Trello will set you apart. 

Platforms like Fiverr, Upwork and LinkedIn are good places to find clients. You can also join Facebook groups and network to find opportunities. 

These are some of the top small business ideas for women, if you want more ideas you can check out this YouTube channel. It has lots of content about business ideas for women. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business Ideas For Women

Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about small business ideas for women.

What Is The Best Business For a Woman To Start?

The best business for a woman to start is the business she has the most interest in. Skills and experience are important but if you are not interested in the business you start you may quit when things get challenging. 

Here are some examples of the best business for a woman to start.

• Virtual Assistant
• Beauty business
• Freelance writing
• Etsy seller
• Blogger

What Is The Cheapest Most Profitable Business To Start?

The cheapest most profitable business to start is an online business. Most online businesses don’t require capital to get started. They also don’t cost a lot to run which makes them highly profitable.

Here are some examples of the cheapest most profitable businesses to start.

• Sell online courses
• Blogging
• Online tutoring
• Bookkeeping
• Consulting

Final Thoughts 

There is a wealth of small business ideas for women to pursue their passion, achieve financial freedom and make an impact on the world. From event planning and interior design to tutoring and selling on Etsy. Women have the power to shape their own destinies and create successful small businesses. 

I hope you have found this post helpful and now have many small business ideas for women. Which small business will you try? Let me know in the comments below. 

This post was all about small business ideas for women.

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