21 low-cost home business ideas for moms(Start with $100 or Less)

According to the US Census Bureau’s 2021-2022 NES-D data, women own about 42% of the non-employeer firms. What’s stopping you from starting a business? Is it a lack of budget or direction?

If so, you are in the right place. I will show you 21 of the best low-budget business ideas that really work. Let’s take a look at them:

1. Blogging
2. YouTube
3. Online Tutoring
4. Direct Sales Representative
5. Handmade Crafts Seller
6. Social Media Manager
7. House Cleaning Service
8. Freelance Writing
9. Pet Sitting / Dog Walking
10. In-Home Childcare
11. Virtual Assistant
12. Photography Services
13. Online Reselling
14. Print-on-Demand Merchandise
15. Pet Grooming Service
16. Laundry & Ironing Service
17. Errand Service
18. Event Planner
19. Professional Organizer
20. Home Baking Business
21. Consulting or Coaching Service

The 21 low-budget business ideas:

1.Blogging:

Did you know that many stay-at-home moms make over $5,000 a month through blogging?

Blogging simply means sharing your experience or expertise in a particular field with others online.

You might be wondering how to start.

The first thing you’ll need is a domain and hosting for your blog.

After that, design your site and begin writing helpful articles.

Once you’ve posted a few articles, you can apply for ad monetization through platforms like Google AdSense or Journey by Mediavine.

Example: electric mommy blog.

2.YouTube:

If someone asks me, what is the best business for stay-at-home moms?

Without a doubt, my answer is YouTube.

Why? Because for starting a YouTube channel, a phone is enough.

You don’t need to invest a single penny to make money from it.

To make money from YouTube, you need to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program. After qualifying for it, you start making money.

Related articles:

YouTube Automation Made Simple: Earn from Home Without Showing Your Face in 2025

25 Faceless YouTube Niches That Make Money (2025)

3.Online Tutoring:

The market value of online private tutoring was estimated at $4.32 billion in 2024 and is set to reach $8.08 billion by 2030. Online tutoring has grown rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

You may think online tutoring means teaching school subjects, but you can actually teach anything you’re proficient in.

When it comes to initial investments, it depends entirely on the field you choose to teach. Most fields don’t require any investment.

Online tutors charge at least $20 an hour, and this rate increases based on your expertise and the subject you teach.

Popular platforms for one-on-one tutoring include Preply, Skooli, and iTutor.

If you want to sell courses, Teachable and Thinkific may help you.

4.Direct Sales Representative:

A direct sales representative is a person who sells products or services directly to customers without a retail storefront.

I want to show you the distinction between a retail system and direct sales.

In direct sales, all wholesalers, distributors, and retailers are excluded.

You may choose any niche you like.

Quick tip: finance and insurance-related services often pay high commissions.

The best way to start is through social media. You can build a brand page, educate people about the product or service, and then leave your contact number to convert them into customers.

5.Handmade Crafts Seller

If you are a creative stay-at-home mom, then starting a handmade craft selling business is the most flexible and rewarding thing you can do right now.

You might wonder how to start.

It’s an easy four-step process.

Step 1: create products by hand at home. You can create any products that have value and some uniqueness. examples of uniquely scented candles, artwork in various styles, and other creative items.

Step 2: create Pinterest and Instagram accounts and start posting your stuff. Use these two platforms as marketing tools.

Step 3: Sell them directly through Etsy, Shopify, or Facebook Marketplace.

Step 4 (Bonus Tip): Offer custom or personalized products.

At the entry level you can make around $200 a month. It can increase to thousands of dollars based on the quality, uniqueness, and marketing of your products.

When it comes to costs, it depends upon which niche you have chosen; for most of the niches, it’s going to be below $100.

6.Social Media Manager

Ever wonder how celebrities with so little screen time are posting frequently and engaging with audiences regularly?

I was also confused about this until I learned about social media managers. A social media manager is a person who manages the social media presence of celebrities and small businesses.

As a social media manager, you have to manage things like:

1.creating and scheduling posts.

2.engaging with the audience and replying to their comments

3.managing sponsorships and collaborations.

4.analyzing post-performance using analytics.

There is no initial investment; if any, it will be less than $100.

An easy three-step process to start:

Step 1. Create social media accounts on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.

Step 2: Post about your skill.

Step 3: Mention your contact details.

Newcomers are earning around $500 a month, while experts are earning around $5,000 a month.

7.House Cleaning Service

The demand for house cleaning services is growing rapidly, especially in urban areas.

As a house cleaner or house cleaning service owner, you’ll need to offer the following services to clients:

1. Clean homes, apartments, or offices on a scheduled basis.

1. Offer add-on services such as deep cleaning and lawn or garden care.

1. Build repeat clients who book your services weekly.

There are no initial costs if clients provide cleaning supplies. However, if they don’t, you’ll need to purchase the basic essentials yourself.

According to Indeed, the average house cleaner in the U.S. earns between $18 and $25 per hour.

You can start solo, and once you gain a good number of clients, expand into a house cleaning agency.

8.Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is one of the most flexible and instantly paid jobs. If you have an interest in writing, you can start freelance writing.

There is no initial investment; you can start with your mobile.

As a freelance writer, you can create content such as blog articles, YouTube video descriptions, email newsletters, e-books, guides, and product descriptions, among other things.

According to Upwork, the average earnings of a fresh US freelance writer are around $30 per article.

From my experience, I learned that focusing on a particular niche is important. And showing our previous work is equally important, too.

If you want to write blog articles, then learn to write “AI-optimized blog articles.”

You can start with freelancing websites like Upwork, Fiverr, or any other. And in parallel, build a social media page where you showcase your writings and promote yourself.

9.Pet Sitting / Dog Walking

Pet sitting or dog walking is a low-stress way for stay-at-home moms to make money. As a pet sitter or dog walker, your main job is to take care of pets when their owners can’t.

You need to take pets for walks, feed and groom them, and provide playtime, overnight stays, or weekend sitting.

Your income depends on the type of service you offer:

• Pet sitting (day): $25–$60 per day

• Overnight care: $50–$100 per night

• Dog walking: $15–$30 per walk (30–60 minutes)

According to Rover.com, top pet sitters in the U.S. make anywhere between $1,000 and $2,500 a month, depending on their location and schedule.

My friend used to do this, and when I asked him about the costs, he said there were none since the owners usually provide all the essentials.

You can start by offering services to your neighbors or join platforms like Rover and Care.com to find clients.

10.In-Home Childcare

In-home childcare means taking care of children in your own home while their parents are at work or busy.

As an in-home childcare provider, you must handle children with care and responsibility.

Here are some of the things you’ll do:

• Play with them.

• Teach them to read and learn.

• Create a safe environment.

• Help them with homework.

You’ll need a small initial investment to make your home child-friendly — things like safety gates, toys, and play mats.

According to Care.com and ZipRecruiter, licensed in-home childcare providers earn around $10 to $25 an hour, depending on location and the number of children you care for.

How to succeed:

If you want to make good money from it, treat your childcare setup like a small school.

• Create separate areas for playing, sleeping, and snack time.

• Offer themed activities like Story Sundays and Craft Fridays to attract parents and keep kids engaged.

• Keep parents updated using WhatsApp about naps, snacks, and milestones.

You can start locally by promoting your service through Facebook or Care.com to find your first few clients.

11. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is a person who helps small businesses and entrepreneurs with administrative or creative tasks.

As a virtual assistant, you must carry out duties like

• Taking care of social media accounts,

• Calendar and email management.

• Making spreadsheets, presentations, or documents.

• Data entry and research.

• Making travel or appointment arrangements.

To get started, you don’t need to make any investments. You can begin by using free online tools.

Your skill level affects the income. In the USA, a virtual assistant typically makes $15 per hour.

How can a VA be successful?

• Concentrate on a single area or platform, such as YouTube Shorts VA or Pinterest VA.

• Create a portfolio to display your work.

Clients can be found on websites such as Freelancer, Fiverr, and Upwork.

12.Photography Services

If you enjoy taking photos and capture them well, you can turn your skill into a freelance photography service.

As a freelance photographer, you can work in different areas such as:

• Family or newborn events

• Kids’ birthdays and celebrations

• Lifestyle or home sessions

• Stock photography

If you already own a camera and lens, you can start immediately. The setup cost will usually stay under $100.

If you don’t have equipment, plan to invest a small amount in buying the basics.

Earnings depend on experience and demand. On average, freelance photographers make around $2,000 per month.

You can also earn passive income by selling stock photos online.

How to start freelance photography

• Choose your niche

• Create a small portfolio

• Promote your work on social media

Even simple photo editing skills can improve your work and help you attract clients.

13.Online Reselling

Online reselling is the best option if you want to quickly earn money online.Buying items at a discount and reselling them online is known as online reselling.

You will be able to find items for less money as an online reseller during clearance sales, garage sales, and thrift stores.

After that, you sell them on e-commerce sites like eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, or your own marketplace for a profit margin.

Ads on Facebook or Pinterest are then used to promote these products.

It takes some initial investment to succeed in this field.

The items and niche you choose will determine the return on investment.

Here are some pointers for successfully managing this business:

Find out which products are best for reselling by conducting market research.

• Make a Pinterest account and a Facebook page centered around it.

• Now advertise the products.

• Be truthful with your clients.

The monthly income of an active online reseller ranges from $400 to $500.

• iPhone reselling is one of the most profitable niches in this business. You may check it.

14.Print-on-Demand Business

If you think you can create catchy quotes or creative designs, then this could be a profitable business for you.

In the print-on-demand business, you don’t need inventory, shipping, or packing; you simply upload your design to a third-party company, which will do all these things on your behalf.

You can create designs for T-shirts, coffee mugs, hoodies, phone back cases, stickers, and more.

Quick start-up guide:

Step 1: Pick your niche.

Step 2: Make designs (Canva Pro suggested).

Step 3: Choose a platform (Etsy + Printify suggested).

Step 4: Set your store.

Step 5: Publish products and promote.

There are some costs, like the Etsy listing price of $0.20 and Canva Pro, which costs $13 per month.

The profit margins are around 20% to 40%. On average, beginners make around $400 a month.

15.Candle-Making Business

A candle-making business means making candles and selling them at a profit.

You can make different kinds of candles, such as scented, themed, colored, layered, or even customized.

You have to buy wax, cotton wicks, essential oils, fragrances, candle jars, coloring, and packaging. You have to make an initial investment based on the number of candles you want to sell.

You can make a $3 to $5 profit on a candle.

Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day are the times this candle business skyrockets.

You don’t need to build a website; you can sell on Pinterest, Instagram, or Etsy.

16.Laundry & Ironing Service

Laundry and ironing is a steady home-based business. The demand for this business is always high.

As a laundry and ironing service, you can offer services like

1. washing, drying, and folding clothes.

1. ironing and garment care.

1. quick 24-hour delivery for extra pay.

You can start by offering to locals and neighbors.

You have to make an initial investment to buy things like detergent, softener, bleach, and ironing equipment.

As a beginner, you can make around $400 a month.

You can start without any skills.

17.Errand Service Business

As an errand servicer or personal concierge, you simply help busy people with tasks that they don’t have time to do.

The tasks might be:

1. grocery or pharmacy shopping.

1. Picking up dry cleaning or parcels.

1. Paying bills or dropping off mail.

1. Scheduling appointments or light office tasks.

1. Gift wrapping and delivery.

1. Helping elderly neighbors with errands.

If you have a phone and internet, then you don’t have to invest a single penny.

You can make around $15 per errand.

Things to keep in mind before starting this business are

• Be punctual.

• Always keep receipts.

• Always confirm the address.

You can check websites like Care.com and TaskRabbit to start right now.

18.Event Planner

If you love organizing, decorating, and bringing people together, then becoming an event or party planner will be fun for you.

As an event planner, you will help clients manage the following things:

planning and budgeting for the event.

choosing themes and decor.

booking venues and caterers.

managing the event day.

You have to build a portfolio to showcase your work.

Starting an Instagram page and uploading highlights of the event as reels will help you.

Event planners are charging around $300 for a wedding. Earnings vary depending on the event.

You can start locally and then expand your business.

19.Professional Organizer:

I have a friend, and whenever I go to his house, I always feel a clean and peaceful environment.

When I asked him about it, he said his mother arranges everything in an organized manner.

If you have a habit similar to my friend’s mom, you can make money by offering your organizing skills to others who don’t have that habit.

You can offer the following services:

• Decluttering closets, kitchens, or home offices

• Creating functional storage systems

• Labeling and reorganizing shelves, pantries, and drawers

• Helping clients maintain organizational habits

You don’t need to buy anything to start.

The average hourly rate varies depending on different factors, but typically, organizers make around $35 an hour.

You can post photos of your work on Pinterest — show the before and after results to attract clients.

20.Home Baking Business:

A home bakery is one of the best business ideas for stay-at-home moms who love baking.

You can offer:

• Cupcakes, cookies, and brownies

• Custom birthday or wedding cakes

• Healthy snacks

To get started, you’ll need to buy ingredients for your baked goods, but the cost usually stays under $100.

How to grow this business

Start by inviting neighbors and friends to family gatherings and offer them your cakes or cookies. Word-of-mouth will help you get your first few orders.

You can also grow by creating social media content that shares your baking process, teaches simple recipes, and promotes your products.

Focus on quality over quantity, and always prioritize hygiene.

At the entry level, you can earn between $300 and $700 per month, depending on the number of orders.

And remember, there is no limit to how much you can grow.

You can start right from your own kitchen.

21.Consulting or Coaching Service

This business requires no money.

Consulting or coaching services are where you offer expert advice or coaching in an area of your expertise.

This could be career coaching, cooking advice, consulting families, or parenting advice.

You can start by teaching your neighbors on topics such as “How to manage children and chores?” or “Which diapers are good?”

If you want to grow it big, then start a social media page on platforms like Pinterest and start sharing your experience, which will help you bring in clients.

Income depends on your niche, experience, and how many clients you have.

Roughly, a beginner can make $500 to $1500 a month.

Start by focusing on one niche and later expand to different niches where you have adequate knowledge.

Collect testimonials from the clients and showcase them in your portfolio.

Don’t wait; start now.

FAQs – Low-Cost Home Business Ideas for Moms

Which business offers fastest returns?

Since you get paid as soon as you find clients, businesses that provide direct services—like tutoring, house cleaning, virtual help, or freelance writing—start making money the quickest.

Is $100 enough to start a business?

Indeed! Less than $100 can be used to launch the majority of the listed businesses, such as blogging, candlemaking, virtual assistance, or homemade crafts.

You can promote your services for free with  Pinterest and Instagram.

How long will it take before I start making money?

That depends on your business type.

What are the most profitable businesses from this list?

The highest-earning categories long-term are:

Blogging and YouTube:

Because you can monetize in multiple ways. For complete details you can check this articles.

Consulting or coaching:

very high hourly compared to others.

Print-on-demand or handmade brands:

scalable and passive income.

If you have any other questions feel free to comment below.