Small Business Ideas for Women That Can Actually Support You

Ready to become the lady boss you’ve always dreamed of? Want to replace your 9-5 with a flexible schedule that can meet your needs?

Then, you’ll need some business ideas for women to get started!

Women are shifting towards entrepreneurship for a variety of reasons. Some of these women are stay-at-home moms whereas others are women looking to exit the traditional work environment to be their own bosses.

Entrepreneurship is attractive because of the flexible hours, unlimited pay, and autonomy. But, entrepreneurship is also not for the weak of heart. Entrepreneurship means that the fate of your business and cash flow relies on your ability to hustle, land jobs, and manage your time properly.

Business owners also wear many hats. So, entrepreneurs looking to start a small business also need to be familiar with finance, marketing plans, and customer service. It’s not always easy to get started, but it’s certainly possible to find the career of your dreams through entrepreneurship.

If you’re looking to start your own business, then read on to learn all about business ideas for women.

1. Etsy

Etsy is a handmade, craft, and vintage e-commerce store. Anyone can easily sign up and start selling their goods instantly.

First, you’ll need to decide what you want to sell on Etsy. Will your items be homemade? Will they be from second-hand stores?

Once you have your product ideas in mind, create a budget to stock up on inventory. Start with a modest amount of inventory at first, and then increase your budget as you make more sales.

For each item you post, you’ll need to have amazing photos, a detailed description, and provide a price and weight of the item to calculate shipping. Read up on shipping policies before getting started to familiarize yourself with the process.

You should also join Etsy groups, use SEO best practices, and consider purchasing promotional listing marketing.

2. Blogging

Blogging is a great business idea for women who are passionate, relatable, and interested in a niche topic. Your blog’s topic could be about self-improvement, health, or even entrepreneurship. Whatever you select, make sure that you’re passionate about it and can see yourself writing multiple blog posts on the subject.

To start a blog, you’ll first need to decide between purchasing your own domain or using a blog website such as WordPress.com. However, blogs with their own domains are typically considered to be more professional and a better long-term investment. But, if you’re just getting started and want to see what blogging requires then try out a blogging website first.

Once you have your blogging website, make sure to also follow Search Engine Optimization techniques. These include selecting and using keywords, adding internal and external links, and making your blog reader-friendly. You should also make sure your website loads quickly, is organized and well-designed.

To make money blogging, you’ll need to acquire advertisers, sell products/services, get sponsorships, and/or do affiliate marketing.

3. Freelance Writing

Get paid to write by becoming a freelance writer. Freelance writers can write blog posts, academic articles, or even technical instruction manuals. The sky is the limit for freelance writing depending on your background, experience, and skillset.

Many freelance writers work on-contract with clients and employers. Some freelance writers work long-term with one company whereas others work with a variety of companies at once. Some might make pitches to individual companies whereas others are assigned articles regularly.

No matter which route you’d like to try, make sure to build your writing resume and portfolio by getting some experience.

4. Photography

If you have a knack for photography and a nice camera, then consider giving your photographer dreams a chance.

To start, determine what type of photography interests you.

Newborn photography? Wedding photography? Senior pictures?

You can do a wide variety of photography, but it’s good to start out with a niche. Ask family and friends if you can take photos of them and their events, and then post the photos on social media websites like Facebook and Instagram. It’s also a good idea to create your own website and put your services, rates, and portfolio up for customers to view.

5. Childcare

If you enjoy watching young children and want to work from home, then in-home childcare may be the perfect job for you.

People interested in in-home childcare businesses need to follow state, federal, and local laws. You’ll need to also get at least general liability insurance. You’ll need to pass an inspection and create a legal business structure to separate your personal finances from the business.

To get started, you should also create a business plan, identify your target customers, and set an hourly rate per child. You should also consider what your hourly rate will be based on the child’s age.

6. Laundry Service

A lot of people don’t enjoy doing their laundry. How can you solve this problem and make some money in the process? Do their laundry for them by starting a laundry service business!

To start, select a laundry mat or laundry location. Then, create marketing campaigns on social media, in the newspaper, or by hanging up flyers. Services you can offer are pick-up, wash/dry, fold, and laundry drop-off to your customers.

The Best Business Ideas for Women

No two women are the same, but these business ideas for women are sure to get your creative mind flowing. When selecting a business idea, make sure that you can see yourself in the business long-term. Before you quit your day job and invest tons of money into your business idea, make sure that it will also be profitable.

If you do decide to quit your day job before making enough income for your business, just make sure to have at least 3 to 6 months of expenses saved up. You should also read up on all the rules, regulations, and business licenses you’ll need to operate your business effectively. You should also speak with an insurance agent to determine types of coverage you might need.

We work with powerhouse female entrepreneurs like Shari who started a personalized gifts company called Monogram My Life. She took the Startup Path which is our step-by-step toolkit on how to start a business – Check it out.