How to Start an Online Business from Home

Are you looking for a way to start an online business from home? Maybe you need a new way to supplement your income on a part time basis or replace a source of full time income that was lost.

You might be looking for a financial solution that will bring in more money, without having to get second job outside the home, that adds yet another commute, working "in-person" during a pandemic or being away from your family for most of the day. 

This tutorial won't tell you to build a business of a specific kind or to sign up with any particular company. However it will take you step by step into finding the best business for you. It will also give you a strong foundation that you can use to start any business you choose. 

So, if you’ve been standing back on the sidelines when it comes to embracing entrepreneurship because you feel like all the good ideas are taken, now is the time to build a framework that will allow you to build additional sources of income as you see fit. 

A Video Overview

Read through this tutorial and access our free video course to get started.

Starting an online business is more about doing your research, investing in training where needed and putting in the work, versus having an original invention or some great product idea that’s never been done before. Starting an online business is also not a get rich scheme. 

With commuting and being together in a traditional workplace setting becoming less attractive, it might be a good time to look at additional options for full or part time income that you can earn from anywhere.

With uncertainty there is a need (now more than ever) to learn about different ways to earn passive income from multiple sources.

This tutorial has written instructions, videos and quizzes that will walk you through everything you need to start an online business that you can run from any location. 

Follow the six steps we've laid out for you and be sure to review any state specific requirements to lay a solid foundation for your online side hustle or full time gig.  

You'll find that in many cases you're already an expert in an area that will allow you to promote something people will want to buy. 

All you need are a few key elements that we'll walk you through below.  If you need help with promoting and selling online we'll give you some affordable and in many cases free options that will help you reach a worldwide audience with your online business, even if you're not techy.

The Best Way to Start an Online Business from Home

One of the absolute easiest ways to start an online business from home; a thriving online business, begins with turning your hobbies, skills and interests into products and services that you can promote. This article will walk you through reviewing your interests, selecting a niche, and finding a product that ties in with your hobbies, skills and interests. 

Once you've found a product, we'll also walk you through setting up a platform that you can use to showcase your products, attracting an audience of people who want and need what you have to offer.  

We'll show you how to start an online business from home in six steps that are easy to implement.  

Using this approach puts you miles ahead of your competition who in many cases, is starting with a random product or service they know nothing about.  Many new entrepreneurs start out promoting products they have never even used. 

The biggest advantage you'll have over someone who is starting with limited product knowledge is that you'll start out as someone who knows what they are talking about. You'll be able to answer questions and provide honest reviews because you have experience, not only with the products, but in the industry. 

Even if you're not quite an expert yet, you'll have first hand knowledge of the products and services you're promoting. When you describe your background you can truly say that you're an enthusiast who has experience in your area of expertise. You'll know where to find resources that will help you build a thriving business. 

Starting with topics you're interested in helps you start a business you'll love. And it automatically positions you as an authority in your area of specialty. 

1. Start with Your Hobbies and Interests

If you are building a business from a hobby, or existing skills and interests, you are already several steps ahead of the competition. Many of us have things that we've loved doing for most of our lives and if that describes you, you're already an expert. 

Whether you have enjoyed a love of sports, you have a flair for the dramatic, or a keen sense of style you can use these interests to earn online.  You might love crocheting, fishing, cooking or photography, there are so many areas that you can specialize in when it comes to earning online.

The thing that sets you apart from your competition is that you have the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to get started right away. 

In addition to having the right tools and supplies you are probably an expert with a wealth of knowledge and advice you can provide to others on the best tools, supplies and resources needed to be successful in your area of specialty. You more than likely have tips, hacks and special equipment you use to pursue your hobbies and interests that can be of benefit to others. 

Even if you don't have the supplies and tools on hand, you know the best places to find them.

Most importantly, you know how to use these resources to create something that solves a problem or shares ideas and resources that you can be paid for.

What Topics Do You Enjoy Most?

Are you good at making things, or do you enjoy public speaking? Do you love a particular sport or are you great at problem solving?

The things you enjoy most are the things that will help you get started with an online business. For example, if you're good at making physical products, you can create a business around those items, selling them online. 

If you enjoy public speaking and you're passionate about a subject, you can set up a business that helps people in that area. You can make videos and book speaking engagements designed to help people in your niche. You can also provide a service that is in demand and charge by the hour or by the project.

If you're not interested in making your own things to sell, you can you can sell other people's products and services.

There are companies, major brands that will pay you a commission to promote their products and services.  This is called affiliate marketing.  Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn passive income that enables you to focus on other aspects of your business.

Starting a business that captures your interests, gives you the confidence to take control of your finances and have the added benefit of earning doing something you love. You won't mind waking up each day, making your way to work in your home office.

When you set up your business this way, you will not only have a way to create income from your hobby, which might mean making physical products (active income) you'll also learn to earn passive income.  

Passive income enables you to earn  without having to be physically present to process the transaction. It gives you the flexibility needed to concentrate on other aspects of your business as well as family responsibilities. 

For an in-depth look at each area needed to build your business, read on and check out the resources below.

Your Side Hustle Can Be About Something as Simple as Coffee

Here are a few additional things you should think about when choosing a product or service to promote. 

When thinking of starting an online business from home, don't eliminate some obvious picks. For example, do you love coffee?

You might consider coffee as a product you can promote as an item that compliments your cooking or food related business. There are millions of coffee lovers worldwide, and if you share your knowledge, tips and experiences, and you have a product that appeals to this audience, you might be surprised with your results. 

Believe it or not, something as simple as a love of coffee can be turned into a profitable online business by itself or as a complimentary product that you promote with other cooking or food related products. 

Do you enjoy photography, working with business owners to help them showcase their products? If so there are lots of ways to turn your photography into an online business. 

Maybe you like crafting or making things with your hands. Imagine selling your creations and related items to a worldwide audience. With any of these niches, the sky is the limit.

Love to travel? What about reviewing your most interesting trips and travel related gear? Do you have a hobby that involves taking something old and transforming it into something new? If so, there is great news!

The good news is that the internet makes it possible to start an online business related to your interests, from home or any location.

Unfortunately, there are many people who find it hard to believe that significant income can be earned this way. They are so skeptical that they never pursue their dream of starting a business that could possibly help them reach their financial goals.

While it's okay to be skeptical, but don't eliminate working from your own home from your list of possibilities until you've done your research.  

At a minimum, explore the different ways to earn online. Check out our list of side hustle ideas you can do from home. You might be surprised to find a good fit that allows you to bring in extra income on auto-pilot. 

Once we've helped you figure out what you like to do, we'll guide you through starting an online business from home, or really any location. The possibilities are endless!

Click the button below and be sure to watch the video that walks you through answering five quick questions that will help you take explore your knowledge, skills and interests.

This quick, simple exercise gets you started, making it easier to determine the kind of online business you would enjoy, while reaching your financial goals.

Once you have identified three (3) areas you're interested in exploring for an online business, take the quiz below for additional ideas of businesses you can start from home.

2. What Kind of Business Should You Start?

The next step after evaluating your interests, is to take the quick survey below (that came from the Staples website) to see the kind of business that might be a good fit.

Quiz: Helps You Explore the Opportunities

Spoiler alert: This is not a scientific survey, it's an informal tool that makes this process fun. And there's not a perfect "personality" for any particular business model.

Some personalities are naturally better suited for some over others, but I know plenty of people who don't fit the mold for their particular business model, yet they've been very successful.  

In most cases your business is pretty much what you make it. And if you're the kind of person that is good at overcoming obstacles, you'll do fine.

3. Choose a Niche or Area of Specialty

A niche market is an area of specialty, a segment of a larger market that can be defined by its own unique needs, preferences, or identity that makes it different.

Choosing a niche is a really important step when it comes to understanding your market and building a large, targeted audience of raving fans and loyal customers.  

Watch the video below and use the areas identified in your hobbies, skills and interests worksheet to choose a niche.  

To get the full picture on why it's important to select a niche, watch the second video on niche building that shows examples of niches and an exercise that shows you why this step is so important. 

Choosing a niche (area of specialty) that ties in with your hobbies, skills and interests will be important in helping you build an audience of people who can't wait to hear what you have to say.

Video: How to Find the Perfect Niche

4. Choose a Product Related to Your Niche

Now that you've selected a niche, this next video will show you how to select products that are related to your hobbies, skills, interests and the niche you just selected.

Hopefully, you're starting to see how these topics build on each other to help you build a solid foundation for your business. 

Selecting a niche helps your business take shape with a focus that helps you zero in on your ideal customers and what they are looking for.  

By selecting a niche that ties in with your hobbies and interests gives you insight that positions you as an authority in your area of specialty.

Selecting a niche prior to selecting a product will give you a specific group of people (an audience) that you can immediately start reaching out to.

Keep in mind that you can create products of your own or you can promote products created by others. This video will help you narrow down your choices and give you product ideas.

Video: How to Find Products in Your Niche

5. Select a Platform

Once you've chosen what you want your business to be about, you've chosen a niche and you've chosen a few products that you can promote, it's time to select a platform you can use to showcase your products and communicate with your audience and encourage them to become part of your community.

You have several options when it comes to a platform for your business. Based on the kind of business you want to start, one platform might be more beneficial than another. 

For example, my platform of choice is a self hosted WordPress blog, however you might decide to start a YouTube channel or a podcast to communicate with your audience.

If you're interested in selling products and services on your platform, you could start your own self hosted WordPress blog and set up a WooCommerce store.  That will enable you to share your knowledge, insight and expertise whole showcasing and selling products you have created. You can also promote other people's products on your blog. 

You can start a YouTube channel, a collection or group of videos you make and upload. Your channel will have a web address (URL) that you can promote on your website and marketing materials. People can subscribe to your channel so that they are notified when a new video is released.

Your videos should serve the needs of your ideal customers, helping them solve problems and get ideas that will help them improve their lives. YouTube is a very popular platform for anyone who wants to build an audience and make a connection that leads to engagement and sales.

You can also start a podcast, an episodic series of digital audio files that a user can download to a personal device for easy listening on the go. Podcasts are becoming more popular, especially for people on the go. It's an excellent way to communicate with your audience.

You can also open a shop on platforms like Etsy or Shopify to sell your products and services.  

I've also written an article that walks you through the pros and cons of various platforms and how each one works. Check out the article, How to Select a Platform for Your Online Business. 

I always recommend starting with one platform, to avoid getting overwhelmed.  You can always add additional platforms as your business grows. 

Video Training: How to Build a Blog for Your Online Business

Click the button below to receive step by step training that shows you how to build a blog. You'll receiving written and video training that you can use to build a platform that you own and control, to promote your business. There's also an option to have us build your blog for you. 

6. Multiply Your Ability to Reach an Endless Stream of Customers and Team Members

You'll need to find ways to promote your products and services in a way that sets you up for success. And that means learning how engage with people in your niche without spam, trolling on social media, making phone calls or arm twisting. 

You want to find people who are already buying products and services that are the same or similar to yours. And you don't want to have to convince people to buy from you. You don't want to waste time with people who are curious, but have no intention of ever buying your products. 

If you're in network marketing, you want to build a team that is ready to get results. Again, you don't want to twist arms or convince, you want people who can look at your presentation and self identify as someone who would benefit from working with you.

Video Training: How to Attract an Audience of Loyal Customers and Raving Fans

You will need training that shows you how to prospect online, and build an audience that you can nurture over time, setting your business up to earn passive income.

I recommend the training you'll receive with the Attraction Marketing Formula.  This training changed the way I thought about my business and the people I was reaching out to.  I found that I was doing things all wrong, which resulted in my struggles for the first few years of starting my business.  

It taught me how to set up my sales and marketing system to generate leads, and convert those leads into sales on auto-pilot. It completely changed things for me, and I wish I had learned about it when I first started my business. 

This training is affordable, complete and taught by experts. If you watch the videos, take notes, read the material, and implement what you learn, you will have everything you need to build a thriving online business.

You can sign up for a free 10 day boot camp as a no risk way to see if this training is something that will benefit your business.

If you like the boot camp, you can purchase the full course that provides the detailed blueprint to building a thriving online business.

The free training boot camp will introduce you to attraction marketing.  I took the free boot camp and about halfway through, I bought the full course.

This is the training that I recommend to all the people I work with, not because of my affiliate relationship with the company, but because I've taken the training and I think will help you get off to the best start possible.

This is a pretty sweet, no risk deal. One that you can only benefit from, even if you don't invest in the full course. 

Resources

• Be sure to check out our foundations YouTube playlist to examine your interests, and research potential niches for your new business.
• We have answers to frequently asked questions that will give you direction and resources you can use to get started
  
• Build a revenue generating business website. 
  
• Another great resource includes the article referenced in my podcast episode, Factors to Consider When Selecting a Product for Your Online Business. 
• For online business ideas you can start quickly, check out our side hustle blueprints.  Get ideas you can use to forge a path to starting an online business.

• Follow our news to receive work from home ideas, tools and resources you can use to earn passive income from an online business.