17 Business Models For Creatives at Home

Here are 17 businesses you can start from home, if you are creative enough! You can use Peter Drucker's creative imitation strategy if you fancy one of these businesses. I have also added some examples of already successful implementations. You need to do some market research on the particular area you like and try to find a niche that does not already exist. Once you find a niche/or a problem that is not solved, recreate and re-imagine the business-model for your particular ecological niche. The key word here is different.


home office by Steve Kelley

1. Modeling Agency

A modeling agency represents fashion models, to work for the fashion industry. These agencies earn their income via commission, usually from the deal they make with the model and or the head agency.

Examples:
• Elite Model
• minxmodels
• LOOK Model Agency

2. Resume Writing Service

If you are a good writer and like the process, then now is a good opportunity to create a resume writing service. You do not need to compete with the big companies here. This can be a one man/woman show.

Examples:
• Resumes Planet
• ResumeEdge

3. Ad Network

An online advertising network connects advertisers to websites that want to host ads. This opportunity needs extensional research, but it is worth it.

Examples:
• ValueClick Media
• aidfy
• 21 more networks

4. Press Release Distributor

As a PR distributor you help your clients to reach their audience by offering them publicity when they have a new launch out.

Examples:
• PRWeb
• PRBuzz
• i-Newswire

5. SEO Service

When you take on a business as a SEO service, your job will be to customize SEO programs and manage website rankings for your clients.

Examples:
• ANUVA
• SEO
• RankPay

6. Software Download Website

Serve visitors with a software download website. Open source websites usually give out free software downloads and earn their profits on advertisement. However, if you have the skill, you can always make software that people are demanding and sell it to them.

Examples:
• Brothersoft
• CoffeeCup
• FileHippo

7. Tutoring Services

Start a tutoring service where you help people either directly online, or attract them online to your professional studio.

Examples:
• Crown Tutoring
• PTS
• Tutor

8. Design Web Banner Ads

Design web banner ads for potential clients. Since there are so many web banner services being offered (in which many even are for free) you should definitely do your share of market research before you begin. When you have your own website up and running, you can also sign up on sites like Guru.com or Freelancer.com to reach more clients.

Examples:
• PointBanner
• AnimatedBanner
• Web Banner Designs

9. Blog Directory

List other blogs on your website. If you're into this business model make sure that your site is easy-oriented and has a professional design.

Examples:
• Alltop
• BC
• Technorati

10. Send out Gift Baskets

Gift baskets is an easy and fun way to make people happy, so it's very popular. Either you design your own gift baskets or you purchase them from a wholesaler. Then you present the baskets on your website for people to order.

Examples:
• Gift Basket Online
• Olive & Cocoa
• GiftTree

11. Hotel Guide

People who travel need to arrange their stays early and hotel guides simplify this process for them. This type of business requires quite a lot of updating, editing and good photographs of the hotels.

Examples:
• Charming Small Hotels
• The Hotel Guide
• Hotels

12. Community

Online community services aren't easy to do, but if you find a high demand that is not properly fulfilled, you got yourself a great opportunity. With social network services you will need to create a platform where people with a specific need och want unite with each other. These kinds of businesses have great impact on the users and can become very difficult for others to compete with when done right.

Examples:
• Etsy
• Yelp
• Flickr

13. Genealogy Research

With genealogy research you help people find their roots and family trees. You can take courses and start by studying your own family history. To make genealogy searching into a business you need to have good research skills and patience. The number one requirement is simply put: that you really enjoy the process of research, especially since you will be spending hours doing it for other people.

Examples:
• FamilySearch
• Genes Reunited
• Origins

14. Writing Competitions

If you love a particular style of writing it can be a good idea to create your very own website for writing competitions. You present a writing challenge and what the award will be for whomever sends in the best entry. You make money by charging a certain fee for each competition entry and/or advertisement.

Examples:
• Writer's Digest
• Lightning Bug
• FreelanceWriting

15. Recipes

Write recipes, take pictures of the food from your own kitchen, and create a cookbook online. Best way to do this is by finding a specific type of food that is popular and then post at least couple a hundred recipes on that particular food niche: it's difficult to have a popular recipe site if the collection is small.

Examples:
• Taste
• EatingWell
• Allrecipes

16. Learning & Entertainment

Education and entertainment is not always considered to be closely related to each other. However, if you can make education entertaining, you've got yourself a popular business. Most often the business model for this is to start a web shop that for instance sells T-shirts with mathematical formulas on them. But maybe you have further ideas on how this can be done?

Examples:
• Science Kit
• ETA
• Gifts for a Geek

17. Custom Made Products

Customers love to personalize their products, but you got to make it easy for them. The business model of custom made web shops most often requires that the products are printed or made on demand, as it's the customers who choose the designs.

Examples:
• CafePress
• Vans
• CustomInk

Continue reading here: Regard problems from a New Angle

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