Home Business Ideas for Creative Personalities

By Holly Reisem Hanna

Before I began my blogging journey, my quest to earn a living left me feeling like a nomadic wanderer rather a woman on a career path. I’ve always enjoyed helping people, traveling, and writing, but I could never figure out a way to practically apply my passions to a career that would pay me a decent wage.

Many times I thought I had it figured out. But once I began the work, I slowly lost interest and started searching for my next endeavor. I couldn’t figure out what I was missing.

Through the process of leaving the work world to become a stay-at-home mom — I eventually realized what I truly wanted. Aside from my desire to be at home with my daughter, I also longed for a career that would offer me flexibility, good pay, and a creative outlet.

Fast forward to today. I’m able to spend lots of time with my family, I earn more than I ever made as a nurse, and I get to call the shots and be creative.

The good news is nowadays it’s a lot easier for individuals with creative personalities to find work they’re passionate about.

If you’re ready to be in charge of your career direction and tap into your creative side – here are some home business ideas for creative personalities.

1. Subscription Box Procurer: 

A few years ago, the concept of subscription boxes took off—and the industry hasn’t stopped growing since. Did you know you can run your own subscription box business right from home?

Here’s how it works: Subscribers receive carefully and creatively procured items every month in the mail. Subscribers often fit into a niche, like pet owners, beauty product fanatics, or science fiction lovers. Companies like Cratejoy can help you get started creating your own subscription box business right from home. If you’re creative and you enjoy looking for unique items and making people happy, this could be the home business for you.

2. T-Shirt Designer:

Graphic tees are really making a comeback. Whether you love to share and promote great designs from others or you're a design guru yourself, there are lots companies out there to help make your t-shirt designing dreams come true.

Companies like TeeSpring and Spreadshirt can help you get your designs onto shirts and on the bodies of your customers, earning you a commission on every shirt sold. Most companies also offer the opportunity to print your designs on other items, like mugs, stickers, posters and more. If you have a penchant for catchy sayings, cool graphic designs, or funny drawings, designing t-shirts might be the home business you’re looking for.

3. Photographer: 

Stock photography is in high demand, and there are a number of buyers and platforms who will pay commission, give you assignments, or buy photographs you’ve already taken. Sites like Bigstock and iStock are a couple that pay money for stock photos.

Don’t have a fancy camera? No problem. Smartphone apps like Foap, Pay Your Selfie, and Twenty20 will allow you to upload photos from your smartphone to their sites. Each time one of your photos sells — you earn money.

Check out this article for more ways to make money selling photos.

4. Photo Book Designer: 

If you’re more into scrapbooking than photography — you can use your creative skills to earn money by creating photo books. Using scrapbook design software, you can get creative by helping others organize their photos so they can archive them in a keepsake book, rather than lost in the digital abyss.

With the growth of online photography, many people snap hundreds, even thousands of vacation photos, pictures of their kids, and holiday moments … but then those images just sit there. Scrapbooking takes time and talent, so if you’ve got the eye for it, you can create beautiful masterpieces, earning you money and kudos in the process.

Here's an interview with three photo book designers so you can see how they got started. In fact, Rachel Jenkins of ScrapMyPix says she gets a large portion of her business through referrals and networking. She started scrapbooking when she was working on a baby book for her son. She says, “It was a perfect creative outlet for me. As I was putting those pictures to pages, I thought, ‘I wish people would pay me to do this.’” If you’ve got a talent for organizing photos and digital scrapbooking, photo book design might be perfect for you!

5. Website Builder: 

If you have experience in website development, you know it can be a very creative process. Some people flinch at the idea of learning HTML, or navigating through the land of platforms, and web-hosting. But if technology doesn't frighten you, this can be a lucrative and creative way for you to earn money from home.

If you have a penchant for website building, your services can be extremely valuable to bloggers, sellers, and other online business owners. Even if you have to outsource some aspects of the process (such as logo design to a resource like Fiverr or Upwork), you can do much of the page designing and layout yourself with your creative skills.

6. Graphic Designer: 

While the field of graphic design is competitive, and working for an agency often requires a degree or extensive work history, there are still plenty of ways for you to make money from home in graphic design.

In fact, self-taught designer Karen X. Cheng says, “I got my job as a designer without going to design school. I had hacked together my own design education in 6 months while working a full-time job … To be clear, I’m nowhere near as good as those design prodigies that come out of a 4-year education at an elite school like RISD. But I’m definitely good enough to do my job well. I’m the only designer at Exec [the startup firm where she works], so I do a pretty wide range of things – visual and interaction design, print, web, and mobile app design.”

If you have design experience and you think you’re ready to take it to the next level, look at online design job options from sites like Dribbble, FlexJobs, and Upwork to see if you can find the right opportunity. Alternatively, you can advertise your services and showcase your portfolio through your own website and by working your network.

7. Writer: 

Writing from home is an excellent way to express your creative side and hone in on your talents. There are tons of platforms out there to help freelance writers connect with job opportunities. Try looking at Freelancer or FlexJobs to get started.

Alternatively, you can write blog posts for a variety of paid outlets. Head to BloggingPro or ProBlogger for job listings and writing opportunities. Need advice on how to build your work-at-home writing career? Make a Living Writing has your answers. You can also check out our comprehensive list of 75+ Paid Writing Opportunities.

And don’t feel you’re limited to writing just articles and blog posts. There are lots of opportunities for you to express your creative side with writing — such as writing greeting cards, recipes, resumes, ghostwriting, copywriting, e-books, and more.

8. Event Planner: 

I love the idea of being an event planner—and in fact, I considered it as a career option at one point. It’s so much fun to plan parties, set up for guests, and think up different themes, foods and decoration ideas. As a work-at-home event planner, you can help with major events like weddings, fundraisers, and large-scale gatherings, or small events like children’s birthday parties and showers. Find your area of expertise and build from there. Think of a niche before you begin, then start networking!

Word-of-mouth can be great advertising for any event planner, particularly if you want to work within a small area (like within your neighborhood, school or church). Once you get your foot in the door with one event, reach out to others, pass out your business cards, and see where it takes you.

9. Blogger: 

When it comes to making money from home, blogging has grown by leaps and bounds over the last fifteen years. If you enjoy writing, and sharing your thoughts and ideas online, blogging is an excellent way to earn money.

If you aren’t sure how to get started, download my free e-book, Blogging Success. Consider what you would like to blog about and look for your particular niche and style. Once you have a plan, check out this post on to how to build your blog. Don't worry; you don't need a tech background to get started. From there, you’ll need to develop a regular posting schedule, build your network, and promote your posts using social media and email marketing.

10. Crafter: 

DIY and craft mavens can use their talents to sell their wares from home. You can sell your handmade items on sites like CraftStar or Zibbet. These sites are simple to use, increase your exposure, and help connect you with potential customers.

However, if you want to grow your brand, you’ll eventually need to create your own online shop. Use an e-commerce website builder like Shopify or Volusion. With these platforms, you can sell directly from your site and promote your products via social media, blogging, and email marketing.

It’s important for those running a craft business from home to remember to connect with local vendors and market spaces as well. If you live in a town with a farmer’s market, local festivals, and craft fairs, these events are great opportunities to get your products in front of potential customers and increase your exposure.

11. Video Creator:

Do you enjoy creating videos, slideshows, and tutorials? YouTube is one of the most popular social media platforms, and there’s big money for those who can turn out entertaining and helpful videos.

Most YouTube Stars make money from affiliate marketing, sponsored campaigns, and Google Adsense. To earn money, you'll need a good amount of followers and lots of views — so it’s important you post content that’s engaging, well put together, honest and helpful.

Wondering how much you can make as a YouTube Star? Check out Judy Travis' story — she's earning over a million dollars a year creating YouTube videos, amazing!

12. Fashion Designer: 

If you’re a seamstress, a fashionista, or if you have a great eye for sewing and detail — becoming an online fashion designer might be a great business idea for you. You can create and sell your items on your own website or set up shop via a third-party platform like Etsy.

Need help launching your fashion line? Lisa Springsteel Dupré has some excellent tips and advice in this post.

13. Illustrator:

Are you great at making ideas come to life through drawing? Book publishers, web designers, and authors are looking for your talents! If you have a real passion for drawing — you can find illustration work through companies like Avatar Press and Cricket Media.

You can also submit your designs to Rubber Stamp Madness, Teacher Created Resources or list them on sites like Graphic Leftovers who offer discounted design options to bloggers and others who are looking for images. Check out listings on

Check out listings on Upwork for comic artists and illustrators as well. Tattoo artists can sell their designs on

Tattoo artists can sell their designs on createmytattoo.com.

Another option is to watermark your illustrations and sell them on Etsy for download. As your creative talents and connections grow, you may want to explore joining a professional illustrators organization such as the AOI.

14. Artist:

Similar to selling crafts, sewing or photography, your business as an artist will vary by your area of expertise. If you enjoy painting portraits or pictures of animals, you can try your hand as a portrait artist for hire. Advertise online, and talk to other local artists.

Many cities have artist networks and feature open galleries. Talk to local coffee shops, bookstores and other small businesses about displaying your work for sale. Fairs and street festivals can also be a great opportunity to display and sell your works.

Keep in mind, when selling your art, you may want to offer smaller, more affordable options (postcards, prints) rather than only large paintings, especially if you’re interested in getting your work in front of people and finding new buyers.

You can also sell your artwork online, using platforms, like ArtFire and Aftcra. For more online platforms where you can sell your artwork for money, check out this list.

15. Podcaster: 

If you have the gift of gab, producing a podcast might be your calling. Find your niche and start to brainstorm ideas you’d like to talk about. You will need a microphone and some basic audio editing software like Audacity or Garage Band. Once you’ve recorded and edited — you're ready to publish. Just find some platforms to host your podcast and then promote it. iTunes is a popular platform, but there are many others to choose from. To make money from your podcast, you can include sponsorships or advertisements.

There are so many great ways for creative personalities to earn money from home. As you think about ways to make money, consider what you really love and what truly speaks to you. What talents do you have? What makes you feel the most fulfilled? After all, one of the secrets of success is to love what you do!

Are you making money from home by doing something creative? We’d love to hear what you’re up to and how you’ve found success!

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