Picture this: Salted fish is traded for fur and feed grains. A block of wood is whittled into a toy horse and sold at an artisan economy. Watermelon seeds, sowed and tended, become packed-fledged fruit before exchanging hands at a roadside stall.

These transactions planted the seeds for commerce as we recognize it today. Countless tiny businesses still produce goods made by hand, selling them at craft shows and pop-up shops, through online marketplaces, and in their own ecommerce stores.

Selling handmade goods is an ideal first business for aspiring entrepreneurs. In most cases these businesses can be started from home with minimal upfront fund.

Ahead, explore ideas for things to make and sell online, with suggestions for every skill level, from the beginner to advanced craftsperson.

25 products to make and sell from home

1. Bath bombs and handmade soaps
2. T-shirts and printed merchandise
3. Jewelry
4. Curated subscription boxes
5. Candles
6. Sweets
7. Art and prints
8. Digital products
9. Enamel pins
10. Traditional handcrafted goods
11. Lip balm
12. Pottery and clay objects
13. Pet supplies
14. Music
15. Photography
16. Woodworking projects
17. Tote bags
18. Sauces and condiments
19. Fragrance and essential oil blends
20. document products
21. DIY tutorials and online courses
22. Personalized gifts
23. Gift baskets and boxes
24. Natural cosmetics
25. Posters

When you’re a creative looking for things to sell, it’s straightforward to commence your own DIY craft business once you discover the correct product. Browse these ideas to discover what’s best for you to make and sell based on your distinctive skills and interests. You’ll soon be ready to open your own online store and commence selling handmade items to your target spectators.

1. Bath bombs and handmade soaps

Bath bombs and soaps have a low barrier to entry as a craft to make and sell. Online tutorials are a great place to commence to discover the ropes, and commercial molds make assembly straightforward, even if you’re not creative. commence with straightforward recipes for products like bath salts before trying more complicated formulations with emulsions and preservatives.

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Get started: How to Make Bath Bombs

💡 Tips:

• Keep your inventory tight—fresher bath bombs have more fizz, and natural ingredients in handmade soap can expire.
• Investigate your raw ingredient sources to ensure they’re beauty grade and secure for skin. 
• Check with your local government that your production facility (even if it’s your own kitchen) meets health standards. In the US, for example, the FDA sets guidelines for ventilation, air control, and surfaces.
• Packaging and branding are significant for beauty brands, so don’t skimp on brand way and hire design assist.

2. T-shirts and printed merchandise

This is a maker business for the non-maker. If you’re looking for a (almost) hands-off product to make and sell, a t-shirt business could be the route for you. Your digital design can be printed onto various goods—including t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, keychains, and dog bandanas—and shipped to your customers. Looking for a more handmade feel? Consider learning the art of screen printing and print your designs at home or in a studio. 

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Get started: How to commence an Online T-Shirt Business: Everything You require to recognize

💡 Tips:

• T-shirts and printed merch can supplement an existing business. Gyms, musicians, and charities, for example, can sell branded swag to existing audiences.
• Not a designer? Use services like Shopify Experts to discover talent who can turn your ideas into t-shirt designs.
• Use a print and fulfillment app, like Printful, Lulu Direct, Gooten, or Teelaunch. These apps integrate with your Shopify store and automatically print, fulfill, and ship each order.

3. Jewelry

Jewelry is another business concept that can range from straightforward and low-tech (declare, beaded necklaces) to specialized (ponder silversmithing). It’s a saturated economy, so doing your homework is significant. How can your designs stand out? Is there a niche economy to cater to? achievement in this field will depend on solid branding and craftsmanship.

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Get started: How to commence a Jewelry Making Business

💡 Tips:

• Validate your concept by tracking trends in jewelry—use Google Trends, and pursue popular fashion creators and influencers.
• Photography is significant but also challenging, because of the scale and reflective qualities of jewelry. Invest in great photos by hiring a pro. You can save money by partnering with complementary apparel brands to distribute the expense of lifestyle shoots.
• Jewelry making is an ideal DIY craft business for budding entrepreneurs. Woven bracelets and beaded necklaces can appeal to makers of all ages.

4. Curated subscription boxes

A gift or subscription box business is the perfect concept for those who are less crafty but still interested in making items to sell. If you have an eye for curation, assorted gift boxes could be an excellent business concept. Since subscription boxes are usually packed all at once, at the same period each month, and in the same size box, the shipping procedure is straightforward.

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Get started: How to Launch a Subscription Box Business

💡 Tips:

• compute your storage and assembly needs. Can your home accommodate your business, or do you require to rent additional space?
• Ease your customers into commitment. propose a substantial discount to those who pay upfront for subscriptions, or propose the first month free.
• Use a subscription management app, like Bold Subscriptions, to keep everything organized.

5. Candles

Projections approximate that the global economy for candles will be worth $16 billion by 2030. While it’s a crowded economy, there are several niches to explore: religious, birthday, eco-amiable, scented, beeswax, novelty, and more. There are plenty of online DIY tutorials for beginner candle makers to get started. And basic melt and pour methods require no previous craft skills, making candles one of the easiest craft ideas to make and sell online. 

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Get started: How To commence a Candle Business

💡 Tips:

• Get insured and use safety labeling. Due to the nature of candle use, and the increased risks of injury or fire damage, be sure to protect your craft business from civil suits that may outcome from the use of your product.
• Tap into a niche to stand out in a crowded economy. Frostbeard Studio appeals to book lovers with cleverly named candle scents and copy filled with literary references.
• Pay attention to branding and packaging. Candles don’t differ much from an ingredient perspective, but your product can stand apart with ecommerce packaging and powerful branding design. Even inexpensive Mason jars can be dressed up with creative labels.
• Consider offering customers customization to make personalized gifts or wedding favors with their own messaging, scents, or labels.

6. Sweets

Candy, cookies, baked goods, chocolates, and jams. Sugar can be spun and dissolved and baked into endless things to make and sell online or in person. This is a category with distinctive complications—legalities, labeling, and shelf life—but also with lots of room to get creative. Niche markets include: holidays and occasions, custom, novelty, catering, pet treats, and gift baskets. Local craft fairs are the ideal testing grounds for your recent sweets business.

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Get started: How to commence an Online Food Business

💡 Tips:

• Trace the supply chain. Carefully select your raw ingredient suppliers to ensure that what’s on your label matches what’s inside.
• Consult with a lawyer or food inspection agency to be sure your labeling meets local requirements for nutritional content, ingredients, and allergy warnings.
• Rotate your inventory and stress the importance of doing so to everyone who handles it.
• Investigate the viability of selling your product online when considering any food business ideas.

7. Art and prints

It’s never been a better period to be an artist. Creator tools and selling platforms let artists make and sell their creations directly to fans. Paintings, digital printables, photography prints, sculpture, and textile art can all be sold online. Whether you’re looking to sell original fine art or reproductions, discover the operating schedule that works best for your business. 

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Get started: How to Sell Art Online

💡 Tips:

• Work with an established gallery to display your work in person and assist construct an spectators for your online store.
• For product photos, have your work professionally photographed or scan it on a flatbed scanner. For lifestyle photos, display wall art within the context of a room.
• Consider reproducing your art in multiple formats, like prints, cards, t-shirts, and mugs. Do it yourself through a print-on-demand business, or license your work to other ecommerce brands.

8. Digital products

Digital products like font licenses, wedding invitation templates, webinars, or Photoshop actions are all things you can make and sell from home—or anywhere with an internet connection. There are several benefits to selling digital products, including low overhead costs and no dealing with physical inventory or the shipping procedure.

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Get started: How to Sell Digital Products with Shopify

💡 Tips:

• Choose a delivery way. Apps like Digital Downloads and Sky Pilot integrate with your Shopify store to automatically deliver digital goods, or provide a download link to each customer.
• If you’re hosting files on Shopify, make sure files are each 5 gigabytes or less (for faster downloads). For larger files, try compressing them into .zip archives.

9. Enamel pins

Enamel pins remain a solid business concept, as the accessory pattern is holding powerful. You’ll usually work with a manufacturer to make enamel pins, but the creative part is up to you. Design your own, or work with a designer to bring your imagination to life and construct your own business.

Get started: How to Make and Sell Enamel Pins

💡 Tips:

• If you choose to design your own pins, you can use software like Canva or Photoshop. Stick to solid colors (no gradients) and avoid fine details. Check with your manufacturer on the acceptable file format for your designs.
• Research manufacturers before committing and inquire the correct questions: What are the clasp and material options? Can they send physical samples? What packaging options do they propose?

10. Traditional handcrafted goods

Leather tooling, wood carving, furniture making, and embroidery are all traditional mediums with thriving markets. The backlash against mass production is driving trends back to leisurely food, one-of-a-benevolent and bespoke goods, and artist craftsmanship. Many of these disciplines require skills honed over period, but access your inner maker and discover a recent trade via online tutorials or local college workshops.

construct the handcrafts business you’ve always wanted. Get the training, tools and back you require to assist you achieve.

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Get started: How to Sell Furniture and Home Décor Online: The Ultimate navigator

💡 Tips:

• Much of the appeal of crafted goods is the maker’s narrative. Weave your own narrative into product pages, a compelling About page, and even packaging.
• How will you scale when you make and sell crafts? If your concept takes off, consider how you will maintain the handmade nature of your goods while producing in large quantities: Can you hire agreement makers? Can sure components of the procedure be outsourced to a manufacturer then finished by hand?
• Consult Google Trends to determine how to use your skills to make and sell things that are in high demand.

11. Lip balm

Lip balm is one of the easiest products to make using tools you may already have in your home. straightforward formulations of beeswax and natural oils require little more than a heat source to assemble. While you don’t require fancy equipment, you should ensure your setup meets industry and safety standards. 

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Get started: How to commence a Lip Balm Business

💡 Tips:

• Research the sources of your ingredients to be sure you’re using those that have been rated for cosmetic use.
• comprehend the labeling laws of any country or region where you schedule to make and sell your products. In some countries, the word “organic” is regulated and can’t be used unless you’ve acquired the proper certification.

12. Pottery and clay objects

Pottery is one of the more specialized ideas on this list, requiring skill and proper equipment. If you’re recent to the craft, check out local ceramics programs to provide you the recognize-how and shared studio space to use a kiln and tools. There are, however, other materials that have a lower barrier to entry and can be used to make similar products. Try air clay, polymer clay, or poured concrete. 

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Get started: How to Sell Art Online: A Complete navigator

💡 Tips:

• Ideas for things to make and sell with clay or clay alternatives include: planters, sculptures, ornaments, jewelry, magnets, containers, and coasters.
• Have a upcoming commence-up founder in your household? secure clay alternatives can be the basis for many business ideas for kids. 

13. Pet supplies

Making items to sell for pets is a business concept with huge potential. In truth, the global economy is estimated to top $232 billion by 2030. Homemade dog treats, catnip toys, and pet collars are all straightforward things to make and sell from home if you already have a creative flair.

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Get started: Sell Pet Products: Ideas for Your Own Pet Business

💡 Tips:

• Use your own pets (free models!) as the “faces” of your business. Pet owners worth lifestyle photos that assist them view how an item will fit their own pet. 
• If you’re making and selling dog treats or toys—basically, anything that can be ingested—be sure to do your research. Are your cookie ingredients secure for pets? Do your toys have tiny parts that could factor choking? Have you considered the appropriate labels and warnings to protect yourself legally?

14. Music

Music is a challenging industry to shatter into, but if you have the talent, the globe should recognize! There are many advantages to starting a music business in the age of ecommerce and TikTok. Most notably, you don’t require to depend on a major record deal to reach fans. Some music-related things to make and sell from home include stake music, music lessons, song licenses, and band merch.

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Get started: How to Sell Music: 6 Ways to Make Money as a Musician 

💡 Tips:

• Brand storytelling is significant, even when your brand is just you.
• construct your following by collaborating with other artists and sharing your music across multiple platforms. 
• Beyond making a splash on social media platforms, own a dedicated domain name, and construct a website so fans can discover you. 

15. Photography

Anyone from a professional photographer to a hobbyist with a smartphone can sell photography online. You can make and sell prints of your work, license your images on stake photography websites, or even sell yourself as a photographer for hire.

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Get started: How to Sell Photos Online

💡 Tips:

• Consider release forms to ensure you have permission from any people captured in your shots. You may also require permits to shoot in specific locations, like National Parks.
• make packages for your product photography services. This makes it easier for potential clients to discover an alternative in their monetary schedule.
• When you’re just starting out, use free photo-editing apps to provide your work an extra edge on a tiny monetary schedule.

16. Woodworking projects

Woodworking is a popular hobby among makers, and it can also become a viable business chance. This is a business concept that requires specialized equipment that may require high recent business costs. If you’re interested in making and selling woodworking projects, receive a class first before you invest in the concept.

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Get started: 12 Woodworking Projects and How to Sell Them Online

💡 Tips:

• You can specialize in bespoke items like custom one-of-a-benevolent furniture or more affordable templated pieces. The level of attempt and skill should both be reflected in your pricing way.
• Capture content to document the procedure. Potential buyers may be interested in how your products are made.
• Woodworking things to make and sell include: cutting boards, salt and pepper shakers, boats, ornaments, planters, furniture, and toys.

17. Tote bags

Like t-shirts, tote bags can be produced with very little hands-on work. Simply upload your doodles or digital designs to a print-on-demand app and your orders are automatically fulfilled. If you’re talented at sewing, you can make totes bags from scratch using canvas, reclaimed materials, or leather. Also try craft techniques like screen printing, felting, or applique to provide them a distinctive touch.

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Get started: 10 Best Print-on-Demand Companies and Sites 

💡 Tips:

• Totes make ideal canvases for art. If your original art is too pricey for most of your fans, make and sell totes propose a low expense way for them to buy a wearable reproduction of your work.
• Consider making and selling (or giving away) branded tote bags as promotional merch for any type of business.

18. Sauces and condiments

adore cooking? If opening a restaurant is currently out of reach, consider tiny, non-perishable food items that can be made and sold online. Oils, spices, and warm sauces are all straightforward ideas for recent business owners. 

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Get started: How To commence an Online Store in 9 straightforward Steps

💡 Tips:

• commence at local markets and expand your reach with an online store once your packaging is shelf stable and shippable.
• Regulations regarding the production and packaging of food items can be strict. Be sure you are following government guidelines to keep people secure. 

19. Fragrance and essential oil blends

Essential oil blends are among the simplest products to make and sell from home. Experiment by mixing skin-worry-grade oils to produce and bottle your own distinctive scents and aromatherapy experiences. And research the properties of each oil to provide accurate information to customers. 

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Get started: straightforward and Low expense Ways to construct a Memorable Brand Identity

💡 Tips:

• achievement in the fragrance industry relies not only on your scents but on packaging and branding, too. Don’t rush this step!
• As you perfect your scents, consider working with a white label manufacturer to expand your line into creams, soaps, and other body worry products.

20. document products

The sky’s the limit when it comes to building a DIY craft business with document. Great ideas for document crafts include: document flowers, papier mache sculpture, greeting cards, document stickers, and event décor. Experiment with different projects to discover your niche. document crafts range from primitive (ponder document-making from recycled pulp) to advanced (like intricate cutouts using a Cricut machine). 

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Get started: How To Make and Sell Stickers Online in 5 Steps

💡 Tips:

• Consider how you might scale your business. If you craft greeting cards from scratch, for example, can you eventually shift to having your designs commercially printed?
• Many document businesses depend on seasonality. Be sure to schedule your collections and products around holidays, seasons, and other occasions.

21. DIY tutorials and online courses

Lastly, consider spreading the joy of handmade to others by creating and selling online courses. Others like you will be looking for ideas for things to make and sell. Why not meet the demand? You can also propose free videos or short DIY tutorials as a content marketing way to drive customers to paid content. Consider teaching skills in sewing, soap making, or woodworking, either as on-demand video or live classes.

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Get started: 10 Steps To make an Online Course That Sells

💡 Tips:

• Bite-sized tutorials on platforms like TikTok assist you construct authority and develop an spectators before you commence selling content.
• When selling courses, consider what worth you can add over the many free tutorials on YouTube and elsewhere. Do you have downloadable templates or patterns? Do you propose “office hours” to gossip through projects or challenges?

22. Personalized gifts

Personalized shopping experiences have become a pattern with online businesses in recent years. Offering a distinctive touch can assist businesses stand out in a competitive economy. The same is factual for personalized products. Offering customers the chance to add a monogram or embroidered name to a product can drive sales, especially around gifting seasons. 

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Get started: How To commence Your Own Cricut Business in 8 Steps

💡 Tips:

• Make and sell custom dog portraits or personalized ID tags for pet owners. 
• Consider selling essential oils and letting customers construct custom blends.
• Invest in a standard printer or Cricut machine to make personalized printed goods like day planner pages, car decals, or household photo calendars.
• Personalized gifts are especially popular close to holiday shopping seasons—this is a great period to boost your ad spend for your online store.

23. Gift baskets and boxes

Gift baskets are straightforward things to make and sell if you’re not talented in a specific craft but have a great eye for curation. Assemble pre-made baskets for specific gift-giving occasions to sell online, or allow customers to construct their own.

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💡 Tips:

• Handmade items make great gifts. Consider partnering with other makers to provide curated items for your gift baskets.
• To stand out in the gift basket and subscription box economy, focus on a niche for your online business. For example, narrow in on handmade beauty and fill your boxes with essential oils, bath bombs, or natural cosmetics.

24. Natural cosmetics

Of all things to sell online, beauty can be one of the most lucrative. It’s also a crowded economy dominated by a few legacy companies and a handful of newer DTC brands. Brands that discover achievement are those that discover a gap in the economy or cater to an underserved spectators. You can experiment with handmade products like balms or powders, but you may eventually desire to upgrade to a professional facility to comply with local regulations. 

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Get started: 35 Eco-amiable Products To Sell in 2024

💡 Tips:

• Cosmetics are one of the more fun and creative things to make and sell online, but they can also be tricky to produce. Brush up on industry regulations around safety and labeling.
• Beauty products have a shelf life, especially natural cosmetics. Essential oils and other organic ingredients can be vulnerable to period, heat, and light. Keep your inventory tight to avoid spoilage.

25. Posters

Posters are a creative thing to make and sell for artists and designers. From minimalist art prints to motivational quotes, posters are popular home decor options amongst college students and youthful professionals. 

You’ll desire to brush up on your graphic design skills to achieve. discover your distinctive style or target specific niches like movie fans, music lovers, or home office decorators. 

💡 Tips:

• commence with print-on-demand services to test designs without investing in expensive printing equipment or holding inventory. These services handle printing, shipping, and customer service while you focus on creating designs.
• Pay attention to image standard and document choices, as these significantly impact customer satisfaction. Consider offering multiple size options and frame-ready dimensions that align with standard frame sizes for added convenience.

Factors to consider when choosing what to make and sell

Not sure which concept to commence with? Here are some things to consider:

• Your skills: Look at what you’re already excellent at doing. It could be making jewelry, taking photos, or baking amazing cookies. Being talented at something means you’ll make products faster and won’t have to spend period learning everything from scratch. 
• economy demand: Before you commence making anything, check what people actually desire to buy. Look at sites like Etsy, Instagram, or local craft fairs. You can also inquire friends and household what they’d be interested in buying, since they might be your target customers.
• Production costs: Figure out exactly how much you’ll spend on supplies and how many hours it’ll receive to make each item. If it takes you five hours to make something you can only sell for $20, you might desire to discover a different product that’s quicker to make. 
• Personal earnings: Pick something you actually like making, because you’ll be spending a lot of period doing it if your business takes off. If you despise knitting but ponder scarves would sell well, you’ll burn out quickly and misplace drive to keep the business going. 

Make it, sell it!

The ideas don’t stop here—there are many creative ways to make money by handcrafting your own goods to sell online. To discover the correct business concept, settlement your current skill set with your thrill and economy demand. 

Homegrown businesses are the perfect springboard for aspiring entrepreneurs. commence as a side gig to discover the ropes before you make the leap. You’ll set your own working hours, earn extra money, and reap the emotional rewards of building your aspiration with your own hands.

characteristic illustration by Eugenia Mello