Home Improvement Business Ideas

Bathtub Reglazing

Because a bathtub reglazing and refinishing costs between $250 and $600 as opposed to more than $1,000 for a new tub, refurbishing remains high on the to-do list of domestic beautification, especially in tough times when money is tight. A bathtub reglazing work from home business can catch the home-improvement wave, allowing you to earn between $30 and $100 an hour.

To gain experience, greenhorns might want to accompany professionals on jobs, watch tutorials on the Internet, or enroll in a respected vocational program.

Faux Painting

Faux-painting businesses can enjoy bright prospects, and those who seize this work at home business opportunity often end up earning three times the income of a conventional home-interior painting business. Work at home faux-painting service, or decorative painting service, should probably focus on a few coverage techniques, including marbleizing (with glaze), Trompe l'oeil, and rag painting. An apprenticeship in faux painting helps but isn't necessary.

Floor Installation

Every building needs floors, and that's where floor installation comes in, making it a good home-based business idea that promises strong earnings and growth potential.

Most floor-installation technicians learn through apprenticeships or contractor-sponsored programs, charging between $35 and $40 an hour, according to Entrepreneur.com. Floor-replacement jobs can be labor-intensive and potentially lucrative. You can also pick up extra cash with floor-refinishing assignments.

Wallpapering

Wallpaperers, or paperhangers, apply decorative wall and ceiling coverings, usually from paper and vinyl. Removing old wallpaper, patching holes in walls, and even touch-up painting can also be part of the job. Wallpapering requires no formal training, just the know-how built through personal experience or an apprenticeship of some sort. Stamina is necessary to endure the long hours standing and reaching overhead. The startup capital can be as low as $1,000 for wallpapering tools and advertising.

And, because wallpapering is much easier with a helper, this can be a great couples' home business.

Interior Designer or Decorator

Interior designers are typically licensed degreed professionals who decorate homes, offices, and entire buildings. They juggle environmental, legal, and aesthetic concerns in conceptualizing their plans.

Interior decorators, who may or may not need professional licenses or as much formal education, often focus on the finishing touches, such as furniture, curtains, and color. Both can build successful home-based businesses but with different salary and job-scope expectations.

General Home Remodeling and Restoration

If you love carpentry, why not consider starting a home remodeling and restoration home-based business? You can either offer to make improvements yourself or if you're not the handy type, offer your services as a remodeling and restoration consultant instead.

The hourly rate for home remodeling services can be as high as into the triple figures in states such as California. And, couples can draw from each others' strengths to offer a variety of home remodeling and repair services.

Stained Glass

Starting a stained glass business is a specialty opportunity that requires good hands, an eye for color, and the patience to endure the vagaries of an enterprise with more practitioners than demand.

Checking out your competition's inventory and pricing is critical to gaining a business foothold. And deciding on an emphasis, whether stained glass for windows or handicrafts to sell in galleries or custom installations, will also influence income flow.