100+ Hobby Ideas That You Can Transform Into A Successful Business
Feeling a bit bored lately and considering starting a hobby? You want to do something that you can eventually turn into a business, but what? I share a list of over 100 hobby ides that you can turn into a successful online business.
I know this is possible because I took my blogging hobby and eventually launched my blog coaching business.
This lifestyle blog you’re reading now was my first blog and it was where I learned everything about blogging… the good and the bad. Mistakes galore!
There are many hobbies you can turn into a business. Let’s see which one is the right one for you!
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100+ Exciting Hobby Ideas You Can Turn Into A Business
Hobbies can make you feel happy about yourself and your capabilities. It’s never too late to start a hobby – even if you’re older you can transform your hobby into a business.
Before you delve into this long list, consider a few factors:
- Are you passionate about the hobby niche?
- Do you see yourself doing this long-term?
- Are there others successfully selling products/services based on the hobby?
- Does your hobby require much capital to be successful as a business?
- Is there a market that’s big enough for a full-time income with your hobby niche?
Do your research first and see if it’s the right hobby for you.
Artistic Hobbies
From creating and selling products to teaching people how to do them… there are so many options for artistic hobbies.
- Painting
- Caricatures
- Sculptures
- Drawing and sketching
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Mosaic art
- Textile arts
- Pottery and ceramics
- Digital Art
- Glassblowing
- Woodworking
- Street art (murals, graffiti)
- Paper craft
- Calligraphy
Craft Hobbies
Some people LOVE to create things. Crafting can be both relaxing and soothing, and a lucrative business.
Etsy was built on people selling their crafts.
I’m not going to go into detail for each, because for all you can easily create and sell, as well as teach others (via a blog, video series, training/coaching).
- Quilting
- Knitting and crocheting
- Embroidery
- Quilting
- Jewelry Making
- Soap Making
- Candle Making
- Pottery
- Woodworking
- Flower Arranging
Digital And Online Creative Hobbies
These are creative hobbies that are usually done online and can easily turn into an online business.
We all start somewhere! This blog was a personal hobby that I turned into an online business.
There are many who do this stuff for fun. They can easily be creating and selling products, teaching others… and in some cases taking things to the next level with full-fledged businesses.
Consider these ideas:
- Social media influencer
- Blogging
- Creating printables and templates in Canva
- Digital art and animation
- Photography
- Creating video games/apps
- Writing stories & poetry
- 3D modeling for 3D printing
- Video games (reviews)
- Website development
- Software development
| RELATED: How To Start A Profitable Blog: A 10 Step Guide
Music & Performing Arts Hobbies
Consider all of the possibilities with these music hobbies and those in the performing arts fields.
From offering lessons, freelance services to blogging and creating digital products (music clips, videos, and more).
- Writing music
- Creating music
- Music production
- Singing (vocal coach)
- Playing an instrument (teach others)
- DJing
- Comedy (stand-up)
- Acting
- Dance (teaching)
- Theatre
Food & Drink Hobbies
From developing recipes to making craft beer… there are so many food and drink hobbies that can turn into viable businesses.
Many start off as volunteer activities (consider catering or meal prep services for events, the elderly, etc.) and can easily expand into a business with a bit of capital behind them.
Many take their areas of specialty and turn them into food blogging and influencing online.
- Creating recipes
- Creating specialty food products (jams, sauces, dips etc.)
- Catering and meal prep
- Baking cakes, baked goods
- Brewing beer, cider-making
- Winemaking
- Candy and chocolate-making
- Honeymaking
- Nutrition coaching
- Cocktail making
Gardening Hobbies
This topic nicely connects with food and drink, as you can easily connect the farm-to-table approach.
However, there are other things you can do with a gardening hobby: from starting a landscaping business to online coaching (yes, I found several gardening coaches online!).
- Gardening – landscaping, garden maintenance
- Greenhouses – growing plants
- Organic farming
- Beekeeping
- Permaculture designs (sustainable landscaping)
- Floral arranging
- Botany – plant research
Travel & Adventure Hobbies
While your first thought may be starting a travel blog.
However, there are many types of businesses that can come out of the love of travel and adventure.
Here are the hobbies that you can start and turn into viable businesses:
- Travel – content creation/blogging
- Creating travel itineraries
- Travel photography
- Tour guide services
- Adventure sports – teaching others
- Camping/glamping – services for others
- Outdoor survival techniques
- RV/van life – creating custom vans
| RELATED: What To Pack When Travelling To The UK
Sports & Recreation Hobbies
Tying nicely into travel and adventure hobbies that you can turn into a business are sports and recreation hobbies.
From coaching to blogging, to selling products and services: there are so many options for this group of hobbies.
- Hiking/backpacking – guided hikes, workshops
- Fishing – guided fishing tours, instruction, selling specialized gear
- Personal training: yoga, Pilates, weight training, specific sport coaching, etc.
- Golf – think instruction
- Tennis – same like golf – instruction, coaching
- Cycling – training, bike tours
- Water sports – diving, stand up paddleboarding (SUP), snorkeling
| RELATED: The Top 10 Benefits Of Hiking: Mind & Body
Fashion & Beauty Hobbies
This one is a popular one among many – consider all in this niche that let you turn a hobby into a business.
From creating and selling products, services, coaching and blogging/influencer work…
- Fashion design – create and sell your own designs
- Styling and personal shopping
- Hair styling
- Makeup and aesthetics – services, tutorials
- Nail art – services, content
- Skincare products – creating and selling
| RELATED: FEY Cosmetics – Exfoliating Mask and Cream Reviews
Home & Lifestyle Hobby Ideas
These hobby ideas can easily turn into a business.
We all have things we’re good at and interested in when it comes to the places we live and the things we do.
Most of these hobbies are related to services.
- Home decorating and interior design
- Organization and decluttering
- House cleaning (hey – some LOVE to clean homes, also consider creating eco-friendly cleaning products)
- DIY home renovations, project kits
- Pets – pet sitting, services
| RELATED: Easy Housecleaning Tips For Busy People
Transportation Hobbies
Some people LOVE anything to do with vehicles. There are several ways you can turn this into an online business – from offering services, content creation and selling products.
- Car restoration
- Motorcycle restoration
- Hot rod/customization
- Bicycle customization
- Collecting – anything from old cars to vintage bikes
- Model building
- Train, plane spotting
- Car/motorcylce meetups and rallies
- Motorsport events and races
- Road tripping
- Off-road
- Sailing and boating
- Simulation: flight, driving, train
- History of transportation
Odd And Unusual Hobbies
Some people love things that are quite unusual. They are unique interests and many of them have a big demand for services, products and online content.
- Bonsai trees
- Tree shaping (think Edward Scissorhands with juniper, cedar, bushes, and more)
- Rock collecting
- Stamp collecting
- Weapon collecting
- Doll collecting
- Currency collecting (old currencies, etc.)
- Antiquing
- Geocaching
- Urban archaeology
- Astronomy
- Creating art from junk
- Meme making (online content creation)
- Miniaturization – towns, scenes, figures
- Figurine creation and painting
- Toy trains
- Trainspotting
- Sewing stuffed animals
- Map collecting
- Book collecting
- Soap carving
- Rock painting
- Face painting/makeup art
- Building musical instruments
- Creating music from unusual items
- Mask masking
- Sketching on walls, vehicles
- War memorabilia collecting
- Bottle/can collecting
- Insect farms (think ant farms)
- Collecting items belonging to celebrities
Transform A Hobby Into A Business You Love
I’ve given you a long list of hobby ideas that you can consider. What’s the next step?
Make a shortlist of three to five hobbies you’ll try for at least a month or two.
The one that you keep coming back to is the one that you’ll stick with for the long term. You need to be passionate about your hobby. Otherwise, it will be a failure before it even evolves into a business.
I’m still passionate about content creation and blogging so many years later! It’s never too late to start – learn how to make your passion your retirement side hustle or full-time business.
| RELATED: How To Successfully Reinvent Yourself In Your 40s
Create A Website For Your Hobby
Have people follow you along as you start and grow your hobby.
You’ll be positioning yourself as a niche expert.
Here are a few things you’ll need to get started:
- A self-hosted WordPress site (hosting providers to consider – BigScoots, NameHero)
- A theme that helps your content shine (read more about feminine WordPress themes – I’m using Kadence theme for this site)
- My free course for starting a blog
Consider joining Facebook groups – like these Facebook communities for women entrepreneurs.
Need some help determining how to start a blog to support your hobby? Let’s connect – I offer blog coaching services.
Building an online presence will be a stepping stone to creating a business online.
I hope you find some great hobby ideas in this long list!
| RELATED: Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Start A Business At 40
QUESTION: What are some hobby ideas that interest you?
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