12 home business ideas in Pakistan for 2021

Working a 9 to 5 job can be pretty exhausting. This is especially so if the job is boring, monotonous, and you receive a paycheck that does not reflect the effort you put into your work.

Working from home is an attractive alternative, whether you are launching a new business or trying to make extra cash. One of the perks of working from home is the fact that it saves you time and money. You save on the time you spend on mindless tasks at work, and you also save on the money you spend commuting to and from work.

Other advantages of having a home business include:

• You have flexible work hours. This means that you have more control over your schedule
• You can multitask. You can handle chores during hours when you are slightly free
• You don’t have to deal with the strict rules of an office. There are no office rules or dress codes. You can work in your pajamas if you wish
• You're incurring less risk because you need less capital to start up a home business
• You avoid the hassles of commuting. On a cold morning, you don't have to stir up an immense amount of courage before you get out of bed to face the day
• You can enjoy certain tax benefits if you work from home. You can contact the Internal Revenue Service for the regulations on home offices
• You can avoid the distractions and noise of the workplace
• If you're a parent, an extra advantage for you is that you can be a live model of hard work and discipline to your children. You can also teach them the rudiments of your work and help them understand the effort and focus involved in what you do. This is a benefit that goes far beyond any salary you can earn

After reading all these benefits, I bet you're more excited about the idea of setting up a home business. As an entrepreneur, there are numerous opportunities to own a Pakistani business. There are also several profitable small business ideas in Pakistan for 2021, and you can do most of them from the comfort of your home.

If you want to start a home business in Pakistan in 2021, and need the best business ideas, here are 12 great ideas to get you started.

General Business Climate in Pakistan

There are many talented and skilled professionals in Pakistan and Asian countries in general. The country also boasts an astonishingly large supply and variety of raw materials and goods.

In Pakistan, there are almost 3 million SMEs.¹ These small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for about 30 percent of the country’s GDP. However, these small businesses face various challenges. They struggle with securing loans from banks, commercial disputes, and taxation issues. Also, many Pakistani entrepreneurs are unable to access essential business training. Due to these various issues, most SMEs won’t ever hire more than five people.

Despite these challenges, you can become a successful entrepreneur in Pakistan with the right skills, business ideas, and knowledge. Lucky for you, that’s the essence of this article.

Is 2021 a good time to start a home business?

If you are still wondering whether 2021 is an excellent time to start a profitable business at home, then you are way behind schedule. The best time to have commenced a business at home was last year. The next best time is today.

The COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020 created a lot of remote jobs. Many industries changed the way they operated. They had to find ways of retaining productivity with the staff working from home.

The pandemic brought about many business ideas in 2021. With so many profitable business ideas, it can be hard to figure out which are worth pursuing. Some of these ideas aren't new but grew in popularity quite recently because of the pandemic. Others have been popular for a long time, which means that they are more competitive but less risky.

Despite this, the ideas we have listed here allow you to create an income from home. And thankfully, with advances in technology, it is easier and more affordable to launch any business of your choice from home. With that settled, let's look at these fantastic home business ideas.

12 Home Business Ideas in Pakistan for 2021

#1: Poultry farming

Poultry farming is a profitable venture that requires very little capital. Additionally, the Pakistani market has a consistent and high demand for poultry. All you need to start up is some space for your chicken hutch and a small amount of money to get the chicks and feed.

#2: Online virtual assistant

Becoming an Online Virtual Assistant is in no way a new business idea. It is a great business to launch in Pakistan if you intend to stay home full time. You have access to clientele from all around the world, and all you need is power, a suitable device, and an internet data connection.

Do you live in a place with little to no support for most enterprises? Or are you in an area where the competition is high because of the various entrepreneurial ventures? If so, then becoming a virtual assistant is just perfect for you.

If you want to start a business as an Online Virtual Assistant, it is best to choose a niche that you can focus on and develop yourself in. This will afford you the opportunity to stand out and make a difference.

#3: Custom T-shirt Printing

The textile manufacturing industry in Pakistan is growing and has the potential to be an income-generating venture. Printing customized t-shirts can be a good business idea as long as you have the requisite skills. Thanks to online courses and DIY videos, you can learn these skills easily and at very little cost. With time and practice, the skills will get better and better.

Custom T-shirt Printing will not just serve individuals, but it will also serve growing online businesses that specialize in selling customized t-shirts.

The process of setting up a T-shirt printing shop is easy, compared to other manufacturing facilities. It also costs little. To do so from home, you need to clear up a part of your house that will be your workspace. Then you need your printing materials and equipment, and voila, you're good to go.

Once your printing shop/space is ready, you can showcase your products on different online platforms like Alibaba.com. You can also reach out to as many online t-shirt company owners as you can, and let them see your work. You may then offer them a proposal that includes reasons why they should change their supply chain to use your services.

#4: YouTube content creator

YouTube has provided a platform for many people to earn handsomely from their homes. As a YouTuber, you make videos and then make money from those videos. All you need to have is a unique idea or skill that you want to share with the world, a proper set-up, and then video making and editing skills.

Being a YouTuber is a great way to have fun while making money. However, you have to be committed and hard-working to get to the place where you become a household name. Dedication is key.

You may need to invest in several personal development courses, and have a chosen area of interest that you specialize in. YouTube channels that deal with areas like crocheting, cooking, lifestyle, and travel have lots of following. Have a plan that helps you stay on track and consistently follow your YouTube channel's goals.

#5: Makeup artist

Many people are not courageous enough to take up a career in the makeup artistry. But while it may seem like a tough path to take, it is possible to have a successful career as a makeup artist — even from home. You don’t need to have a beauty salon.

Many Pakistani women consider makeup to be an essential part of their lives. No matter where you are situated, there is an opportunity to succeed if you just put your heart into it.

You must practice continuously (friends and family are available for this reason!). Be sure to be in the loop on social media. Study existing makeup trends.

Quality makeup products can be expensive and you may have to learn the skill professionally. But once that is done, you can earn a good income from your home. You can boost your business reach by putting your work online, blogging, or getting a website.

#6: Photography

Photography is a perfect skill to have if you want to work from home. When you are not having individual photo sessions with clients or covering events, you have the rest of your time to do as you please.

Photographers are needed in every event. From birthdays to baby showers to bridal showers to weddings, funerals, and even corporate dinners, photographers are an important part of most events.

Once you acquire the skill, all you need to invest in is a good camera. There are free and paid photography courses in Pakistan. You can also develop your skills through online training. As with other skills, more practice will make you a better photographer.

Create a portfolio, do a couple of volunteer photography for a wedding or a corporate event and distribute your photographer’s business cards. You are ready to start a photography business.

#7: Freelancing

Freelancing means working as an independent service provider rather than as an employee of a company. Freelancers are often considered to be self-employed. They have the freedom to pick and choose their projects and companies that they would like to be associated with. They are often referred to as independent contractors.

In recent years, freelancing has become one of the most profitable small investment businesses in Pakistan. Although it is not the easiest thing to do (there’s often a lot of competition), once you have a personal brand, you can carve out a niche for yourself and stand out in your chosen field. Just ensure that you are exceptional at what you do.

#8: Graphic Designing

A graphic designer takes information from a person and turns it into alluring visual content. Graphic designers are responsible for creating many things that you see and use every day. This includes branding, books, magazines, apps, adverts, packaging, logos, badges, maps, and websites.

As a graphic designer, you’re not just limited to designing logos, books, and brand packaging. You could be an artist, a motion designer or a concept artist. These are skills that can be learned online for free or for a fee.

If you are working from home, you can be a freelance graphic designer. You’ll work with some amazing, creative people while having the desired flexibility in your career. As a self-employed graphic designer in Pakistan, you must be flexible. You can offer your services on different freelance platforms and work remotely.

#9: Tourism agency

More and more, Pakistan is opening its doors towards tourism. This profitable business is sure to become even more profitable as more tourists find their way into Pakistan. The country has the opportunity for growth within the tourism industry as some of its local political and war-related tensions have calmed over the years.

Tourists will need guides because of the language barrier. The local tourism agency is designed to provide a rounded local experience for the tourists, in exchange for a fee. You can start this business by setting up a simple website that offers your tourism services. Then go on and map out the top 5 things that tourists must do to get a good feel of Pakistan.

Then you could rent a van and take your clients on these local experiences. A unique perk to this business is that you get to meet different people and have exciting experiences while you're on the job.

#10: Real estate business

This can be done on a part-time basis. All you need to do is to keep an eye on potential opportunities for real estate investment around you. Then you can have a platform where buyers and sellers get to connect. You get a commission for whatever sale is carried out through you or your platform. This is a very convenient and stress-free way of earning money.

With time, you may even be able to bring on employees as your business expands, who may also choose to work remotely.

#11: Home-made food production

Pakistanis prefer homemade food. If you need low investment business ideas, try preparing homemade food and making it available to those who are away from home. This can prove to be a very profitable business idea to go on within Pakistan.

You may choose to set up a kitchen to specialize in a particular type of food that is loved by a large number of people in Pakistan. An example is Halal. Halal refers to food material, ingredients, and production process, which is permissible for Muslims to consume.

Pakistan is the second largest Muslim country in the world. As a result, Halal breakfast and dessert dishes are more popular than ever. You could set up a Halal kitchen to make different creations of various meals upon request.

#12: Social media/online marketing

Social media and online marketing are currently booming in Pakistan. The basic things to have to start a social media or online marketing business are a laptop or a mobile phone, power, and internet connection.

This type of zero investment business does not require a lot of skill. All you need is to understand the basic use of social media and how to promote or advertise any small or large business on various platforms.

Social media marketing is a key tool to help manufacturing companies and industries in Pakistan reach new customers. If you are interested in social media marketing, you can start your business by offering your services to a local business such as a Halal food vendor or maker of herbal medicines.

Help the business owner reach their target customers and potential clients, and they will pay you handsomely for your services. If you are good at what you do, you will stand out. Your business in Pakistan can grow to other industries with time and thus expand your clientele.

How to find buyers for your home business

Before you set up your home business in Pakistan, here are some helpful tips you want to consider:

• Check the current market trends in Pakistan
• Analyze proposed business profitability and implementation cost
• Have a proper business plan
• Choose a business that has low risk and ideally requires very little investment

Some of the businesses we looked at above are easier to start than others. Some will generate more income. But ALL of them will allow you to work from anywhere you’d like.

When you have successfully set up your home business in Pakistan, then what? You need clients. How do you go about finding them?

Alibaba.com provides you with a global platform where you can meet buyers who are interested in what you do. Alibaba.com is the leading online marketplace for businesses from all over the world. Whether you are offering products or providing services, Alibaba.com can help you reach millions of B2B buyers and clients globally.

No matter which home business you choose to start, you can have an online store where you can post your products and sell to millions of B2B buyers on Alibaba.com.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn how Alibaba.com works for global sellers.