The best things to make and sell from home

Looking for a way to channel your creativity into some extra income? With the rise of online stores like Etsy, Ebay and Vinted, as well as traditional flea markets and car boot sales, it’s easier than ever to find things to make and sell.

Whether you’re a hardened entrepreneur looking for a new startup or a beginner thinking about a new side-hustle, putting your creative skills to work can be lucrative. We’ve rounded up a list of the top 10 best things to make and sell from home, with advice from successful sellers to help you get started.

Delivery is crucial for a positive experience when buying and selling online. Use our parcel quote calculator to easily work out your postage costs.

1. Candles

One of the most popular things to make and sell is candles. While candle making is a competitive market, they are easy to make, perfect for gifting and there are many ways you can customise them to add an extra personal touch. All you need is some basic knowledge on the melt and pour method, wax, some candle moulds, a few scents or essential oils, and you’re good to go!

2. Paintings, prints and illustrations

Whether you create original paintings, fine art, digital prints or your own photography, selling your art from home is a great way to monetise your skills. Original art is enduringly popular for people decorating their homes, or giving personal gifts, so your creative skills could come into use for some extra income.

Illustrator Helen Leslie, at helenleslie.com, showed us how you can turn your artistic flair into a profitable side-hustle: 'At university I took a degree in Fashion Promotion & Illustration, which gave me broad skills in areas of lifestyle marketing and promotion and the business side of things, but also strengthened my practical illustration experience and knowledge. In one role in my employed life I was able to create digital lifestyle animations and illustrations for clients, but I always wanted to do more with my creative skills.’

3. Handmade soaps

Another easy thing to make and sell from home is handmade soap. When it comes to handmade products, people are willing to pay over the odds, and soap is no exception. If you have the space at home, you can make bigger batches of soap at once. to avoid wastage and save you time while you sell.

PJ Jonas, founder of goat milk stuff, tells us how she started her business by sharing free samples;

‘Goat Milk Stuff eventually grew out of the massive demand generated by taking the goat milk soap to a local festival where the free samples that the children handed out helped so many people with various skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.’

4. Bath Bombs

A great option if you’re planning to sell in person, bath bombs are in high demand within the cosmetics industry and relatively inexpensive and easy to make and sell. Customising your bath bombs with colouring, calming scents and oils, decoration and packaging. As with any hygiene or beauty product, ensure you investigate your ingredients thoroughly and check they’re beauty grade, and safe for contact with skin.

Finally, consider how you will package, store and send the bath bombs. Yodel’s parcel size guide helps you work out what size parcel you’ll need to send your products, and what delivery costs you can expect to include.

5. Lip balm and lip gloss

Fun to gift and enduringly popular on crafty sites like Etsy, lip balms and glosses are easy to produce with little production costs. To help your products sell, consider your packaging: sustainable packaging is not only good for the planet but can be a bonus for customers looking for a more thoughtful, long-term piece of packaging to keep or re-gift, too.

Just like the other cosmetic items on this list, you also must ensure your production meets industry and safety standards.

6. Jewellery

Handmade jewellery remains an exceedingly popular thing to make and sell, thanks to the beautifully unique designs you can create. It can be a great place to start for beginners as there are plenty of styles to choose from and startup costs can be relatively low. If you’re new to making jewellery, gain inspiration from workshops or classes to get you started, and find your niche.

7. Digitally printed T-shirts and accessories

If digital design is your thing, you may want to consider making and selling t-shirts. Once you create a great design, replicating it on also hoodies, tote bags and sweatshirts can be a lucrative form of income, without the need for further investment. This is also ideal if you keep on top of trending pop culture, as you can react quickly to media trends to produce relevant and funny designs.

To get started with this money-making venture, you’ll need to consider investing in printing equipment or partnering with an external printing business to get your products printed and delivered efficiently.

8. Gift hampers and subscription boxes

Gift hampers and subscription boxes are a great option to sell online and in-person. Curating pleasing hampers without having to necessarily craft anything yourself, best-selling hampers include self-care boxes, movie night packages, book-filled reading hampers and more.

Gift hampers are also a great idea to make and sell around national holidays, so if you are considering more of a short-term side-hustle, this could be the perfect project for you.

9. Pottery

Whether it's creating functional pieces of tableware or more decorative ornaments, homemade ceramics have really taken off in the past couple of years. While this is one of the more specialised skills on our list, there are plenty of workshops and open-access studios across the UK to learn the tricks of the trade, and help you become a more proficient potter.

If you don’t want to invest in your own pottery equipment, you could also consider selling handmade creations using air-dry clay, which doesn’t require a kiln. It’s important to note, however, that these types of ceramics aren’t always safe to be used for drinking and eating, so make sure to check before you list your products.

10. Desserts

Brownies, cookies, pick ‘n’ mix, you name it - there are plenty of delicious treats you can make and sell both online and in person. The market for these sweet treats is constantly expanding, and there’s always room for new sellers.

If you’re making and selling edible products, you need to select your ingredient suppliers wisely, ensuring you know exactly what’s going into your products. Make sure your ingredients and labels meet requirements for nutritional content and allergy warnings, and store your sweet treats securely to keep them fresh.

Whether you’re an avid baker or an aspiring artist, with the appetite for British craft at an all-time high, now’s the perfect time to get your side-project off the ground. Browse trending products to sell online for more inspiration or learn more about sending your small business parcels with Yodel.

FAQs

Where can I sell my products?

The world’s leading online marketplace for handmade crafts is Etsy, but Folksy, Amazon Handmade, Not on the Highstreet, Depop, Facebook Marketplace and Thortful are all enduringly popular, too.

If you’d rather showcase your products to customers in person, then have a look for nearby farmers markets, craft fairs, galleries or car boot sales.

What is the law for selling handmade items in the UK?

Wherever you plan on selling your products, you’ll need to ensure you’re abiding by the laws regarding selling handmade goods in the UK. If you’re earning more than £1000 a year from your sales, you’ll need to register with HMRC for tax purposes. Of you’re selling cosmetics, bath and body items or food and drink, you might also need a license. Visit Gov.uk if you’re unsure about the legal requirements you need to follow.

How should I price my products?

When determining a price for your craft, add up all the production costs, including materials and delivery fees. Consider how long each item takes you to make, and research other sellers to help make sure your products are priced competitively.