Home Offices: The Overlooked Business Opportunity

It still amazes me, but it’s easy to forget just how many people actually work from home, especially when traffic still clogs the roads every morning. But as of late 2023, about 4 million Canadians, or roughly 20 percent of the workforce, were working most of their hours from home. In the United States, the number was even higher, with around 34.3 million people, or 22 percent of workers, working remotely.

To me, that looks like a real opportunity for anyone who’s good at organizing small, cluttered spaces, has a way with tech, or knows how to set up a workspace that feels better and works smarter. If you’ve got an eye for detail and enjoy making things more functional, there’s a market for it in the home office space.

I’ve put together a few ideas here that could get those creative thoughts flowing and help you find a niche that could become a successful business of your own.

Home Office Tech Setup

Most people hate setting up their own gear. It’s frustrating, time-consuming, and usually ends with cables everywhere and something not working right. That’s where you come in.

This business is about offering a simple, flat-rate service to get people’s home office tech set up and working the way it should: no confusion, no mess, just clean, working gear and a better space to work in.

You can offer services like:

• Setting up monitors, webcams, and speakers

• Speeding up their Wi-Fi or fixing dead zones

• Hiding cables and making everything clean and simple

To start, you only need basic tools, some confidence with common tech setups, and a simple offer. Start local. Offer to fix up a friend’s home office, take photos, and build from there. One clean setup leads to another.

Home Office Clean-Up & Organize

Most home offices don’t get cleaned properly. People spend hours in them every day, but the dust builds up, cords get tangled, and clutter takes over.

This service focuses on making those spaces clean, clear, and easier to work in. It’s not a complete house cleaning. It’s targeted and valuable.
You can start gaining experience in the best ways to make an office space work and flow for the client, which could help them become more efficient in their work.

You can offer:

• Dusting and wiping down gear (keyboards, screens, vents)

• Trash removal and clutter cleanup

• Light organizing (cables, drawers, shelves)

You can package this as a one-time deep clean or offer it as a monthly or seasonal visit. It also works well with small upsells like air fresheners, cable ties, or screen wipes. Start simple with a clear offer and build by word of mouth.

If you’d like to learn more about how to best organize and set up a home office, the book Home Office Organization, which I found on Amazon, could help you get started.

Office Space Zoom-Ready Makeovers

Plenty of people spend hours a day on camera for work, but most of them aren’t happy with how their background looks. Bad lighting, awkward angles, and cluttered walls don’t make a great impression.

This service helps people upgrade their video call setup so they look more professional and feel more confident online.

You can help them:

• Set up better lighting and camera angles

• Hang shelves, art, or a whiteboard

• Create a simple, clean video call background

This is a great fit for freelancers, therapists, consultants, or anyone who meets with clients over Zoom. You don’t need to be a designer — just help them look sharp and feel comfortable in their space. A few smart changes can make a big difference.

Millions of people are working from home, and many are doing so in spaces that aren't set up for comfort, focus, or functionality. That isn't just a daily frustration for them. It's a business opportunity for you.

When considering starting a service business, these ideas are practical, local, and simple to launch. You don't need a big team or a storefront. Just a clear offer, a few tools, and the willingness to solve a real problem.

For more on these businesses and many others, visit FullThrottleStartUp.com

Heads up: a few of the links in here are affiliate links. If you grab something through them, I might earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).