While I was working on an article for the American Chronicle (not yet published) that talks about creating a business out of a hobby I came up with an interesting byproduct: potential hobby-to-business ideas.  Since I can’t use them in the article I decided to share them here.  Starting with…

Drawing/Art

The ability to draw is a talent.  Not everyone is that gifted.  Combine that with some pre-made blank note cards or postcards and you have a potential business!

Sewing

The ability to sew some cloth together and make something is a very real talent that, while it used to be common place back in time, seems to have dwindled but is not a lost art.  If you get together with someone who can draw, you might be able to create your own line of… whatever it is you’re hoping to create.

With sewing the possibilities are endless.  Whether your interests lie in plus-size adult clothing or baby accessories.

Jewelry Making

The jewelry market is not an easy one to crack but if you have a passion for (and a real talent for) jewelry making, success is a real possibility.  Be prepared for some resistance, there is a lot of competition in this market.

Graphic or Web Design

Yes, there are people out there who make graphics or design websites just because it is an enjoyable pastime.  Not all of them are good at it, like me, but some of them are amazing.  If you’re into one or both of these hobbies, now might be the time to make it your business.  There are always people looking for someone like you to create a template for their blog, a design for their website, or even the graphics they need to go with it.  This is a talent that, when marketed,  has the potential of bringing in a full-time income.

Writing

Normally I would be weary of telling people they should become my “competition” but in reality the writing market is huge.  Someone with a knack for writing can easily break into it by starting small and gradually picking up bigger projects.  By starting small you will have the opportunity to build some credibility and define a niche for yourself.

Scrapbooking

Believe it or not, there is potential for a business to be had from this hobby.  Within your neighborhood you could easily market yourself as a professional scrapbooker and find work page by page, literally.  If you’d like to take your talent online, creating premade scrapbook pages and selling them is another possibility.

Notebook Binding

Maybe it is just me that feels this way but there is something special about a notebook that was made by hand.  I love them and buy them when I can afford it.  I am pretty sure I am not alone.

While you would need to have the binding materials, quality paper, and a binding machine, it’s definitely something to consider.  This also offers an ample opportunity for an artist to make some extra money by designing the covers for each new notebook.

Once you have the hobby you’d like to make into a business…

You’ll need somewhere to sell your creations.  Websites like Etsy and Artfire are good places to start.

Attention Would-Be Mompreneurs: These are all mom-friendly business ideas!