Top 10 best home based business ideas to make money online in 2012

Home based businesses provide genuine opportunities to make money online in 2012. Marketing or selling through an eCommerce store, online shopping cart, blog or website brings great opportunity, as you'll see in my list of inspirational business successes later in the article.

Home based businesses and startups are far easier to establish now than just a few years ago. And now more than ever, entrepreneurial spirit and small business startups (from the home, garage, dorm room, etc) are needed to help boost the economy.

Top 10 list of the best home based business ideas, 2012

If you are looking to start up a home business then look no further than this top 10 list of the best ways to make money online, from home.

I hope you'll find something to inspire you to startup today. There's no time like the present (and don't forget about me when you're sipping pina-coladas off the deck of your yacht ;)

1. Specialist consulting

If you have experience or skills then one of the best ways to make money is by providing niche industry wisdom and expert advice. It doesn't matter what industry you are in.

Start blogging about what you know. Offer to help people by providing knowledge. Answer questions other sites, blogs and forums.

Once people recognize you as an expert they will trust you, and you can start leveraging that trust to make money by offering services and consulting in your niche.

2. Boutique online store

Do you have a passion for designing cushions? Do you love making gourmet cupcakes? If there is something you love doing, then do it online.

Blog about what you do. Creating fantastic content that interests people gives you a powerful platform to encourage more customers to visit, and more visitors to purchase.

Make your content exciting and visual so that your passion transfers to visitors who then just have to buy.

3. eLearning content

If there is a subject you are knowledgeable in, or know plenty of people who are knowledgeable about something, then use that to make money.

Set up a subscription based service to train people. Offer them courses, complete with exercises and marked online quizzes. Award them with certificates upon completion.

4. Specialty reviews

Do you love fine dining? How about wine tasting? Does staying in luxury hotels appeal to you?

Start up a blog and begin reviewing local products and services. Do a good job and local merchants and retailers will quickly catch on to the value of being reviewed by you. Leverage that demand to make money, as well as using ads and affiliate links to generate additional cash from readers.

5. Innovative local services

There are a million and one things that get in people's way each day. If you have a smart idea about how to help, then set it up.

idea: If you have a pickup you could offer to pick up people's old furniture for free. It saves them time and money taking it to the dump. You can then resell it via your website.

idea: People hate queuing at local grocery stores after work. Why not let them pre-order from your website and have it waiting for them. They don't have to pay for parking, fight with crowds or wait in queues. Well worth the small amount you charge for the service.

With limited resources, you'll have to start local. But franchising to different towns and cities is a great option for growth later down the line.

6. Online real-time tutorials and lessons

Google+ offers incredible resources for video conferencing and online hangouts. Why not offer one hour lessons by video online? People can sign up on your website and access live tutorials and lesson, possibly followed by some Q and A for added interactivity.