How Do I Make Money Working From
Home? Let Me Count the Ways
By Sandi Moses
Here in the USA, at least, it seems to be increasingly popular to find
some way to earn a living from the comfort of your own home. People - especially
moms - are looking for ways to stay home with their kids and yet contribute
to the family income. They prowl the internet at night or on their lunch
breaks, looking for just the right opportunity that fits their interests
and family. Let me suggest their search may be too narrow.
More often than not, they are looking at and for some variation of internet
marketing. But they don�t have a clue how to market, the search engines
offer literally millions of choices, and scams and rip-off artists are
more common than sand fleas on the beach. There are a lot of other ways
to earn an income from home. Lets explore a few, and combine them with
some internet activity. The synergy just might surprise you!
The first and most obvious choice would be to open your home to day-care.
After all, you are there with your own kids, so you might as well add a
few, right? (Stop that laughing!) Depending on your constitution, family
size and make-up, home and yard size, etc., this could be just the thing
for you. To run it like a business involves a whole lot more than feeding
the kids and keeping them from playing in the street, but it works for
many and it may work for you. If you have older kids, involve them in the
care of the younger ones as well as some of the business aspects. Think
of it as on-the-job training in home and business management. It is invaluable
training they cannot get elsewhere.
If you like to cook, you might look into something involving cooking
or baking. There are candy-making businesses, catering businesses, cake
decorating businesses, etc. Some people supply home-baked goodies to local
convenience stores, truck stops, sandwich shops and places like that. Of
course they have to go through the permit process, but that is normal for
starting up a business. Some people create and bake treats for dogs and
cats and sell them to pet stores. These are also businesses that can involve
your older children. They can help with preparation and clean-up. Teenagers
can also learn bookkeeping and once they get their drivers license can
make deliveries if necessary.
There are countless products that can be marketed through home parties.
It�s not just for Avon and Tupperware anymore. Home furnishings and decorations,
candles, rubber stamps, jewelry, children�s toys and clothing, and who
knows what I haven�t of are all options. This is popular with moms who
are home all day with kids and feel the need to get out and have a conversation
with another adult. They schedule evening parties in other people�s homes.
Their husbands are home with the kids, and they are able to socialize and
make money at the same time. For many moms this is just ideal.
Some people are natural-born �cleanies.� They have figured out that
other people do not like to clean houses and offices and are not much good
at it either. So they come to the rescue - for a price. Cleaning services
do involve leaving your home, which is what some people don�t want to do,
but if you have your own business, you are the boss and to some extent
can set your own hours. One parent can work day hours and one parent can
work night hours. If you have teenagers, again you can involve them in
the business, both in labor and paperwork.
Some people are naturally organized and can sell their skill to those
who are �challenged.� You would again have to leave your home, but you
can set appointments for while your kids are in school and not make appointments
on days when they have after-school activities that you quit work so you
could attend. This too can be a great business for the right person to
run from their home.
You could also turn your home into your business by converting part
of it to a bed-and-breakfast. This would require permits and a check with
zoning laws and all that. To succeed, you would also have to have the gift
of hospitality as well as many of the skills necessary for the other businesses
mentioned above. But if you like meeting new people and would enjoy opening
up your home - for a price - then maybe you should look into it.
There are many, many other options including telecommuting, letter writing,
teaching sign language to moms and babies, proof-reading, website and graphics
design, greeting card design and verse writing, and on and on and on!
Now what about that internet part? Many businesses - even small local
ones - find they do better if they have a website. Websites can be put
up and hosted for surprisingly little money. Some internet companies offer
products that can be sold to customers you acquired through some of the
above-mentioned businesses. For instance, if you use a particular �green�
cleaning product, maybe your daycare parents or the people who work in
the offices you clean would be interested. Market your business on your
website and market your website to your customers. Print and offer coupons.
Put your website on the traffic exchanges. There are even ones where you
can earn while you surf! Talk about easy money - and you are earning exposure
for your site, too!
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