HOW TO MAKE MONEY

WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOUSE !!!

   Return to Master Index

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

Page

Overview 3

Being Your Own Boss 4

The Contingent Workforce 5

Choosing Your Home-Based Career 7

Resources Available to Get Started 10

Home Based Opportunities 14

Summary 22

 

 

 

OVERVIEW

When Ronald Reagan took the oath of office for the Presidency in January of

1981, one of his earliest pledges was to make life a little easier for the small business

person. Reagan believed that America was founded on the backs of intrepid folks who

took a chance and gambled everything they had on a chance to start fresh. Small business

today was the embodiment of that idea.

Less regulation and lower taxes during the former California governor’s first term

in office sent the number of small business formations skyward and the industry, despite

increased taxes and regulation, has never looked back. Today, as much as ever, there are

outstanding opportunities in the small business market.

Think about it. Big business puts out a controlled product that appeals to the

masses. Selling nationwide, there isn’t much attention paid to particular regional

differences. Small business fills this void. It’s not necessary in an environment of lower

overhead and more flexibility to have a product that necessarily appeals to the masses.

You might produce, out of your own home, T-shirts and apparel with local slogans and

insignia on them. This product will likely appeal to the locals and certainly may have

some fascination for tourists, too. It’s not something a major company is likely to fashion

because of its limited audience attraction. But you don’t need to sell as many units to

operate a successful small business.

There are numerous examples of small businesses having local flavor that become

an overnight sensation nationally. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream was a Vermont tradition that

suddenly caught on big everywhere. Numerous franchises and grocery distribution outlets

later, the original owners are ready to cash in -- big time!

Perhaps you have that kind of ambition. It may be that your idea for a home-based

business may have a national market. It’s wiser to start smaller if you don’t have a lot of

initial capital. If you have access to capital, that’s a different story. Wayne Huzienga,

owner of the Blockbuster video stores, borrowed heavily to finance his outlets. The first

store didn’t make any money. But he believed in his idea -- to have numerous video

copies available for two or three nights at a time. He thought people would pay a little

more for this kind of convenience. The first ten stores didn’t make any money. Neither

did the first 100 stores. But Huzienga knew Americans. Suddenly the profits started to

come and Blockbuster has developed into a commercial trademark for most shopping

outlets in this country.

But you don’t have to make it that big to be a financial success. You can make

thousands of dollars a week from your own home without having to invest that much

capital in the business start-up.

 

BEING YOUR OWN BOSS

 

Most Americans dream of being their own boss. This is true for many reasons.

First, America has that kind of promise. If you play by the rules, there is virtually nothing

you can’t accomplish. Just ask any number of Korean and Vietnamese immigrants who

fled their countries to come here and start up their own businesses. They are truly a late

20th Century success story in this country.

Second, it’s not often that much fun working for someone else. There are plenty

of rules to follow. There are specific hours to be in the office. There are specific sales

goals that must be met. And on and on. Your own business isn’t going to be a vacation,

but when you go in early and stay late, you’re doing it for you; not the person who signs

your paycheck.

Third, the control of running your own business is both exciting and, at times,

overwhelming. Responsibility is at your feet. There is no one to pass the blame off to, but

small business owners wouldn’t have it any other way. They take a chance every day by

running their own shop. Yet many wouldn’t trade it for working for someone else again if

they can possibly help it. The risks are great, but the rewards can be greater.

There are many sad stories around this country about people who dreamed big,

who had a good idea, but who couldn’t summon up the courage to take it any further than

their own thoughts. Afraid to take a chance, they passed up the risks and the rewards of

striking out on their own. At the end of their lives is always that doubt, always that

wonder, always that speculation, about what their lives would have been like if they’d only

taken that one chance.

The independence that comes with being your own boss also calls for a rigid

discipline on your part. Because you are the one setting your own hours, there is no one

to tell you what time to start, what time to knock off, what time to take lunch, how much

work must be accomplished each and every day. This is the drill you must teach yourself.

You have to set your own goals and objectives, financial and otherwise. You’ll have to

analyze your market, what you will produce, how much it will cost to produce, who you

will distribute the product to and how much you will charge.

You will also know what your profit margin will be on each unit. Knowing that,

and how long it takes to produce one unit, will help you to set up your work schedule. It

might be ten to twelve hours a day to start, much longer than you worked for someone

else. But instead of a paycheck equal to a small portion of the profit, you’ll keep the

entire profit margin for yourself. It’s a whole new world!

 

THE CONTINGENT WORKFORCE

 

Layoffs at big business has become a way of life. Companies are constantly

undergoing a reshuffling of the players and the companies under their umbrella. The

information age produces instant results data, the analysis of which can be accomplished

quickly. Once digested, companies make moves much earlier than the past. Products

evolve so much faster today and the improvement in technology can mean the need for

less human involvement.

But technology has a bright side. Computers, fax machines, modems and

telephone answering machines have evolved to reasonably priced equipment which, when

set up in your own home, can make you an instant player in whatever field you choose to

work. The future of America may well be in people working at home and communicating

with each other through increasingly sophisticated equipment.

Let’s say you work for ABC Company, a large firm that is undergoing its ninth

rightsizing move of the year. This time around you get the pink slip. Services no longer

needed at the end of the month. Here’s two months severance pay. See you later. It’s

been a great ten years.

This is not uncommon today. There have been thousands of layoffs at the Fortune

500 level in the last decade. But unemployment has not changed that dramatically!

Why? Where are these people going? Why aren’t more of them filing unemployment

claims, especially as Congress made several efforts to extend benefits to the unemployed?

Some of these people were able to find full-time work relatively quickly. Still

others took the severance package and simply retired, being eligible (or close to it) for

Social Security and perhaps a pension benefit. Many of these individuals became a part of

what has come to be called the contingent workforce.

The contingent workforce consists of temporary, part-time, contract and leased

employees along with people who simply decided the time was never better to start their

own business. This is the group that doesn’t have a true employer-employee relationship,

yet are working and often making more money than their full-time labors yielded in the

past.

Not everyone likes it. But the chance to be your own boss has appealed to many

Americans, those with that true early pioneer spirit that former President Reagan spoke

so warmly about during his tenure as the nation’s Chief Executive. Armed with today’s

technology, many have set up their own businesses and gone to work -- for themselves!

They’ve established their own businesses after deciding what fields they want to go into.

It may be the field they just abruptly left -- or it may be something they’ve longed to do

for some time. Perhaps it’s a hobby they believe can make it big. Ask Mrs. Fields, whose

cookies that pleased friends and family are now being eaten in nearly every major airport

food court in the country.

Working as a contract or temporary or leased employee gives you the benefit of a

paycheck without much of the stress. You go home at the end of a day without the same

worry you carried as an employee -- unless stress is just part of your character! But this

isn’t the same as working for yourself as more and more people are finding out.

The downsizing by big business in the last few years has created the opportunity

for many to finally make the big push -- and start their own company. They are the

President! And V.P., Secretary, Treasurer and all of the other jobs to start. But there is

always light at the end of the tunnel and if you never take the chance, you could be

another of those sad stories where, in the sunset of life, you sit and wonder what might

have been ...

 

 

 

CHOOSING YOUR HOME-BASED CAREER

 

There is one thing you can count on when you begin your own business. You

won’t be bored. There are plenty of details to accomplish, a number of tasks that await

each day. You won’t find yourself looking at the clock much, that’s for sure!

What do you do? That’s easy! What ideas do you have? More importantly, what

would you like to do? What are your current interests? What hobbies do you have that

you’d like to work at more and make them pay?

Let’s say you have a vivid interest in history. You’ve spent a lot of time reading

history books. Let’s say you’ve even specialized and do most of your reading about the

American Civil War. Do you think there might be something you can do about the Civil

War?

Of course there is! If you have a computer and subscribe to the Internet, why not

try polling people via E-Mail about their interest in a Civil War newsletter that you will

publish monthly -- on line! A substantial interest will set you to coming up with a

subscription price and to begin enrolling people. If you have enough interest, this could

be your full-time job. You’ll spend the month coming up with the assorted items for the

monthly newsletter, from articles about unusual aspects of the war, to commemorations of

anniversary related events that month to news about meetings held everywhere for other

Civil War enthusiasts to book reviews of the latest volumes written. If you have an

interest in the Civil War, you’ll know that there isn’t any period of history which has

generated more interest and more books about the particulars.

But what if you’re not into computers? If it’s the Civil War you’re interested in,

contact the local universities and colleges and find out who teaches the subject on their

campus. Contact those individuals first for suggestions. It could very well be that they

long to write their own book about the Civil War, but don’t have the time during the

academic year to do the necessary research to write it on their summer break. You have

the time, though, and they may be willing to hire you as a researcher for them.

You should also buy any Civil War magazine (current issue if possible) you can lay

your hands on and turn to the classified sections of their pages. Read everything you can.

There may be direct advertisements needing help or names and companies with interests in

the Civil War whom you can contact. Find out if there are any local Civil War Roundtable

chapters in your area. Find out if there are any Sons of Confederate Veterans (or Union)

or United Daughters of the Confederacy (or Union) chapters locally. Attending those

meetings will bring you into contact with a number of like-minded individuals. Some of

these folks might pay you to write about their ancestors. Or they may know publishers

who specialize in Civil War history that would be willing to listen to an idea you had for a

book. Or you could contact some local community colleges and out together your own

course on the Civil War and get paid to teach it.

This is the kind of analysis you need to do with any of your ideas. Make lists! Put

your idea at the top and think of all the possible connections to it. Leave no idea out!

Nothing should be considered silly or off-limits! This is your business now! The most

obscure contact can yield the greatest results. Try them all!

This should also serve notice that any idea is possible for business. If it’s

something you like to do, why not try it? Many of these ideas can be followed up on your

own time even while you’re still working for someone else.

If you hate the job you’re currently in, wouldn’t it be great to work at something

you truly love? Especially if what you love has an interest for others -- enough interest to

have someone put down a few bucks for your product or service. The Civil War is a great

example. People that have an avid interest in it will shell out a few dollars to read

anything about the subject. The more they read, the more they want to know. And there

are thousands of ideas that can sustain the same kind of interest!

Securing clients for your service is the key. New subscribers to a newsletter will

more than offset the ones who, for whatever reason, don’t renew. The more new

customers you obtain, the more likely your business will experience tremendous success.

Prospecting for new clientele is an ongoing process. It never stops! Some people

may not care for that end of the business, but you’ll be different. Why? Because you’re

working in your own business, doing what you love to do in an area that you have a great

amount of knowledge and curiosity in. When you talk about it, there will be no hiding the

fact that you truly believe in your product or service. Talking about it is fun. Talking

about it is prospecting. Hence, prospecting is fun!

How do you get people to open up today when you’re in a conversation with

them? You ask them about a subject you know they like -- and then let them talk.

Prospecting in your business is going to be much like that. You’re going to feel

compelled to talk to people about a subject because it’s your favorite topic. Those that

share that interest are going to like listening -- and talking about it! They’re prospects!

They’re interested! They’re potential clients!

You may choose to advertise your product or service. This has more start-up

costs to it, depending on where you advertise. Try and be market-specific! In other

words, advertise to an audience most likely to be interested in your subject matter. For

Civil War buffs, there are plenty of magazines that you can target an audience through

successfully. Advertising the same product or service through your local newspaper at

two or three times the price makes less sense since it’s more money and not as efficient.

You can also reach an audience through some type of direct mail. This also carries

a significant expense in terms of postage costs. Thus you want to be sure that you are

reaching an audience base most likely to respond. This should be a secondary approach,

however. Reaching out via the phone lines is more cost-effective.

You can start getting news out about your product or service through your family

and friends. They can do a lot of word of mouth advertising for you. The more people

they talk to, the faster the word about your business gets around. If you are also

prospecting by calling others, even remote acquaintances, all the better. The more people

that know, the more likely you can get some referrals. This is the hardest part of the

business -- getting enough people to know about what you’re doing. But once you know

how to do it and you’ve started the machine rolling, this all becomes easier. You may end

up with more clients than you know what to do with -- a great situation to have!

There are a number of resources out there for you to review and contact as you

get started. The advice and information you can obtain may help you to avoid some of

The more common mistakes. Every connection you make might lead you to a nest of

prospects. Many of the organizations listed here can help you focus in on the right

direction and save you time and money pursuing people who have no interest in what

you’re doing.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO GET STARTED

 

Publications:

 

Working From Home, by Paul & Sarah Edwards (Jeremy P. Tarcher, publisher,

1994)

Making Money With Your Computer At Home, by Paul & Sarah Edwards (Jeremy

P. Tarcher/Perigee, publisher, 1993)

The Work-At-Home Sourcebook, by Lynie Arden (Live Oak Publications,

publisher, 1994)

Homemade Money, by Barbara Brabec (Betterway Books, publisher, 1994)

Retired? Get Back In The Game! by Jack & Elaine Wyman (Doer Publications,

1994)

How To Make Money With Your PC! A Guide To Starting and Running

Successful PC-Based Businesses, by Lynn Walford (Ten Speed Press, 1994)

How To Succeed As An Independent Consultant, by Herman Holtz (Wiley &

Sons, publisher, 1993)

Newsletter: Barbara Brabec’s Self-Employment Survival Letter, bimonthly

newsletter, $29/year, P.O. Box 2137, Naperville, IL. 60567

Newsletter: ReCareering Newsletter, monthly, $55/year, Publications Plus, 801

Skokie Blvd., Suite 221, Northbrook, IL. 60062

Audio Tapes: How To Make Money Doing Research With Your Computer, by

Sue Rugge, contact: Here’s How, 2607 Second St., Suite 3, Santa Monica, CA. 90405

 

Audio Tapes: How To Publish A Profitable Newsletter: The Reasons and A

Roadmap for Getting Into Newsletter Publishing with your Computer, by J. Norman

Goode, contact: Here’s How, 2607 Second Street, Suite 3, Santa Monica, CA. 90405

 

 

 

 

Organizations and Associations:

 

Home-Based Business Tips [ includes a free start-up guide ]

Contact: Answer Desk

U.S. Small Business Administration

409 Third Street, SW

Washington, D.C. 20416

1-800-827-5722

Home-Based Manufacturing Operations

Wage and Hour Division

Employment Standards Administration

U.S. Department of Labor

200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S3516

Washington, D.C. 20210

(202) 219-7043

American Association of Professional Consultants

9140 Ward Parkway

Kansas City, MO. 64114

(603) 623-5378

American Federation of Small Business

407 S. Dearborn Street

Chicago, IL. 60608

(312) 427-0207

American Home Business Association

397 Post Road

Darien, CT. 06820

(800) 433-6361

American Home Sewing Association

1375 Broadway 4th Floor

New York, NY 10018

(212) 302-2150

The American Society of Interior Designers

1430 Broadway

New York, NY 10018

(212) 944-9220

 

 

Association of Desk-Top Publishers (AD-TP)

Box 881667

San Diego, CA. 92108-0034

Association of Electronic Cottagers (accessible on-line through the Working

from Home Forum)

CompuServe Information Service

5000 Arlington Centre Boulevard

Columbus, OH. 45220

(800) 898-8990

Chartered Designers Of America, Inc.

P.O. Box 348

Elmwood Park, N.J. 07407

(201) 794-1133 or (201) 797-0657

Family Firm Institute

P.O. Box 476

Johnstown, NY 12095

(518) 762-3853

International Association of Independent Publishers

P.O. Box 703

San Francisco, CA. 94101

(415) 922-9490

International Information/Word Processing Association

1015 N. York Road

Willow Grove, PA. 19090

(215) 657-6300

Mothers Home Business Network

P.O. Box 423

East Meadow, NY 11554

(516) 997-7394

National Association for the Cottage Industry

P.O. Box 14460

Chicago, IL. 60614

(312) 472-8116

 

 

 

 

National Association of Desktop Publishers (NADTP)

P.O. Box 508

Kenmore Station

Boston, MA. 02215

(617) 437-6472

National Association of Entrepreneurial Couples

P.O. Box 700

Aptos, CA. 95001-0700

National Association for the Self-Employed

2324 Gravel Road

Ft. Worth, TX. 76118

(817) 589-2475

National Association of Women Business Owners

600 S. Federal Street Suite 400

Chicago, IL. 60605

National Computer Graphics Association

2722 Merilee Drive Suite 200

Fairfax, VA. 22031

(703) 698-9600

Newsletter Association

1410 Wilson Blvd. Suite 403

Arlington, VA. 22209

(703) 527-2333

Support Services Alliance

P.O. Box 130

Schocharie, NY 12157

(212) 398-7800

 

 

HOME BASED OPPORTUNITIES

 

There are a few businesses that you can get up and running quickly if time is of the

essence. If you’ve just lost a job or you can’t take the one you have much longer, here are

a couple of fast start ideas.

1. Private Tutor. To start this business, you would have to be qualified in at least

one academic subject, have some teaching skills and experience (being a training instructor

could qualify). The subjects usually needing tutoring help are math, foreign language and

any of the sciences. It’s less demanding than full-time teaching and you don’t have to put

up with the bureaucracy. It will undoubtedly be evening and (perhaps) weekend work, but

you can charge anywhere from $25 to $75 per hour depending on the subject.

2. Errand runner/driver. Many businesses today are in need of a runner to bring

material around from place to place. A company who does a lot of printing may need

constant business to printer assistance. As long as you have your own car and are a safe

driver, you’re in business. You don’t need to learn anything about computers, either.

you’re simply in business. You will likely always be on call during the week (maybe

Saturdays) and if you don’t like traffic, this could be a problem. You should be able to

canvass local businesses for work and be paid upwards of $10 per hour. Your auto

insurance agent should be informed of the new use for your car.

3. Computer services for small businesses. You’ll need a computer, laser or

bubblejet printer and a fax machine to offer these services, but many small businesses need

the assistance. It might be in copywriting, mailing programs, newsletters or maintaining a

billing follow-up database. You can charge from $20 per hour and up depending on the

work. It’s easy to get going since you’ve already got the computer in your home.

Canvass businesses locally for work after you’ve devised an attractive flyer listing and

selling your services.

There are other jobs that may require more set-up, but can fantastic money-making

opportunities. Among these are:

1. Tax preparer/bookkeeping services. Being computer literate will help you

handle several dozen clients all at once. You may need some training if you are not a

CPA, but software programs today make it easier to walk through even the most complex

tax situations. You will be overwhelmed during the tax season of January to April, but

you can charge from $25 to $50 per hour and make enough during the first four months of

the year to almost get you through the remaining months.

 

 

2. Specialty grower. Let’s say you have some land and you love to garden. You

enjoy working outdoors and are tired of working inside a building for a living. Why not

become a specialty grower? Gourmet stores all over the country are looking for the

unusual in the way of plants and edible flowers. Herbs are also popular. You can even

sell the crops you grow at the local farmer’s market on Saturday mornings. If you already

have the land and the desire to do this, why wait. Start it part-time if you want, but you

may find dozens of outlets for your goods if they are up to the test. The risk is bad

weather naturally, but it’s a chance worth taking if you love gardening.

3. Cleaning services. You’ll need lots of supplies for this, but commercial building

maintenance people are often on the lookout for good help in this area. You’ll need a lot

of cleaning supplies, but if you can handle the evening hours and can find reliable

assistants, this can be a gold mine business especially if you specialize in the hard-to-do

work like swimming pools, blinds and windows. People hate to do windows. You can

charge per house or, for commercial buildings, per hour.

4. Massage therapist. If you’re good at giving massages, consider getting a

license or certification to be a massage therapist. Health clubs, running clubs, conventions

all are good candidates for your work. You can earn up to $100/hour but you have to be

in good physical condition. Arm, hands and back strength are particularly important.

Your hours are your choice!

5. Caterer. If you like to cook, consider the catering business. If you have a good

kitchen set-up and can cook large volumes well and have a few handy unusual, but tasty

recipes, you can be become a local party favorite. Repeat business is the name of this

game and you can charge per person for your catered meals or appetizers. Ethnic dishes

are the in thing for parties these days and the more diversified you are the better.

6. Computer consultant. If you are a programmer, this is certainly a job that can

lend itself to contract labor, run out of your own home. Competition is heavy, but once

you have a few clients, you will likely make an excellent living at something you’re good

at and probably enjoy. $50/hour is the low starting rate for programmers and you can

charge more based on your expertise and the problem to be solved. The more diversified

your experience, the more likely the calls coming in for your services. You will need to

stay up on current technology, but most programmers do this naturally. There are a

plethora of magazines and other publications about the latest and greatest technology.

Canvass local businesses to ascertain their computer needs. You’re only selling your

services, so the cold calling is a low pressure thing. Most businesses have some complaint

about their computer system and are looking for easy answers from someone that is local

and knows what they’re doing. Solid computer expertise is invaluable to small businesses.

7. Bed-and-breakfast accommodations. Wouldn’t it be great to operate a bed and

breakfast in the middle of a territory that attracts thousands of tourists and other travelers

each year? If you’ve a knack for hosting people on a full-time basis and have the house to

convert to a couple of extra bedrooms, you can be in business. It’s truly full-time, even

though you’re only serving breakfast. There’s laundry to do, there’s beds to be made,

bathrooms to clean and reservations to handle, but it can often be done at a leisurely pace.

Room rates are $75 per night and up, so the money can add up pretty fast. Be careful of

burnout, however, as there are no holidays from this job, unless you have another

person/couple take over for a couple of weeks.

8. Arts & Crafts. If you have a propensity for things arts and craftsy, you should

consider selling your goods for a living, part or full-time. Have you ever walked around

an art show? There are plenty of these around and you can get a booth and earn back

your expenses for the day with one sale. If you love to paint, or sculpt, or make pottery

or whatever, there is a lot of potential for you. You can also starve, too, but you don’t

start up the business thinking that. Businesses buy lots of arts and crafts each year for

their firms’ decorations or for sales contest prizes, convention awards and the like. If you

are already doing this, you probably have studio space in your house plus some supplies to

get going. Step it up to the next level!

There are many other types of home-based opportunities which may require more

specific skills, longer training or more time to get up and running. They are no less useful,

however. Here are a few ideas for you.

* Accounting/Bookkeeping

Small businesses may be especially reliant on contract help for this type of work

since many of them may not be large enough to have their own accountant and/or

bookkeeper on staff. Book resource: Establishing An Accounting Practice. Available

from: Bank of America, P.O. Box 3401, San Francisco, CA. 94137.

* Apiary

Raising bees for honey can be a part-time effort if you have an interest in this type

of activity. This is not a business for those with no experience in this area, but for those

already doing something along this line, or have a hobby for it, try ordering the book ABC

and XYZ of Bee Culture from the A.I. Root Library, current edition, Garden Way

Publishing, Charlotte, VT. 05445

* Balloon Rides

Popular in areas where the weather is nice, year-round, hot air balloon rides are

popular gifts for special occasions like a birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s Day and other

holidays. Those of you who are trained aeronauts can step into a needed void as a pilot

for this craft. You can start as a pilot, perhaps, and then accumulate capital to invest in

your own balloon. Other than advertising and the cost of the balloons and their upkeep,

little else is required except some wide open spaces.

* Beautician

This is a popular home-based business. An investment in the essential beautician

supplies and chair can get you started. There is a licensing course that varies by state. All

you need for this, other than the start-up merchandise is an extra room in the house or a

garage. If you’re working for someone now and were wondering how to break away, it

only takes a few dollars and your clientele to follow you. This happens quite frequently.

Book resource: Start and Run A Profitable Beauty Salon. Author: Paul Pogue.

Available from TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA. 17214. It’s a complete business

guide, organized for easy following of the text.

* Canning

Walk into a country restaurant like the Cracker Barrel and the first thing you

come to is a foyer/waiting area where there are a variety of goods, including a number of

specialty food items. Pickles, sauces, jellies, many of them homemade all sit waiting for a

buyer. And people will buy these specialties! Specialty coffee shops and gourmet stores

are always on the lookout for the new treat they can feature. Why not sell to these stores

if you have a talent for this kind of cooking? You can start out part-time and see how the

demand and the income goes from there. The next time you’re in a specialty food store,

ask about their distribution.

* Chair Caning

Country styles for homes are as popular as ever and the ability to cane chairs can

bring in a sizable amount of side income if you have the talent for this type of work. If

you’re already doing it as a hobby, you’ve already established the necessary work shop,

know where to get materials, etc. The only thing that remains is who to distribute to, a

decision that may involve both private and public sales. There are locals who would

certainly hire you to handle a chair or two for them personally. There are also specialty

furniture stores and outlets with whom you can also contract. You’ll have to do a little

research on it, but the possibilities are there to expand a hobby that may already give you

many hours of joy. It’s time to cash in on that and get your home-based business off the

ground!

* Cheese making

Like making jellies and pickles, the art of cheese making can also be turned into a

tidy profit center for you, distributing to some of the same chains and specialty food

stores. Cheese has been and will continue to remain a sought after food. Book resource:

Making Homemade Cheeses And Butter, by Phyllis Hobson, Garden Way Publishing,

Charlotte, VT. 05445.

* Chimney Sweeping

Woodburning stoves and fireplaces are still dominant home items and the skill of

chimney sweeping is a fine one with a number of business opportunities to choose from in

plying this trade. Very little equipment is necessary and it won’t take long, if you have the

ability and liking for physical labor, to become proficient at this work. Book resource:

Chimneys and Stove Cleaning, Garden Way Publishing, Charlotte, VT. 05445.

* Consulting

If you’ve been in a specific field for a length of time, you’ve likely built up an

arsenal of knowledge about your subject. The more you know, the more you can offer

any person or firm interested in breaking into, expanding or becoming more competent in

this area. If your name is recognized, so much the better. Consultants can earn high

hourly fees, expenses paid for. Book resource: Advice -- A High Profit Business, by

Herman Holtz, Wiley Publications, New York.

* Copy Services.

This would obviously require the purchase of a copy machine, the more versatile

the better. You’ll be surprised at the number of individual needs for this machine. At 7-

10 cents a copy, the machine would pay for itself relatively quickly. Booklets and

collating services for small businesses can be a relatively lucrative practice.

* Floral Arrangements

You don’t necessarily have to grow flowers to do this. You can purchase, make

up elaborate flower arrangements and resell them. Dried arrangements and wreaths are

popular in season. Some advertising and competitive pricing can generate a substantial

workload for you.

* Home maintenance

How many times have you heard that someone is looking for help to do a few odd

jobs around the house. Or for a painter? Or someone that can do a variety of work from

landscaping to electrical wiring? If you’re good at putting up wallpaper, laying carpet and

other assorted tasks, advertise! The more diverse the skills you publicize, the better your

chances of regular employment.

* Insurance Sales

Many people start off in this field on a part-time basis until they realize that a few

sales a week will triple and quadruple the income they’re used to making. This field is not

for everyone. It requires extraordinary discipline and a desire to succeed along with the

belief that you’re assisting people with their financial goals and objectives. But if you can

handle it, the insurance profession can be one of the most lucrative for working out of

your home. Overhead is relatively low. You can get licensed through your state’s

insurance department, located in your capitol city. It may require a certain amount of

training and definitely an exam, but once passed, you can seek out insurance companies

who would be glad to work with you. Think of what your niche market might be. Who

are your natural business associates and friends? These will be your first potential clients

and you might test them by asking their interest in having you do an analysis of their

financial goals and objectives.

* Kennel operator

If you like animals, this could be a strong home-based opportunity for you. Pets

will always need to be boarded and, although some capital will be required to set it up, it

can be a lucrative business just for doing what you love -- taking care of animals!

* Mail-order business

This is a new rage among the home-based opportunity seekers in this country.

You can start your own mail-order business quite easily and if you advertise in the right

publications, generate an ample amount of business. Book resource: How To Start and

Operate A Mail Order Business, by Julian L. Simon. Publisher: McGraw Hill, New

York, 10020.

* Meals for Handicapped

Contact your local social services for the disabled and elderly to see if there is any

openings for someone who can cook meals out of their house and deliver them. This

often involves a hot meal for lunch and a cold meal for dinner which is left with the client

at the same time. If you like to cook, this can be another outlet for your talents.

* Music

There are a number of opportunities for those with musical talent, especially

songwriting. There are plenty of great voices out there, but a dearth of good material to

sing. Some of the better artists along with the up and coming ones are always on the

lookout for new artists adept at this skill. Book resources: Making Money Making Music

(No Matter Where You Live), by James Dearing, and Song Writer’s Market- current

edition, from Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.

* Pet breeding

As long as you’re considering a kennel career opportunity, you might think about

breeding, an animal specialty that can earn you many dollars. Breeding can be by specific

request or you can simply breed to produce animals for local pet shops like hamsters, cats

and dogs. This business can be run in conjunction with the kennel. You can sell to the pet

shops or take your business directly to the public which can earn you a higher fee, since

you don’t have to pay the retailer.

* Real Estate Sales

If you like houses and don’t mind working the evening/weekend hours, this could

be a very rewarding career for you. Sales of houses can make you some large

commissions even for one house. You have to be very organized and always on the

lookout for new listings, but once you’ve sold a few houses in an area, word of mouth will

get you your next clients. The real estate market has been depressed the last few years

which creates an opportunity for those that are adept at selling homes. Sellers will tend to

migrate towards the successful Realtor. There is a licensing course involved, but you can

take this while you’re still working at your old job. Like insurance, many people start this

business part-time, until they sell their first big house and see how much money they can

make from one sale.

* Rental Property Manager

If you live in a vacation area with a number of condominium units, you will likely

see numerous advertisements for someone to manage the units for rental. There could be

some small maintenance duties required, too. But essentially you are collecting rent,

advertising for new renters and managing the properties for the owner(s). It may well

require that you live in the complex, but this can often be part of the compensation

package. What a great way to live near the beach or in some fantastic resort spot. This

can be the job for those people who have gone on vacation and wished they didn’t have to

go back to real life.

* Repair of Equipment

Every home is equipped today with all the modern conveniences: television, VCR,

stereo, refrigerator, microwave, stove, dishwasher, etc. All you have to do is know how

to fix these pieces of equipment and you’ll have a new home-based business. This might

be combined with the general all around maintenance business opportunity mentioned

earlier. A skilled repair person is difficult to find as is the general odd-job fix-it-up person.

If you have any talent in these areas, there are plenty of local options for you to attract

business. People can’t do for long without their conveniences and the demand will be

there for the work. Consumers will bring the appliance into the repair shop, but in this age

of handiness, would rather have someone come out and repair it -- it’s easier!

* Secretarial Services

Small businesses can be counted on to look for help on a contract basis from

someone with specific secretarial skills. A physician’s office may be looking for a medical

records person or an insurance billing clerk on an independent basis. The entire medical

field, in its movement towards managed care, is looking for simplified answers to common

administration tasks. This isn’t the only industry utilizing outside secretarial services. If

you have the skills and the small capital needed for the basic equipment, you’re in

business! Book resource: Starting Your Own Secretarial Business, by Betty Loogren and

Gloria Shoff. Published by: Contemporary Books, Chicago, IL. 60601

* Sharpening Services

In many hardware, sewing and fabric stores, you may notice an advertisement for

sharpening services. Scissors and other craft tools can be sharpened less expensively than

purchasing a new one. Often these businesses contract out the labor for the service. If

you know how to sharpen these types of objects, perhaps even doing it for yourself as you

knit or make crafts, then you can turn this into a lucrative side business. All you’ll do is

call on your store clients once or twice a week and pick up new work and drop off

completed jobs. It’s an unusual, but needed usefulness.

* Sign Design & Painting

Every where you look across this great country, you’ll find -- signs! Homes,

businesses and individuals are all sign candidates. Advertising for and specializing in all

type of sings, banners and, if you learn it, even billboards, can create a substantial side

business which will grow into full-time, profitable work for you.

* Telephone Answering Service

Many small businesses are one or two person shops who have no one but an

answering machine to pick up calls should they have to leave the premises. There is a

great amount of business lost as a result; business which can cost the firm thousands of

dollars as someone hangs up when they can’t reach a human voice and dials another

number where they can. As an answering service, you can be that human voice at the

other end. Even if you are just taking the message, people have confidence when they can

talk to a person in a service-oriented business. If you can add a couple of lines to your

existing home phone system, you’re in business. A few clients and you’ll be taking

messages generally just during the day. There are organizations who look for answering

services to be on later call for product ordering and similar tasks. This can be a very

profitable venture -- just for talking on the phone!

* Writer

There are a number of chances to obtain work doing copywriting. The written

word is still very much in demand and you can attract a substantial amount of business in

this area from smaller firms -- even just for their basic correspondence. Distressingly,

people don’t possess the same writing skills as they did en masse a few years ago and

hence could use the assistance. The better a letter or document or brochure is crafted, the

more likely the business will do well. This means work for writers in all phases of

industry. A computer at home can be all the overhead you’ll need.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Home-based businesses are the chances of a lifetime for many of us. It’s the

opportunity to be your own boss. This is not work without risk. Knowledge of how to

run a business is critical. For that reason, consider contacting one of these Small Business

Development Centers for help in breaking out on your own -- and the information every

employer needed to know. That’s right! You’re a bona-fide employer now!

Dallas: 8625 King George Drive, Dallas, TX. 75235-3391 (214) 767-7633

Kansas City: 911 Walnut Street, 13th Floor, Kansas City, MO. 64106 (816) 426-

3608

Denver: 999 18th Street, Suite 701, Denver, CO. 80202 (303) 294-7186

San Francisco: 71 Stevenson St. San Francisco, CA. 94105 (415) 744-6402

Seattle: 2615 4th Avenue, Rm. 440, Seattle, WA. 98121 (206) 553-5676

Boston: 155 Federal Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA. 02110 (617) 451-2023

New York: 26 Federal Plaza, Rm. 31-08, New York, NY 10278 (212) 264-1450

Pennsylvania: 475 Allendale Rd. #201, King of Prussia, PA. 19406 (215) 962-

3700

Atlanta: 1375 Peachtree St. NE, 5th Floor, Atlanta, GA. 30367 (404) 347-2797

Chicago: 300 S. Riverside Plaza Suite 1975 South, Chicago, IL. 60606 (312)

353-5000

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