HOW TO MAKE MONEY
WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOUSE !!!
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
22