5 Businesses for People Who Want to Work at Home
by Clare Kaufman, VendorSeek.com
What's your favorite thing to wear? Chances are you didn't say pantyhose or a tie. Whether it's flip-flops and shorts, pajamas and bunny slippers, or just a pair of comfy sweats, it's probably not something you can wear to work on a daily basis.
As Internet commerce continues to take on steam, more people are seizing on the opportunity to work at home. And we're not talking about those envelope-stuffing work-from-home schemes. Take a look at these real, legitimate home businesses -- that just happen to let you work in any outfit you want:
1. Virtual Call Center. With the advances in Internet-based telecommunications technology, it's no longer necessary for companies to maintain their call center on-premises. Phone systems can span multiple office sites while still presenting a uniform face to the customer. This opens vast opportunities for outsourcing business processes such as customer support.
Here's where you come in. With a state-of-the-art IP phone system, you can arrange to provide call center services from your home office. Equipment leasing services can help you build the network infrastructure to get your call center business off the ground.
2. E-Retailing. Who needs a business location when you have the Internet? The ultimate low-overhead storefront, the Internet gives you access to a world of potential customers. Stay-at-home parents with something to sell can have an online store up and running in as little time as it takes to develop a website.
Developing a commercial website can seem overwhelming at first. Unlike a personal Web page, an e-commerce storefront needs to have search, shopping cart, payment, and customer information functions in place. Fortunately, home business entrepreneurs can partner with third-party service providers for the full range of e-commerce solutions, including:
* online marketing services such as search engine optimization and paid placement
* professional Web design to customize your storefront
* credit card processing
* product search
* order management
* shopping cart checkout
* customer information tracking
* security features
3. Freelance Web Design. Home-based creative types can put their design skills to work running a freelance Web design business. Web designers develop sites for businesses and individuals, putting their imagination and programming skills to work to realize their client's vision.
How to get started? It helps to know your way around HTML and Flash, but people skills are just as important to the success of your home venture. An informal survey conducted by About.com found that freelance developers rely on networking to support their business: "Every developer stated that word of mouth is one of the best promotion methods." It's critical to get the word out about your service. In addition to developing your own website, you can reach out to customers through Web advertising and printed promotional materials.
4. Massage Therapy. An interest in preventative health care and an aging population are creating unprecedented demand for massage therapists. The Department of Labor expects the field to grow 20% through 2016. This is an ideal job for stay-at-home moms and dads. First, many massage therapists maintain a massage studio in their own home, eliminating the need to travel to the client. But perhaps more important, massage therapists typically spend a fraction of their time giving massages. Given the physical intensity of the job, most massage therapists do no more than two or three hours of massages per workday. Most therapists -- 62% -- work part time or maintain variable schedules.
Besides learning the craft of massage therapy, freelance therapists are also responsible for business functions such as billing, credit-card processing, and bookkeeping. Fortunately, these nuts-and-bolts activities can be outsourced to a business process service provider. Look for providers that specialize in small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and home business support, such as startup consulting services.
5. Freelance Technical Writing. A word processing application and Internet access is all it takes to launch a business as a freelance technical writer. Technical writers translate scientific and technical information for the general public, preparing product documentation, project proposals, and more. Telecommuting is common in this profession, making it a natural choice for any mom or dad who can write. As you establish a reputation in the field and gather more assignments, you can grow your business by subcontracting work to other freelancers. Subcontracting adds another layer of complexity to running your home business. A consulting service can help navigate your business expansion, helping you write a business plan and execute a long-term growth strategy.
Telecommuting and "homesourcing" are already standard features of today's economy, as businesses recognize the value of a distributed workforce. But to truly bring a full-time income home with you, start your own home business. Being your own boss not only lets you reap the rewards of your hard work directly, but also gives you the freedom to manage your own schedule. As one happy home(business)maker puts it: "While being an Internet entrepreneur is challenging and a lot of hard work, it is worth it. I get to walk my kids to school and work next to my fireplace in the winter & next to open French doors in the summer." Hearth and home and a solid paycheck -- that's the best of both worlds.
Clare Kaufman is a freelance writer who covers education and career-related topics. She has a graduate degree in English.
by Clare Kaufman, VendorSeek.com
What's your favorite thing to wear? Chances are you didn't say pantyhose or a tie. Whether it's flip-flops and shorts, pajamas and bunny slippers, or just a pair of comfy sweats, it's probably not something you can wear to work on a daily basis.
As Internet commerce continues to take on steam, more people are seizing on the opportunity to work at home. And we're not talking about those envelope-stuffing work-from-home schemes. Take a look at these real, legitimate home businesses -- that just happen to let you work in any outfit you want:
1. Virtual Call Center. With the advances in Internet-based telecommunications technology, it's no longer necessary for companies to maintain their call center on-premises. Phone systems can span multiple office sites while still presenting a uniform face to the customer. This opens vast opportunities for outsourcing business processes such as customer support.
Here's where you come in. With a state-of-the-art IP phone system, you can arrange to provide call center services from your home office. Equipment leasing services can help you build the network infrastructure to get your call center business off the ground.
2. E-Retailing. Who needs a business location when you have the Internet? The ultimate low-overhead storefront, the Internet gives you access to a world of potential customers. Stay-at-home parents with something to sell can have an online store up and running in as little time as it takes to develop a website.
Developing a commercial website can seem overwhelming at first. Unlike a personal Web page, an e-commerce storefront needs to have search, shopping cart, payment, and customer information functions in place. Fortunately, home business entrepreneurs can partner with third-party service providers for the full range of e-commerce solutions, including:
* online marketing services such as search engine optimization and paid placement
* professional Web design to customize your storefront
* credit card processing
* product search
* order management
* shopping cart checkout
* customer information tracking
* security features
3. Freelance Web Design. Home-based creative types can put their design skills to work running a freelance Web design business. Web designers develop sites for businesses and individuals, putting their imagination and programming skills to work to realize their client's vision.
How to get started? It helps to know your way around HTML and Flash, but people skills are just as important to the success of your home venture. An informal survey conducted by About.com found that freelance developers rely on networking to support their business: "Every developer stated that word of mouth is one of the best promotion methods." It's critical to get the word out about your service. In addition to developing your own website, you can reach out to customers through Web advertising and printed promotional materials.
4. Massage Therapy. An interest in preventative health care and an aging population are creating unprecedented demand for massage therapists. The Department of Labor expects the field to grow 20% through 2016. This is an ideal job for stay-at-home moms and dads. First, many massage therapists maintain a massage studio in their own home, eliminating the need to travel to the client. But perhaps more important, massage therapists typically spend a fraction of their time giving massages. Given the physical intensity of the job, most massage therapists do no more than two or three hours of massages per workday. Most therapists -- 62% -- work part time or maintain variable schedules.
Besides learning the craft of massage therapy, freelance therapists are also responsible for business functions such as billing, credit-card processing, and bookkeeping. Fortunately, these nuts-and-bolts activities can be outsourced to a business process service provider. Look for providers that specialize in small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and home business support, such as startup consulting services.
5. Freelance Technical Writing. A word processing application and Internet access is all it takes to launch a business as a freelance technical writer. Technical writers translate scientific and technical information for the general public, preparing product documentation, project proposals, and more. Telecommuting is common in this profession, making it a natural choice for any mom or dad who can write. As you establish a reputation in the field and gather more assignments, you can grow your business by subcontracting work to other freelancers. Subcontracting adds another layer of complexity to running your home business. A consulting service can help navigate your business expansion, helping you write a business plan and execute a long-term growth strategy.
Telecommuting and "homesourcing" are already standard features of today's economy, as businesses recognize the value of a distributed workforce. But to truly bring a full-time income home with you, start your own home business. Being your own boss not only lets you reap the rewards of your hard work directly, but also gives you the freedom to manage your own schedule. As one happy home(business)maker puts it: "While being an Internet entrepreneur is challenging and a lot of hard work, it is worth it. I get to walk my kids to school and work next to my fireplace in the winter & next to open French doors in the summer." Hearth and home and a solid paycheck -- that's the best of both worlds.
Clare Kaufman is a freelance writer who covers education and career-related topics. She has a graduate degree in English.
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