Run these Businesses from your home

If you want to work for yourself or want more time to spend with your family, starting a home-based business might be the perfect solution. From selling handcrafted goods to online blogging, there are many options when it comes to starting your own business without a ton of money or a ton of space. Check out a few of the home-based business you could have up and running in no time.

Artisan

If you enjoy making crafts such as jewelry, home decor or pottery, consider starting a small business selling your creations through an online marketplace like etsy.com. Create the items that you would like to sell and take photos of each piece. Then list the items on the website and pay a small fee for each item listed. Shoppers find your item on the

website, send you payments and you ship the items directly to the customers. It’s a great way to put your creativity to work as your own small business.

Blogger

Successful bloggers can earn a full-time income through online posts, articles and regular columns. You can start your own blog through websites like blogger.com or tumblr.com. Find an area of expertise or a topic that you are passionate about and start writing about the latest news and share tips or insight in field. Sign up for a “pay-per-click” account by visiting a site such as Google Adsense, which puts advertisements on your blog. The more visitors to your site, the more opportunity to make money when visitors click on one of these ads.

Customer support

Many companies outsource their in-bound customer service phone calls to work-from-home employees. Take phone calls directly from customers who have questions or need assistance in purchasing items. The requirements are that you must have customer service experience, a landline and internet access. Many companies such as Alpine hire virtual customer service agents who work out of their homes.

Book keeper

If you are good with numbers and find yourself always helping out friends during tax season, put your skills to work. By starting your own book keeping business, you can sell your own services to individuals and small businesses while working from home. You will need accounting software and a reliable computer. Attract new clients by posting flyers and sending out mailings to other small businesses in your area.

Tutor

If you enjoy teaching, start you own home-based business tutoring students in your area of expertise. You can tutor students at their homes, in your home or at a library. Contact community groups and local schools to see how you can work with students who could use extra academic support. You can also join a online network and tutor students virtually, over the internet.

Translator

If you speak more than one language fluently, become a freelance translator. Many companies need paperwork and documents translated by fluent or native language speakers. Find freelance translating work through Welocalize.com or sdl.com. You will need to pass a language fluency test and have good grammar and punctuation.

Start your own ebay store

If you enjoy finding great deals at consignment shops and consignment auctions, start your own eBay store. Turn these good deals around and make a nice profit by selling these products to online buyers. You can list items in auctions, at a fixed price or in inventory format. Your items will appear in eBay search results when buyers type in search terms matching the description of your goods. Payments are processed through PayPal and you ship the items directly to customers.

Marketing consultancy

If you have served for several years in a particular industry, and have acquired the know-how that it takes to become an expert in the field, why not consider the role of a marketing consultant? You could start your business by offering your services to known customers, and expand the base as the business grows.

Photography

If photography has been an interest area all your life, why not turn this hobby into a business? All you need is the right equipment and the right digital tools to set ball rolling. What’s more, you could even opt for video photography to enhance the scope of work.

Real estate

Property rates rising and falling make many consumers seek the advice and assistance of brokers or agents. If you have an interest in the field, you could take up real estate consultancy or brokering as an option to set up your business from home.

Automotive parts

So, are you a car enthusiast and never imagined that you could turn your passion into a business idea? Well, here it is. You can tie up with manufacturers of parts and build a client base that requires them, but does not know how to contact the makers directly.

Wedding planning

While considered a female domain, scope for men to enter the industry is enormous too. However, you need to have the knack and organisational skills required for this job. You also need to have a good relationship with caterers, interior decorators, florists, hotels and various other service providers.

Food catering

Did you think that cooking was just something that a homemaker had to do? Wrong! You can make a profession out of it, too! And that too right from your own home! All it requires is acquiring the right resources, gauging the tastes of your potential clientele, and of course, being a food-lover!

Gardening

Now this does not mean you mow the lawns and water the plants in the houses of other people. This implies establishing your own set-up or nursery, wherein you can not only house plants and flowers of all kinds, but also provide equipment, training and consultancy to avid garden-growers.

Pet care

Animal lovers need not fret, for there are various options for them to start a business from home too. You could associate with a veterinarian hospital to know what products to purchase and hire one or two young helpers who love animals too.

Starting your own business, that too from home, may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, cautious planning can help you turn a venture into a huge success. Make sure you know what your area of interest is!

Sources: ehow.com; in.lifestyle.yahoo.com