THE TOP 10 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY AT HOME
1. ANTIQUES
The buying and selling of antiques has been and should continue to be a very productive business, financially, for those who do it. Here, you only need an extra room in the house, or the use of your garage -- and you have an office!
For more information, check out the book, "Buying and Selling Antiques", by Don Cline and Sara Pitzer. Your local library may be filled with other publications on this subject which can get you started quickly. Your only overhead may be inventory and advertising!
2. BAKING
Have you ever been told that you have a recipe which people would line up to get if they could? Have you ever had anyone tell Error! Reference source not found. you that you should be selling those cupcakes you make? There are a number of success stories about people who have launched successful businesses by cooking at home and then marketing to local people first. Word of mouth on a good product may start to get restaurants or bakeries interested in acquiring your culinary masterpieces. Then you progress to selling them state-wide and presto! A winning home-based business!
3. BED AND BREAKFAST PROPRIETOR(S)
Have you ever stayed in a bed and breakfast and thought, "Hey, I can do this!" You probably went on vacation and simply chalked your thought up as one of those pipe dreams people get when they stay in a beautiful spot.
Whatever your design, there are several good books on the subject of starting your own bed and breakfast, including "Start Your Own Bed and Breakfast", by Beverly Mathews. Your local library should have a nice variety of such books to choose from.
4. CHILD CARE
Due to the financial pressures many families face today, many parents work outside of the home to bring in enough income to pay daily living expenses. A single parent is obviously working, but all too often both members of a two-parent family are in the workforce.
5. COMPUTER SPECIALIST
The advent of the computer age has changed the concept of self-employment. Having a computer at home has opened a number of opportunities for running your own business by utilizing this equipment. Companies everywhere are "outsourcing" work that can be done by someone else on their computer, out of their own home.
There are a substantial number of good publications on this subject, also. Your local library will have several books on computer occupations. If you can operate a computer, you can find work in the information age today.
6. GARDENING
If you like working in your garden each year and growing vegetables for your family to eat, it's a definite possibility for home-based employment. Imagine clearing a little more space and growing more items that you can sell directly to the consumer.
For more information, consult books like "Plants for Profit," and "A Complete Guide to Growing & Selling Greenhouse Crops", by Francis Jozwik.
7. IMPORTER AND DISTRIBUTOR
There are a substantial number of products manufactured in other countries which can be bought inexpensively and sold here in the United States at a profitable level. The recent passages of the Congressional bills, NAFTA and GATT, may make it easier to bring in other products from other countries.
You can also look at books in your library such as "How To Make A Fortune In Import/Export", by Howard R. Goldsmith, obviously an optimistic look at this type of business.
8. INTERIOR DECORATOR
While this business will require you to be out and about, meeting with customers, it's the type of work many people would love to do. If you have a fascination for decorating a home, this could be your line of work.
9. PHOTOGRAPHER
The sky's the limit here! Armed with your trusty camera and some good advertising, you can do weddings, models, family portraits, passports, student photos, local newspaper coverage-- almost anything that requires a picture!
10. SEWING & ALTERATIONS
Many people love to sew. If you're one of them, consider offering this service out of your home. When someone buys a new outfit, it rarely fits perfectly, meaning some kind of alteration must be done.
FRANCHISES
The word "franchise" is often associated, rightly or wrongly, with the term "instant wealth". There is no mystery about franchises. Many of them are legitimate opportunities to start your own business, hopefully, with the advantage of name recognition.
Good luck!
