Work at home ideas - the top ten opportunities

Seek more "work at home" opportunities online - UK - USA

It's easy to decide you want to work at home. Ideas for what exactly to do are a little harder to come by. You know you want the flexibility of working from home, and you don't want to invest a lot of money before you start, but you're not sure about the kind of work that will suit you. This page lists our top ten work at home ideas to give you some inspiration.

Making greetings cards

If crafts are your hobby, make them into your job. Hand-made greetings cards can earn you a lot of money if they're well made. Think quality and individuality.

Market research

Companies often outsource their market research to home-workers, and it's a good option if you enjoy talking to people. You'll need a bubbly personality and a landline telephone.

Telemarketing

This is a little tougher than market research, so you'll need to be persistent and confident as well as talkative.

Audio typing

If you already have audio typing skills, you may be able to find work doing it at home. Most legitimate companies require you to have a typing speed of 60wpm or above, and some will also require you to have shorthand. Rates of pay vary, but you will earn the higher rates if you have specialist legal or medical secretary experience.

Pet-sitting

Some animals need a lot of exercise; some just need a lot of company. There are so many reasons, from work commitments to illness, why not all pet owners can give their animals the care they need, and a pet-sitting service can be a lifeline for these people. However, don't even think about it unless you're an animal-lover.

Baby-sitting

Good, reliable childcare is hard to find, as any working mother will tell you. If you provide a good service at a reasonable price, you should get plenty of business. Look into the legal side of things before you set up as a babysitter - you will need to be licensed by your state or county childcare agency. You will also have to undergo background checks from the state law enforcement agency, and so will all the other adults in your home. The National Network for Child Care is a useful resource. See www.nncc.org for information.

Virtual Assistant services

Become an online personal assistant. You do the tasks of a regular PA, such as diary management and word-processing, but it's all done remotely, through the Internet and the telephone. Virtual Assistants usually work for several different clients. Your target market consists of businesses that need a little extra help but don't have the resources to hire a full-time PA.

Selling items

Cosmetics companies such as Avon make their money from people who go from door to door, selling. Of course, it's not technically working from home, as you do have to get out there and sell the product, but you can choose your own hours. Other companies have similar networks of salespeople, so it doesn't have to be cosmetics - it could be candles, jewelry or even garden equipment. Other companies have a slightly different structure, where you invite people to your home and do the selling as part of a party. Tupperware is perhaps the most famous example of this.

Data entry

It's boring but regular work. You'll need a fast typing speed.

Translation

A great work at home idea if you're bilingual. You'll need to speak another language fluently and write idiomatic, natural-sounding translations. Most translation work is quite boring, involving business or Government documents, but it pays well.

Our work at home ideas will help you get started, but the idea is only the first step to establishing a home-based career. Browse around the rest of this section for more practical information, and make sure you read the page on spotting scams - almost all the jobs in our Top Ten have scams based around them, so make sure you know how to sift through the rip-offs and find the genuine work.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Work at Home Ideas