When people learn that I work from home many times they ask what I do. Then they ask how they can work from home too. Finding a telecommuting job can be very difficult. Most people go the route of starting their own business.

Becoming a sales consultant for a direct marketing company is always a possibility. Some people are drawn to the idea of starting their own business though. There are so many options out there that it can seem a bit overwhelming. Here are seven ideas to get you started.

1)Candle making. I don’t know many women who do not like candles. In fact some of my friends always have a candle burning whenever I visit their home. Yes you will need to learn about the different methods for making candles and choose what type of wax you want to use, but this could be a fun business. You will need to be willing to sell at craft shows and to family and friends because the lure of a candle is in its scent. While you certainly could sell them online, most people like to smell a candle before purchasing.

2)Dog Waste Removal. This is a smelly one but will get you outdoors. It is also a much needed service that most people dread doing themselves. I have noticed a few businesses starting to advertise for a dog poop clean-up service in my area. They charge by the week and per dog. The can even be a seasonal boom when spring rolls around and people want a onetime pick up after winter.

3)Dog Walker. People love their pets and are willing to spend money on them. For those dog owners who work long hours, they may feel guilty that their pet is cooped up at home all day. Having someone come over once a day to take their dog for a walk may help them feel better. You definitely have to be a dog person for this one, plus you will have to decide if a dog is a good fit for you or not. This may be a difficult job to handle if you have small children to take care of.

4)Virtual Assistant. Many people that run their own businesses often do not have time to take care of mundane tasks such as answering emails, editing, proofreading, letter writing, and customer service. You can offer your services on an as needed basis or offer a monthly service where you are responsible for so many hours of work. This can be a great job for someone with children at home during the day unless you need to handle telephone calls.

5)Tutor. Perhaps you were a math or history major in college. You may find tutoring school children or even college students a great way to use your degree. Tutoring is a generally a long term arrangement, so you could get by with having just a few clients every school year. You can charge for your services per hour or for X amount of sessions. Charging for tutoring in advance will keep no shows to a minimum.

6)Garage Sales. There are a few ways to make garage sales a profit maker. You could host one yourself, but it would only be a onetime money maker. Two ways to keep the profits coming in would as a reseller or as an organizer. For the first one you would spend your time searching for good deals at garage sales and then reselling the items on EBay. You would have to know what things are worth and it could mean a lot of time driving around in the car to go from sale to sale. You would then need to spend time cataloguing, listing, and shipping items. The other idea is to organize garage sales for other people. You would be responsible for set up, pricing, making sales, and attending the sale for the time it is open. Many people want to have a garage sale to help get rid of clutter and make extra money, but do not want to do the work themselves. You would make a percentage of the sales.

7)Resume Writer. On average people tend to stay at a job for years. If they find themselves looking for a new job, they will need a great resume. Writing a resume is not a skill that most people possess. You can help people that are searching for a new job with this vital service. You could do just their resume or offer a cover letter writing service as well. This would have to be customized for each job applied to, so it could keep you very busy depending on how many jobs they apply to.

Is your work at home business any of the above ideas? Please share what you love about your business.

Warmly,
Mia