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A few weeks ago we had an article about business ideas that you can do from home. Today we are going to talk about 7 more business ideas.

One thing to keep in mind about starting your own business is that the rules of starting any business apply. Whether your business is big or small the same advice applies to them all. Be prepared for the beginning to be slow and more cash going out than coming in. Most businesses do not become profitable for the first three to five years. And be patient. The reason most businesses fail in the first year is because the owner quits.

Here are 7 fresh ideas:

1)Freelance Writer. This is one of the ways that I make my living. I have always enjoyed writing and now it helps to pay the bills. There are many avenues that you can explore for writing. Copywriting, flyers, press releases, blogging and letters are all necessary items for many businesses. You can offer your expertise to help them get it done. Advertise locally or bid on jobs at Elance in order to get started. Every little job will help you to build a portfolio.

2)Custom children’s room murals and furniture. If you have any artistic ability with a paintbrush, then this could be your chance to use your creative side. Jungle scenes, farm scenes, underwater scenes, and character murals are all very popular choices for nurseries and children’s rooms. Painting children’s furniture with different themes is also very popular. I have seen toy boxes and child sized tables and chairs adorned with airplanes, giraffes, and unicorns. Advertise at local childbirth classes and boutique shops in your area.

3)Cloth diaper maker. Cloth diapers are hot and definitely on the upswing. Everyone is going green these days with concerns about the environment and our limited landfill space. Cloth diapers have undergone a major update and are no longer about flats and pins. Snaps, Velcro, and new waterproof fabrics have made cloth diapers convenient and cute. If you are an experienced sewer or willing to learn you could start a cloth diaper making business out of your home. You can create your own pattern or purchase one from a designer that allows you to purchase a cottage industry license.

4)Personalized Clothing Labels. If you have a child in school, then you most likely have clothes, jackets, shoes, bags, and water bottles all labeled with their name on it. This is a requirement in most daycares as well. Most parents do not want to spend hours writing down their child’s name with a permanent marker on everything they own. Personalized labels that will withstand washing will definitely appeal to them. You will need a good quality printer and labels that can withstand multiple runs through the washer and dryer for this business. Advertise at local schools and daycares with a discount or free labels to get your business up and running.

5)Errand Service. I talked a while back about having to learn to say no when people asked me to run their errands for them. If people are constantly asking you for help during the day while they are at work, you may want to think about turning it into a business. People are busy and many would be willing to have someone buy their groceries, pick up their dry cleaning, take packages to the post office, and more. Most won’t mind that you bring your child to work with you as you will be taking care of things behind the scenes for them. You could also help to remind them of any special occasions coming up such as birthdays and anniversaries and purchase the perfect present.

6)Personal Chef. If you love to cook or have experience as a professional chef, this may be the perfect business for you. Businesses where you can go and prepare two weeks’ worth of meals to place in your freezer are popping up everywhere right now. That still means someone has to make the time in order to go there and prepare the meals. Take the concept one step further and offer to shop, prepare, freeze, and clean up for your clients too. You will prepare meals in the client’s kitchen and use their pots, pans, and containers. You will need a good concept of menu planning and be flexible in order to accommodate any special requests (i.e. vegetarian, heart healthy, etc.).

7)Book Indexer. If you have an eye for detail then this may be the business for you. Most books contain an index which allows you to quickly and efficiently find information. The job of creating the index often falls on freelancers. You can read more about indexing on Wikipedia and the American Society for Indexing websites.

Do any of these work at home businesses interest you? I would love to hear if you have researched or started any of these businesses.

Warmly,
Mia