Is a home business right for you?
As more and more mums explore the possibilities of working from home, two of the main things to consider are…
1. How much money will you be able to make?
2. How much money will you save by working at home?
Other considerations might be.. do you need qualifications for the type of work you’ll be involved in? Are any specific skills required? Will it be necessary to leave your home to carry out certain tasks as part of the job or business?
Obviously, if you are female with children who are of pre-school age then your options may be somewhat limited. Especially if you have recently given birth and have had to give up your regular job. But the benefits of working from home can be considerable. For one thing there will be no travelling to work, so more time to get things done, and no travelling expenses. This can save you quite a bit of money and have a big impact on your finances. Also, you won’t need to pay for a babysitter or childminder if you’re always there to take care of your children. This in itself can be a major benefit.
Another plus point is that because you’ll be classed as self-employed, many of the expenses you incur from working at home, or running your business, can be claimed back in tax. So items such as office supplies and equipment, your computer and software, telephone calls relating to your business, and even a proportion of the heating and lighting bills can be claimed for.
Home based businesses
Below is a list of business ideas that may help you decide what you could do to build an income working from home.
Teaching classes – If you have a special skill and a spare room you could provide part-time classes for teaching others how to do what you do so well. It’s a great way to earn an extra income. Teaching something you love to do. Your enthusiasm will always shine through and there’s a lot of job satisfaction to be gained providing this type of service. It doesn’t matter whether you’re teaching painting and drawing, knitting, sewing, needlepoint, jewellery making, or any other type of the many forms of craftwork.
If teaching art and crafts isn’t your thing, how about teaching cake making, computer skills, or a foreign language. If you’re musically inclined, have you considered giving piano or guitar lessons? No matter what skill you possess, there’s always other people who are willing to learn and will pay a reasonable sum to do so.
If you’re not totally restricted from leaving your home there are a number of other part-time services you could provide where the occasional trip to the customer or client’s home may be necessary. But part of the work can also be completed at home. For example, evening party plan sales, weekend wedding photography, child or pet photography, or how about a washing and ironing service? (collection and delivery will obviously require transport)
Starting your own business might seem a little daunting at first, but it’s not that difficult, and there’s plenty of places you can go for advice. (see our business links page)
If you’re still stuck for ideas, other home based business ideas include…. making clothes. e.g. Children’s clothing, knitwear, dresses, wedding gowns, hats and scarfs etc. Or alternatively you might like the idea of making soft toys, cushions, curtains, or provide an upholstery service if you have the required skillset. Other service business ideas include bookkeeping, sewing alterations, pet sitting, wedding planner, printing service, telephone answering service, secretarial work, picture framing, and childminding.
Or you may prefer freelance work e.g. Graphic design, cartoon illustration, writing for greeting cards, scriptwriting, writing articles for magazines, designing fashion clothes, computer programming, proof reading, translating, or web design. Website such as Freelance UK and People4business are useful resources for this type of work.
Many women have also successfully taken up selling products for companies like Avon and Betterware. All you need is the time and patience to deliver their catalogues to prospective customers in your area. Commissions on sales are reasonably good and can soon mount up to provide a worthwhile part-time income.
Internet based business
These days, more and more people are seeking to make money from home through the internet. The internet has opened up a huge range of opportunities. Unfortunately, though there are millions of people trying to make money this way most of them fail. And the main reason is because the first place they look for information on how to make money online is, quite naturally on the internet. The problem is that the internet is plagued with moneymaking schemes and scams that are only after your money. But there are genuine people out there who are willing to help and show you the way.
The great thing about making money from the web is that it’s ideally suited for anyone who wants to work from home. And work at home mums are no exception. Finding a genuinely good mentor to teach you these methods is not always easy, but Chris Farrell is one of the best. Chris has a membership site which is highly rated and has many positive reviews on the IM Report site where independent reviews are provided. His training program is ideal for beginners and intermediate marketers who want to learn the fundamentals of internet marketing and are not afraid to put in some time and effort to learn. However, if you’re still a complete novice and you don’t want to spend any money to learn the basics, take a visit to www.makingmoneyonline-uk.com where you’ll find a wealth of free information.