This will be useful for those who are looking to start a small business (especially mothers) from home. Its tough to joggle work and parenting, so I found some ideas that should trigger your money making desires from the comfort of your home.
You'll need a few things to help you set up your home office.
1. Free lance writing: Sell your words
You can start with local magazines and newspaper houses either online or in print. The market for articles is vast, and there is enough work to go round.
you'll need a computer, fast internet access, a comfortable work space. To begin you will have to look for work, sign up on sites like Jobberman (if you are in Nigeria) or sites like Guru and Freelancer ,if you are outside Africa. You must be committed and persistent, do your best and produce good copy.
2. Classes: Sell your knowledge
Another way to earn money from home is by selling your skills and knowledge by teaching classes. example if you are a fitness guru, you love cooking, gardening, making candles, bead making, making soaps, languages etc. If you are consistent, you'll have people signing up over and over again.
To do this successfully, you must consider the following:
* The Idea: Your clients will want to know exactly what they are paying for, you will have to be precise, narrow down your topic.
* The Schedule: Choose days that will work for you, that way you can dedicate your full attention to your class, remember you are making commitments that will last for weeks/months, you don't want classes clashing and having to cancel a class. Also consider your clients and what schedule will likely work for them.
* The Price: start by doing a bit of research and compare your skills/talents with other established firms and set a price accordingly.
* Deals: In addition to establishing a per-class price, offer deals that will entice more clients to sign up for other classes by adding incentives that will create more value and offer more for their money.
* The Ads: You can begin with word of mouth through family and friends, however, eventually you will have to post flyers in churches, supermarkets, malls and other public places. Also, the use of social media will help put word out about your classes.
3. Gardening: Sell your fruits and veggies
If you have planting space around where you live, you may want to start growing some fruits and vegetables. i would suggest you begin with crops like pepper, garden egg, tomatoes, onions,okra,etc depending on what crops thrive in your location. consider selling to friends and neighbours first then you can expand accordingly.
4. Arts and Crafts: Sell your creativity
If you can create beautiful things, then you are in business. Arts and craft is known as one of the reliable form or income earning, the growing trends of home-made designs and vintage is at a constant rise. You need to know what others are selling and decide what wares you will offer. Your customers must be able to choose from a wide range of collections, so you should have between 100 -200 items of choice. Take photos of your items for a good visual effect for your customers, it has to be eye catching. its very important.
5. Sewing and Alterations: If you have sewing skills, you have a wide range of options. You can design, make alterations, sew bags, custom clothes, wedding clothes,cushions, draperies etc. The highest piece of equipment you will need is a sewing machine. you will also need to make ads and be sure to sharpen your skills if you are still an amateur or average seamstress.
6. Consulting: Sell your Knowledge
Consultants offer their services or advice for a fee. For instance, you may help a new non-profit organization develop a plan for fundraising, and then oversee the process. Or you may help a new company garner media attention by writing press releases and then distributing them to the proper channels.
Individuals use consultants, too. Some people use consultants for tax or financial advice, while others may pay a consultant to teach them how to set up and maintain a garden.
Basically, if you have proven skills in an area, you can market yourself as a consultant and provide your services from home. Breaking in isn’t always easy, though. You must be able to show prospective clients that you are qualified to advise them. Clients will probably be visiting your home office, so be sure to have a neat home office.
You’ll have to “package” yourself in a way that makes people trust you. It might be in the form of a brochure, a portfolio, a sales letter, or all three.
To get the word out about your services, you’ll have to talk to a lot of people. Attend functions where your typical client would hang out. That may mean the local agricultural department’s classes if you’re a gardening consultant, or Chamber of Commerce meetings if you’re a business consultant.
7. Childcare: Sell your services
Many working parents need help with their kids when they are away at work. This creates a home-based opportunity. Children must be watched, all day if they're not in school, or, otherwise, for a brief time after school before the parents finish work for the day. Most parents want their children immersed in a more stimulating environment than is usual with the average babysitter. You can begin small at home, offering a more stimulating and educational environment setting for client children.
Caring for one additional child may not be that lucrative, but taking care of several children can certainly be a full-time, financially successful business. Often, taking care of several children is made somewhat easier as the youngsters often will play together. You can do this at home for only a small investment in basic equipment and toys for the kids in addition to the advertising of your business. Read How to start a day care
8. Photography: Sell your shots
Got a knack to photography? then you can start taking photographs at weddings and children's party etc . all you need is a digital camera and the will to succeed. Like always, its best to start with neighbours, friends and family. You can also take interesting photographs and put it on your website, every time someone uses it, you make money. Remember, to spread the word about your new business.
9. Website/blog design : Sell your skills
If you have a good understanding of HTML and design or you learn quickly, you could design blog templates, backgrounds, headers, buttons and things. They are relatively easy to develop and install once you know how. There are many tutorials you can look up to teach yourself and you could offer cheap rates to get your portfolio started. Since blogging is becoming much more popular, there is a constant demand for this sort of work.
10. Enter competitions : Got the Luck Charm?
There are competitions you can enter everywhere – on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, magazine sites, even competition clubs. The ones which ask you to write in 25 words or less why you xyz often have less entrants than others so they can be the most rewarding. There are whole groups and pages on various social networking sites dedicated to sharing current competitions. All you have to do is sign up and enter.
11. Blogging: Sell your interests and personality
Blogging is not fast, easy cash. You need to set up a nice blog, write regularly, and promote it so you have people actually reading your blog, and then you can make money through advertising and sponsorship. You can also host giveaways or try products and review them if that is what you are interested in. Blogging is not as easy as many make it out to be (especially in the beginning) but once it is set up and you have a following, requires less effort.
12. Write an eBook : sell your words and imaginations
E-books are becoming more popular than real books and almost anyone can create one. There are people who have self published eBooks through Amazon that do quite well. Others promote their eBooks via their own blog and set up programs so that others can become online affiliates to it, so they are selling your eBook for you as well. Find something you are interested in and write it. An eBook doesn’t have to be informative, it can be fantasy, sci-fi, drama, anything.
Disclaimer:The photos in this post are not mine, information on this post was gathered from various sources
8. Photography: Sell your shots
Got a knack to photography? then you can start taking photographs at weddings and children's party etc . all you need is a digital camera and the will to succeed. Like always, its best to start with neighbours, friends and family. You can also take interesting photographs and put it on your website, every time someone uses it, you make money. Remember, to spread the word about your new business.
9. Website/blog design : Sell your skills
If you have a good understanding of HTML and design or you learn quickly, you could design blog templates, backgrounds, headers, buttons and things. They are relatively easy to develop and install once you know how. There are many tutorials you can look up to teach yourself and you could offer cheap rates to get your portfolio started. Since blogging is becoming much more popular, there is a constant demand for this sort of work.
10. Enter competitions : Got the Luck Charm?
There are competitions you can enter everywhere – on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, magazine sites, even competition clubs. The ones which ask you to write in 25 words or less why you xyz often have less entrants than others so they can be the most rewarding. There are whole groups and pages on various social networking sites dedicated to sharing current competitions. All you have to do is sign up and enter.
11. Blogging: Sell your interests and personality
Blogging is not fast, easy cash. You need to set up a nice blog, write regularly, and promote it so you have people actually reading your blog, and then you can make money through advertising and sponsorship. You can also host giveaways or try products and review them if that is what you are interested in. Blogging is not as easy as many make it out to be (especially in the beginning) but once it is set up and you have a following, requires less effort.
12. Write an eBook : sell your words and imaginations
E-books are becoming more popular than real books and almost anyone can create one. There are people who have self published eBooks through Amazon that do quite well. Others promote their eBooks via their own blog and set up programs so that others can become online affiliates to it, so they are selling your eBook for you as well. Find something you are interested in and write it. An eBook doesn’t have to be informative, it can be fantasy, sci-fi, drama, anything.
Disclaimer:The photos in this post are not mine, information on this post was gathered from various sources
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