It’s easier and more lucrative than ever to start your business working from home. More and more people are ditching the wasted hours of sitting in rush hour traffic, paying out half their earnings for child care, and agonizing over staying home with a child who’s ill, balanced against using even more sick days. And the surprising result from recent research is that working from actually increased productivity.
For women who have pre-school-age children or even mothers whose children are in school much of the day, being able to work from home isn’t a luxury, in many cases, it’s a necessity. Thankfully, depending on your skill level and interests, there’s something for nearly everyone.
Four Ideas For Home Businesses
● If you’re crafty, there is a huge market for unique and handmade items and that market is estimated to be over $50 billion by the year 2024. Many shoppers on platforms like Etsy, Shopify, Facebook Market, and eBay are looking for something special, something they can’t find in a big-box store. Whether it’s candles, perfumes, household decor, or anything that can be gifted will sell. Having a YouTube channel that discusses how to use the product, and how it’s made or teaches an audience how to make the item themselves boosts sales a great deal.
● Tutors, Music, and ESL teachers are in demand and with the exception of music teachers, most sessions are conducted online. Most music teachers and some tutors have students come to their homes. But when Covid-19 kept us all at a distance, tele-teaching became more the norm. Depending on your skill level and if you contract with a company or freelance, the per-hour average is $15-$30
● Writing, Blogging, and Proofreading can be pretty lucrative if you’re skilled in any of those areas. With a blog, as long as you’re patient and build up your audience, the ads that appear begin earning money for you and continue to do so long after the blog was published. Freelance writing can earn you more than $62,000 annually, so it’s a great business with very low start-up costs.
● Re-Selling. Many of the things you find at yard sales and flea markets can be resold for a lot more than what you’ve paid for them if you’re willing to do some repairs and refurbishing. If you’re handy with things like bike repair or furniture refinishing, this can be a surprisingly high-earning at-home business.
The Work-Mom Balancing Act
● Make a schedule and stick to it. It can be tricky with the constant pull from one quarter or the other, but having a strict schedule actually frees you up instead of tying you down.
● Outsource as much as you can. Order your groceries online. On days you know you’ll be exceptionally busy, order a catered meal that will be both healthy and kid-pleasing.
● Give yourself downtime. Find a yoga or pilates class that offers in-house childcare. If you have a friend or relative with small children, consider swapping child care so you can get away, even if it’s just for a long walk at the park.
● Furthering your education. If your at-home business is something you want to take to the next level, having a degree in business can be essential to making that happen. Fortunately, you can get your degree online, allowing you to schedule your study and class time around your other duties.
● Structure your business as an LLC. It not only lowers your tax burden but also requires less paperwork than other business structures. You can do it yourself online in only a few minutes. Just check with your local offices since rules vary from state to state.
● Marketing is essential for any business. Luckily, these days, it’s easier than ever! Start with social media posts on Facebook and Instagram to help spread the word and promote any sales. Another tip: you may often have to switch between file formats, depending on the setting, so here’s a tool that will automatically convert your PDF to doc. That’ll especially come in handy for email marketing campaigns where you need to edit the document first.
Working from home at your own business is immensely satisfying and is entirely doable. The balance of work and home life is not only easier when you’re working from home than traveling to an office, but it can also be far more lucrative. Find what works best for you, and you could be the next new mompreneur.
