Some people need to or want to work from home, for any number of reasons – including caring for children.
The U.S. Small Business Administration points out that more than half of all businesses in the United States are based out of an owner’s home. Apple Computer, Hershey’s and Mary Kay Cosmetics started as home-based businesses.
The internet created more ways for people to earn money by working at their own pace without leaving home.
But it’s good to remember the more “traditional” ways of earning income at home because those offer possibilities as well. If you have crafting skills, you can create products at home and sell them at a local consignment shop or via websites where craft buyers congregate.
Others have been successful in selling specific types of goods such as household products or health and beauty products.
With a computer and internet connection, there are many things you can do to earn money from home. For example:
- You can sell CDs you don’t listen to anymore, movies you don’t watch anymore, video games you don’t play anymore and other household items through several well-known websites.
- You can write for websites that pay freelancers.
- There are websites that match people with professional or technical expertise to people with questions about those areas. You can make money online by answering the questions.
A key point is to do your research to find avenues run by reputable sources. Some scammers make unrealistic promises about how much you can earn from home, and some try to get money from you.
The Small Business Administration has useful information about home-based businesses at www.sba.gov.
Craig E. Foor, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, is a Financial Advisor based in the Everence Direct Region office in Goshen, Indiana.