I’ve often wondered how to get someone to pay me a competitive salary to sleep all day. Perhaps, some of the nighttime cold medicine companies need a few “guinea pigs”! But since those particular companies only test their products on animals and especially since I don’t advocate using OTC’s, that one is out the window. If you are at all like me, and have dreamt of staying at home while making money ‘in your undies’, then this post will knock your socks off!
“Anyone can start a business”, says Bunmi Zalob, founder of UnBusy Mom (www.unbusymom.com), a workshop that teaches mothers how to create bliss at home through a work/life balance. “The trick to being a successful entrepreneur mom is to run your business, not have it run you”, she says. Bunmi is one of those lucky moms who get to use their passion and make money on a very flexible schedule. She’s a mom who believes that being busy is a state of neurosis. “I’m a mom who believes that every woman is born with a skill to share with the world and family should in no way derail that process. An UnBusy mom says yes to help, yes to planning, and yes to creativity. She says no to clutter (both physical and spiritual), no to negativity, and no to isolation.”
So for those of you who want to have your cake and eat it too, there’s hope. If you want to run your own successful business, yet still have some quality family time, as Bunmi is convinced you can, read on. I’ve researched a few profitable home-based businesses and have ‘interviewed’ some of the movers and shakers in this industry in order to bring you an itemized, but meaty (veggie, of course) collection of work-from-home businesses. Here are some great money-making ideas for you:
Internet Business Opportunities – You can find opportunities with companies like Home Business Frontiers, AllBusiness.com, and FunCareers.com. These types of work-from-home companies require internet-access and just a few brain cells. How much can you expect to make? Well that’s all up to your tenacity, but some of these sites boast earning potential in the six figures. For example, an Online/Phone Surveyor can make anywhere from $0-$100,00.00 if the stars align just right with the perfect mix of company and payment selection. But be warned, not all internet businesses will render you a whopping income. You have to research each company to find out what their pay scale is. THEN, and that’s a big then, you have to have the frijoles to get people to trust you and give you their business. Have you received an email from an internet business lately? Delete/Spam Blocked! Or better yet, have any of your evening meals been interrupted by a surveyor? Mine too, and I think I said something like, “Who are you looking for? (pause for response) Oh I’m so sorry, but she’s been abducted by aliens!”
Home Day Care – For those of you who relish the thought of spending time with your kids, the neighbors’ kids, the playground kids, everybody’s kids so much that you want to do it for a living… Heaven help you! J.K. No really, starting a home day care may be just what you are looking for. With childcare costs on the rise and parents having to spend more and more time at work away from their children, you’re looking at a cash cow of a opportunity. This, however, is a business with extreme scrutiny involved, you’re dealing with other peoples’ kids on a day to day basis, essentially being mommy for 8-12 hours a day – any diaper rashes (your fault), any scratches or scrapes (your fault), and any innocently spoken foul language (yup, you got it – your fault). However, the positives far outweigh the negatives and you’ll get at least a quarter of the credit, oh and all of the pay. As far as income, you must research the going rates in your community, but first you must get certified. Nobody’s going to let just any old Joe Schmoe watch their kids all day with no proof of legal sanity. For more info go to the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education’s website: www.nrc.ucnsc.edu
Avon/Mary Kay Representative – How many times have the ladies in your life approached you to buy Avon or Mary Kay products? A lot, I assume. And have you ever wondered (to yourself, of course), “How much is she making doing this?” So have I, and while neither company is specifically sharing the actual income of their reps, they do encourage them to do their best with itty-bitty incentives like, oh say, cars and trips. I look at it this way, you call a few gals over or go to their house, or meet at Starbucks and show them what you’ve got and see who bites. Office settings are the Trifecta of money making for businesses like these – low cost, superior products, willing and able consumers. You can’t go wrong there. Check out their respective websites for more info.
Multi-Level Marketing Opportunities – This is not for the shy or reserved or introverted applicant! Just a warning. Companies like Zrii and Melaleuca provide the opportunity to health-conscious representatives to promote wellness products, whether online or in person. These companies pay on two different levels – amount of people signed up and/or amount of products sold. The common denominator in both of these is serious, unadulterated, self & product promotion. The products themselves have received stellar consumer ratings, in fact Zrii, although not explicitly selling its products, boasts a rejuvenating, preservative-free wellness drink endorsed by Deepak Chopra of all people. The key to success in these types of businesses is to know your product and know your audience. It makes absolutely no sense selling eco-friendly, breast-pumps to Buddhist monks – translation? You get no sales! For more info on these companies check out their websites: zrii.com & melaleuca.com. As comprehensive as they are, neither website answered all my questions, so I found reps from each company who did, their info is as follows: Zrii Rep – Gary 818-667-9179 or gchernyavsky@msn.com, Melaleuca Rep – June 808-216-8864 or Sunday.topratebiz.com. Like I said, this ain’t for the thin-skinned but the rewards can bolster you into six figures.
Online Travel Agent – If you love to travel and have the gift of gab you will do well in this line of employment. Not only do you sell travel vacations via internet at competitive prices, but you get to travel to exotic destinations for free! Your Travel Business (ytb.com) has done all the work for you. There may be an initial fee involved, but it could definitely be worth it to get free travel. For more info, contact George at thirdwindtravel@sbcglobal.net.
So you see, there are more than enough opportunities out there for anyone willing and able to work from home. Do your research, write out your plan and go for it! Don’t be discouraged and don’t be afraid if you make a mistake or get overwhelmed. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and there are always resources to help you make it through. Like the UnBusyMom said, you’ve got to run your business, you can’t let it run you.
If you run a home-based business, send me a comment letting me know what you do and how you maintain sanity doing it. Who knows, this might be some free advertising for you, because in order to be successful, you’ve got to be a shameless, self-promoter! If you don’t do it for you, who will????
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