Great Businesses to Start From Home

You can run a successful business right from your own couch.

If you have always dreamed of working from home to stay with your family, or if you just want to be your own boss and maintain a healthy balance between work and life, you have probably considered starting your own business. There are hundreds of different businesses you can start and run right from the comfort and convenience of your home, including some requiring only a small investment.

Childcare

Home-based daycare is an old standby which many stay-at-home moms and dads choose to increase their cash flow and provide socialization for their own children. If you have a home with a safe space for children to play and enjoy spending time with kids, you might have the makings of a successful home business. Whether you offer full-time weekly childcare or evening and weekend babysitting as suggested by thesimpledollar.com, you could make a decent living and have fun with your work.

Internet Commerce

The Internet creates a multitude of business opportunities you can start right from your own home. Sparkplugging.com recommends starting your own auction resale business or e-commerce website. Using popular auction and classified listing sites, you can make a substantial profit selling things you already own or on items you find at yard sales, flea markets and donation centers. You can also start a business selling items made by other companies. A mail-order business allows you to ship items from the manufacturer's warehouse directly to the customer, instead of requiring you to maintain an inventory.

Writing

Another popular home-based business for the Internet generation is freelance writing or blogging. If you are a good writer and have some expertise in a particular subject, you could start your own blog or review site. Once you have an Internet presence, you can make money from website advertising, or accept payments for writing blog posts and product reviews on demand. You can also contract your services to companies and websites in need of a blogger to help advertise its product or service.

Consulting

MySmallBiz.com suggests business consulting to utilize your skills in a particular area of business. Think of some ways you can put your skills and industry experience to work in your own home business. If you have a background in human resources, you can work with job seekers to help them craft a resume and hone their job interviewing skills. If you have experience as an accountant, lawyer, counselor, or architect, you can offer the same services by telephone, email, or video chat from your home office.

References

• The Simple Dollar: 50 Side Businesses You Can Start On Your Own; April 2009
• Sparkplug CEO: Top 10 Internet Home Business Ideas You Can Start and Run in Your Underwear; Oct. 2009
• MySmallBiz: How to Start a Consulting Business