Working from home

[cicy33]

I have a goal to be working from home within the next 3 years. I would like to know what successes people have had and what failures. I would also like to have any suggestions to be able to do this. I am not certain yet what I want to do. I do love ebaying but personally see this as more of a small income in the future. I would love any home based ideas or jobs recommended. Very open to any and all ideas or suggestions.

[CRFSaver]

My company encourages certain departments to work from home. They pay for the internet connection, give company cell phones and provide a laptop with encrypted VPN software to connect to the network. At the moment people come in about once ever week or two weeks. A data analyst can build his excel models from anywhere. Check as a lot of companies are becoming very keen to this especially as VOIP and other telecom services get cheaper and cheaper.

[Fern]

I worked from home full time as a marketing and PR writer for the real estate industry.

I got my business from realtors i had worked with full time before being laid off. (So, one lesson there, never burn your bridges after a layoff and DON'T take it personally.) My boss had always liked me, and she and other managers there now refer all their PR business to me for their 1,500 realtors. Another manager left that company and went to another, and has also called on me regularly to do work for them as well.

Ultimately, i took another full time job becus i needed a steady paycheck, but i continue to the do real estate writing freelance, on the side, basically nights. It' s nice to have the extra cash.

Working as a writer is great if you have the skill becus there was little overhead, mainly depreciation of my computer. I did everything over the phone and tried to limit in-person meetings with realtors as i found it was n ot at all cost effective and didn't result in more work.

If you can take an inexpensive entreprenurial course on running a business, as i did, i would highly recommend it. You will learn tons.

[mjrube94]

I don't know if they offer work at home, but for anyone in the NorthEast, there is an employment agency called www.flexibleresources.com, which specializes in placing women who have left the workforce to have a family, and want to get back in either as a part-time or temporary assignment capacity. They have quite an extensive list of companies they recruit for, either on a part-time or temporary capacity. I checked into them when I was pregnant with my first child. Fortunately my current company allowed me to go part-time, so I didn't leave, but it seemed at first glance like a good outfit.

[jmjj215]

With three years of intense work selling a product of value on the internet, you could have a full-time income and probably be down to just 20-30 hours per week of work - all in your PJs.

[cicy33]

Originally Posted by jmjj215

With three years of intense work selling a product of value on the internet, you could have a full-time income and probably be down to just 20-30 hours per week of work - all in your PJs.

What would be the investment for this? In general of course. I have looked into products but either they are for something that no one would every buy or they don't tell you what they are going to have you do. A sure fire way to tell a scam! I am planning on starting a web site so that I can maybe make money with it eventually.

[DivaJen]

DH freelances as a web developer, something that can be done at a distance, something without even a phone call.

I tutor math. A friend of mine has plans to start writing workshops for students after school, and/or for parents during school hours.

[cicy33]

You know, I live next to a college town. I wonder if these kids need people to type papers for them. Not do them for them but just type them? Where would I go to let people know that I will do that.

[mjrube94]

Put an ad in the student newspaper, and post flyers around campus. In addition to typing, you can offer to proofread/edit as well.

[cercis]

I'd do flyers, but not spend any money. Most kids these days know how to type because they've been using computers since they started school.

I'd stress the editing and proofing aspect.

If you're especially good at a subject, you might offer tutoring services. Maybe offer English as a Second Language practices for foreign student (I'm thinking classes that are mixer type parties where everyone speaks english).

[jmjj215]

Originally Posted by cicy33

What would be the investment for this? In general of course. I have looked into products but either they are for something that no one would every buy or they don't tell you what they are going to have you do. A sure fire way to tell a scam! I am planning on starting a web site so that I can maybe make money with it eventually.

I was thinking more along the lines of selling your own product. If you have something unique you can offer and there is a market for it. I prefer selling digital content - you avoid all of the shipping. Is there any hobby or profession about which you know a whole lot? For instance, I know one guy that's starting an information-based website on pest control.

Brainstorm some ideas about just an informational site. Using AdSense and some affiliate stuff, you could be making good money in 1-2 years of dedicated work.

Once you've brainstormed possible ideas, search around the internet and see if there isn't a market for it. Find those tools that are everywhere that tell you how many searches for "X" term are being done each month. That's a good place to start.

[Tree0164]

I highly recommend checking out www.wahm.com and work at home journal

I work from home in affiliate marketing. I market several websites and also telecommunications products.