10 Weekend Home Businesses

If you are finding it hard to make ends meet, you may want to augment your income by running a low-cost business from home during weekends and your spare time!

You work 9 to 5 during weekdays; and so does your spouse. Yet, both of your paychecks are not enough to cover all your financial obligations and needs. You need to pay your rent, utilities, credit cards, car loans, mortgage, kid's school needs, groceries, and so on and so forth. There's just too many expenses to pay!

Sounds familiar?

If you are finding it hard to make ends meet, you may want to narrow that "gap" and augment your income by running a low-cost business from home during weekends and your spare time. The part time weekend business will provide the needed additional cash flow for your household.

Moreover, it gives you the ability to see if you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur. If you're lucky and the business takes off, you can even make it a full time venture and quit the 9 to 5 grind.cover

There are hundreds of businesses that you can run from home that would require less than 20 hours per week. Dan Ramsey, in his book "101 Best Weekend Businesses," offers 101 proven businesses that you can operate in your spare time without jeopardizing your full-time job.

The book is an excellent resource for those looking for ideas of businesses that can be started on a part-time basis. However, the book does not provide detailed information on each of the businesses that it covers, although it provides a starting point to six of the most common questions of any would-be entrepreneur:

* What will I be doing?
* What will I need to start?
* Who will my customers be?
* How much should I charge?
* How much will I make?
* How can I get started?

Below are 10 of the business ideas that Ramsey considered could easily be done on weekends and other spare time without a lot of start-up cash:

1. Personal Fitness Trainer.

Pilates, yoga, tae-bo are but a few of the ever-growing fitness craze. If you love working out and want to help others get fit, consider becoming a personal fitness trainer. A personal trainer is to help clients set and achieve fitness goals, including diet and overall lifestyle.

Trainers often price services by the length and number of sessions or by the goal. The usual hourly rate is from $35 to $75 per hour, although established trainers catering to celebrities get as much as ten times that rate.

Resources:
"The Personal Trainer Business Handbook" by Ed Gaut
"The Business of Personal Training" by Scott O. Roberts (Editor)
"Small Club Start-up : A Personal Trainer's Guide" by Ron Fay
"Gym Biz: Starting and Running Your Own Gym for Profit" by Lou Ravelle

2. Cake Decorator.

A beautifully decorated cake is often the centerpiece of special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other special events. It is the cake decorator's task to transform the cake into a special centerpiece of these occasions. You must therefore have the skills and artistic flair to decorate cakes, as well as the tools and equipment to help you create and design the cake.

Anyone who celebrates an occasion is your potential customer. To get started, get in touch with such as wedding coordinators, bakeries and party organizers who may be able to include your cakes in their own services. Other potential customers include brides and grooms, parents, individuals and businesses throwing parties.

Resources:

"The Essential Guide to Cake Decorating (Essential Cookbook)"

3. Freelance Writer.

You may write articles for magazines, advertising copy for brochures, technical manuals and other literary products on weekends. If you are a new bride, you can write articles for wedding and women magazines about the process of preparing for a wedding. If your day job is a computer programmer, you can write articles on the programs that you are using.

Some writing projects will pay you by the hour - about $20 to $75 depending on your writing and marketing skills. Most, however, will pay you by the number of words (if articles, op-eds, short stories) or by a percentage of the selling price (if book). There are a number of resources out there listing potential markets for various kinds of writing, be it poetry, screenplays, articles, books, or web. Start with "Writers Market" published yearly to get a list of all publishers and literary agents, and their writing requirements.

Resources:
"Secrets of a Freelance Writer : How to Make $85,000 a Year"
by Robert W. Bly
"How to Start a Home-Based Writing Business (How to Start a Home-Based Writing Business, 3rd Ed)" by Lucy V. Parker, Karen Ivory

4. Cooking Instructor.

If you are an excellent cook and love to share your love for cooking to others, consider giving cooking lessons. You can set-up shop in your own kitchen, or offer classes in other location, giving lessons on general cooking techniques or a specialized cuisine such as Italian, vegetarian, desserts, etc. You must be very knowledgeable about your cuisine specialization, and creative in food presentations.

Ramsey puts a cooking instructor's potential income from $30 to $75 per hour. However, most instructors charge by the class, with the "fee depending on the amount of time, the cost of the classroom and ingredients, and the size of the class."

Resources:
"How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business (How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business, 3rd Ed)" by Denise Vivaldo

5. Fund Raiser.

If you have excellent people skills and marketing talent, consider becoming a part-time fund raiser. You can work for charities and non profit organizations, raising funds and donations for them. The key to succeeding in this business is being able to present yourself as trustworthy, making people feel that the money they give to charities will indeed reach those charities. As a means to regulate this industry, some states require a certification or license before you can begin your fund raising work.

You can be paid on an hourly rate of $20 to $35, but most fund raisers are paid a percentage of the funds they raise. The rates can be as low as 2% to as high as 20% of the total amount raised.

Resources:
"How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters" by Mal Warwick
"Fundraising for Dummies (-- For Dummies)" by John Mutz, Katherine Murray
How to Produce Fabulous Fundraising Events: Reap Remarkable Returns with Minimal Effort by Betty Stallings, Donna McMillion

6. Musician.

If you can sing or play a musical instrument, you can jumpstart your musical career on weekends by either playing solo or with a group. Your gigs can include parties, nightclubs, bars and watering holes, or even weddings.

To get started, monitor the classified ad section of your local newspaper for ads asking to book musicians or to replace members. Ramsey puts the potential earnings of a new musician to about $5,000 to $15,000 a year working part-time.

Resources:

"This Business of Music : The Definitive Guide to the Music Industry" by M. William Krasilovsky, Sidney Shemel, John Gross (Contributor)
"Start and Run Your Own Record Label" by Daylle Deanna Schwartz

7. Tutoring Service.

A tutor helps students understand their school lessons and gain additional knowledge about a subject. The main requirement is that you know more about the subject than your students.

To start in this business, you can volunteer to tutor others in your primary subjects. Once you've built your resources (books on the subject, etc.), ask for referrals from teachers and other students. You may also distribute brochures to the parents informing them about your services. Tutorial services often earn $25 to $50 an hour, although you can also package services (e.g. flat fee of $200 for on-call tutoring).

8. Tour Guide.

If your area is a tourist spot, consider becoming a tour guide on weekends. You can focus on groups instead of individual travelers. Tour guides can earn from $25 to $70 per hour.

As a tour guide, you will organize an itinerary that will help these travelers see and learn about your area. You can create camping tours, historic tours, nature adventure, or even a spy tour depending on the tourist attractions in your area. Once you've decided your area of tour specialization, it will be much easier to reach your target customers.

Resources:

Start and Run a Profitable Tour Guiding Business by Barbara Braidwood, Richard Cropp, Susan M. Boyce
"Conducting Tours: A Practical Guide" by Marc Mancini
Home-Based Travel Agent: How to Cash in on the Exciting New World of Travel Marketing by Kelly Monaghan

9. Personalized Children's Books.

Parents and grandparents often want special gifts for their children. This business will fill that demand. You will create and market children's books that include the child's name and related information woven in the story.

Instead of creating the book and writing the story line yourself, you can buy illustrated books pages that you can personalize and sell. The main equipment that you will need include a computer and printer.

Resources:

How to Make Cloth Books for Children : A Guide to Making Personalized Books by Anne Pellowski

10. Antique Restoration Service.

Restoring antiques to their former glory is a lucrative business. You will find, restore and refinish furniture, automobiles, collectibles, and other products of the past. However, it requires a variety of skills and thorough knowledge of the antique pieces. Depending on your niche market, you may be highly skilled in woodworking, varnishing, painting, and other tools, techniques and knowledge. Starting part-time on this business can allow you to gain experience on working on various pieces, and improve your skills.

Your customers will depend on the type of pieces that you restore, your experience and local opportunities. Most likely, you will work with individual collectors, antique dealers, resellers, estates, galleries, museums, and others. Antique restorers typically charge between $35 to $75 or more per hour. Some restoration services are priced on the value-added, particularly if an antique piece priced at $100 is restored into one worth $1,000.

Resources:

Restoring Antique Furniture : A Complete Guide by Richard A. Lyons
Discovering and Restoring Antique Furniture : A Practical Illustrated Guide for the Buyer and Restorer of Period Antique Furniture by Michael Bennett Fake, Fraud, or Genuine? : Identifying Authentic American Antique Furniture by Myrna Kaye

Top 10 Businesses for Work-at-Home Moms

With so many home business ideas, we have selected ten businesses that we found to be ideal and practical for work-at-home moms.

1. Candle making.

If you are interested in the creative craft of candle making, you can have a lucrative home business. According to the National Candle Association, candle consumer retail sales in the United States alone is projected at over $2.3 billion, not including candle accessories. Candles have become a must-have accessory in every home for its practical and decorative elements, and it is used by 7 out of 10 American households. It has become a popular give away as gifts at birthdays, Christmas, and housewarmings. Once merely a hobby of candle enthusiasts, candles are now sold in gift and specialty stores, home furnishing stores, through mail order, craft shows and through the Internet. While candles can be made at a relatively low cost, candle making is a time-consuming process and may require some space (working in your kitchen can both be dangerous and very messy). Some people purchase candles already made and add decorative touches such as pressed dried flowers to the outside. Research on the kinds of candles that are being produced, and develop your own unique candle line.

Associations:
National Candle Association (http://www.candles.org)

Books:
Candle Making in a Weekend: Inspirational Ideas and Practical Projects by Sue Spear (1999)


2. Antiques and collectibles dealer.

If you are interested in antiques and period collectibles, this business is for you. Many people have earned income from scouring around neighborhood flea markets and yard sales for valuable finds, and reselling them for a handsome profit. You need to be able to learn how to distinguish which items are a steal (and which are not worth it), and how to price the bargains that you find. Your start-up phase will be devoted to scouting for more merchandise to resell. As your inventory grows, you can spend time marketing your find. You can rent a small booth at the mall or flea market every weekend. The Internet has expanded the market for antiques and collectibles business. You can open an online store or sell your finds on eBay.

Recommended Books:

How to Start a Home-Based Antiques Business (Home-Based Business Series) by Jacquelyn Peake
Buying and Selling Antiques : A Dealer Shows How to Get into the Business by Sara Pitzer (Contributor), Don Cline

Web Resources:
Antiques and Collectibles Guide ( http://www.acguide.com)
Antiques Roadshow Online (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow)




3. Cut-flower business.

Flowers are all around us in our lives, and work-at-home moms with skill in the garden are well-placed to profit from people’s love for decorating tables and sideboards with beautiful fresh flowers. Cut flowers is a huge business in many parts of the world, and you can profit from this business if you have a medium-sized garden with good soil. Begin by establishing your garden and plant for resale perennials like mum, carnation, orchid, evening primrose, or whatever flower type you fancy. You are ready to find customers once your garden is overflowing with mature blossoms.

Recommended Books:
Field Grown Cut Flowers : A Practical Guide and Sourcebook : Commercial Field Grown Fresh and Dried Cut Flower Production by Alan B. Stevens
Flowers for Sale : Growing and Marketing Cut Flowers : Backyard to Small Acreage (A Bootstrap Guide) by Lee Sturdivant, Peggy Sue McRae (Illustrator)

Associations:
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (http://www.ascfg.org)
American Institute of Floral Designers (http://www.aifd.org)
International Flower Bulb Centre (http://www.bulbsonline.org)
Bulb.com Association (http://www.bulb.com)



4. Transcription services.

A transcription service involves the typing of notes made from recorded records. There are basically five major markets for the home-based transcriptionists: academic, business, medical, legal and professional writers. Academic typing, which is the most readily available market and the most lucrative, normally covers everything from a book report, doctoral dissertations, grant proposals, course outlines and everything in between. Business and commercial typing includes menus for restaurants, consultants’ reports, mailing lists, brochures, correspondences, and many others. The field of medical transcription requires knowledge of the terminology used, and covers filling up health insurance forms, transcribing medical reports, preparing case studies for doctors, typing pathology reports and helping medical/dental offices with overload work. If you have acquired legal experience, you will be marketable in a typing business specializing in legal documents. Transcription can also be part of a business service such as a secretarial/word processing service or office support service.

Books:
Complete Typing Business Guide : Everything You Need to Know to Start and Successfully Operate a Home Typing Business by Frank Chisenhall
Start Your Own Medical Claims and Transcription Business (Start Your Own Business)


5. Handicrafts.

If you are making crafts now, think about kicking your hobby into a higher gear and turn it into a profit generating endeavor. With the craft craze nowadays, experts in the handcraft field estimate that the crafts industry generates almost $10 billion in annual sales. Depending on your craft, you can sell your crafts retail, wholesale, or one-of-a-kind in fairs, bazaars, boutiques as well as mail-order catalogs, gift shops and department stores. The challenge for many craft enthusiasts is turning their hobbies into full-blown businesses, and developing a more professional attitude toward their home business. Finding the right price for their products has always been a difficult task, but the cardinal rule is to always make at least twice as much as you have paid for your supplies. Keep up-to-date with the latest trends by reading crafting magazines and try to find your own "niche" market for your crafts.

Recommended Books:

Arts, Crafts and More by Barbara Lyerly Goins (Editor), Karen J. Goldfluss, Doris J. Guerrette
The Complete Book of Dollmaking : A Practical Step-By-Step Guide to More Than 50 Traditional and Contemporary Techniques (Watson-Guptill Crafts) by Pamela Peake

Web Resources:
National Craft Association (http://www.craftassoc.com)
Crafts Report Magazine (call 1-800-777-7098 for subscription)


6. Niche newsletter.

Small newsletters are emerging to serve the many needs of many different groups, from silk painting, parenting twins to stock options. If you have special talents (like writing), live in special locations (tourist areas), and have special knowledgeable (money saving tips), you can publish your very own newsletter and earn from it. Your newsletter need not be extravagantly designed or extremely colorful, but it must be well designed and readable. Your first step is to find a valuable topic that will sell. By far, saving money and making money are two of the best topics for newsletters. There must be something in your idea that will compel audiences to buy your publication ­ will it help them improve their lives and can they learn anything from it? It is also important if yours is a researchable topic to ensure longevity of your home business. Your idea must have a large potential audience, and there must be a way to reach your target market.

Web Resources:
Newsletters and Electronic Publishers Association (http://www.newsletters.org)
Newsletters Only (http://www.newslettersonly.com)

Books:
Publishing Newsletters by Howard P. Hudson (1998)




7. Home sewing.

Consumer interest in sewing and crafting continues to expand, as the home sewing industry grows to $3.5 billion in 2000. According to the Home Sewing Association, the continuous demand for home sewing is fueled by the current interest in home-based activities, the technical appeal of sewing machines with computerized functions, and the growth in the number of sewing-related sites on the Internet. If you have the ability to sew, you can offer such services as alterations, canvas repair, antique quilt restoration as well as sewing your original creations such as custom bedding, Christmas ornaments, custom slip and chair covers, hats, Christening gowns, prom dresses, chef and barbecue outfits, swim suits, ladies’ suits, soft toys and sculpture, and many more!

Recommended Books:
The Business of Sewing : How to Start, Maintain & Achieve Success by Barbara Wright Sykes

Associations:
Home Sewing Association (http://www.sewing.org)
American Sewing Guild (http://www.asg.org)



8. Herb farming.

Herbs nowadays are very much in demand, particularly with the popularity of specialty foods and cooking, and homeopathic medicines. Many people are into aromatherapy, which uses herbal oils and fragrances. Culinary herb varieties, such as basil, chives, parsley, oregano, thyme, mint, rosemary, French tarragon and many others, are growing in use. One particular herb, the medicinal herb ginseng once grown in Asia, is now grown in some parts of the United States and Europe. The growing interest in alternative medicine and healing both in America and the rest of the world ensures that this is a market set to expand.

Small-time herb farming can be an ideal business for those who love farming, as herbs can be grown in almost all seasons, in greenhouses, sun rooms and/or outdoors in relatively small spaces. Dried herbs can also be sold to crafters and florists for wreaths, floral arrangements, etc. Your first step is to decide what area of the business you want to develop (e.g. plants, herb products, aromatherapy, etc.). You can sell your herbs wholesale to local grocery stores and specialty food markets, sell directly to customers on and off the Internet at retail prices, herbalists and aroma therapists, caterers and restaurants specializing in gourmet cooking, mail order, and several other channels.

Recommended Books:

Resources:
Herb Growing and Marketing Network (http://www.herbnet.com)



9. Party planner.

If you love children and enjoy planning for parties, a party planning business is right for you. You can give busy parents help by planning the parties and arranging the cake and entertainment, etc., or doing the entertainment yourself. You can develop theme parties, from Power Rangers, 102 Dalmatians, Teletubbies, Pirates Treasure, and many more. You can also offer theme menus and sell all the "fixings" for the parties (related to popular children’s characters or themes) in bags that can be ordered from you in advance containing all the decorations, favors, and even game ideas.

Books:
The Birthday Party Business : How to Make a Living As a Children's Entertainer by Bruce Fife(Editor)
Life of the Party : A Guide to Building Your Party Plan Business (Fifty-Minute Series) by Betty Bowes

Web Resources:
The Party Works (http://www.thepartyworks.com)



10. Bookkeeping business.

Bookkeeping is a necessary evil for most business owners: they know they must maintain their records but it is a chore that these entrepreneurs would rather avoid. Other business owners are overwhelmed by business bookkeeping and do not have the time to do an adequate job or they may relegate a (reluctant) family member to do this. Paying someone like you to handle their bookkeeping is a smart business decision as it allows the entrepreneur to concentrate on their business.

Bookkeeping is an ideal home-based business: it requires minimal start-up costs, has high profit potential, and enjoys a steadily growing market. Knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting is needed, as well as a head for numbers, computer affinity, an eye for detail and personal qualities such as trustworthiness and discretion.

Books:

Bookkeeping & Tax Preparation : Start & Build a Prosperous Bookkeeping, Tax, & Financial Services Business by Gordon P. Lewis (Paperback - June 1996)

The Top 10 Ways to Earn Money at Home

The million-dollar question that confronts every would-be entrepreneur is: What kind of business can I start? Here are the top ten ways to earn huge income while working at home.

You do not have to read many success stories before you start wishing you could work for yourself. The opportunity to be your own boss and the potential for high income are enough to entice us to venture on our own. But what can you do? What kind of business would you be suitable to start? We have compiled the top 10 ways to earn money at home, enough to be a full-time self-employed businessperson!

1. Antiques
The buying and selling of antiques has been and should continue to be a very productive business, financially, for those that do it. Here, you only need an extra room in the house, or the use of your garage -- and you have an office!

If you have a large home that has some antique furnishings, you might consider turning it into a showroom for your antique acquisitions and sales, providing you satisfy any local zoning regulations. The interest in antiques will survive into the foreseeable future. Many people choose to spend their free time on the weekends "antiquating" from place to place to try and pick up a few odds or ends and maybe a jewel or two. If you know anything about antiques, this may be a great opportunity for you.

For more information:

Priceless Guide to the Antique Business by Patrick Campbell
How to Make Money in the Antiques-And-Collectibles Business by Elyse Sommer

2. Baking

Have you ever been told that you have a recipe that people would line up to get if they could? Ever had anyone tell you that you should be selling those cupcakes you make?

There are a number of success stories about people who have launched successful businesses by cooking at home and then marketing to local people first. You may specialize in on just one well-tried and tested food product; or you may innovate on a product that you created yourself and which has never been marketed before. Having perfected the recipe you then turn to packaging and marketing. Word of mouth on a good product may start to get restaurants or bakeries interested in acquiring your culinary masterpieces. Then you progress to selling them statewide and you're on your way to a profitable home-based business.

For more information:

Freelance Foodcrafting : How to Become Profitably Self-Employed in Your Own Creative Cooking Business by Janet Shown



3. Bed-and-Breakfast Proprietors

Have you ever stayed in a bed and breakfast and thought, "Hey, I can do this!" You probably went on vacation and simply chalked your thought up as one of those pipedreams one gets when they stay in a beautiful spot.

Don't toss that thought away! While it's not easy work as the hours can be long and it's usually a seven days per week business, it's often something that you can work into a daily schedule. After all, it's merely an extension of doing the housework for family, right? More and more Americans are taking after Europeans and opening their homes to travelers.

If you have an extra room or two since the kids moved out, you can start a bed and breakfast in your own place! Bed and breakfast popularity will continue as more and more vacationers and business travelers seek a different accommodation away from the predictability of the average hotel room. If they enjoy their stay, many become "repeat" customers, coming back to the same familiar surroundings time and again.

If you don't need to do any major renovations in the house to accommodate this type of establishment, you can be off and running with very little money invested, other than advertising and some new "guest room supplies". If your dream is to buy a bed and breakfast somewhere in a vacation paradise, there are probably houses for sale that will work for this purpose.

For more information:

How to Open and Operate a Bed & Breakfast (Home-Based Business Series) by Jan Stankus
Start and Run a Profitable Bed and Breakfast by Monica Taylor, Richard Taylor
How to Start and Operate Your Own Bed-And-Breakfast/Down-To-Earth Advice from an Award-Winning B&B Owner by Martha Watson Murphy, Amelia Rockwell Seton (Illustrator)



4. Childcare

Due to the financial pressures faced by many families today, parents work outside of the home to bring in enough income to pay daily living expenses. A single parent is obviously working but all too often, both members of a two-parent family are in the workforce. This creates a home-based opportunity. Children must be watched, all day if they're not in school, or, otherwise, for a brief time after school before the parents finish work for the day. Most parents want their children immersed in a more stimulating environment than is usual with the average babysitter. You can begin small at home, offering a more stimulating and educational environment setting for client children.

Caring for one additional child may not be that lucrative, but taking care of several children can certainly be a full-time, financially successful business. Often, taking care of several children is made somewhat easier as the youngsters often will play together. You can do this at home for only a small investment in basic equipment and toys for the kids in addition to the advertising of your business.

For more information:

So You Want to Open a Profitable Child Care Center : Everything You Need to Know to Plan, Organize and Implement a Successful Program
by Patricia C. Gallagher
Start and Run a Profitable Home Day Care (Self-Counsel Business Series) by Catherine M. Pruissen


5. Computer Specialist

The advent of the computer age has changed the concept of self-employment. Having a computer at home has opened a number of opportunities for running your own business utilizing this equipment. Companies everywhere are "outsourcing" work that can be done by someone else on their computer, out of their own home.

If you are a whiz in computers, you may end up working as a consultant, writing programs for companies. If you are a beginner, you may find yourself able to obtain work as a writer, using your computer to produce copy that is easy to edit. You can also keep accounting and payroll records for companies on your computer's database.

Word processing software can be used not only for writers but for those that can offer secretarial services out of their house. Desktop publishing software can allow you to do newsletters for businesses and other organizations. If you can operate a computer, you can find work in the information age today.

Of course, the advent of the Web has opened a lot of business opportunities for the enterprising individuals. If you have skills in lay-outing and graphic design, you can be a website designer. Website designers earn significant amounts of money nowadays.

For more information:

Making Money With Your Computer at Home : The Inside Information You Need to Know to Select and Operate a Full-Time, Part-Time, or Add-On Business tha by Paul Edwards, Sarah Edwards
121 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home : Plus a Beginners Guide to Starting a Business Online by Ron E. Gielgun


6. Gardening

If you like working in your garden each year , it's a definite possibility for home-based employment. Imagine clearing a little more space and growing more items that you can sell directly to the consumer. You can produce vegetables, bedding plants, bonzai tree, exotic plants, flower trees, herb, house plants, landscaping plants, orchids and many more.

Most produce stands will buy from you if your product is one of high quality. If you enjoy gardening, this could be your ticket! If you have some more land to use, do it! Plant what you can, when you can! Contact your local produce stands to ascertain their buying habits.

You can even inquire about your own produce stand if you have enough product. The more space you have on your land, the more likely you will be able to generate enough crops to run the business. People love homegrown vegetables. They just do not have the time or want to be bothered doing it themselves. That is your open door!

You can also engage in selling other gardening products and supplies such as compost, earthworms, herb boxes, beneficial bugs, or drip irrigation systems.

For more information:

Plants for Profit : Income Opportunities in Horticulture by Francis X. Jozwik, Dr Jozwik, John Gist (Editor)
How to Make Money Growing Plants, Trees, and Flowers : A Guide to Profitable Earth-Friendly Ventures by Francis, X., Dr. Jozwik, John Gist (Editor)
Growing Profits : How to Start & Operate a Backyard Nursery by Michael Harlan, Linda Harlan



7. Importer and Distributor

There are a substantial number of products manufactured in other countries that can be bought inexpensively and sold in your country at a profitable level. The Government and the formation of international trade organizations have made it easier to bring in other products from other countries.

This is a business easily operated out of the home, depending on the types of stock you're carrying. You may have to rent some storage space, but the capital required to start should essentially be limited to the products you're buying to sell here.

If you know the type of product you want to import and the market most likely to purchase your goods, you have great potential for a successful home-based business.

For more information:
Import/Export: How to Get Started in International Trade by Carl A. Nelson
Exporting, Importing, and Beyond : How to 'Go Global' With Your Small Business by Lawrence W. Tuller



8. Interior Decorator

Interior decorating is a business that will require you to be mobile, constantly meeting with customers. It offers flexible hours, a good variety of activities, and a very lucrative return. If you have a fascination for decorating a home, this could be your line of work. Many people do not know where to start when they are remodeling or buying a house for the first time.

If you have the knowledge of colors and patterns and what looks good together, plus the expertise of knowing where to get materials and furnishings, this can be a winning home-based business for you. To be able to decorate a room so that it conveys the mood that the homeowner wishes will be your goal. Strive for the skillful, personal touch in all you design.

For more information:
Opportunities in Interior Design and Decorating Careers (Vgm Opportunities Series (Cloth)) by Victoria Kloss Ball
How to Start a Home-Based Interior Design Business (How to Start a Home-Based Interior Design Business) by Suzanne Dewalt


9. Photographer

The sky is the limit here! Armed with your trusty camera and some good advertising, you can do weddings, models, family portraits, passports, student photos, local newspaper coverage; almost anything that requires a picture!

You can easily start this work, part-time, and work into full-time work based on your success and inclination. Not much equipment is necessary to get going as a camera off the store shelf can often do the trick today. Picking up a tripod and having a room sufficient for developing your pictures, and you're in business -- at home!

For more information:

How to Start a Home-Based Photography Business, 3rd Edition (Home-based business) by Kenn Oberrecht
Make Money With Your Camera by David Neil Arndt



10. Sewing and Alterations

Many people love to sew. If you are one of them, consider offering this service out of your home. When someone buys a new outfit, it rarely fits perfectly, meaning some kind of alteration must be done.

People look long and hard to find reliable individuals to do their alterations. If you can sew, you are well on your way to opening the doors of this type of business.

For more information:
The Business of Sewing : How to Start, Maintain & Achieve Success by Barbara Wright Sykes