Looking for Home Based Business Ideas? You’re not alone. Whether you are looking for a way to supplement your existing income, replace your job income, or create a new financial journey altogether a Home Based Business may be just the ticket. Here are a few ideas to consider.
College Application/Financial Aid Planning Consulting Business
A financial aid planner helps parents get the best possible rate for their child’s college education, thus saving their clients money. Tapping into financial aid resources is not just about being smart. It is about being aware of the resources that are available. This business involves advising parents and high school students on selecting a college, filling out the application and financial aid forms, providing tips for writing the college essay, advising parents about tax implications on college savings plans, and negotiating the best possible financial aid package when a college offer is received. A sound knowledge about available schools and a thorough understanding of financial aid options are important. Market your services in high schools, libraries, private tutorial centers and universities.
Tip: Have a good understanding of different financial programs like Byrd Scholarships, Stafford Loans, private and federal grants, and PLUS Loans. Also be current with college savings plans including 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, the Uniform Gift to Minors Act, and Charitable Remainder Unitrusts.
Freelance writers can write articles on virtually any topic, from horse training to internet marketing to buying an RV. A freelance writer may also write fiction. A good way to start is by writing about subjects that you already have a lot of experience in.
Ghost writing is also a good option for freelancers looking for money and willing to be anonymous.
Websites and blogs are always on the lookout for quality freelancers, too. Create a website to promote your freelance writing business.
Tip: Your initial queries are likely to get rejected many times. Brace for rejection along the way.
Gift Basket-Making
From corporate parties to baby showers, holidays and birthdays, gift baskets can quickly be tailored to suit the tastes of any client or situation. Gift basket entrepreneurs need a flair for the creative and the design ability to buy gifts and creatively tuck them into baskets, decorative tins, boxes or bags. Attractive packaging is an important part of the gift basket business.
Market your gift baskets by taking photos of them. Prepare a brochure listing the contents of each basket and its price. You can sell your baskets online, to corporate offices, through mail order and in local shops. Social media can go a long way toward helping you build your clientele.
Tip: There is a large, untapped market for merchandise with university and sports team logos on them. You will first need to get approval from the university’s licensing department to make gift baskets that have merchandise with their logo.
Graphic Design
The duties of a graphic designer include designing flyers, informational pamphlets, product catalogs and advertisements such as banner ads and promotional banners. Graphic designers will also consult with printers or publishers to identify the best choice of paper, cover stocks and printing processes for any given assignment.
Market your services to ad agencies, publishing companies, home based businesses small magazines, corporations, product manufacturers and individual entrepreneurs.
Tip: Good listening skills are essential to running a successful graphic designing business. You need to understand completely what your clients want and be able to give it to them or connect them with a good resource who can.
Music Lessons
Music lessons are a great way to do something you love and create extra income by sharing your gift and love for music with other. People of all ages, from elementary school students to retirees, have an interest in learning an instrument. You could offer private lessons from home and even put together online lessons. Music is an important part of early childhood development. Market your musical skills at day cares, kindergartens and preschools. Call day-care directors, school principals and teachers.
The ability to teach from home makes this a fantastic home based business idea for the right person.
If you like, and are able to, you can also begin booking yourself at local venues such as restaurants, weddings, etc… to pick up even more cash doing something you love.
Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Business
This is amount the best home based business ideas for animal lovers who enjoy getting paid to care for and play with other people’s pets. Dogs and cats are of course the most common pets that need care when owners are away, but you will occasionally be asked to take care of rabbits, hamsters, birds and tropical fish.
Dog walking can bring in good cash, especially if you market your services in retirement communities and apartments where many residents may lack the energy, time, or motivation to take their pets for their daily walks.
Sewing Business
Custom curtain making can be a profitable home based business if you have a gift for interior design and the ability to sew. You can specialize in designing, sewing and installing window treatments. By providing multiple services, you can charge a great deal more than if you just stitch together basic curtains for customers.
If you enjoy embroidery and hand sewing, a quilt designing business may be for you. Monogrammed baby quilts are particularly popular since they make wonderful gifts.
Doll dress designing is trendy. Ask as many little girls as you can what kinds of doll clothes they like. Offering such accessories as doll hair ribbons, hats, socks, tights and slippers can be good for your business.
Tip: Making custom bridal veils is a great way to make money using your sewing skills. It is also a good way to enter the lucrative bridal market. Provide a distinctive service by crafting one-of-a-kind veils and headpieces. The ability to choose a headpiece that is most flattering to a particular bride’s facial structure is important. You can branch out by making First Communion veils.
Soap Making
A bar of soap may cost as little as 10 cents to make and can be sold from $1 to $4. That is a fantastic profit margin and there is a growing market of green buyers in this market. Many people are going back to basics and buying all-natural soaps. By adding special herbs, fragrances and colors, you can make gourmet and specialty soaps right in your own kitchen. For the right person, this could make an excellent home based business providing you with flexible scheduling options.
Tip: Sell your soaps online as well as local festivals and fairs.
Website Consultant
Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants a website these days, but they don’t know how to do it themselves. If you are running any kind of business today, a website is just as important as naming your business. That is why being a web site consultant is amount the top home based business ideas.
From hosting domain names to managing web content, a website consultant builds and maintains websites. Having an understanding of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a plus. As a website consultant, you will need experience in links, banners, email marketing and affiliate programs, and a talent for graphics and copywriting.
Tip: Branch off your business into website maintenance, where you charge a monthly fee to make small changes and additions to a client’s website.
Advertising Consultant
If you understand the basics of creating good advertising content, you could start a business as an online advertising consultant. You would be paid to show companies and home based business operators how to advertise their business through online advertising, newspaper advertising, and social media. This is one of those home based business ideas perfect because you are helping other home based businesses grow.
Email Marketing Consultant
You can build a profitable home based business as an email marketing consultant. Your business would be based on helping business build their prospect lists, follow up with those prospects, and convert them in to paying customers. You would be focused on helping your clients create an implement an effective email marketing strategy, create attractive newsletters, schedule follow up messages, broadcast special offers, etc…
This may be one of the best home based business ideas since you can work with local business just as easily as clients from around the world via the Internet.
Find the home based business that works for you. Start Your Free Search For Home Based Business Ideas Now.
Great article. I know a freelance writer who gets lots of work.