HOME BASED OPPORTUNITIES

There are a few businesses that you can get up and running
quickly if time is of the essence. If you've just lost a
job or you can't take the one you have much longer, here
are a couple of fast start ideas.

1. Private Tutor. To start this business, you would have
to be qualified in at least one academic subject, have some
teaching skills and experience (being a training instructor
could qualify). The subjects usually needing tutoring help
are math, foreign language and any of the sciences. It's
less demanding than full-time teaching and you don't have
to put up with the bureaucracy. It will undoubtedly be
evening and (perhaps) weekend work, but you can charge
anywhere from $25 to $75 per hour depending on the subject.

2. Errand runner/driver. Many businesses today are in
need of a runner to bring material around from place to
place. A company who does a lot of printing may need
constant business to printer assistance. As long as you
have your own car and are a safe driver, you're in
business. You don't need to learn anything about
computers, either. you're simply in business. You will
likely always be on call during the week (maybe Saturdays)
and if you don't like traffic, this could be a problem.
You should be able to canvass local businesses for work and
be paid upwards of $10 per hour. Your auto insurance agent
should be informed of the new use for your car.

3. Computer services for small businesses. You'll need a
computer, laser or bubblejet printer and a fax machine to
offer these services, but many small businesses need the
assistance. It might be in copywriting, mailing programs,
newsletters or maintaining a billing follow-up database.
You can charge from $20 per hour and up depending on the
work. It's easy to get going since you've already got the
computer in your home. Canvass businesses locally for work
after you've devised an attractive flyer listing and
selling your services.

There are other jobs that may require more set-up, but can
fantastic money-making opportunities. Among these are:

1. Tax preparer/bookkeeping services. Being computer
literate will help you handle several dozen clients all at
once. You may need some training if you are not a CPA, but
software programs today make it easier to walk through even
the most complex tax situations. You will be overwhelmed
during the tax season of January to April, but you can
charge from $25 to $50 per hour and make enough during the
first four months of the year to almost get you through the
remaining months.

2. Specialty grower. Let's say you have some land and you
love to garden. You enjoy working outdoors and are tired
of working inside a building for a living. Why not become
a specialty grower? Gourmet stores all over the country
are looking for the unusual in the way of plants and edible
flowers. Herbs are also popular. You can even sell the
crops you grow at the local farmer's market on Saturday
mornings. If you already have the land and the desire to
do this, why wait. Start it part-time if you want, but you
may find dozens of outlets for your goods if they are up to
the test. The risk is bad weather naturally, but it's a
chance worth taking if you love gardening.

3. Cleaning services. You'll need lots of supplies for
this, but commercial building maintenance people are often
on the lookout for good help in this area. You'll need a
lot of cleaning supplies, but if you can handle the evening
hours and can find reliable assistants, this can be a gold
mine business especially if you specialize in the hard-to-
do work like swimming pools, blinds and windows. People
hate to do windows. You can charge per house or, for
commercial buildings, per hour.

4. Massage therapist. If you're good at giving massages,
consider getting a license or certification to be a massage
therapist. Health clubs, running clubs, conventions all
are good candidates for your work. You can earn up to
$100/hour but you have to be in good physical condition.
Arm, hands and back strength are particularly important.
Your hours are your choice!

5. Caterer. If you like to cook, consider the catering
business. If you have a good kitchen set-up and can cook
large volumes well and have a few handy unusual, but tasty
recipes, you can be become a local party favorite. Repeat
business is the name of this game and you can charge per
person for your catered meals or appetizers. Ethnic dishes
are the in thing for parties these days and the more
diversified you are the better.

6. Computer consultant. If you are a programmer, this is
certainly a job that can lend itself to contract labor, run
out of your own home. Competition is heavy, but once you
have a few clients, you will likely make an excellent
living at something you're good at and probably enjoy.
$50/hour is the low starting rate for programmers and you
can charge more based on your expertise and the problem to
be solved. The more diversified your experience, the more
likely the calls coming in for your services. You will
need to stay up on current technology, but most programmers
do this naturally. There are a plethora of magazines and
other publications about the latest and greatest
technology. Canvass local businesses to ascertain their
computer needs. You're only selling your services, so the
cold calling is a low pressure thing. Most businesses have
some complaint about their computer system and are looking
for easy answers from someone that is local and knows what
they're doing. Solid computer expertise is invaluable to
small businesses.

7. Bed-and-breakfast accommodations. Wouldn't it be great
to operate a bed and breakfast in the middle of a territory
that attracts thousands of tourists and other travelers
each year? If you've a knack for hosting people on a full-
time basis and have the house to convert to a couple of
extra bedrooms, you can be in business. It's truly full-
time, even though you're only serving breakfast. There's
laundry to do, there's beds to be made, bathrooms to clean
and reservations to handle, but it can often be done at a
eisurely pace. Room rates are $75 per night and up, so the
money can add up pretty fast. Be careful of burnout,
however, as there are no holidays from this job, unless you
have another person/couple take over for a couple of weeks.

8. Arts & Crafts. If you have a propensity for things
arts and craftsy, you should consider selling your goods
for a living, part or full-time. Have you ever walked
around an art show? There are plenty of these around and
you can get a booth and earn back your expenses for the day
with one sale. If you love to paint, or sculpt, or make
pottery or whatever, there is a lot of potential for you.
You can also starve, too, but you don't start up the
business thinking that. Businesses buy lots of arts and
crafts each year for their firms' decorations or for sales
contest prizes, convention awards and the like. If you are
already doing this, you probably have studio space in your
house plus some supplies to get going. Step it up to the
next level!

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