Turn Your Hobby Into an Income
Turn one of your talents or hobbies into a supplemental income. For example, if you’re routinely asked to bring your camera to parties because you take such amazing photos, consider dabbling in freelance photography. Start small with people you know and build up your portfolio. With some word-of-mouth referrals, you could transform this hobby into a profitable job.
Other ideas of hobbies include baking, catering, sewing custom kids outfits, ceramics and jewelry making.
Look Into Contractual Work
Another great option for work-at-home moms is contractual positions. These combine the security of working for an established company with the freedom to set your own hours and telecommute. To find a position that works for you, think about what you are passionate about and research available opportunities. For example, if you are into fashion and beauty, you could turn this interest into a contractual position with a well-established company like Amway. The company is known for being a leader in premium beauty products and it offers contractual jobs that can fit around your schedule.
Consider Being a Customer Service Representative
If you are the consummate people person, like talking on the phone and are pretty good on the computer, an at-home customer service representative job is a great option. These positions pay between $8 and $18 an hour, and there are typically part-time and full-time positions available that can be done from a quiet home office.
You might be surprised how many major companies hire at-home CSRs. Some of these include major hotel chains like Hilton and Best Western and retail companies like 1-800-FLOWERS and Spiegel. To find these positions, check out companies like Alpine Access and LiveOps to see what they have available.
Build up Your Resume
As you look for at-home positions, work on boosting your resume in as many ways as you can. If you routinely volunteer at your kids’ school or are a member of the PTO, put this on your resume. It shows potential employers that you are responsible, committed and organized. Consider taking some classes at a local community college that you could turn into an at-home work option, such as writing and computer courses.
Watch out for Scams
While there are plenty of legitimate and reasonably lucrative ways to make money at home, there are some scammers who are out to take your money. As you look for work, watch for red flags like companies or websites with no contact information. Some other signs of trouble are if a company asks you to pay them a fee to get started or if a position seems too good to be true. Once you find a company that you like, research them to see if anything pops up about scams or bad business practices.