Working From Home: Getting Started

This week we have guest blogger Crissy Herron joining us. Today she’s going to take us back to the basics of working from home – getting started!

Working from home is a “dream goal” of many people. Finding a way to work from home can be the hardest part of getting started. There are many, many options. It can be easy to grab on to the first idea you find, rather than taking the time to explore all of your options before making a decision.

It is very hard to find a long-lasting business when a person makes a quick decision. They may start a business, realize it’s not for them, then find another one, realize it’s not for them, etc.  A person who is caught up in this cycle can easily get discouraged and may think that there is no way to really work from home and may quit altogether.

Here are some tips on finding a business that really works for you:

Do you want to sell a product or offer a service?

Another thing to consider is if you want to sell a product or a service.  A product may be a physical product that someone can hold, or it could be a digital product, such as an ebook. You may think of a service business  as virtual assistance or blog customization, but it also includes coaching and teaching workshops.

Someone who offers a service can choose to work on their own with various clients or they can telecommute with a company. A telecommuting position may offer a bit more security, but they are very different when compared to physically going to your office everyday.

Telecommuters are often paid as a freelancer – meaning you will be responsible for paying your own taxes at the end of the year.  Telecommuting positions do not often come with health benefits, paid time off or other perks that an “on location” employee may receive.

Do you want to work with a company or create your own business?

There are many types of businesses to create – and we’ll talk about a few of them in a moment.  But working from home does not mean that you have to create a new business. You can also join a direct sales company (also known as “party plan” company). Some examples are Tupperware, Mary Kay, and Avon. These companies have long histories – and make it easy to get started.

Do you want to work online or offline?

Working from home does not mean that you have to work from your home.  Businesses that can be done solely from your home include virtual assistant, ghost writer, graphic designer, blog designer, a content site owner, blogger, as well as someone who creates a physical product from home and sells it via a website.

Now, if you do decide to join a direct sales company, they may offer websites but it could be hard to earn a substantial income without doing home parties – in someone else’s home. Depending on how much you want to earn, you may only have to do one or two parties per week. Just know in advance that this type of business will require you to spend time outside of your home.

As you are researching your work at home options, write down the things you would like and the things you would not like. When you are comparing businesses and options, look at your list. You may not be able to find everything on the list of things you like, but basing your decision on the business that does have most of the things you like would be a very good decision.

Crissy Herron is the founder of Indie Biz Chicks, where she provides business, marketing, and publicity information for women “who’d rather work for themselves, than work for the man.” She was involved in a car accident last week and is raising funds for a new car by offering The September Blogging Special for only $10. Participants will receive daily blogging tips and prompts, as well as other bonuses. Click Here to learn more.