Being Home-Bound as an Opportunity

Many of us have found ourselves staying close to home lately whether it be for quarantine, retirement, child care or any number of reasons.

As long as you have a computer and internet access, this is a great opportunity to become a self-employed entrepreneur. These ten ideas can have you staying busy and earning money in no time at all.

Here are 10 tried and tested blueprints for businesses you can run from the comfort of your home.

10 Businesses You Can Run From Home

1. Sell Items Online

The old saying “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” is the basis for online selling sites such as eBay or Craigslist.

You have likely used your time at home to do some house cleaning and have furniture, household appliances, collectables and other used items that you no longer need or want.

Take good photos of the items, write an effective description and sell them online.

You can even open your own eBay business and sell professionally for other people. If you are short on cash for the start-up, apply to King of Kash for a small business loan.

Their loans are processed faster than those from traditional banks. Your business will be up and running quickly and worry-free.

Another source for online sales is Etsy, an e-commerce site that sells handmade and vintage items that include, but are not limited to, art, photography, jewellery and clothing. They also sell art and craft supplies.

This site is very popular having over 2.5 million sellers and more than 45 million buyers. If you are artistic or crafty, this is the place for you.

If you are a graphic artist, CafePress is a great place for your digital designs to be used on shirts, hats and other items. You will earn a commission as they are sold.

2. Rent Your Spare Room on Airbnb

Having strangers living in your house might not be for everyone but, if you have a spare room and are looking for a supplemental income, this is a good option. You can rent your spare room or even your entire house through Airbnb. They will take care of all the arrangements including paying you 24 hours after the guests check-in.

3. Social Media Manager for Small Businesses

Social media has become a leading marketing outlet for businesses. Small businesses often need the services of a social media manager because they do not have the skills or time to do it themselves.

If you have experience in social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, this is for you. Meticulously market your social media management business – your customers will witness firsthand what you can do for them.

Before taking on new customers, determine how you want to be paid and share this upfront to avoid misunderstanding. Do you want a contract with a monthly fee, a retainer to be used as you go or simply charge by the hour or project?

4. Tutor over Skype

Most students have found themselves in a different and unfamiliar learning environment lately, whether it be distance learning or socially distanced classrooms.

This lack of familiarity may result in difficulty learning. Having a Skype tutor who is focused solely on one student would be a great help. This is a good opportunity with minimal start-up costs and the potential for a good, steady income.

5. Online Micro-jobs and Surveys

Amazon’s Mechanical Turk
is a crowdsourcing platform through which you can earn money by completing micro-jobs which typically only take a couple of minutes each.

For example, you might be asked to validate data or take a survey. Because of their brief nature, completing several of these tasks in a short time could lead to a nice paycheck.

Many other online services offer payment for taking surveys, answering questions and participating in focus groups. This can be a good source of income while never leaving your house.

6. Online Writing

If you have good writing skills, online opportunities for you are abundant.

• Freelance and ghostwriting, including blog posts, articles and ebooks, are in great demand. Many online sites will hire qualified writers and provide endless opportunities to make a supplemental income.
• Create a blog. It will not be a huge moneymaker at first but, once you’ve developed a following, the income will follow.
• Write an ebook, using tools such as KDP and CreateSpace, both offered by Amazon. It will cost nothing to produce and will earn you money when it sells.
• Start a resume writing business. Most people do not like writing about themselves so your services will be very welcomed and you will be well compensated. Advertise your business on LinkedIn and other professional sites.

7. Online Learning

Use your skills and knowledge to create online courses. Sites such as Udemy or Teachable will host and market the courses you produce. Once you are up and running, this is a good source of income.

Another platform for online learning is YouTube. You can create YouTube videos and tutorials that will pay off slowly but surely, depending on the quality of your product.

8. Websites and Graphics

All businesses need a website; however, they can not all afford to hire a professional website designer and graphic artist. Using free online software, such as Wix or Weebly, you can create functional and attractive websites and charge a fraction of what larger businesses cost.

To go along with the website, if you are graphically inclined and have access to software such as Photoshop or Illustrator, you can offer your services for logo design and other graphic needs. You can also compete for design work on 99Designs although you only get paid if your logo is chosen.

If you are very tech-savvy, consider developing smartphone apps. They may not pay off immediately but have the potential to provide a big payday.

9. Personal Trainer

This might seem peculiar but there is a market for online personal trainers. Using Zoom or any other video communication platform, your client can work out in the comfort and safety of their own home with your guidance.

Along with addressing their fitness and weight loss goals, you can also assist in creating healthy eating habits and meal plans. Offering your services in pre-paid monthly blocks will provide you with a steady income.

10. Virtual Assistant

Becoming a virtual assistant is a great way to use your exceptional organizational skills to earn money while working from home. This is a high-demand field so finding the right position should not be difficult.

These are just a sampling of online opportunities for making a living at home. Evaluate your skillsets and strengths – one or more of these options might be the right one for you.

Which of these businesses you can run from the comfort of your home appeals most to you?