Service based businesses are those where you simply take a skill that you have and market it to potential clients and customers. 

If organization, friendliness and tech-savvy are qualities you possess, you'd probably make a great virtual assistant! Virtual assistants work for clients from their home doing all sorts of administrative tasks, such as managing email, customer service, and doing research. 

If you're a good writer, maybe freelancing is the career you're looking for. There are many different types of freelance writing, so you can find a way to make a career out of your passion no matter what type of writing you like to do. Some write articles for magazines or newspapers, while others write for online publications. Copywriters, on the other hand, craft marketing material and product descriptions. There are also fiction writers, of course, who write novels and screenplays.  

If you're knowledgeable about a particular aspect of your field, you can start marketing yourself as a consultant for hire. There are a ton of different types of consulting. Pretty much any skill or area of expertise can be tapped into to start a consulting career. You aren't limited by geography, either. You can work with clients all over the world thanks to technological advances like video conferencing solutions.

If you're great with kids, consider opening your home to them as a daycare center. While there are different requirements for licensing depending on where you live, the process is usually pretty simple. Generally, what's involved is making sure that your home is safe and running background checks on people that live in the home.

Product-based businesses are a whole different game. If you run a product-based business you will likely have to wear many different hats in the beginning stages. You might be doing sales, shipping, manufacturing, quality control and customer service all in one day!

If you're crafty and have a unique item to offer, consider making it your full time, home-based job. There are tons of ways to sell your handmade goods. You can open up shop online, tour craft shows and flea markets, sell your products wholesale, or do all of the above! Be sure to put a lot of thought and calculation into pricing your products. Many crafters underprice their work and find themselves unable to sustain their business. You want to account for supplies, shipping, outsourcing costs, advertising, and profit – as well as paying yourself a wage. Some crafters mistake profit for their wage, but the most sustainable pricing model is one that includes both. You still have to eat while you grow your business!

If you love to cook and bake, why not set out and make a business out of it? Got a killer salsa recipe? Invest in some great packaging and marketing and sell your salsa at trade shows and wholesale. You can take the same approach with all kinds of foods. Spice blends, sauces, jams and jellies, soups, and baked goods are all good places to start. 

 

No matter what business you choose to go into, stay focused and organized to find success. In many cases, it'll be wise to keep your day job while you build your business on the side. When you replace your income or at least make enough to live off of, and see sustainable growth for a few months in a row, you'll know you're ready to take the leap into working from home full time. Good luck!

Kathy Barber runs a web media company from home with her husband, Kent. They have 2 sons and enjoy the work at home life, since it allows them to spend plenty of time together as a family. Kathy loves improving their home office and checking out everything featured at http://officedeskreviews.com.