Top 10 Home Business Ideas for Single Parents
There is no doubt these are difficult economic times for all parents but particularly for parents who have only one income. I am a firm believer that single parents must have several streams of income and operating a home-based business is one way to increase your bottom line.
Consider operating one of the 10 home-based businesses. None involve a lot of start-up money and although they won't make you a millionaire, they will allow you to provide for the additional needs of your family.
1. Homework Tutor
Do you like to listen to your children read? Are you patient and caring? Do you
visit the teacher's store in your area buying little books that can help your own children read, write or do basic math? Would you like to help another child in your neighborhood? If you think you might be interested in helping children with their homework, become a homework tutor. There are busy parents who do not have the time to help their own children and would appreciate someone making sure their children understand and complete their homework. Remember parents are not only paying for your willingness to review their child's home work, they are paying for your time and expertise. Make sure you provide parents with a weekly progress report and ask them to let their child's teacher know they are working with a homework tutor, so your efforts will not be in vain.
2. Letter Writing Service
Several hundred years ago only clergymen and professionals were literate. Today even literate individuals need help writing letters, particularly written complaint letters and letters seeking a resolution or response to a concern. If you enjoy the research involved in helping to resolve everyday problems this may be the home-based business for you. There is little doubt that you will encounter a wide variety of needs as a professional letter writer and your goal is not to solve a problem but to write in such a way that you bring the problem to light. Think carefully about who might need your services and why and remember there is power in the pen or in the keyboard.
3. Mystery Shopper
Can you shop till you drop? Would you like to get paid to shop? This may be the home-based business that fits your schedule and fulfills your need to make extra money. Mystery shoppers, also known as secret shoppers have been around for many years. Their purpose is to complete service checks, performance evaluations and frontline evaluations along with other checks and balances requested by the company employing the mystery shopper. Mystery shoppers enable trained researchers to take a "birds-eye-view" of a shopper's experience. It also allows management the opportunity to quickly and efficiently evaluate their business practices, deliverables, and employees from the perspective of a non-bias consumer. If you would like to learn more about becoming a mystery shopper visit: www.nationalshoppingservice.com
4. Personal Cook
Do you have a food specialty? Is there a dish you prepare that is always a family favorite? Have you ever tried to sell your special cheesecake or gumbo? Today everyone seems to be consumed with thoughts of food, and why not since most of us have little time to cook or even think about cooking. The old adage "I owe, I owe, so off to work I go" is more true today than ever before. Take a look around your community and visit bakeries and cafes, is something missing? Is there a café that would benefit from your double fudge pecan cluster ice cream or those lovely black currant scones? You may want to start small and deliver a few goodies to a local eatery in your area. You may want to sell your recipe to a local bakery or become a recipe developer for a number of restaurants in your area. Are you into recipe contest? Commercial food companies are always looking for a new original recipe and they are willing to pay. What have you got to lose?
5. Teach Your Talent
Few people know that according to the No Child Left Behind legislation all school districts should be offering parent involvement opportunities to participating Title I parents. These opportunities may be in the form of parent enrichment seminars/workshops. You can teach your talent and get paid for it. All Title I eligible schools have parent involvement funds that can only be used to provide parents information that will assist them in helping their child achieve in school. Children cannot achieve when parents are homeless, jobless, illiterate and lack the skills to help their child do well in school. There are many people who have the skill and ability to teach resume writing, how to budget, or how to clean up your credit. If you think you could present this type of material in a professional manner, create a proposal and submit it to the schools in your district. The funds available to provide these services to parents must be used or school districts will be penalized. This is a great way to make a real difference in your community.
6. Virtual Receptionist (Home-based answering service)
The idea of a virtual office was created when a neighbor decided to offer phone support to a former employer after leaving to become a stay-at-home mom. This is not the type of job that will work well with all employers but for someone, it may be a good thing. If you are a great organizer, have a pleasant telephone voice and enjoy answering the telephone this may be the job for you. A virtual receptionist answers the telephone messages for busy sales representatives, attorneys and other professionals who may themselves work out of their homes. You gather information, organize and prioritize it and address the issues with your employer either by email, fax, phone or a video conference all while being at home. The woman I interviewed worked as a virtual receptionist for a pharmaceutical salesman she had worked with in the past. She has just recently taken on another sales rep in the same field. She works five days a week and job shares with another virtual receptionist two blocks from her home when she wants to take a vacation. The initial set up was under $1000.00 and she now includes, completing sales reports and faxing information as needed. Her boss, a six-figure man appreciates the extra assistance and has reduced his "homework" by at least seventy-five percent.
7. Cake Decorating
There are many freelance, starving artists out there who never thought about trying their hand at cake decorating. Now is the time to give this craft serious consideration. Yes we are low carb crazy and everyone appears to be watching their weight, at least in theory, but when we want to pull out all the stops and party hardy, we want more than a tasty Little Debbie, we want cake, the real, butter rich, down right divine masterpieces like those of Jill Adams of New York's "Cake Studio" or anything designed by the great Sylvia Weinstock. Start slow and easy and create little cup cake masterpieces. Cake decorating classes for beginners are affordable starting at $40 and often include supplies. If you already have a creative hand and eye, go for it. Today, everyone is developing a discriminating palate and tomorrow even more folks will have a deep appreciation for finely decorated cakes.
8. Hair Braiding
African hair braiding is an ancient art handed down from generation to generation in Africa. There are many African and African American women who are gifted at braiding hair and should consider providing this unique service to the public. The origins of the art form can be traced to Egypt as far back as 3500 BC and each region of Africa has its own traditional styles. You will need to check with public health officials in your area to see if there are special licenses needed. This is truly a vocation based on skill and in some places around the United States having your hair professionally braided can cost upwards of $300 or $400, and sometimes even more. Hair braiding is an immensely time consuming activity and some styles can take a whole day or more to create. In the past twenty years, braiding salons have sprung up in many urban areas throughout the United States, however if there is no such salon in your area and there is a need, you may want to consider passing out flyers and introducing your community to the fine art of African Hair Braiding.
9. Turning Junk to Jewels
One man's junk is another man's treasure has never been more true than today. The onset of cable programs like Clean Sweep and Clean House prompted me to think about all that stuff that is being placed on trucks and given to good will agencies. What would happen if you decided to pick up junk and go through it to salvage items that could be reworked, repaired and sold at a resell shop, garage sell or on Ebay? Do you have a good eye for decorating and redesigning junk? Turn a black linen shirt into linen napkins, turn cotton baby pajamas into a lovely baby quilt or a quilted stuffed bear. It's hard to believe that all the stuff given away to charitable agencies could not be repurposed and sold, creating a great part-time, or full time job for some creative soul.
10. Girl/Guy Friday
Everyone needs a helping hand at some point in their life and being a girl or guy Friday is noble and enjoyable. Do you enjoy doing for others and getting paid for it? If the answer is yes then consider being a personal concierge. You can offer your services to a law firm, or any professional group practice, i.e. Doctors, Dentist, Accounts, Computer Programmers etc. You will need reliable transportation; however the start up cost is relatively low. No inventory is required, and there are no major equipment expenditures. This is primarily a cash business with very little account receivables. Your Girl/Guy Friday service can operate from a small home office or in your basement and gives you the opportunity to direct your life and be as successful as you want. Will your focus be picking up laundry, dropping off reports, visiting caterers and purchasing special wines for an important dinner? You decide with your client how you will assist them. Set up a quarterly or yearly contract and keep your services pure and professional. A personal concierge will charge between $30 and $50 per hour and work Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may offer additional services but charge accordingly and make sure you are a member of your local Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
There are so many service centered opportunities available, and all you have to do is decide what you really enjoy doing. Do you like cleaning? Provide a car detailing service on wheels; everyone needs the inside of their car detailed at some point. It's no secret that today we all could benefit from having more than one stream of income, that's why it's important to learn a skill. If all you know is the skills needed to perform your 9 to 5 job you are headed for a real wake up call.
Take a class at a craft store and learn cake decorating or enroll in a class at the home improvement store and learn to paint, lay tile or change locks on a door. Your future and the future of your family lies in your hands and when things don't turn out as they should don't play the blame game, take control and learn to change your own life path.
D. D. Davis is a certified Parent Educator with the North Carolina Parent Network and has been a writer for over 25 years. Contact email: dddsoc@yahoo.com. Ms. Davis is a staunch supporter of parent education and adult education programs and she encourages parent involvement and support groups. Parenting....the most difficult job any adult will ever do in life. Author of,
A Matter of Record: Keeping Track of Your Child Support.
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