Recent census data indicates that over the last ten years the number of fathers who have chosen to stay home to care for their kids has doubled. Just as stay-at-home moms have discovered, there are many jobs that you can do right from the comfort of your home and without having to take away any significant time from your family.
In fact, with technology where it's at today, there are more genuine work-at-home opportunities than ever before.
Freelance writing
If you enjoy writing, there are plenty of opportunities to sell your skills online. Many people and companies are willing to pay for well-written articles, press releases, and even product descriptions. Websites like Elance, Freelancer, and Bidhire offer a place where you can market your services as a writer as well as bid on writing gigs. Additionally, there are sites like Textbroker where writers can pick up any available assignment, complete it, and get paid.
Web design/web programming
Web designers and people skilled with web scripting can find a large number of jobs online as well. Like writers, web designers and programmers can find gigs on websites like Elance and Freelancer. Additionally, you can advertise your services on Craigslist. It's also possible that a few firms will hire you to manage their websites on a telecommute basis.
Computer programming
Computer programming is another skill that lends itself well to the online environment. Like the writing and web design, you can find work on one of the freelancing sites. Additionally, there are companies that hire programmers to work on a telecommuting basis.
Blogging
Another way of making money using your skills as a writer is
blogging. The way it works is this: you start blogging about an area of interest you have and you make money with contextual advertising of the type provided by Google's AdSense. Every time your visitors click on the ads you earn money, usually a small amount per click. You can see that the more visitors you have, the more clicks you're likely to get, and the greater your profit will be.
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a way to make money by selling someone else's product. Many companies have affiliate programs and you can find them by visiting the company's website. There will often be an area for affiliates and this area will have resources like ad copy, image ads of all sizes, and even marketing tips that you can use. Clickbank and Paydotcom are two websites that host many different affiliate programs. Once you're a member, all you need to do is pick the product you want to sell and go for it.
Get-paid-to websites
Get-paid-to sites are great for generating a little extra income. Basically, these sites pay you to do something specific, like fill out a survey or sign up for a free product trial. You will find some offers to buy products, or some that will charge you a small fee to try out a product, but you don't have to take them. As long as you stick with the free offers, you'll make money.
eBay selling
The main thing you need to make money with eBay is a cheap source of merchandise. One such source is your local flea market. Another is Sunday garage sales. If you don't want to mess with inventory, you can look into drop shipping. The downside of drop shipping is that your profit margin will be a lot lower than if you find merchandise to re-sell and ship yourself. Either way, you can make a nice profit selling on eBay.
Crowd sourcing
In crowd sourcing, companies farm out small tasks large numbers of workers. The workers are paid for each task completed. While the pay rate per task is quite low, there are an abundance of tasks available. Depending on how quickly you can work, the hourly rate you can achieve can rival some well-paying jobs. A good place to find crowd sourced work is Amazon's mTurk.
Virtual assisting
If you've worked in an office virtual assisting may be for you. Basically, any task that an office worker can do in office setting, a virtual assistant can provide online. This includes administrative, secretarial, and clerical tasks. Like writing and website design, the freelance marketplaces of Elance, Freelancer and Bidhire are all locations where you can find virtual assistant jobs.
Outsourced call centers
Some call centers hire a significant portion of their staff on a telecommute basis. To be a call center worker, you'll need to have the proper equipment and a quiet place to do your work. Proper equipment includes an adequate computer, a headset, and in some cases, the ability to send and receive documents via facsimile.
Network marketing
When you hear the term "network marketing" images of your mother gathering the neighborhood ladies together for her monthly Amway or Mary Kay Cosmetics sales parties probably come to mind. Banish the thought. Network marketing opportunities now exist for selling anything from air filters to vacuum cleaners. Network marketing is a good fit if you have a sales background, are a good motivator, and enjoy working in a team.
Consulting
If you've been a business professional, you can quite easily take those skills and put them to work in a home business. There are plenty of opportunities for freelance consulting on any of the freelance marketplaces online and you can use the contacts you've made during your career to find work as well.
Tax preparation
Many tax preparation services like H&R Block offer training and work as a tax preparer. While you'll enjoy the most work during tax season, year round opportunities exist as well.
Dog walking
Many working professionals don't have time to care for their dogs. Starting in your own neighborhood, you probably know some people who could use someone to walk their dogs. You can expand out from there by posting notices at your local grocery store and advertising in the paper.
Dog waste collector
You'd be surprised at how much money some people will pay to avoid having to clean up dog poop. This is another business you can start right in your own neighborhood.
Computer repair
Many people need their computers and can't have them sitting in a shop waiting for an underpaid technician to have time to get to them. If you're knowledgeable about computer innards you can create a computer repair business and run it right out of your home.
Mobile notaries
Becoming a notary is another option for a home business. For this, you'll need to take the training and a test, but once you're certified, you can perform notary services anywhere in your county.
Surveys
There are many market research companies that will pay you to tell them what you think about a product, an idea, or an advertising campaign. Best of all,
according to SurveySpencer, you can usually take the surveys from home. Searching for "paid surveys at home" will show you a number of these paid survey websites. It's a fun way to earn a little bit of money and needs no special skills or equipment. If you have a computer and the Internet, you can take part.
Transcription
If you're a fast typist, you can be an online transcriptionist. While most transcription services require experience, there are a few than will hire new transcriptionists without any. You will need the proper equipment, however.
Court researcher
Paralegals and other legal support staff can make a living as an outsourced court researcher. Many law firms now hire people to perform research at their local courthouses on a telecommuting basis.
This was written by stay-at-home Dad extraordinaire Willis Franklin.
