Today, millions of Americans either work or run their businesses at least part-time from the comfort of their own homes. Given this, no wonder more than 80 percent of working Americans say they’d like to kick-start a home-based business.
It’s estimated that over 38 million businesses in the US are home-based, raking in more than $400 billion in revenue annually.
Fittingly, running a successful home business comes with a plethora of advantages. First of all, it gives entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent contractors the freedom to control their personal development, time, and work.
Perhaps you have always fancied being your own boss. Maybe you’re tired of suffering from cubicle fever and want to ditch your 9-5 grind. Even more plausible, you may want to be at home to spend more quality time with your loved ones, or you want to give in to your wanderlust.
However you think about it, there are a ton of reasons to take advantage of the flexibility and freedom that starting your own home-based business can offer. It’s crucial, however, that you closely review your interests, experience, and skills to determine which type of business fits you best.
To help you along in your research, we have put together this list of 10 great businesses you can easily start and run from home in 2019. They are all flexible, inexpensive, engaging, and most crucially, easy to start.
The idea behind referral marketing for is pretty straightforward. Even better, starting this type of online business is virtually inexpensive and yet quite rewarding if done correctly. For every new customer you refer, you will get a cut or commission.
Please note that you will be required to have an audience, whether that’s a social media following, blog readers, extensive email list, and so forth. You must also have a bit of experience and tangible knowledge of what’s hot and trendy in the gambling industry.
One last juicy data point: Within a decade, it is estimated that the majority of Americans will become freelancers.
(1) Become a Virtual Assistant
Busy entrepreneurs, executives, and individuals have their plates full. They need someone who can help them stay on top of their busy lives, which is where virtual assistants come in especially handy.
As a virtual assistant, you’ll leverage your digital skills, and use your phone, email, and other online tools to handle almost every aspect of your client’s personal and professional life.
You will set up their appointments, make calls, read & reply emails, manage their online calendars, schedule meetings, book flights and hotel reservations, file important documents, set up reminders … the whole shebang.
This line of work may not be for everyone. You must be a stickler for details and have meticulous organization and communication skills to make it in this business.
(2) Graphic Design
The demand for graphic designers is always high – after all, we live in a highly visual world. Businesses often need graphic designs to tell their brand stories and convey their messages via visually-appealing web pages, ads, logos, posters, brochures, infographics, and more.
Apart from buying design software, this home-friendly business can be done anywhere with a reliable internet connection and a powerful computer. Besides, there’s very little cost burden associated with the business.
In some cases, however, clients might ask for proof of experience and education. A degree or certificate in graphic design may go a long way.
(3) Social Media Management
Social media marketing is all the rage right now. It’s an inexpensive way to reach and engage a brand audience. It’s also a great PR and customer service tool.
That’s why social media managers are some of the most sought-after freelancers these days. You will be tasked with managing your clients’ social media accounts. If you can reply to comments intelligently, share appropriate content, and stay on brand, then you could be a great social media manager.
Social media management has insignificant overhead and you can do it from your tablet, desktop or mobile devices. The good thing is that social media automation tools can make your job easy and hassle-free.
It also pays handsomely. As long as you are delivering those upvotes, retweets, hearts, hashtags, likes and positive reactions, you can expect more money in your account!
(4) Referral Marketing
Online gambling has become increasingly lucrative in the last few years, with the market expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.77 percent to hit around $87.8 billion by 2024. Even still, the competition in the online gambling industry remains cut-throat.
To ramp up brand awareness, stay competitive, and get more customers, online casinos, internet poker rooms, and other gambling operators are always looking to partner with quality affiliate marketers. They use affiliate marketing to get the word out about their promos, new products, and services.
Affiliate marketing companies like OnlineCasinoGems are trailblazing for the rest in the space. They are the first to break the news in the gambling space, as well as link players with fresh, lucrative offers, including free bonuses, reload bonuses, deposit bonuses, cashbacks, and much more.
(5) At-Home Massage Therapy
In today’s increasingly busy world, people are more stressed than ever before. They need a way to relax, dis-stress and reinvigorate their minds, bodies, and spirits. Accordingly, the demand for the services of massage therapists has gone through the roof in the past few years.
Good thing, you can make house calls or work from your own place as a massage therapist. And the best part is that people in this line of business can expect to make more than $39,000 per year. That is not too shabby for a home-based business.
Check your state requirements for massage therapy licensing before you start. Alternatively, you can get certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.
(6) Become an Online Fact-Checker or Researcher
Are you adept at communication, meticulous and very organized? Professional fact-checkers and researchers are needed every day by journalists, educators, lawyers, academics, scholars and business professionals.
You can do it all online, and make big bucks in the process. The opportunities for fact-checkers and researchers are unlimited. Whether it’s conducting thorough market research, taking a second look at bibliographies, analyzing old case studies, or going through academic essays, you’ll be paid for it all.
(7) Tax Preparation
Here’s the thing: most people don’t have the time to do their taxes. Some just don’t like going through all the motions. That’s why starting a home-based tax preparation business can be a viable idea.
If you don’t have experience in tax preparation or accounting, you may have to take a few courses before offering your services. Also, tax code keeps changing year in and year out, which means you have to keep abreast of what’s happening in the industry, especially with IRS.
(8) Data Entry
The good old data entry is still alive and kicking. It may not be the most attractive job out there but can certainly pay your bills. More importantly, it allows you to work from the comfort of your home.
The good news is that online data entry jobs don’t call for lots of attention or time. You can blast your favorite playlist as you log hours after hours. Additionally, this is a cost-effective business you can start and run from home because all you need is a computer and good internet.
(9) Internet Tutor
Students are always trying to get an edge before their tests, which is why online tutors are hot right now. If you are an expert in a particular subject matter or an established educationist, you can share your knowledge and help students stay ahead of the curve.
Like most at-home business ideas on this list, you can offer your tutoring services via video conferencing, over the phone or chat apps.
(10) Freelance Writing
If you are an avid writer, then freelance writing is a great at-home business idea for you. The best part is that a freelance writer has the ultimate freedom because you can write on just about any topic and work from virtually anywhere across the globe.
You must be able to carry out conclusive research, synthesize information, and churn out content that will resonate with the target audience. You must also have a solid grasp on style, tone, and grammar.
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