Calling all WAHMs/ideas people!!!

[Kitt3n]

Hey all,

Looking for some ideas for a work from home job. I know there have been many threads regarding this, but i am more interested in YOUR home business, what gave you the inspiration, and if it is really working?

Not out to steal anyones ideas! Just some tips.

Basically, if i go back to work after having baby, my pay will cover DD's before and after school care, child care for new little one and maybe a glass of milk each week . Just not worth it.

so i have a few ideas, looking for your suggestions to help get them off the ground (oh and cant do family day care, in 2 bed unit, just not enough room here otherwise it would be the first thing i would do).

Organic Gift Baskets - but there are so many on line places already! I need a niche, and ideas?

Virtual Assistant - Yeah, sounds great, but how on earth do i get this off the ground?

Data entry - slow, but its still moooolah. Anyone kow anyone out there who needs this, or who has done this themselves?

Telemarketing - ok, i hate these cold callers, but so what if its going to feed my family? Anyone done this from home, how did you start it off?

Starting a temping agency - for a boutique area - but how do i get this one off the ground? any ideas on how or what please send em on!

PS - i know being home and working with bub wil be difficult, but there will be times where baby is just going to have to wait if i am dealing with clients etc. Beats forking out $$$ in childcare (around here $75 day for littlies, and i just dont want to put my bubba into care unless i really really have to - but as i said, cant afford it anyway!!)

[Pretty Butterfly]

I am very interested in this thread too hon!!! Would be interested in telemarketing too...

I often think the best job I could get from home would be a phone sex operator!!!

[Astrid]

Not out to steal anyones ideas! Just some tips. - mmm well that is fine line really. Here are my best tips:

Get yourself a copy of Show Mummy the Money, it steps you through the whole will my idea work process, how to start a business etc. Yes it costs money, but it really is a small price to pay for the information it provides.

Find a good accountant who can help you work out the best business set-up for your situation, such as whether you should be a sole trader, partnership, family trust etc.

Work out what your skills are and ideas will flow on from there.

Check out the Government websites, some of the state ones have a lot of into on starting a business, even check our your council. My local one has seminars for small business. AusIndustry has a work from home pack that you might be able to get hold of.

Ok, feedback on your ideas.

Organic Gift Baskets - but there are so many on line places already! I need a niche, and ideas? If you think that already, then the chances are the market is already saturated. Also what are the set up costs, do you have enough money to buy stock etc?

Virtual Assistant - Yeah, sounds great, but how on earth do i get this off the ground? Google VA and see what sites come up. This will give you a good idea of what is out there and if it is worth. I have come across some that are charging such a small amount for their services, that I have no idea how they survive.

Data entry - slow, but its still moooolah. Anyone kow anyone out there who needs this, or who has done this themselves? sorry can't help with this one

Telemarketing - ok, i hate these cold callers, but so what if its going to feed my family? Anyone done this from home, how did you start it off? These jobs tend to be advertised

Starting a temping agency - for a boutique area - but how do i get this one off the ground? any ideas on how or what please send em on! wow huge question to be asking, better to do some actual research and then ask for more info. Do you have any experience with hiring staff, wages etc, especially within the temping fields? If not, then I would avoid this one, there is a lot of compliance to be done and if you do not have a financial/payroll/temp background it will be a huge learning curve.

PS - i know being home and working with bub wil be difficult, but there will be times where baby is just going to have to wait if i am dealing with clients etc. Beats forking out $$$ in childcare (around here $75 day for littlies, and i just dont want to put my bubba into care unless i really really have to - but as i said, cant afford it anyway!!) Your choice, but it might be handy to even have a couple of hours per week care to get some work done, or even consider a mothers aid who comes to help with the kids when you are at home. Sometimes a small amount of money spent will help you make money.

[Kitt3n]

Astrid, what wonderful tips, thankyou so much.

Ill definately grab a copy of that book, and check the websites you mentioned.

I have checkd the career websites and it seems it shouldnt be too hard to find a wahm telemarketing/call centre job. I have done call centre work and have great I.T support (DF) so i do think this will be the best way to go.

The temp agency is still tingling me though - i do have a little background in HR and finance, but not as strong as call centre/complaints/admin.

And i do agree with a bit of care, at least one day a week to myself to "get stuff done".

Any other ideas/feedback anyone? Although i do think astrid pretty much summed it up!

[Astrid]

I think I have seen the WAH telemarketing jobs advertising in the smaller local papers. I would just be concerned about the legitimacy of them and how they paid. Commission only would be tough.

[Kitt3n]

true, i would never go for commission only though.

saw one job advertised for the likes of careflight. i wouldnt go for a smaller co, only for a brand that i know

[{sarah}]

[I]Get yourself a copy of Show Mummy the Money, it steps you through the whole will my idea work process, how to start a business etc. Yes it costs money, but it really is a small price to pay for the information it provides.

Hey Astrid, is it good? Do you think it would be helpful even though we already have the business up & running or is it more for before you start?

*sorry to hijack*

[Astrid]

I certainly think it would be worth it, as it can help you refine your current business and help you with any new business ideas that you might have. It would also help fill in any gaps you might have. Have a look at her website, she has e-books now which are broken down into specific area. It always pays to keep learning in business and not stagnate. I like the book as it answers many questions related to "how do I start a business" all in the one spot.

[{sarah}]

Cool thanks Astrid, I'll definitely have to look into it once I finishe reading all my birth books LOL!

[River]

Family DayCare. I am going into this, it's the perfect choice for the SAHM, you get to do all the Mummy things still with your child while making money doing it with someone else's. You get to pick your own days and hours, do it part or full time, take holidays when you want, charge the rate you want (if people will pay it), and the schemes usually have playgroups, toy libraries and resources for you to use.

In my area you can have up to 4 under 5s in your care (including your own) and up to 7 total (not including your own school aged children), so I can look after 2 under 5s and 3 before and after school care kids daily. At around $5-ish an hour per child, that works out to be pretty good money.

I get to do all the fun and games with my own kids, they get to have playmates around, I don't have to put my girls in daycare for them to interact with other children, and very importantly (to me), I get to have a hand in getting at least a couple of kids out of institutional daycare for a couple of days a week and look after them in an at home environment.

HTH

[Kitt3n]

thanks river, but i just cant do fdc. just wont work here (it would be the first thing i wold do otherwise, as mentioned in my first post)

FDC is great and i am a huge advocate, i have dont it before and would do it again - our place just isnt "fit" for fdc though.