Subscribe RSS Feed
When people hear the term entrepreneur, the first thing that comes to mind is usually someone such as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. If you’re from an older generation, you may think of Lee Iacocca or Mary Kay Ash. However, the reality is that being an entrepreneur doesn’t have to mean creating an Apple or a Microsoft. What it does mean is that you found great entrepreneur ideas and simply ran with them.
In fact, if you have a bit of ambition and time, there are some successful businesses you can start up in your own home right now. Here are just a few ideas:
Pet Grooming
Do you love dogs and cats? If you do, you’re not alone. Business Week magazine estimated recently that Americans spend around $41 billion annually on their furry friends. Getting even a small piece of that pie would mean having a full time, work at home job. All you need is a love of pets and a training course on how to groom them.
Dogs especially are prime candidates for this service as many long hair breeds require regular trims. However, even cat owners will spend the money to have their animals’ claws clipped professionally (we’re talking clipped, not removed here, which is another thing entirely) and freshened up.
Baby Sitting Service
When it comes to entrepreneur ideas, baby sitting is as old as the feminist revolution and in many ways quite a bit older. In spite of what you may be thinking, baby sitting isn’t just something that teenagers do as an after school job. It’s also something that work-at-home moms and dads can do. The difference is simply that it’s called “day care.”
If you’re staying home to take care of your own kids, why not add a few more to the bunch and make a business out of it? Just check with your state licensing board to find out how many children you can take care of at your home before you need to apply for a license.
Estate Sales
If you’re always looking for bargains, then you know that one of the best ways to find them is through estate and moving sales. When someone passes away or moves to another state or country, their belongings need to be gotten rid of quickly. Generally, this kind of business requires some travel; however, with the flexible hours involved, it is really easy to work it out so that you can be home whenever you need. Plus, the start up costs are minimal. Just advertise on places such as Craigslist and community bulletin boards.
Family Photography
Almost everyone remembers heading to Sears or the local photography place to get their family portrait done. These days, though, with the advent of digital SLR cameras, it’s easy to do this sort of thing at home.
You will have some initial start up costs here, since you need to invest in the right equipment. You’ll also want to take a course or apprentice with a professional in the field to learn the tricks of the trade, but once you’re up and running, it’s a very profitable business with little out of pocket expense (don’t forget – you no longer need to buy film!).
