Home Based Business

[Somebody]

Do any of you have home based businesses?

Can you give suggestions of some to look into?

[Josh]

Well. My business suddenly became based from home whether I wanted it to be or not. So did my employer’s.

[RZehr]

I’d avoid multilevel marketing.

[Ken]

Yes, avoid multi-level marketing. I don't know anyone who has come out of that successful, or with their friends intact.

I've seen people privatize their existing professional jobs and turn them into consulting jobs. I did that for 3 years when I left NOAA in Alaska and moved to TX for my wife's career. I basically kept doing my old job writing environmental impact statements on commercial fisheries issues but out of a home office. I grew weary of having my professional life 3 time zones away and took a pay cut by going into science teaching instead, where I was at least working in my local community. I found that a lot more rewarding. But I know a lot of people who have basically done the same thing. To make it work you basically have to have already done the job as before and have all the contacts.

I know people who have established profitable ebay businesses. Mostly by finding cheap stuff in one part of the country and selling it elsewhere. Like say scouring rural areas for antiques and collectibles at estate auctions and such. I met a guy who went around TX finding old windmills, buying them for cheap, and re-selling them.

I know people who have established successful home-based food businesses. Like, for example, I ran across these girls (well... their parents) when they were kids and I was stationed in False Pass Alaska. They've built a successful home-based seafood business: https://aksalmonsisters.com/

[steve-in-kville]

I’d avoid multilevel marketing.

This^^^

Just don't. No matter what term they disguise it as. It never ends well.

What skill set or talents do you have?

[mike]

I know of a lady who recently started a business from home delivering boxes of assorted produce. She buys produce, eggs, and flowers from a produce auction and from local growers, creates an assortment of items, and markets the boxes via Facebook. The boxes are $25 or $30 per box, and her customers really seem to like them.

[Somebody]

We aren't looking for network marketing. We'd like to do something as a family. Or several things! We have a variety of interests, talents, or skills. Some of my family are quite creative.

Drawing, hand made pottery, gardening, green house, computers, sewing. I'm sure there are more but, this is what came to mind at the moment.

[steve-in-kville]

I did the ebay thing years ago, but to really be profitable, you need to have a niche. I had found one, did really well, but then ebays regulations changed and couldn't do it anymore. Had the children involved, they made some money and it was fun. Obviously you would need a camera and a good web connection, plus frequent trips to the post office to make it efficient.

[mike]

We aren't looking for network marketing. We'd like to do something as a family. Or several things! We have a variety of interests, talents, or skills. Some of my family are quite creative.

Drawing, hand made pottery, gardening, green house, computers, sewing. I'm sure there are more but, this is what came to mind at the moment.

One of my employees is currently sewing masks which she sells in my store. It has been wildly successful and she, her mother, and her sister have been busy for months making them, and they've made some real money. Even if/when the mask mandates go away, I assume there will be demand for homemade masks for some time to come. You can get really creative with the designs.

[barnhart]

I would suggest for long term success, it must be closely related to something you are already good at or have a lot of interest in.