Home: Self Employment Information
While there are certain advantages to being self-employed, (ie: your time is your own, you don't have to answer to a boss, etc) there are also pittfalls. What many people don't realise when starting their own business adventure is that nearly 70% of your start-up costs should go into marketing and advertising. A lot of people have the "If I build it, they will come" mentality, and this is why something like 90% of all businesses fail within the first year. In order to be successful, you should develop a clear marketing plan, and find your niche.
We created a Learning Center for you to help guide you on this path. But, in the meantime, you may not have decided what kind of business to pursue, and that's what this page is for: to give you ideas in starting your own business. Of course, we recommend that you establish wealth within a set system, but for those of you who want to go it alone, here are just a few ideas to get you started:(we'll ad more as time allows)
Notary Public
People always need documents signed, or witnesses for important papers. A Notary Public is a public servant appointed by state government to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths. You get to work your own hours within whatever territory you desire. Each state has its own requirements and you can learn more at: www.nationalnotary.orgComputer or Design Freelancer
What skills do you have? Are you an whiz on the computer? Can you design up a storm? Then you need to sign on with Elance.com. It's the premier site where freelancers of any discipline can bid on projects from around the world. Literally. I recently posted a project to have some Php scripting completed, (web stuff) and I received bids from Russian, Pakistan, and even New Jersey! There is a fee for freelancers to get listed, but you'll be open to so many projects I'd be very surprised if you didn't make it back. Click on the link below for more info:The world's largest database of web design, graphic design, and admin projects! Click to see for yourself!
Sell your Art or Music
People in the Marketing world call it, "swag," my grandmother calls it "crap"but no matter what its called, people are still buying it. Everywhere we go there are t-shirts, mugs, paperweights, teddy bears, and thousands of other "things" that proclaim various ad slogans, witty comments or pretty pictures. It used to be that you'd have to get these items done at a specialty silk-screen shop. But now, there are several print-on-demand companies that allow even the most reluctant of artists to sell their creations. No overhead, no inventory, no having to deal with payment or shipping, and it COSTS YOU NOTHING TO CREATE!I know what you're thinking…that you're not an artist, and what on earth could you possibly have to sell? I am not a 2-d artist by any means. Nope, no way. I'm a puppeteer, people! But I have managed to create various logos for each one of my websites, I uploaded these pictures to café press, and now I can sell various items with my logo on them. It's quite cool. I think at the very least, people should have their own company imprinted on t-shirts…it spreads the word! Not only can you upload pictures to brand the chest of many a wearer, but they also allow you to create books, calendars, posters, and audio cds…Café Press handles all of the processing and shipping, all you have to do is market your site! And, it doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around art. My brother-in-law runs IrregularTimes.com, a political based site, and he makes an insane income from the sale of his café press products. Give it a try, I think you'll find it quite addicting!
Teach Community Ed
Chances are, you live in a city/town/community that offers some sort of adult enrichment classes. Perhaps you've taken Yoga, Cooking, another language, or even "Underwater Basket Weaving” (which, is actually the easiest way to weave…just so you know.)If there is an area of expertise that you have, or a passion that you could teach, apply to your local community ed. Programs. I've taken classes in Belly dancing, Spanish, Russian, Trigonometry, Swing Dancing, Yoga, Art, Ebay, Healthy Feet, Investing, and tons more. And I've earned a pretty decent income teaching others on how to get started in Mystery Shopping, Making Money on the Web, and Finding your Passion.
You want to plan ahead for this, keeping in mind that they print their publications about a semester ahead. Call your local school districts, community centers, and Adult Ed programs to see if they have enrichment programs, and what you need to do to teach!
Dog Walker
My very first job ever was to walk my neighbour's dog. I know, not very romantic, but I was about 11, and earning $1 a day was a nice benefit. When I lived in Seattle, I knew a girl in college who started her own dog-walking company. She had about 10 charges that she took care of every week, and made a decent income doing so. There are actually pet-sitting companies who hire people to go in and look after pets whose owners are away on holiday, or even just at work. It's fascinating to me. You can create your own hours, and get exercise at the same time! To start, you can advertise at local pet stores, dog rescues, and training facilities. It's a great way to make extra money when you need to!Be a Consultant
Do you have knowledge in a certain field of expertise? You can become a consultant. Martha Stewart started out by selling cakes and planning birthday parties, now she's the domestic dominatrix. Because of my self-employment experiences, I have consulted with people about career choices, business oppourtunites, and general life direction. It isn't something that I actively pursue, mostly people contact me for help, and I enjoy helping and seeing them prosper.Think of 5 things that you do really well, and research how others may need that information. Sometimes it just takes a little advertising to create a consulting business. For work-at-home moms, one of the most successful enterprises I've seen is a clinic for teenage girls on how to be a babysitter…the oppourtunities are endless!
