I love lists. I’m always creating them, often losing them, and hardly accomplishing them in their entirety – but I love them. That’s why I was really excited to come across a list of 200 great businesses you can start and run from home. I found it really inspiring, so I though I would share it with you. The list was featured in the book: The 200 Best Home Businesses by Katina Z. Jones.
Accountant
Adoption Agency
Advertising Agency
Advertising Sales Representative
Animal Breeder
Antiques Dealer
Apartment Preparation Service
Artists’/Photographers’ Agent
Arts Festival Promoter
Association Management Service
Auctioneer
Auditor
Automotive Detailing
Automotive Loan Broker
Automotive Maintenance
Automotive Paint Touch-Up Professional
Band Manager
Bankruptcy Service
Bartending Service
Bartering Service
Bed & Breakfast
Bicycle Rental
Boat Maintenance/Cleaning Service
Book Indexer
Book Packager
Bookkeeper
Bridal Consultant
Bridal Show Promoter
Building Maintenance Service
Business Broker
Business Form Production and Sales
Business Networking Service
Business Plan Writer
Cake Decorator
Calligrapher
Career Counselor
Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning
Catalog Retailer
Caterer
Childbirth Instructor
Child-Care Referral Service
Collectibles Broker
Collection Agency
College Application Consultant
College Internship Placement Service
Color Consultant
Commercial Cleaning Service
Commercial Photographer
Commercial Plant Watering Service
Computer Consultant
Computer Maintenance Service
Computer Programmer/Database Consultant
Computer Trainer
Concert Promoter
Consulting Engineer
Cooking Instructor
Corporate Art Consultant
Counselor/Psychologist
Courier Service
Credit Consultant
Damage Restoration Service
Dating Service
Day-Care Service (Child or Adult)
Desktop Publisher
Digital Imaging Service
Disability Consultant
Disc Jockey
Dog Trainer
Doll Repair Service
Draftsperson
e-Book Publisher
Efficiency Expert
Electrical Contractor
Employee Benefits Consultant
Employee Leasing
Engraving Service
Envelope Stuffing Service
Etiquette Advisor
Event Planner
Executive Search Firm
Fan Club Management
Fax-on-Demand Service
Feng Shui Consultant
Financial Aid Consultant
Financial Planner
First Aid/CPR Instructor
Food Item Manufacturer
Framing Service
Freelance Writer/Copyeditor/Illustrator
Gardening Consultant/Landscaper
Genealogical Service
Gerontology Consultant
Gift Basket Business
Government Contract Consulting
Grant Writer
Graphic Designer
Hairstylist
Handbill Distribution
Handyman Network
Home Business Consultant
Home Entertainment System Service
Home Health Care Service
Home Inspector
Home Preparation Service
Homeschooling Consultant
Image Consultant
Incorporation Service for Businesses
Insurance Agent
Interior Designer
Jewelry Designer
Knitting/Crocheting Instructor
Lactation Consultant
Laundry Service
Lawn Care Service
Lawyer
Licensing Agent
Literary Agent
Litigation Management Service
Magician
Mailing List Service
Makeup Artist
Management Consultant
Manicurist
Manufacturer’s Representative
Marketing Consultant
Massage Therapist
Meal to Go
Mediator
Medical Claims Processing
Medical Transcriptionist
Meeting Planner
Message Retrieval Serivce
Messenger Service
Mobile Paper-Shredding Service
Modeling Agency
Monogramming Service
Mortgage Loan Broker
Mover
Multilevel Marketing
Music Instructor/Professional Musician
Mystery Shopper
Nanny Service
Newspaper Delivery Service
Notary Public
Online Auction Consignment Service
Online Marketing Specialist
Online Message Board Manager
Online Retailer
Online Service Consultant
Outdoor Adventures
Outplacement Serivce
Paging Service
Party Planner
Personal Assistant
Personal Development Coach
Personal Instructor/Fitness Trainer
Personal Shopper
Pet Grooming
Political Campaign Manager
Pool Maintenance
Printing Broker
Private Tutor
Product Designer
Professional Organizer
Property Management Service
Public Pay Phone Service
Public Relations Consultant
Publisher of Personalized Children’s Books
Rare Book Dealer
Real Estate Broker
Relocation Consultant
Repair Service
Resume Service
Retirement Planner
Reunion Organizer
Roommate Referral Service
Rubber Stamp Business
Sales of Novelty and Promotional Products
Sales Representative
Sales Trainer
Seamstress
Secretarial Service
Seminar Service
Silk Flower Arranger
Small Business Consultant
Standardized Test Preparatory Services
Stock Photography Service
Systems Integrator
Tax Preparation Service
Telemarketing Service
Temporary Employment Agency
Ticket Broker
Time-Management Specialist
Trademark Agent
Translation Services
Travel Agent
Upholsterer
Used Computer Sales
Vacation Rentals Broker
Vacuum Cleaner Repair
Vending Machine Service
Videographer
Web Site Developer
Window Treatment Specialist
Word-Processing Service
Workers’ Compensation Consultant
Holly Reisem Hanna and is the founder of ‘The Work at Home Woman’, a website dedicated to helping women and moms fulfill their dreams of working at home and/or becoming self employed, while providing inspiration, motivation and support.
Holly is a true inspiration for moms struggling to translate their traditional career skills into a creative service-based business. She has successfully taken the important research skills she gained during her years as a nurse and converted them into a business that helps other women start their own businesses.
Read on to learn more.
From Nursing to Networking
An Interview with Holly Reisem Hanna
Noelle:
How did you decide to start The Work at Home Woman? What were you doing beforehand that led you to this idea?
Holly:
I didn’t initially start out wanting to be an entrepreneur. Before my first daughter was born in 2007, I had a full time job as an RN Clinical Research Coordinator. But, from the minute my daughter was placed in my arms, I knew that I would not be able to return to my full-time job. I decided at that point to become a full-time stay a home mom.
However, after 9 months as a stay at home mom I got motivated to find a way to make some extra money from home. I started asking past employers and friends if there was any work that I could do for them while caring for my daughter at home. My networking efforts paid off and in December 2007, I started working from home by completing marketing research, establishing joint ventures and working as a social network liaison for a small publishing company that a friend was working for.
Noelle:
Wow. So ‘The Work at Home Woman’ website wasn’t actually your first business!
Holly:
Not actually! During the time I spent looking for work at home opportunities I learned a lot of valuable marketing skills and became very familiar with the work at home market. This knowledge motivated me to find a way to help other women and mothers find work at home opportunities, so I decided to create the ‘The Work at Home Woman’ website. Today, I still do some work as a social network liaison in addition to running the site.
Noelle:
What a great idea you had! The site is truly a great resource for women looking for work at home opportunities. How long did it take you to put together ‘The Work at Home Woman’ website?
Holly:
It took me 16 months to launch the site. I launched it on March 19, 2009 and I have been growing the business ever since.
Noelle:
Super! You mentioned however that you still working part time as a social networking liaison. I think it’s important that people realize you are essentially working two jobs at once while the site is in its start-up phase. Sometimes that is what you need to do!
Holly:
For sure, but I’m passionate about building a career from this site and it’s worth the extra work.
Noelle:
How will you generate income from the site?
Holly:
I did a lot of research on how to make money with a website, and I think advertising and affiliate marketing are the best way to generate income from a website.
Noelle:
Well, that’s awesome. Have you replaced your former income with your new businesses?
Holly:
I haven’t yet replaced my former salary, but I am also not working as much as I used to. I have income coming in, and although it may not be as much as I want it to be, I think the most important thing is that I enjoy what I do!
Noelle:
So true! What has been your biggest challenge as a mompreneur?
Holly:
The biggest challenge is certainly having enough time! I have a busy two year old to keep up with!
Noelle:
How do you manage childcare? I know that’s a great concern to the aspiring mompreneurs I work with.
Holly:
I build my work schedule around my daughter’s schedule. I always try to spend some time working before she wakes up. I also do additional work while she naps. However, as she gets older, her schedule continues to change, and I am currently evaluating a Mother’s Morning Out program that would give me set number of hours to work two days per week.
Mompreneurs with young children need to know that their children’s routines will constantly change. It’s important to remain flexible and modify your work habits as you go.
Noelle:
I agree. What’s been your biggest surprise about mompreneurship?
Holly:
I’ve been really surprised that I don’t miss the social interaction I had during my former career as much as I thought I would. My current business gives me the opportunity to interact with so many moms both online and in person. I also really enjoy working from home. I can get so much done in a short period of time without the interruptions!
One thing that isn’t is a surprise, is that I got rid of a major commute and I don’t miss that at all!
Noelle:
Ha! I’m so glad to hear you don’t feel you are lacking social interaction as a work from home mom. One of the things we mention in our book is that working at home can get lonely, but it’s great to see that you have been able to avoid that through aggressive networking. Do you have any final advice for aspiring mompreneurs?
Holly:
Sure. Now is a great time to start a work from home business. There are plenty of great opportunities out there. Some hot industries include virtual assistants, copy writers and social network marketing consultants. If it’s your goal to launch a work from home business, do one thing to move that goal ahead today!
Noelle:
Thanks Holly! I encourage all readers interested in starting a work at home business to visit your website today.
