I have done bookwork for a local business for the past 3 years. Recently, a computer took over my job. I have 2 small children and it is not an option for me to leave my home for employment. Does anyone have any ideas for work I could do in my home or on my land? We need the cash. We have 7 acres, a garden spot, goats, chickens, and a couple rabbits. Thanks for any ideas.

-- Renee Green (timandrenee@juno.com), January 05, 2000

Answers

What are your interests? Do you have a hobby that you spend a lot of time doing? For instance, I sew - A LOT. Therefore, my natural business choice is sewing related. Since I like to plan my projects, and make anything myself that I possibly can, I went into pattern production.

So anyway, list your INTERESTS. I bet a bunch of us could suggest things once you do that!

-- Becky Michelsen (beckymom@kjsl.com), January 05, 2000.

Many small business owners are intimidated by the paperwork required to operate a business and complete the various tax forms, insurance forms, workman's comp, etc.

More than one home business has thrived by taking this burden from a harried owner/operator

-- Cornelius A. Van Milligen (CAVM@AOL.com), January 07, 2000.

I agree with Cornelius. My sister-in-law took over the office work for a contractor who was keeping receipts and invoices in a oatmeal box. There could be other small business out there who would be glad to get the paperwork off their hands.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm@ix.netcom.com), January 07, 2000.

I would agree with the people who already gave you some suggestions. In the line of bookkeeping, have you considered doing income taxes? It takes a lot of time for a bit over 3 months of the year, but then you are almost off work for the rest of the year. My wife did this for many years, everything from a partner in her own office to working for others including H&R Block.

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), January 10, 2000.

Renee, This suggestion may not be right for you, but it's the solution I have found to quit the Post Office, stay home with my kids and homeschool. My husband and I are Enrich distributors, an herbal business,(MLM, yes, not ashamed of that for it's residual income). We work with a lot of people who are looking for alternative medicine and who come to us for it. We do bi-weekly herbal hours at local libraries, etc. and teach people how to cleanse and take responsibility for their own health. With a competent company behind us, we have all the support we could possibly need for this business. We are doing life-changing work that is also fun. There's no large start up fee and very low overhead.

-- Patrice Bertke (herbalgroup@skybest.com), January 10, 2000.

When I worked at home and watched the kids in the late 1980s (recession victim), I made a tidy income -- not big bucks, but it paid for the groceries and the lights, my working wife covered the rest -- by raising bedding plants for local garden centers. I started 3,000, 4,000 in the backyard every month for three or four months each year. If gardening is an interest, ask around at the garden centers NOW for what they might want in the spring. I just saw a brief write-up about a similar business in, I think, Countryside. Ring any bells with anyone?

-- Passing (passingthru@here.com), January 11, 2000.

Yes...the website is www.freeplants.com I read about it in countryside last issue. I think this really has a lot of potential- gonna give it a try. There is a newsletter you can get-and it is pretty good-lots of useful information.

-- eric (heatsongstormteam@yahoo.com), January 26, 2000.

Check out www.friendsinbusiness.com , she has some ideas for working at home, resources, info on get rich scams, and a lively forum.

-- dani (teamtc@quixnet.net), February 21, 2000.

Nine years ago, (gosh, has it been that long???), when I was 14, I started selling homemade pies from my home. I just put out a couple handmade signs, and people started stopping by. Now I have professional looking signs that I made myself, and I average $100 a month. Not much, but not bad for being 10 miles from town. I work full-time, so it's not bad for a side business. I love to bake, so I have fresh pies on the weekend, and frozen pies during the week. When no one is home, it's self-serve, and I've only had two pies dissappear in 9 years. I thought the Health Dept. would jump on me, but they said as long as they are packaged for off-premises consumption, bake on. I really enjoy it. I have a dry-erase board hanging up with what's in the freezer on there along w/where to put the money. A couple years ago a tv station even came and did a 5-minute blip on my little business, that was fun. Anyway...find a niche, then fill it! :-)

-- Michelle (thepieplace@techline.com), June 01, 2000.

If you are going to bake & sell as Michelle is doing --check your state laws before you try it! I use to be an inspector & in Ks. you would have a big fine & I would have shut you down for doing that---& if you saw some people's kitchenS & how dirty they were, you would know why they have the laws they do! I have always had small businesses & I have always hated the bookwork! I agree with the others--if you know someone who has a small business-& you think, you would like to work with them--approach them about doing their bookwork! Once you get one small business & do a good job for them-- you won't have to advertise--as they will spread the word for you! (one girl I had doing my books who respected that my business was MINE & no one else's --& she showed me some ways I could cut costs-I gave her a raise--but most book keepers I have had, felt they could share MY BUSINESS with other people!) Best wishes, Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), June 01, 2000.

I don't know if you found the perfect business yet, but here are some more ideas in case you haven't: Check out www.amazon.com for books on home-based businesses (check them out of your library). Check out http://www.nicholsgardennursery.com and get their catalog; they have lots of information on herb businesses. Do an inventory of your skills, including your transferable skills (look at The Three Boxes of Life [and how to get out of them]). Transferable skills are things like time managment, or good design skills.

-- Karen Isaacson (karen@terraceweb.com), August 06, 2000.

I do data entry on the computer, labeling & hand-stuff envelopes for a bulk-mailing business at home. It's the stuff they don't have machines or time for. I don't sort the data or do the mailing part. A printing co. might have leads for this kind of work. My egg sales have not been consistant. I just dropped the price to 50 cents a dozen to help avoid having such a surplus!

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), August 07, 2000.