We live in an amazing time where more moms are taking the plunge to work from home instead of the traditional office setting. While working from home comes with challenges, perhaps the biggest positive is that moms get a chance to be with their kids throughout the day, not just in the morning and evening as dictated by a normal 8-5 position. Depending on the flexibility of the job, women can still be a part of all their kids’ school activities, sports, mid-day play dates and moms group outings. Working from home isn’t for everyone, but if you’re interested in switching to being a WFHM, here are some great jobs for a stay-at-home mom that may work for you.
1. Freelance Writing Or Blogging
As a writer myself who works from home, it goes without saying that the first job I’m mentioning is writing and/or blogging. You don’t have to have a degree or a previous professional career in writing to freelance or blog, you just have to have a lot of determination and a strong voice that wants to be heard. Freelance writing is not for the faint of heart, but it can definitely pay the bills if you put in the hard work. I highly suggest starting your own website or blog to start out, as a place to hone your writing skills. When you submit work to other sites for publication, you can reference your own “portfolio” by referring sites to your own blog. We have a very simple tutorial on starting your own blog right here.
You can make even more side income by signing up for various affiliate programs and using them in your own blog articles. Even if you only plan to write for yourself, there is plenty money to be made by hosting advertising or writing sponsored posts.
2. Multi-Level Marketing Jobs
Multi-Level Marketing (MLM’s) jobs are not the “scam” they once were. Chances are you know someone who is involved in an MLM and sells a product. LulaRoe, Rodan + Fields, Jamberry and Young Living Essential Oils are just a few of the MLMs that moms are flocking to right now. The reason MLM’s work for moms is that you are entirely responsible for when and how much you want to work. If you end up getting other people to sign up under you (usually called a downline), then you not only make a percentage of money off items you sell, but a percentage of the sale anyone in your downline makes as well. MLM’s definitely have a sales edge to them, but you are also free to just market yourself to people you know to make a small side income.
3. Virtual Assistant
If you have administrative or social media skills, becoming a Virtual Assistant (VA) may be a great option for you. Virtual Assistants range from handling simple email replies for a small business owner, to project managers for large companies. The best part of being a virtual assistant is you seek out your own clients, set your own prices and your own hours. There is definitely hard work involved in setting up your services and costs, but the end result is a flexible job that can provide you tons of financial freedom. I highly recommend checking out The Virtual Savvy for tips on getting started in a career as a Virtual Assistant.
4. Social Media Manager or Graphic Designer
Nearly every business operates in the social media world now, and managing it can become overwhelming for a business owner. Even if your skill set is basic, you can make a good side hustle managing social media and Pinterest accounts for bloggers or businesses. Basic graphic design skills using programs like PicMonkey and Canva can also come in handy and are a great added bonus if you seek out a position as a social media manager.
5. Bookkeeper
Bookkeeping is not a job for everyone, but you actually do not need a degree in accounting to work in the field. I learned basic finance in a previous job, and was able to take my skills into a new position as a finance manager of a new church that allowed me to work from home. Depending on the business, your attention to detail and accounting knowledge may be just what a local business is looking for. If you have a willingness to learn, a business may also be willing to train you from scratch!
6. Sell On Etsy or Sheepbuy
Do you have a talent for crafting or sewing? Maybe you can sell your wares on an online marketplace like Etsy or Sheepbuy. Tons of moms put their painting, jewelry making and graphic design skills to use and make money through selling online. It’s a great option, especially for digital products that only require you to make the product once, but that can be purchased and downloaded over and over again. Working smarter, not harder!
Apart from Etsy, there is Sheepbuy, a marketplace where sellers don’t get charged a heavy commission or hidden fees for selling online. It is preferred as it allows both buyers and sellers to interact without any middleman. Selling on Sheepbuy is free to start. If you’d want to sell more, you may, for a low monthly fee of only $2.99. So try www.sheepbuy.com now to start selling and start saving!
7. Become A Coach
Life Coach, health coach or business coach- each of these programs are perfect for stay at home moms. You can obtain certifications through programs online, or work your way up through the ranks of an existing program like Beach Body. You get the satisfaction of helping other people, can set your own hours and use your own social media to help boost your business.
8. Customer Service Representative
If you have school-aged kiddos that are out of the house often, a customer service representative job may be ideal for you. Especially around the holidays, tons of companies hire work-from-home employees to handle customer care concerns. We already know that amazing companies like Williams Sonoma and Amazon have tons of opportunities and often treat their short term and WFH employees to discounts, too. While they may not be permanent jobs, they can help out with side income during the time you spend the most money––the holidays!
9. Transcriptionist
If you have the option to work in peace and quiet, you may want to consider becoming a transcriptionist. These types of jobs require typing ideating at 60 WPM, excellent listening skills, great attention to grammar and spelling and an overall great understanding of the English language. While it may be time-consuming work, if you can plug in at the end of the day, you could have the option for working with podcasters, attorneys or even medical practices.
10. Talk To Your Boss About Working Remotely
If none of these sound appealing to you, and you currently work out of the home, consider talking to your boss about switching to telecommuting (i.e. working remotely). You may be shocked at the types of jobs that can be done from home- and that many bosses are open to this idea. Recent studies have shown that companies are more open to remote employees because they tend to have a higher sense of dedication and appreciation for their job because they are allowed to work in a more productive environment (ie. not a stale cubicle with annoying coworkers). Obviously, if you are an associate at a retail store- this won’t work for you. But if you work in an office setting, why not consider a sit down with the boss? You have nothing to lose!
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