Working at home

gal1998 · Jan 29, 2005

Hopefully, some here can give me some ideas, tips, help.
I have a big decision to make in a few months regarding my daughter and if I could work at home or not.
I have done some searching online, but I do know most of it is scams. I refuse to invest money to a place that wants me to work for them.
What I would like to do is create a business, not sure how much income it would make, but I want to make and mail cards, calendars for people who are too busy to do it themselves. The cards would be personalized with names, pics, whatever they want.
Do you think this could be a long term possiblity, or maybe just a short burst at the beginning, then dwindle down?
I do know it would take a lot of advertising to start up.

Or any other ideas I could do would be deeply appreciated.
Thanks
Gal

gal1998 · Jan 29, 2005

Bumping this up. I will be gone for a while, but hoping to have some replies when I get back.
Take care all

Gal

DavidGP · Jan 29, 2005

The personalised card & calendar business sounds a good one but a few things to look at first are..

1. Your design talent, what I mean is are you upto the design challenge to make your product stand out from the norm?

2. Is there any business locally that does this already, maybe talk to friends, locals and local companies and see if they would be willing to purchase home made personalised cards/calendars etc from you, treat it as market recearch, if there is nothing locally then you may have hit a winning idea.

3. Work out how much money you would need to bring in each week, research how to setup a small business just to see whats involved in the process.

4. Do you have the software and hardware to produce these cards/calendars so they look professional, if not price up some equipment.

5. Look into setting up a website to retail them online... this opens up not only locally but nationally.

The card idea would and could last all year round, not only could you do birthday, christmas cards etc, but you could also do personalised invatations to parties and events ( local companies etc hold events they may like invites printed up for ) the calendar side is more seasonal.. end of year, if you a good at wording letters then another idea that could go along with the cards/calendars is resumes and covering letters service.

You are right not to give money to companies for working from home for them BUT you may find that some local companies may outsource certain computer/office work... eg. mass mailings, could the work you do now or any of the skills you have be transfered to working from home?

maybe some of these in this link may help
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=work+from+home&meta=

Kodo · Jan 29, 2005

also, take note that working at home so you can stay home with your child is a good idea, but may not work out as planned. My wife started her own CPA business from home and it quickly evolved into us having to send our son to daycare because she got too busy. You may want to seriously consider having a sitter watch your child at home while you are working (at home) so you can get your work done or you won't have the time to do it all. Trust me, my wife and I have been through this for 3 years.

mcadam · Jan 29, 2005

My dad has been working at home for 4 years now and hates it. Is looking for a new job but in the same area of banking. It's vital to bear in mind children and other distractions...

DavidGP · Jan 29, 2005

superb input guys, mcadam I was talking with my uncle today about the very same topic as one of my cousins is a designer for th emotor industry and works from home and has converted garage to an office because of the potential distraction factor.

BUT if I remember right gal1998 needs to be close or supervise her daughter.

gal1998 · Jan 29, 2005

Thanks to all for the help. Halo you are correct with the need for my daughter to be supervised.
Yes, I do have the software and hardware to do this. I have done it off and on for people I work with... cards, calendars, invitations to a party and an anniversary.
All were pleased with the results and I know I would have a lot of word of mouth advertising thru them.

I live in the middle of nowhere in Minnesota. Two hours from the cities, 45 miles from St. Cloud or Alexandria, so no, I don't know anywhere else close that does anything like this.

Thanks again.
Gal

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Working at home

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