Become a Mompreneur: 10 Money-Making Ideas for Moms at Home
by Stephanie Chandler


Many moms struggle to find a way to earn some extra income and still have flexible time to devote to family. Whether you’re interested in part-time work or want to start a full-time business at home, here are ten business ideas that can fit into the busiest of schedules.
1. Virtual Assistant – Virtual Assistants provide administrative services to small businesses that don’t have in-house staff to handle these duties. A variety of tasks can be offered at an hourly rate or on a per-job basis ranging from contact database management and writing and sending business letters, to designing brochures and newsletters and coordinating mass-mailings. Realtors and small business owners make good target clients for these kinds of services.

2. Freelance Writer – Freelancers write articles for newspapers and magazines. Most articles require research, must be well-written, and suited to the style of the publication. Pay can vary widely from $.10 - $2.00 per word. Businesses also contract freelance writers to create reports, press releases, advertising copy, and other special projects.

3. Computer Tutor – Computer tutors teach students how to navigate the internet, access email, set up a new computer, and use programs like Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Quickbooks. These services can be delivered one-on-one or in classes held at local adult learning campuses, retirement centers, and churches. Tutors can charge by the hour or a fee for class registration.

4. Pet Sitter – Pet sitters provide in-home pet care while pet owners are on vacation. Typical service offerings include feeding and playing with the animals, yard or litter box cleanup, and dog walking. Pet sitters usually charge a per-visit fee.

5. Infopreneur - Infopreneurs sell information in the form of books, e-books, special reports, teleconferences, seminars, workbooks, and video programs. You can take advantage of your expertise in business, hobbies, or virtually any subject matter by hosting a website to sell your information products.

6. Ebay Trading Assistant – Trading assistants provide a service to members of their community by acting as sales brokers on eBay. These brokers contract with clients to list items for sale, collect fees from buyers, ship the items and then keep a percentage of the profits—usually between 30-50%. This is an excellent service to offer people who are not computer savvy yet have items they would like to sell online. EBay offers a complimentary directory where trading assistants can promote their services.

7. Knitted Creations – Knitting is a hot trend with plenty of opportunities for generating income. If you create hand-crafted scarves, blankets, sweaters or hats, you can sell them on eBay, consign them with local boutiques or set up a booth at a local crafts fair. You could also teach knitting classes in your home, through local adult learning centers, or at craft stores.

8. Kid Taxi – If you’re already taking your own kids to and from school, why not get paid to taxi other people’s kids? Many parents would be happy to spend some cash to make sure their kids get to and from school safely.

9. Resume Designer – Resume designers help job seekers by crafting professional resumes and cover letters. Resumes can be created using special software or with templates and a basic word processing program. This service is in demand with college students and all kinds of job seekers. Fees range from $50 - $250 depending on the level of work involved.

10. Custom Recipe Books – Every family has sacred and favorite recipes that deserve to be preserved for future generations. Creating a custom recipe book involves compiling recipes in a keepsake book using a word processing program and your creative skills. These books make great gifts and could potentially be ordered by everyone in the family tree. Books can be printed at a local copy shop or through an online publishing service such as www.lulu.com.

If you decide to start your own business, contact your county business license department and apply for the necessary permits. Fees range from $50 to $200 and the application process is relatively simple. There can be many tax advantages with a home-based business so be sure to save receipts, track any business-related mileage, and develop a solid system for accounting. Soon you could find yourself enjoying the financial and emotional rewards of business ownership—all on your own terms.


Keywords: work at home moms, wahm, stay at home moms, business ideas

About the Author
Stephanie Chandler, Sacramento, CA
Stephanie@BusinessInfoGuide.com
More Details about work at home moms here. Stephanie Chandler is the author of “The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide” (Aventine) and “From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money With Books, E-books and Other Information Products” (Wiley, coming Fall 2006). Visit http://www.BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs.

5 Energy Boosting Tips for Busy Women
by Diane Randall

Have you lost the energy that you once had in your life? Are you feeling drained at the end of the work day? I know firsthand that women need to increase their energy levels in order to get more of what they want out of their lives. Lack of energy is the number one complaint I hear from every woman that I speak to.
Years ago I taught a software training class for five consecutive days; at the beginning of the week I had high energy levels. However, by day 5, my energy was depleted—mentally, physically and emotionally. It took me two weeks to replenish my energy. Today, I use energy boosters interspersed throughout my day to help me reclaim the energy expended so that I feel revitalized throughout the entire day. According to authors, Jim Loehr, Ed.D and Tony Schwartz who wrote the book entitled The Power of Full Engagement “managing energy, not time, is the key to enduring high performance as well as to health, happiness, and life balance...We must learn to live our lives as a series of sprints – fully engaged for periods of time – and then fully disengaged and seeking renewal”. In other words, if you identify and reduce stress triggers, learn to pace yourself, take excellent care of your body, set boundaries around your life and create a support system-- your energy levels will increase and remain high daily.

Identify and reduce stress triggers. Stress is an unavoidable part of life. Identify the cause or circumstances of stress — where you were or your physical and emotional state. Life events such as traffic, work and family increase stress. Find healthy ways to cope with stress. Recognize that stress depletes energy but your reaction to it helps you minimize the impact.

Learn to pace yourself. Determine what makes you happy and give yourself what you need. Pay attention to the parts of your life that are most important. Create daily practices that nurture your ability to build energy levels---take breaks, eat healthy snacks, listen to music, focus on the present and what’s within your ability to control.

Take care of your body. Make yourself number one as a priority; spend your energy maximizing your health and wellness. Try mind-body exercises, such as breathing, meditation and yoga. Be physically active everyday and get plenty of rest. Take time to nourish your body with a massage, which releases tension, revitalizes energy, and helps you increase vitality.

Set boundaries around your life. Say “no” to things that don’t support your overall priorities. Only accept requests that support you at home and in the workplace. Learn your limits--pay attention to what you can and cannot do to reduce the stress of excessive demands on your life. Make the choice not to overload your schedule.

Create A Support System. Partner with a wellness coach who can create a structure of accountability and support as you find ways to boost your energy everyday. Remember, life can drain your energy, it can steal it and suck it away-or, you can take steps to boost your energy. It's kind of like putting up shields for the Starship Enterprise. When the shields are up and the armor plating is on, your energy levels are stored-and you're fueling yourself. Take three actions this week to boost your energy. Email me at Diane@LifeAccelerated.com to share with me personally what has worked for you. I'd love to hear about your energy boosting success!



About the Author
Diane Randall, Chicago, Illinois USA
Diane@LifeAccelerated.com
More Details about personal life coaching here. Diane Randall is a Certified Wellness Coach who helps women in technology reclaim what they want out of their lives. A wellness expert and media resource, Diane speaks and writes about a variety of health and wellness related topics affecting women. Visit her online at www.LifeAccelerated.com or email Diane@LifeAccelerated.com for more information.