Great Ideas for Becoming Self Employed

Great Ideas for Becoming Self Employed

By B Ferguson

If you are sick and tired of your boring job, low pay, or lousy boss, then it’s time for some changes. Self employment has the incredible potential to change your life forever. Sure the concept sounds scary at first. Going into business for yourself has many risks and little security, but it also has the incredible potential to drastically improve your life. Imagine a life without a boss. You can make your own schedule and work when you want. There is no more worrying about office politics, missed promotions, low salary increases, or corporate restructuring. Once you become self employed, you are the boss. Your income will be totally dependent on you and nobody else.

Independent Contractors

Whether you are looking for self employment ideas that will make you rich or simply add flexibility to your life, there are plenty of options that can be done at home. The list of self employment ideas below provides you with just a few of the many possibilities for people who want to work from home.

Blogger – Believe it or not, the simple act of setting up and maintaining a blog can sometimes bring in a lot of money for the site owner. The key is to create a blog that generates significant amounts of traffic to your site. This is not always easy to do though. You need to regularly create unique content that offers value to all of the people visiting your site. Websites that generate enough traffic are then able to earn income through ad revenue. Selling ad space, marketing affiliate products, or using Google’s AdSense program are a variety of revenue streams that bloggers can take advantage of.

Freelance Writer – This covers a wide range of writing styles. As a freelance writer you can write for a variety of print publications including newspapers, magazines, and journals. There are also plenty of opportunities for freelance writing gigs online. Freelance writers often contribute content to authority websites, blogs, merchant sites, and affiliate websites. Some of the best places to search for jobs or advertise your services are oDesk, Elance, and Freelancer.

Medical Transcriptionist – This a great job that most people are qualified to do from their home. A medical transcriptionist, also known as an MT, takes a doctor’s voice recordings and transfers them into writing. There are no specific requirements for this profession, but there are several training programs available. Gaining certification from the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) is a great way to get started in the field.

Virtual Assistant – Imagine a secretary that works from home and you’ll understand what a virtual assistant is. With outsourcing becoming ever more prevalent, most office jobs can be done by independent contractors around the world. A virtual assistant often provides the same services as an in-house administrative assistant.

Online Teacher – Believe it or not, teaching has gone virtual. Particularly in the field of ESL (English as a Second Language), online teachers are being sought after. In foreign countries around the world, the costs of hiring a native speaking English teacher is usually quite high. Some times private lessons will cost anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour. More and more foreign nationals are turning to the internet for cheaper options. This has opened up an incredible opportunity to teach English from your home. Some self employment ideas are limited based on your education. The best part about this opportunity is that you don’t need to be licensed or even have teaching experience. There are a number of sites, including Verbal Planet and WizIQ, which allow you to set up lessons with students. This is also an easy business to set up on your own. Simply post ads in the Seoul, Tokyo, or Taipei section of Craigslist. All you need to conduct your lessons is a reliable internet connection and Skype.

Affiliate Marketer – As far as at-home self employment ideas go, this is one of the most popular. There are a number of different ways to do this. The most common way is to create a website that drives traffic to merchant sites. If you are part of that merchant’s affiliate program, you will receive commissions when customers originating from your site purchase their products or services. The difficulty comes in generating traffic. Unless you are paying for traffic, you are dependent on Google’s search results. This can be problematic as Google is constantly changing the way they view websites and subsequently rank them. There are numerous internet marketing e-books, websites, and programs that can help you get started.

Starting a Business

Outside of the self employment ideas that require high levels of education (doctor, dentist, veterinarian, lawyer, fashion designer, etc…) there are a number of other ways to go into business for yourself.

Franchise Business Owner – This is one of the safest and best ways to go into business for yourself. Buying into a reputable franchise system provides you with a number of advantages. A good franchiser offers large-scale marketing campaigns, a well-known brand name, and a proven system. There is still no guarantee of success, but a lot of the pitfalls that startup business owners face are avoided.

Startup Business Owner – Of all the self employment ideas we’ve covered, this is by far the riskiest and most difficult to succeed at. If you have a great startup business idea, however, It can also wind up being the most lucrative. Startups are for the true entrepreneurs. If you’ve got an innovative new product or an amazing idea that you believe fills an important need or want, then by all means give it a shot. One of the keys to getting a startup off the ground is financing. You need enough money to give your business a real shot at success. Make sure you have enough capital to cover your operating expenses for at least six months. And remember, most businesses take time to succeed. it may take as long as 2 to 3 years before your business becomes profitable.

Turnkey Business Owner – A turnkey business is an established business that is ready for operation when sold. Buying a turnkey business is one of the best ways to limit your risk. If researched properly, you can buy a successful business that will instantly provide profits. All self employment ideas come with risk, but any way you can limit that risk will benefit you in the long run.

Your time has finally come. Take advantage of all the great self employment opportunities that are just around the corner.

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