Just recently, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released a report showing private employment has decreased by 15% since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, employment at small and medium-sized businesses saw a higher drop at 17%. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate overall continues to plunge as the pandemic continues to disrupt businesses across the country.
The good news is, there are currently many more ways of earning a living from home than before the pandemic started. Now, you don’t necessarily have to find another “real job” to move on with life after being laid off. You can create a business from home, which you can run entirely on your terms. Here are some ideas that you can grow over time.
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Personal Training Services
With the growing numbers of people searching for expert guidance on dieting, weight loss, and muscle building, virtual fitness trainers have gained popularity during the pandemic. Online personal trainers usually offer one-on-one services and group sessions to clients at different price points ranging from about $40 to $70 per hour. Group fitness training sessions start at $30 per class.
A personal trainer’s overall success usually relies on their level of expertise and their ability to generate real, tangible results. Success and growth for most fitness training businesses depend mainly on referrals and delivering exceptional results. Luckily, entrepreneurs looking to create a niche in personal training don’t have to rely on opening or working in a large corporate gym.
Instead, you can start with a fitness consultancy service and grow your clientele independently online. If you’re new to setting up and running a business from home, there is plenty of help for home-based businesses available to get you started.
House Cleaning Business
House cleaning is one of the easiest businesses to start since it requires relatively low overhead costs and a skill set that is very easy to acquire. Depending on how much you are willing to grow, the income potential is limitless. A typical housecleaner earns between $25 to $50 per hour, depending on the bulk of the job offered. But it’s possible to make more if you can clean quickly and effectively.
The first step is to reach out to the people you know in your neighborhood and post on your community’s Facebook or social media pages. Once you have worked with a few clients, it will be easier to find more homes to clean via referrals and word of mouth.
Makeup Consulting
Makeup consulting demands creativity, expertise, and patience, but it is a business idea that requires little or no formal training. This venture provides a market for customers who want to spice up their looks and theatrical production companies and other organizations who use stage makeup.
There are opportunities for makeup consultants to work at house parties, weddings, children’s parties and funerals. Networking is a critical factor for the venture to grow, and so is an eye for beauty and a keen sense of organization. It’s also vital to stay ahead of beauty trends.
Become a Virtual Assistant (VA)
Virtual assistants take on various tasks for their clients. These include designing basic graphics, creating documents, answering emails, and writing and editing website content. Clients may also need assistance scheduling appointments, publishing content on different platforms, and many other tasks, as required.
Most experienced virtual assistants charge more than $50 per hour, whereas a beginner virtual assistant can comfortably charge $25 per hour. You can generally choose to work as a skilled virtual assistant through different websites such as Zirtual or Upwork.
Join the Work from Home Revolution
If everyday commuting, work cubicles, and co-workers do not appeal to you, why not try one of the home business ideas listed here? Working from home allows you to set your own schedule, gives you flexibility in income potential, and gives you the opportunity to pursue your passions at your own pace. If you are tired of waiting for employers to create jobs for you, then it’s about time for you to take control.
With a home-based business, you can build a reliable and successful business in the comfort of your own home and achieve your dream of a great work-life balance.