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Thinking about a side business

February 8th, 2007 at 01:01 am

Recently I’ve been mulling over the idea of starting a side business. An extra 10k-15k net per year would allow us to visit the in-laws in Australia, take another nice vacation, add a front patio, buy cabinets for the laundry room, buy a 2nd laptop and other toys, and maybe even invest a little more. (Notice how low investing falls on the priority list --- bad Zetta!)

The problem is that I would have to give up my free time when DS naps for 3 hours each day. So ideally it should be something I enjoy and would want to spend time on anyway. I can’t see getting anything productive done during the 9 hours he is awake, and don’t want to take away from time with DH in the evenings or on the weekends. Let’s say I could spend 10-15 hours per week. Dreaming some more, the ideal would be something flexible where I could work on something at home as it suits me and sell it when its done (as opposed to working according to a fixed schedule or delivering on deadline.)

I really don’t know how much other people are able to net from that kind of schedule, but even 5k would be a nice addition to our finances.

Hobbies: reading, surfing the net
Skills: software design, writing, layout, public speaking,
Personality: detail oriented

I’ve browsed through a couple of books along the lines of “101 Home Business Ideas”, but haven’t come across anything appealing. Some ideas that do occur to me are freelance writer, newsletter editor, website designer, discussion forum moderator – I wonder how one gets into this sort of work, and how well it pays…

Anybody have a good entrepreneurial or home-business website to recommend?

3 Responses to “Thinking about a side business”

  1. monkeymama Says:
    1170956611

    Well good luck!

    No advice here. Just wanted to say though I would be very careful about planning a business on a nap schedule. Murphy's LAw -- you will find something, get all set up, and your kid will stop napping. LOL. Just be open to working a little on the evenings/weekends and such perhaps - in case. Or if you are planning for more kids? My first one still naps like crazy but the little one doesn't sleep at all. Oy vey! But it still seems to this day when the kids nap and you start on a project they always seem to wake up right away. On the days you want them to take a short nap they don't - and so I try to plan nothing around naps. I Still lapse and forget this rule and am always frustrated - hehe.

  2. pretty cheap jewelry Says:
    1170959502

    You must do something you love or it will be a waste of money and time. For example, forget Avon, Pampered Chef, etc.

    Just wait until the idea comes to you. I have a 6 and 8 year old and just started my business a year ago. It has been such fun, brought huge creativity into my life (even figuring out how to market, advertise, problem solve which spills into helping raise my kids).

    The money isn't alot. But it pays for itself. And a tiny bit little for an ocassional massage, a nice (second hand) desk for my daughter to do homework, a brush for my cat, etc.

    Good luck and don't rush.

  3. monkeymama Says:
    1171046952

    I wouldn't forget Avon or PAmpered Chef, I know people who do VERY well with these. But cooking or makeup is their passion - has to be to make it - that point is true. But there is good money to be had fairly easily with these outfits. I know quite a few women who support their families on Cookie Lee, MaryKay, Pampered Chef. I think it is a kind of all or nothing proposition though. It is hard to say I will just do one show a month for an extra few hundred. Then everyone else wants a show and next thing you know you have no life - LOL. Maybe if I didn't already work full-time...

    I don't think this is what you want at all, but I wouldn't discount it as a source of income, it can be quite lucrative. The successful ones have a true passion for it, indeed. Though I think the key is whatever you do, if you have passion and commitment.

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