Working from Home

[GotToGetAway]

Does anyone on the forum work from home?

I'm looking for suggestions for legitimate work from home ideas (besides Ebay because I already do that).

I'm too worried things on the internet are scams and looking for people who may have first hand experience.

Thanks in advance.

[pipanale]

I've worked at home for 6 years...but not quite in that capacity.

I'm a remote PM for a major corporation. My company realizes that if you don't make people wear shoes and let them work in their shorts, you can abuse them into working 60+ hours per week.

It's great fun...except when you're still in the basement at 10:00PM...

Eh...it beats commuting.

[GotToGetAway]

Sounds like a good set up for you Pip.

Unfortunately, I'm in healthcare and without the charts and patients at my house I can't really work from home

[mbw1024]

I've worked at home for 6 years...but not quite in that capacity.

I'm a remote PM for a major corporation. My company realizes that if you don't make people wear shoes and let them work in their shorts, you can abuse them into working 60+ hours per week.

It's great fun...except when you're still in the basement at 10:00PM...

Eh...it beats commuting.

You and me both but for different Corporations.

Getaway, if you are a nurse look at Ins. Companies in case management type role.

[Greenskeeper]

Check out Tory Johnson online and FB. She is often on Good Morning America and has many suggestions for women to work from home. I have heard people having success with travel agent and customer service/sales rep for catalog and internet companies. Good luck.

[California Girl]

When I was unemployed, I did some Virtual Assisting. I can't say I was super successful at it, but I DID get some jobs. If you are good on the computer and like data entry, there is work out there.

I went to 123Print.com and got some pretty advertising postcards made up fairly cheaply and canvassed office buildings and office parks and left a stack of cards at the main mailbox area in each building. I also advertised my services on craigslist (where I was somewhat successful) and did a monthly e-mail blast (I compiled a mailing list from former contacts), using Constant Contact, and set up a website for myself. I never got around to it, but I was also going to join a networking group that works like "5 minute dating" in order to make some contacts.

Once you make some local contacts and do a great job for them, they will begin to recommend you to their friends. The things I did for people included:

1. Write, publish & e-mail a monthly e-newsletter for an online pet accessory company.

2. List items for sale on craigslist for people who couldn't figure out how do to it themselves.

3. Maintained a mailing list of about 1500 names & addresses for a company who provides movies to the airlines.

So, if you're good on the computer and ambitious enough to go out and sell your services, you could be pretty successful. (I don't think I was really ambitious enough & and I gave it up when I got an office job with a regular paycheck!

Whatever you end up doing, I wish you all the luck in the world!

[JJShaw]

Ok...so I have been watching this thread to see what would be posted...I do work part time from home..I by no means make enough to support us or myself even...but I enjoy doing it...and Ive gotten used to the money from my more "Part time" job (which lately has turned into fulltime..and just cant bring myself to cut back esp with the economy being what it is...and I do like to think Im helping with our trips to STJ.. by keeping my other job...even if it is part time. I book Travel with Expedia Cruiseship centers. I very much enjoy doing it and have had success doing it..Im sure I could make more at it if I werent at the "other" job so much..Kinda catch 22 thing there...I dont advertise as much as I should and honestly havent put as much time in as I should have..or I think It would prolly be a vey successful little business...I sold over 21,000 last yr...and this was by word of mouth only..and of course by passing out business cards and leaving them at different places..and some of my business is referrals. I have one that sailed today which was a referral. The reason I chose Expedia over other companies...is the name...everyone has heard of Expedia...so it sells itself...Heres a link to my website..."Hope Anthony doesnt mind me posting"...
www.janiceshaw.cruiseshipcenters.com
Feel free to look around...and of course register for the free cruise if you want...and if you would like more information about getting involved let me know..I dont make anything for getting others interested...I just think its a good deal..and of course with any travel there are benefits..
I do hope maybe by next yr to get a little more involved with it and make it more of a fulltime thing..

[chicagoans]

I work from home most of the time; I go to our downtown office about 1 day/week. I'm the marketing director of a software company and realize that I'm really fortunate to have this flexibility.

You mentioned that you're in healthcare. A friend of mine moved to Montana and instead of working in a dentist's office, she now works from home doing the billing and insurance paperwork for one or more dental offices. There's so much paperwork in healthcare, maybe you could find something similar.

My neighbor works from home; he sells software. Very common to have home-based sales and sales support staff for some software firms, but there can be frequent travel involved. If that sounds remotely appealing, you could check into sales, sales support, or customer support for the healthcare technology industry.

[GotToGetAway]

Thanks everyone for your responses so far.

I've considered doing medical billing and medical transcription, but both require school/training before you can start, and I'm not sure I want to invest a few thousand dollars into school (and time away from my family) right now. Plus, the future of medicare/ medicaid seems rather uncertain at this time, and I foresee lots of changes in the near future regarding billing. Kind of would like to see how that fleshes out first.

I've "liked" Tory Johnson on FB to look into that more.

More ideas would be appreciated!