Working from Home - Getting Started

So, you've decided that the idea of working from home sounds rather intriguing. You may wonder if it is possible to earn an income from home and if so, where does one begin?

First off, I'd like to suggest not to resign from a current brick and mortar job. When I first began dabbling in freelance work, I viewed it as an income source supplemental to my primary employment. Over time, it is certainly possible to earn a full time income at home, however, it may take some time to build your business.

Re-evaluate your skill sets. The reason for this is because many times, resumes aren't updated on a regular basis. Have you acquired any new skills, such as learning a second language or customer service, that would boost your marketability? Make a list of your work experience in order to gain a better understanding of your current skills. Many companies that hire employees or self-contractors working from home, require experience in certain fields. Applying for work that you may not be qualified for is a waste of time, unless you are planning to enroll in a training course or the employer accepts newbies and is willing to train them.

What sort of equipment does one need to work from home? The type of work certainly determines the sort of equipment one would need to work from home. Customer service work would normally requires a land-line and a computer with a reliable, high speed internet connection. Some companies do allow self-contractors to use VOIP or cell phones, however, most do not. A printer is not necessarily a “must-have”, but, I do not feel that I would be as productive without my printer/copier/scanner. One may need to scan and email identification documents to a prospective client or employer, and, really, it's such a time saver to be able to fax or email documents from home – not to mention the fuel it saves from driving to and from the local shop or library where you have access to a scanner or fax machine.

You'll also need a method to receive you pay. A couple of the most popular, free and secure online payment processing services are PayPal and Moneybookers. Many clients also offer direct deposit payment into your bank account or payment by standard check, but may charge a small fee for such payment methods.

Also, working from home will normally not allow you to become rich overnight. We've all seen the advertisements which claim how you can earn $5,000.00 a month, working as little as a few hours a week. Not to sound too cliche-ish, but, if it sounds too good to be true.....it probably is. Working from home as a freelancer requires hard work and dedication. Even though you may have certain work-related deadlines pertaining to your work at home assignments, you're basically working on your own. Time management and organization are imperative.

Until next time!