Creative ways to work from home

The concept of work has become more fluid in recent years, and we no longer need to tap away furiously in the confines of an office, or stick to the traditional 9 to 5, in order to feel that we are making some headway in our careers. Today’s roles are as flexible as they are varied, and putting in a day’s graft could mean anything from fine tuning the details of your start-up from a remote, preferably tropical, location, to putting together a company sales pitch from the comfort of your home office.

Here are just a few creative ways your home life and professional life can sit happily side by side.

Start a supper club

Foodies are always looking for more from their dining experience, and supper clubs offer the chance to sample the delights of home cooking while still indulging in the ambience of an intimate restaurant. Supper clubs are akin to running a pop up restaurant within your own home, and as long as you can squeeze a few tables and chairs into your living room and have a few tasty dishes in your repertoire you could soon be giving Gordon Ramsey a run for his money.

Turn your home into a B & B with a difference

If you are famed for your skills as a hostess and love nothing more than plumping up pillows and putting a few baked goods in the oven in readiness for weekend visitors, then turning your home into a veritable B & B could be ideal. Websites such as airbnb offer you the chance to list spare rooms in your home to tourists from around the world for a fixed price. The level of service you provide is entirely up to you; from greeting your guests with a glass of wine on arrival to leaving them to their own devices.

Throw a party

Selling Tupperware to friends and neighbours from our humble abodes used to be all the rage in decades gone by, and now selling from home has got thoroughly 21st century upgrade with ranges such as Jamie at home and Body Shop at home all up for grabs. Showing off product lines while sipping on a glass of wine and having a giggle with the girls will feel more like play than work, but should still ensure that you are able to earn enough to boost your household budget.

Start a blog

Blogs are the perfect way to voice your opinion on subjects that you are passionate about or simply have an interest in. From chronicling the ups and downs of your everyday life to sharing the details of your favourite local hotspots, whatever you want to share there is bound to be a ready-made audience online to match it. Once your blog has attracted enough of a following, you may be able to earn advertising revenue through mediums such as Google Ad Sense.

Become an online tutor

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) via Skype to students from countries around the globe is the perfect way to earn an income from home. The qualifications needed to teach English to foreign students can vary, and while some companies simply require native speakers holding any degree, others require more formal qualifications such as the internationally recognised CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) which can be completed in just four weeks.

Start your own business

Although starting your own business can be a daunting prospect there are a number of organisations, such as the government’s Business Link, that are on hand to guide you through the process step by step. From selling your own handcrafted goods through sites such as ebay or etsy to designing websites for local businesses, becoming self-employed will give you the chance to dictate your own hours and terms, while still earning an income.

Offer Pet sitting/grooming services

The frantic place of modern day life means that many pet owners aren’t able to spend as much time with their beloved pets as they would like. As a result services offering pet grooming/walking or sitting are very much in demand. You can advertise your business in pet store windows, or by handing out your business card to pet owners on your daily walks.

Work as a virtual PA

If multi-tasking, deadlines and firing off tactful emails is all in a day’s work for you, then a position as a virtual PA could be the perfect fit. A typical day could see you handling calls, co-ordinating travel arrangements or carrying out basic accounting for one or a number of employers. You can find virtual PA work via specialised agencies or by approaching businesses direct.

Become a childminder

Working with children can be both challenging and rewarding, and becoming a childminder is an ideal option for stay at home mums or those who want to pursue a career in childcare outside of the traditional contexts of schools or nurseries. Your local authority will be able to provide further details of any assessments of training you will need to complete to become a registered childminder.

Create your own TV show

Whether you want to share your latest gardening tips or your knowledge of how to make the perfect chocolate fondant, creating short home videos and posting them on websites such as YouTube could fast see you becoming a star of the World Wide Web. As a YouTube partner you could earn hundreds or even thousands in advertising revenue. Promoting your DIY TV show through social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and StumbleUpon could help you drive even more traffic to your posts.