Top 10 Legitimate Work From Home Jobs
by Fred Roed on 29/06/09 at 2:32 pm
78 comments
At Ideate, we get a lot of request for information on legitimate work from home jobs. While making money from home has become all the rage recently, especially with the rise of the web (and with it, internet home business opportunities), it seems that our audience still need some prompting on where they can make their moolah from home.
So, without further ado, here are our top 10 work from home business ideas:
1. T
ranslation
Here’s where those Spanish lessons you took at school can finally come in handy. So what if you only did them thinking that it would be your ticket through Latin America while you learn how to surf? If you know German, Italian, French, Portuguese, or the biggie, Mandarin, you’re in the money. Place your free ad on Gumtree or Craigslist and you can start raking in the orders.
What you need?
Dictionaries for all the languages you know.
Where to start?
- Advertise online on directory sites
- Contact the relevant embassies and consuls in your area to let them know you’re available.
- Language schools are also a great source of referrals here, so look them up online and give them a ring to let them know you’re around.
2. Teach English
This is a no-brainer. English is the de-facto standard of the web, and hence the new frontier of business – especially in exporting stuff online. Everyone wants to learn the language of our old colonial oppressors… so brush up your grammar and get teaching.
What you need?
A dictionary and an active sense of humour, especially when teaching Eastern bloc, Chinese or Indian visitors to the country. You’ll do well to download Skype, since a lot of folks will contact you via the net.
Where to start?
- Varsity College if you need to get qualified
- Gumtree or Craig’s List to advertise to all the migrant workers visiting the country, as well as the sons, wives and daughters of visiting dignitaries and business people.
3. Website content writer
Every website needs content. Every website owner is too busy to write content. Hey presto: a gap in the market! Fire up your laptop, google “writing for web” and tell your friends that you’re a bonafide copy-writer. Despite your lack of experience, chances are pretty strong that you’ll churn out better content than 99% of the crap out there.
What you need?
Home pc with a good internet connection.
Where to start?
- Freelance directory sites out there (Google it, there are loads)
4. Product photographer
You got a 10mp digicam for Christmas, but the only pics you’ve taken are of your cat and the potplant. Instead of sitting at home checking your non-existent bank balance every five minutes, why not fashion a quick infinity curve in your garage and start snapping? There are many, many product sites being launched every day (E-commerce is on the rise, fast, and products pics will be in demand). Odds are that some of these new sites will need a cheap alternative to updating their stock online.
What you need?
You’ll need a camera, the curve, some lights, a laptop, an internet connection and some photo-editing software.
Where to start?
- Digital Camera sites to get the gear
- Photo directory sites to advertise your wares
5. Home baker
Your mom’s old recipes are not necessarily only to entertain your book club once a month. There are hundreds of corner shops, market stalls, schools and churches who will gladly pay for your cooking goodness. Make sure you do your sums when charging for them, though. It’s easy to short sell yourself in the catering business.
What you need? A decent oven, and some cooking tools. A blog (you can also use your Facebook page) is also a good idea to write about your recipes and publish some pics of your gastronomic greatness.
Where to start?
- Your local printer to design a little knock n’ drop brochure to distribute to your neighbourhood’s homes and businesses.
6. Internet marketing
Web marketing is a fast growing industry and there’s more than enough work out there. You can work designing strategies for ecommerce solutions or help businesses with their SEO efforts. Once you figure it out, it’s actually a nice little earner – you can charge a few grand a month for your services and once you hit 10 clients, you’re doing quite nicely thank you very much. The only thing is that this industry is notoriously unstable, and you’ll have to keep your wits about you to stay on top of this fickle game.
What you need? Laptop, internet and subscriptions to SEOmoz, Internet Marketing Centre, Daily blog and the 1000’s of other services out there.
Where to start?
- Find a small business networking group near you, something like BNI, which is cost effective and perfect for getting you in touch with your target market.
7.Music teacher
Who’d a thunk? Your many hours of recorder, piano and violin lessons actually will come in handy. Depending on how good you are there are many adults, adolescents and children out there searching for their inner Tchaikovsky. A good start is to contact some of the schools in your area and sound-proof your walls.
What you need?
A nice quiet room, where you can finally put your piano / guitar / violin, / recorder / triangle to good use.
Where to start?
- Get a little brochure designed by a local designer (again, the printer should have an inhouse graphic designer to knock something up) and get it out there.
- Directory sites like Gumtree and Craig’s List
8. Personal shopper
Believe it or not, there are loads of people out there without a heck of a lot of time on their hands. Hey, you got time right? You can offer it to these poor rich folk in order to bend their credit cards on all the various trinkets that they need on a weekly basis – from food to toys, gifts to underwear.
What you need?
Time. A good eye for what’s in – the Internet will help to keep you on top of the trends.
Where to start?
Again: Gumtree or Craig’s List are great for these kinds of services.
9. Pet chef
You’re one of those weird tree-hugging, liberal animal rights activists. No one EVER took you seriously. Until now. Just wait til those haters see you RAKE in the bucks by preparing meals for rich people’s pets. Yep, you heard me. Rich folk will actually pay you to cook gourmet meals for their imported Saluki’s, their Russian Blue’s or their pure-bred Shitzu’s. Call it a guilt thing. They don’t have time to love them. However, they DO have money to pay YOU to feed them. Make it happen.
What you need?
Pet ingredients. Thick skin.
Where to start?
- Get to your post office and get them to distribute your business card to the rich suburbs in your area. If you can, make your business card interesting, like having alitte bite cut out of it, or designed in the shape of a bone… something like that, y’know?
10.Book keeper
If you’re male, you’ve spent the last few years in a cubicle. If you’re female, you’ve spent the last few years popping out your 2 kids. Your head is about to explode. You need an outlet. You’ve got dreams. You want to make real money. It just so happens you’re good at maths. What can you do? Ok… so there’s not much else than becoming a book keeper. (Sorry.) But, you know what? It’s not that bad. You can make a good living, and your expenses are low. Give it a go, and save up for that Mauritius getaway (if you can find babysitters for 2 weeks!)
What you need?
QuickBooks. A laptop.
Where to start?
- Correspondence school to get qualified
- Gumtree, Craig’s List to advertise
Post your suggestions and links in the comments. We’d love to hear feedback and thoughts on working from home ideas.
Fred Roed is the marketing guy in the Ideate crew. Fred is the CEO of web marketing company World Wide Creative and the co-founder of online learning portal Heavy Chef. Fred loves writing about people out there doing marketing right. Follow Fred on Twitter here. View more articles by Fred Roed.
Tags: job offer, work from home, work from home jobs
Cherryflava
Jun 29th, 2009
11. An adult ‘entertainer’
What you need – Yourself and a few props.
How to get started – Advertise your services on Gumtree or Craigslist.
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Carl B
Jun 30th, 2009
Nice post, a perfect for newbee like me…keep it up…you got a regular visitor….
Bruce Wade
Jun 30th, 2009
Great list – add a new one as #12 Coach
Need: Vast experience, love for coffee, the ability to listen and help people through stages of life, a strong butt to sit at Mugg and Bean for 6 hrs a day.
To get started: Become an authority on a subject that others will want to pursue.
Martisa
Jun 30th, 2009
hey great list. Hey everyone come take a look at my website just click on my name. It offers a lot of help and opportunities for work at home jobs.
Gareth Cotten
Jul 1st, 2009
@Cherryflava – the more props you need, the worse an ‘entertainer’ you are yourself!
13. Dog walker
14. Babysitter
What you need – patience, and to be good with dogs/kids
How to get started – knock on every door in your neighbourhood (I guarantee you’ll have work by the end of your street)
I write about stuff like this in my Finance Coach blog (on Fbook and Blogspot), check it out…
Top 10 Ideate articles in 2009 | Ideate
Dec 24th, 2009
[...] 1. Top 10 Legitimate Work From Home Jobs [...]
Derek
Jan 6th, 2010
All great ideas, but they either require certain skills, training or hard work.
If your reader realy want an easy way to make money -
No skills required, No training required, No selling required, No specialized equipment required, No surveys, No Typing, No Processing.
Not just a business Idea or method. – Some more Pie in the Sky offers.
Then they should visit http://www.nagetal.com
TnT
Jan 17th, 2010
A great list, thanks! We like your sense of humour too.
Your list is not just great, but can really really work for many people out there looking for ideas about what they can do from home to earn money.
The writing idea in your list is a particluarly easy one to get into – if people will just realise that with a bit of effort, they really CAN work from home – it won’t just happen, they DO have to make some effort.
Terry and Tony
Francis
Feb 3rd, 2010
Great list of work at home opportunities!
Something else that is also taking the world by storm is Virtual Assistance.
It’s actually relatively new in SA but Virtual Assistance gives people with administrative experience the opportunity to use their skills to assist other business people with a vast array of administrative tasks. All from the comfort of their own homes.
Work such as translation and internet marketing that you’ve mentioned above, falls under the umbrella of virtual assistance. Other services ranges from general admin tasks such as calendar & email management, to transcription to social media marketing and many more.
With the growth in internet technology is the sky the limit with regards to Virtual Assistance and work at home opportunities.
Keep up the good posts
Warm Regards
Francis
urkyle
Mar 11th, 2010
Cool site you have a fan, snece of humor not shabby either.
Thanks will be useing a few of your ideas.
urkyle
Mar 11th, 2010
AAAGH made typos, sorry SENSE “NOT TOO”"
Fred
Mar 12th, 2010
Thanks Urkyle : ) Typos are okay around here every now and then.
Thanks for the kind words, hope to see you again here on Ideate in the near future.
F
andrew
Mar 19th, 2010
thanks fred brilliant article
Regarding internet marketing here is a site that too has aid in various ways to market online. I’d say worth a look
Quentinuys
Apr 20th, 2010
Hi Fred. thank you so much for the article. It gives one allot of insight. I started something extraordinary myself. Make money with a virtual pet. http://www.fingermoney.co.za. You just walk around with it picking up coins.
The site also allows you to watch ads for money and refer friends to watch ads and get paid for that to.
Check it out I am sure you will like it.
Lucky
Apr 20th, 2010
Finally I found a South African PTC, thanx a lot Quentinuys. I have been earning steady income from PTC and now I will add Fingermoney.co.za my list. But can you tell me what is the minimum payout.
Paid-to-Click(PTC) and Paid-to-read(PTR) are the easiest ways to make money without any hard work. I am obsessed to these programs. I have few of them that have paid which I can show proof to anyone who is interested in earning these steady income. In fact if you click my name you will be taken to my blog where you will see links to these programs under the heading ‘Earn your free share’
In this blog you will also learn about other money making ideas from here in South Africa.
I have posted a proof payment from Clixsense. I will also post other proof of payments during this week.
Lucky
Apr 20th, 2010
Quentinuys, what is your name on fingermoney so that I can put you as my referrer because I can see that you did not put your referral link. Could you please leave it in my blog.
Quentinuys
Apr 21st, 2010
Hi lucky
I tried to leave a message in your blog, but couldn’t figure out how.
You can use patat as referrer on Fingermoney.co.za
Thanks Alot
Lucky
Apr 21st, 2010
Its okay, I have joined under you and my username is 60768. Please join one of programs especially Neobux, but if you are already a member you can join any.You can leave a message by either post a comment or create a new post.
Thanx a lot
John Field
Apr 21st, 2010
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Gavin70
Jun 11th, 2010
Hi Fred, great list as with everything in life you reap what you sew! You have to be willing to put in a little effort, there is no magical button to press and the money just flows in. I am involved with collecting data and entering it online. I collect the data on number plates and I get paid for it every month. The best part is the data is used to help find missing children, stolen vehicles and locate known criminals. How ethical & moral is that? Take a look >>> http://www.datacashaffiliates.com.
alta
Jun 12th, 2010
wil graag meer weet wat julle doen en wat dit kos
Gavin70
Jun 12th, 2010
Hi Alta, dit is 100% gratis om aan te sluit en al wat jy doen is kry die inligting op 20 of meer nommer plaate elke maand en tik dit in n aan lyn data base en dan leer jy 10 mense om die selfde te doen. Dit is baie eenvoudig en dit vat op die meeste n uur n maand om dit te doen. Jy word eenmal n maand betaal deur die maatskapy, so jy het regtig niks om te verloor nie en die beste is die inlugting word gebruik om vermisde kinders te vind, om gesteelde voertuie en kriminele op te spoor. Gaan na my website http://www.datacashaffiliates.com dan sal alles vir jou deur videos verduidelik word.
Groete
Eugene Pelser
Lucky
Jul 1st, 2010
Quentinuys, bad news, where is our Fingermoney? Please check blog for other details.And please leave a comment.
Lucky
Jul 6th, 2010
I have good news for those who wants to earn money without spending a cent. Click my name for further details.
Gavin70
Jul 21st, 2010
I have just updated my web page with a series of videos explaining the opportunity (Get Paid To Help Find Missing Children!) in more detail. Wow I didn’t think that it would take that long! Recording, cutting, editing and producing tutorial videos are quite a challenge but fun! Check it out by clicking on my name.
Lucky
Jul 27th, 2010
I just received a payment from one of the PTC sites.Click my name for proof. One payment was received last week and another one this week.
vendgalaxy
Aug 23rd, 2010
……in case you don’t know, the fingermoney site mentioned above, has closed down (for a while now) and is apparently under new management. I have found the same site (with the same name and ads, etc. ) camouflaged under a different site heading). When ‘bisnet’ was contacted, i was told ‘the client has cancelled the hosting of the domain with us’ . So for all intents and purposes it seems that a site that held such high promise…i now regard as a SCAM. It would be interesting to hear what the previous owner, quentinuys, has to say about it!
new comer
Sep 7th, 2010
please can someone show me legit sites in SA that dont take your money.
vendgalaxy
Sep 12th, 2010
Hi new comer, in cyberspeak you’re called a ‘newbie’! In terms of your question above: while SA is a bit behind in the latest technology and ways in which to make some extra money using the internet, it is catching up quickly! However, as it catches up and become more advanced, so too does the ‘cyber criminal’.
What i’ve done is to gradually increase my involvement and activity, do a lot of research and only then register or sign-up. Sure it is no guarentee that it won’t be a scam, but there are ways to limit your exposure! Looks like you’re on the right track though, browsing excellent sites such as this and more importantly, asking questions, and more questions…!!!
Firstly, never be greedy……it will almost always result in disappointment; give as little information as possible, etc. (See my blog for more details).
Sure i’ve been burned, but i’ve taken those lessons and learnt from it!
At the moment i buy and sell on auction sites (not recommended for very new newbies); i do online surveys, blog and also GPT (Get Paid To) programs…get paid to click, read emails, surf, etc. Most of them are international, but a few SA sites have also recently become active…in fact i’ve been paid by three already.
One more thing, i only promote programs for which ive been paid personally, i never go on somebody elses review or recommendation! So if you’re really interested…visit my blog: http://www.vendgalaxy.blogspot.com.
Finally: this is not meant for those who want to get rich overnight, but rather to build up a steady stream of extra funds without having to pay a single cent! Good luck!!!
Hendrick
Sep 12th, 2010
Hi guys
If you want to make money follow this link: http://www.paytel.co.za?RID=4428&LID=1
Lexine
Nov 2nd, 2010
nice list, this may help especially those moms working from home. and an extra income for others.
Not a top 10 work at home job list — Gerhi Janse van Vuuren
Nov 2nd, 2010
[...] I am searching around for South African blogs and websites that may be speaking to South African solo professionals. I found Ideate who has this post on a top 10 legitimate work from home jobs. [...]
Gerhi Janse van Vuuren
Nov 2nd, 2010
My question is, top ten for whom?
Here is why I ask.
In order to do the Music teacher gig this is given as a what you need:
“A nice quiet room, where you can finally put your piano / guitar / violin, / recorder / triangle to good use.”
Really? What about being able to play an instrument. What about the ability to teach what you know to anybody else. Never mind anybody else. What about teaching it to kids, because they will be your main customer base.
No, this list and the exposition of what it would take just does not cut it.
This is a top list for fools.
Post to Twitter
Fred Roed
Nov 2nd, 2010
Gerhi – it’s pointless trying to explain to you how much of a chop you actually are. Go back and read the post. Slowly.
Gerhi Janse van Vuuren
Nov 3rd, 2010
Right Fred,
I am not sure which meaning of the word CHOP to apply to myself. There are so many. But let me pick one for argument sake. I choose chop logic: “to argue in a tiresomely pedantic way”
But before I get pedantic, you are right, I only scanned the article. I looked the list (the 10 quoted above) and then at the requirements. And then I whipped of my immediate response – very much a gut feel which is the way I blog my posts.
Here is a slightly more pedantic argument: The list of ten, regardless of the subsequent content, are not viable options for any one person because nobody had as varied a skill-set to be able to consider them all on an equal ground.
Which brings me back to “a top ten list for whom?”
From the article then, you people at Ideate.
But clearly that will still not be satisfactory as my defense and I must admit that I am intrigued so let me – and this will take a bit of time – read your article carefully and give you considered argument why I think it does not qualify as a top ten list, not matter how you frame it.
Sincerely,
CHOP
Paul Weingartz
Nov 3rd, 2010
I think CHOP is just bitter. Move along Fred, not worth arguing with people like this. Great list and I believe it was constructed for individuals to take from it what they want and it was not meant as a one and only choose-one-or-die list. @CHOPPER, If there is nothing in the list for you then move along, dont spoil it for everyone else that actually found something useful in the list.
Paul Weingartz
Nov 3rd, 2010
Oh, also this excerpt from CHOPPERS website might explain a few things: “Gerhi Janse van Vuuren is an expert at personal failure, procrastination and playing devil’s advocate. He has been jumping tracks all his life. Working with an unconsious life motto of: “if at first you do not succeed try something else“, Gerhi has tried many things and succeeded at few.”
Top 10 Legitimate Work From Home Jobs thorough reader response – Part 1 — Gerhi Janse van Vuuren
Nov 3rd, 2010
[...] work for yourself and you end up in choppy waters. Yesterday I rambled of a post in response to a Top 10 Legitimate Work From Home Jobs article at Ideate.co.za. So let me try to make some smooth sailing of [...]
Gerhi Janse van Vuuren
Nov 3rd, 2010
Hi Paul,
Firstly, what did you find useful?
Secondly, I am not bitter, I am having fun. And as an addendum to the quote from my about page, it is not how many things you fail at that counts but how significant the things you succeed at. I take stock the day I die.
Thirdly (as I said in my follow up article):
At the end of his article Fred said: “Post your suggestions and links in the comments. We’d love to hear feedback and thoughts on working from home ideas.”
On their author page Ideate say: “We try to keep the tone light and fresh, current and sometimes controversial.”
Controversial mean: “giving rise or likely to give rise to public disagreement”
Which is exactly what I am doing.
I am disagreeing with Fred in public. And you and Fred are disagreeing with me.
I believe a thank you note from Ideate to me for making their blog even more controversial would be in order.
Fred Roed
Nov 4th, 2010
Gehri, you’re still a chop.
You made the damning statement ‘this is a list for idiots’ despite being completely and unequivocally misguided, and then you try and back it up with a detailed breakdown of each point in the article.
That’s not constructive criticism. That’s just being an even bigger chop.
The ‘right’ response (in other words, the response to dig yourself out of the chop-sized hole you’ve dug for yourself) would’ve been to apologize and move on.
Now, we’re all waiting to see your next clanging, unnecessarily verbose response to an article that most people to date have found pretty helpful.
Robert
Nov 4th, 2010
Gerhi is still a chop. That is basically what it boils down to.
I often wonder how much of this “constructive” criticism has actually succeeded in helping anyone.
Least of all it helped him, because in that time he could’ve actually tried something positive and leveraged the energy towards furthering his own fragmented “career”.
The aggressive stance he takes is interesting, he seems to feed on the reaction and then likes to flippantly dismiss his opinionated destructive words within the framework of self-righteousness that he himself has grown to believe as being the only sacrosanct gospel.
Heaven forbid that you take anything he says seriously.
Your site is informative, aesthetically pleasing and well constructed.
Nuff said.
Gerhi Janse van Vuuren
Nov 5th, 2010
Fred,
You are completely right. My planned response is and would continue to be clanging, unnecessary and verbose.
Nothing I can say would change your mind or improve the article from my point of view. Though there might be other readers who would or did find it very helpful.
I will not continue to waste my and your time here. So I am taking your advice and hereby apologise for the manner in which I disagreed with you.
I will in future read your articles carefully before responding and will only respond when I feel that my input would be constructive.
Gerhi
I admit and apologise for being a chop — Gerhi Janse van Vuuren
Nov 5th, 2010
[...] is apparently helping no one. I intended to make a detailed analysis of Fred Roen’s list of Top 10 Legitimate Work From Home Jobs but that does not seem to be required or [...]
Fred Roed
Nov 5th, 2010
Thanks for the apology. Your status as a chop is hereby revoked.
We’ll have a beer when I’m in your town next.
vendgalaxy
Nov 6th, 2010
A different spin:
I simply Loooove CHOPS, well matured, medium to rare, but more to the rare side. If well matured, the juices will be less likely to upset a (sensitive) tummy!
CHOPS exist in many varieties, shapes and sizes – to suit all tastes….you even get thick skinned CHOPS….which can only be consumed when prepared ‘well done’!
CHOPS nourish and feed hungry minds and souls. CHOPS are indicators of a (the) good life…..
CHOPS are best had on a braai and will always welcome a beer (as proposed) to help digest this rich source of ‘food’ for the mind!
Ag, nou ja…what would life be without us CHOPS top of the menu? For some reason i just can’t seem to fancy BULLY BEEF nor being CHICKEN….it’ll just make me PORKY……sounds rather FISHY neh!
Finally, what i actually wanted to say was only that people sometimes go overboard this way or that and then just complicate things unnecessarily.
Accept and let be……..both parties!
vendgalaxy
Jan 16th, 2011
What the hell! What are these posts about…Fred…do something about the about the last two entries – unless you can make sense of it, it has to be deleted (in my humble opinion) – it just messes up the whole thread, etc.
Fred Roed
Jan 16th, 2011
Sorry mate – we try our best. The past few weeks have been crazy with spam. The filter picks up thousands every week, but there has been a dramatic increase in comments slipping through. Thanks for keeping an eye out. The comments in question have been deleted.
Star
Mar 22nd, 2011
Thanks.. Cool tips!