Remote work opportunities are not new. In the last decade or so, it’s become recognized that many positions can be handled outside of the office with little more than an internet connection and a quiet space to work. In fact, according to CNBC, more than 70 percent of the world’s population currently work from home at least part of the time.
While this is great news, simply having a work-at-home job may not offer you the freedom you desire. If you are a creative, for example, you probably operate best on your own schedule. For this reason, it makes sense to move into entrepreneurship and to experience all that this working style offers.
Types of Remote Jobs
For the most part, any job you can do in an office or studio can be handled from your own home workspace. And depending on your talent and drive, you can turn what you know into a profitable income opportunity.
Some of the most common work-from-home jobs include transcriptionist, freelance writer, and online tutor. But there are many others that allow you to capitalize on your experiences in other areas. If you’re good with textiles and fashion, for example, you can use your eye for aesthetics to create apparel designs for a wide variety of clients.
Small Business Must-Haves
Something to keep in mind is that when you work for yourself, you have to handle your finances a little bit differently. For this, you may need help. One of the first people that you can turn to as you grow and maintain your business is a CPA. Look for someone who can help you manage both your personal and business finances and understands the intricacies of tax law.
Don’t forget that you should also establish your new business with the state and federal governments. Applying for a Maryland LLC with your Secretary of State and then applying for a FEIN with the IRS so you can open a business bank account are important steps in separating your personal and business assets. If your business deals with any kind of physical trade, you’ll also need to register with the Department of Revenue. This sounds tedious, but they’re very important tasks if you want to ensure that your business is protected in a worst-case-scenario event, so look into services that can simplify these tasks for you.
It also makes sense to partner with a web developer to help you create, grow, and maintain your online presence. Your website, after all, is one of the key features of your business, and customers expect that it will be up and running as soon as you hang up your shingle. Your web designer can also ensure that your site is secure.
Making It To Market
Knowing what you want to do and who can help you is a great start, but there’s still work to do. You also have to market your business and beat the proverbial (or in this case, virtual) streets to drum up customers. The good news here: The same internet that allows you to work remotely is also a powerful outreach tool.
Digital marketing, which includes social media, search engine optimization, and paid advertising is an effective and affordable route that you can customize and change almost instantaneously. You can use the web to target specific demographics to get your message in front of the right people at the right time. Once customers start rolling in, you may also want to consider hiring a customer service expert to help you keep them happy and engaged.
Having a home-based business offers flexibility and puts you in charge of your own financial outcome. And today’s technology means you can use virtually any skill to generate revenue and lay the foundation of your personal and professional future.
Article by Derek Goodman
Image via Pixabay
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