The gig economy, or just the idea of working from home or abroad, has become a coveted and much talked about dreams. The ability to set your own working hours, cultivating a sense of autonomy and earning a decent income without getting out of your pajamas or down on the beach – it’s all the modern laborer wants from life. With so much financial stress and the hopes of trying to start a family, working eight or ten hour days is no longer feasible.
Whether you’d like to make money on the side, or just earn a bit of change while watching the kids, or being able to work whilst travelling, being a digital nomad may very well be ‘what the doctor ordered’. Here are a few ideas to help get you started on starting up your own small business .
Financial Consultant
Do you have a knack for numbers, and strong organizational skills? Better yet, do you have an accounting background, but not entirely sure how to capitalize on it? Then you’re in luck; marketing your services as a freelance financial consultant is an excellent way to start. You can help businesses put together a financing plan, work on their portfolio, help with taxes and organize their debt payment schedule and paperwork – all from the comfort of your home or hotel room.
Writing
Freelance writers can write articles, short or long, pretty much on any topic. A good way to start is to write about a subject in which you already well-versed and comfortable. Then, peruse different online guides detailing publications to which you can send your work.
Ghost writing short stories or novels is another way to earn some money; you should try starting this by first designing a savvy website promoting your freelance business which includes samples of your work.
Graphic Design
As a freelance or home-based graphic designer, your business can include, but is not limited to designing flyers, informational pamphlets, catalogs, advertisements, posters, and so on. A good pool to which you can market your services are ad agencies, small publications and business, and product manufacturers. Just like the writing business, it will take a lot of hard work, motivation, and a cool way to market your ideas before you can get a reliable customer base.
Grant Writer
Perhaps a cross between the idea of a financial consultant and being a freelance writer, a grant writer is someone who acts as a vital link between a potential funder and a grant seeker, be it an individual or non-profit. Grant writers, most often work as independent contractors or part-time development officers for a myriad number of institutions. There are all sorts of categories under which grant writing falls, including project grants, general operational funds, endowments, startup funding, and so on. So, if you can write a compelling narrative about a non-profit while also crunch some numbers, then this might be the perfect business for you!
At the end of the day, making use of any skills you have is the best way to start your own freelance business, and ensures that you can steer clear from a conventional office setting, whether it be working from home or working whilst travelling.
