Do you want to work from home? I’ve been there! Being a stay-at-home mom, working from home, and being able to watch your kids grow while providing for them in a goal of every mom.
When my son was born, priorities majorly shifted for me. The thought of going to work every day was absolutely gut-wrenching. I wanted to stay home so bad I could practically taste it.
But I had to find a way to take the plunge. I knew we couldn’t afford to live off one income. I had to find a job to allow me to become a stay-at-home mom.
So, let me be perfectly honest. If you ask me what my best stay-at-home-mom job is, I would of course say, “blogger.” My blog has grown far beyond my expectations or dreams. It’s opened many doors for me and allowed me to live the life I want with my family.
But you know what? I’m not going to tell you blogging is the perfect job for every stay-at-home mom.
When you’re first considering working from home, the thought of leaving the steady income of a 9 to 5 is daunting. In fact, quitting your job is downright scary and may even seem impossible…and it’s true–quitting your consistent job to jump in and become a blogger isn’t a possibility for everyone.
When I started blogging, it took a while before I was earning money from my blog. Even when I started earning I reinvested every dime I earned right back into growing my blog and making it better. It took a while before blogging became my main source of income.
If you need a way to earn money from home now, there are jobs that will allow you to earn income right away. These jobs offer flexibility and opportunity but also offer consistent income.
If this sounds like a good fit for your situation, check out these top three jobs for stay-at-home moms.
Virtual Assistant
The Job Description of a Virtual Assistant:
As a Virtual Assistant or VA, you’re the right-hand woman for a small business owner, blogger or other executive in need of part-time help. Depending on your experience you may proofread, respond to emails, schedule, follow up with clients and do other administrative tasks.
VAs help with booking travel. They may run invoices for their boss, facilitate meetings, type up notes and dictation or do research. VAs often wear many hats and get to tackle a variety of projects. Think of the job as doing the tasks of an executive, personal or administrative assistant, but with the added bonus of working from the comfort of your home!
Why this Job Made the Top Three:
Virtual Assistant jobs are perfect for stay-at-home moms. The hours are often flexible and the tasks are varied. Pace your work to plan around naptimes and playdates. Plus, there’s never a dull moment. VAs do all sorts of interesting projects and tasks. As your trust with your boss grows, so will your assignments.
Virtual Assistant positions are great for those who worked in a business before they became a stay-at-home mom and want to keep their foot in the door. If you’ve already built skills in a niche or industry use the experience to your advantage. Bookkeeping, accounting, scheduling, invoicing and other tasks are perfect VA skills to emphasize and use as a platform to launch your new career.
How to Get Started as a Virtual Assistant:
If you’re wondering how to become a Virtual Assistant, start by checking out any opportunities with previous employers. Review your resume, check your LinkedIn contacts and reach out to your business contacts from your traditional job. Alternatively, if there’s an industry (like blogging) where your previous experience may transition well, start reaching local businesses and others in your network and area.
Have a solid grasp of your skillset, job requirements and availability before you start looking. Even if you can only work 10-15 hours per week, there are still plenty of opportunities out there. Have a salary number in mind when you start–and aim high. For the right assistant many employers will pay handsomely. Always ask for what you’re worth. A great assistant is literally priceless!
For more on becoming a VA, check out the Horkey Handbook, a great resource for any budding VA.
Proofreader
The Job Description of a Proofreader:
Proofreaders are great at finding stray words, fixing grammar, misspellings and other mistakes. A proofreader is different from an editor, who may offer suggestions about taking written content in a completely different direction or adding more research. Proofreaders simply read through material to ensure it’s grammatically correct and catch mistakes.
To become a proofreader, you need to be detail-oriented and picky. If you’re the person who cringes when there’s a misspelling in someone’s texts or Facebook status, then proofreading might be a great job for you. Proofreading requires concentration and focus, but it’s also a job easily doable from home.
You can find the training we recommend for proofreading here…
Why this Job Made the Top Three:
Proofreading is typically a very flexible job. While there are deadlines, you often set your own hours and review materials in your own schedule. This means for stay-at-home-moms you can proofread when the kids are sleeping or playing. Work from anywhere with a laptop, although you’ll probably need a quiet space to focus.
Proofreading jobs also pay well. (Check out this proofreader who made $30,000 in her first ten months!) You can often earn a wage based on productivity rather than hours worked (so if you work faster you will earn even more). Not only will you earn great money, but the work is interesting. You may read court transcripts, medical records, fascinating blogs or in-depth research and reports.
How to Get Started as a Proofreader:
The online course Proofread Academy is hands down the go-to course for starting proofreaders. The Proofread Academy course walks you through the job step-by-step and leads you through every aspect you need to know about the market, finding jobs and how to become a proofreader. It’s a great course to help you start your new career.
Once you’ve gone through the Proofread Academy course, you’ll set up a website advertising your services and/or check online directories for job opportunities. Keep your resume updated and include prior relevant experience. If you’ve previously worked in an industry requiring proofreaders, such as the legal or medical industries, you may also want to reach out to your previous employers.
Freelance Writer
The Job Description of a Freelance Writer:
Freelance writers are used all over the media industry and the web. Historically when people heard the term “freelance writer” it suggested magazine and newspaper writers. Now, with the internet freelancers exist in almost every industry and the freelance market is booming!
Many businesses need writers to craft their web content, contribute to their blogs and write articles to bring readers to their business. The pay for a writer with experience in the subject matter and an “expert approach” is excellent. Freelancing is creative, fun and exciting.
Why this Job Made the Top Three:
Freelance writing is a fascinating job that pays incredibly well. (Learn how this freelancer earns six figures a year writing!)
Building up your portfolio and even creating a blog is often part of the freelancing progression, but you don’t need a blog to become a freelancer. Maybe you enjoy writing, but don’t love the rest of the blogging process? Freelancing is a great answer to play off your writing skills without managing a full blog yourself. Freelancing’s also a way for bloggers to increase their revenue, because if you blog, you’ve already created a portfolio of your work!
Once you’ve built up samples of your writing, chosen a niche and built up a few clients, you’ll earn great money sharing your expertise. Best of all, freelancing is another job you can do on YOUR time. Create your own schedule, work in your preferred space and enjoy the flexibility!
How to Get Started as a Freelance Writer:
To get started as a freelance writer, you need to build your portfolio. Blogging is one great way to create samples of your work and get yourself noticed. If you have samples of business or grant writing, include them as a great way to boost your portfolio. Use examples from the industry you’re interested in working in, as well as other writing samples to show your range of talent.
There are plenty of listings out there for freelance writing gigs. Many pay by the word or post length. Again, it’s a great opportunity to earn more if you’re a fast producer. The Horkey Handbook series also offers a Guide to Freelance Writing, which will walk you through the process of getting started step-by-step. Freelance writing is a fun, creative opportunity for those who love to write!
Runner-up: Blogger
The Job Description for Blogging:
You knew blogging would go on my list somewhere! Hands down blogging is the best job I’ve ever had. Through blogging, I’ve been able to build a business, stay at home with my family and grow beyond my wildest dreams. The big secret when it comes to blogging is: It’s easy!
Now, I say blogging is easy with the caveat it’s not for everyone. Blogging requires dedication, creativity and flexibility. At first, if you’re serious about turning your blog into a business it requires extra effort, investment and patience. Building your blog from a hobby to a business means putting in the work on the front end before you start to see revenue. For this reason, blogging isn’t for everyone.
Why Blogging is a Great Job:
Blogging is amazing because you’re able to use your skills and knowledge to help others. Share a topic you’re passionate about, express yourself creatively and essentially build a business from scratch. Blogging isn’t difficult, but writing a blog requires consistency and creativity. If there’s an area you’re passionate about like parenting, budgeting, food or fitness then blogging is a great way to share what you know with others.
One of the biggest rules with blogging is to always approach blogging from a place of honesty. Blogging isn’t a get-rich-quick scam. It’s a legit job—one that can grow into an incredible career if you want it. BUT you should always blog about what you know. If you approach blogging as simply a way to earn a buck, it’s difficult – if not impossible – to succeed. The most successful bloggers believe in their work, know and help their readers. Honesty builds trust and keeps them coming back for more.
How to Get Started Blogging:
To get started blogging, check out my post on how to start a successful blog. Blogging doesn’t require a huge up-front investment, but once you get started you’ll want to reinvest your earnings back into growing and improving your blog. You’ll do this by hiring technical support, investing in updating and refining, and of course taking courses for professional growth.
Elite Blog Academy is the best course I’ve ever taken. EBA’s the secret sauce to taking your blog from “hobby” to “lucrative career.” The course is a worthwhile investment for any starting blogger and walks you through all the steps you need to take.
If you want to combine the best of administrative tasks, proofreading and freelancing, with the flexibility of being your own boss, then blogging encompasses it all. Because blogging requires a little time to get the ball rolling,it’s agreat job for people who have the option of earning other revenue first (or a stay at home mom supported by their partner’s salary).
When I began Busy Budgeter, I ran a daycare out of our home and supplemented my income with User-testing and even eBay selling. These jobs helped us get over the “earning hump” when my blog was in the early stages. You could even consider freelance writing, working as a VA, or a proofreader while you continue to build up and grow your blog.
If your goal is to work from home and raise your kids, I’m here to tell you it’s 100% possible. There are many jobs for stay-at-home moms that are open to you. You simply need to plan your approach and pick an area you’ll enjoy growing with. Once you’re working from home you’ll be glad you took the plunge. In fact, you’ll probably never look back!
Do you work from home? What’s your top stay-at-home job and how did you get started?
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