Find work -at -home moms sites or Telecommuting jobs

Beat the Work-from-Home Isolation Blues
by Ellen Parlapiano and Pat Cobe, The Mompreneurs
 

How can I beat the isolation of working from home?
Loneliness is one of the drawbacks of running a one-woman business from home. But there are many ways you can reach out and establish connections, both personal and professional, that will help you fight those feelings of isolation. Here's our short list of possibilities:
Communicate online in chat rooms geared to your interests.


Call a business colleague or other work-at-home mom on the phone to share ideas, gripe, laugh or just catch up.


Start a group for work-at-home moms in your community. Meet for breakfast, lunch or an evening break once a month or so to talk about business or parenting issues.


Join a professional organization geared to your line of work. Instead of just attending meetings or conferences, become involved in a committee or a special project so you get to know a few other members really well.


Join the local chapter of a group such as the American Association of Home-Based Businesses or the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). They offer both personal and professional networking opportunities.
One final note: Although the Internet is a wonderful resource for isolated work-at-homers, nothing beats face-to-face contact. So really make an effort to make human connections from time to time.
How Can I Start to Work from Home?
by Ellen Parlapiano and Pat Cobe, The Mompreneurs
I am a single mother wanting to work from home. Can you help me?
You are not alone in wanting to work at home; millions of women (and men) want to and do. The two most common ways that people work at home is by doing direct marketing (ie, selling products for companies like Mary Kay or the Pampered Chef) and starting their own business. For more information on selling for companies, visit the Direct Marketing message board. We list four basic steps for embarking on starting your business here. You can learn how the entire process works with this workshop, Make Your Work-from-Home Dreams Come True.
You may wish you could start tomorrow, but realistically, it could take six months to a year until you open for business. Experts say the success of new business startups is directly connected to the amount of research people put into their business ideas. Here are some helpful suggestions:

1: Figure out what business or work-from-home opportunity you want to pursue. Three excellent sources for entrepreneurial ideas:

(a) Public libraries: They are a wealth of information with their business idea and management books, magazines, newspapers, reference publications, listing of business associations, telephone directories and government compilations of statistics, as well as access to the Internet and to other libraries in each system. They should also have books specific to each state, such as the series Starting and Operating a Business in ... by Michael D. Jenkins, published by Oasis Press.
(b) Internet sites: A multitude of Websites comprise thousands of pages of startup business ideas and information. Begin with iVillage's own message boards, articles and chats, and then investigate other recommended sites. Two excellent ones (but there are many more!) are The Business Owner's Toolkit and the Idea Cafe.
(c) You: Assess yourself and your situation. Write a resume for yourself that includes your background, education, training and any on-the-job skills that could possibly be used in a venture. Then look at your hobbies and leisure-time activities, because many businesses result from a person following their "passion." Ask yourself how much time you can realistically put into a business venture, considering your present commitments.

2: Tap into additional community resources for help such as:

(a) Local business organizations. Attend meetings of chambers of commerce, home business associations -- or start you own women's business-owners network -- for startup tips or to exchange information or referrals.
(b) Local state representatives or senators for the existence of entrepreneurial-assistance programs and regulations pertaining to your business.
(c) Local offices of the U.S. Small Business Administration, such as Small Business Development Centers (connected with universities) or Women's Business Centers, that offer programs, conferences and assistance to new and existing entrepreneurs.
(d) Adult evening school classes on business startup, held at your local high schools, colleges or learning centers.
(e) Work or volunteer opportunities for you in the industry of the businesses that interest you, to see whether you like this type of work and for first-hand experience.

3: Do preliminary research of the market potential for the ideas that most interest you. Ask people and business organizations in your area for feedback -- pros and cons -- about your idea(s). See what other similar businesses exist locally. Is there a special group of customers (a "niche") who are not being served?

4: Draw up a simple business plan. This does not have to be complicated, but it is essential, because it will put figures down in black and white and give you that essential blueprint for your business venture. It will also help you determine whether you should go ahead or not. Is it too costly? Do customers even exist? Is there a nearby area that would be more receptive to your business's products or services?

If you follow these suggestions, you should have all the basic information you need to choose and get started in a business best suited for you.