The Best Work From Home Jobs for 2017

The Work at Home Woman is predominately geared for U.S. residents, but as our International audience grows we are including more global opportunities and listings. Check out this post for our global work-at-home listings.

Earn Extra Cash.

For some reason, surveys, short tasks, and odd jobs get a bad rap. No, they're not going to make you rich, but, they can help you pay down your debt, cover your coffee habit at Starbucks, or add some extra money to your savings account. To be successful with side gigs — you just need to create a plan and execute it. For instance, if you answer four surveys a day, and each one pays $1.00, and you do this for 30-days at the end of the month, you'll have $120!

• Digital Earning Opportunities
• Short Tasks
• Focus Groups
• On-Demand Gigs
• Paid Surveys
• Paid Writing Gigs
• Rent Your Stuff
• Run Errands
• Sell Stuff Online
• Sell T-Shirts Online
• Smartphone
• Website Testing

Bring Your Current Job Home.

Do you already have a job that you LOVE? Then bring it home by submitting a telecommuting proposal (and don't assume your employer will say no until you’ve asked). Start by checking your company’s telecommuting policy, if there's nothing in the manual, do your research, and write up a flex time or work-at-home proposal. Be sure to include all of the benefits to the company – including the cost to recruit and hire a new employee to replace you if you decide to quit.

Need help writing your proposal? Work Options is a great site that offers advice, templates, and resources to get you started with your telecommuting proposal.

Join a Direct Sales Company.

The direct sales industry has come a long way in the past 20 years; now offering products from major designers and well-known corporations the opportunities are endless.

If you’re not familiar with the direct sales model here’s how it works. For a small startup fee, you’ll get everything you need to start and run a business from home. For each product that you sell — you’ll earn a commission. Most direct sales companies provide you with training, marketing materials, a website, and sample products.

Here are some companies with fun opportunities:

• Avon – Beauty, makeup, and skincare products
• cabi – Designer clothing
• Chloe + Isabel – Fashionable jewelry and accessories
• Initial Outfitters – Personalized jewelry and gifts
• Stella & Dot – In-style jewelry, accessories, and handbags
• Tastefully Simple – Gourmet food mixes and spices
• Traveling Vineyard – Wine

For more direct sales opportunities, check out this massive list of companies you can choose to work with!

Be Your Own Boss.

Do you prefer to be your own boss? But you don’t know what to do, and you’re not sure how to get started? No problem. There are many paths you can take to becoming an entrepreneur, from building a business from scratch to purchasing a franchise or business-in-a-box concept.

Here are a few small business options to consider.

Become an Independent Business Owner:

With these options, you file your paperwork for a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or an Employee Identification Number (EIN), and you contract with larger companies to provide customer service via the phone. The advantages of this arrangement are you’re given extensive training, and you don’t have to find your own clients. The disadvantages of these options are you have less control over how you run your business, and your earning potential can be limited since you're not negotiating your own rates.

• ACD Direct
• Arise
• Great VirtualWorks

Become a Home-Based Franchise Owner:

While franchises usually require a substantial startup fee, they can be a low-risk and lucrative way to run your own business. The beautiful thing about a franchise is that all the hard work has been done for you; you pay for the franchise and fees, and you’re given a detailed roadmap on how to replicate the business exactly. But because you’re working with an established name brand, you don’t have as much flexibility in how you conduct business, since you must adhere to the franchise agreement.

• Baby Bodyguards – Babyproofing Business
• Cruise Planners – Travel Planner
• Decorating Den – Interior Decorator
• Fit For Mom – Fitness Classes
• Homeowner Referral Network – Contractor Referral Business
• Just Between Friends – Consignment Events

Business-in-a-Box:

For a minimal startup fee, a business-in-a-box gives you a detailed roadmap on how to start and run a business. With this option, you tend to have more flexibility regarding running your business, but it lacks the ongoing support that franchise or direct sales opportunity comes with.

• Cratejoy – Subscription Box Business
• Healthy Hands Cooking – Kids Cooking Classes
• KinderSigns – Baby Sign Language
• Photo Bake Shop – Personalized Cookie Printing Business
• Property Appraisal Business – Estate Sale Business
• The Stork Lady – Stork Sign Rental Business

Start a Home Business From Scratch:

If you’re up for the challenge, starting a business from scratch gives you the most flexibility regarding how you run your business and how much you earn. The downside is you’re doing it all on your own, and figuring out the components as you go.

Here are some business ideas you can start from home:

• Blogger
• Bookkeeper
• Career Coach
• Copywriter
• Event Planner
• Freelance Writer
• Graphic Designer
• Home Stager
• Personal Concierge
• Photographer
• Proofreader
• Resume Writer
• Scopist
• Transcriber
• Virtual Assistant
• Voice Actor

Need more ideas? This post has 99 work-at-home ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

So what’s the best work from home opportunity for 2017? That’s for you to decide!

There is no one-size-fits-all career solution when it comes to choosing a work-at-home opportunity, but I think each one of these is a good option.

Now that I’ve shared my take on the best work from home jobs for 2017 – I want to know what you think!

Leave a comment and let me know:

What’s your favorite way to make money from home? Or what type of business do you own?

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