The Best Work From Home Jobs for 2018

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By Holly Reisem Hanna

Are you ready to work from home? Then 2018 is your year!

With advances in technology and with corporate attitudes being more acceptive of telecommuting, there are more work-at-home positions than ever before! In fact, according to FlexJob’s annual analysis of the top companies that hire remote workers, there was a 52 percent increase in the number of telecommuting jobs from 2015 to 2016 — that's up 11 percent from the year before!

Have more of an entrepreneurial spirit?

No problem. According to Early to Rise if you have ambition, vision, desire, and are willing to work hard you can start a successful online business for less than $500.

So if you’re ready to FINALLY work from home — here are some great resources, job leads, and information to jumpstart your work-at-home career in 2018!

Looking for a Telecommuting Position?

According to FlexJobs, the top career fields for remote jobs are computer and IT fields, medical and healthcare fields, sales, customer service, education and training, finance, and government.

Here are the top career fields and companies hiring for these industries.

Tech – Dell, Apple, and Leapforce
Healthcare – Aetna, Humana + Nursing Jobs
Sales – Appen and American Express
Finance – JPMorgan Chase and Capital One
Customer Service – Sutherland CloudSource and Hilton
Education – K12, Connections Academy, Qkids, Cambly, and other Tutoring Jobs
Government – USA Jobs.gov (use the keyword “telework” when searching)

Still, not finding what you’re looking for?

These articles will help you find the perfect telecommuting option based on your particular situation.

Are You Disabled?

Employment Options, helps qualified job seekers with disabilities (who receive SSDI or SSI benefits) find work-at-home employment for free. In addition to finding suitable remote positions, their certified career counselors assist clients with assessing skills and abilities, application completion, preparing resumes, interview practice, and much more.

Are You Located Outside the United States?

The Work at Home Woman is geared for U.S. residents, but we do have a post for Canadians and FlexJobs has a great list of international listings.

Need 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 hustles — 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!

Want to Bring Your Current Job Home?

Do you already have a job that you LOVE? Then bring it home by submitting a telecommuting, flextime, or job sharing 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? Here are some articles to help you get started.

Want to 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 some small business options to consider.

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, shoes, and jewelry
India Hicks – British inspired clothing, jewelry, purses, and accessories
Initial Outfitters – Personalized jewelry and gifts
Sseko Designs – Apparel, footwear, jewelry, and accessories
Stella & Dot – In-style jewelry, accessories, clothing, 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!

Starting a Business on a Budget?

Are you working on a tight budget? No problem. Many home-based business opportunities and courses are FREE or only require a minimal investment. Here are just a few resources to get you on your way.

Need more budget-friendly ideas? Check out Chris Guillebeau's book, The $100 Startup where he features a bunch of case studies from successful entrepreneurs who launched businesses on shoestring budgets.

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.

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 an at-home business. With this option, you tend to have more flexibility and you don't have to build a team.

Alice's Table – Floral Event Business
Cratejoy – Subscription Box Business
Healthy Hands Cooking – Kids Cooking Classes
Hulafrog – Online Publisher
Kaeser & Blair – Promotional Items
KinderSigns – Baby Sign Language
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:

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 2018? 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 2018 – 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 run?

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Originally published December 22, 2016. Content updated December 31, 2017.

This page includes affiliate links. Please be aware that we only promote advertising from companies that we feel we can legitimately recommend to our readers. Please see our disclosure policy for further information.

This list is amazing! There are TONs of work at home jobs, small business ideas, and home business resources that can jump-start your home-based career this year! #workathome #job #career #business

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