Small Home Business Ideas

#3. Set up a Stock Photography business online

This is a great small home business idea to get you started making a little extra cash. If you have a decent camera {I started with a Nikon D70} then you can develop your photography skills and start your own collection of stock photography. There are a myriad of categories you can contribute to. Pick a few or just focus on one area to begin with.

Here are a few category ideas for your Stock Photography business-:

Abstract
Animals
Architecture
Art
Ilustration
Backgrounds
Business
Communication
Computers
Conceptual
Editorial
Education
Food
Health
Holidays
Industry
Internet
Landscapes
Maps
Miscellaneous
Musical
Nature
Objects
People
Places
Sports
Transportation

There are a number of sites that you can start contributing your images to. With Bigstock for example you can earn from $2.50 to $60 per download. You can even request a payout when your earnings reach $50. This small business is a great way to save some money online. You may like to think of your Stock Photography business as your "Holiday" savings account!

* Learn how to do this step by step

#2. Sell your handmade goods in an online marketplace

If you are crafty {and even if you are not there are plenty of ideas!} then you can probably make something to sell online. Etsy connects buyers with independent creators and shop owners to find the very best in handmade, vintage and supplies. You can sell your handmade goods by setting up an Etsy shop. This is a fun and exciting process that is quick to set up with targeted traffic that will help you to be successful in selling online. Etsy is the perfect place for you even if you know nothing about marketing online. Etsy takes you through the whole process of registration, what you can sell on Etsy, and there is a very helpful list of Etsy frequently asked questions.

Here are my top tips for selling your handmade goods on Etsy.

Give very careful consideration to your username. This username will be key in your Etsy store being found when searched for.
Etsy is a visual site and you are competing with many other products so make sure your photos are of a high standard.
Write descriptions of your products well and include targeted keywords for each product.
Make your profile interesting and allow your potential customers to see and feel part of your story.
Etsy is a great way to direct traffic to your blog to build your brand. If you don't have one then consider starting one and build your posts slowly to begin with.
Get a designer to design your shop header. If you have no experience in design then I would highly recommend paying a professional a small amount to set the tone of your Etsy shop.

#1. Become a Small Business Consultant

Have you thought of setting yourself up as an internet consultant?

With a little know how and advice from Tom Mulkern you can gain ongoing contracts from several small business owners in your local area. Think about what you can offer these small business owners. They certainly don't have the time to study online marketing. They don't have the resources to do online marketing in-house. They don't have the personnel or the expertise. They don't want to waste money on things that might not work. You could literally just start talking to small business owners and go to a few networking meetings and be swamped with clients next week -- if you know what to say. There are some important things you need to know to ensure you only work with "ideal" clients -- the ones that will pay you a lot of money.

Here's just some of what you'll learn as you begin your internet consulting business:

Three low-cost and no-cost methods that will generate all the business you can handle. You could literally start using these today and have paying customers in the next few days -- without spending any money on advertising.
How to find your "ideal" clients... and which ones to avoid like the plague.
A simple one-page letter that will get clients calling you to sign up for your services week in and week out. Just drop 20 - 30 of these in the mail every week and your phone will ring off the hook!
The right way (and the wrong way) to network at small business meetings.
How to build your contact network and get business fast.

For more information visit the internet consulting business website.