Work From Home? Yes, You Can! The Caregiving Option

Options to Consider

Let’s take a look at the wide variety of caregiving services you might consider operating:

• Child Care

  Many communities simply don’t have enough child-care resources available to meet the demands of working parents, and as a result, there is a shortage of high-quality family based child-care services.

  If you just want to take in one child, you can do so easily. But if you want to start on a larger scale, be sure to investigate your local zoning, licensing, and insurance requirements before opening your business (most states require a license if you intend to care for more than three children, but be sure to check to see your state’s requirements before you expand).

  If you don’t want to open a daycare business, you can sell your services as an after school driver (taking children to and from activities), homework helper or doula who helps take care of households right after a baby is born.

• Elder Care

  Many elderly living on their own need someone to help out with the tasks of daily living; housekeeping, shopping, errands, and cooking. They also hire people to help out with special projects such as relocating, medical claims assistance, and bill paying. When marketing your services, it is helpful to target independent/assisted living centers and retirement communities where there are a large number of prospective clients.

  Keep in mind that the elderly themselves might be less likely to hire you than their children, so be sure to include the “children” in your marketing efforts.

• Pet Care

  People love their pets like children and are willing to pay top-dollar for their care. You can partake in this growing market opportunity by walking dogs, pet sitting and/or offering pet grooming services.