Just like working outside of the home, there are many jobs to choose from when contemplating working from home. What work you decide to look for will depend on your education, your past experience, and of course what kind of thing you want to do. This does not aim to be an exhaustive list of all potential at home jobs, but rather a look at the level of control that you may take over your work.



At the most basic level you need to consider whether you have the skill and desire to run your own business, or whether you want to provide services for others instead. All at home work to some degree requires you to be your own boss, but when setting up your own business you have many considerations.

There will be taxes to handle, materials and clients to source, and advertising to manage. You will also need to become a salesman-a varied role indeed, and one that will have no supervisor over you to ensure that you are doing all that you need to. Discipline is a must if you are avoiding procrastination!

You may feel more comfortable working to deadlines, and with a small amount of pressure to keep you motivated. If this is you, then freelance work might suit you better. Still hugely flexible, you would set your own schedule and work as needed until you had completed the project that you had agreed to work on. Bidding only on projects as and when you have time available to complete them, you have a deadline to meet to stop you drifting endlessly.

But what would this involve? Many freelance workers are involved in article writing, web page and web site design, database programming and creation, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO)-even at home computer repair. A good grasp of the language in which you would write, or else skills and potentially a portfolio of work relevant to the projects you wish to work, would be required.

Similar levels of autonomy are offered by sales jobs with companies like Avon, Tupperware and Pampered Chef, each of which allows you to set your own hours, but comes with its own requirements and deadlines.

Lastly there is the most regimented of all at home work. This category of job can be considered the same as an out of the home job as far as your commitment and autonomy are concerned. For jobs like at home call center operators, and medical transcriptionists you may have set working hours each day and each week, with meetings that you have to attend via conference calls. Some even require occasional office visits, and you will have very set deadlines and often even a supervisor to report to and to check up on you. Though the temptation to relax remains because you are in your comfortable home environment, having specific working hours and deadlines to meet can help you to avoid procrastination.

If you haven't the discipline to keep on top of your own work and maintain regular hours, this last option may be preferable for you.