If you're a stay at home mom on a budget, you've probably explored a few avenues for working from home. Who wouldn't enjoy the freedom of making money online? Unfortunately, many websites out there charge fees and deliver very little in return. As a mom on a budget, you can't always afford to sink money into business opportunities or affiliate marketing. Sometimes, just a little work on the side will do you just fine.



That's where freelance work comes in for many stay at home moms. Most people think of writers and technical skills when they think of freelancing. However, there are many opportunities for moms that can do small administrative tasks, such as proofreading or answering emails. You don't have to have a full-fledged administrative business to get in on the action, either.

So how can you get in on the action? Here's a few great places to start out:

Webmaster Forums

There are many website forums that hire people for one time tasks – but they're actually not the freelance job boards you may be thinking of. Many internet marketing forums are very receptive to moms that want to do a little work on the side. Check out the Warrior Forum or Digital Point Forums by Googling them, register with your user name and password, and find their service posting section.

Translation Agencies

Many translation firms hire freelance staff to proofread documents translated from other languages into English. Typically, you will need to provide a resume and a proofreading test to be added to their freelance pool. Once you've established yourself, you'll be in line for more assignments. Try to apply with as many agencies as possible to keep a decent work flow coming.

Other Virtual Assistants

Virtual assistants need assistance, too! Often they outsource their “overflow” work to a trusted administrative professional. Take some time to look into the services they offer and let them know what kinds of tasks you can help them out with.

As a stay at home mom looking for freelance administrative work, being flexible with working hours and enthusiastic with your potential employers is key. Don't be discouraged if work comes slowly at first – make a simple plan for marketing your skills, plan your time wisely and focus on short-term objectives.

Check the WAHM websites and other resources, such as email discussion lists, where other work from home moms hang out. Many moms there actually outsource their "overflow" work, so make sure you offer up assistance every once in a while and keep engaged in discussions. Offer to help catch up with emails, do internet research, help with typing, formatting, and desktop publishing. If you're great with resume layout and can polish up an out of date resume, don't forget to offer that skill up, as well. It's easy to overlook your own talents when you've been practicing them for years.

When you first start freelancing, building your business is more important than earning a lot of money. As your business clients grow, you'll be able to gather referrals and make valuable connections in the virtual admin industry. You may even end up starting a virtual assistant business of your own!