Financial consultant and former analyst Jan MacGregor says, ?There are people out there who are expecting to meet their bills better (after they re-enter the workforce) and never realize they are working either for a loss or for something like $4,000 a year (after expenses).? If you think about the many ?unseen? expenses of a two-income family, MacGregor's analysis, though it seems hard to believe, is frequently the case. With the freedom and deductions available with having your own business, many mothers and mothers-to-be are starting their own home-based businesses.

Web Design -

There are thousands of home-based businesses to select from when you make your mind up to start your own. Options include web design ? while user-friendly programs like FrontPage allow most people to design their own website and free templates are widely available, a lot of business and institutional owners understand that for their website to look first rate and to be really effective in drawing in business, the know-how of a skilled website designer is necessary.

Affiliate Marketing -

Becoming an affiliate marketer is another great home-based business option. Here are the reasons why:

1.Low-cost setup ? all you need to start your business is an Internet-connected computer and word processing software; most affiliate programs are free to join and you can simply buy web site traffic

2.High-income potential ? there's no corporate salary structure or capricious boss, with your own affiliate business your income level is limited only by your own desire and effort

3.Low operating costs ? your affiliate business keeps running and generating profits for you 24/7.

Design Professional -

A whole new world has opened up for design professionals thanks to the Internet. There has never been a better time to earn a living as a freelance design professional, in fact. Creative persons such as graphic designers and illustrators can now meet a huge new market on a global scale, and there is a vast new industry in the shape of web design and development.

Virtual Assistant -

Ten years ago, there was no such thing as a virtual assistant. Nowadays, thousands of independent contractors call themselves virtual assistants. These contractors rely a great deal on VA industry organizations, web portals and clearinghouses to learn the business, gain support and find clients. The most common professional services offered are desktop publishing, web research and word processing.

Freelance Writing -

Do you love to write? You may want to consider freelance writing as a way to make a good living from home. Freelance writers write anything from newspaper columns to web content and even ebooks. You can find work on some of the big freelance sites like elance.com and guru.com. Freelance writing is a great way to do what you love and stay home with your kids at the same time. Plus, with today's technology, you can take your Dell Pocket PC or PDA with you on trips and work on and bid on writing projects, even on the road!