A housewife is the backbone of the house. However, like a backbone, she is not appreciated till the back starts to ache! Staying at home is a choice she makes, and in the process, she may give up her means to earn money. When that happens, the chances are that her confidence also goes down. It is painful to take money from your husband and many times; you may resist an impulse to buy something you really like!
There is good news, mum! Here are 8 businesses where your skills would be employed, and you would earn some money in the process. What more, these businesses have a low cost of setup, and you can get going on a scale you are comfortable with!
1# Data entry jobs
If you are comfortable with a computer, there are many such jobs available that pay well. Data entry jobs require you to type up data from a given source. Many times, you just have to copy stuff from one place and paste it at a given location. Depending on your interest and skills, you can take up a bit complex jobs that involve spreadsheets.
You need to dedicate 1-3 hours a day for this and the payout is not bad.

2# Childminding jobs
This is not the routine creche. You will need to take a course or two about child developmental studies. There are a few websites that offer free courses. You could take those.
Every parent wants an educated childminder who can give attention to their children. Unfortunately, most of the creches in India are not of the highest quality. If you can provide an added feature, like a diploma, people wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for it.
You need to dedicate the entire afternoons for this, but you can charge your own fees!
Read on for more businesses you can run from your home
3# Freelancing jobs
This is what I started doing when I was between jobs! Freelancing is easier now than before with global clients who are ready to pay top dollars for good quality work. Can you write? There are jobs for writers that pay by words. Do you have a training in IT? Many clients want codes to be written quickly. Do you have a knowledge about statistics? There are tonnes of students out there who need your help for their thesis. Even your PowerPoint skills are useful to many clients. Draw, paint, write- there is a client out there that wants it done!
There are a few freelancing websites that provide you assignments for a percentage. That means you pay only if you earn. So, the investment is really nothing, but the payout is good!
4# Recruitment services
If you have been in the services sector, you may know how recruitment works. You have to master LinkedIn and take up a refresher course in recruitment and you are good to go!
You need patience for this, not to mention a willingness to network. The wait is long, however, you end up earning a fat commission for every successful recruitment done.

5# Insurance advisor jobs
Insurance companies are always on a lookout for women willing to be their ambassadors. As an insurance advisor, you will be provided with a training necessary for the job. The field is much more glamourous than before, and the commissions are not bad. You can do the same for the Indian Post, but you are on your own there.
This will require stepping out of the house and meet new people. But your network of people is already good. So, mums, this is a good opportunity at a dignified job! (You get to have your own business card too!)
Read on for more businesses you can run from your home
6# Baking and catering
This is something that would work if you are good at it! There are startups coming up that will help you pack and deliver food if you make it for them. As far as the bakery goes, use good ingredients and there is always a demand for home made cakes that use makhhan instead of commercial butter.

7# Transcription services
If you can listen to tapes of English spoken in a foreign accent and can type those out, this is a job for you! The client generally looks for a long-term candidate, and you don't have to hunt much for the job.
If you can, attend a course for Medical transcription. This is a bit technical, and people with life sciences background are fit for it. You have to listen to medical dictations and type it out. A degree of error is allowed, so don't worry about that.
The pay is good and the hours are flexible. So think about it! All you need is a computer and a pair of headphones!
8# Copy-editing and proof reading
If you have a flair for literature, you will find plenty of projects to copy-edit. The online publishing industry is booming, and they pay good money for someone who can spot even a minor grammatical error.
I did it for a while, and let me tell you, the money was not bad!
Hope these ideas help. After all, there is no harm in earning some money in your spare time!
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