If you want to make a little spending money from home or potentially earn a full-time salary, now's the time — if you have a computer, that is. Going online opens up a host of work-from-home opportunities, but the trick is knowing which businesses are legitimate and which ones aren't. We did the research for you, so you can rest easy knowing all of the below are the former.
1. Sell your crafts.
Do you knit? Make jewelry? Sew? If so, there are lots of opportunities to sell handmade wares online. As a member of Etsy, you'll have your own online store to showcase your items. It's free to become an Etsy seller, but you'll pay a fee of 20¢ to list an item with up to five photos for four months. When the item sells, you pay a 3.5% commission to Etsy. There's no limit to how much you can charge, and what you earn is based on how your crafts sell.
ArtFire is the home of artists, crafters, suppliers, and media creators from around the world. Sellers can choose either a basic free account that includes unlimited listings with four pictures per item plus the ability to sell directly from your blog or website, or a Pro account for $15.95 a month with 10 pictures per item plus a customizable "store" and promo features. There are no transaction fees on ArtFire, so you keep what you make. The site also offers online training in merchandising and marketing.
2. Be a nurse on call.
If you're a registered nurse, consider a company like Fonemed, which provides phone-based triage and medical information to their customers in Canada and the U.S. These companies contract with medical-related clients, mostly doctor's offices and especially pediatrician's offices, to answer questions when the offices are closed (the work hours are typically evenings, nights, and weekends). You must be licensed in the state or province where you are located and have at least three years of recent clinical experience with adults and children. Fonemed nurses are paid an hourly minimum plus a fee per call, and are eligible for benefits like health insurance and paid leave. A typical Fonemed nurse makes $27 per hour, according to Fonemed owner Charlene Slaney.
