n come up with ahome-based business idea that will help you provide for yourfamily. I created a home-based business because I could notafford to take on a second job; day care was just too costly.These are difficult economic times for all parents butparticularly for parents who have only one income. I am a firmbeliever that single parents must have several streams of incomeand operating a home-based business is one way to increase yourincome stream.Consider operating one of the 5 home-based businesses. Noneinvolve a lot of start-up money and although they won’t make youa millionaire, they will allow you to provide for the additionalneeds of your family.1.Home work Tutor Do you like to listen to your children read?Are you patient and caring? Do you visit the teacher’s store inyour area buying little books that can help your own childrenread, write or do basic math? Wou...

...ld you like to help anotherchild in your neighborhood? If you think you might be interestedin helping children with their homework, become a homeworktutor. There are busy parents who do not have the time to helptheir own children and would appreciate someone making suretheir children understand and complete their homework. Rememberparents are not only paying for your willingness to review theirchild’s home work, they are paying for your time and expertise.Make sure you provide parents with a weekly progress report andask them to let their child’s teacher know they are working witha homework tutor, so your efforts will not be in vain. 2. Letter Writing ServiceSeveral hundred years ago only clergymen and professionals wereliterate. Today even literate individuals need help writingletters, particularly written complaint letters and lettersseeking a resolution or response to a concern. If you enjoy theresearch involved in helping to resolve everyday problems thismay be the home-based business for you. There is little doubtthat you will encounter a wide variety of needs as aprofessional letter writer and your goal is not to solve aproblem but to write in such a way that you bring the problem tolight. Think carefully about who might need your services andwhy and remember there is power in the pen or in the keyboard.3. Mystery ShopperCan you shop till you drop? Would you like to get paid to shop?This may be the home-based business that fits your schedule andfore fills your need to make extra money. Mystery shoppers, alsoknown as secret shoppers have been around for many years. Theirpurpose is to complete service checks, performance evaluationsand frontline evaluations along with other checks and balancesrequested by the company employing the mystery shopper. Mysteryshoppers enable trained researchers to take a “birds-eye-view”of a shopper’s experience. It also allows management theopportunity to quickly and efficiently evaluate their businesspractices, deliverables, and employees from the perspective of anon-bias consumer. If you would like to learn more aboutbecoming a mystery shopper visit: www.nationalshoppingservice.com4. Community CookDo you have a food specialty? Is there a dish you prepare thatis always a family favorite? Have you ever tried to sell yourspecial cheesecake or gumbo? Today everyone seems to be consumedwith thoughts of food, and why not since most of us have littletime to cook or even think about cooking. The old adage “I owe,I owe, so off to work I go” is more true today than ever before.Take a look around your community and visit bakeries and cafes,is something missing? Is there a café that would benefit fromyour double fudge pecan cluster ice cream or those lovely blackcurrant scones? You may want to start small and deliver a fewgoodies to a local eatery in your area. You may want to sellyour recipe to a local bakery or become a recipe developer for anumber of restaurants in your area. Are you into recipe contest?Commercial food companies are always looking for a new originalrecipe and they are willing to pay. What have you got to lose?As Nike would say…”just do it!”5. Teach Your TalentFew people know that according to the No Child Left Behindlegislation all school districts should be offering parentinvolvement opportunities to participating Title I parents.These opportunities may be in the form of a parent enrichmentseminar/workshop. You can teach your talent and get paid for it.All Title I eligible schools have parent involvement funds thatcan only be used to provide parents information that will assistthem in helping their child achieves in school. Children cannotachieve when parents are homeless, jobless, illiterate and lackthe skills to help their child do well in school. There are manypeople who have the skill and ability to teach resume writing,job seeking skills, tutor or teach adult reading, and helpparents clean up their credit. If you think you could presentthis type of material in a professional manner, create aproposal and submit it to schools in your district. The fundsavailable to provide these services to parent must be used orschool districts will be penalized. This is a great way to makea real difference in your community....