If you enjoy all things sweet and chocolatey and want to start a home business, consider starting a candy wrappers business! Starting a candy wrapping business can be a fun and rewarding business! This business idea can be a full time, all year round business because you can sell candy wrappers for virtually all holidays and special events!

The Concept

As a candy wrapping expert, you will craft beautiful personalized candy wrappers for chocolate candy bars. You can chose to offer your customers the personalized candy wrappers only, or you could sell your personalized candy wrappers with the candy bars — the choice is yours!

Who will want your personalized candy wrappers, anyway?

The answer is just about anyone who is throwing a party and looking for a unique party favor! Not to mention all those holidays and special event party favors too! Here are just a few occasions you can create personalized candy wrappers for:

Children’s birthday parties

Family reunion

Wedding anniversary

Housewarming party

School parties

Baby shower

Wedding shower

Christmas party

Easter party

And more!

Startup Cost

Start up costs for starting this type of business is minimal. To start this business you will need to have a computer, internet access, a high-quality printer, printer ink, paper, laminate machine (optional), and a wide collection of royalty free graphics.

Marketing

Marketing this type of business can be done easily online through your OWN online candy wrapper web store. You can advertise via Google Adwords, Facebooks ads, and through running your own online affiliate program. You can also hire someone to help you search optimize your website so that you can attain free web traffic! Another great way to market this business is through networking off line. You can network with wedding planners, event planners, party planners, and other local business owners.

Architects have been around for as long as man has been stacking stones to make buildings. The word architect comes from the Greek word Arkhitekton. Arkhi means chief and Tekton means builder, so the name literally translates to Chief Builder. One of the most well known architects in the world was Imhotep, who was responsible for the step pyramids in Giza.

The Concept

It is the job of the architect to design buildings so that they are as efficient and as safe as they can be. The architect is required to know all of the building codes in whatever local area that they operate so that they can design the proper requirements into the buildings they design. Many architects design custom homes, while still others design commercial locations or government buildings. Architects have at least a Bachelor’s level degree, some have a Master’s degree in architecture. There will also be local licensing requirements based on local areas, and continuing education as building codes are updated.

Startup Costs

The cost to become an architect will vary based on a number of factors. You will need a college education and license. The cost will vary based on geographical area. You will need basic business supplies like a computer, fax, phone, printer and so on. You will also need to have an AutoCAD program and a plotter to print out the blue prints that you create with it. You will need to make sure that your computer is capable of running AutoCAD as it is a very large program. It may be helpful to have a second computer for just that application. You’ll also need modeling supplies if you plan to do that. While it is optional, it is very helpful to clients to be able to see a 3D miniature version of their structure. You should have a private area of your home, such as an office where children and pets aren’t, and have your children with a sitter if they are small so as not to give an unprofessional impression.

How to Market It

Many of the freelance sites such as elance.com, getafreelancer.com, guru.com and others do have job listings for architects. You will be required to bid on the projects and at first it might be hard to get someone to take the chance on you. But eventually your persistence will pay off and the good thing about these sites is that for each job you do the client leaves you feedback, so getting the next job will be easier. It is helpful to keep a list of your clients and there contact information to use as references. You can also direct potential clients to these sites for references as well.

At one point a business will NEED customer support no matter how small or how large the company is online. Whether the customer support is via email, chat, or phone, businesses will always need to employ a customer service representative. An online customer service position is a job that won’t die or fizzle out anytime soon. A customer service rep is an important necessity and an asset to businesses everywhere around the world making this career a beneficial and rewarding career to those who love to help customers.

The Concept

As a customer service representative online you will be answering customers? inquiries and pre-sales questions — depending on what specific area your employer places you. To work online as a customer service rep, it helps to have held positions offline at a call center or any type of customer service position. Although, working in a call center environment is different from a customer service position at a department store, the job in itself still commands the same thing: helping a customer and representing the company in a professional manner.

The description of a customer service representative can be almost a borderline description of what a (VA) Virtual Assistant does. As a VA, you are more in business for yourself and can pick and choose projects and clients you want to work with. As a customer service representative, you will most likely work with a firm or an organization online that will place you at a job with a client seeking out for a part-time or full-time customer service rep.

As the customer service representative you will interact with customers via a help desk or by answering emails. Normally, your new employer will supply you with the proper email etiquette and scripts to answer customer inquiries.

Nowadays online chat is quickly becoming the number one choice for online businesses to utilize to make it easier for a consumer to reach customer service support or to answer presales questions. This means, it is imperative for an online business to hire a highly qualified and professional customer service representative in order to make customers happy and in order to gain new sales — and that customer service representative can be YOU.

Startup Costs

The start up cost to get your foot into the customer service world online is very minimal. Other then taking a training course or taking the knowledge you have acquired at a previous customer position, you really only need a computer, Internet connection, fax machine, fast typing skills, head set, 2 phone lines, and a sense of professionalism and a positive attitude even when people can be rude.

How to Market It

Really there is no need for marketing a customer service job unless you plan on becoming a Virtual Assistant. Because you will be seeking a firm to help you obtain a part-time position the only thing you need to market is yourself. So, in this case, you will want to have someone help you create a very professional resume and present yourself in a positive and professional manner. Other than that, you are sure to be on your way to finding the perfect fit with a great company (or companies). Just remember not to take customer complaints personally and always remain courteous and professional and you’ll be a success.

If you are creative, outgoing, and know all the latest hair style trends, then becoming a professional hair stylist will be the perfect career choice for you. A professional hair stylist can be a rewarding and fun career, IF you have a passion for hair. Passion is the ingredient you MUST have to be a successful hair stylist. With the main ingredient, passion, you will drive yourself to learn and seek out all the latest hair cutting and hair coloring techniques. With a desire to become a hair stylist and extensive training, you’ll soon be on your way to becoming the ‘Hair Medic’ and the ‘Fashionista’ of hair.

You Are The Hair Medic And The Fashionista of Hair!

As a professional hair stylist you can choose to do only the hair cutting and styling, or you can specialize as a hair colorist, or do it ALL! There are many avenues in which you can reach as a hair stylist. If your dream is to open your own salon, then GO for it! But if you dream of being a big name in the hair biz and dream of cutting the locks of stars, then getting your name out there and working with the best is what you need to do. You may need to start out as a hair assistant in the hair salon that you have your eye on (you know the one that makes big $$ money.) You should seek out a mentor that can show you all the ropes. Your mentor can teach you valuable true life lessons of the biz that no school can ever teach you.

As a professional hair stylist you must know:

All the latest hot hair trends
The latest hair cutting techniques (with scissors and razor)
The latest hair color trends and techniques

As a professional hair stylist you must:

Look professional
Be outgoing! It is not necessarily a must, but being enthusiastic and up beat will keep your clients coming back for more — and let’s not forget your work!
The ability to LISTEN to what your customer wants… not what you want
The ability to determine what the client’s hair can do and cannot do; meaning, the client’s hair texture and profile. Is the client’s hair too thin to do what they want it to do? Etc.
How to work with hair product
Be knowledgeable about hair care products and which hair products will be right for the client’s hair

Training Needed

Before you ever work on a client’s hair professionally in the United States, you will need a state board license that states you can. Working on a client’s hair for pay in the U.S. without a state board license is against the law. To obtain a state board license you will need to go to cosmetology school which is available through local community colleges or at a local trade school. You will need to attend so many hours to complete the course. Each state has a different amount of required hours that need to be completed to obtain a state board license. After completing the course you will need to take the state board exam. The state board exam may differ from each state, but generally there will be a written test and a hands on test.

Marketing Yourself

As a hair stylist you are almost in a way selling yourself. Your hands are your greatest asset, so you must showcase your abilities. You can keep a portfolio of your work for when you scout out which salon you would like to work for, but keep in mind that this is not how you will get clients. You will gain a client base by doing amazing work and most of all word of mouth! Every client that leaves your chair is a walking billboard for your services. This is why it is *key* for you to do your very best on every client. You will also want to have professionally made business cards with you because each new person you meet can be a new potential client.

Have fun with your new career as a professional hair stylist. Join hair shows, meet new people and attend classes to keep fresh on all the latest hair trends. Enjoy your new career and enjoy your passion!

There is a very large demand for market researchers these days. Market research is one of the fastest growing areas in the marketing sector. For savvy, young business students, it has emerged as a trendy and exciting job. The job is not just about fact gathering. These days, it is more about identifying new untapped markets and analyzing consumer trends. The researcher must also know how to use all that information to increase the profit of the business.

The Concept

As a market researcher, you will be helping other businesses in conducting research for their target market. The research work will include shipping strategies, competitive analysis, and pricing strategies based on that specific market. In fact, the work of a market researcher can be divided into two categories: quantitative and qualitative. The qualitative research work is simpler, as it mainly focuses on using simple techniques and talking with people, such as in-depth one-on-one interviews or a one-hour small group discussion. The quantitative research requires you to invest more time and effort into it. In this case, you may have to conduct various surveys with large sample groups. Therefore, you will have to invest a great deal of time with questionnaires.

Startup Costs

The training cost to become a market researcher is not much. You can learn everything for free on Internet. However, you must have a strong determination to succeed. It is more about common sense than getting a proper training. So, if you have that common sense in you, this business is the right one for you. It is more about having an inquisitive mind than acquiring proper training or obtaining a particular degree. You must have very good communication skills. As a graduate market researcher, you can easily make somewhere around 10-15 thousand dollars a year in the beginning. Having a master’s degree (especially in business) will help you earn more. With five years of experience, your annual income may rise up to $25000-$50000.

How to Market It

You can start as a trainee working with more experienced market researchers. After learning the trade secret through these entry-level jobs, you can go ahead and start working individually. In order to widen the pool of potential employers, you can seek out jobs in areas outside advertising, such as software companies, charity organizations, and consulting firms. Initially, it may also be a good idea to offer your services on a contract basis. Many small businesses cannot afford to have a separate marketing department. They may require the valuable services of a market researcher for a short period of time. Like with any other profession or business, advertising plays a critical role in marketing your services as a market researcher. Inform the local small business as well as big companies that you have established your own market research company.

In order to find clients on your own, you can also use your business contacts as well as the contacts that you made in your university.

Becoming a home inspector can be a lucrative career move. While you won’t be working at home all the time, you will be your own boss. Being a home inspector will take some education and networking but the income possibilities are quite good.

The Concept

Home inspectors are part of the home buying process. Once a buyer makes an offer on a home, then a home inspector goes through the home to discover any problems and to determine if the current owner needs to make any improvements to the house, and to give the home buyer a complete picture of the home and all of its systems. It is helpful to have a background in home improvement or construction, but not required. Licensing may be required in some areas and some training will be required.
 

Startup Costs

Start up costs will vary based on location. Different locations have different licensing and education requirements. There are a variety of websites that offer training classes online, so the training is at least convenient. The cost of these classes can vary, and unfortunately the cost of them is not openly publicized. Most of the schools that offer these classes will only release that information over the phone to potential students.

Other costs will include basic business supplies, such as a lap top computer, cell phone, printer and the like. Business kits are available through several of the schools to their graduating students. This will include forms, business cards and such. There are also a variety of software programs available for home inspectors as well. They can range from 100 dollars to several hundred dollars.

In addition to business costs you’ll need basic tools such as flashlights, tape measures, digital thermometers, ladders and other basic items. You can more accurately pinpoint what you need from your training class.

How to Market It

One of the best ways to market your home inspector business is network with real estate agents. Most of the time when someone makes an offer on a house the next step is a home inspection. Most real estate agents will set up the home inspection for the buyer, which means that if you can network with some real estate agents, you’ll likely get some referrals. Other ways that you can market your business include setting up a website and advertising at your local home improvement store and in the phone book. Be creative in your marketing approach. It’s sure to pay off.

If you’ve ever assembled a table or read the manual to some item that you purchased, then you have seen the work of a technical writer. While not all technical writer positions are work-from-home opportunities, many are, with more and more becoming available every day. Companies are learning, especially in this economic crunch, that it is cheaper to contract a technical writer than to keep one on staff full time.

The Concept

The job of a technical writer is to write instructions in layman’s terms that everyone or almost everyone can understand. Many times the technical writer has to assemble or operate a product with no instructions in order to be able to write the instructions. Technical writers are also responsible for writing user’s manuals for things like computer software, gaming systems and other types of manuals. Even the manuals for vehicles are written by technical writers, though they are usually on staff at the company.

Startup Costs

 
The cost to start a career as a technical writer is minimal. All you really need are basic office supplies and equipment such as a computer, software, printer, phone, fax and so on. Most of us already have these things anyway. An internet connection is required as well for finding and submitting work to clients, but again, most of us already have these things. You can write off the cost of business start up costs on your taxes, contact an accountant or tax advisor to all the specifics.

How to Market It

 
Finding work as a technical writer may be a little tough at first. There are some job referral websites where you can find some jobs to help build your portfolio of work. Sites like getafreelancer.com, rentacoder.com, guru.com, elance.com and others allow employers to post jobs for freelance technical writers. Initially it can be hard to get someone to take a chance on you, but after the first one they do get easier. All of these sites allow their members to leave feedback once a project is finished. So as your feedback score goes up, you will find yourself in demand more. In the beginning you may find that you have to work for less than what you initially wanted, but as you do more work, you can demand more money. After you gain some experience you can start applying directly to companies who are hiring technical writers. You will need to have examples of previous work submitted with your resume. You should also submit references with your resume. Ideally you will want to use your past technical writing clients as your references, but you can also direct potential employers to view your feedback score on the websites you work from.

If you are a talented artist or even just a hobbyist with a creative blend of mind, you can change your passion into a highly rewarding and profitable career. You can become a freelance artist. However, you should keep in mind that it takes serious commitment to be in the art business.

The Concept

The job of a freelance artist is to use his/her unique creative talent to express their quaint vision through different mediums, such as graphic designing, painting, sculpture, and others. Besides that, you may also have to attend seminars and conduct research. Businesses hire you because of your sensible characteristics and your ability to provide a more specialized work. The good thing is that since you are working independently, you get the freedom to handpick jobs. You can choose to work for only those projects that are within the bounds of your skills, talents, and capacity.

Startup Costs

You can get started with this profession by just having one room of your living space devoted for your art. Since you will be working on a freelance basis, your clients will only look at your final work and not where you accomplish the same. However, as your business starts growing, you will definitely need a separate studio, where you could meet with clients and discuss business work. In the beginning, it may take some time to get high-pay projects. Therefore, you may consider getting a side job, but make sure that the job is relevant to your business. For example, a good idea is to take art classes in a variety of media at community centers and art centers. You can also consider taking private tuitions. The best thing is that this way you do not only earn some extra income, but you also advertise about your business. Experts say that some of the best clients come through jobs like this.

How to Market It

The first thing you should do is to create a logo for your self-employed business. The next step is to get the business cards printed with your name, logo, and contact details. Your business card is the biggest marketing weapon for you, as it is mainly through these cards that a potential client reaches you. Make sure that you provide a brief detail about the kind of services you offer. In order to get more work, it can be a great idea to send some samples to all the local ad agencies and major book publishers in your town. In this age of Internet, it is also very important for you have an impressive online presence. Probably, this is the best way to showcase your talent and attract more clients. Organizing an exhibition of your art work in a local art gallery will also work well.