Mothers have a world of opportunity to make money while staying at home with their kids. By removing the costs of commuting, wardrobe, child care and other expenses that come with an office job, moms may find that they can make less money but still contribute meaningfully to the family budget by working from home. The freedom of not having these additional expenses enables moms to explore money-making ventures that truly speak to their passion, whether it’s baking, art, pet care, writing or any number of other pursuits.
Selling Products
Sign up to become a cosmetics seller for an established catalog company. Consider natural or mineral makeup products or other brands that are familiar to you and popular with your friends and family. Start with companies that do not require you to invest any money upfront. Avoid companies that require you to buy a set number of products from them in order to sell products, as you will not make money with these companies. Check the Federal Trade Commission’s scam report before signing up for any selling program that is not familiar to you or sounds too good to be true.
Freelance and Online Work
Freelance data entry, editing, writing, proofreading, bookkeeping and graphic design jobs can all be done at home by computer-literate moms. Moms with college degrees or office experience can handle most e-work jobs. These jobs provide moms the freedom to do work according to the family’s schedule. Compare job rates at more than one company before committing to any jobs, and consider that 1/3 of that income will need to be set aside for taxes.
Meal Preparation
Stay-at-home moms who have a knack for cooking can provide meal preparation services to friends and family. Create a menu of your specialty items and keep track of the cost for each item. Figure out how much money you need to charge to make a profit. Share lunch and dinner menus with people you know and give them easy ways to pre-order meals, by phone or by email. Baking specialty cakes or breads can also be profitable for moms who like to bake. Check with your state’s Department of Agriculture or Licensing Division for information about local food service licensing requirements.
Pet Sitting
Pet sitting and dog walking can provide an income for stay-at-home moms. Dog walks can be scheduled anywhere from daily to just weekly. Take on the pet sitting tasks while the kids are at day care or preschool. Involve the kids in the job and let them enjoy playing with pets. Pregnant women should avoid pet sitting for cats who use a litter box.
Child Care
Provide early morning or after-school care to children who are close in age or good peer models for your own children. Brush up on first aid and CPR skills to make your skills more valuable to fellow parents. Expect to earn $10 to $15 per hour, the going rate for in-home child care and babysitting. Consider becoming a licensed child care provider if you plan to expand the number of children under your care.
Creating and Selling Art
Stay-at-home moms who are artistic can show and sell their artwork at local galleries, in craft shows and on their own free website. Moms who are crafty can focus their efforts on creating one or two types of crafts and selling them in bulk at local craft shows, church bazaars and online. Designs can be sold on T-shirts, mugs and calendars without investing any money upfront on websites including Zazzle and CafePress.
