Work From Home Job Ideas That Don't Suck

When the economy was at its worst, an amazing thing happened: the number of entrepreneurs, small businesses and self employed individuals rose dramatically. Being self employed isn't easy but with discipline, experience and a bit of know-how, there isn't any reason why anybody can't take a shot at making such an arrangement work in their favor.

Everyone thinks being their own boss is a dream come true but the realities of this career choice does come with its ups and downs. One of the disadvantages is trying to find one's niche and what position would be the best fit. It doesn't help that many "work from home" job opportunities found online turn out to be scams 9 times out of 10. The saying, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is," definitely holds true for those looking for a job that allows them to work from the comfort of their own home without starving.

However, not all such jobs are scams. Below are just a few ideal work from home positions that can be profitable as well as enjoyable:

Blogger/Article Writer

These days you don't have to be a professional writer with a journalism degree to be published, especially on the Internet. Some of the most popular bloggers today have no professional writing experience but they all have one thing in common: they have something to say. Blogs are free, easy to set up and is something you can completely have control over.

Whether you enjoy talking about Hollywood gossip, sharing recipes, providing tips on a subject you know a lot about, blogging is a great way to draw an audience and potentially make money for doing it. Having a blog with posts is considered "published" work and these types of writers are eligible for submitting for various online writing jobs in addition to blogging. Many get paid to become contributors for online magazines, columns and other media outlets.

While this particular profession may not be enough to pay major bills in the beginning, it does work great as side income and over time could grow.

Voice Over Artist

Been blessed with a great voice for radio? Similar to blogging/article writing, it is possible to do work as a voice over artist without tons of formal training. A large number of VO artists work from home and even have their own recording equipment, which isn't as fancy or complicated as it sounds. Companies like Proud Voices maintain a database of its VO talent, who get hired for various jobs that only take a short time to complete right from the privacy of one's own home and at great rates.

The more experience VO artists get under their belts, the higher rates they can command. Who wouldn't want to get paid to do a narration, commercial or other fun project?

At-Home-Cook/Caterer

This job doesn't even require going on the Internet to apply for...you just do it! Nearly everyone knows at least a few people in need of culinary expertise. Whether it's making a birthday cake for a child's party or whipping up appetizers or dessert for a formal company meeting, there are a large number of potential clients all ripe for the taking.

Working from home as a cook or caterer means spending time at home doing something enjoyable and that will definitely bring joy to others, which all cooks love and get to benefit from. Of course there will be some challenging times, such as working around deadlines, getting the food to and from as well as dealing with difficult clients and/or requests but at the end of the day, it's a wonderful way to generate income.