If you are looking to create real income from home, with a business that will fit into your hectic schedule, you should consider the flexibility of direct sales and network marketing companies. Or if you have a particular skill or talent, you might start some sort of service-based business.

Are you a good organizer? Charge clients for closet organization services. Are you a musician? You could teach private lessons on a part-time basis from your home. Other ideas would be baby sitting services, dog sitting, bookkeeping, housekeeping and landscaping. Word of mouth advertising will keep satisfied clients coming your way. The cost to start up may be less than fifty dollars.

Direct sales opportunities (home parties) will require that you are comfortable meeting new people and presenting your product to groups of people. Examples of this type of business would be cosmetics, costume jewelry sales, kitchen gadgets, cookware, soy candles, designer handbags and pet supplies. Sales are done through print catalogs and showcasing limited quantities of product samples. Other opportunities have you sell your products by hosting in-home parties for friends and family. Personal referrals are an important part of this type of business. Start-up costs for this type of business are usually less than two hundred dollars.

Multi-level marketing companies distribute their products and services through independent consultants, sometimes called ‘associates’ or ‘distributors’. Commissions are earned for retail sales, but the significant income is a result of residuals on the sales income of your entire organization. Learn how to create a down line of a thousand buyers and you will have created a full-time income. This has been a difficult feat to accomplish in years past, using only warm market prospecting; however the internet offers many new avenues for product sales and business opportunity seekers to enroll with you.

Network marketing business opportunities are available in many different flavors: nutrition/supplements, beauty/skin care, electricity providers, travel, pet food and related products, financial services and debt reduction plans, health insurance discounts — there is even a healthy chocolate MLM company! The majority of the businesses do not require that you maintain an inventory; remember, though, that the income is based on sales and sales volume. Most will require that you maintain a monthly purchase amount of your own, in order to remain qualified for commissions. This monthly amount varies by company, but usually ranges between $50 and $150. Start up costs for most MLMs are less than $100.