So You Want to Be a WAHM?: Choosing the Right Business for You and Your Family

Even if you’ve decided working at home is right for you, the task of picking the right business can be daunting. It is obviously the most important choice you will make in your work at home career. There is an immense amount of information out there regarding home businesses. Although the process may be overwhelming, there are a few steps you can take to narrow down your choices and find the perfect business.

Before you start your research, spend a little time thinking about your goals for you business. What role is this business going to play in the life of your family? For some, working at home may mean providing a supplement to their spouses’ income. For others, it may be a replacement for a full time income from outside the home. When you set clear income expectations and goals you can target your home business search.

After you’ve narrowed down your financial goals for your new business, think about what you love to do. Since you are going to spend a lot of time working on your business, it is imperative that you pick something related to your interests. If you don’t squeal with delight at the thought of home parties, you probably shouldn’t go into that type of business?no matter how much money you think it will bring in. If you don’t have something in mind already, brainstorm a list of your hobbies and activities. There is bound to be a business idea among your list.

There may be some of you that are just motivated by making the most amount of money in the least amount of time. The kind of business doesn’t necessarily worry you. In that case, instead of picking something related to your hobbies, brainstorm a list of qualities that you’d like in your business. Do you prefer to make sales or get recruits? Are you up for posting on message boards to promote affiliate links? Would you like to communicate with others on a daily basis for your business or would you prefer to work alone? These are all things to consider before you start narrowing down your business choices.

Also, keep in mind the laws of supply and demand. There’s no point in starting a business that offers something nobody is looking for. A quick search on overture.com or wordtracker.com can give you an idea of how many people are searching for your product or service per month. This can help you gauge the interest level in your business idea.

Another way to scope out the viability of a business idea is to do research on work at home message boards. You can see what other people are doing with businesses similar to yours. By doing this, you will get you a good idea of some of the highs and lows to expect in your own business. However, be careful to take what you find with a grain of salt. There are a lot of people out there with negative attitudes and limited beliefs. Ultimately, if you are passionate about something and truly believe in what you are doing, it will shine through.

If you have a list of options that you are choosing from, take time to evaluate each option carefully. Make a pros and cons list for each business idea. Talk the choices over with your husband or a trusted friend. Just make sure your sounding board is supportive of your new business venture.

Once you’ve made a business choice, try living in your decision for a week. During that period of time, picture how your days will be spent working on your business. Imagine yourself working each day on the business you’ve picked and evaluate how it will fit into your life. Decide what changes you will need to make in your daily routine if this becomes your business. Visualize yourself telling others about your business. Does it feel comfortable? Do you feel like you can live with this business? If the answer is yes, congratulations! You’ve found the business for you. If you feel unenthusiastic about your initial choice, try “living” in one of your other top ideas for a week to narrow it down even further.

Through using all or a few of these steps, you can discover the right business for you. The process may take a while, or the decision may be very easy for you. Regardless of the time it takes to pick your business, following any of these steps will provide you with the confidence in knowing that you are on your way to work at home success.