15 Legitimate Ways to Work From Home

Did you have a goal to either work from anywhere, in an effort to improve your economic circumstances? If you are already employed, chances are you have considered how this can be achieved, with your current commitments, or even on a full-time basis. Now more than ever, with millions out of work due to the impacts of COVID, we realize the importance of securing a location independent role. The “work from home” field is filled with scams and empty promises. It’s very unfortunate scam artists are busy looking for ways to steal from others. Most of us are simply looking for ways to earn money, stay safe, and keep the lights burning in our homes.
Typical red flags include vague job descriptions, being asked to deposit checks into your bank account before you start work, conducting interviews on social media platforms, grammatical and spelling errors in the job notice, etc. However, there are ways to legitimately make money from home. Always do your due diligence (review websites, cross-check the company, pick up the phone and call the numbers listed especially if you have never heard of the company before, etc). The key is to leverage your strengths and ensure that any companies you’re working with have a good reputation. Avoid doing too much work until you’re paid for the first time. Then you should have an idea of whether the offer is legitimate or not.

Stay at home and pay your bills:

1. Be a consultant. Many small businesses don’t have a need for a full-time whatever-you-are. But they might need someone with your skills and knowledge for a short period of time.
2. Transcriptionist. This type of work is available and can be worth your time if you can type quickly. There’s software available that can transcribe with reasonable accuracy. You might be able to make a decent hourly rate without working too hard.
3. Freelance work. Writing articles, creating videos, performing search engine optimization, or creating graphics are just a few examples of freelance work that’s waiting for you.
4. Work for a call center. Some businesses want to take your call but are too small to have bodies dedicated to answering the phones 24/7. You can work at home for a call center and receive those important calls.
5. Teach a language. English is in high demand, particularly in Asian countries. Italki is one website that will allow you to take advantage of your English ability and make $20+/hour.
   
6. Virtual assistant. The creativity of your employer will determine your tasks. You could be making travel plans, balancing the books, or researching chocolate cookie recipes.
7. Rent a room in your home. There are several websites that will connect you with renters, both long-term and short. If you have space you’re not using, consider monetizing it.
8. Be a juror. Lawyers will pay you to review a case and give your opinion. Think of it as a practice trial before heading to court. Ejury is one such company that will pay you for your jurist skills.
9. Test and review websites. User Testing is the most popular company. You’re paid $10 for a 20-minute task. That’s $30 per hour if you stay busy.
10. Take surveys. This field is full of scams, so be sure to check out the company before wasting your time. Never pay to join a survey organization. A few companies with good reputations include Harris Poll Online, Pine Cone Research, and Swag Bucks.
11. Sell vegetables from your garden. At times, your garden is providing more than you can consume. Visit the local farmer’s market and sell your excess.
12. Mechanical Turk. This is a service provided by Amazon.com. You can perform small tasks for money. Most of the jobs are very quick and easy. The pay is very low per task, but you can complete multiple tasks per hour.
13. Tutor at your home. $25/hour isn’t out of line. There are also places to tutor online. Check out Chegg Tutors.
14. Affiliate marketing. You can sell someone else’s product online and get paid for each sale. For example, Amazon.com has an affiliate program, people earn six figures on Clickbank. There are so many more.
15. Pet sitting. It’s possible to earn $25/day or more for watching someone else’s pet. Unlike daycare laws, most areas don’t have a limit to how many dogs you can keep in your home! Rover.com is a popular option to connect with pet owners.

If you find yourself between jobs or need to make some extra money, working from home can be both convenient and lucrative. Many work at home offers aren’t worth your valuable time, but others can provide a full-time income if you’re willing to work hard. If you are looking for remote, full-time work, be mindful of sites that sell your personal information, such as Indeed and Ziprecruiter. If you find a role that interests you on their job board, it’s advisable to apply directly from the company’s website. The following is a list of reputable websites to get you started:
www.ratracerebellion.com (sign up for job alerts)
www.upwork.com (get paid for your skills/talents)
www.flexjobs.com (well-known companies)

Until the next post,
Best,
Juan