Starting a small business, or a micro-business, can be a great career move that also helps you earn more money on top of a full-time job’s salary.
Of course it means more work, but the extra cash and professional experience could go a long way toward financial stability over the long term. I’m toying with the idea myself (until I can make decent bucks from this blog, natch).
I recently wrote “Side Businesses You Can Start for Extra Cash” for Yahoo! Small Business Advisor (where I work full-time), and I learned some great tips and even more possibilities for starting my own side business.
After publishing the article, I learned of a two more ideas worth looking into:
JustAnswer – You can register to become an expert and then answer queries related to your field of expertise for a fee. The certification process is pretty involved, but the opportunity exists for all types of professions, from veterinarians and auto mechanics to lawyers and tech-support gurus. If your expertise is legit, why not build this into your spare time and increase your income?
oDesk – This option is great for freelancers. You can create a profile that describes your expertise and sets your rates and specs for work. The profile will then show up as a possible match when employers search the site for contracting gigs. The potential for income with minimal marketing outlay is hard to beat.
