• Photographers are always in demand, whether shooting digitally or in film.photographer image by Jana Lumley from Fotolia.com
  
  Running your own home business can allow you to work outside of conventional office hours and enjoy the chance to be your own boss. With an idea and a plan, you can work to make your business ideas a reality and potentially bring in a profit. To run a business from home, you'll need a profitable idea and an interest in seeing the business succeed.
  
  

Sell Things Online

• Try selling your clutter. Many people turn to online services like eBay to sell their product, whatever it may be. Sell crafts you make, small gifts bought at wholesale prices or that old pair of skis in the back of your closet. Establish a good relationship with your clients by adding a personalized note in each of your shipments, and always offer reasonable shipping and handling rates. The United States Postal Service (see Resources) will even supply sellers with free shipping supplies. If you want to keep your business going, than you'll need a never-ending basement of junk to sell or something that can be bought cheap in your area but perhaps not in others. Someone in Alaska might be willing to pay handsomely for a shipment of North Carolina peanut brittle. Offer buyers something they may not be able to get elsewhere.
  
  

Freelance Graphic Design

• With the majority of graphic design work being done on computers today, it makes sense that someone with a background in art or graphic design could run a profitable business from the comfort of home. Once you have a few clients, build your credibility by creating satisfactory work and charging reasonable rates. The first steps may involve creating a logo of your own and developing a portfolio of work. If you are just starting out, offer to do a logo for a neighbor's business free of charge. That logo may end up on a businesses awning and help you build a local clientele. Never underestimate the power of working for free. Graphic designers can deduct businesses expenses--like a brand-new Macbook or Adobe Creative Suite software--from taxes, so hold on to your receipts.
  
  

Online Journalism

• If you love to write, then find a way to get paid for it. Work for an online writing website, and write articles on topics in which you are interested. Create your own hours and use your writing skills to educate answer-seeking Web surfers. Sites like eHow and Answerbag deliver content developed by many freelance writers who got involved simply by having a background in writing and submitting a writing sample and a resume. Online freelancers get paid between $5 and $25+ dollars per article. Some sites pay you residuals based on how many people read the article you wrote. While not always as lucrative at first, it is common for these types of articles to eventually make $10 to $20 over the course of a month and continue earning after that.
  
  

Tutor or Teach Art

• If you have good communication skills and a background in teaching, tutoring can allow you to make money while changing a child's life for the better. It's important to have a good relationship with your subjects and their parents, so be understanding and flexible with your schedule. Be sensitive to common kid scenarios like last-minute dentist appointments that may lead to a canceled meeting, and understand that you need your clients' trust to maintain your business. Most tutors charge an hourly rate and schedule meeting times on a regular basis. Sharing your ability to paint, play an instrument, or learn long division can be rewarding in both pay and satisfaction. To get involved in tutoring, contact any parents you know who have school-age kids and ask the parents to recommend you. Be willing to work for free at first or to tutor two kids at a time for a discount.
  
  

Portraiture

• People can always use a good photographer to take prom photos, family portraits or personal shots. Work out a good pricing plan, like an hourly rate or a package rate. Offer digital retouching for an added fee. Until you are established, your real concern should be taking flattering pictures and making your clients happy. Events like proms and graduations are great times to get started, so find friends who will be participating in these events. Many photographers start by taking pictures for free at events and posting them to their personal websites. People who attended the event can then see the pictures on the website and contact the photographer to purchase them. Whether or not you have a website, taking pictures at events helps you build your portfolio and get your name out. Make sure to have a functioning camera, a computer for editing and a good eye for photography.
  
  

Things to Consider

• While making money at home can be convenient, it's important to understand all the laws and regulations that affect your business. Keep your receipts, and check with your area's Chamber of Commerce to see what licenses you will need. Avoid legal trouble by consulting with a lawyer specializing in small businesses. Learn about the taxes you owe as a self-employed worker by visiting the IRS website (see Resources).