For many mums, the option of being able to work from home is a family friendly working a dream come true. No commuting, being able to work at hours that suit you – be it when your child is curled up in bed and you can get some quiet – and being able to look as glam as you want (pyjamas included)… what more could a busy mum ask for?

In part 2 we started looking at home-based business ideas – let’s look at some more home-based family friendly business ideas:

Family friendly business idea 1: Ironing service

An independent ironing service may take on both domestic ironing and small commercial contracts, offering free collection and delivery. You will need to be a skilled and efficient ironer, with knowledge of fabric care.

This type of business can be physically demanding, and you may have more custom at certain times, such as in the evenings and over the weekend, but it can fit perfectly around looking after your children.

Family friendly business idea 2: Knitting service

A home knitting service can offer customers a tailored and exclusive garment, with materials of their choice. You can choose to run your service using complex knitting machines or by producing the garments by hand.

Family friendly business idea 3: Homemade preserves and pickles

A producer may make marmalade, jam, jelly, curds, pickles or chutneys. This type of business can be run on a part-time basis from a suitably equipped domestic kitchen. You may choose to sell direct to the consumer or through retailers. You will need knowledge of the specific food production techniques required.

Family friendly business idea 4: Homemade cake, biscuit and sweet producer

A producer may make tray bakes (such as flapjacks), cakes, muffins, biscuits, toffee, nut brittle or fudge. This business can be run on a part-time basis from a domestic kitchen. A creative approach to food preparation will be required.

Family friendly business idea 5: Homemade soup producer

A homemade soup business operates from a domestic kitchen, selling soup either directly to consumers (online or at farmers’ markets) or to intermediaries such as hoteliers and restaurateurs.

Family friendly business idea 6: Market researcher

A market research business will collect and interpret data on behalf of its client, and may involve the testing of new products, customer satisfaction surveys or opinion research. You will need sound some background in research and may need to visit potential clients to pitch for business.

Family friendly business idea 7: Translator

A translator translates a text from one language into another. These may include scientific texts, legal documents or novels. The work is ideally suited to working from home. You must be able to express yourself clearly in your native language as well as having an excellent understanding of a foreign language.

Family friendly business idea 8: Virtual office assistant

A virtual assistant provides administrative support for clients on a self-employed basis.

A virtual assistant business may provide individuals and businesses with secretarial and editorial solutions such as letters, reports, newsletters, invoices, as well as translating or data processing. Work can be commissioned and delivered via email, fax or post.

You would work from your own home and communicate through electronic media. Duties typically include telephone answering, secretarial tasks, book-keeping, typing, filing, travel booking and data entry.

The working hours of a virtual assistant are usually flexible, and you can agree to work according to your available time, which is fantastic for mums who have an administrative background, or mums who are confident using Microsoft computer packages – Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Family friendly business idea 9: Web developer/web designer

Small-scale website designers and developers can work from home with minimal face-to-face contact with clients. A background in web design and development will help when starting out on your own.

You will need to be competent in web design or web programming, so this is ideal for someone who is either qualified but doesn’t want to go back to work, or a mum who has the knowledge and experience of doing web design and is confident enough to provide this service for clients.

Family friendly business idea 10: Graphic designer

A freelance graphic designer can work from the comfort of their home, but may need to meet with clients to pitch for business and discuss requirements.

You will need to have the right computer software like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator etc, to provide the best service for your clients.

This is part 3 of a four-part series on family friendly business ideas – if you are serious about finding a flexible way of working, the How to Stay at Home and Earn Money guide.

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