Working from Home Question

[DeeThomas]

When I first moved to Canada I worked from home editing an educational website. If you have any editorial experience I'm sure you could get work freelancing by contacting companies directly.

Although this was a great opportunity for me, I have to say I found working from home hard: you have to be very self-disciplined, there's no IT guy when you need help, and I often worked extra hours because I felt like I had to 'prove' that I was really working (honest!) and as a result set unrealistic targets for myself.

If anyone does end up freelancing from home I would very strongly suggest:

- setting a timetable for work - get up and get dressed for your start time, take a 'lunch hour' and have a home time

- asking your employer for specific targets - eg, edit three articles a day

- see an accountant as soon as you start working, have a system in place to track your income and business expenses and make sure you save to pay your taxes! - this will save you a big headache and some dollars at tax return time

[ccmp1974]

My sister does home party sales as well. She has been with the company for 10 yrs and each year earns a free trip. This year she is going to St.Lucia!!!! She is a stay at home mom of 3 and plans her "evenings out" around her husbands schedule so she doesn't have to pay for a sitter. The company is Canadian based and sells home decor, kitchen gagets and Christmas decorations. If anyone is interested in more info I can have her send you some as she is always looking to hire anywhere in Canada. Just PM me you address.

[Cdn Dzny Luver]

Can someone please advise why my postings have been deleted???

[avoncallingu]

I no longer sell avon but I know a woman who had a disabled child and built up her business from home. People go to her - or she gets a few people to distribute the catalogues. People pick up their orders AT HER HOME. Since you are an independent representative, you can set it up as you like as long as you don't break their basic "good business" ethics. It costs you $10 -ish to get started.
Also - if you are starting a home-based business, you can get all kinds of deductions from Income tax. But it takes a bit of "thinking ahead" to get started.
I've had a home business for over 14 years and ALWAYS get money back based on the deductions I'm able to claim.
Good luck! I used to give seminars on "How to Start a Business In Your Own Home." and got paid to tell others how to do this.
Think about something you LOVE to do and then offer to teach others how to do it!
Or just DO it! Love scrapbooking? - Do someone else's scrapbooking and charge them for the fun!
A business in Ontario is considered a business if you have "a reasonable expectation of making a profit." Even if you don't make a profit at first, they still let you deduct things. The government WANTS people to start new businesses! There are even courses set up at local municipal gov't offices to advise you on getting started.
It gets me excited just to think that you might be doing this! Good luck!

[glowworm2k]

I've had a part-time job that allows me to work from home for the past four years. It's with a research company; I do research, write reports and editing. It's great because although I go into the office most days, I can do my work at home as well. While it's a pretty good gig, I had to prove myself pretty significantly before I was allowed to work from home.

My credentials were also instrumental to getting the job; to work where I do, you had to have a master's degree at a minimum and extremely strong writing skills. Getting the job was a matter of networking (which I hate and am terrible at!) and being in the right place at the right time.

Don't ask me what I'll be doing in a few months, though, when I finish school and need a full-time job. I'm not a salesperson and really want something full time (not available at my current job), preferably with the flexibility to work from home some of the time...

[mdrew]

It appears to only be available int he states.

Convergys have at home jobs if anyone is interested in that
heres a link: http://www.convergysworkathome.com/
i dont know if they are all over canada or not tho. i know there is or was 2 here in ottawa

[mdrew]

What company do you work for?

i agree, the company i work for does work from home (really good money), but the requirements are you have to have a place in the house that's quiet (ie: closed door) and there must be no noise that clients could potentially hear (that includes barking dogs etc.) but they give you the computer/desk/internet etc.

Working from home for a legit company (most likely would be inbound customer service) won't offer you the freedom to have your kids at home as well, its like having a real job, you gotta be willing to put your kids in daycare