Whether it’s the challenge of sustaining a certain lifestyle on a single income or the need for adult interactions, many stay-at-home moms are seeking employment opportunities that allow them to stay at home with their children and still have a foot in the working world — but on their own terms. For those moms, here are six options to consider.
For the Entrepreneurial Mom
Direct sales companies offer great opportunities for working moms because women are able to run their own business without starting from scratch. There are two keys to finding success in a direct sales company. First, pick a company or product you are already passionate about or familiar with. For example, if you love doing your nails, maybe Jamberry is the right fit for you. If you are passionate about reading, check out UsBorne books. Second, choose an already successful and notable company such as Amway, the No. 1 ranking direct sales company in 2015.
For the Pet-Loving Mom
Services like Rover.com match pet lovers with pet owners in need of a pet sitter. It’s as easy as creating your profile and setting your price. Once matched, you can accept and decline opportunities as they fit your schedule. Depending on your availability, there is a potential to earn hundreds of dollars a month, as long as you live in a city with a high enough demand for these type of services.
For the Fashionable Moms
If you love shopping and have a good sense of fashion, consider a job as a stylist. StitchFix is an online subscription program that utilizes a team of stylists to create packages of outfits each month to mail out to customers. You create looks for clients based on their style profile, and the company ships them your selections.
For the Book Smarts Mom
Get in touch with your local schools and offer tutoring services. It doesn’t take a college degree to help elementary students with their studies, but the more experience you have, the more you can make hourly. Leverage your time and earning power by offering group homework sessions with 3 to 4 kids. Your clients can save money on their hourly rate, and you make more than you would on a single-student tutoring session. Rates range from $40 an hour to $75 to $100 an hour, all done while the baby naps or the neighborhood sitter entertains your child for $10 an hour.
For the Busy Bee Mom
If you enjoy being out and about or you have some time to kill while the kids are in school, check out TaskRabbit.com. This online service allows users to post any odd job, task or errand they need help with. Jobs range anywhere from making deliveries to data entry to doing someone’s grocery shopping. If you are already out running errands for yourself and can manage a couple more, this may be the perfect way to make a little extra money.
For the Fast and the Furious Mom
OK, maybe not so fast and furious behind the wheel, but if you like to drive and have a chunk of kid-free time (such as during school hours), Uber hires people to transport their clients in their own vehicles. You simply log into their app when you are free to pick up a fare and log out when you aren’t. It doesn’t get any more flexible than that.