More Than Just Stay at Home Moms

I have several articles recently about the increased number of people who are working from home.  I found it interesting to note that the number of home businesses AND the number of telecommuting jobs has increased a great deal over the past decade or so.  About four million more people telecommute to work from home today compared to 1999. 

At one time, working at home was the realm of stay-at-home moms, with companies such as Avon, Mary Kay and Tupperware well represented.  Start-up companies then arrived on the scene, bringing more people home to work. Since the turn of the 21^st century, however, the number of individuals working at home has increased by tens of millions. 

Many people who once had small store-front businesses have moved those businesses to their homes, and their clients come to them there.  Their clientele may be smaller, but their overhead is as well.

Many larger companies and even major corporations now allow more of their full-time employees to work remotely.  This flexibility on the part of employers makes for happier employees.  They save on gas and commuting expenses, and many companies have even seen an increase in productivity for their remote workers.

The increase in work from home employees has grown particularly high in the computer, science and engineering industries.  Jobs performed in front of a computer can readily be moved to employee’s homes.  With high-speed Internet and services like Skype, companies can even hold virtual meetings.  Due to the challenging economy, employers have also been cutting back on costs, and letting people work remotely can reduce their expenses. They require less office space, and their utility bills are cut, for example.

Self-employed individuals and small business owners make up a large percentage of home workers.  During the past several years, along with the increase in unemployment, the work-at-home trend as grown. 

With the huge advances in communications and technology, millions are choosing to start and work their own home businesses.  This has subsequently led to the creation of thousands more business opportunities in a relatively brief period of time.

We have also seen a dramatic rise in those who work full or part-time jobs away from home while they are working a home business.  For most, their goal is to grow their home business enough to enable them to work at home full time at some point in the future.

My own story is similar to many others.  I began working my first home business, a typing service, about 15 years ago.  Both my husband and I worked jobs, and my business supplemented our income.  I was subsequently laid off my job with the County, and started a new job with the DEA.  A couple years later, I was laid off that job as well. 

Since my husband was still working full time, I started my search for a better-paying home business.  I found one (a party-plan company) that I worked for a year, with no success whatsoever.  I then started with another company where I operated my business for six years, earning a supplemental income.  While nearing the end of those six years, my husband’s employer went out of business.  Being at retirement age, he qualified for Social Security, so he decided not to search for another job when most companies were cutting their staff, not hiring.

Shortly thereafter, I found a business opportunity with a competing company.  I am now approaching my second year with Xpress Healthcare, and for the first time since working at home, I am earning a living.

There is no reason to believe that the huge growth in telecommuting jobs and home business opportunities will not continue at a rapid pace.  Even as the economy is improving, albeit slowly, I anticipate that millions more will be seeking business opportunities as opposed to a job.          

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 To learn more about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com