• Give careful thought to your home business.lost in thought image by John Keith from Fotolia.com
  
  When you start a home business you should take care of some basics first. Make sure to choose a business that may be legally operated from your home. Many cities and building owners restrict the kinds of business activities you can engage in. Next, take stock of your skills, experience and education. Most importantly, consider the kinds of things you like to do. You will be more successful in your home business if you are doing something you enjoy every day.
  
  

Dog Walking

• Dog walkers provide much needed exercise for housebound pets.Walking with dogs image by Lucy Cherniak from Fotolia.com
  
  All around the world there are dogs living in apartments. Many busy owners don't have the time or energy to walk the dogs regularly. Dogs need exercise to stay healthy, and a short trot outside to do their business followed by a quick return to the apartment or condo does not do the trick. If you live in an apartment or condominium building, or if you live nearby one, you can offer to walk dogs for their owners.
  
  

Tutoring

• Help someone learn.watching his students image by Luisafer from Fotolia.com
  
  Everyone has areas of expertise, and many times your expertise is just what someone else needs. You might consider sharing your experience and knowledge by offering to tutor people. If you are gifted at math or language, there could be a willing student nearby who needs some extra help with one of those subjects. You might be highly experienced with a certain type of software or have other computer skills that you can teach to others. The students don't always have to be children. You can also offer to tutor college students, trade school students, people changing careers and even teachers who want to expand their skills and knowledge.
  
  

Consulting

• Share your skills and experiences.negocios 108 image by Jaume Felipe from Fotolia.com
  
  Regardless of the economic times there are always companies and individuals who need specialized information. You have work experience in a particular field, or fields. You can offer to consult with people and provide the benefits of your experience to them. The person or business you consult with can skip the learning curve that you had to follow and advance more quickly toward their goals. You may have a specialized degree in a subject that lawyers or business owners need in-depth information about. You may have gone through a life experience that left you with a deep understanding of the kinds of things others can do to avoid, or encourage, the same experience for themselves.
  
  

Shopping Service

• Help people get their stuff.shopping cart image by Cora Reed from Fotolia.com
  
  There are may people who lead extra busy lives and certain kinds of shopping are the last things they want to spend their time doing. You could do the shopping for them and charge a fee to cover your time. Usually you would shop for the stuff that is not all that exciting, such as food and shampoo. Still, if you are a person who likes to shop, has an eye for detail and time on your hands, this could be an ideal home-based business.