WAHMs who do more than one thing, what do you do?

[birthjunkie27]

I know that lots of WAHMS earn money at home through multiple streams, and I'm just wondering what some of them are.

Right now I'm doing GPTs. I'm also interested in mystery shopping, an informational website with affiliate links, and selling some hand crafted items. I don't know if I can actually handle all of this, but I'd sure like to try!

[sparklemama]

I do a handful of things, but I have one primary business that most of my attention is focused on. I think if you're split too many ways, then it could really detract from the success of each thing. My "other things" don't take up much time yet do help bring in some extra money so I can justify doing them. However I did do the main thing for a couple of years by itself and built that up before branching off.

I think in your case, the hand crafted items part would take a lot of time and from what I hear does not have a high margin of profit (if you actually pay yourself for the time spent on it!) but the others sound like things you could potentially do together. But if it's more a matter of splitting resources among all those things (for paid advertising, website design, etc.) and not just your time, then I would put all the resources toward building up one thing to be successful and profitable before branching off.

Lots of "things" in this post but hopefully I made sense

[mamarhu]

It is in my nature to have several (many!) projects going at once. I am happiest this way - keeps me from getting bored. I suppose it may be keeping me from making any one thing a huge success, but when things are slow or discouraging in one realm of my life, I can step back and focus on something else for awhile, then return refreshed.

1. I make 2 different lines of baby clothes - one high end sort of specialty stuff, the other from recycled adult clothing. I sell both at a permanent craft fair in my city, most weekends. I hope to get one or 2 websites going someday soon.

2. I raise and train baby parrots for sale. This is small scale (1-3 birds at a time), but brings in the occassional sale.

3. I work outside the home 3 days a week now, but will be transitioning to consulting that will be done mainly from home.

I also homeschool, care for my elderly mother in my home, am a full-time grad student online, and am in the process of getting licensed to be a foster parent. I think I may be forgetting something... For me, it is more about keeping life interesting than making money efficiently. I suspect I would make more by focusing on one aspect. But I have always lived this way.

[ilikethedesert]

I have an online handcraft business and a second online business selling other small businesses eco-friendly goods. Not making a heck of alot of money but it's fun.

I'm planning to HS or US my kids but they are 2 and 4 so that is pretty simple as of now!

[cchrissyy]

I used to do mystery shopping, a half.com bookstore, and Ebay for used clothing and garage sale finds. I did alright, but like Danielle says above, I decided instead to pick one thing to do really well, and put my full effort behind it. It's been a good move!

[Night Owl]

I think it's important to pick one area -- say one target market, or one type of product/service. In my business, I focus on one market, and offer several services and products. This way, I can get to know the market and offer products and service that will best benefit them.

Alternately, one could offer one product, but tailor it to several markets.

I do not recommend trying to sell multiple products to multiple markets like some niche "gurus" recommend.

[Kristine233]

I own a baby carrier business and do web design. The web design was born from having the first business. It felt like a easy transition for me and most of my clients are WAHMs and a good precent are baby carrier businesses, lol. I find it VERY hard to run 2 businesses in 2 different markets though. Its hard to switch gears from one to the other. Therefor I had to really cut back on the carrier business and I'm trying to get to the point where its a informational website only.

I get sucked into things very easily though, I have several websites that I don't even use and had big plans for, lol. I think its easier to be sucessful when you focus your time on one area that you really want to stick with. Or at least one market or theme. Dividing your time up between several markets, businesses and themes is hard and you may burn out quicker.

[Night Owl]

Originally Posted by Kristine233

I get sucked into things very easily though, I have several websites that I don't even use and had big plans for, lol.

I tend to be the same way. I'd think of this great idea for a website, set it all up -- and then realize I'd bitten off way more than I can chew. Ack!

But with the help of my business coach, I've learned to focus on specific goals that ultimately promote my main goal. And I'm learning to let go of those "great" ideas that don't really help anywhere else. Just this year, I've let six domain names expire because I know I'll never do anything with them. LOL

[fireflies~for~me]

Wow...I have alot of plates flying too:
1) I teach Music Together to families and at preschools
2) I score online for ETS - you know the SAT testing people
3) I have a breastddeding advocacy tshirt business with my hubby...he designed all my Breastfeeding Advocacy t-shirts
4) I do consulting for some of my former employers in the Assisted Living Industry

[myhoneyswife]

Medical transcription first

then usually something else if there's down time.. right now GPTs, before selling on ebay, sometimes doing sewing side work; curtains and seat cushions for an RV, other misc sewing. I've done chacha guiding in the past, but haven't liked that lately.

This summer we're getting chickens and having a big garden, I'd love to sell eggs/produce/flowers to neighbors also, if there is extra.



Cara

[birthjunkie27]

Thanks for all the replies! I have a hard time focusing too. I have so many things I want to do. One day I'm motivated to work on my website. Another day I want to craft. Some days I want to earn money fast so I do GPTs. Other days I want to take up a NEW craft. LOL! I just can't make myself focus on one thing.

[myhoneyswife]

Originally Posted by birthjunkie27

Thanks for all the replies! I have a hard time focusing too. I have so many things I want to do. One day I'm motivated to work on my website. Another day I want to craft. Some days I want to earn money fast so I do GPTs. Other days I want to take up a NEW craft. LOL! I just can't make myself focus on one thing.

Totally understand! I've decided no new crafts for me because they take up space... GPTs don't take up space so I was okay with ADDing my way over there, lol.

[StormySar]

I am a childbirth/new parent educator and so teach classes pertaining to that, and I am also an author, and also sew a few things like diaper slings, hanging laundry hampers and things like that, but they all tie into the same thing. I am getting ready to open a retail section to my store selling natural family living products (that I stockon my own, not through direct sales).

[ghuaghua]

-I consistently have a large inventory listed on Half.com
-sporadically list things on Ebay
-do surveys
-and just started working for Chacha a month ago

[kokonutmama]

My business started off as an adsense web publishing business, but then I got into sales with the fabric store, then another one, then another, then another... I keep having ideas for strictly informational sites with ads, but the sales ones take so much energy and investment those projects have a hard time getting airborne. I'm NOT one of those people who likes having lots of projects going at once!

[eepster]

I do several things.

1. cafepress.com, this one is my best money maker (not that I make alot, but it is growing.) I create new designs whenever an idea just happens to hit me.
2. zazzle.com similar to CP, but the way the interface is set up it's faster for me to create text only designs than through CP.
3. surveys, they pay pitifully little, but it's something to do when DS is nursing through his nap.
4. I've done some crafts, but I'm not good at marketing them. Also, I tend to get bored making the same thing multiple times, so I never build an inventory.
5. I've done mystery shopping and find it hard to get DH to watch DS while I do it. When I signed up for it I thought I could do it during the day and just bring DS along, but most assignments specified "no children." I may start up again if DS wants to go to regular school instead of home school.
6. I assist DH with realestate investment we make.
7. I tried amazonz mechanical turk thing, but it wasn't for me.
8. In the near future DH and I will be starting a local reveiw sight and hope to get advertising income from it.

ETA: there are a bunch of other things I want to do, but I'm not sure how to go about some of them, or I need to find someone else to partner with. What can I say I'm very scattered abbout things like this.

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by cchrissyy

I used to do mystery shopping

How did you get started with this? What companies did you use? I am interested, but there's like a million options.

Originally Posted by fireflies~for~me

2) I score online for ETS - you know the SAT testing people

How did you get started with this? What are the requirements? I have *almost* a BS. Like 10 credits away.

[fireflies~for~me]

For most of their exams you do need a Bachelor's Degree...I did this a lot when I was pregnant and home with my first child...have moved on to other things but it was incredibly flexible and nursing friendly from my home....taking breaks as needed.
http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/m...0022f95190RCRD

[Night Owl]

Things have changed quite a bit this year. Not only do I provide hosted shopping cards for WAHMs, regular hosting, web development and business coaching, all of which I provide online, but I am now teaching a Web Design and Internet Sales class at my local technology center.

From all of this, I'm learning that I really love to teach.

That's one of the neatest things about owning your own business -- you get to stretch your wings, try new things, and meet lots of people.

[JulieSilk]

Too many to list. LOL
I'm a perfumer and also the owner of an online baby boutique. We sell baby silk caps and will be adding more silk abd wool baby products. Check it out. www.bornsilks.com