Dollars and Sense: Home-based businesses can be lucrative

There are many home-based small businesses you can start without leaving your regular job. Some could be quite lucrative. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about the possibilities:

“ Decorating — Offer custom faux painting and marbling of fireplaces, walls and countertops for model homes in upscale developments.

“ Sell what you make — Rent a booth at crafts fairs and art shows. The number of items you can make and sell is endless: silk flower arrangements, handmade soaps, needlepoint, silk-screened shirts, note cards, calligraphy invitations, dried flowers, jewelry, caricatures, charcoal sketches, bird houses and portraits.

“ Sell what you find — Shop flea markets and estate sales, or provide a clean-out service for houses and garages. (Include dump fees in your price for true junk.) You’re sure to find a few treasures.

“ Genealogy — If you have the genealogy bug, you can turn your activity into a moneymaker. A small ad in genealogy magazines, offering to do research in archives and courthouses in your area, can net you responses from around the country.

“ Handyman — If you hook up with a few real estate companies and get a reputation as someone who’s fast, talented and fair, you’ll have more business than you know what to do with. Join forces with a licensed plumber and electrician to expand your range of services.

“ Real estate — For absentee landlords, you can watch property on a regular basis, arrange for repairs, clean up between tenants, oversee repair crews, check pipes in winter and watch for vandalism.

“ Plants — Lease and maintain plants in office buildings and model homes.

“ Photography — Take photos of people and pets in their home. Create your own portable backgrounds.

“ Closet and office organizer — Create organization out of the clutter.

“ Personal chef — The client picks from your list of menus and comes home to a freezer stocked with meals you’ve prepared. Generate samples and rent a booth at craft and art sales to build your client list.

“ Sell what you buy — Investigate selling items you buy wholesale. Select just one or two unique items to learn the ropes. Stick with small items that have a good markup potential.

With luck and perseverance, a home based business could grow into your main source of income.