There are many services out there to help people who want to create home based businesses providing services. Some examples of such services are:
Note: please click on blue underlined terms for additional details
A. oDesk.com
oDesk is a lot like eBay for computer services - it allows buyers of services to post technological jobs online. Service providers are able to bid on the jobs. After the buyer has selected the service provider and the work has been completed both buyers and service providers are given the opportunity to provide feedback for each other - again similar to eBay. oDesk also facilitates the exchange of money for the services performed.
B. Elance.com
Elance provides an opportunity for everyone to find work and do what they love. Individuals and firms join Elance and create their online profile in order to be immediately connected to businesses looking for their expertise. The Elance platform is an end-to-end solution for working on demand. Elance lists jobs in the following fields: web & programming; design & multimedia; writing & translation; administrative support; sales & marketing; finance & management; legal and engineering & manufacturing.
C. Guru.com
Guru.com is the world's largest online marketplace for freelance talent. Through their free service, employers find top freelance and contract talent locally, nationally, or globally. Created in August of 2000, Guru.com's web-based marketplace directly connects businesses with more than 100,000 active freelance profiles specializing in over 160 professional categories including: website design, programming, graphic design, business consulting, and administrative support. Employers seeking professional expertise post their projects or contract work on Guru.com for free. Professionals seeking work either register as a free (Basic) member or a subscribing (Guru) member. In addition, employers and professionals can take advantage of Guru.com's SafePay Escrow and Dispute Resolution services which greatly reduce transaction risks.
D. DoMyStuff.com
DoMyStuff.com allows you to post a chore that needs doing (ANYTHING like - picking up drycleaning, mowing your lawn, cooking your dinner, installing software, walking the dog) and then individuals or businesses in your area will bid on your proposal.
E. Mechanical Turk
Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing marketplace (breaks up jobs into tiny pieces so that work can be shared by many people) that enables computer programs to co-ordinate the use of human intelligence in providing services which computers are unable to do. Job posters, post tasks such as choosing the best among several photographs of a storefront, writing product descriptions, or identifying performers on music CDs. Workers can then browse among existing tasks and complete them for a monetary payment.
F. iLetYou
iLetYou is a product rental search engine, and provides a store platform for rental businesses (new, large and small) to build a customizable online rental store. Earn commissions for referrals for signups to both free and paid rental stores:* Free Plans: $1.50 per lead (creates a store, must adds at least 1 items for rent); * Paid Plans: $39.95 and $99.95 commissions (1st month subscription fee); * 90 return days iLetYou is a great work from home, entrepreneur and business opportunity. The need for online rental software cuts across may products, but one great place to start is with the highly lucrative party and event rental business. Rental businesses carrying anything from jumpers, games, linens, decorations and much more make great businesses to start given their low startup cost.
Of course there are also the more traditional ways to advertise the services you are providing such as:
Listing yourself in the yellow pages or on directory websites and community bulletin boards; signs and vehicle wraps; distribution of flyers, business cards, mailers, magnets, pens, brochures, dvds, cds or photos; cold calls; business website; community events; and trade shows and conventions.
types of services
Not sure what type of service you would like to provide? See the list below and click on the links to see hundreds of ideas for businesses providing services.
1. Arts & entertainment businesses
: Check out these great ideas for arts and entertainment businesses.
2. Book & magazine businesses
: Check out these great ideas for book and magazine businesses.
3. Business & consulting services
: Check out these great ideas for business and consulting businesses.
4. Construction & trades businesses
: Check out these great ideas for construction and trades businesses.
5. Food & beverage businesses
: Check out these great ideas for food and beverage businesses.
6. Gift & special occasion businesses
: Check out these great ideas for gift and special occasion businesses.
7. Health & fitness businesses
: Check out these great ideas for health and fitness businesses.
8. High tech businesses
: Check out these great ideas for high tech businesses.
9. Home service businesses
: Check out these great ideas for home service businesses.
10. Personal service businesses
: Check out these great ideas for personal service businesses.
11. Pet businesses
: Check out these great ideas for pet businesses.
12. Other businesses
: Check out these great ideas for other businesses.
