Working from your beautiful Pembroke Pines home can be a great career option for people with all kinds of skillsets and lifestyles. You can set your own hours and even work in your pajamas. Here are some of the careers you can do from home:

  Accounting/Finance – The failure of some big banks does have a silver lining for accounting and finance majors since more regulations and increased transparency mean more work for accountants. You may be able to work as a consultant giving advise to clients, the key is to keep yourself updated on the latest laws and regulations. To start, an associate’s degree in accounting/finance can get your foot in the door of this rapidly expanding industry.

  Personal Chef – If cooking is your passion, becoming a personal chef may just be the job for you. This job can mean that you cook a week’s worth of meals in a client’s home, for instance, or you can look at delivering gourmet meals. With today’s high-pressure jobs and families where both parents work full time, this type of service is becoming more desirable, particularly in urban areas. Be sure to understand local regulations regarding the kitchen you prepare the food in; many states require you to have a kitchen separate from your home, and may inspect for health code adhesion.

 Birthday Party Planning – If you talk to any parent, they’ll tell you: planning a birthday party is hard work, and a challenge when you’re busy. Where there’s a need, there’s a job, and birthday party planning can be a great career if you’re creative, like kids and can work weekends when parties are often held. You can also plan any event you think you can handle. For the best changes at earning a good income, make sure you research local rates and competition and understand your liability, particularly if you’ll be working with little ones.

 Home Staging – Your home needs to look its best in this tough real estate market, and home staging can make all the difference. If you have an eye for design, home staging may just be the career for you; there are no education requirements, and although there are many courses and professional organizations for home stagers, they’re not required to be successful in the field. Take some time to research rates in your area and practice staging your home or a friend’s. Network with realtors to generate business and think about what services you’ll want to offer, and the startup costs you’ll incur.

  Web Design – Are you computer savvy, and do you have an eye for detail? A career in web design may be for you. Before you hunt for jobs, think whether you’ll be starting your own business or work as a freelancer – the two are very different tax and legal-wise. Check with the IRS on tax obligations, and with your local small business chapter.

  Virtual Assistant – With today’s uncertain economy, more businesses are looking to hire temporary or per-project help, sometimes in the form of a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant can handle anything from receptionist duties to bookkeeping, depending on your expertise and the client’s needs. For work in this field, look to online job boards. Tell your friends and family you’re looking for administrative-type work to do from home, and check with any old business contacts you may have. Virtual assistants are still a fairly new concept, so expect to have to explain what you do a few times before generating business.

  Tutoring Service – These days, problems are increasingly solved with use of the internet, including tutoring services. Work as a tutor can be helping a child with homework, or teaching adults how to use a computer. You can find work on job boards, or at online colleges. If you have a college degree in your expertise or if you have a specific skill, your chances at building a successful career as a tutor will be even better.

 At-home careers are a great way to explore your passion and make a living too. For the best chance at success, look at your previous career for a start. If you don’t have the skills, consider going back to school to learn; there are many online courses, and current education tax benefits that can make the bottom-line expense very low. Earnings can vary greatly, depending on your expertise and experience, so take time to research before setting your rates. Make sure you understand your tax obligation, and whether you might be best off starting a small business to protect yourself legally. Your local small business organization or SCORE chapter is great place to get some help. Starting a small business by working from home can be a great way to forge your own career path and avoid the cubicle nightmares, too. These careers are just the beginning when it comes to at-home careers. Check your local Pembroke Pines Colleges and Vocational Schools in Adrian’s website for more information.