Imagine being stuck in a job that you don't like. You're not connecting with your coworkers, your workplace feels uninspiring, and your daily commutes are overwhelming. The simplest tasks feel like a cumbersome chore, and your enthusiasm is slowly vanishing.
But there is an alternative: becoming an independent contractor and finding a new career that will allow you to work remotely. With the right discipline and focus, you can launch a home business and end up with greater financial security — while also getting rid of your long commute and bland workspace.
Read on for seven types of 1099 jobs that can be done entirely from your home.
If you're good with images and illustrations, graphic design may be the ideal independent contractor job for you.
Graphic designers are in high demand right now thanks to the growth of businesses like Etsy and Kickstarter, which helped propel creative entrepreneurs to new levels of success. As a freelancer, you can offer everything from logos to signage creation to promotional materials.
A great graphic design tool is Canva, which makes designing graphics for social media and blogging easy, even if you're not a master designer.
When you launch your business, make sure to choose a niche that's in demand. Start by searching for high-level graphic design jobs on freelance websites like Fiverr or Upwork, then do some research on local businesses and agencies to see what kind of design work they're looking for. Once you have this information, you can make your listings look more targeted and competitive.
If you have a knack for writing engaging content, consider turning it into a home business.
Companies love when you craft articles, blog posts, press releases, and other written content for them. And if you're willing to work hard on your own schedule without direct supervision, you can turn this talent into a side business that brings in $3k (or more) each month for part-time hours.
To get started, write some sample content for free on sites like Contently or Medium, so you can build up your portfolio and show clients what you're capable of creating.
Once you have a website that describes your services, spend some time building an email list with the people who sign up to read your content. Then promote your work on social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter, as well as by reaching out to other bloggers in your industry and getting guest posting opportunities. Read our guide to get freelance writing clients for more ways to land jobs.
When you have a few paying clients, you can use their projects as case studies on your website to attract even more customers.
If you're an outgoing and sociable person, think about starting an independent contractor career as a real estate agent.
Real estate agents typically work with clients in offices, but your business can run from anywhere you have access to the Internet. All it takes is a laptop and a cell phone so you can communicate with clients when they need help finding or selling properties, and you can start working from home.
While you'll need some basic training to get started, you don't necessarily need an expensive degree or previous experience in the field. All it takes is a positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills to land your first job, with the potential for big paychecks once your business starts generating profits.
If you have a unique skill or ability that would be valuable to other companies, consider consulting as a business opportunity.
Many ideas don't need to turn into full-fledged businesses, so consulting is a great way for freelancers to share their expertise with others and get paid for it.
The best part about this approach is that you can work with lots of different types of businesses. For example, you could become a business consultant for startups that are just starting out or offer your expertise at agencies or organizations where they need an extra pair of hands to get work done.
Some independent contractors choose to focus on one industry in particular, like technology consulting, while others take the "jack of all trades" route and provide their business skills to a broad range of companies.
If you're a caring and empathetic person with good listening skills, consider making your passion into a career by becoming a therapist.
While some therapists work in offices (like on-site at hospitals or retirement homes), many others run private practices from their own homes, which makes it easy to work around other obligations like family or school.
The best part about becoming a therapist is that you can get started with just an undergraduate degree in the field. Potential clients may also want to see some experience working on similar cases, so volunteering at local organizations or doing internships will give you the extra credentials necessary for this career change.
Some therapists focus on particular mental health conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder or eating disorders. Others choose to take a more general approach and work with all types of patients.
Check out our tax deductions for therapists guide to save money at the end of the year.
If you enjoy hunting for unique bargains or have a knack for finding great deals, think about opening your own eBay store and selling off items.
To get started, you'll need to set up a seller account on eBay and advertise your merchandise with high-quality photos and product descriptions.
You can sell almost anything as long as it's legal and doesn't violate any of the platform's policies. But many sellers have had success selling used clothing, furniture, cell phone accessories, books, and other popular items.
Creating your own 1099 eBay store is a great way to build up your online presence in the business world, particularly if you're just starting out in entrepreneurship. The more successful sales you have, the more likely people are to click on your name when they see it in search results—which could lead to even bigger opportunities in the future.
If you love to tell stories or engage with people online, Twitch might be the perfect platform for you.
Twitch is a live streaming platform where users can broadcast videos of themselves playing video games and interacting with other gamers while doing so. It's a great source of entertainment for viewers, who get to watch other players compete in games and win prizes.
As a Twitch 1099 streamer, you'll need to set up your own channel and build your audience so you can start bringing in revenue from brand sponsorships and viewer donations.
And because Twitch is popular mostly with younger users, you might also consider working with YouTube Gaming and other platforms that attract the same demographic. This way, you'll be able to reach a wider range of viewers and potential clients.
OnlyFans is a social media platform where users can sign up to follow models and receive access to their exclusive pictures. There are no ads on the site, meaning that 1099 OnlyFans users who follow you will be paying for the content.
Because OnlyFans is a relatively new platform, it can be difficult to build your following. But there are some things you can do to get noticed by more customers on social media. Consider linking up with other models who are already making an impact on the site and joining groups where members share their favorite OnlyFans content.
With these steps, you'll be well on your way to sharing the snaps that get the most attention and attract new followers to your page.
Upwork is a site where clients and freelancers connect for short-term projects.
Some of the most popular freelance jobs on Upwork include app development, content writing, graphic design, and virtual assistance.
If you already have experience doing any of these things, now is the time to market yourself as a freelancer and secure your first job as a 1099 Upwork worker. To do this, you'll need to create a professional profile and craft proposals for projects that pique your interest.
As you do these things, pay close attention to how your competition is marketing themselves on Upwork. You might be able to learn something that will help you get noticed by more clients in the future.
Wonolo is a job-matching software that allows individuals to locate and accept jobs in their area with the touch of a button. If you come across a job that you want to do and it's a good fit, you can accept it and get started right away as a Wonolo freelancer. Many of Wonolo's postings will most likely be in manufacturing or retail positions, so if you have experience doing either of these things, this could be a great side hustle for you.
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