The pre- and post-pandemic word are two very different places. In the aftermath of global lockdowns, millions have lost jobs and are forced to find alternative ways to earn a living.
Hardest hit seems to be the women, as many filled posts such as receptionists, secretaries, and administration workers, and with the collapse of many businesses, these women find themselves without a regular source of income. So, what are the options?
Knitting, Sewing and other crafts – Selling at craft markets or online
If you are fortunate enough to have these skills, knitting (sweaters and scarves, blankets and soft toys); sewing (everyday garments, linen or curtains or – if your skills are more advanced prom dresses or wedding dresses); or crafting (mosaicking or painting) are an option, but all of these require an initial outlay for the required materials, and are very labor-intensive, for not much profit.
Most of us still love a good handmake sweater, and the best part for your customers is that they can choose color, texture, design and fit.
Start a Cleaning Company
This is potentially a very lucrative option, particularly in today’s times. The easiest way to start a cleaning company, would be by looking at joining a franchise, such as Being part of a well-known name, goes a long way towards ensuring your success. Why a cleaning company?
Bear in mind, we live in an age where everyone is aware that surfaces should be sanitized, high-touch areas (e.g. light switches and doorknobs) need to be cleaned more often. Buildings must be deep cleaned and sanitized regularly to protect against microscopic particles that we never had to worry about in the past.
Online work such as typing; transcription work, or book-keeping
This is probably one of the easier businesses to open from home, as the work can be done remotely and involves relatively little input, for (usually) reasonable reward. The disadvantages are that work opportunities are becoming scarcer because more businesses are folding.
This market is also becoming saturated because there are so many people trying to earn their keep by working online; making it more competitive and you would have to earn a reputation.
Teaching online
There is a growing demand for online teachers because more parents are afraid to send their kids to schools. The Recruitment pages offer plenty of opportunities for this remote work, but some offer quite low pay. To start up, you need a decent computer with a reliable internet connection, and well-lit space, with a plain background, where you would teach.
There are minimum requirements, and the internet is full of advertisements for links to the course that needs to be completed. Again, many have completed this course and the more popular teachers make more, so it can be a tough scene to break into, as a newcomer.
Becoming a YouTuber
This one seems a little “out there,” but the most popular YouTubers make enormous amounts of money. There are pros and cons to be considered here. You would have to choose the chief content for your “vlog,” and it has to be something that piques the interest of your target market.
Once you have decided, you literally have to record everything. This will impact your home life, and your “personal privacy” may become a distant memory.
One of the biggest cons is that, in order to profit from this lifestyle, you need 1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of watch time – this takes time and patience.
Only about 3% of YouTubers become seriously wealthy, but “small YouTubers” can look at earning anything between $1000 and $12 000 a month, provided they put enough content out and have enough views.
