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10 Jobs You Can Do From Home

10 Make-Extra-Money Jobs You Can Do From Home
Cari Wira Dineen
Newspaper has been altered and is generic.
Newspaper has been altered and is generic.

SPECIAL FROM Grandparents.com

Whether you already work and want to make more money, or are retired and looking to supplement your income, there are jobs out there that fit the bill.

“Many people who are retirement age opt for 'patchwork careers'—they piece together a variety of jobs they can do from home or on their own schedule,” says Christine Durst, a home-based career expert and co-founder of RatRaceRebellion.com. Here are some great make-extra-money suggestions.

Call center and customer service representative
SteveLuker via Getty Images
“The offshoring movement (which sent so many phone-based customer service jobs overseas) has turned around and become a ‘homeshoring’ movement, creating thousands of home-based customer service jobs in North America,” says Durst.

As a home-based agent, you’ll field calls for companies like Bluefly, Spiegel, American Agents, Hilton, Best Western, HSN, 1-800-FLOWERS, and many others. Depending on the company, you may work as either an employee or an independent contractor, but you can usually pick your own hours.
Pay range:$8 - $18 an hour
Where to look: RatRaceRebellions.com
Teacher/tutor
Goodluz via Getty Images
You may be aware that many colleges offer online courses, creating great opportunities for virtual adjunct professors if you have a career specialty or skill. However, “there is also a growing demand for elementary and high school teachers as more public and private schools set up online classes,” says Durst. While some of these positions require a teaching background, many do not. You might also be able to teach English as a Second Language face-to-face via Skype.
Pay range: $10+ an hour
Where to look:
College: Kaplan.com and Chronicle.com
Elementary/High School: ConnectionsAcademy.com and K12.com
ESL: ISpeakUSpeak.com and OpenEnglish.com
Search engine evaluator
Emilio Ereza via Getty Images
Evaluate and improve search engine results for some of the world's largest Internet search engine companies. Basically, you Google (or use another search engine) to look for specific topics, keywords, and images. You then review and rate the results.
Pay range: $13+ an hour
Where to look: Leapforce.com
Direct sales/home parties
BananaStock via Getty Images
Want to start your own business? Consider starting a direct-sales business, such as Avon or Silpada where you host selling parties or meet with customers one-on-one. And don’t think your options are limited to makeup or jewelry. You can sell cookware, sporting goods, vitamin supplements, even security systems.
Pay: Depends on products and commission.
Where to look: The Direct Selling Association member directory lists legitimate companies.
Virtual juror
serggn via Getty Images
Review legal cases and render a verdict virtually. “Attorneys use virtual jurors to help them get a feel for the viability of their cases before they go to court,” explains Durst.
Pay range: Cases vary in length, and pay can range from $5 to $50 depending on complexity.
Where to look: eJury.com and JuryTest.com
Give your opinions of websites
pop_jop via Getty Images
Web site owners often wonder what visitors think when they experience their site for the first time. “As a site tester, you’ll provide candid feedback via video and audio recording of your gut reaction as you visit sites seeking feedback,” says Durst.
Pay: About $10 per completed site review
Where to look: UserTesting.com and Userlytics.com.
Answer questions online
nicolamargaret via Getty Images
As a home-based question answerer, you’ll help people get answers to questions on the go. Here’s how it works: The person looking for an answer simply texts the question to one of these companies and home-based researchers find an answer and text it back for a small fee (questioner usually pays about .99 cents).
Pay: About .10 to .20 cents per question answered. “Fast agents have reported making up to $9/hour,” says Durst.
Where to look: ChaCha.com
Focus group participant
Catherine Yeulet via Getty Images
Companies have long relied on test groups of their target markets to give their opinions of new products and concepts. “It can be fun to participate in Focus Groups,” says Durst. “You give your feedback in exchange for compensation, while helping guide the development of new products.”
Pay: Depends on length of the study, but anywhere from $25 to up to into the hundreds.
Where to look: FocusForward.com and 20-20Research.com
"Looker"
Lonely Planet via Getty Images
“Lookers are the paid ‘eyes’ for people who aren't near things they need to see to confirm,” explains Durst. For example, buyers who are considering a major purchase of an expensive item they've found on Craigslist or eBay can hire a Looker who lives near the item's seller to check it out for them. Likewise, Lookers might check a vacation home for storm damage, check the condition of a rental house, or look into how well a loved one’s gravesite is being tended.
Pay: $25 for each completed task
Where to look: WeGoLook.com
Courthouse researcher
Ezra Bailey via Getty Images
Visit courthouses in your area to gather information from public records. The information you collect may be from real estate filings, civil filings, or other court documents.
Pay: $7 - $20/hour
Where to look: SunlarkResearch.com, JellybeanServices.com and BackgroundProfiles.com

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