Tired of the long commute you have to take to and from work every day? Looking for more flexible working hours? There are so many wonderful reasons to start a home-based business!

The challenge is finding a business you can run from your home that is successful. No matter what you choose, it is important to understand that each and every one requires hard work.

You can do yourself a favor by at least choosing a home-based business that’s easy to start. That way, you can put in all the required work after you’ve already gotten started instead of putting in all that work ahead of time.

Here are three simple ways to start a business from home that don’t require you to spend months planning before you open your proverbial doors.

1. Work Online

There really is no easier way to get started working from home than doing your work online. All you need is an internet connection, a computer, and a sellable skill to get started!

You have many options when it comes to working online that include:

• Creating and designing apps for download in the Google Play store
• Website and graphic design
• Content writing
• Social media marketing
• Translation services
• Digital assistant

There are tons of options, and you don’t even need a degree to get started. Use your LinkedIn profile to highlight your qualifications and start connecting with other people who may be interested in your services. You can get started even quicker on a freelancing website, like Upwork.

2. Sell Something You Make

If you find joy in working with your hands, spending your days sitting in a chair and typing on a keyboard probably isn’t very appealing. Instead, consider selling something you make.

If you’re a great cook, you might want to try selling pies around the holiday season. If you have an eye for design, you can create and sell jewelry. From paintings to pottery and everything in between, you can easily start selling handmade items from your home.

3. Become a Consultant

Becoming a consultant is a potentially lucrative idea, but it isn’t necessarily easy. It takes a lot of work to get started. If you’re looking for an easier way to become a consultant, work for a direct sales company.

By becoming a consultant for someone else, you can skip over all that other stuff that new businesses have to figure out, like pricing and how to manufacture their items. All you have to do is find people willing to buy the inventory they supply and they give you a cut of every sale you make.

A few popular direct sales companies include:

• The Pampered Chef
• Scentsy
• Pure Romance
• Jamberry Nails
• Avon
• Mary Kay

It’s true that running a business from home takes lots of work, but that doesn’t mean you also have to put in a ton of work just to get things started. With these three ideas, you can get up and running in days, not weeks or months!