Is there such a thing as a good work from home opporunity? The interweb is of course littered with 'schemes' but it is close to impossible to find out what is credible and what will see my savings disappear into oblivion...

Background: IT Manager/Engineer with 25 years experience, living in Orange, NSW, where the IT job market is non-existent. Wife (Aussie) fortunately earning enough to support us all. Am stay-at-home dad for my 18 month old boy, who is in daycare one day per week, which can be extended if I earn enough to make it feasible.

Any ideas?

Afraid I'm not pretty enough to go on the game...

Short answer is probably no. Long answer is in your line of work your first port of call should probably be the freelancer sites: offering online gigs for freelance work, with a distinct emphasis on IT.

eg https://pingler.com/blog/the-top-5-f...r-should-join/ - there are many more.

You have to have a saleable skill (manager generally isn't) but you can work from home and world is your oyster/market. That's the problem though, as it is with all work-from-home businesses nowadays; you are competing with someone in Bombay, or Rio, or Saigon - and they can undercut you and still make good coin. Hence the need for a niche, in demand, skill.

I tend to suggest the following types of thing:

• Come up with a niche new concept in your line of expertise, then flog it around as a consulting offering. If you are 'the guy' who knows how to address some 'in vogue' problem, you can make money. However, if you live in the middle of nowhere, that's not going to be a great option - maybe and IT<>farming type offering?
• Often connected with this, write a book. You can be a published author on subject X, and therefore an expert, with relatively little effort, and with the eBook rise, the barriers to entry have fallen.
• Come up with a business idea, connected with the online delivery of services - and implement it. Something that can make some money, but doesn't require too much physical traipsing around.

I'd tend to avoid the mobile apps game as a direct money earner, but there are adjacent opportunities.

Never underestimate the gay market; their are some weird fetishes there ...

Hey, just being in IT crosses the line for most.

On topic ... I know a few freelance developers but around here it's word of mouth and people tend to build their reputation in the office then negotiate a more remote arrangement.

The OP may want to check out the book, "The Four Hour Work Week", it has some interesting concepts which mostly revolve around removing yourself from the traditional workplace and setting up revenue streams that require minimal effort.

Which does not sound like a bad plan at all.

Thanks for that Garry.

The problem with 'expertise' is that I'm from a support background - and support guys are ten a penny. Most recently I led a 'team' of two supporting IT in a secondary school (before I moved) - actually quite a complex environment so whilst I was manager of my small dept I was probably more hands on. What this makes me is the proverbial jack of all trades, master of none. Crap support guys sell themselves well and bag jobs I could do easily. My location is part of the problem - some sizeable stores/companies here, but they're supported by HQs in Sydney, Melbourne, etc. Saw an ad recently for casual field support work - $22/hour. I can earn more as a swimming teacher (but teaching gigs are all taken here too - explored that option!)

I'll check out that website you have suggested and if it sparks any ideas. Cheers.

Also: DeadVim thanks for the book suggestion. I'll check it out.

Hmm, not easy.

I think I'd be researching the local farming and winemaking industry, looking for the 'pain'. IT support to farms is potentially viable (get up to speed on their software and issues; provided the market isn't already sewn up). Similarly to winemakers and their need to be online and selling their wares.

I might also look at sustainability/green consulting and providing farms/winemakers with advice on how to cut their energy use. Once you have canned solution, it's probably generally applicable in the area.

Indeed there are plenty of farms, wineries, etc in this area. Perhaps while I'm daddydaycare I'll take the little man on a little scenic tour and start asking what these folk do for support - after story/craft time and 'music for little ears' at the Library of course - they're too fun to miss

It work in regions is field work. Personally I reckon future of remote work is cloud based stuff. I am seeing lots of office 365 demand. Whatever you do build up contacts and a presence.

I was considering all this back in 2002...I didn't have to go there in the end.
I did discover that it's amazing how often someone has traipsed the boards before you - so you might need a new angle. Obviously there is the cost of startup and getting a product together. You can't even knock up a site anymore- you need to be a graphic designer to even get going.

Yep, going in to a mature market with a 'me too' product is an invitation to a bad time.

You need something new, and it needs to be defensible and scalable. I tend to look to technology change and what that now makes possible that wasn't possible before.

It's worth looking at something like http://www.blueoceanstrategyaustralia.com.au/ not only for the ideas associated with creating uncontested markets - but for the way a book was used to create a consulting offering and ongoing business stream from what was, effectively, one fairly simple idea.

Yep, which is why you have to be careful to make sure your defensible position isn't based upon piling money in - but is much more on the IP end of things (which if you already have free time, and talent, can come for free).

And a website it the least of your problems. You can get an acceptable site design for $40, or you can use one of those freelancer sites to get a custom designed one for a few hundred.

Change your career. You're already caring for one child, so why not more?
Home day care is very lucrative.

Really appreciate your advice Garry, lots of stuff that had not occurred to me. Cheers

It is an interesting idea! Do you know what, being daddydaycare has been a fantastic job and I have considered the idea of working as a home day care person. I don't think it is especially lucrative though. We put our boy into home day care one day per week. It costs us $50 per day. Our carer is allowed four kids, I think, so she earns around $200/day, $1000/week. Compared to my current wage that's great, but actually the hours aren't great and I'm exhausted with just one little man!

As someone who had 3 kids of three years and under, once they get to a certain age it's much easier (well, certainly no more exhausting anyway) to have more than one, especially if they're of a similar age.

Honest guv

I hear that, but it's a bit easier when they're not your own I think, like Dreamy says..and their ages, of course.
It depends on the size of your house plus being a Daddy day care, I wonder whether this would make you more unique and therefore you might be able to put up prices a bit more to make it worthwhile?

It does get easier, but at least half a decade meanwhile passes.....
the main trial being that the youngest is still playing catch-up - and can interfere with the eldest..

I realised a year ago that we were out of nappies - hurrah! I realised that soon all the little bastards will be in school - double hurrah!