If you've got specialized computer skills, you could have the world at your feet. Computer-related professions will be some of the fastest growing around over the next eight years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Top choices: systems analysts, support specialists, engineers and database administrators.
Programming is another in-demand skill. If you know Perl, Javascript, C++ or other languages, you have a lot of potential clients who want your services.
A different computer-related business with great promise is desktop publishing. There's a big demand for people who know the ins and outs of software like PageMaker or QuarkXPress, and who have the writing/editing/PR skills to prepare snappy, attractive and effective newsletters, brochures, press releases, ads and so on.
In fact, any business that serves the needs of other entrepreneurs -- business-to-business -- is hot today. If you're savvy in PR, marketing, management or another consulting area, you could be building a successful business from your home office.
A few other occupations that should expand big-time in coming years include paralegal and legal assistant professions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Need more information? Check with some of the home-based and entrepreneurial business associations: the American Association of Home-Based Business (http://www.aahbb.org ), the Home Office Association of America (http://www.hoaa.com ) or the National Association for the Self-Employed (http://www.nase.org ).
You might also want check out an online newsletter for home-business owners, The Home Team Online (http://www.bookhome.com/nl/nl.html ).
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