Many have dreamt of working at home. Some benefits include setting your own hours, staying close to the kids, saving on gas/transportation, clothing, and other budget eating items. Discipline, organization, and motivation are all essential to working at home.

To make money at home, you need to:

• Decide what you want to do.

• List the things you enjoy doing or have experience in.

• Calculate how much time you have to work.

• Take a computer class. Some classes teach online commerce, so you can promote your product through social networking and other means. Learn to create an extensive network, helping you develop your trade. Whether you think you will use a computer or not, it is important to learn about receipts, contracts, budgets, and accounting practices to organize and learn about your trade so you can work independently of others, if needed.

• Having a home workshop is essential. Use an office, bedroom, a table, or a shelf. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it keeps you organized. This article includes tips about home office organization.

Consult with the local government about the legal issues involved in starting a home business. Research necessary licenses and fees. Start on the right foot now and save yourself a lot of headache later on.

Think of your talents and likes while reading about these 20 home business ideas:

1. Marketing and Advertising

Many bloggers make money by putting advertisements in their blogs, and increasing site views to attract consumers. Try Google Adsense or create new contracts with companies wanting to advertise.

2. Artists

If you are a painter, artist or sculptor use the free market, eBay, or your own source to sell your handiwork. Find authors who can use your talents in their picture books or covers.

3. Online Store

If you like to create or resell things, create a blog or website to sell your goods. Try selling jewelry, custom clothing, crochet, sewing and repairs, imported goods, decorated flip-flops or food. Be creative.

4. Graphic Design

Graphic design requires study to understand graphic production programs, communication methods, semiotic marketing and typography. A graphic designer works putting together logos, books, magazines, pamphlets, catalogs, journals, websites, software - just about anything. Graphic design is a strong profession that is still growing.

5. Author and Writer

Writing lovers, websites will pay for your freelance work. There are opportunities everywhere, such as technical sites and online magazines. Professional writing, such as setting up a blog, creating a website, or writing a book are other options. Editors can help you publish and spread your work.

6. Consulting

Developing expertise in a particular area will allow you to work as a consultant for individuals or companies. Offer your services online.

7. Secretary or Virtual Assistant

Companies outsource professionals to both big and small companies. They use various professionals and administrative support to take care of scheduling, accounting, appointments, meetings, calling, handling errands, corporate parties and other events.

8. Party Planners

Try party planning for birthday and wedding parties, social events and family reunions. You would take care of the decorations, from floral arrangements and tables, to working with the culinary specialist and other professionals to prepare various events.

9. The Buffet

If you love to cook, bake cakes or other culinary treats, take a class to turn your passion into a moneymaking profession. You will even learn to make appetizers, meals and sweets.

10. Daycare/Preschool Teacher

Make your home a daycare. To start, you must know first aid and have a safe, sanitary place for kids. Be sure to check local laws pertaining to childcare in your home.

11. Private Teacher/Tutor/Translator

If you want to help the youth achieve their academic goals, become a private teacher. Teach school curriculum and sports like basketball, swimming, football, music and foreign languages. Or try translating for offices and consulates.

12. Editor/Reviser

For the detail oriented English lover, be up-to-date with the current grammatical standards. Start by offering your services to editing companies, websites and authors.

13. Event Coordinator

Try helping advertise and coordinate weddings, birthdays, and get-togethers. Be good friends with decorators, florists, cake makers and musical groups to provide a meaningful experience.

14. Hair Dresser/Beauty Parlor/Manicurist

Despite common belief, this field of work is in growing demand.

15. Cleaner's Guild

In today's world, most people don't tend to hire house cleaners, although cleaning companies and professionals are on the rise.

16. Photography

Wedding, family, birthday, and party photographers are in high demand.

17. Personal Trainer/Coach

Watching and helping other people make their dreams come true is very rewarding.

18. Seamstress

Learn to sew and work with companies needing repairs or make your own original style of clothing. Study style and create your own brand to expand your horizons.

19. Delivery Boy

Use your car or motorcycle to deliver items for companies and people.

20. Caretaker

Keep updated by taking a nurse's aide class to assist older people, watching their nutrition and medication and orienting them in their own homes.

There are endless possibilities. Working at home is not easy, though. It requires determination, effort and two important attitudes:

1. Hard Work

Working at home is like baking a cake. There are several recipes and various ingredients. Some look for a long time in finding the best way to bake the cake. But without mixing or baking the ingredients, there will be no cake. Planning is important, but the work doesn't end there.

When you look for a job, send out resumes and demonstrate your skills after being hired. To work at home, all you need is to get a license, business cards, good partnerships and your name put out there.

2. Love What You Do

When you love what you do, experience and specialty grow within you and your work becomes easier. Confucius said: "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."�

Translated and adapted by David Hall from the original article, "20 ideias de trabalho em casa" by Chris Ayres.