# Work at home? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home/317129 "2005-08-15T18:58:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grouch44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e56c9b/32.png) [@grouch44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grouch44)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home/317129/1 "2005-08-15T18:58:41Z")
I have been trying to find a honest work at home opportunity, where I can make a honest living, and pay for some very high medical expenses for my child, does anyone know of a honest real, workable opportunity? ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2005, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home/317129/2 "2005-08-16T04:19:38Z")
Moved to IMHO. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home/317129/3 "2005-08-17T03:39:22Z")
Most “work at home” advertisements are scams. I have heard that there’s a lot of money to be made in working from home as a Notary Public. Apparently there’s some deal where documents are mailed to you from out of state, needing a local Notary’s seal, and you can charge like $100 per doc. My sister has a friend who does this. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home/317129/4 "2005-08-17T03:59:32Z")
Transcribing is one. My old department (in a Fortune 500 company) used a small (and apparently home-based) transcription service for our many telephone interviews. It doesn’t require a lot of skills or equipment, other than a computer and the ability to listen and type. I’m sorry to say I have no idea what we paid, or how you get started. Don’t forget to take legal steps that separate YOUR assets from the BUSINESS assets. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home/317129/5 "2005-08-17T04:17:12Z")
> [@Can Handle the Truth](#): > > Most “work at home” advertisements are scams. > > I have heard that there’s a lot of money to be made in working from home as a Notary Public. Apparently there’s some deal where documents are mailed to you from out of state, needing a local Notary’s seal, and you can charge like $100 per doc. My sister has a friend who does this. Ummm, when a document is notarized, it is being acknowledged that the notary has witnessed the signature. Also, in Indiana, the maximum you can charge to notarize a document is mandated by the state and is only like $5.00. I would use caution with your own state’s particular laws regarding the responsibilities of being a notary before getting involved in something like this. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home/317129/6 "2005-08-17T12:10:40Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > Ummm, when a document is notarized, it is being acknowledged that the notary has witnessed the signature. Also, in Indiana, the maximum you can charge to notarize a document is mandated by the state and is only like $5.00. I would use caution with your own state’s particular laws regarding the responsibilities of being a notary before getting involved in something like this. I was just going to say that. The only legit way I can think of to do this is if the documents come to your state and someone signs them at this end in front of you (and then maybe send them back for another signature in the originating state). Something stinks about this. What skills does the OP have? Babysitting can prove very lucrative, depending on how much time you need to spend caring for your own child. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-at-home/317129/7 "2005-08-18T20:33:54Z")
> [@grouch44](#): > > I have been trying to find a honest work at home opportunity, where I can make a honest living, and pay for some very high medical expenses for my child, does anyone know of a honest real, workable opportunity? For starters, I can tell you that you won’t be making much of a living from anything that calls itself an “opportunity.” Those are the scams. If you want more help here, you’re going to have to give us a little more information: what are your background, skills (both specific [can type 100 wpm] and general [good organizer]), education, interests, available assets/tools, possible limitations? Many of us are self-employed and work at home, quite successfully. Your local bookstore and library will have stacks of books devoted to starting your own business, both inspirational and practical. (I like _Making a Living Without a Job,_ by Barbara Winter.) So will your state department of commerce. I suggest you start there. Good luck!