Start a home-based call answering service

Tradies, clinics, real estate agents, small professional firms and online shops that miss calls while they're on the job or after hours.

A monthly fee, or a rate per hour or per call, with extra for after-hours cover or appointment booking. A handful of steady clients can build a regular income.

• Clear, friendly phone manner
• Accurate message taking
• Staying calm with upset callers
• Good organisation

• Check whether your local council needs approval for a home-based business
• Check the privacy rules for handling callers' personal details, and any call recording rules in your state or territory
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance, as a missed message can cost a client a job
• Avoid outbound sales calls at first, and check the Do Not Call Register rules before considering them
• Burnout risk if you promise cover at all hours, so set clear service hours

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $500 to $2,500, depending on the phone and software setup you choose. Insurance such as public liability and professional indemnity is also worth checking before you take on clients.

Check whether your council needs approval for a home-based business, the privacy rules for callers' personal details, and call recording rules in your state or territory. Also check the Do Not Call Register rules before considering outbound calls.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many clients you take on. You would typically need at least around 10 hours a week. Set clear service hours to avoid burnout.