NOTE: Neither your guide to Home Business nor About.com endorse any specific business opportunities that may be featured on this site. The businesses profiled are only intended to stimulate thinking and give readers ideas of possible businesses they might like to operate.

1. Licensed Day Care Center Operator
   You'll need to deal with local day care licensing home business regulations, but if you can meet the requirements and this is a field you've already had experience with or were hoping to get in to, this home-based business opportunity could be the right one for you.
2. Making Gift Baskets
   Two sisters saw opportunity in this home business idea when they researched their local market and found that there was a strong demand for customized gift baskets and no existing businesses in the area that specialized in them.
3. Mary Moppins Distributor or Affiliate
   Mary Findley is a veteran cleaning expert and President of Mary Moppins Co. Mary's expertise and experience led her to create a home business opportunity in distributing her line of environmentally-friendly cleaning products called the Mary Moppins Cleaning System that is steadily growing in popularity nationwide.
4. Pet Services Business
   Moms who love animals should know there's a growing demand for pet services - everything from pet sitting while owners are on vacation to doggy day care, pet grooming, dog walking and other pet-related services. You might also consider starting ahome-based business making gourmet pet foods and snacks.
5. Scrapbooking Business
   There's a market for scrapbooking because many people want a means of preserving their memories, but are just too busy to do it themselves or don't know how. My wife recently received a scrapbook from one of her daughters that was a collection of candid shots and memorabilia that were masterfully collected and displayed by her daughter and one of her daughter's friends. Needless to say, it was a very touching and treasured gift.
6. Selling Homemade Baked Goods
   If you're a mom with a culinary flair here's a story to give you ideas on selling your own homemade baked goods. Yummy! In line with that, you might also consider offering your services as apersonal chef - much as Giada De Laurentiis of Food Network did before she became a TV sensation.
7. Image Consultant
   An image consulting business could be the perfect home based business for those who have a knack for balance, color and psychological impact and a strong desire to help others achieve a positive image with their targeted audience.
8. Nanny Service
   Read about how a Nanny service started by Marcy Price grew from a shoestring operation to employing 20 Nannies over a period of two years. Maybe it will serve to inspire you.
9. Independent Wine Consultant
   If you're into entertaining and like to be the toast of a party, find out how becoming an independent wine consultant may be a vintage home-based business opportunity for you.
10. Online Home Business
    In her 10 Reasons for Women to Start an Internet Business (And One Reason Not To) my guest Kathy Wilson says starting an Internet home-based business is one of the fastest and smartest ways women today can make money.

Inspiration and Motivation for Moms

I hope you've found this list of home-based business opportunities especially for moms at least thought provoking if you're thinking ofhanging out your shingle and making a go of it. And, of course, no feature article for moms would be complete without mentioning my interview with Kathy Ireland - an inspiration for millions of working moms around the globe.

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