What does the word “work” mean for you? Does it mean going out into the world and finding people to do business with? Or does it mean sleepwalking your way through life, doing a job you hate to feed your kids?
Most people would rather work for themselves if they could. There’s nothing more stressful than being in a working environment that you hate and how no control over. The majority of us would rather work on our own terms, doing what we want to do. We don’t want to have a manager breathing down our neck every five minutes, checking that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.
The good news is that there are now more than 14 million people classified as self-employed in the US at the moment. They’re freelancers and contractors of all stripes and varieties. So what are the most profitable jobs out there at the moment where you get to be your own boss?
HVAC Technician
HVAC technicians are in big demand at the moment. It seems there’s never been more offices with more air conditioning units with more problems. Some HVAC experts work as part of a firm. But many are their own bosses, or work as contractors with a variety of different companies. The work itself can be quite rewarding, especially if you like working with your hands. Plus HVAC training school is a lot less costly than most further education, meaning the barriers to getting into the industry are low. Becoming your own boss is relatively easy. You’ll need to spend a few years working with a company that can train you up. But once you’ve got contacts and a name for yourself, it’s easy to become a self-employed contractor, working the hours you want to work. HVAC technicians can rake in as much as $70,000 a year according to Career Igniter.
Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor
Personal trainers, yoga instructors and sports instructors in general often get to be their own boss. The vast majority are self-employed and work with gyms and fitness centers, rather than for them. Getting paid a decent amount as a personal trainer is difficult. Pay is currently around $15 per hour. But many make a lot more money by holding regular classes. If you can attract 20 people to your class, each paying $15, you can make $300 from a single session. Now that’s a good return!
Upfront costs of becoming a personal trainer can be quite high. You’ll have to pay gym fees and finance your own advertising. You may also have to invest in some form of training, depending on the terms of the gyms you work with.
Self-Employed Caterer
Finally, if you love cooking, you might consider becoming a caterer. In this role, you’ll be responsible for providing food at a variety of social and business events. Pay ranges from $8 per hour to $20 per hour depending on your standing in the industry. The trick here is to land the bigger, ongoing contracts. If you can do this, you can afford to hire other people and cream off the difference.
Have you considered going self-employed? Maybe you already are? Share your experiences in the comments below.
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