You might be sitting at your corporate office or reading this post late at night and wondering, what are some work at home jobs for dads? Are you tired of your daily commute or just need a change of pace? I want to start a weekly series here on DoWAHdiddy where we look at various jobs that Dads can do from home. If you are a dad working from home, I’d love to hear from you. Tell us your story and what kind of work you do from your house. This week I want to work on an action plan for your home based business and what things you need to consider before leaving your current job.

What should you consider before leaving your 9-5 job?

1. Let’s start big! What is your dream work at home job? Do you know someone who is a successful sports writer, architect or day trader?
2. Does your wife know about your “dream” job? This would probably be a good idea to let her know what your thinking. The last thing you want is to quit your job and then tell your wife.
3. How much does a sports writer, architect or day trader make a year? If you know someone that has your dream job, ask them. You don’t want to start your new career and find out it only pays $10,000 a year. If you don’t have a friend doing your dream job, do a google search or visit Salary.com and check what professionals make.
4. What’s in your savings account? Do you have one? Can you really start a new career with a few hundred dollars in a checking account? Probably not. You might need to purchase new equipment or inventory for your new business, as well as pay your existing home expenses.
5. Can you work for free or for a reduced salary for a few months? If you’ve dreamed of becoming a sports writer, you could offer to intern at a local newspaper or consider joining a group writing project. You can also check Craigslist or Freelancewriting.com. Many opportunities exist online to sharpen your writing skills.
6. Consider working part-time. If you want to make this a full time job, you could also consider working part-time while still at your current job. Why would you want to work so hard? This will enable you to make sure you “love” your dream job and would want to walk away from your current career.
7. Could you see yourself working from home without a support staff? Seems like an easy answer, especially if you hate your current job. But consider that you will probably be working by yourself. Do you enjoy having someone answer your phone or make copies for you?
8. If you have children and your wife works, would you consider staying home with your kids? If you do, you could earn even more money. The money you save from daycare would increase your take home salary.

Has this list been helpful? Do you still want to quit your current job and become a sports writer? If an architect, day trader or sport writer are not your “dream” jobs, next week we will consider other jobs for work at home dads.