WAHM > Stay at Home Mom Work Ideas > Selling a Service > Start a Family Tree Research Business from Home

Become a Family Tree Researcher  

What you will be doing.  Ever wonder about your family tree?  Many people want to find out about their family history.  Doing the research is a time consuming and often frustrating process.  As a family tree researcher, you will help those who want to find distant relations or are curious about where there family came from.   

How to start.  Familiarity with various search engines offers a wealth of opportunity for information gathering.  Formal education is not needed, but a desire to uncover a mystery will spur you on to find information with the most meager leads.  Talking to family members and taking a lot of notes will be a typical part of the process to piece together family histories. 

Starting costs.  This business can be run from home.  The process does require a state-of-the-art computer system and Internet access.  A home office will be your base of operations to plan, execute, and create the finished family genealogy. 

A home based business office needs the same equipment as a regular office would.  If you already own a computer that can be converted to a strictly business application, the starting costs will be reduced.  If not, you are looking at between $1,000 and $2,000 to begin.   

Skills needed.  A researcher needs to love research.  You will spend many hours on the computer, on the telephone, and in your home office.  The process of finding information can be a tedious one, but it is also a labor of love.  The families that hire you want to know more about themselves.  

While you don’t have to meet any of the family members in person, you still talk to them on the telephone.  Assuring them that your goals are the same as theirs could yield more information if you remain personable.  Your knowledge of search engines and keywords will benefit greatly but you need to have somewhere to start.  That’s where the recollections of family are important. 

Marketing.  This business can be handled totally online.  Setting up a website to advertise your talents is a must.  People need to know where to find you.  Join forums on history and research sites.  Websites that cater to families may offer affiliate programs that you could use to your benefit.   

Advertise your genealogical skills in the telephone directory or the Yellow Pages.  Even though the business is an Internet one, creating brochures that showcase your skills is prudent.  When people ask for more information on your website, use their mailing address to send them a detailed brochure. 

Family history researchers are like archaeologists.  They use various tools to unearth valuable information about previous generations.  This type of business is both rewarding for the client as well as the researcher. 

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