Have you been thinking about freelancing, setting up a hobby business, or establishing a small business?  Have you found an idea that might work for you?  Have you been searching through forums, books, articles, and googling bits and pieces of information on your business idea?

How about taking a course to gain knowledge from accredited educators who have relevant business and work experiences in that field of business?

Try browsing our library’s online learning resources for the ideas you have in mind.  Get to know tips, and comprehensive information gathered for learners like you. You will have access to the materials 24/7, be able to track your progress, with knowledgeable course instructors for guidance.  At the end of the course, you earn certificates for your work.

Here then is a list of online courses — on freelancing types of work, hobby business ideas, and small business pursuits — to help you think about what you’re thinking about:

For those who are thinking of freelancing to provide assistance or support services, check out these courses from Universal Class:  Virtual Assistant 101, General Receptionist, General Secretary 101, Administrative Assistant 101, and Concierge 101: How to Run a Personal Service Business.  There are also courses on Call Center Customer Service, Telephone Skills and Quality Customer Service, and How to Run an Effective Help Desk.

For those who would like to monetize their writing skills, try Freelance Writing 101 from Universal Class.  Likewise, Gale Courses offers writing courses for different purposes, genres, and on the business of writing such as Introduction to Internet Writing Markets, Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners, How To Make Money From Your Writing, and Travel Writing.  (See more from our Keep On Learning blog post on Creative Writing.)

Zooming in on consulting? Go for Universal Class’s Management Consultant 101, or for Gale Course’s Becoming a Grant Writing Consultant, or Starting a Consulting Practice.  If coaching appeals more to you, try Wellness Coaching, Lifecoaching 101, or Career Coaching from Universal Class.

If events, parties, food, and drinks are what gets you more excited, there’s plenty to drink in from courses like Waiter and Waitress Training 101, Bartending and Mixology 101, Event Planning 101, Wedding Planning 101, and Party Planning 101, by Universal Class.  Similarly, Gale Courses prepares you for this line of work with courses like Secrets of the Caterer, Wow! What a Great Event!, and for those who would like to be on the ingredients supply side, Growing Plants for Fun and Profit.  (See cooking courses from our Keep On Learning blog post on Cookies, Pies & More.)

For cute company lovers, try Babysitting 101, or Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Business 101 from Universal Class and Start a Pet Sitting Business from Gale Courses.  (More on pet care from our Keep On Learning blog post on Adorable Friends.)

If your favorite thing is making crafts, Universal Class pegs these pursuits with How to Start a Craft Business, and Retail Business 101, while Gale Courses does it with Start Your Own Arts and Crafts Business, Start Your Own Gift Basket Business, and Learn to Buy and Sell on Ebay.  (See crafty ideas from our Keep On Learning blog post on Creative Bug.)

If you’re interested in particular niches, Universal Class has Buying and Selling Antiques and Collectibles, How to eBay, and Landlord 101: Managing Rental Properties, among others, if you’d like to know more.

Last but not the least, as this awareness is in everyone’s minds these days:  Starting Your Own Cleaning Business from Universal Class.

We hope these courses can help you understand more about the lines of work that you’d like to get into, whether it’s for extra income, to get into full-time, temporarily or as a lifeline during these changing times.  (See more from our Keep On Learning blog post on Starting Your Business.)

There’s sure to be plenty of other MOOCs and free resources out there.  You can add them to these lifelong learning resources and digital collections from the Livingston Public Library and you’ve got winning combinations to feed your mind, and spend your time and effort on!  You’ve got this!  You’ll get through!  Let’s just do our best and hang in there!

Stay tuned for more business-related themes and resources via our Keep On Learning series.

— Janea Agbayani, Technology Department Library Specialist

For more information, visit:  www.livingstonlibrary.org/resources-az/.

For other topics, themes, and resources suggested for lifelong learning pursuits, visit our blog under the tag:  Keep On Learning.