When most people think of running their own business, they think of having an office, a suit and tie and a staff of employees. While we know that there are many work at home business options, there are still some who perceive even home based businesses to consist of spreadsheets, databases, cold calling and marketing. There are certain aspects of running a small business that feed that perception and there is no substitution in the business world for someone with discipline and strong business sense. That being said, there is another side to the small business world that can take some of the constant organizational pressure off of the entrepreneur and let those with more of an artists' heart do what they are passionate about while still retaining ownership and creative control.

This market is the franchise market. While there are still many franchise options that subscribe to a standard business model, there are a number of franchises that encourage the artistic franchisee. The beauty of owning a franchise as opposed to creating your own small business, as an artist, is in the business model and strategy that has been proven successful and is given to you to follow. With the franchisor pioneering the marketing and business plan that provides for success, the artist is free to run their own home-based or studio franchise without all of their time and energy going into business planning, marketing and analysis. Here are the Top 7 work from home business opportunities that appeal to the more artistic entrepreneur:

#1 Décor and You
This interior decorating franchise provides the franchisee with all of the training and support necessary to operate a very successful and fun interior decorating franchise. By providing their franchise owners with a title of educational partner as a result of their professional education program the Décor and You franchise develops you as a decorator and provides you with the steps to develop your decorating franchise. The level of instruction can be altered and individualized for the individual based on existing levels of knowledge and the desired scope of the individual franchise.

#2 Billboard Connection
This franchise manages billboards and the advertisements that they display. The need for businesses to get their brand names recognized on billboard advertising is an increasingly popular method of introducing products for large companies. As a billboard management specialist, you will work with advertisers to help them have success through billboard advertising in your local area. This opportunity is a low investment, low overhead, is a work at home franchise opportunity, and has recurring and rotating sources of income.

#3 Drama Kids International
If you've ever been called a drama queen or been told to stop being so over dramatic, maybe it's time to harness that creativity into a franchise business opportunity. The Drama Kids International franchise is a home-based franchise option that provides a 15-year cycle of curriculum to insure continued involvement by those students craving new experiences and performances. Drama helps kids develop social skills, builds in them self esteem, and teaches them to be dedicated and disciplined in their study and practice of this much sought after expression of the arts. With three different franchise investment levels, the Drama Kids International franchise offers a great option for all kinds of dramatic opportunists.

#4 Made in the Shade Blinds and More
This is a window covering and blinds franchise that helps people choose their home look with a free personalized "shop-at-home" service. This service helps them picture what their home will look like with custom window coverings. As a provider of the "shop-at-home" experience, this franchise offers measuring, free estimates, product knowledge, and professional installation. The franchise owner is dedicated to helping each customer understand the overall looks that go with furnishing a home and helping them to decide what product will truly be appreciated for years after installation.

#5 Interiors By Decorating Den
This franchise specializes in the interior decorating market. For many people there is a desire to have a look and feel when you walk into their house of so much more than just a building but truly a decorative, classy, home. That's where you come in. As an Interiors By Decorating Den specialist you provide people with the look, the products, the expertise they need to truly transform their houses into world-class homes. With such marketing tools as southern living, traditional home, better homes and gardens and Canadian house and home, the recognition that "dream rooms" by Decorating Den is receiving, is proof that this franchise is growing both in profitability and recognition across the country.

#6 PortraitEFX
This easy start, affordable to launch franchise opportunity will take you as far as you want to go in the world of professional photography. Whether you are a professional photographer, ready to branch out from being employee to employer, or a beginner in the world of photographic art, the PortraitEFX franchise will help you every step of the way. From equipment, training, marketing, products and more, the experts at PortraitEFX have created a great plan and system for helping those photographers that are ready to begin their own franchise business to make the transition as effortlessly and painlessly as possible. With ongoing training and support throughout the franchise experience and a low capital investment this franchise option is perfect for the budding photographer.

#7 Jitter Swings Dance Clubs
The Jitter Swings Dance Clubs tap into the culture of swing dancing. These clubs are, "Where America Learns To Dance." Many couples face the dilemma of wanting to go out and being limited to movies and dinners because they simply do not know how to dance. The Jitter Swings Dance Clubs offer people the keys to a more exciting, engaging and interactive social life experience by teaching them all the basics of dance. You don't have to be a great dancer to become a jitter swing franchisee; they will teach you how to dance. When you see how easy it is to learn, and learn how easy it will be to teach others, the concept of this successful franchise begins to take shape. Jitter Swings offers classes in Night Club 2-Step, Cha-Cha, Country 2-Step, Line Dancing and a variety of other easy-to-learn dances. For all levels of experience, a little hard work and a desire to become a jitter swings owner is all it takes to own your own dance studio and to give your customers the excitement and fun that comes along with the confidence of a dancer.

May 03, 2008