Even in a recession, some home-based businesses can do well. Here are five that may work for you:

1.)Dialoguing for Dollars
If you enjoy talking on the phone and helping others, consider providing customer service as an independent contractor for a call center. Companies such as VIPdesk, LiveOps, and Arise hire self-employed agents to book cruises, take catalog orders, and handle incoming infomercial calls. (For a list of more than 75 companies that hire home-based agents, including wages and other information, click here.)

Why is this a timely option? Because the recession makes outsourcing an attractive choice for companies, and call centers that employ home-based agents deliver solid results at competitive prices. 

For costs, you will need high-speed Internet and a decent computer, and a quiet place to take your calls. Depending on the company, you may also have to pay for a background and/or credit check, since customer credit card information may be involved. Some companies also charge their independent contractors a nominal training fee to get them up to speed on customer accounts. (For an explanation of training and related fees, click here.)

2.) Indulge Your Love of Pets
If you’re an animal lover, consider becoming a dog-walker or pet-sitter. This sector continues to grow despite the recession, as people work longer hours and commutes continue to worsen, leaving pets “holding the bag.” For more, see the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters here.  

3.) A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
If you're good with a sewing machine, consider opening a business as a seamstress. With layoffs growing, salaries stagnant and credit cards loaded to the limit, people are watching their pennies more closely than ever. This means postponing new clothes, and repairing those that have been pushed to the back of a closet due to a fallen hem, bad zipper, or lost button.

Adding "clothing facelifts" to your repertoire (i.e., giving "dated" clothing a new look by shortening hems, decreasing shoulder pads, and performing other nips and tucks) could prove a good move, too.  

4.) Become a Virtual Assistant
If you have strong administrative skills, consider becoming a Virtual Assistant (VA) — an independent contractor who provides business-support services offsite. Services range from basic word processing and calendar management to website design, bookkeeping, making travel arrangements, and more. VAs bill an average of $32 per hour for general administrative support services.

In an uncertain economy, many businesses prefer to outsource work from time to time as needed, rather than take on the expense of an employee. If you target successful independent professionals (lawyers, speakers, consultants, etc.) or healthy businesses that have laid off support staff — and you work hard — you could do quite well.

For more on the VA option, see our page of resources here, and visit the International Virtual Assistants Association.

5.) Sailing the Yard Sales
In a recession, yard sales proliferate. If you have a flair for spotting bargains, turn your talent into income with eBay and other online auction websites. (While it’s true that such sites have been around for awhile, and they’re more crowded than they used to be, they still work.)

However, beware the “Auction Listing Specialist” scam, where con artists try to get you to pay a fee to become “certified” to sell third-party merchandise. Ebay offers a better deal — free tutorials for new auctioneers. For more click here.

To search for home-based jobs that are a great fit for veterans, visit Military.com's Careers Channel.