Job-hunting? Might you be soon? If so, you’re not alone. The U.S. jobless rate just hit 8.9%, the worst since 1983—up another 8.5% since the previous month.

Losing your job is bad enough if you’re debt-free. But to have your income diminished or stopped and still have to pay credit card bills and all your other bills presents a big problem. So maybe it’s time to start a home-based business.

There are several books that list dozens of small businesses you could start free or with a modest investment. Many can be operated in your spare time if you’re employed, or full time if you’re not. Here, from the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business, are 42 relatively-easy-to-start examples (less the details) from the book’s “100 Most Popular Home-Based Businesses”...

• Bookkeeper
• Advertising Sales Rep
• Booklet Publishing
• Bridal Consultant
• Bulletin Board Services
• Career Counselor
• Catering
• Cooking Class Instructor
• Carpet Cleaning
• Cleaning Service
• Computer Tutor
• Dance Instructor
• Day Care
• Desktop Publisher
• Direct Sales
• Dog Trainer
• Event Planning
• Financial Aid Consultant
• Grant Writer
• Hair Stylist
• Handyman
• Home Tutor
• Internet Marketing Consultant
• Landscaping
• Massage Therapist
• Painting (home)
• Paralegal
• Personal Historian
• Pet Grooming
• Pet Sitter
• Photography
• Property Management
• Senior Care
• Speechwriter
• Tax Preparer
• Translation
• Tree Service
• Videography
• Virtual Assistant
• Web Designer
• Window Washing
• Writer

Select a home business that’s interesting to you and get the details.