If you are smart, capable and organized, you might try this home business idea: virtual assistant. A virtual assistant is someone who handles administrative-type activities long-distance. You can be in Arizona and keep track of appointments for someone in Chicago or New York. (Just make sure you know the time difference.)

This is a great home business opportunity, especially in this economy. As companies look for ways to cut back, those who provide services from their home businesses can be desirable. They get the work done, but do not have to be offered benefits. Additionally, the overhead associated with office space is not a factor for companies. Outsourcing certain necessary activities becomes more attractive in this economy.

If you are going to work from home as a virtual assistant (or any other home business for that matter), you need some certain characteristics:

* Professional manner
* Self motivated
* Flexible
* Collaborative
* Good with communications
* Organized

Jean Murray, over at Home Biz Notes, has published a great interview with Stacy Brice, the founder of AssistU, about what it takes to become a virtual assistant.