Software

Writing your own software can be a lot of fun and it can be very profitable.  There is a lot of competition out there and your main source would be the larger more reputable suppliers such as Microsoft.  However there are several niche markets out there that you can certainly approach with a little planning.  A lot of programmers hang out on sites such as Elance.com to advertise their skills.

Companies and individuals come to these sites looking for a programmer or
developer to make something specific that is not catered to on the general  market.

Here is where programers shine since these custom programs or scripts are
where you can make some decent money.  If you have good writing skills or
graphic skills you can certainly start on these sites and watch your offerings morph into a specialty.

What it takes to get started:

• Experience in software writing, code, or specific language.
• Business cards
• Examples of your work

Recommended Websites, Forums & Blogs:

• Elance
• RentaCoder
• ClipArt.com