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Translators and interpreters in the United States are increasingly self-employed, with more than a quarter of them now working as independent contractors, and many of those people operating out of their homes. If you want a job that doesn’t require you to go to an office or worksite, and you have fluency in a second language, home translation or interpreting could be the right choice for you. The field is growing, and it’s a job with a lot of flexibility.

Home translators render documents from one language into another online, while home interpreters work with spoken words over the phone. Opportunities for home interpreters are obviously less plentiful than they are for home translators, since interpreters have to overhear conversations.

Fluency in at least two language is required, one of which can be your own, plus a high-speed Internet hookup and phone equipment if you’re an interpreter, an eye or ear for detail, and strong analytical abilities; remember, this isn’t only a matter of translating words, but of capturing and converting meaning. Many jobs also require a bachelor’s degree and prior experience.

Which languages you can translate or interpret, how many of them, and your areas of expertise, if any (such as law or business) will determine your pay. East Asian, Middle Eastern and the major Western European languages are currently the most desired by employers.

You could conceivably pull down a middle-class income if you offer the skills employers are looking for and are able to find enough work. But chances are you’ll have to work other jobs to add to your income, as do many independent contractors in the field.

You can find a number of Web sites with job postings for translators and interpreters who work out of their houses. Telelanguage.com, for one, hires interpreters who work over the phone. At Elance, Guru.com and other general freelance sites, there are always numerous listings for online translation assignments. You can find certification exams in 24 languages at the American Translators Association, ATAnet.org.

It takes a lot: hard work, talent, ambition, make-money.com”>long hours, and a great home-review.com”>idea. Plus some startup money. And even then, the odds aren’t great. But if you’re an entrepreneur and you’re willing to do what it takes, you may be able to use a home-based online business to gain financial independence.

The key, of course, is the idea, and you’ll need something that people will pay for. Do some market research. Is there a need? Is there a desire? What does the competition look like? Will you be able to stomach the hard times? Are you realistic about the fact that there will be a lot of them, especially at first?

Don’t worry if your idea isn’t totally new, however. Plenty of people operate home businesses in which they buy items in the brick-and-mortar world and resell them on eBay, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea for the next person who does it. Make sure you have a business plan before you try to put your concept into reality.

Find out if you need to obtain any state or local permits or licenses, or meet any zoning regulations that apply to home businesses. Compliance may cost you some seed money.

There may be more expenses at the outset: a home office setup, computer equipment, software, supplies, and any needed professional services (a lawyer or accountant, for instance). Be cautious in your budgeting and spending; you may not be able to recoup these costs out of early business returns.

At this point you’ve just gotten started. The serious lifting of running the business comes later. But if the concept behind your business is right for the market and you can put in the drive, talent, time and effort it takes, you could turn your online business into a source of income that lets you work from home.