Do you think you have what it takes to handle phone, e-mail, and online customer inquiries for services that range from making dinner suggestions and reservations to planning a vacation for busy professionals? What if the caller asked you to locate the dress Julia Roberts wore in “Ocean’s Eleven,” rent monkeys for a birthday party, or help write a speech for a best man?

Those are some of the common and quirky requests asked of home-based concierge agents at Aspire Lifestyles, one of the leading services. Aspire Lifestyles’ clients are executives and employees of some of the top companies in the world, all of whom are willing to pay for such services of convenience. Aspire Lifestyles hires home-based agents who are highly resourceful and have prior experience in high-end customer service, travel and/or hospitality. Apply online at www.aspirelifestyles.com as well as www.assistU.com.

Because concierge services are growing in popularity as a benefit for businesses of all sizes, consider starting your own service. Contact employers in your area about offering services of convenience to their staffers. For example, a doctor’s office might require its staff to work long hours to accommodate patient needs. Employee absenteeism can cause a disruption or slow down in services. It may be more beneficial for the medical practice to pay an outsider like you to handle errands and special chores for a nurse than to give that nurse a day off. This same theory applies to companies where staffers work long hours or are required to travel regularly. So use this approach when pitching your services.

You must use caution when visiting these sites. Even though they contain a lot of legitimate information, they also lead to links to stuff that’s not legit. Be cautious about the sites and the ads you see and NEVER respond to check-cashing, wire transfer or Western Union related offers.