Does the current economy have you looking for ways to earn some extra cash? The U.S. economy has lost nearly eight million jobs and many of these jobs may never come back. The old days of working for a company and staying there for 40 years are long gone. Companies are constantly downsizing and letting employees go to save money.

So, how can you keep yourself from being squeezed by a numbers crunch? By starting your own business of course! You can take control of your career path and gain some much needed job security.

Here are four real ideas that you can start right now that could turn into full time employment.

Start a computer consulting company.

As you already know, the computer industry is the best sector for job growth. Large companies are always looking for systems engineers, computer analysts, and database administrators. However, most small businesses cannot afford to hire an IT staff. So, why not take advantage of this trend and become a computer consultant. You can hire your skills out to small businesses and individuals. There is money to be made in cleaning viruses, restoring data, and installing additional memory. Charge a reasonable hourly rate and you could create a permanent employee stream for yourself as a consultant.

Start a pet sitting business.

If you are good with animals and have a love for pets then pet sitting may be the right business for you. Pet sitting is a great business as more Americans are looking for individuals that they can trust to take care of their pets. You could start out by watching pets at your house or offering in home sitting services. You could eventually branch out and establish a doggy daycare that offers upscale services to clients such as training, grooming, and spa services.

Start a temp agency.

You can start a temp agency right from the comforts of your own home. All you need is a catchy name, a phone number and a few contracts. You can contact local businesses and let them know that your company will help them fill their staffing needs. Start by finding employment for friends and family members that are looking for work. In no time you will be expanding and will have your own office space!

Start an online business.

The Internet gives you the ability to sell any product or service 24 hours a day/7 days a week across the globe. Maybe you have a great design for a T-shirt logo that people love or a great idea for the next catchy social media site. The best online businesses provide products, services and content that consumers are anxiously looking for. Sites like eBay, Amazon and Craigslist are great for selling any product. Building your own website will let you sell any product and keep all of the proceeds from the sale.

Let me be perfectly clear. I am not suggesting that you run out and quit your full time job today. Try these businesses out on a part-time basis and, if prosperous, then you can turn in your two weeks notice!

Mark Riddix is the founder and president of New Horizons Financial Management, an independent investment advisory firm that provides personalized investing and asset management consulting. Mark is a regular contributor to Seeking Alpha and has written financial columns for Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area newspapers. Mark publishes his own financial blog, BuylikeBuffett.com and has written the book Your Financial Playbook.