7 hot businesses to start now

Shelly Dean-Leff's skills are in hot demand at kids' birthday parties, bar mitzvahs and even corporate events.

For Dean-Leff, working as a face painter, balloon artist and clown easily beats her previous part-time job at an insurance company, which made her feel like she was wasting her talent.

"I studied graphic design in college," she said. "I paint, I do ceramics. I've been artistic my whole life."

So last year, Dean-Leff decided to test the waters and posted a Craigslist ad for her services in the New York City area. "Right away, business started coming," she said.

She charges $100 an hour, and is often booked from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. She can make as much as $4,000 a month.

"The money's great, but I also love doing what I want to and being around kids," she said.