General Business and Finance Blog

Starting a home business can be exciting, frustrating and scary all at once. There are so many unknowns going into starting a home business that the new home businessperson will himself or herself constantly surprised by what is happening around him or her. There are a few important things that you should know before you start your home business, however, that will maximize your potential for success:

* Know your market. You might be the most talented acrobat on your block, but most folks won’t pay to see you on the high wire unless you join the circus. Some markets are well-served by home businesses and some are not. Likewise, if you open a computer consulting business in town of 300 people that already has two computer consulting businesses you might have some serious difficulties breaking in. Some markets are more saturated than others, and home businesses tend to do poorly in saturated markets.

* Know your trade. If you are going to mow lawns in your home business you need to make sure you know how to trim hedges and make them look decent. While you can, in theory, learn a trade while you are starting your home business, it isn’t advisable. If you are not an expert at doing what you do your potential customers will look elsewhere.

* Know your financial situation. Most home businesses don’t turn a profit right away. Many home businesses can go for six months to three years before actually making money. Don’t quit your full-time job to start a home business unless you’ve got something of a financial cushion. It is also important, in this area, to know what your credit rating looks like and what sorts of small business loans or credit programs might be available to you.

* Know your own limitations. Many home businesses fail when the businessperson just can’t find the time to do the work of his or her business. Home businesses rarely require less work than other jobs. Home business owners often work more hours than other folks. If you can’t or don’t want to work hard, don’t start a home business.

* Know what your resources are. Family and friends are often willing and even eager to help you out when starting a home business. Various governmental agencies, such as the Small Business Association have programs to assist small and home businesses as they start up. The Internet is full of advice, some useful and some dangerous, about home business. Knowing what tools you have on hand can save your home business when there is trouble.

Knowing these things doesn’t guarantee your success when starting a home business, but it does increase your potential for success.

Home can protect human from rain and sun. It is one of human’s needs and it’s very important for the human. When human live in his home, he also can calm their mind. They can arrange how the atmosphere of the each room. But, maybe your home now is so far from your office. Everyday you spend much time in the trip from your home to your office and vice versa.

It’s good if you think to get new and good home. If you work in Virginia, why not you move to there? You don’t need to worry not getting a good home there because there are many homes for sale in Virginia with own characteristic. Before you visit there directly, you can search Virginia homes through the website. If you get the home that you want, you can visit it directly.

When you get good home, you can run your life more calm than before. Your activities will run smoothly and you can rest your body well. Spending much time in the trip from office or home can make you tired easily and of course your performance will be down. So, if you feel that you can’t feel comfort in your current home by any reasons, you can think to look for new and good home for you now.

Fifty million home-based businesses will be in operation by 1997, according to Link Resource’s National Work-at Home Survey. All around the country, people who want more control over their lives are starting home businesses

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In New Orleans, Rick Hart’s home based cajun Cargo ships seafood nation wide. In Palatine, Illinois, Stephaine Heavey works from home designing and selling original patterns for fabric dolls. And in Dallas, Lisa McElya published the Dallas Party & Event Planners Guidebook from the entire first floor of her two-story home.

These three people are living the new American dream of owning a business, but avoiding the high overhead and start-up costs of a commercial location. If the idea of working from home is appealing, but you don’t know where to begin, here is a step-by-step guide.

STEP #1 DECIDE WHAT PART OF THE HOUSE TO USE

Select an area away from family activity. The perfect space is a separate room (or perhaps the garage), but any area will do, if it can hold all the business supplies and equipment, and also provide enough work space for desks, tables, or counters.

STEP #2 DETERMINE HOW MUCH TIME YOU CAN SPEND ON THE BUSINESS

Many people start a home business on a part-time basis while raising children or working outside the home. Others start full-time when family and finances allow. However you begin, figure out how may hours per week you can devote to the business Make a weekly chart of your activities, examine it, and determine where the business fits. Don’t assume you have time and find out later you don’t.

STEP #3 DECIDE ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS

Make a list of things you like to do, your work and volunteer experience, and items you own that can be used in a business. Look over this line-up, and using ideas from it, list possible businesses to start. Eliminate any business that isn’t appealing or doesn’t fill a need people have.

For ideas on different types of businesses, consult the end of this article. Other ideas can be found in the source material listed at the end of this article.

STEP #4 CHOOSE A LEGAL FORM

The three basic legal forms are sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation. The most common is the sole proprietorship. As its name implies, a sole proprietorship is owned by one individual. It is the oldest form of business, the easiest to start, and the least complicated to dissolve. Here are some of the advantages of this business form:

1. You own all the profits
2. Your business is easy and cheap to organize. You don’t need any government approval, although you may be required to carry a city, state or county license. Your only other obligation is to notify the Internal revenue Service (IRS) for the purposes of sales tax.
3. You’re the boss
4. You enjoy certain tax savings. You must pay regular individual taxes on your income, property, and payroll, but these are not levied as special taxes, as with a corporation. You will also have to pay sales tax which you have received from your customers.
5. Greater personal incentive and satisfaction. Since you have your investment to lose if your business is not successful, you should be more willing to put time, thought, and energy into the business. And when your business is successful, you enjoy maximum sense of accomplishment since you know its success was dependent upon your decisions about your management ability alone.

For more information about this and other forms of business, send for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Publication MP25. Selecting the Legal Structure for Your BUsiness (50 cents). It outlines the advantages and disadvantages of each legal type of structure. If after reading it you are still uncertain what form of the business should take, consult an attorney.

STEP #5 DETERMINE WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM

There are three ways to finance start-up costs: use your own money, obtain a loan, or find investors. If possible, it is better to start small, use your savings, and not worry about repaying a debt. also keep in mind that since you are a home-based, chances of qualifying for a loan or finding investors are slim until the success of your idea is proven.

STEP #6 GATHER INFORMATION

Spend a few weeks researching home-based businesses. A library or bookstore can provide numerous books on business basics, and on the specific type of business that interest you. Homemade Money by Barbara Brabee (see sources) is an excellent book to start with.

If you are considering a computer business, get in touch with the association of Electronics; Cottagers, P.O. Box 1738, Davis, CA 95617-1738. To keep informed of what is happening in home business world, contact National Home Business report, P.O. Box 2137, Naperville, IL 60566, for subscription information; and Mothers Home Business Network, P.O. Box 423, East Meadow, NY 11554 (send SASE for free information).

STEP #7 CHECK ON ZONING RESTRICTIONS

Find out how your property is zoned, the call City Hall and ask what regulations apply to home businesses in that zone. Also, if you rent or live in a condominium, check the lease or homeowner’s association rules to be certain a home business is allowed.

Generally, if you do not annoy your neighbors with excess noise, odors, and traffic, you will not be deterred from running a business at home. The neighbors may not even be aware of the business, but it is necessary to know exactly what you can and can’t do before you start. This is important should any problems or questions arise later.

STEP #8 PICK A BUSINESS NAME AND REGISTER IT

If the business you choose is different form your name, file an assumed (or fictitious) name certificate with the county. You are notified if another business already has that name, so you can select a new one.

Do this before investing in expensive stationery and brochures. It costs only a few dollars to file, and it protects the business name from being used by someone else in the county.

STEP #9 WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN

A good business plan clarifies your ideas and establishes a plan of action. A good business plan should include a description of what you are selling, your background and qualifications, who the prospective customers are and where they can be found, what is needed to build the business, how you plan to promote, and how much money is need for start-up costs.

SBA Publication #M925, The Business Plan for Home-Based Business () is helpful.

STEP #10 GET AN IDENTIFYING NUMBER

If you are the sole proprietor of the business and have no employees, you may either use your Social Security number or an Employee Identification Number (EIN) as the business number on official forms. If you have employees, or the business is set up as a partnership or corporation, you must obtain an EIN. To do this, complete IRS Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) and file it with the nearest IRS Center.

STEP #11 OBTAIN A SALES TAX PERMIT

If the product or service you sell is taxable, you need a state sales tax permit. Call the local tax agency, explain the type of business you have and what you sell, and ask if you need to collect sales tax. If you do, they will send you the necessary information and forms to complete. You also use this tax number when your purchase items for resale.

STEP #12 OBTAIN LICENSES & PERMITS

It’s very important not to overlook any necessary license or permit. For example, some cities and counties require a general business license, and most have special laws regarding the preparation and sale of food.

Call City Hall to find out what is need for your particular business. In addition, Chamber of Commerce provide information on city, county and state licenses and permits.

STEP #13 SELECT BUSINESS CARDS, STATIONERY, BROCHURES

Spend time on the color, design and paper for these items. They make a definite impression-good or bad- on the people who receive them. If you are not certain what is most suitable and effective, consult a graphics designer or a creative printer whose work you like.

STEP #14 OPEN A BUSINESS CHECKING ACCOUNT

Call several banks to find out what services they offer, and what minimum balance, if any, must be maintained to avoid paying a service charge. Also ask about credit card if you plan to offer this convenience to your customers. Bank fees can be significant, so shop around for the best deal.

If your personal checking account is with a credit union, see if it can also provide a separate business account. when you open your account, you may need to show the assumed name certificate and business license.

Finally, investigate obtaining a credit card in the business’s name. If this is not possible, set aside a personal credit card to use for business expenses.

STEP #15 SET UP RECORD-KEEPING SYSTEMS

Put together a simple and effective bookkeeping system with an 8 1/2 x 11″ three-ring binder, columnar pad sheets and twelve pocket dividers from the office supply store. For each month, set up columnar sheets for income and expenses. Use a pocket divider for each month’s receipts, bank statement, deposit tickets, and canceled checks.

In addition, an automobile log for business mileage, and filing system for correspondence, invoices, supplier catalogs, client records, etc. are two other useful tools.

For more information on record-keeping, see IRS publication #583, Information for Business taxpayers.

STEP #16 CHECK IRS REQUIREMENTS

If you comply with basic IRS guidelines, you can deduct a percentage of normal household expenses (mortgage, interest, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, etc.) as a business expense. see the box accompanying this article and, for more detailed information, IRS publication #587, Business Use of the Home.

Also become familiar with these IRS forms: Schedule SE (compensation of Social Security Self-Employment Tax) and Schedule 1040 ES (estimated Tax for Individuals). Depending on circumstances, you may have to file them.

STEP #17 OUTFIT THE BUSINESS

Make a list of everything needed to start the business, but before you buy anything, look around the house for things you already own that are usable.

When you are ready to start purchasing, check the classified ads and garage sales. Both are good, inexpensive sources for office furniture, typewriters, computers, answering machines, etc. But only what is absolutely necessary for start-up, and wait until the business is off the ground to get the extras.

STEP #18 DECIDE ON TELEPHONE REQUIREMENTS

Call the telephone company to find out the cost of a business phone in your area. If you cannot afford a separate business line, investigate the telephone company’s regulations on using your personal phone in a business. It may be possible to do this if you follow certain guidelines. Keep a record of long distance business calls as they are a deductible expense. Finally, consider the benefits of an answering machine to catch calls when you are out.

STEP #19 CHECK OUT THE POST OFFICE & UPS

Using a post office box as the business address down plays the fact you are home-based. It also prevents customers from dropping in at all hours.

While looking into box rental, ask for information on the various postal rates, particularly bulk rate, if you plan to do large or specialized mailings. If you mail many packages, check out United Parcel Service (UPS), as it is less expensive than the Post Office.

STEP #20 PURCHASE THE NECESSARY INSURANCE

Check with your homeowners insurance agent about a rider for your existing policy or the need for a separate business policy. Also make sure you have adequate personal and product liability coverage. Shop around, as each company has different rules regarding home businesses

STEP #21 ORGANIZE THE HOUSE & YOURSELF

To have more time for business, organize and simplify household routines. Start by holding a garage sale to get rid of unnecessary possessions. Next, have a family conference and divide household duties, making sure each person does his or her part. The, set up a planning notebook to keep track of appointments, things to do, calls to make, errands to run, shopping, etc. Finally, set up a work schedule so you won’t get sidetracked by TV, neighbor’s visits, snacking, and telephone calls.

Creating and operating a home business is a wonderful and rewarding challenge. The satisfaction is not only in the money earned, but in doing what makes you happy.

No matter what home business you are
considering, there are a few principles
that, if followed, will give you a much
better chance of having a successful home
business. Who wouldn’t want to have a home
business? Work from the comfort of your own
home, be your own boss, there are so many
factors that make a home business very
attractive. Yet there are so many people
that fail at their home business dream. Why?
If a home business is so great, why do so
many people have a hard time making their
home business work?

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The answer to these questions is that many
people make the mistake of seeing a home
business as a life-long vacation. They
equate the fact that their home business
makes them their own boss with the freedom
to do what they want when they want. While
that is true, in reality that truth means
they will have to work harder at their home
business, not get off easy.

Keep in mind that there are a great number
of people that are successful in their home
business. These people are very good at what
they do, they’re smart, and they have no
intention of letting your home business take
business away from them. Therefore you need
to be committed to your home business. Work
your home business and work it hard. Don’t
be afraid to make mistakes in your home
business. That is how you learn. A friend
once told me that he didn’t mind making
mistakes as long as they were always new
ones. As long as the mistakes you make in
your home business are not the same mistakes
over and over again you will be moving
forward.

The hardest time in your home business will
be the beginning. Starting the ball rolling
on your home business takes a lot of work
but don’t despair. Your home business won’t
always be this hard. It is always hardest to
get something started but once it’s moving
it can benefit from its own momentum. A home
business is not exempt from this truth.

When problems do arise in your home
business, how you react to them will help
determines your success. Getting angry or
frustrated will only hamper your ability to
move your home business forward. Looking at
an obstacle as a challenge to be overcome
and learned from will only benefit your home
business in the long run.

Don’t fall into the trap of seeing a home
business as a get-rich-quick scheme. A truly
valuable home business rarely is. A home
business can however be the tool whereby you
become successful. Determine what your long
-term goals are for your home business. What
would constitute success for you in your
home business? Is it money, or free time?

Perhaps the most attractive facet of having
your own home business is not having to
answer to a boss. Whatever your personal
motivation for having your own home business
keep it clear in your mind. Then you will
always have a clear path in your sights
toward making your home business successful.

These days, a lot of people are searching for a good work-life balance, and having a home based business is the popular option. The limitations of a full time nine to five job, demanding work commitments and commuting to the office have prompted a lot of people to look for an alternative way to earn money and live better lives. Home based businesses are trendy and people are now able to earn good money while working at home.

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However, a lot of people contemplate the idea of starting a home business, but never get round to actually start one. Some people start a home based business, but fail to succeed and give up. In most cases these failures are because people have failed to plan for their home business before they start.

So, what must you do before you start your home business, if you want to succeed? You must do a lot of planning so that you can start the suitable home based business that you will enjoy working, and for which you will be committed. During this planning stage, you must ask yourself some critical 7 questions, outlined as follows:

1. What are your interests, talents, personal traits and skills? Assess the things that you enjoy, can do and are good at. Your interests and talents are the foundation for any successful home based business. Your skills, which you may have developed from your work or from your education, are also very important, and you need to see how you can take advantage of that and use that to develop a money making home based business.

2. How can your interests, talents and skills be turned into a business idea? Assess what type of home based business you can develop, based on your interests and skills. Everyone is good at something, everyone knows something. It may be a hobby, or it may be anything you are passionate about – think hard about how you can turn that into an idea for a home based business. Your home based business can potentially earn you a lot of money for the rest of your life, so you must enjoy working on it for the long term. This is why it is very important to have your home based business based on your interests and skills.

3. Can your home based business ideas work? A home based business must suit your personal circumstances and situations. Do not get too excited about a business idea without doing this ‘reality check’. Your home based business will require you to invest a lot of time and effort as well as money, so it is very important that you assess if your ideas are realistic, practical and feasible.

4. Can your home based business idea make you some money? Can you make some profits from this idea? This is the ultimate question you must answer before you do anything. You may be passionate about something, you may be very skilled at something – and therefore think that you can start a business based on this idea. But if you can not make money with the idea –then you can not start a home based business. Key things you need to assess are as follows:

· Is there a market for this service or product?

· Would there be people prepared to pay for this product or service? How much would they pay?

· How much would it cost me to develop this product or to bring this service to the market?

· Can I make enough income to live on?

· How long will it take me to work on this business before I can expect some profits?

So you will need to establish the profitability of your business idea. If it is not profitable, then do not do it simply because you are passionate about it. You want to make money, and not to have a hobby. It is important that you go through your list and assess the feasibility and profitability of each business idea. If there is more than one idea, create a short-list and do another thorough assessment of what would make you the most money, and therefore what you can pursue as a home based business.

5. What business planning do I need to do? This is very important, but a lot of people starting a home based business often underestimate the importance of doing some planning for their business. Preparing a business plan for your home based business will establish the viability of your idea – you will know your ‘key success factors’ – that which you must do to succeed. What are the opportunities? What are the risks and challenges? How much money and time or effort will I need to start and develop the home based business?

6. Who can I learn from? There is no point in trying to ‘reinvent the wheel’ or going through a long learning process, when you can quickly and easily learn from someone who has succeeded from a similar home based business. Get a mentor, or join a support group or forum of people involved in similar home based business. You will need a good support network of people who can teach you something that will make your business flourish, and also people who can keep you motivated in case you face some challenges along the way.

7. Am I committed to make it work? This sounds very obvious, but a lot of home based businesses fail simply because people are not committed, focused and dedicated to work very hard and see their business through. Your home based business will be your project for the long term, and you need to work on it consistently until it brings you the profits you want.

Simply do these 7 critical things before you start your business. Do your assessment and choose a business that you enjoy and that will earn you some money, and you will be on your way to prosperity!

Looking back on many unsuccessful attempts at home business, we wish we had received guidance from someone who had already been down the road we wanted to travel. We had so many failures that we were starting to doubt that success in a home business would ever happen for us.

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Thankfully, we didn’t give up and through perseverance we were able to achieve the success that had eluded us for years. Along the way we discovered many things that we wish we had known when we started this journey.

Our success has literally transformed our lives. We believe that to whom much has been given, much is required. Consider this information our gift to you. If we can be of assistance please, do not hesitate to fill out the contact form at TheHomeBusinessPodcast.

1. Success doesn’t happen overnight.

For some reason people think that they should become rich in a few months with their new home business and some people believe success should happen within weeks or days! We introduced a man in his early 50′s to our business and he was excited. When we first met he complained that he had been working hard for more than 30 years and he was broke.

He said he never had any time for himself or his family. We told him what it would take to become successful and he agreed to do it. Then, he disappeared. A few weeks later he called to tell me that he was quitting. He hadn’t even started and here he was ready to give up.

We asked him if he would be better off quitting his full-time job and keeping his home business! Of course, we didn’t really mean that he should quit his job, but he had been working full-time for more than 30 years and he was still broke. He started his home business just a few weeks earlier and he never gave it a chance.

Why is it that so many people think that they should become wealthy in a few weeks? The answer probably lies in all the get rich quick schemes that are so prevalent in our society today. You’ve seen the emails or read these lines in your junk mail. No Selling, We Do All The Work For You, Make ,000 in 90 days and on and on.

Those get rich quick scams cause people to think that every home business is a scam and that’s not true. We just got off the phone with Doug, a nice guy who is seriously considering our home business. During our conversation we made it clear that he wouldn’t be rich in 60 or 90 days and his response was the kind of response we hear often, “Thanks for telling me the truth. I’m happy to know that I’m dealing with people of integrity.”

We were frustrated so many times in the first year of our home business that quitting seemed like the sensible thing to do. After all, these things don’t work. Who do you think you are? Why don’t you just get a job like everybody else? These thoughts and many like them nearly kept us from success.

If you already have a home business, perhaps you are facing the same thoughts. Don’t let the negative thoughts crowd out the life changing success that a home business offers. Sure, we struggled at first, but after 20 months we were making 0,000 a year in lifetime residual income! When you find yourself facing bankruptcy and foreclosure as we were and then apply for food stamps you have a firm grasp on the tough times life can bring.

Occasionally, we’ll say “What If?” As in, what if we hadn’t stuck it out through the hard times? What if we had taken the advice of supposedly well meaning people who said that we would never have success in a home business?

What if it took you two to four years to become successful in a home business? What if you could make 0,000 without a boss and a job to go to? What if you could actually be home for your children and know them as people instead of looking at them as the little people who live in your house?

Most people who start a home business quit in their first 90 days and go back to their dreadful lives of desperation. Most people aren’t really living. They are only existing. They’re going from one day to the next without any hope of a better life. Benjamin Franklin said “most people die at 18, we just don’t bury them until they turn 65.”

2. Success doesn’t happen without work.

I talked to a woman who said she was interested in changing her life. When it was time for her to make a decision she asked me, “Do I have to do anything?” “No” I replied, “once a month we just back the money truck up to your house and unload!”

If you had a traditional business you’d have to open your business every day. If you have a job you’ve got to show up if you want to get paid. When you start a home business you can’t simply sign up and expect the money to start being deposited in your bank account. There’s work to be done.

Is it hard to become successful in a home business? Compared to giving all of the best years of your life to your employer and missing birthdays, anniversaries, your child’s first words, your child’s first steps and realizing that life is nearly over and in your golden years you don’t have the money to do the things you want to do, no it really isn’t that hard at all!

If you’re in a business like ours when you employ leverage, getting paid for other people’s efforts, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor so much more. Even if you have a home business where you do all the work it’s better than working for an employer.

We are convinced that to live a great life your home business must employ the leverage concept. It’s the only way you can have money and the time to enjoy it. The wealthiest people in America became wealthy by owning businesses. The businesses that created great wealth were out in front of a trend and the business owner got paid based on the efforts of thousands of people. We wouldn’t be enjoying the life we live today if we were getting paid only on our own efforts.

We worked really hard with very little success in our first year. Our 2nd year was the breakthrough that we were looking for, success was on the way. What we failed to realize was that during our first 12 months we were improving our skills and our confidence and that’s when success started to happen.

So, how much did we work in our first two years? We worked as much as it took. How much should you work your home business? That depends on a variety of factors. How bad do you want it? How fast do you want to achieve success? We recommend that you work your home business a minimum of 7 to 10 hours a week, and do it consistently for at least two years.

Success doesn’t happen without work and it isn’t limited to working your business. Are you committed to improving your skills and working on you? Read at least 10 pages from a great book every day. Books like “Think and Grow Rich” will change the way you think and when you change the way you think you will change your life.

Expecting success without work from your home business is like expecting a paycheck from a job that you never started. It just doesn’t make sense.

3. You must be disciplined to achieve success.

So, you’re working your new home business and a friend calls offering to take you to lunch. Can you afford to go? Your favorite show is on TV, but you know you need to be working your home business, what will you do? Perhaps the biggest adjustment most of us need to make is to be disciplined in our home business.

Let’s face it in a work environment there is usually supervision. Many people fail in a home business because there’s nobody looking over their shoulder to see that they do what they need to do.

Since most people who start a home business have never owned a business, we must learn to be disciplined, if we’re going to operate a successful home business. There were times when somebody told us no and that was devastating. We’d usually mope around and fail to do anything else the rest of the day. Had we maintained that attitude, we’d have a job right now instead of an successful home business!

Consider setting business hours. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but asking friends and family members to respect your business and your business hours is an important step to success. We’ve got a good friend who makes more than 0,000 a year and when you come over to his house during business hours you can visit with his wife, but he excuses himself and works his business. If you have a small child, work when he or she is napping and when they are in bed at night.

It’s also a good idea to have a permanent work space, so you can shut the door, eliminate distractions and get your work done.

This is a difficult adjustment for some people to make, but your children can learn that when Mommy or Daddy is in this room with the door shut that they are working. You’d be amazed at how many children will respect your space and time if you ask them too. We’ve seen many successful stay at home moms and dads work with children nearby. Don’t let screaming children or children that interrupt you on occasion become a big deal, the person on the other end of the phone may be convinced that your business is right for them BECAUSE they hear your children in the background.

When you promise to call somebody back at a certain time you’ve got to find the time. Children will appreciate knowing why Mommy or Daddy isn’t available at certain times and you can explain to them that it will be worth all the sacrifices once you become successful.

Discipline can be difficult with all the distractions that can occur in your home, but it is one ingredient that you must have to become successful.

4. Who you’re involved with is more important than the business you’re in.

Let’s face it, most people don’t really have a clue how to operate a business, any kind of business not just a home business. When we’re young we are told to go to school to get good grades so we can get a good… JOB! That’s exactly the path most of us start on, get a job, work hard, work long hours and try to get a promotion so we can work more hours and hopefully make more money.

We do that for 10, 20 or 30 years and then realize that we are never going to get ahead. That’s when the idea that a home business could change our life hits most of us. We’ve been told to be good employees and that’s what most of us have done all of our lives.

There is no substitute for leadership. If you are blessed to find somebody who has been successful in a home business and you know that they can sincerely help you change your life forever, you should jump at the chance to work with them. Make sure you’re comfortable with them before you get started. So, what should you look for? You should look for somebody that knows exactly what they are doing. When you ask questions are they comfortable or uncomfortable? Do they have a system that you can plug in to and have immediate success?

One of the reasons I failed in other home businesses is that I didn’t understand the importance of finding the right person to work with. I am not blaming my failures on somebody else, but if I had been associated with people who really knew what they were doing they would have given me guidance that I did not get. Perhaps I would have failed anyway, but there is no doubt that working with successful people will cut your learning curve and save you a lot of time and money. Only you can assure your success, but finding the right person to work with and then listening to that person gives you a tremendous advantage over most people working business from their homes!

Let’s say you have what you think is a great idea and you’ve got a little extra money stashed away for a rainy day. Your spouse isn’t overly supportive, but he or she wants you to succeed. You decide to invest ,000 or ,000 in your new business by taking out an ad in a local magazine. You get no response at all. How do you think your spouse feels about your home business now? That kind of mistake destroys most people and they never recover.

Last week I received an email from a so called marketing guru offering his services. I could get his marketing expertise if I paid him almost 0. Almost everything he offered we give to our team members for FREE! We know that what we’re doing works for our business because it has been tested and proven to be successful or we wouldn’t do it. His material, although similar to ours, hasn’t been tested in our business and could prove to be a waste of both time and money. What would happen if you sent that 0 and it didn’t work? How supportive would your spouse be then?

5. Technology has changed everything.

Many years ago you had to get out and meet people and most business was done face to face. You could call people around the country, but if they had any interest in your business you had to send a package overnight. That proved to be very expensive.

When we were broke, I thought everybody that sounded serious, was serious. I was sending out packages several times a week only to find that these people weren’t serious at all.

Then, the internet changed everything. You don’t have to meet people face to face anymore, although I must admit it’s still my favorite way of doing business. Today, you can upload a video in seconds, so people can see you. You can send an email with links to websites, videos and your contact information. Auto responders make you look like a Fortune 500 company, and nobody knows how big your business really is because anybody anywhere can have a great looking website.

When I started my business more than 10 years ago my long distance phone bill was nearly ,000 a month, today we can call as much as we want for ! You can use conference calling and web casts to present your business to hundreds of people at a time.

People can automatically receive your latest Pod cast and watch it in the subway or at lunch. This is the information age and you should capitalize on the shift in technology in your home business. Don’t worry about all the latest gadgets when you start your business because the personal touch will always be important. Even if you don’t have a lot of money technology allows your home business to operate and look like a very big business.

Don’t get too preoccupied with technology. You can, however, use it to enhance your image and your productivity if you know what you are doing. Today, we don’t mail anybody any information regarding our home business. With internet access almost everywhere, we realize that if somebody needs us to mail them something, they probably aren’t the person we were looking for.

6. It’s a home business, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a big business.

Most people that start a home business are looking for an extra 0 to 0 a month. What would an extra ,000 or 0,000 a year do for you and your family, seriously! Maybe it’s because so many of us have failed so many times that we just don’t believe in ourselves anymore.

Once you understand the basic fundamentals of your new home business and once you’ve achieved some success, you’ll understand that the sky is the limit. We make much more money than we ever thought possible and we have friends that are making more than ,000,000 a year! Hard to believe? Of course it is! Just because it’s hard to believe doesn’t mean that it isn’t happening.

After we struggled at so many other businesses I wanted to believe that we could become incredibly successful, but my past was holding me back. Today, we operate a home business that generates almost ,000,000 in annual sales! Years ago I never knew anybody that made ,000,000 a year, so it was hard for me to “see” myself ever reaching that milestone. When a good friend of mine did it, I could then start to see that I could have that kind of success.

So, do you really want to struggle all your life? Then why do we settle for mediocrity? Here’s why, we’re unsure of ourselves, stuck in a rut, scared, we lack confidence, we tried and failed and tried and failed, what will my spouse, mother, brother, best friend think? We care too much about what other people say, think and do!

7. As a Man Thinketh…

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Joyce Meyer is fond of saying that where the mind goes, the man follows. Of course, it makes no difference whether you are a man or a woman, you are what you think you are. As we struggled in our home business it was easy to become discouraged. We had always failed. Those constant thoughts of failure surrounded us.

Then, we realized that others had succeeded. Why did they succeed where so many others had failed? Could it really be that the only reason they achieved success was that they thought differently? We were so broke and so desperate for a breakthrough in our lives that we realized that we could not afford the luxury of having negative thoughts. There were plenty of other negative people that we could have listened to, but what was that going to get us?

What if we listened to the people that were positive, which by the way were the same people who were achieving success? When we started our home business we felt like the biggest loser on the planet. If something positive didn’t happen soon we were going to have to move out of state to live with Judith’s mother. How were we going to explain to our children that we had lost our home? If our home business was going to change, we would have to change first.

We couldn’t afford the luxury of one negative thought. We started making good choices. We would distance ourselves from anybody that had anything negative to say about anything! We would surround ourselves with positive, uplifting people who would speak life into our lives.

We didn’t listen to people who laughed at us and yes, there really were people who laughed at us. We believed that we would have life changing success even before there were any real signs of success. Some people call that the “fake it till you make it” concept. While we wholeheartedly endorse that concept we do not recommend that you mislead people.

There is nothing wrong with having a positive attitude. It is wrong to misrepresent your current financial situation. One of the most disappointing things we encounter in home business is the tendency that people have to inflate their incomes. There must be some school of thought that this is appealing or O.K. and it is not.

Once you lose your integrity, you can never get it back. We have done everything we can to make it clear that a home business will not typically solve your financial pressures overnight. We know many people that have made 0 to ,000 in their first month in a home business. Very few make more than that in their first 30 days. If you think you have to lie to become successful you are wrong. We made just over 0 our first month in the home business that has paid us more money than we ever thought possible.

Negative people tried to convince us that we would never have success. We didn’t listen to them then, and we don’t listen to negative people now. We know that you can have success in a home business. We know that it won’t be easy. We know that if you get guidance along the way from successful people that you will live an extraordinary life.

How many times have you asked yourself “self…is there a more desirable job in the world than working from home? Then asking yourself the next question, “is the home business online?” Followed of course by “where exactly is this high income home business online?”

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I am going to go over some valuable information for you take with you and I promise by the end of reading all this you will have learned something valuable to take with you through your successes to find the a high income home business online.

I am going to break down the concepts that produce a high income home business online with the following ingredients necessary. The first is what it takes to succeed in a high income home business online. Point blank it is consistency and knowledge. Here is what I mean. If you want to succeed you have to keep plugging yourself into all of the things that I am discussing on this page. This consistency of work must be applied everyday for the time you have set for yourself. The knowledge portion is about taking everyday as a learning experience. My best gift to myself for my first year was learning and soaking up knowledge everyday about home business online, learning from some mistakes, and most of all keep driving, kept going. I was consistent. Both the need for knowledge and consistent work combined daily will lead to growth and wealth for your business. Now, can you earn a high income fairly quickly from a home business online? Yes, I see it in my own team fairly regularly. I encourage that kind of drive. However, to sustain that high income levels for your home business online you are required good solid personal development and basic online business training. Guess where that comes from? It comes from that knowledge you seek everyday, soaking up and reading everything you see about home business online.

The second concept that produces a high income home business online for yourself is lead generation. This ingredient is always necessary for any high income home business online. For this what you do need is a pipeline filled with prospects (leads). This pipeline can be manifested for your business in two ways; free lead generation and paid lead generation. Paid lead generation does wonders for your time management for your home business online. Here are a few paid lead generation tactics: P.P.C. (Pay per click), lead campaign buying, and ezine ads, just to name a few. Some of the successful free lead generation tactics are email marketing, forum posting, article writing, and my favorite video marketing. It is best to experience both paid and free marketing to see what works for you and your business. This experience and consistency of free and paid lead generation will create growth for your business, that I promise. The key is to generate more leads that you can handle in a single day. Because after you have gone through all the leads you can handle in that one day, you have the next day ready with enough leads from the previous day to work with. No single lead, prospect or person is the drive or success for your business. The only single person is you.

The third concept that produces a high income home business online for yourself is true mentor and guidance. True mentorship and guidance is providing real value and teaching you about real marketing. It is to help build a mindset of a real entrepreneur. For me also what I do is really give out all the goodies. Duplication! All the tactics that I test that work and make money, I give out. Now that doesn’t mean you won’t be working hard to apply those tactics, oh you will. But there is no need to struggle on something that is already hard enough for most new people to grasp. What you need to do is look for true mentorship and guidance to produce a high income home business online for yourself.

The forth concept that produces a high income home business online for yourself is effective marketing campaigns. It’s all about what you are trying to do for your home business online. If you are direct selling for a company making ,000 sales off of each sale it doesn’t make sense to use crappy banner ads on a site for car ads. More than anything you must find out what works for your home business online. Called simply “testing.” In a successful team for home business online the testing has been done for you before you join a home business online. When it comes to finding the best marketing campaigns for your home business online the true marketers have to test it. I personally tested my home business online before I went out to promote it to my list and new prospects. I would never want to market something to the masses that doesn’t work. Once I tested the business itself, my team partners and I started testing out the marketing campaigns that would either work or not work for the home business online. I tested, tested, tested, until there is enough feedback that calls for the right adjustments. All that was left is the right direction to earn high income from my home business online.

The fifth concept that produces a high income home business online for yourself is true leverage. Any online company that claims that they are the 9th wonder but they can’t prove they DUPLICATE true leverage with their compensation plan in a reasonable amount of your attention span is not a wonder for you to waste your time investing in. To save yourself months or years of frustration on finding a high income home business online follow everything that I am discussing here on this page. You want 1 hour each out of 1000 people rather than 1000 of your own hours

The sixth concept that produces a high income home business online for yourself is high conversions. Without high conversions there is no high income. The first crucial step in high conversations for your home business online is web copy. The web copy has to be crafted with content where that content contains a funnel that produces desirable information and opportunities. The business I work with contains ,000 a page web copy. Most web copy for their home business online sites are not designed with the psychological conversions tactics needed to truly convert.

The seventh concept that produces a high income home business online for yourself is automation. One of the big problems with ANY home business online is that people can not communicate effectively. People cannot close sales effectively. After the opportunity is surrounded their life, time and money, action is then required, they take action by get their prospects on the phone…then they screw it all up. Well let’s start with the problem of the phone. If you are a high income home business online earner then chances you are not on the phone. Trying to convert your prospects on the phone does not earn you high income for your home business online. Automation. What you need is to remove human error of people who cant sell by setting up automation from a system.

The eighth concept that produces a high income home business online for yourself is a system. Here it is, the big reason for the success of anyone I have seen online. I can’t tell you enough how key this is for any high income home business online. It is so important to have some sort of system in place so the human error of bad communication can be removed. Once human error is removed the system sells for you, trains your prospects, and automates your business for you. This way people you sign up can actually make money. Otherwise 95% of the people who join the home business industry and try to earn high income from their home business online don’t make that much money because they have to do all the selling, all the training, with almost no automation. Unless you want to seriously develop the skills of communication that most humans lack so much in selling and be that system yourself. Get a home business online that has a system that communicates for you. Where can I find the right one your asking huh? Well, contact me and check out what I offer and I will explain more for you.

Starting a home business is not tedious. In fact, there are many advantages in starting a home based business. You can enjoy the fun of working in a home atmosphere and can work at your convenient schedule. But running an own business requires lot of dedication and effort. You must know how to manage time for work and family. However, your hard work and effort would be rewarded well.

Before starting work at home business, consider the following:

1. Whether you would have the freedom to choose when and where to work?

2. Whether the home business would allow you continue your current job and work at home?

3. Would the business require publicity or gimmicks?

4. Would the home business require heavy investment?

5. Are there any risks in starting a home business?

6. Do you have complete training and support to improve the home business?

7. Do you have acquaintance with any successful home business owner who can help as a mentor to you?

If your answer is positive to most of the above questions, you can start work at home business. Another important consideration in starting a home business is to do what you are really passionate about. This is because of the fact that you can put greater effort without any difficulty because you really love it.

Starting a child day care center, candle business, decorative gift baskets, wall paintings, fashion jewelry, photography, party rentals and some other home business is really inexpensive and straight forward. However these businesses may be time consuming and require lot of effort. But once your business is up and running, you can get better rewards for your efforts.

If you have a pc at home with an internet connection, your home business opportunities are vast. You can start work at home internet business if you have adequate knowledge and excellent communication skill. You can start your own online dating site which can provide more profits from every member that joins you site.

However you would need some investment. The dating website can earn you handsome profits when members subscribe for premium membership and when existing members renew their membership. The main benefit of this business is that you need not have any previous experience for this.

You can start work at home business if you want to enjoy the fun and freedom of working at home. However take the time to get an organized plan for your business. This helps you speed up and improve your home business.

You can allot a room in your home for business purposes. Then arrange the essential things like a chair, computer, cabinet, phone etc. A comfortable chair is very important if you have to work for hours at the computer. Also consider filing the essential paper work in a cabinet. Keep it organized!

If you need to spend more time on your home business, then schedule your household routines accordingly. Time management is very important to start a home based business. You need to have the ability to prioritize your work so that you can achieve success.

For further information on how to jumpstart your own home based internet business click here:

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Today many people online and offline are looking for the best home business to join. Many people are looking for the home business that will make them rich. Many are looking for that home business that requires little if any work and produces huge results overnight.This is the something for nothing approach which many people take with them when looking for and starting a home business. People are looking for the best home business ever. Many people are missing the boat when it comes to looking for a solid home business. Instead of looking at what counts like training, mentoring, and the overall home business itself. They are looking at how much they can make with little or no work. Plus many people want results overnight. There is no such thing as the best home business ever. There is no such thing as a home business that will make you rich overnight. And there is no such thing as a home business that will make you rich with you only working 10 minutes a day. All of these claims are false but what is true is you can become very wealthy by starting and running a home business.

You see your home business is just a vehicle to get you from point A to point B. Think of a home business as a car. If you know the basics of operating a car, you will know how to drive almost any car model out there. Just like a home business, it doesn’t matter what home business opportunity you join, if you know how to build a home business you will succeed. See many people think the home business makes you rich but that is false, it is the home business owner that makes the business successful or unsuccessful. Having a home business is just like having a car, when you get into your car you have to start it and push the gas pedal in order for you to go anywhere. The same goes for home business, you have to start it and work your home business in order for it to go anywhere. You don’t expect your car to drive you around and you shouldn’t expect your home business to succeed without your involvement and effort.

Now of course, just like cars, home business opportunities vary from business to business. There are great home business companies out there and there are not so great home business opportunities out there. Just like car models a BMW is 100x a better car then a Pinto but regardless of which car you are driving, the mechanics of driving a car stay the same. The same goes for your home business, it really doesn’t matter what home business you are in if you understand how to build a home business. The mechanics of building a home business stay the same.

The whole point of this whole article is to get you to see that you make or break your home business. The company has very little to do with you succeeding or not succeeding. The responsibility falls on your shoulders. You could join the best home business in the world and still end up unsuccessful. Or you could join the worst home business in the world and still end up a huge success. It all falls on you. It’s not the companies fault if your home business is not succeeding, it is yours.

INTRODUCTION

Fifty million home-based businesses will be operational, in 1997, according to Link Resource’s National Work-at-Home Study. Across the country, people who want more control over their lives (at home and at work) are starting home businesses.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, Rick Hart’s home based Cajun Cargo ships seafood nationwide. In Palatine, Illinois, Stephaine Heavey works from home designing and selling original patterns for cloth dolls. And in Dallas, Texas, Lisa McElya published the Dallas Party & Event Planners Guidebook from the entire first floor of her two-story home.

These three people are living the American dream of owning a new company and their own business, but without the burden and overhead cost of having a physical business location. Virtual or Internet businesses are ideal because their start-up cost or initial investment to get set-up tend to be much lower. For example and in general, online affiliate marketing businesses do not require anything more than an Internet connection and perhaps a website. If the idea of working from home is appealing to you, but you do not know where to start, then here is your step by step guide brought to you by CompuLinear Software’s iMarketing Group.

STEP #1 DECIDE WHAT PART OF THE HOUSE TO USE

Select an area away from family activity, noise, and distractions. The perfect space is a separate room (or perhaps the garage, basement, or attic). Almost any area will do if it can accommodate all of your business supplies and equipment; in addition, you will need to provide enough workspace for computer hardware, desks, tables, etc.

STEP #2 DETERMINE HOW MUCH TIME YOU CAN SPEND ON THE BUSINESS

Many people start a home-based business on a part-time basis while raising children or working outside their home. Others start fulltime when family and finances allow or have been forced to do so in light of the recent recession, massive layoffs, and corporate downsizing here in the United States. However you begin, you must have a plan first and foremost; you will need to figure out how may hours per week you can devote to your new business; and how much seed money you have for your budding business venture. This is where a business plan and a little later a marketing plan are required. Make a weekly chart (see Step #22) of your activities so that you can examine it to determine where your niche business fits into the grand scheme of the marketplace. Do not assume that you will have time to devote to your new business only to discover later on that you that do not. Any new business requires commitment of one’s time especially if you are the sole proprietor who dons many hats daily!

STEP #3 DECIDE ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS

Make a list of things you like to do, your work and volunteer experience, your knowledge base about a specific subject, and items you own that can be used in a business (see Step #17). Examine your list carefully; using ideas from the list, note all potential businesses to start. Eliminate any business that does not appeal to you or fulfill a need many people have. If you are considering an Internet business, then use Search Engine Marketing and Keyword Research to help you decide on a possibly viable online business.

STEP #4 CHOOSE A LEGAL BUSINESS FORM OR ENTITY  

The three basic legal forms are sole proprietorship, partnership (including LLP), and corporation (including C, Sub Chapter S, and LLC). The most common is the sole proprietorship. As its name implies, a sole proprietorship is owned by one individual. It is the oldest form of business, the easiest to form start, and the least complicated to dissolve. However, keep in mind that the sole proprietorship’s personal liability exposure is unlimited; your risk depends upon the nature of your business operations, environment, local economy, cost of goods, trends, and a few other factors. Here are some of the advantages of this business form (entity):

1. You own or keep all of the profits after expenses are paid.

2. Your business is easy and cheap to organize. You do not need any state or federal government formation requirements or approval, although you may be required to carry a city, state or county business and/or excise tax licenses. Your only other obligation is to notify the Internal revenue Service (IRS) for the purposes of sales tax.

3. You are the boss.

4. There are some tax savings and advantages. However, you must pay regular individual taxes on your income, property, and payroll, but these are not levied as special taxes as with a corporation. You will also have to pay sales tax which you have received from your customers’ purchases. Check with the IRS and/or a tax specialist regarding Internet sales and purchases outside of your state of business operation.

5. There tends to be a greater personal incentive and satisfaction because you have a personal investment at stake should your business not become successful; thus, you are more willing to put extra time, thought, and energy into the business. Now when your business becomes successful, you will enjoy a greater sense of accomplishment knowing that its success is solely dependent upon your managerial decisions and skills.

STEP #5 DETERMINE WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM

There are four ways to finance start-up costs: use your own money, obtain a loan, grants, or venture (angel) capital. Using your own money is great if you have it on hand because you will not have to worry about repaying a debt.

STEP #6 GATHER INFORMATION

Spend a few weeks or longer researching home-based businesses, marketing trends, marketing intelligence, and your business niche. The World Wide Web, the library, or bookstore are excellent resources of information.

STEP #7 CHECK ZONING RESTRICTIONS

Find out how your property is zoned then call City Hall and ask about regulations that might apply to home businesses in your zone. Additionally, if you rent or live in a condominium, check your lease or homeowner’s association guide to be certain that a home business is allowed.

STEP #8 CHOOSE A BUSINESS NAME AND REGISTER IT

If the business you choose is different form your name, then file an assumed (or fictitious) name certificate with the county. You are notified if another business already has that name, so you can select a new one. The requirements for business name registration will vary per region. 

STEP #9 WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN  

A good business plan clarifies your mission, ideas, and establishes a plan of action concerning how you plan to go to market. A good business plan should include a description of what you are selling, your background and qualifications, who the prospective customers are and where they can be found, what is needed to build the business, how you plan to advertise and promote, and how much money will be need for start-up costs. One of the biggest problems many new small businesses have is that they are undercapitalized. A solid business plan will help you plot your course to success!

STEP #10 GET AN IDENTIFYING NUMBER

If you are the sole proprietor of the business and have no employees, you may either use your Social Security number or an Employee Identification Number (EIN) as the business number on official forms. If you have employees, or the business is set up as a partnership or corporation, you must obtain an EIN. To do this, complete IRS Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) and file it with the nearest IRS Center.

STEP #11 OBTAIN A SALES TAX PERMIT  

If the product or service you sell is taxable, you need a state sales tax permit. Call the local tax agency, explain the type of business you have and what you sell, and ask if you need to collect sales tax. If you do, they will send you the necessary information and forms to complete. This tax number can be used for purchasing products you plan to resell. If you plan to operate a non-profit, then you will want to apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

STEP #12 OBTAIN LICENSES & PERMITS

It’s very important not to overlook any necessary license or permit. For example, some cities and counties require a general business license, and most have special laws regarding the preparation and sale of food. Contact your local county office for the requirements.

STEP #13 SELECT BUSINESS CARDS, STATIONERY & BROCHURES

Spend time on the color, design, and paper for these items. Make sure that your business’ logo is relevant to your product or service. These are marketing tools and you want to present your business in the best light and as competitively as possible. If you are creative, then there are a variety of professional grade business card / stationery software at your disposal; otherwise, consult a graphic designer.

STEP #14 OPEN A BUSINESS CHECKING ACCOUNT  

Call several banks to compare services they offer, minimum balances, credit cards, credit lines, rates, and service charges. When you open your business account, you may need to show your business license. Obtain a credit card in the business’ name; if this is not possible, then set aside a personal credit card for business expenses.

STEP #15 SET UP RECORD-KEEPING SYSTEMS  

After doing a little online research, one will find a wide selection of affordable record-keeping, financial, bookkeeping / accounting, and sales CRM software.

STEP #16 CHECK IRS REQUIREMENTS

If you comply with basic IRS guidelines, you may be able to deduct a percentage of your normal household expenses (mortgage, interest, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, etc.) as a business expense. For further information, see—IRS publication #587, Business Use of the Home; IRS forms: Schedule SE (compensation of Social Security Self Employment Tax) and Schedule 1040 ES (estimated Tax for Individuals).

STEP #17 OUTFIT THE BUSINESS

Make a list of everything needed to start your business. Look around the house for items that are usable; you will save a lot of money by doing this. Always keep an eye out for quality, inexpensive items for your home-based office.

STEP #18 DECIDE ON TELEPHONE REQUIREMENTS

Contact the telephone company to find out the cost of a business phone in your area. If you cannot afford a separate business line, investigate the telephone company’s regulations on using your personal phone in a business. It may be possible to do this if you follow certain guidelines. Keep a record of long distance business calls as they are a deductible expense. See if you can save money by bundling your Internet and telephone services for a lower price. Pre-paid calling card services will save your business some money too. 

Finally, consider the benefits of an answering machine or service to capture important telephone calls when you are out of the office or away on vacation. And always remember to return calls in a timely and professional manner.

STEP #19 CHECK OUT THE POST OFFICE & SHIPPING

Using a post office box as the business address down plays the fact you are home-based. It also prevents customers from dropping in at all hours. While looking into box rental, ask for information on the various postal rates, particularly bulk rate, if you plan to do large or specialized mailings. If you mail many packages locally or internationally, then check out the many parcel / shipping services that are available and definitely be conscious of shipping, handling, and insurance costs. 

STEP #20 PURCHASE THE NECESSARY INSURANCE

Check with your homeowner’s insurance agent about a rider for your existing policy or the need for a separate business policy. Also, make sure you have adequate personal and product liability coverage. If you are a renter, then check with your insurance agent or broker to see if your business is covered. In some instances, you may be required to carry Errors and Omissions (i.e., business liability insurance) insurance, especially if you engage in a professional service type of business such real estate, insurance, notary, financial services, architecture, engineering, etc.

Shop around, as each insurance company and each state have different rules, regulations, and requirements concerning home business operations.

To save money on medical insurance, join an association and participate in their group medical / health plan. Discount health care cards are another option for your employees and yourself.

STEP #21 ORGANIZE THE HOUSE & YOURSELF

To have more time for business activities and functions, organize and simplify your household routines. Start by holding a garage sale to get rid of unnecessary possessions. Next, have a family conference and divide household duties and chores while making sure each person does his or her own part. There are numerous personal organizational management software, PDAs, and tools which can help you and your business get organized.

Set up a work schedule so you won’t get sidetracked by TV, neighbor’s visits, snacking, surfing the Internet, and non-business related telephone calls. This also means that you should set a specific time of day for telephone prospecting / sales calls as well as for returning calls.

STEP #22 START AN ELECTRONIC BUSINESS JOURNAL

From the pre-planning stages to Day 1 and throughout the life of your new business, keep an electronic journal of your business’ day-to-day activities, business cases and challenges, planning, action items, and of course its progress. Use your favorite word processing and/or spreadsheet program. By doing so, you will be amazed at how much more organized and efficient your business will be and how you will be much more on top of your business’ daily operations. This is also a great customer service tool.

In conclusion, forming and operating a home-based business is a wonderful, challenging, and often rewarding venture. There is nothing else like being your own boss and being the sole or top decision-maker. The satisfaction is not only in the money earned and the growth of your, but in actually doing what makes you happy and truly enjoy doing.

To your success!