Starting a home business? Already have one? Or are you thinking about starting a business and doing preliminary research? These tips will help and inspire you, whether you are investigating, starting out, or currently running a home business. Your focus and determination, combined with these ideas and advice, will ease the way towards success.
Ensure that your home business is properly insured, by discussing the business with an insurance agent. You should also make sure that your home business complies with local zoning laws and city ordinances. You don't want to start a dog care business, if there is a limit to the amount of animals you can have on your property.
Before starting a home business, find a mentor in your field who can provide some guidance about how to go about your business. A seasoned veteran can give you invaluable advice about taxes and running your business, and may also have a network of contacts that you can turn to if you need more guidance.
When starting a new home business, good customer service will keep them coming back for more. Thank your customers frequently; send notes offering specials or upcoming events to make them notice that you remember them. When people feel a sense of friendliness and appreciation, they feel comfortable coming back!
If you own a home business, be sure to have a good liability insurance policy. This is important if you will be having people come to your home business. This can protect you in case of an accident on your property or one that is related to your business.
Get a toll-free number for your home business. If much of your business is done over the phone, you may want to consider opening up a toll-free line as well as a business line. These encourage people to call in, because they know it is not costing them to be able to speak with you.
If you do not live alone you need to make it clear to housemates and/or family that you have to work at a designated time and you are not to be disturbed. Let them know that this will decrease your profits and that you will set aside time for them at another opportune time.
Make sure to put the name of your home business and the url to your website in the signature of every email that you send out. Also, do the same on any blogs or message boards that you actively post on. People who like what you have to say will be likely to click the link.
Make sure to set daily goals and do your best to stick with them. The most important part of that is prioritizing things so that they get done efficiently. Do not waste too much time on small tasks when there are much more important things that need to be done.
As you have learned, a home business can reward in ways that go well beyond money. Solid research, including these useful tips, will aid to empower you to grow and manage your business while helping you avoid the stress and pitfalls. Take on the challenge, expand your boundaries and reap the benefits from being your own boss.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Home Based Business Faq: Answers To Basic Questions About Home Based Business
* What are some legitimate types of home-based businesses?
Due to the number of scams that circulate on the internet, it is not wise to trust others easily, especially if they are offering an income that seems too good to be true when you are just starting a home-based business.
The following are some of the legitimate home-based businesses you can consider starting:
1. Buying and selling antiques. This has proven to be a good home-based business. All you need to do is choose a particular space in your house where you will store your antiques. You can use your stock room or your garage—and you have now your own office! If your house is large and you already have some antique furniture, you might consider converting it into a showroom for your acquisitions. Just be sure that you satisfy local zoning regulations.
2. Baking. This is another good home-based business idea. You can start by cooking at home and selling it to local people. If your neighbors like your products, your reputation will spread by word of mouth and your culinary masterpieces may start finding their way into restaurants and bakeries.
3. Child care. Babysitting your neighbors' children in the comfort of your own home may be another possibility. You can do this for only a small investment in basic equipment and toys for the kids and in advertising your business. Often flyers posted in high traffic areas around the neighborhood are enough to get your started.
4. Computer Services. You can also have a business performing some basic computer services, even if you are just a novice computer user. If you are already a computer wizard, you can perform different advanced computer jobs such as accounting and encoding payroll records for companies. You can also perform some desktop publishing for newsletters of other businesses and organizations.
5. Nursery and Gardening. This is another good home-based business that you can work at in a legitimate way. All you have to do is clear some ground and plant a garden. You can start growing flowering plants and vegetables that you can either sell around your neighborhood or to different flower shops in your locality. There is also a market for dried flowers on the internet. In some cases, you can grow particular herbs or medicinal plants that are in demand.
6. Interior Design. If you have a passion for home decorating, then interior design could be right for you. Just have the knowledge about different designs and motifs and you can start asking your neighbors or friends if they want to re-design the interior of their homes.
* How can I tell if a business opportunity is a scam?
If you want to know if a "business opportunity" is just a scam, there are two things you need to keep in mind:
1. If a business opportunity promises you a lot of money in exchange for very little work, you should beware of it. Get-rich-quick schemes are often a sign of a scam, especially when they offer large sums of money in a short period of time.
2. If a business opportunity requires some "registration fees" or some sort of down payment for materials, it may be a scam.
* How can I discover which business opportunity is best for me?
First, consider your interests. For instance, if you are fond of children, a child care center may be a good business for you. If you often tell your friends about products you love, then maybe you should establish a specialty shop.
Second, consider your skills. If you are a computer genius, for instance, computer-related services fit you. Sometimes just a bit more training will help qualify you for a type of business where you already have some skills.
Due to the number of scams that circulate on the internet, it is not wise to trust others easily, especially if they are offering an income that seems too good to be true when you are just starting a home-based business.
The following are some of the legitimate home-based businesses you can consider starting:
1. Buying and selling antiques. This has proven to be a good home-based business. All you need to do is choose a particular space in your house where you will store your antiques. You can use your stock room or your garage—and you have now your own office! If your house is large and you already have some antique furniture, you might consider converting it into a showroom for your acquisitions. Just be sure that you satisfy local zoning regulations.
2. Baking. This is another good home-based business idea. You can start by cooking at home and selling it to local people. If your neighbors like your products, your reputation will spread by word of mouth and your culinary masterpieces may start finding their way into restaurants and bakeries.
3. Child care. Babysitting your neighbors' children in the comfort of your own home may be another possibility. You can do this for only a small investment in basic equipment and toys for the kids and in advertising your business. Often flyers posted in high traffic areas around the neighborhood are enough to get your started.
4. Computer Services. You can also have a business performing some basic computer services, even if you are just a novice computer user. If you are already a computer wizard, you can perform different advanced computer jobs such as accounting and encoding payroll records for companies. You can also perform some desktop publishing for newsletters of other businesses and organizations.
5. Nursery and Gardening. This is another good home-based business that you can work at in a legitimate way. All you have to do is clear some ground and plant a garden. You can start growing flowering plants and vegetables that you can either sell around your neighborhood or to different flower shops in your locality. There is also a market for dried flowers on the internet. In some cases, you can grow particular herbs or medicinal plants that are in demand.
6. Interior Design. If you have a passion for home decorating, then interior design could be right for you. Just have the knowledge about different designs and motifs and you can start asking your neighbors or friends if they want to re-design the interior of their homes.
* How can I tell if a business opportunity is a scam?
If you want to know if a "business opportunity" is just a scam, there are two things you need to keep in mind:
1. If a business opportunity promises you a lot of money in exchange for very little work, you should beware of it. Get-rich-quick schemes are often a sign of a scam, especially when they offer large sums of money in a short period of time.
2. If a business opportunity requires some "registration fees" or some sort of down payment for materials, it may be a scam.
* How can I discover which business opportunity is best for me?
First, consider your interests. For instance, if you are fond of children, a child care center may be a good business for you. If you often tell your friends about products you love, then maybe you should establish a specialty shop.
Second, consider your skills. If you are a computer genius, for instance, computer-related services fit you. Sometimes just a bit more training will help qualify you for a type of business where you already have some skills.
Promote Your Local Business Online And Offline
Nowadays, many people search online for services instead of reaching for the phone book. To increase your online exposure your pages should include your street address, zip code, phone number, and five-digit zip code. Include place names in the title tag such as “the name of your city and your service.” When you seek links to your site contact local businesses. A noncompeting local business should be interested in exchanging links with you. Make sure that the anchor text includes the name of your city. List your business within local business directories. If you are a member of you local chamber of commerce, ask for a link from their website.
Submit To Directories
Links from directories are some of the most valuable links you can get. Note: Directories are not the same as search engines. A link from a directory will help your search engine ranking. There are thousands of online directories, but some are more significant than others. In addition to directories such as the Open Directory Project, some of the most important search engines such as Yahoo and Google have directories of their own.
Some of the greatest advantages of submitting your site to directories are you get:
· One-way links. Remember, one-way links are more valuable than reciprocal links;
· Potentially qualified clients repeatedly see your listing.
Obtaining links from directories drive an increasing amount of traffic to your site. In addition, you are improving your ranking within search engines such as Google and Yahoo. Once you submit your site information to a directory, it may take weeks or even months to get listed.
While many directories are free, don’t be surprised when you are asked to pay for submission. Certain directories promise to expedite the submission process for paying customers. Directories provide you with a constant stream of visitors and highly valuable one-way links, be sure they are part of your marketing strategy.
Submit Your Site to Industry Sites and Specialized Directories
Because a link from a relevant site is more important than one from an irrelevant site, links from industry sites and specialized directories are highly valuable. If your business is a member of professional associations, ask for a link to your site. The more links you obtain from related websites, the more likely your site will be considered an authority site.
Searching online you will find directories focused on your particular industry such as business coaching, accounting, retail, and such. You almost certainly belong to various trade associations that list member sites. Contact the Webmaster and ask for a link. You may get a link for free or you may be required to pay a fee, either way, it is worth it.
Submit To Directories
Links from directories are some of the most valuable links you can get. Note: Directories are not the same as search engines. A link from a directory will help your search engine ranking. There are thousands of online directories, but some are more significant than others. In addition to directories such as the Open Directory Project, some of the most important search engines such as Yahoo and Google have directories of their own.
Some of the greatest advantages of submitting your site to directories are you get:
· One-way links. Remember, one-way links are more valuable than reciprocal links;
· Potentially qualified clients repeatedly see your listing.
Obtaining links from directories drive an increasing amount of traffic to your site. In addition, you are improving your ranking within search engines such as Google and Yahoo. Once you submit your site information to a directory, it may take weeks or even months to get listed.
While many directories are free, don’t be surprised when you are asked to pay for submission. Certain directories promise to expedite the submission process for paying customers. Directories provide you with a constant stream of visitors and highly valuable one-way links, be sure they are part of your marketing strategy.
Submit Your Site to Industry Sites and Specialized Directories
Because a link from a relevant site is more important than one from an irrelevant site, links from industry sites and specialized directories are highly valuable. If your business is a member of professional associations, ask for a link to your site. The more links you obtain from related websites, the more likely your site will be considered an authority site.
Searching online you will find directories focused on your particular industry such as business coaching, accounting, retail, and such. You almost certainly belong to various trade associations that list member sites. Contact the Webmaster and ask for a link. You may get a link for free or you may be required to pay a fee, either way, it is worth it.
Franchising - The Licensing Of Trademarks And Methods Of Doing Business
Franchise is a method of doing business by licensing trademarks. A recurring royalty fee being the prime source of income, the advent of franchise business dates back to the 1850s. The earliest example being the bars of New South Wales, the agreements between these bars and the breweries can be considered the foundation for modern franchise businesses. Further examples of early franchises include the telegraph system (operated by various railroad companies but controlled by Western Union) and exclusive agreements between automobile manufacturers and local dealers.
The term franchise holds multiple definitions. Encompassing a plethora of varied business relationships, franchises sometimes do not follow their legal definition per se, for example, an appliance maintenance franchise. In this case, though the after sales services are supposed to be done by the manufacturer, they grant the license for maintenance to some other party, thinning down further the dividing line between outsourcing and franchising.
A franchise agreement is the first step between the willing parties; the agreement binds the parties together through contractual provisions, strengthening further the arrangements of selling one’s own products or services through another person holding the license. The agreement also specifies the area of operation under the franchise holder, though the franchise provider usually denies a complete and exclusive control of the franchise holder over that particular territory. Franchise in the US abides by the jurisdiction granted by the state and federal laws though there is no federal registry of franchising or any federal filing requirements for information. However, franchise holders are required to have a Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (as per the Federal Trade Commission rules); it helps in disclosing the business transactions and purchases that remain involved. As of now, the Financial Times declared that if sales by US franchise businesses were translated into national product, they would qualify as the 7th largest economy in the world.
Franchise-based restaurants opened gates for the wave of franchise businesses since the 1930s. First came the traditional sit-down restaurants (Howard Johnson's) and then McDonalds in the 1950s rendering United States a franchise business dominion to the point where proprietorship business has become the exception rather than the rule.
The term franchise holds multiple definitions. Encompassing a plethora of varied business relationships, franchises sometimes do not follow their legal definition per se, for example, an appliance maintenance franchise. In this case, though the after sales services are supposed to be done by the manufacturer, they grant the license for maintenance to some other party, thinning down further the dividing line between outsourcing and franchising.
A franchise agreement is the first step between the willing parties; the agreement binds the parties together through contractual provisions, strengthening further the arrangements of selling one’s own products or services through another person holding the license. The agreement also specifies the area of operation under the franchise holder, though the franchise provider usually denies a complete and exclusive control of the franchise holder over that particular territory. Franchise in the US abides by the jurisdiction granted by the state and federal laws though there is no federal registry of franchising or any federal filing requirements for information. However, franchise holders are required to have a Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (as per the Federal Trade Commission rules); it helps in disclosing the business transactions and purchases that remain involved. As of now, the Financial Times declared that if sales by US franchise businesses were translated into national product, they would qualify as the 7th largest economy in the world.
Franchise-based restaurants opened gates for the wave of franchise businesses since the 1930s. First came the traditional sit-down restaurants (Howard Johnson's) and then McDonalds in the 1950s rendering United States a franchise business dominion to the point where proprietorship business has become the exception rather than the rule.
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