There are many different ways that an individual could work from home using their own skills & knowledge, however working from home does not suggest that you should chill out & take it easy just because you are within your comfort zone, this attitude will definitely not bring your business any favourable results but will very likely lead your business to an end. To build yourself a strong, stable & reputable business it will require a lot of valuable time & effort on your behalf. I strongly believe that the key to a successful business is keeping your mind focused on the goals that you have set out to achieve.
Every business idea should always be constructed around a solid business plan that you have drawn up & should include things such as the summary of your business, the purpose of your business, the services or products you will provide & who you will provide them to, your marketing strategies, your starting up costs, your projected annual turnover & any other relevant information that you feel your business plan should include. Your business plan is your instruction manual for the building of your business & you should refer to it whenever you need to remind yourself what steps you should be taking next.
Starting any business venture is not always an easy task & can sometimes be very tiring & stressful at first, but as you start to grow your business the results can be very rewarding & exciting however this will not happen over night. I look at business in a similar way to planting a seed, before the seed starts to grow into a plant it needs to establish its roots first & when its roots are established it then grows into a plant, but it will always need watering otherwise it will not survive.
Good luck with your business venture.
Thursday 24 June 2010
Thursday 17 June 2010
The Best Way to Become Self Employed Regardless of Your Background
Being self employed is the best place to be, but getting there often poses a set of challenges that most people are afraid to overcome. That leads them to stay within their comfort zone, which simply means a 9 to 5 job with a guaranteed paycheck every month.
The goal of this article is to give you some fresh ideas that may be you had not thought of, or that you had not seriously considered as a means of becoming self employed (because if you had, you would not be reading this article but you would already be self employed).
There are many ways to achieve the goal of being self employed, like rendering services within your area of expertise or any other area, freelancing, running a small business from home, just to name a few. However, whatever the road you choose it needs to have the potential to replace your present source of income (that is your job), because if that is not the case, well, you are going to have a hard time making a living.
In my own experience, the best way to become self employed is by learning how to do business online, and there are some very powerful reasons that support this statement:
1) It requires almost no money in order to start.
2) It can grow at a rate no other business can.
3) It can make you more money than any other self employment option.
You might think that maybe this alternative is not for you, because yes, you want to be self employed... but a business? And moreover, an online business?
Well, the first reality you should wake up to is that the very concept of being self employed will always involve doing business in some way, so it is really up to you what kind of business venture you choose to achieve that goal. I am a personal fan of affiliate marketing, forex and stock trading, because all of those are options with high profit potential and low start up cost, but again, it is you who must make a decision based on your personal needs and expectations.
If you really want to pursue the dream of being self employed and the absolute owner of your time, make sure you read the information provided at: http://www.specialonlinebusinessreviewauthority.com/, as it will allow you to make the right business decisions to help you achieve your goals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Cadens
The goal of this article is to give you some fresh ideas that may be you had not thought of, or that you had not seriously considered as a means of becoming self employed (because if you had, you would not be reading this article but you would already be self employed).
There are many ways to achieve the goal of being self employed, like rendering services within your area of expertise or any other area, freelancing, running a small business from home, just to name a few. However, whatever the road you choose it needs to have the potential to replace your present source of income (that is your job), because if that is not the case, well, you are going to have a hard time making a living.
In my own experience, the best way to become self employed is by learning how to do business online, and there are some very powerful reasons that support this statement:
1) It requires almost no money in order to start.
2) It can grow at a rate no other business can.
3) It can make you more money than any other self employment option.
You might think that maybe this alternative is not for you, because yes, you want to be self employed... but a business? And moreover, an online business?
Well, the first reality you should wake up to is that the very concept of being self employed will always involve doing business in some way, so it is really up to you what kind of business venture you choose to achieve that goal. I am a personal fan of affiliate marketing, forex and stock trading, because all of those are options with high profit potential and low start up cost, but again, it is you who must make a decision based on your personal needs and expectations.
If you really want to pursue the dream of being self employed and the absolute owner of your time, make sure you read the information provided at: http://www.specialonlinebusinessreviewauthority.com/, as it will allow you to make the right business decisions to help you achieve your goals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Cadens
Tuesday 15 June 2010
Starting a Home Business - How to Write a Business Plan That Guides Your Success!
Writing a business plan isn't optional just because you consider this simply a home business. You are a small business owner. A written business plan is required to secure finances or investors in your new home business. Starting a home business with your own funds and ideas doesn't mean you don't need a business plan.
A written business plan is critical to every home business. The thought process and research involved in writing your business plan will reveal the blue print for your home business.
There are numerous paid and free business plan products that you can use to develop your own home business plan. Unless you are seeking investors in your small business, you can learn how to write a business plan that keeps your business working toward your goals. To have a well written small business plan, you will find your goals easier to reach and keep track of your progress both with building your customer base and sales.
Starting a home business without a writing a well thought out business plan is like building a house without a blue print to guide you every step of the way.
Your home business foundation built on these eight areas will give your business a strong identity and focused sense of direction to help you plan and manage your business effectively.
#1) Business Summary.
Write out a description of your business. What kind of company do you want to build? A well written description or summary of your business often propels you through each step of how to write a business plan. Writing the summary first means you will always have the basic premise of your home business idea at the top of everything you put in your business plan.
#2) Name Your Business.
You may think that your direct sales business already has a company name but that is not the name of YOUR business. Creating a distinct name for your business will help make your plan. Does your business name reflect what you offer? Is it easy to remember? Does it have strong branding potential? Should you reconsider your current business name if it not working with your product? Make sure the name of your business fits not only your product or services but your mission statement.
#3) Itemize Your Products or Services.
Write out descriptions of your products; how do they look, smell, taste, feel or how your services will help others reach their own goals in life. How will your offerings improve the lives of others? Sort through why others aren't already doing it and if they are offering exactly what you are going to offer then what prevents the competition from doing it better or more cheaply than you are.
#4) Mission Statement.
Your mission statement is a concise clear summary of the goals of your business. In your mission statement, you will define exactly what your business does, the products or services offered and what makes your business unique above the competition. Writing the bottom line of your business goals into your mission statement will guide the rest of your business plan.
#5) Business Assessment.
A major portion of your home business plan is a detailed assessment of four areas: your strengths, your weaknesses or limitations, business and marketing opportunities and threats or barriers to your potential success. At this stage of your business plan, you will be looking at your industry. Your work experience and talents that will add to your business would fall under your list of strengths. Your lack of knowledge or funds could be listed as your weaknesses. Take into account how broad your industry is when you are looking at your strengths and weaknesses. If you have little money for start up then you will need to be creative in your marketing and running your business. Will your weaknesses mean your opportunities for success are limited? Will your talent surpass your lack of funds?
Opportunities for business growth may be dependent on your networking contacts or website design. Every business owner should remain wary of all threats to business success. Planning for problems before they arise will make running a business easier and more successful in the long run. As you can see this aspect of business planning is critical to all of your vision, your mission statement, your goal setting and running your home business.
#5) Goal Setting.
Write your vision for your business. Be specific. You can revise this as your goals and mission changes. How do you envision your business a year from now then five years from now? Write out your goals and objectives. Break down each product or service into their own set of goals. Plan for expansion as your business evolves.
Goals are useless unless you can measure your progress towards them and plan to regularly assess which goals have been met or still need to be fulfilled. Make your goals specific and time sensitive. With each business goal, itemize what needs to be in place to reach each of your goals. Outline what steps you will take to reach the goals for your home business. Mark your calendar when its time to re-evaluate your goals and re-align your vision for your business to match the direction your business is going.
Celebrate when you reach your goals and regroup when you realize you missed the mark. It's important to decide what you consider to be a major loss and what you will accept as unsuccessful. Knowing what you will accept and absorb as a business loss before it happens will help prepare you for when it actually happens.
#6) Target Market.
Research your desired target market. Identify who you expect to buy your products or services. Write a profile of your average customer. You need to know your target before you are able to aim. Study your potential customer's behavior. Where do they shop? What do they read? Do they move in specific social circles? Who wants or needs your business? Who will benefit from your product? What type of people will find your business a necessity?
You cannot expect to fill a need or desire of a customer if you do not know what makes your offer unique and necessary. Look at those that offer similar products with success. Write out how you can rise above and differentiate yourself from the competition. At this stage of your business plan, describe how you can stand out from the crowd. Write down how and why your company is better than the competition. Study the competitions latest marketing strategies then outline here how you plan to counteract their business moves to give you the edge you need to stay unique and effective.
While studying your customers and competition, take the extra time to identify complementary products or services that may fit your current business plan that may give the edge you need to compete in the future.
#7) Sales and Marketing Strategies.
How will anyone know your business exists? What steps will you take to make your business known? How will your customers find you? What can you do to ensure that you attract the customers you seek? How will you track your efforts? How much money do you have to put these strategies in place?
List your strategies - press release, printed catalogs, business cards, open house, craft fairs, business, conventions, virtual expos, sales letters, etc.
Determine whether you will market exclusively online, locally to your warm market or a combination of both. If online marketing is part of your business plan then include an internet marketing plan to include your domain name and host, whether you will hire a professional website designer or do it yourself, your business logo and e-commerce set up.
#8) Business Start Up.
Determine what equipment and services you will need to run your business to include setting up your home office, equipment, supplies, product inventory, customer record keeping, and book keeping. Create a checklist of professionals you need to secure for legal and financial advice, advertising expertise, office assistance or tax expertise.
Starting a home business can be exciting and scary because it is Your dream that you are working towards with each work day. To write a business plan, means a great deal of commitment to the process. The process of writing a business plan will bring you closer to understanding yourself, your business goals, your company identity and reaching your potential customers.
Although these areas are critical to writing a business plan, there is much more that will be added to your plan over time. Each time you reach a goal or discover a barrier to making the sale ~ you will return to your business plan and revise your goals, strategies and techniques.
Business success is in the plan and implementation but also in the ability to adjust and redefine your business goals to meet your customers need or desire while letting you design your home business your way!
Tammy Ames is the owner of Make Money - Not Mistakes a home business blog that strives to bring solid, effective business tools and resources for the internet marketing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tammy_Ames
A written business plan is critical to every home business. The thought process and research involved in writing your business plan will reveal the blue print for your home business.
There are numerous paid and free business plan products that you can use to develop your own home business plan. Unless you are seeking investors in your small business, you can learn how to write a business plan that keeps your business working toward your goals. To have a well written small business plan, you will find your goals easier to reach and keep track of your progress both with building your customer base and sales.
Starting a home business without a writing a well thought out business plan is like building a house without a blue print to guide you every step of the way.
Your home business foundation built on these eight areas will give your business a strong identity and focused sense of direction to help you plan and manage your business effectively.
#1) Business Summary.
Write out a description of your business. What kind of company do you want to build? A well written description or summary of your business often propels you through each step of how to write a business plan. Writing the summary first means you will always have the basic premise of your home business idea at the top of everything you put in your business plan.
#2) Name Your Business.
You may think that your direct sales business already has a company name but that is not the name of YOUR business. Creating a distinct name for your business will help make your plan. Does your business name reflect what you offer? Is it easy to remember? Does it have strong branding potential? Should you reconsider your current business name if it not working with your product? Make sure the name of your business fits not only your product or services but your mission statement.
#3) Itemize Your Products or Services.
Write out descriptions of your products; how do they look, smell, taste, feel or how your services will help others reach their own goals in life. How will your offerings improve the lives of others? Sort through why others aren't already doing it and if they are offering exactly what you are going to offer then what prevents the competition from doing it better or more cheaply than you are.
#4) Mission Statement.
Your mission statement is a concise clear summary of the goals of your business. In your mission statement, you will define exactly what your business does, the products or services offered and what makes your business unique above the competition. Writing the bottom line of your business goals into your mission statement will guide the rest of your business plan.
#5) Business Assessment.
A major portion of your home business plan is a detailed assessment of four areas: your strengths, your weaknesses or limitations, business and marketing opportunities and threats or barriers to your potential success. At this stage of your business plan, you will be looking at your industry. Your work experience and talents that will add to your business would fall under your list of strengths. Your lack of knowledge or funds could be listed as your weaknesses. Take into account how broad your industry is when you are looking at your strengths and weaknesses. If you have little money for start up then you will need to be creative in your marketing and running your business. Will your weaknesses mean your opportunities for success are limited? Will your talent surpass your lack of funds?
Opportunities for business growth may be dependent on your networking contacts or website design. Every business owner should remain wary of all threats to business success. Planning for problems before they arise will make running a business easier and more successful in the long run. As you can see this aspect of business planning is critical to all of your vision, your mission statement, your goal setting and running your home business.
#5) Goal Setting.
Write your vision for your business. Be specific. You can revise this as your goals and mission changes. How do you envision your business a year from now then five years from now? Write out your goals and objectives. Break down each product or service into their own set of goals. Plan for expansion as your business evolves.
Goals are useless unless you can measure your progress towards them and plan to regularly assess which goals have been met or still need to be fulfilled. Make your goals specific and time sensitive. With each business goal, itemize what needs to be in place to reach each of your goals. Outline what steps you will take to reach the goals for your home business. Mark your calendar when its time to re-evaluate your goals and re-align your vision for your business to match the direction your business is going.
Celebrate when you reach your goals and regroup when you realize you missed the mark. It's important to decide what you consider to be a major loss and what you will accept as unsuccessful. Knowing what you will accept and absorb as a business loss before it happens will help prepare you for when it actually happens.
#6) Target Market.
Research your desired target market. Identify who you expect to buy your products or services. Write a profile of your average customer. You need to know your target before you are able to aim. Study your potential customer's behavior. Where do they shop? What do they read? Do they move in specific social circles? Who wants or needs your business? Who will benefit from your product? What type of people will find your business a necessity?
You cannot expect to fill a need or desire of a customer if you do not know what makes your offer unique and necessary. Look at those that offer similar products with success. Write out how you can rise above and differentiate yourself from the competition. At this stage of your business plan, describe how you can stand out from the crowd. Write down how and why your company is better than the competition. Study the competitions latest marketing strategies then outline here how you plan to counteract their business moves to give you the edge you need to stay unique and effective.
While studying your customers and competition, take the extra time to identify complementary products or services that may fit your current business plan that may give the edge you need to compete in the future.
#7) Sales and Marketing Strategies.
How will anyone know your business exists? What steps will you take to make your business known? How will your customers find you? What can you do to ensure that you attract the customers you seek? How will you track your efforts? How much money do you have to put these strategies in place?
List your strategies - press release, printed catalogs, business cards, open house, craft fairs, business, conventions, virtual expos, sales letters, etc.
Determine whether you will market exclusively online, locally to your warm market or a combination of both. If online marketing is part of your business plan then include an internet marketing plan to include your domain name and host, whether you will hire a professional website designer or do it yourself, your business logo and e-commerce set up.
#8) Business Start Up.
Determine what equipment and services you will need to run your business to include setting up your home office, equipment, supplies, product inventory, customer record keeping, and book keeping. Create a checklist of professionals you need to secure for legal and financial advice, advertising expertise, office assistance or tax expertise.
Starting a home business can be exciting and scary because it is Your dream that you are working towards with each work day. To write a business plan, means a great deal of commitment to the process. The process of writing a business plan will bring you closer to understanding yourself, your business goals, your company identity and reaching your potential customers.
Although these areas are critical to writing a business plan, there is much more that will be added to your plan over time. Each time you reach a goal or discover a barrier to making the sale ~ you will return to your business plan and revise your goals, strategies and techniques.
Business success is in the plan and implementation but also in the ability to adjust and redefine your business goals to meet your customers need or desire while letting you design your home business your way!
Tammy Ames is the owner of Make Money - Not Mistakes a home business blog that strives to bring solid, effective business tools and resources for the internet marketing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tammy_Ames
Sunday 13 June 2010
Finding What You Want With Your Home Business
Do you know what you really want to do for your job?
Some people dream about starting their own business and know what type of
business they want to create immediately. Then there are the rest of us...
Knowing we want to have a business is only the first step in starting. Many of us
then struggle deciding the type of business we would like to start. We might brain
storm the Internet for ideas but no idea seems to be what we really want. Does this
sound like something you have gone through at least once in your life?
Actually liking the type of business you choose is the key to success with your home
based business venture. Be sure to pick a home business that you'll enjoy waking
up for every morning and can't wait to come back to day after day. Don't pick
something which you might have trouble being motivated to keep on doing in the
future.
Here are a few ideas which can ease the process in the beginning of starting your
home based business.
From selling e-books on the Internet, to making soaps for sale at various specialty
stores or boutiques, profits are out there to be made by filing the NEED for a
specific NICHE. You can literally choose from hundreds of lucrative home
business ideas for every type of personality and start up costs desired.
One simple type of business to start is a Franchise based business.
Franchises offer a solid money making business which has already been
established or operated under an authorization to sell or distribute a company's
goods or services in a particular area.
Franchises usually are a simple pre-packaged money making ideas, but usually call
for large start up costs. Many franchises such as McDonalds charge over a million
dollars to get in the door. With those type of large start up costs, very few people
have that type of money to start their own company.
Once you have agreed to all of the franchise guidelines, you must follow many
different rules and regulations set out by the franchised company prohibiting you
from branching out on your own.
For those who want to branch out on their own, you might want to start a
home based business which is already a hobby you enjoy. For example, if you
are a fitness guru, a home training consultant service just might be the ideal home
business for you to start.
Perhaps traveling is your passion and you'd like to start your own
home based traveling service or travel agency. Take something that might be a
hobby for you and turn that into a creative home based business. Both of the above
examples can be successfully run from the comfort of your own home.
When brainstorming new ideas for your future home business, keep
in mind any successful endeavor must provide a product or service that others will
actually purchase and keep coming back for more. Your home based business will
be well on its way to success by satisfying the needs of your target market.
Here are some suggestions for home business ideas that might
help you decide on a suitable home based business.
1. Turn your hobby in a lucrative business.
2. Use open markets and flea markets to sell your goods.
3. Sell your crafts and jewelry, soaps or gift baskets.
4. Provide a delivery service for laundry or groceries.
5. Provide a dog walking and kennel vacation service.
6. Pet grooming service and dog sitting.
7. Provide a shuttle service for non-drivers.
8. Creative a service or company for your neighborhood or community.
9. Join a multi-level marketing business.
10. Floral services for hospitals.
11. Vending machine service.
12. Selling video game machines.
13. Making gift baskets for special occasions.
14. Windshield repair service.
15. Business card designer.
16. Website design services.
17. Web hosting services.
18. Pool cleaning service.
19. Translator/typing service for documents.
20. Interior designer and decorator.
21. Gourmet catering service.
22. Cosmetic consultant.
23. Extreme sports enthusiast.
24. Personal fitness trainer.
25. Travel guide.
26. Dating/companion service.
27. Affiliate program marketer.
28. Disaster relief forum.
And the list goes on....
Any home based business has the potential to explode into a profitable business.
The demand for your home business niche determines whether or not your business
will be slow and steady or heavy hit with clients.
Whether or not your business is slow or thriving, you will have to make the
necessary choices in order to keep up with the demand. Make sure you enlist the
necessary tools to make your business a profitable one as well as one that keeps
you coming back for more day after day.
Best of luck with your new endeavors!
Jennifer Schilling
This article was written by Jennifer Schilling, founder of
http://www.thinkingfaster.com.
Launch your very own money making website today. Visit:
[http://www.thinkingfaster.com/successsite.html]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Schilling
Some people dream about starting their own business and know what type of
business they want to create immediately. Then there are the rest of us...
Knowing we want to have a business is only the first step in starting. Many of us
then struggle deciding the type of business we would like to start. We might brain
storm the Internet for ideas but no idea seems to be what we really want. Does this
sound like something you have gone through at least once in your life?
Actually liking the type of business you choose is the key to success with your home
based business venture. Be sure to pick a home business that you'll enjoy waking
up for every morning and can't wait to come back to day after day. Don't pick
something which you might have trouble being motivated to keep on doing in the
future.
Here are a few ideas which can ease the process in the beginning of starting your
home based business.
From selling e-books on the Internet, to making soaps for sale at various specialty
stores or boutiques, profits are out there to be made by filing the NEED for a
specific NICHE. You can literally choose from hundreds of lucrative home
business ideas for every type of personality and start up costs desired.
One simple type of business to start is a Franchise based business.
Franchises offer a solid money making business which has already been
established or operated under an authorization to sell or distribute a company's
goods or services in a particular area.
Franchises usually are a simple pre-packaged money making ideas, but usually call
for large start up costs. Many franchises such as McDonalds charge over a million
dollars to get in the door. With those type of large start up costs, very few people
have that type of money to start their own company.
Once you have agreed to all of the franchise guidelines, you must follow many
different rules and regulations set out by the franchised company prohibiting you
from branching out on your own.
For those who want to branch out on their own, you might want to start a
home based business which is already a hobby you enjoy. For example, if you
are a fitness guru, a home training consultant service just might be the ideal home
business for you to start.
Perhaps traveling is your passion and you'd like to start your own
home based traveling service or travel agency. Take something that might be a
hobby for you and turn that into a creative home based business. Both of the above
examples can be successfully run from the comfort of your own home.
When brainstorming new ideas for your future home business, keep
in mind any successful endeavor must provide a product or service that others will
actually purchase and keep coming back for more. Your home based business will
be well on its way to success by satisfying the needs of your target market.
Here are some suggestions for home business ideas that might
help you decide on a suitable home based business.
1. Turn your hobby in a lucrative business.
2. Use open markets and flea markets to sell your goods.
3. Sell your crafts and jewelry, soaps or gift baskets.
4. Provide a delivery service for laundry or groceries.
5. Provide a dog walking and kennel vacation service.
6. Pet grooming service and dog sitting.
7. Provide a shuttle service for non-drivers.
8. Creative a service or company for your neighborhood or community.
9. Join a multi-level marketing business.
10. Floral services for hospitals.
11. Vending machine service.
12. Selling video game machines.
13. Making gift baskets for special occasions.
14. Windshield repair service.
15. Business card designer.
16. Website design services.
17. Web hosting services.
18. Pool cleaning service.
19. Translator/typing service for documents.
20. Interior designer and decorator.
21. Gourmet catering service.
22. Cosmetic consultant.
23. Extreme sports enthusiast.
24. Personal fitness trainer.
25. Travel guide.
26. Dating/companion service.
27. Affiliate program marketer.
28. Disaster relief forum.
And the list goes on....
Any home based business has the potential to explode into a profitable business.
The demand for your home business niche determines whether or not your business
will be slow and steady or heavy hit with clients.
Whether or not your business is slow or thriving, you will have to make the
necessary choices in order to keep up with the demand. Make sure you enlist the
necessary tools to make your business a profitable one as well as one that keeps
you coming back for more day after day.
Best of luck with your new endeavors!
Jennifer Schilling
This article was written by Jennifer Schilling, founder of
http://www.thinkingfaster.com.
Launch your very own money making website today. Visit:
[http://www.thinkingfaster.com/successsite.html]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Schilling
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