Copyright © Oscar Salcedo
Many people dream of starting and owning a work from home business. Unfortunately, for most, it remains nothing but a dream. Even for some who actually get to the open-for-business stage, the reality of being a business owner quickly becomes overwhelming. There just seems to be so much to do in order to have a successful work from home business plan.
From their first days as a scout, Boy Scouts are taught the importance of the 5 P’s: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. That simple strategy also holds true for anyone thinking of starting a small business. Proper planning is key, not only to getting the business off to a good start, but also in keeping the business going beyond the first few months.
If you are considering starting a work from home business, there are several steps you can take to help ensure your success:
Self-evaluation is often overlooked, self-evaluation is critical to the success of any business. Are you a leader? A self-starter? Consider how much you know about your prospective business area, and how much you still need to learn. Think about whether you are willing to spend the amount of time necessary for operating the type of business you are thinking of, and whether you are willing to make sacrifices until the money starts rolling in, however long that may take.
Be sure that you complete market evaluation. Take the time to evaluate the market potential of your work from home business. If you are thinking of opening a screen-printing business, for example, check the local phone directory and the Internet for similar businesses. If you have several competitors, then simply hanging your sign is not going to be enough to ensure the success of your business. If you have a unique idea, consider the need for your product or services. If you specialize in gift baskets for women who love tulips, you will have fewer competitors than if you carry gifts for gardeners, but you will also have fewer customers. You need to have customers, as well as the potential for repeat business, if you’re going to be successful.
Financial evaluation is extremely important. Take a long, hard look at your finances. Do you have enough money to start a small business and keep it going for six months to a year? If not, make a list of friends or relatives who might consider loaning you money or going into business with you. Check with your bank and your local Small Business Administration to find out whether financial assistance will be available to you. If your work from home business is going to include physical products you have to evaluate whether shipping costs will be worth it.
Every business requires paperwork. A formal written business plan will be required by any potential lender. Different types of businesses require different types of licenses. Taxes must be filed and paid. Hiring employees carries another set of paperwork with regards to withholdings and worker’s compensation. Financial records are essential. If you do not have any bookkeeping skills, consider getting a bookkeeping program for your computer.
Owning and operating a work from home business is not always an easy job, but it does not have to be painful. Taking the time to plan properly before opening day will help you make your dreams a reality.
About the Author:
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Oscar Salcedo
To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: Earn Profit Extra Cash
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Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Running a Home Based Business: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Copyright © Oscar Salcedo
These days, nearly every one is searching for a way to make a little extra cash. With gas prices soaring to new heights, thereby raising the cost of nearly everything we buy, it's no wonder why what used to be a decent pay check is no longer stretching far enough to cover the bills. Many of us are often finding there is too much month at the end of the paycheck. But what can be done? With growing frequency, society is beginning to turn toward working from home. Before you get wrapped up in the hype of owning a home based business, though, you should really hear the good, the bad, AND the ugly.
There are many 'good' parts about working from the comfort of your own home. The most commonly mention benefit is being able to stay home with the children. There is definitely something to be said about avoiding all the hassles, and increasing expense, of the children attending day care. Aside from the obvious(cost, time to drop them off and pick them up, and planning around the daycare's schedule), you'll also have less worry about your kids picking up illnesses, injuries, or other unsanitary issues. Another benefit of having a home based business would be less wasted time; you'll no longer spend an hour (or often more) every day doing nothing better than driving to and from your job.
One little-discussed con to having your own home based business is the increased frequency of distractions. All too easily, children, phone calls, or even the television playing in the background will draw you away from your actual work. It takes someone with a great deal of focus to successfully complete the work necessary, despite what is going on around them. On the other hand, there are some people who become so involved with their work, and their ever-growing to-do list, that work carries over well beyond regular working hours. Due to the lack of an office full of people that specialize in their own area, running a business out of your home can often demand a lot more from a person than a regular nine-to-five would. When you are the sole director of your own success, it can often be hard to force yourself to walk away for a while. While their is nothing wrong with becoming wholly engrossed in your work, obsessing over it can be harmful to your physical and emotional well being, as well as to your social relationships.
The ugly side of running a home based business is another area that is frequently ignored. While it is easy to get excited over the prospect of being your own boss, some people fail to realize exactly what kind of work will be required. Not only will you be responsible for the tasks involved for the work or service you provide, but you will also be responsible for many other aspects of the business, as well. This can include accounts receivable, accounts payable, marketing, and even human resources in some instances. Before launching a home business, it is important that one realize this, and give it some serious thought. It might be easy to say "oh sure, no problem", but will you honestly be able to handle all these administrative tasks on your own?
These are endless pros, cons, and food for thought beyond what has been discussed. The important part is that you are aware of the need for serious research. Opening your own home based business should never be a decision made lightly. If you're uneducated from ALL angles, you will be highly unlikely to succeed. Despite the seemingly endless "down sides", working for yourself can be a fun, exciting, lucrative choice. You just need to be aware of what you're getting yourself into, first!
About the Author:
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Oscar Salcedo
To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: Home Business Site
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These days, nearly every one is searching for a way to make a little extra cash. With gas prices soaring to new heights, thereby raising the cost of nearly everything we buy, it's no wonder why what used to be a decent pay check is no longer stretching far enough to cover the bills. Many of us are often finding there is too much month at the end of the paycheck. But what can be done? With growing frequency, society is beginning to turn toward working from home. Before you get wrapped up in the hype of owning a home based business, though, you should really hear the good, the bad, AND the ugly.
There are many 'good' parts about working from the comfort of your own home. The most commonly mention benefit is being able to stay home with the children. There is definitely something to be said about avoiding all the hassles, and increasing expense, of the children attending day care. Aside from the obvious(cost, time to drop them off and pick them up, and planning around the daycare's schedule), you'll also have less worry about your kids picking up illnesses, injuries, or other unsanitary issues. Another benefit of having a home based business would be less wasted time; you'll no longer spend an hour (or often more) every day doing nothing better than driving to and from your job.
One little-discussed con to having your own home based business is the increased frequency of distractions. All too easily, children, phone calls, or even the television playing in the background will draw you away from your actual work. It takes someone with a great deal of focus to successfully complete the work necessary, despite what is going on around them. On the other hand, there are some people who become so involved with their work, and their ever-growing to-do list, that work carries over well beyond regular working hours. Due to the lack of an office full of people that specialize in their own area, running a business out of your home can often demand a lot more from a person than a regular nine-to-five would. When you are the sole director of your own success, it can often be hard to force yourself to walk away for a while. While their is nothing wrong with becoming wholly engrossed in your work, obsessing over it can be harmful to your physical and emotional well being, as well as to your social relationships.
The ugly side of running a home based business is another area that is frequently ignored. While it is easy to get excited over the prospect of being your own boss, some people fail to realize exactly what kind of work will be required. Not only will you be responsible for the tasks involved for the work or service you provide, but you will also be responsible for many other aspects of the business, as well. This can include accounts receivable, accounts payable, marketing, and even human resources in some instances. Before launching a home business, it is important that one realize this, and give it some serious thought. It might be easy to say "oh sure, no problem", but will you honestly be able to handle all these administrative tasks on your own?
These are endless pros, cons, and food for thought beyond what has been discussed. The important part is that you are aware of the need for serious research. Opening your own home based business should never be a decision made lightly. If you're uneducated from ALL angles, you will be highly unlikely to succeed. Despite the seemingly endless "down sides", working for yourself can be a fun, exciting, lucrative choice. You just need to be aware of what you're getting yourself into, first!
About the Author:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Oscar Salcedo
To find the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home visit: Home Business Site
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Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Review of the IAHBE (International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs)
I have been a member of the International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs(IAHBE) for 3 years now and have found it to be an invaluable resource for the latest home business related news, tutorials, tips sofware and books, as well as a great way to get your hands on a number of valuable books, audios and software for free!
The IAHBE was launched back in January 2002 and has thousands of members from all over the world.
I've put together a brief FAQ style review of the IAHBE so you can decide whether or not it is the right home business resource for you.
What are the benefits of an IAHBE membership?
The general benefit of the IAHBE is the huge wealth of information and resources for your home business. Your membership includes the following:
1) An Intropak worth over $1000
Everyone who joins the IAHBE receives a pack of information, gifts and discounts worth over $1000. At the time of writing this includes:
The IAHBE was launched back in January 2002 and has thousands of members from all over the world.
I've put together a brief FAQ style review of the IAHBE so you can decide whether or not it is the right home business resource for you.
What are the benefits of an IAHBE membership?
The general benefit of the IAHBE is the huge wealth of information and resources for your home business. Your membership includes the following:
1) An Intropak worth over $1000
Everyone who joins the IAHBE receives a pack of information, gifts and discounts worth over $1000. At the time of writing this includes:
- A free book "The Home Business Revolution's Greatest Entrepreneurs"
- A free subscription to the Home Business Connection magazine
- A free audio cassette "Underpaid and Overtaxed?"
- Free 30 day trial of Affiliate Mastery
- 15 Free Leads
- Five books by Fortune Now author and world renowned business speaker and trainer, Tom "Big Al" Schreiter for the price of one
- Generous Discounts on various other books, advertising, business cards and more
2) Access to the IAHBE Learning Center
This is a huge password protected collection of articles, audio tutorials, seminars, home business E-Books, software for PCs & Macs, marketing courses and various other tools to help you with your home business and it includes both US specific information and international information.
3) Freebies each month
The IAHBE membership also includes physical freebies each month. For example, this month the membership included a book worth $26 "The New Culture of Desire" by Melinda Davis and a year's subscription to the magazine "PC Magazine" worth $131!
Are there any drawbacks?
Although the majority of the resources in the IAHBE membership can be used by anyone regardless of their location, the free magazine subscriptions are generally only available to US residents and the free books have a higher shipping charge for those who are not based in the US. Despite this, there is still enough there for international members to make their membership worthwhile.
What is the cost?
The cost of the IAHBE membership is $29.95 per month. If you are a member of SFI this will also qualify you as an Executive Affiliate (EA) for the lifetime of your membership.
Are there any guarantees?
There is a 30 day money back guarantee. If you don't like what you see you can just cancel your membership within 30 days, no questions asked and receive a full refund.
How do I sign up?
Just visit IAHBE or become a member of SFI and purchase the IAHBE through the affiliate store.
About the Author: Suzanne Morrison is the webmaster of Home Business Ideas and is a successful work from home internet marketer.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Importance of Keywords and How It Relates to Your Online Business
By Oscar Salcedo Work from Home
There are a number of different tactics that people use in their online businesses, but there is one thing that ties all of these tactics together. Every single tactic used by a business today successfully is successful primarily because somewhere in that tactic there are keywords that make the tactic work. Keywords determine almost everything imaginable on the internet, that is exactly why Keywords are King in the land of online internet marketing, and home based business online.
Importance
The importance of keywords has to do with search engines. How many times have you been interested in learning about a specific something and then searching online for that specific something in a search engine like Google, Yahoo or MSN? If you are like most people that have used the internet, the answer is quite often. While some people might exclusively search online encyclopedias and other products like that, at the same time most of the people will use search engines to look over the internet and this amounts to hundreds of millions of people conducting billions of searches each day.
The keywords that you use on your website are going to be the keywords that they put into the search engines if you do the keyword placement correctly and that ultimately means that keywords are directly linked to search engine success and this is exactly why they are so important in the grand scheme of things.
Plan of Attack
Having a plan of attack for your keywords when you set up your website is always a good idea. The best way to formulate that plan of attack is to first think of keywords directly related to the website that you are building. For example, a website on Slim-Fast would greatly benefit from keywords like "weight loss", "diet" and "diet drink". Once you have a list of obvious keywords, your goal is then to run those keywords through keyword tools and figure out what people have been searching for in relation to those words and compile a list of keywords in this way. Then, come up with synonyms and search for the synonyms. It is a good idea to have at least 100 keywords for a website before you formulate your plan of attack and going through this process will ensure that you probably end up with a lot more.
Search Engine Optimization
Part of your plan of attack has to revolve around getting those keywords into places on your website where they will attract the interest of the search engines and the process of doing this is known as search engine optimization. Search engine optimization essentially means getting important keywords into the titles and sub-titles of the website pages that you have and also making sure that keywords are sprinkled throughout the text in appropriate percentages. All of this is very difficult to master but easy to learn the basics of, so if you are putting together a website learning the basics of search engine optimization is a very good idea.
There are a number of different tactics that people use in their online businesses, but there is one thing that ties all of these tactics together. Every single tactic used by a business today successfully is successful primarily because somewhere in that tactic there are keywords that make the tactic work. Keywords determine almost everything imaginable on the internet, that is exactly why Keywords are King in the land of online internet marketing, and home based business online.
Importance
The importance of keywords has to do with search engines. How many times have you been interested in learning about a specific something and then searching online for that specific something in a search engine like Google, Yahoo or MSN? If you are like most people that have used the internet, the answer is quite often. While some people might exclusively search online encyclopedias and other products like that, at the same time most of the people will use search engines to look over the internet and this amounts to hundreds of millions of people conducting billions of searches each day.
The keywords that you use on your website are going to be the keywords that they put into the search engines if you do the keyword placement correctly and that ultimately means that keywords are directly linked to search engine success and this is exactly why they are so important in the grand scheme of things.
Plan of Attack
Having a plan of attack for your keywords when you set up your website is always a good idea. The best way to formulate that plan of attack is to first think of keywords directly related to the website that you are building. For example, a website on Slim-Fast would greatly benefit from keywords like "weight loss", "diet" and "diet drink". Once you have a list of obvious keywords, your goal is then to run those keywords through keyword tools and figure out what people have been searching for in relation to those words and compile a list of keywords in this way. Then, come up with synonyms and search for the synonyms. It is a good idea to have at least 100 keywords for a website before you formulate your plan of attack and going through this process will ensure that you probably end up with a lot more.
Search Engine Optimization
Part of your plan of attack has to revolve around getting those keywords into places on your website where they will attract the interest of the search engines and the process of doing this is known as search engine optimization. Search engine optimization essentially means getting important keywords into the titles and sub-titles of the website pages that you have and also making sure that keywords are sprinkled throughout the text in appropriate percentages. All of this is very difficult to master but easy to learn the basics of, so if you are putting together a website learning the basics of search engine optimization is a very good idea.
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