Are you anxious to start earning your own income with a great business opportunity? With all the excitement about the ease of creating great income from home and online businesses, you can easily get caught up in a tangled web of half-understood business plans, wallet-fatigue from investments and an email box that is bulging with follow up materials.
If this has happened to you, than you will not be finding yourself building a business, you will only find yourself confused, disappointed and ready to throw in the towel (as well as cancel your Visa!)
The truth is there ARE great opportunities out there. Unfortunately, to work any of them requires you to develop an understanding not only of the service or product you choose to promote, but you have to learn how to market your business, whether online or in the real world.
Finding Purpose in Your Business
Now, you may have to dig several holes to find a treasure, and too, you may have to examine several business ideas to find one that works for you. But focus first on investigation, rather than action.
After requesting information on 4 to 10 businesses that appeal to you (remember, you haven't joined anything, you're just looking), sit back and decide which opportunities offer the most comprehensive package. If you're new to the home business world, you have a huge learning curve ahead of you. It makes sense that you'll do much better with a company that will provide you support, guidance and training in one package.
Be ready to make a defense for your choice. You may not be called upon by family or friends to defend it, but confidence in your decision will help you to keep focused and not second-guess your decision every time another offer pops up. This will be YOUR business. Be certain it relates to you in a positive manner and that you can work with it long term.
Create Goals
No business will grow without a plan to grow it. If you have a supportive company, read their materials. Follow their advice. It is in their best interest to provide you with a game plan that brings in sales or clients. Don't take their valuable knowledge for granted.
As you manage to cover the basic marketing or promoting techniques, you may find yourself once again getting bogged down with offers to assist you with your efforts. Software, agents, programs, all requiring investment and another learning curve to perfect.
By all means, if the company you are working with recommends them than give it a shot. It is not worth your time to sit on the sidelines if perfectly good recommendations are being handed to you.
But at the same time, recognize the need to focus on your business. Learn the programs well, otherwise you will end up with ineffective marketing, and money out the window because you have not used the efforts of promotion wisely. Possibly you are not even aware if the money you spent is actually doing anything for your business or not.
Have Patience
Good opportunities take time to mature into healthy businesses. That may not be how they are presented, but in truth, even those who are successful are there because they outlasted many others who gave up too soon.
When you feel you have a grip on all that's involved, go back and review or investigate the business again. Those who are successful KNOW their business. It will also involve you at a greater level as your dedication to your business deepens.
Be Passionate
In the long run, you will have the fortitude to develop your business when you develop your passion for it. You will increase in knowledge and be able to apply your passion to related opportunities which will allow you to diversify your business in a way that will contribute to its longevity.
Look forward to building your business, keep focused and you will be certain to attain your goals!
Shannon and her husband, Cyprian Emmanuel help individuals develop profitable home businesses through their website and newsletter at http://www.Affiliate-Start.com
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Selecting a MLM Home Business Opportunity
Looking for a MLM home business opportunity to start your own business? Working at home can give the freedom you want and the income that you deserve. By working from home you can be there for your children, cook dinner, and still get in a few hours of work before bed. A work at home business can be very attractive but you must be careful to select one that works for you.
When selecting a MLM home business opportunity for your own, look for one that has been in business for a number of years. Many scams are often fly-by-night operations. That doesn't mean avoid younger companies, but look carefully before you take a leap of faith. Make sure that they have a good training program in place, a fair compensation plan worked out, and their products have been time tested.
When comparing MLM home business opportunities, think of yourself first. Choose a business that fits your interests and talents; don't think you can be molded to fit theirs. Examine what you want, fit your knowledge and background. Many times your life experiences can add greatly to a companys offerings to create a perfect blend. Take time to select the opportunity that is right for you.
Many who become involved in a MLM home business opportunity start out on a part time basis. This is wise advice for everyone considering the jump into self-employment. Keeping your day job will insure adequate income to meet your household and buy you enough time to get the business established. Also, by keeping your current ties in the business world, you can attract them as customers to your new endeavor.
MLM home business opportunities are waiting for your first chance to grab them. Just remember if something is too good to be true, it probably is. Many companies offer pie-in-the-sky dreams with little else. Keep your wits when looking at MLM home business opportunities and you will land with your feet on the ground.
When selecting a MLM home business opportunity for your own, look for one that has been in business for a number of years. Many scams are often fly-by-night operations. That doesn't mean avoid younger companies, but look carefully before you take a leap of faith. Make sure that they have a good training program in place, a fair compensation plan worked out, and their products have been time tested.
When comparing MLM home business opportunities, think of yourself first. Choose a business that fits your interests and talents; don't think you can be molded to fit theirs. Examine what you want, fit your knowledge and background. Many times your life experiences can add greatly to a companys offerings to create a perfect blend. Take time to select the opportunity that is right for you.
Many who become involved in a MLM home business opportunity start out on a part time basis. This is wise advice for everyone considering the jump into self-employment. Keeping your day job will insure adequate income to meet your household and buy you enough time to get the business established. Also, by keeping your current ties in the business world, you can attract them as customers to your new endeavor.
MLM home business opportunities are waiting for your first chance to grab them. Just remember if something is too good to be true, it probably is. Many companies offer pie-in-the-sky dreams with little else. Keep your wits when looking at MLM home business opportunities and you will land with your feet on the ground.
Monday, July 17, 2006
A Starting Point for your Home Based Business
Once you have made the decision to work from home, you should spend some time in planning and preparation.
Having decided that an internet home business is the right thing for you to take up, the decision needs to be made as to what type of home business would interest you and what type of business would be practical for you in your particular circumstances.
Do not make the mistake of rushing into the first scheme you see which promises huge amounts of profit for very little effort. These schemes never deliver what they promise. If you want to make a good income, you have to earn it and you will not make a success of any business overnight. Like any other form of profit making enterprise, a home business requires dedication if it is going to succeed and generate a reasonable income, so pick something you will enjoy doing; choose something which interests you for its own sake, not just as a way to make money.
A homeworker is no different from an office worker or any other worker for that matter. We all need an income and we have to earn it. The important difference when you have your own home business is that the profits all go into your pocket.
All the profits belong to you and so do the responsibilities. If you are going to be your own boss, you will have nobody but yourself to blame if things go wrong. Start out the right way and things are more likely to stay on track. If you cultivate good working processes from the beginning it is easier to keep them up than to trying to break bad habits at a later date. Hopefully you will enjoy your work from home experience, even have some laughs along the way, but this does not mean you can afford to take a less than professional attitude towards your business.
Think about what you are going to do, make a plan, write a list of things to do and work through your list methodically. Don't start things off in a rush of enthusiasm, and then look back and wish you had done things differently. A few basic preparations will get you off to a good start.
Having decided that an internet home business is the right thing for you to take up, the decision needs to be made as to what type of home business would interest you and what type of business would be practical for you in your particular circumstances.
Do not make the mistake of rushing into the first scheme you see which promises huge amounts of profit for very little effort. These schemes never deliver what they promise. If you want to make a good income, you have to earn it and you will not make a success of any business overnight. Like any other form of profit making enterprise, a home business requires dedication if it is going to succeed and generate a reasonable income, so pick something you will enjoy doing; choose something which interests you for its own sake, not just as a way to make money.
A homeworker is no different from an office worker or any other worker for that matter. We all need an income and we have to earn it. The important difference when you have your own home business is that the profits all go into your pocket.
All the profits belong to you and so do the responsibilities. If you are going to be your own boss, you will have nobody but yourself to blame if things go wrong. Start out the right way and things are more likely to stay on track. If you cultivate good working processes from the beginning it is easier to keep them up than to trying to break bad habits at a later date. Hopefully you will enjoy your work from home experience, even have some laughs along the way, but this does not mean you can afford to take a less than professional attitude towards your business.
Think about what you are going to do, make a plan, write a list of things to do and work through your list methodically. Don't start things off in a rush of enthusiasm, and then look back and wish you had done things differently. A few basic preparations will get you off to a good start.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
A Practical Guide To Starting A Business
Starting a business can be an exciting prospect....or a frustrating, confusing task that seems impossible to conquer.
Which one will apply to your situation will depend on how well you plan, how much you educate yourself, and how disciplined you are in following through.
Many people start out with a great idea, but don't know how to translate that idea into a business.
Where Do I Start?
Your first step should be your business plan. Many would-be entrepreneurs will skip this step, choosing the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants method instead, but starting a business without a business plan is like embarking on a long journey to an unfamiliar place without a map.
A business plan serves to define your goals, map out your plan of how to achieve them, and will provide you with a sense of purpose and accomplishment along the way.
Your business plan should include the following elements: 1) the description of the business2) the marketing plan3) the financial management plan 4) the management plan.
The Small Business Administration offers an online tutorial on how to write a business plan.
One of the first decisions you will have to make is what form your business should take. The most common forms are:
Sole Proprietorships
Partnerships
Corporations
Which form you choose will depend on many factors, including:
Legal restrictions
Liabilities assumed
Type of business operation
Earnings distribution
Capital needs
Number of employees
Tax advantages or disadvantages
Length of business operation
Some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type is outlined below:
Sole Proprietorship
This is the easiest and least costly way of starting a business. A sole proprietorship can be formed by finding a location and opening the door for business. There are likely to be fees to obtain a business name registration, a fictitious name certificate and other necessary licenses depending on the nature of the business. Operating a Sole Proprietorship is easiest as the owner has absolute authority over all business decisions.
Partnership
There are several types of partnerships. The two most common types are general and limited partnerships. A general partnership can be formed simply by an oral agreement between two or more persons, but a legal partnership agreement drawn up by an attorney is highly recommended. Legal fees for drawing up a partnership agreement are higher than those for a sole proprietorship, but may be lower than incorporating. A partnership agreement could be helpful in solving any disputes. However, partners are responsible for the other partner's business actions, as well as their own.
Corporation
A business may incorporate without an attorney, but legal advice is highly recommended. The corporate structure is usually the most complex and more costly to organize than the other two business formations. Control depends on stock ownership. Persons with the largest stock ownership, not the total number of shareholders, control the corporation. With control of stock shares or 51 percent of stock, a person or group is able to make policy decisions. Control is exercised through regular board of directors' meetings and annual stockholders' meetings. Records must be kept to document decisions made by the board of directors. Small, closely held corporations can operate more informally, but record-keeping cannot be eliminated entirely. Officers of a corporation can be liable to stockholders for improper actions. Liability is generally limited to stock ownership, except where fraud is involved. You may want to incorporate as a "C" or "S" corporation.
What About Taxes?
It is very important to understand the tax laws that apply to the type of business you have chosen.
There are four basic taxes that you should be aware of:
1. Income Tax
2. Self-Employment Tax
3. Employment Taxes
4. Excise Tax
Income Tax
You have to file an Income Tax return if your earnings were more than $400 for the tax year. Even if your earnings were less than $400 from your business, you may still have to file a 1040 if you meet any of the criteria listing in the 1040 instruction booklet.
If you expect to owe more than $1,000 in Income Tax, you may have to pay Estimated Taxes.
There are four ways to pay estimated taxes:
1. By crediting an overpayment on your 2005 return to your 2006 estimated tax.
2. By sending in your payment with a payment-voucher from Form 1040-ES.
3. By paying electronically using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System(EFTPS). For FTPS information, call 1-800-945-8400 or 1-800-555-4477.
4. By credit card, using a pay-by-phone system.
For more information on Estimated Taxes, see the IRS website
Self-Employment Tax
Self-Employment Tax must also be paid if your net business earnings were more than $400. SE Tax is a Social Security and Medicare tax that provides retirement benefits, disability benefits, survivor benefits, and hospital insurance benefits to you under the Social Security system.
You can deduct 1/2 of your SE tax from your net earnings on your 1040.
For more information on SE taxes:IRS website
Employment Tax
If you employ others in your business, you will need to report Employment Taxes. For specifics and tips on Employment taxes:IRS website
Whether or not you need an EIN (Employment Identification Number) depends on your business structure.
You only need an EIN if you:
Pay wages to one or more employees
Have a KEOGH plan
Operate as a corporation or partnership
File any of these tax returns:
Employment
Excise
Alcohol, Tobacco or Firearms
To obtain an EIN, you must fill out an SS-4 which is available through the IRS.
Excise Tax
Excise Taxes apply to certain types of businesses and certain business activities. Some examples are:
Tractor or heavy machinery sales
Tobacco, alcohol or firearms manufacturing or sales
Business activities or products that have environmental impact
For a list of businesses that apply, see the IRS website:IRS website
A free Small Business Tax Kit is available from the IRS. Their Small Business Corner offers advice, publications and links to useful information. They also offer a Tax Calendar which tells you when to file returns and make tax payments.
You should also be aware that the laws vary by state and by industry, so it is highly recommended that you consult a tax advisor in your area. You can get information on local zoning regulations from your city hall, county court, or state department of taxation and finance.
For More Information...
The Small Business Administration is an excellent source of information and a great place to start. You can get a free Startup Kit, download a Business Plan Tutorial and find many free publications.
Which one will apply to your situation will depend on how well you plan, how much you educate yourself, and how disciplined you are in following through.
Many people start out with a great idea, but don't know how to translate that idea into a business.
Where Do I Start?
Your first step should be your business plan. Many would-be entrepreneurs will skip this step, choosing the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants method instead, but starting a business without a business plan is like embarking on a long journey to an unfamiliar place without a map.
A business plan serves to define your goals, map out your plan of how to achieve them, and will provide you with a sense of purpose and accomplishment along the way.
Your business plan should include the following elements: 1) the description of the business2) the marketing plan3) the financial management plan 4) the management plan.
The Small Business Administration offers an online tutorial on how to write a business plan.
One of the first decisions you will have to make is what form your business should take. The most common forms are:
Sole Proprietorships
Partnerships
Corporations
Which form you choose will depend on many factors, including:
Legal restrictions
Liabilities assumed
Type of business operation
Earnings distribution
Capital needs
Number of employees
Tax advantages or disadvantages
Length of business operation
Some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type is outlined below:
Sole Proprietorship
This is the easiest and least costly way of starting a business. A sole proprietorship can be formed by finding a location and opening the door for business. There are likely to be fees to obtain a business name registration, a fictitious name certificate and other necessary licenses depending on the nature of the business. Operating a Sole Proprietorship is easiest as the owner has absolute authority over all business decisions.
Partnership
There are several types of partnerships. The two most common types are general and limited partnerships. A general partnership can be formed simply by an oral agreement between two or more persons, but a legal partnership agreement drawn up by an attorney is highly recommended. Legal fees for drawing up a partnership agreement are higher than those for a sole proprietorship, but may be lower than incorporating. A partnership agreement could be helpful in solving any disputes. However, partners are responsible for the other partner's business actions, as well as their own.
Corporation
A business may incorporate without an attorney, but legal advice is highly recommended. The corporate structure is usually the most complex and more costly to organize than the other two business formations. Control depends on stock ownership. Persons with the largest stock ownership, not the total number of shareholders, control the corporation. With control of stock shares or 51 percent of stock, a person or group is able to make policy decisions. Control is exercised through regular board of directors' meetings and annual stockholders' meetings. Records must be kept to document decisions made by the board of directors. Small, closely held corporations can operate more informally, but record-keeping cannot be eliminated entirely. Officers of a corporation can be liable to stockholders for improper actions. Liability is generally limited to stock ownership, except where fraud is involved. You may want to incorporate as a "C" or "S" corporation.
What About Taxes?
It is very important to understand the tax laws that apply to the type of business you have chosen.
There are four basic taxes that you should be aware of:
1. Income Tax
2. Self-Employment Tax
3. Employment Taxes
4. Excise Tax
Income Tax
You have to file an Income Tax return if your earnings were more than $400 for the tax year. Even if your earnings were less than $400 from your business, you may still have to file a 1040 if you meet any of the criteria listing in the 1040 instruction booklet.
If you expect to owe more than $1,000 in Income Tax, you may have to pay Estimated Taxes.
There are four ways to pay estimated taxes:
1. By crediting an overpayment on your 2005 return to your 2006 estimated tax.
2. By sending in your payment with a payment-voucher from Form 1040-ES.
3. By paying electronically using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System(EFTPS). For FTPS information, call 1-800-945-8400 or 1-800-555-4477.
4. By credit card, using a pay-by-phone system.
For more information on Estimated Taxes, see the IRS website
Self-Employment Tax
Self-Employment Tax must also be paid if your net business earnings were more than $400. SE Tax is a Social Security and Medicare tax that provides retirement benefits, disability benefits, survivor benefits, and hospital insurance benefits to you under the Social Security system.
You can deduct 1/2 of your SE tax from your net earnings on your 1040.
For more information on SE taxes:IRS website
Employment Tax
If you employ others in your business, you will need to report Employment Taxes. For specifics and tips on Employment taxes:IRS website
Whether or not you need an EIN (Employment Identification Number) depends on your business structure.
You only need an EIN if you:
Pay wages to one or more employees
Have a KEOGH plan
Operate as a corporation or partnership
File any of these tax returns:
Employment
Excise
Alcohol, Tobacco or Firearms
To obtain an EIN, you must fill out an SS-4 which is available through the IRS.
Excise Tax
Excise Taxes apply to certain types of businesses and certain business activities. Some examples are:
Tractor or heavy machinery sales
Tobacco, alcohol or firearms manufacturing or sales
Business activities or products that have environmental impact
For a list of businesses that apply, see the IRS website:IRS website
A free Small Business Tax Kit is available from the IRS. Their Small Business Corner offers advice, publications and links to useful information. They also offer a Tax Calendar which tells you when to file returns and make tax payments.
You should also be aware that the laws vary by state and by industry, so it is highly recommended that you consult a tax advisor in your area. You can get information on local zoning regulations from your city hall, county court, or state department of taxation and finance.
For More Information...
The Small Business Administration is an excellent source of information and a great place to start. You can get a free Startup Kit, download a Business Plan Tutorial and find many free publications.
Who, Why, When and Where To Start A Home Based Business
Everyone loves a Home Based Business Opportunity.
Let's start from the beginning and explore as to Who ,Why, When and Where you could start this Business Opportunity using the Internet.
Who?
Anyone with a desire or urge to start a Home Based Business can venture into this field. All you need is a computer and who has not got one or access to one these days? An elementary knowledge of the working of a computer and the Internet is sufficient to get started. Many things can be picked up as you progress. This is what most of the people do.
Entrepreneurs living in any part of the world can participate in thousands of Affiliate programs that are either Regional or Global in nature.
There are many programs that are Free to join! In fact there are several Affiliate programs that provide Entrepreneurs with Free Websites and Tools too. You could have your own personal website if you are prepared to spend a few dollars.
Why?
Some of the reasons for starting a Home Based Business are:
a) A desire to earn an Additional income to supplement the monthly income.
b) A desire to run your own home business and not depend on your Boss's pay packet
c) Dissatisfaction with your present Boss or your employment.
d) Being out of work or laid off.
e) Circumstances forcing you to be with the family or ageing parents.
f) A Childhood ambition to have your own business.
When?
You can start a Home Based Business at any age, it can be at twenty, fifty or even at seventy. What matters most is that you have to be sufficiently motivated and have the urge and desire to do it.
Allocating two hours a day for your cherished dream should not be difficult to start with. In fact about twenty hours a week would be useful and advantageous. I am aware of people who have retired from active work but are keeping themselves gainfully occupied by doing an Internet Home Based Business.
To be successful in life you should have a Plan, more so for your Internet Business Opportunity. Draw up a short term and a long term plan for what you intend to achieve. Initially draw up a Plan for the first three months to start with and try to stick with it, come what may.
While you are at the computer, Pop ups and other advertisements can and will divert your attention from your objective. Do not run after a large number of opportunities and waste your valuable time.
Top Marketers are brilliant people who spend much time and money in researching how to divert your attention and I can tell you, they are not going to fail! I should know! I have been in the marketing business for several years though not in the internet field . Hence you should remain completely focused on your work.
Where?
Unlike in a brick and mortar business, to operate a Business from home, the Home Based Business Entrepreneur needs no separate building. Your physical place of business will be your very home and no high start up fees is necessary. The computer can be set up wherever you like so that it is convenient to work with and free from noises and distraction. Your success will to some extent depend on the support you receive from the members of your family. The spouse can be of great assistance by reading and researching resources and articles and doing a lot of other preliminary work, which can substantially reduce the number of hours you have to spend on the computer. In other words your spouse can be your partner in your Home Based Business.
The greatest benefit of a Internet Business Opportunity is that it works twenty-four hours(24/7) a day and is Portable. Wherever you travel, within the country or to any part of the world your Business travels with you. You have to carry your lap top along, that's it. Otherwise find access to a computer. It is as simple as that.
Why wait? Start working on your Home Based Business seriously and reap the benefits the Internet Revolution has showered on you, the Internet Entrepreneur.
Let's start from the beginning and explore as to Who ,Why, When and Where you could start this Business Opportunity using the Internet.
Who?
Anyone with a desire or urge to start a Home Based Business can venture into this field. All you need is a computer and who has not got one or access to one these days? An elementary knowledge of the working of a computer and the Internet is sufficient to get started. Many things can be picked up as you progress. This is what most of the people do.
Entrepreneurs living in any part of the world can participate in thousands of Affiliate programs that are either Regional or Global in nature.
There are many programs that are Free to join! In fact there are several Affiliate programs that provide Entrepreneurs with Free Websites and Tools too. You could have your own personal website if you are prepared to spend a few dollars.
Why?
Some of the reasons for starting a Home Based Business are:
a) A desire to earn an Additional income to supplement the monthly income.
b) A desire to run your own home business and not depend on your Boss's pay packet
c) Dissatisfaction with your present Boss or your employment.
d) Being out of work or laid off.
e) Circumstances forcing you to be with the family or ageing parents.
f) A Childhood ambition to have your own business.
When?
You can start a Home Based Business at any age, it can be at twenty, fifty or even at seventy. What matters most is that you have to be sufficiently motivated and have the urge and desire to do it.
Allocating two hours a day for your cherished dream should not be difficult to start with. In fact about twenty hours a week would be useful and advantageous. I am aware of people who have retired from active work but are keeping themselves gainfully occupied by doing an Internet Home Based Business.
To be successful in life you should have a Plan, more so for your Internet Business Opportunity. Draw up a short term and a long term plan for what you intend to achieve. Initially draw up a Plan for the first three months to start with and try to stick with it, come what may.
While you are at the computer, Pop ups and other advertisements can and will divert your attention from your objective. Do not run after a large number of opportunities and waste your valuable time.
Top Marketers are brilliant people who spend much time and money in researching how to divert your attention and I can tell you, they are not going to fail! I should know! I have been in the marketing business for several years though not in the internet field . Hence you should remain completely focused on your work.
Where?
Unlike in a brick and mortar business, to operate a Business from home, the Home Based Business Entrepreneur needs no separate building. Your physical place of business will be your very home and no high start up fees is necessary. The computer can be set up wherever you like so that it is convenient to work with and free from noises and distraction. Your success will to some extent depend on the support you receive from the members of your family. The spouse can be of great assistance by reading and researching resources and articles and doing a lot of other preliminary work, which can substantially reduce the number of hours you have to spend on the computer. In other words your spouse can be your partner in your Home Based Business.
The greatest benefit of a Internet Business Opportunity is that it works twenty-four hours(24/7) a day and is Portable. Wherever you travel, within the country or to any part of the world your Business travels with you. You have to carry your lap top along, that's it. Otherwise find access to a computer. It is as simple as that.
Why wait? Start working on your Home Based Business seriously and reap the benefits the Internet Revolution has showered on you, the Internet Entrepreneur.
What To Look For In A Home Based Business!
Everybody claims they have the best home based business - so who do you believe.
Well here are 10 tips to help guide you.
1. Look for a home based business in the hot areas - like nutrition where there is the huge base of baby boomer customers with income to spend on your product. Don't be fooled by some startup company with some new idea and you think you're going to get in on a groundfloor opportunity. It ain't an opportunity if no one wants the product. Analyze what the market is.
2. Check this out - the home based business you're looking at may be in a hot area like nutrition but they may be in a stagnant sub-area of nutrition. You want to look for the sub-areas of the home based business that are the fastest growing. Most likely due to the ease of just drinking your nutrition - fast and easy.
3. Is it a startup or an established home based business company? The problem with startups is they way too often don't live up to their obligations, go out of business, or both. Often with an established company you may have missed the best timing to get in with them. The opportunity is over so to speak. What to look for is an established reputable company poised for explosive growth.
4. Look for the credibility behind the home based business company - lack of established credibility often dooms the company to go under and you're left holding the bag and also your reputation suffers.
5. Discover a hot product before the masses do - This one is big - this ingredient is what often establishes the big money earners and allows people who have never made money before to make some nice incomes. Find a hot product destined to be a mega-seller before virtually anyone has heard of it. Get in early and ride it for all it's worth.
This one factor alone is how most heavy hitters became to be heavy hitters in this industry. It's not that they are much better networkers than others, you could essentially say they were in the right place at the right time and took massive action. However, it's a little more than that - their persistence and determination in the industry has allowed them to make some nice contacts so that when the right opportunity comes along they can pull key players on board and go from there.
6. This can be almost as important as a hot product - The Marketing or Compensation Plan. Things to look for - does the plan provide extra rewards for the upline helping those underneath them? Like with matching enroller bonuses where the upline can enroll people under individuals in their organization and earn a percentage of that persons check in bonuses. This is much better than a forced binary plan, because in a forced binary plan, people that don't want to work get in the way and drag down others.
A bonus system like this will allow you to help the people who want a successful home based business and bypass those who are lazy and not interested.
More things to look for in the compensation plan. Does the plan pay a number of levels deep or does it stop after a few levels and the levels below this are infinity levels based upon sales volume? Also how many legs are required to maximize the pay plan? Does the plan require you to have numerous legs to earn the maximum bonuses? The point is this, a plan that only pays a few levels before infinity bonuses and/or requires numerous legs really limits the amount of upline help you will receive - in other words you're virtually on your own.
7. Get with the right distributors at the right time. Don't just sign up with some big name distributor because of their name - they could be semi-retired or too busy to give you the attention you need. The best scenario for you is to find some experienced heavy hitters who because of a hot product have just recently started marketing that product and are rapidly building their organization. This essentially allows you to not only get in on the ground floor with a hot product but also with very experienced people looking to build huge organizations. This is a case of being at the right place at the right time. All that is required of the individual is to take a lot of action.
8. Does the company have an emotional product? - the point here is people talk about two things to others - things that interest them and things that leave an emotional impression on them. Certain types of products like nutritional products can much easier cause an emotional reaction in people than other products. If someone feels much better health wise from taking a nutritional product they are much more likely to tell others than they would about some insurance or laundry product for example. And face it, you want people talking about your product - word of mouth advertising is the most effective form.
9. Does the home based business company have exclusive products you can't get elsewhere and/or expert marketing to justify their winning products as superior products and actually a better value than similar products?
10. Reusable products - It kind of goes without saying but any product or service, which someone uses and reuses on a monthly basis is best because you continue to earn on that person month after month.
Bonus Tips: To monitor the strength of a business opportunity here are a couple things to look for:
Are there plenty of excited people on the conference calls along with numerous calls - absence of these items can indicate a ''dead'' business opportunity.
Also find out what's been going on in the last 6 months - 2 years - are a number of people advancing up through the ranks - if not once again you could be looking at a ''dead'' business opportunity.
Well here are 10 tips to help guide you.
1. Look for a home based business in the hot areas - like nutrition where there is the huge base of baby boomer customers with income to spend on your product. Don't be fooled by some startup company with some new idea and you think you're going to get in on a groundfloor opportunity. It ain't an opportunity if no one wants the product. Analyze what the market is.
2. Check this out - the home based business you're looking at may be in a hot area like nutrition but they may be in a stagnant sub-area of nutrition. You want to look for the sub-areas of the home based business that are the fastest growing. Most likely due to the ease of just drinking your nutrition - fast and easy.
3. Is it a startup or an established home based business company? The problem with startups is they way too often don't live up to their obligations, go out of business, or both. Often with an established company you may have missed the best timing to get in with them. The opportunity is over so to speak. What to look for is an established reputable company poised for explosive growth.
4. Look for the credibility behind the home based business company - lack of established credibility often dooms the company to go under and you're left holding the bag and also your reputation suffers.
5. Discover a hot product before the masses do - This one is big - this ingredient is what often establishes the big money earners and allows people who have never made money before to make some nice incomes. Find a hot product destined to be a mega-seller before virtually anyone has heard of it. Get in early and ride it for all it's worth.
This one factor alone is how most heavy hitters became to be heavy hitters in this industry. It's not that they are much better networkers than others, you could essentially say they were in the right place at the right time and took massive action. However, it's a little more than that - their persistence and determination in the industry has allowed them to make some nice contacts so that when the right opportunity comes along they can pull key players on board and go from there.
6. This can be almost as important as a hot product - The Marketing or Compensation Plan. Things to look for - does the plan provide extra rewards for the upline helping those underneath them? Like with matching enroller bonuses where the upline can enroll people under individuals in their organization and earn a percentage of that persons check in bonuses. This is much better than a forced binary plan, because in a forced binary plan, people that don't want to work get in the way and drag down others.
A bonus system like this will allow you to help the people who want a successful home based business and bypass those who are lazy and not interested.
More things to look for in the compensation plan. Does the plan pay a number of levels deep or does it stop after a few levels and the levels below this are infinity levels based upon sales volume? Also how many legs are required to maximize the pay plan? Does the plan require you to have numerous legs to earn the maximum bonuses? The point is this, a plan that only pays a few levels before infinity bonuses and/or requires numerous legs really limits the amount of upline help you will receive - in other words you're virtually on your own.
7. Get with the right distributors at the right time. Don't just sign up with some big name distributor because of their name - they could be semi-retired or too busy to give you the attention you need. The best scenario for you is to find some experienced heavy hitters who because of a hot product have just recently started marketing that product and are rapidly building their organization. This essentially allows you to not only get in on the ground floor with a hot product but also with very experienced people looking to build huge organizations. This is a case of being at the right place at the right time. All that is required of the individual is to take a lot of action.
8. Does the company have an emotional product? - the point here is people talk about two things to others - things that interest them and things that leave an emotional impression on them. Certain types of products like nutritional products can much easier cause an emotional reaction in people than other products. If someone feels much better health wise from taking a nutritional product they are much more likely to tell others than they would about some insurance or laundry product for example. And face it, you want people talking about your product - word of mouth advertising is the most effective form.
9. Does the home based business company have exclusive products you can't get elsewhere and/or expert marketing to justify their winning products as superior products and actually a better value than similar products?
10. Reusable products - It kind of goes without saying but any product or service, which someone uses and reuses on a monthly basis is best because you continue to earn on that person month after month.
Bonus Tips: To monitor the strength of a business opportunity here are a couple things to look for:
Are there plenty of excited people on the conference calls along with numerous calls - absence of these items can indicate a ''dead'' business opportunity.
Also find out what's been going on in the last 6 months - 2 years - are a number of people advancing up through the ranks - if not once again you could be looking at a ''dead'' business opportunity.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Starting A Home Based Business
There are many reasons to starting your own home based business.
You can become independent or just earn some extra income. Your home business will create tax deductions which will reduce your taxable income.
It is fairly easy to get started and there are an endless number of online and offline resources to help you get started.
1. Decide what type of business interests you. This is the most difficult part of the process as you do not want to jump into anything too quickly. Consider your interests and what things you are good at. The Internet has made it possible for just about anyone to start an online retail store and the marketplace is global.
2. Develop a business plan. This does not have to be complicated. Simply write down your plan for making your business work. Determine what you will sell, how you will market your business, who your potential customers will be, etc.
3. Decide on the name of your business. If you are going to name your business something other than your own legal name then you will need to file for a fictitious business name. Contact your State or County recorder’s office for the proper forms.
4. Check with your county and state for local requirements for home based business. If you will be selling merchandise then you will need to contact the department of revenue for your state to obtain a Retail Merchant Certificate or Sales Tax ID number. This will allow you to collect sales tax on merchandise sold.
5. Set up a separate bank account for the business. This will help you keep track of business income and expenses. Do not mix your personal and business finances together.
6. Set aside a place in your home where you will work on your business. If you want to be successful you must treat your business like a business.
7. Work, Work , Work.
Starting a home business can be exciting and it can also be a lot of work.
Don't believe anyone who tells you that it is easy. When you are researching ideas for your home based business you will come across a lot of opportunities for sale. Some of these will contain excellent information while others will be a rip off. Consider these offers carefully and remember, if it sounds too good to be true? It probably is.
Good Luck!
You can become independent or just earn some extra income. Your home business will create tax deductions which will reduce your taxable income.
It is fairly easy to get started and there are an endless number of online and offline resources to help you get started.
1. Decide what type of business interests you. This is the most difficult part of the process as you do not want to jump into anything too quickly. Consider your interests and what things you are good at. The Internet has made it possible for just about anyone to start an online retail store and the marketplace is global.
2. Develop a business plan. This does not have to be complicated. Simply write down your plan for making your business work. Determine what you will sell, how you will market your business, who your potential customers will be, etc.
3. Decide on the name of your business. If you are going to name your business something other than your own legal name then you will need to file for a fictitious business name. Contact your State or County recorder’s office for the proper forms.
4. Check with your county and state for local requirements for home based business. If you will be selling merchandise then you will need to contact the department of revenue for your state to obtain a Retail Merchant Certificate or Sales Tax ID number. This will allow you to collect sales tax on merchandise sold.
5. Set up a separate bank account for the business. This will help you keep track of business income and expenses. Do not mix your personal and business finances together.
6. Set aside a place in your home where you will work on your business. If you want to be successful you must treat your business like a business.
7. Work, Work , Work.
Starting a home business can be exciting and it can also be a lot of work.
Don't believe anyone who tells you that it is easy. When you are researching ideas for your home based business you will come across a lot of opportunities for sale. Some of these will contain excellent information while others will be a rip off. Consider these offers carefully and remember, if it sounds too good to be true? It probably is.
Good Luck!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Time Management Tips
WORK WITH A CLEAN DESK
"Out of sight, out of mind." The reverse of that is true too. When it's in sight, it's in mind and we cannot help but be distracted. Studies have shown that a person working with a messy desk will spend, on average, one and a half hours per day either being distracted by things in their view or looking for things. That's seven and a half hours per week.
Keep the clutter before you at a minimum and you will have a more accurate focus on what you need to do to increase your daily productivity.
SET YOUR TRAINING BUDGET
The rules up until 5 or 10 years ago were that, early on, you learned a skill, profession, or trade and practiced what you learned for the next 40 years, or so. No more. Half of what we know today, we did not know 15 years ago. The amount of information has doubled in the last 15 years and will double again in the next 18 months.
Many have a personal financial budget. Why not a personal Training Budget?
Budget (and spend) 10% of your time per year (about 24 days, 2 per month) for personal development to help you stay "ahead of the curve". Taking just 30 minutes per day for personal development will equal 15 training days over a year.
Effective aids:
"To Do" list - Write down things you have to do, then decide what to do at the moment, what to schedule for later, what to get someone else to do, and what to put off for a later time period.
Daily/weekly planner - Write down appointments, classes, and meetings on a chronological log book or chart. If you are more visual, sketch out your schedule.First thing in the morning, check what's ahead for the day; always go to sleep knowing you're prepared for tomorrow.
Long term planner - Use a monthly chart so that you can plan ahead.Long term planners will also serve as a reminder to constructively plan time for yourself.
Developing time management skills is a journey that needs practice.
One goal is to help yourself become aware of how you use your time.
"Out of sight, out of mind." The reverse of that is true too. When it's in sight, it's in mind and we cannot help but be distracted. Studies have shown that a person working with a messy desk will spend, on average, one and a half hours per day either being distracted by things in their view or looking for things. That's seven and a half hours per week.
Keep the clutter before you at a minimum and you will have a more accurate focus on what you need to do to increase your daily productivity.
SET YOUR TRAINING BUDGET
The rules up until 5 or 10 years ago were that, early on, you learned a skill, profession, or trade and practiced what you learned for the next 40 years, or so. No more. Half of what we know today, we did not know 15 years ago. The amount of information has doubled in the last 15 years and will double again in the next 18 months.
Many have a personal financial budget. Why not a personal Training Budget?
Budget (and spend) 10% of your time per year (about 24 days, 2 per month) for personal development to help you stay "ahead of the curve". Taking just 30 minutes per day for personal development will equal 15 training days over a year.
Effective aids:
"To Do" list - Write down things you have to do, then decide what to do at the moment, what to schedule for later, what to get someone else to do, and what to put off for a later time period.
Daily/weekly planner - Write down appointments, classes, and meetings on a chronological log book or chart. If you are more visual, sketch out your schedule.First thing in the morning, check what's ahead for the day; always go to sleep knowing you're prepared for tomorrow.
Long term planner - Use a monthly chart so that you can plan ahead.Long term planners will also serve as a reminder to constructively plan time for yourself.
Developing time management skills is a journey that needs practice.
One goal is to help yourself become aware of how you use your time.
Five Reasons Why We Procrastinate
Reason 1. You Haven't Really Committed to Doing the Job
You may put off an activity because you aren't really sold on doing it at all. Reasons include:
You don't think it's your job.
You think it's somebody else's job.
The job's a waste of time.
If that's the case, you need to answer two fundamental questions:
What's in it for me if I do it?
What will happen to me if I don't?
The first question may redirect and increase your motivation. You're no longer doing it because someone said you ought to. You're doing it to impress a boss, help a friend, make money, or get to a task you really enjoy.
The second question is the negative of the first. Your motivation may become avoidance of something unpleasant, like a lousy job evaluation, an angry, alienated spouse, or a disappointed child, for example.
If you can find no internal motivation--no benefit for doing the job and no penalty for not doing it, you may well decide not to do it at all.
Even if you can see a benefit to doing the job, you may still decide that the costs in time and energy (and the other things you aren't doing) outweigh the benefits. In that case you can:
1. Do what you have to do to get out of the job. That's not the same thing as simply putting it off. This is a definitive decision not to do it and to accept the consequences, if any. In the long run, that sort of decision costs less, in time and stress, than does the passive resistance of procrastination.
Or
2. Do it anyway--but for your own reasons.
Reason 2. You're Afraid of the Job
This is a hard thing for many of us to admit--to ourselves let alone to someone else. But it may be what's keeping you from doing a job you need and want to accomplish. If you can identify your reluctance as fear and track it to its source, you can deal with the fear and get on with the job. Here are three of the most common varieties of performance anxiety:
· Fear of failure
Consider the student who never studies and flunks out. He can always tell himself, "If I had studied, I would have passed the stupid course." But what if he had studied--and still failed?
For most of us, "won't" is a lot easier to deal with than "can't." If you don't try it, you don't have to confront the possibility that you can't do it.
· Fear of success
On the other hand, if you do pass the course, folks will expect you to do it again, or to go out and get a job, or to apply what you've learned. If you never try, you'll never have to face the consequences of success, either.
· Fear of finishing
"If I pass the course, I'll graduate. If I graduate, I'll . . ." You'll what?
If you don't pass the course, you'll never have to find out what happens next.
If you never write the novel, you'll never have to know whether a publisher would have accepted it.
If you don't finish basic training, you'll never have to know whether you could have really hacked it in the military.
Sometimes the not knowing seems more acceptable than the possible consequences of finding out for sure. But how sad to let such fears prevent you from ever trying.
Identify the fear. Give it a name and confront it. Imagine the consequences of your actions or non-actions as objectively as you can.
The fear won't go away. But if the goal is worth pursuing, you'll be able to act despite the fear.
Reason 3. You Don't Place a High Enough Priority on the Activity
You're sold on the idea that somebody ought to do the task. You'll even agree, if pressed, that you're the person to do it. You may even want to do it. You just don't want or need to do it enough, and you always want or need to do something else more.
Thus, the poor task--cleaning the leaves out of the rain gutters in autumn, for example--keeps getting bumped down the list, below other, more pressing jobs. You've got to go grocery shopping first, because you won't have anything to eat if you don't. You've got to mow the lawn first, because it will look awful if you don't. (And nobody can see the leaves in the rain gutters, after all.)
This sort of procrastination problem may eventually work itself out. As the other tasks get done, those leafy gutters work their way up the list. Or the problem may take on a higher priority after the first hard rain of the season.
Establishing priorities is subjective, especially when dealing with activities that are neither urgent nor particularly important relative to other activities. Take a look at the job that just isn't getting done and see if you can redefine it in terms of the ultimate benefit you'll receive for doing it.
Reason 4. You Don't Know Enough to Do the Task
You may simply not know enough to do the job right. You haven't consciously recognized or admitted this to yourself, but you know it deep down.
Gather the information you need. If all else fails, read the directions (a desperate last resort for many of us). Then plunge into the task.
Learn to discern between the legitimate need to gather information and a stalling mechanism whereby reading the book or going to talk to the guy at the hardware store is simply a way to put off confronting the job. If your problem is "lack of want to" rather than lack of information, you'll need a different strategy, namely, what to do when…
Reason 5. You Just Plain Don't Wanna!
You've got two choices, and you don't need a book on time management to tell you what they are: Gut it out, or Farm it out.
Identify the reason for the procrastination. Confront your attitudes and fears. Weigh the consequences.
Then deal with it!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Tips To Organize Your Home Office
Whether you work at a corner of the dining room table, in the spare bedroom or in your own private office, staying organized can pose one of your biggest challenges as an entrepreneur. Many of us let filing and organizing go during busy times and think we'll deal with everything when we "have time." But beware of the clutter trap; it can truly take on a life of its own. A messy desk and chaotic filing system siphons off your time, energy, focus and productivity. Here are some tips for getting organized and staying that way in your home office.
Paper is the problem for most people these days. If you're starting out with a huge pile of paper and other stuff on and around your desk, devote a small amount of time -- half an hour -- daily going through the stuff. This makes a big job more manageable. As you go through your stacks of paper, ask yourself: Do I need this? Why?
Items you use daily belong on your desk. Your computer, pens, calendar, message pad and anything else that's part of your daily routine can stay. Other items such as Scotch tape, stapler, calculator, writing paper and so on should be stored in your desk drawer -- handy to get at, but not in the way when you don't need them. Fax and computer paper, extra pens, file folders and the like can be put in a cabinet across the room.
Open your mail over the recycling bin and have your filing system nearby.
Don't keep household paperwork such as bills, catalogs, vacation brochures and other personal items where they can distract you. Blending business and personal work at your desk is usually distracting.
Spend the last 10 to 15 minutes of each day getting your desk in order and ready for the start of a new day. There is nothing more discouraging than walking in first thing in the morning to a cluttered desk!
Organized people save time and money, make more money, and have lower stress and frustration levels.
Once you've worked your way through these tips, you will have a workspace that makes you look forward to getting down to business every day.
Paper is the problem for most people these days. If you're starting out with a huge pile of paper and other stuff on and around your desk, devote a small amount of time -- half an hour -- daily going through the stuff. This makes a big job more manageable. As you go through your stacks of paper, ask yourself: Do I need this? Why?
Items you use daily belong on your desk. Your computer, pens, calendar, message pad and anything else that's part of your daily routine can stay. Other items such as Scotch tape, stapler, calculator, writing paper and so on should be stored in your desk drawer -- handy to get at, but not in the way when you don't need them. Fax and computer paper, extra pens, file folders and the like can be put in a cabinet across the room.
Open your mail over the recycling bin and have your filing system nearby.
Don't keep household paperwork such as bills, catalogs, vacation brochures and other personal items where they can distract you. Blending business and personal work at your desk is usually distracting.
Spend the last 10 to 15 minutes of each day getting your desk in order and ready for the start of a new day. There is nothing more discouraging than walking in first thing in the morning to a cluttered desk!
Organized people save time and money, make more money, and have lower stress and frustration levels.
Once you've worked your way through these tips, you will have a workspace that makes you look forward to getting down to business every day.
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