Turning Dreams Into Gold

Home Business - Save on Your Monthly Costs

2008-11-23T15:37:00.001-07:00

With the price of everything including energy going through the roof, no pun intended, now is a good time to take a look at some of your home business monthly costs and see where you might be able to save some of your money.

First look at the type of heat your are using for your home office. You might be able to save some on your heating bill by switching from a conventional system, a furnace, to an alternative method, a wood burning stove. If you use oil or propane for your primary heat source, shop around and compare prices between the different suppliers. Explain that you work from home and ask about a business discount or rate. Make sure the business rate they offer is lower than the residential rate.

You could possibly receive tax credits by installing solar water heaters, putting in a geothermal heating system, installing central fan systems and adding insulation to reduce heat loss. To save on your lighting, switch your incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent and halogen bulbs. They use less energy which in turn will save you money on your monthly costs for your home business. We will also want to check and make sure your office equipment displays the Energy Star logo. This type of equipment can cut your electric usage by as much as 50 percent.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is becoming extremely popular. Services like Skype, iConnectHere, Net2Phone and DialPad are alternatives that could save you money in your home business. Also check around and make sure you are getting the best deal with your cell phone provider. Providers are always competing with each other by offering lower prices. Check and see if you can save on your monthly cost by bundling your services such as phone and Internet.

Home Based Internet Business

2008-08-23T20:07:00.001-07:00

Your perception of home based business and its money making potential is very important. Starting a home based Internet business is just a matter of sitting down and beginning to do a little research about the kind of business you want to get into or the business that is right for you. You can start a home based business at any age; it can be at twenty, fifty or even at seventy. In other words if you really desire to take your destiny in your own hands, begin today. Anyone with a desire or urge to start a home based business can venture into this field. People who lack conviction, courage or both will not find any wealth or success in the home based business or for that matter anything.

Marketing on the Internet is not really a choice anymore, it is a must. Internet marketing is growing daily. Emarketing is viable in building a home internet business. Online selling is by no means a simple task. Advertising is critical in building a home internet business.

Becoming an affiliate is another great way to begin making money at your home based Internet business. You sign up with a company that has already developed a product that you are interested in marketing and the company pays you a percentage of the sales that you make. This is an excellent way to get started in business without having to spend the time or money developing your own products. Allocating two hours a day to affiliate marketing should not be difficult to start with.

Once you've decided on the product you want to promote, then you will need a website. You can take hours and hours of classes learning all the programming code that goes into making a website or you can get software that is basically drag and drop with ready made templates and have a professional looking website developed in just minutes. If you have a computer and internet access, everything is right there, just ready for the asking.

And if you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, but don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals. Many people make millions of dollars with home based businesses. What matters most is that you have to be sufficiently motivated and have the urge and desire to do it.

Are You Ready to Work From Home?

2008-06-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

I think at one time or the other everybody has dreamt of working at home. Just imagine, you can wake up when you want to in the morning, you don't have to take a shower and get dressed for work if you don't want to, and your schedule is completely up to you. While it is certainly true that you don't have to get up and get dressed for work, there are many other things that come into play when working a home based business.

If you are thinking about working from home, you are going to have to be honest with yourself. Are you a strong motivated person who loves to work hard for yourself? Are you focused? The reason you must be highly motivated and self-disciplined is because with a home business, you are your own boss. There is no one to tell you that you missed a deadline or were late for work. You are the only one responsible for the work and if you are not motivated, you won't be a very good boss for yourself.

The next thing you'll need to decide is what type of person are you. Do you work best in the morning, evening or in the middle of the night. Everybody has a peak time of the day that they are the most productive. If you are motivated and will stick to a working schedule that works the best for you, you will find much success in a home based business.

You must set some rules while working at home, you must set some rules. Without rules to follow, you will most likely not be very productive. Start out with a schedule that you can stick easily to. Go through your whole day and be sure to schedule in breaks for meals and other things that are involved in your day.

You also need to designate a space in your home only for work. This is a good idea, as you can easily find yourself distracted from the television, radio, kitchen, etc. Your office is your place to work. You want as little distractions as possible. Try to find a room that has a door so you can close it and get to work.

Working at home has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are self-motivated and have a strong desire to succeed, you will never regret the decision to get out of the work force.

Home Based Business - Start Today

2008-06-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

When you are first starting a home based business, draw up a short term and a long term plan for what you intend to achieve. Allocating a minimum of two hours a day for your business dream should not be difficult to start with. Just remember that you are not alone, there are tons of resources online to help you.

Thousands of people just like you want to start a home based business. With the internet expanding at such a fast pace, the potential for starting a home based business is much more than ever before.

While promoting your business you have to make sure to stay clear of any kind of illegal methods like spamming. You can place ads, join forums and ezine lists to promote your business. You want people talking about your product - word of mouth advertising is the most effective form.

To sell products online not only requires making use of high end marketing strategies but also involves lots of planning. Advertising is a critical in building a home based internet business. After you've placed your ads you'll want to track them. Find out where and when your ads were displayed and how many people looked at them.

Before you start a home based business, do your homework. find something that you feel passionate about. If you follow your passion and truly enjoy want you are doing, then you won't mind the extra hours it will take to get your business up and running. It's important to never ever give up on your dream, if you fall down, pick yourself up and start over, persistence and determination will pay off.

The First Steps In Your Home Based Business

2008-05-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

Usually the hardest part of starting a new home based business is taking that big first step and getting started. It is difficult for most of us to get out of the comfort zone we have built for ourselves. Maybe you're not sure if you have want it takes to start a business or you don't know where to go to get useful information and advice. Following describes some of the steps you will need to get started.

First, you need to establish and write down the first 3 goals you want to accomplish.

One goal might be to identify a niche. Pick a product or service that you are really interested in and research to see if there is a lack of this product or service in the market place. Use the major search engines and search on key words related to your idea. Visit bulletin boards and discussion groups to see if there is an interest in your idea. You want to make sure there is a market for your product or service before you spend your time developing your business.

Once you've decided on your product or service niche then you'll want to develop a web site. When you are choosing a hosting company for your website make sure they provide the basics of a good hosting company which are reasonable rates, 24x7 support, guaranteed up times, good web building tools and email accounts. Some hosting companies will also provide services such as newsletter creators, auto responders, and web statistics. You will want to have your own domain name that you own and control.

Depending on the hosting company you have selected, publishing or uploading your web site to the Internet can be extremely easy.Publish the Site. Most hosting companies will provide basic training for publishing your site to the Internet but you will want to ask what type of technical support they are willing to provide prior to signing up with their company.

You won't learn everything you need to know at the beginning. The important thing to remember is identify your goals to get your home based business started, assign steps to accomplish each goal and get going.

Start Your Home Business Part-Time

2008-05-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

If you are currently working a full-time job, stay there and start working your home based business on a part-time basis. That way you will not be creating more stress when you can ease your way into the business. Many things, such as learning how to post to the web or building websites, can be picked up as you progress. You should concentrate on your home based business and its money making potential.

A home based business career can offer endless possibilities in an area that interests you. Do you dream about owning your own business and working at home? Turn your dream into a reality.

While promoting your business online, stay clear of any kind of illegal methods like spamming, cloaking etc. Placing ads for your business will be one of your first goals. After you find out how your first ads did, such as driving traffic to your website or how many clicks converted to sales, branch out to other kinds of advertising both online and offline.

Marketing on the Internet is not really a choice Studies have shown that emarketing response rates are higher than direct mail's--5% to 35% compared to 1% to 3%. Tracking where and when your ads were shown, and how other people looked at them is a must. This will give you a baseline for additional advertising or tweeking your current ads.

Persistence is the key. Ask yourself, "What could I do that would afford me the freedom that I wanted?" People who lack conviction, courage or both will not find any wealth or path in the home based business or any other business opportunity. And if you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, but don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals.

Home Based Business Start Up

2008-05-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

You have to find the right home based business opportunity for yourself. Discover a hot product before the masses do; this ingredient is what often establishes the big money earners and allows people who have never made money before to make some nice incomes. 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. If you are going to be selling your product on the Internet, don’t worry about knowing everything when you are first starting out, many things can be picked up as you progress.

It takes a lot of time to successfully market and promote a new product. Initially draw up a plan for the first three months to start with and try to stick with it now matter what. Studies have shown that emarketing response rates are higher than direct mail's--5% to 35% compared to 1% to 3%. Marketing on the Internet is not really a choice, it is an absolute must. With careful research, you can use advertising to your advantage in your home based Internet business. Emarketing is viable in building a home based Internet business. Research has indicated that a customer may have to view an ad five or six times before making a response.
Unlike in a brick and mortar business, to operate a business from home, the home based business entrepreneur needs no separate building. All you need is a computer and who doesn’t have one or access to one these days. An elementary knowledge of the working of a computer and the Internet is sufficient to get started.

Starting Your Home Based Business

2008-05-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone in their life has had a dream of working from home, being their own boss, and not having to work for someone else. If you are starting a home based business, your 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. Start and work your business at your own pace but be serious and dedicated about it, don't treat your business like a hobby.

The honest truth is that most home based businesses take 1 to 3 years of hard work before you may even see any type of return. A home based business is an excellent way to gain independence and financial freedom.

Advertising is a critical factor in building a home based internet business. Understanding your customer behavior can help you retain customers and attract new customers. Advertising can inform customers of the benefits of your product, give you an identity and reputation, and lure new customers and replace lost ones.

It takes a lot of time to successfully market and promote a new business. Use Internet marketing because it is growing daily.

When starting your home based business it is important to never ever give up, if you fall down, pick yourself up and start over, persistence and determination will pay off. And if you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, and don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals.

Initially draw up a plan for the first three months to start with and try to stick with it, come what may. The internet has opened many doors for more and more people to make an excellent income from home.

Home Based Business - First Steps

2008-04-28T19:59:00.000-07:00

The hardest part of starting a new home based business, is getting out of your comfort zone and getting started. Don't give up even if you think you can't supply someone with useful advice. Everybody has information that will help someone else. I think that if we all couldn't wait to get up in the morning because we loved what we did, the world would be a much happier place for everyone.

Just take that first step and you will be on your way to building a home based home business. Following are steps you might want to take in getting your home based business started.

Define and write down the goals you want to achieve with your business. Your business will require some thought, research, time and patience.

Next, you'll want to pick out a niche:
Decide on something that you are truly passionate about. Analyze the marketplace to see if there is an interest for the particular idea that you have chosen. You can use the major search engines and search on keywords related to your idea. Use a keyword selector tool to develop how much traffic your specific keywords are generating. Check bulletin boards, discussion groups and social networking sites to see if there is an interest in your product. You want to make sure there is a need for your niche before you put a lot of time or money into the idea.

Once you've decided on your idea you'll need a web site. You'll want to design a simple website around your niche. There are many web hosting services on the internet. Make sure the one you pick meets the basics of a good web host company. The monthly costs should be reasonable, 24x7 support, guaranteed up times, web building tools that are easy to use. Some other things you might want to consider when choosing a web hosting company; depending on your type of home based business, is email accounts, newsletter creator, auto responders, home statistics, a domain name that you own. If you write down your requirements first it will speed up your analyze time in finding the right host for your business.

After you develop the contents of your website, you'll need to publish it to the Internet. Most hosting companies have step-by-step instructions on how to publish your website to the Internet.

The benefits of owning a home based business are that you can set your own hours and in most cases you won't even have to carry the products you sell. Today thousands of people just like you want to start a home based internet business.

Congratulations, you've taken the first steps.

Internet Home Based Business

2008-04-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

A home based business can offer endless possibilities in an area that interests you. Your success will to some extent depend on the support you receive from the members of your family. In other words if your spouse is supportive of your business idea they can be your partner in your home based business. Countless people have started a home based business with limited resources and now earn unlimited wealth.

Look for a home based business in the current hot areas - like nutrition or fitness where there is the huge base of baby boomer customers with income to spend on your product. Almost everyone in their life has had a dream of working from home, being your own boss, not having to work for someone else. If you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, and don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals.

The first most absolute aspect of online selling is to have a professional looking website that is designed to sell. Your promotion activities should create a positive awareness about your online website that leads to trust building. Research has indicated that a customer may have to view an ad five or six times before making a response.

To sell products online not only requires making use of high end marketing strategies but also involves lots of planning. Providing an online live chat on your website would be a great way to deal with your customer queries. In building a home based internet business, your advertising strategies need to be planned every week.

Most people are very skeptical about starting an Internet based home business. With the internet expanding at such a fast pace, the potential for starting a home based business is much more than ever before.

The computer can be set up wherever you like so that it is convenient to work with and free from noises and distraction. Unlike in a brick and mortar business, to operate a business from home, the home based business entrepreneur needs no separate building.

Most importantly never ever give up, if you fall down, pick yourself up and start over, persistence and determination will pay off. You have to find the right home based business opportunity for yourself. I remember what it was like when I was still working away from home. I remember all too clearly how much I wanted to quit my job and be at home. It was my mission in life. There were a lot of questions that I had to ask myself and the top question was; could I afford to do this? I think that if we all couldn't wait to get up in the morning because we loved what we did, the world would be a much happier place for everyone.

Advertising Your Home Based Business

2008-04-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

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. If you're already working, stay there and run your home based business part time. There is no reason to create more stress in your life when you can ease your way into your home business.

Almost everyone in their life has had a dream of working from home, being your own boss, not having to work for someone else. Don't miss the opportunity that will lead to your dream of working at home.

Research has indicated that a customer may have to view an ad five or six times before making a response. Your promotion activities should create a positive awareness about your home based business that leads to trust building. And face it, you want people talking about your product - word of mouth advertising is the most effective form.

Advertising is a critical factor in building a home based internet business. Online selling is by no means a simple task. In building a home based internet business, your advertising strategies need to be planned every week.

The internet has opened other doors for more and more people to make an excellent income at home. People who lack conviction, courage or both will not find any wealth or/and path in the home based business or for that matter anything.

The benefits of owning and running your own home business are that you can set your own hours and in most cases you won't even have to carry the products you sell. Your computer can be set up wherever you like so that it is convenient to work with and free from noises and distraction.

I think that if we all couldn't wait to get up in the morning because we loved what we did, the world would be a much happier place for everyone. Just remember, that most home based businesses take 1 to 3 years of hard work before you may even see any profits. The important thing to remember is don't give up, keep trying and you will succeed.

Working From Home

2008-04-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

Have you fantasized about working from home or starting your own home based business. Most home based businesses take 1 to 3 years of hard work before you may even see any returns. The important thing to remember is never ever give up, if you fall down, pick yourself up and start over, persistence and determination will pay off. With a little help from the right sources, enormous possiblities will open up for you.

It is just a matter of sitting down and beginning to do a little research about the kind of business you want to get into or the business that is right for you. If you're already working, stay there and run your home based business part time.

When you are first starting a home based business, you may have to place ads for weeks before you see results. Your promotion activities should create a positive awareness about your online business that leads to trust building. It takes a lot of time to successfully market and promote a new business.

Research has indicated that a customer may have to view an ad five or six times before making a response. The first most imperative aspect of online selling is to have a professional looking website that is designed to sell. Providing an online live chat on your website would be a great way to deal with your customer queries.

With the internet expanding at such a fast pace, the potential for starting a home based business is much more than ever before. Countless people started with limited resources and now earn unlimited wealth.

Unlike in a brick and mortar business, to operate a business from home, the home based business entrepreneur needs no separate building. To be successful in life you should have a plan, more so for your Internet business opportunity. If you are buying website templates, be sure to go for templates that are professionally designed and have the option of shopping carts.

There is no need to create more stress when you can ease your way in to your home business. Your physical place of business will be your very home and no high start up fees is necessary. Almost everyone in their life has had a dream of working from home, being your own boss, not having to work for someone else. There are many programs that are free to join! In fact there are a few affiliate programs that provide entrepreneurs with free websites and tools.

Starting Your Home Based Business

2008-04-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Look for the credibility behind the home based Internet business company that you are considering - lack of established credibility often dooms the company to go under and you're left holding the bag and also your reputation suffers. What matters most is that you have to be sufficiently motivated and have the urge and desire to develop and maintain a home based business. Building a home internet business can be daunting, but with the right effort, it can be done. You have to find the right home based business opportunity for yourself.

There are many programs that are free to join! In fact there are a number Affiliate programs that provide Entrepreneurs with free websites and tools. If you really desire to take your destiny in your own hands, begin today. Many people make millions of dollars a year with a home based business.

Internet marketing is growing daily. In starting a home based internet business, your advertising strategies need to be planned every week.

Studies have shown that emarketing response rates are higher than direct mail's--5% to 35% compared to 1% to 3%. Understanding your customer behavior can help you retain customers and attract new customers. The first most absolute aspect of online selling is to have a knowledgeable looking website that is designed to sell.

I think that if we all couldn't wait to get up in the morning because we loved what we did, the world would be a much happier place for everyone. You must go after and grab the opportunity, as it may never come and knock your door. A desire to run your own home business and not depend on your Boss's pay packet is the ultimate dream.

To be successful in life you should have a plan, more so for your Internet business opportunity. If you have a computer and internet access, everything is right there, just ready for the asking. You can go about creating the website from code up using web designers or simply go for readymade website templates.

Now-a-days thousands of people just like you want to start a home based business. Only those who are courageous enough to take action will find their way to enormous wealth. Countless people started with limited resources and now earn unlimited wealth.

Web Based Home Based Business

2008-04-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

The first part of starting a new home business, is getting out of your comfort zone and getting started. Don't give up if you think you can't provide someone with useful advice. Everybody has knowledge that will help someone else. People who lack conviction, courage or both will not find any wealth or/and path in the web based home based business or for that matter any business.
Just take that first step and you will be on your way to building a web based home based business. Following describes the steps you might want to take in getting your home based business going.

Define and write down the goals you want to reach with your home based business. Your business will require some thought, analyze, time and patience.

Next, you'll want to identify a idea:
Decide on something that you are truly interested in. Analyze the marketplace to see if there is a unfilled need for the particular niche that you have chosen. You can use the major search engines and search on keywords related to your niche. Use a keyword selector tool you might want to find out how much traffic your defined keywords are generating. Check bulletin boards, discussion groups and social networking sites you might want to see if there is an interest in your product. You want you might want to make sure there is a need for your product or service before you put a lot of time or money into the idea. The internet is a wonder place with endless resources.

Once you've decided on your product you'll need a web presence. You'll want to develop a simple website around your niche. There are many web host companies on the internet. Make sure the one you pick meets the basics of a good web host company. The monthly costs should be reasonable, 24x7 support, guaranteed up times, web building tools that are easy to use. Some other things you might want to consider, depending on your type of home based business, is email accounts, newsletter creator, auto responders, web statistics, a domain name that you own. If you decide on your requirements first it will speed up your investigation time in finding the right host for your home based business.

After you develop the contents of your website, you'll need to publish it to the Internet. Most hosting companies have detailed instructions on how to upload your website to the Internet. If you are buying website templates, be sure to go for templates that are professionally designed and have the option of shopping carts.

Find a hot product destined to be a mega-client before virtually anyone has heard of it.

Congratulations, you now have a website.

Home Based Internet Business

2008-04-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

The best reason to start a home based internet business is that you get to be your own boss. Persistence is the key. A home based business career can offer endless possibilities in an area that interests you. Find a hot product destined to be a mega-trader before virtually anyone has heard of it.

Your physical place of business will be your very home and no high start up fees is necessary. Allocating two hours a day for your cherished dream should not be difficult to start with. 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.

With careful research, you can use advertising to your advantage in your home based internet business. While promoting your business you have to make sure to stay clear of any kind of illegal methods like spamming, cloaking etc. Find out where and when your online ads were displayed, and how many people looked at them.

Online selling is by no means a simple task. Research has indicated that a customer may have to view an ad five or six times before making a response. To sell products online not only requires making use of high end marketing strategies but also involves lots of planning.

Entrepreneurs living in any part of the world can participate in thousands of Affiliate programs that are either Regional or Global in nature. I remember what it was like when I was still working away from home. I remember all too clearly how much I wanted to quit my job and be at home. It was my mission in life. There were a lot of decisions and plans to make before I quit my job. And there were a lot of questions that I had to ask myself; could I afford to do this and could I not afford to do this? Most people I know, especially women want to be able to work at home and make a living while they raise their children.

If you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, but don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals. The honest truth is that most home based businesses take 1 to 3 years of hard work before you may even see profitable returns.

Your Home Based Internet Business

2008-03-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

There are tons of of resources online to help you, other information can be picked up as you progress. Most people I know, especially women want to be able to work at home and make a living while they raise their children. When you work at home there is no outlay on things like commuting to and from work, a suitable work wardrobe, and daycare for your children.

Making money working from home or going into business for yourself is one of the wisest and best decisions you will ever make. Building a home internet business can be daunting, but with the right effort, it can be done. It is easy to make an income from home these days.

Developing a marketing plan will help your business grow. In building a home based internet business, your advertising strategies need to be planned every week. While promoting your business you got to make sure to stay clear of any kind of illegal methods like spamming, cloaking, etc.

After you find out how your first online ads did, branch out to other kinds of advertising both online and offline. With careful research, you can use advertising to your advantage in your home internet business. You can start with free ads and maybe even to go to "pay per click" after earning some money.

One reason to start a home busines is the desire to run your own home business and not depend on your Boss's pay packet. A home based business is an excellent way to gain independence and financial freedom. And if you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, and don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals.

Home based businesses on the net have produced millionaires. Your computer can be set up wherever you like so that it is convenient to work with and free from noises and distraction. The internet is a wonder place with endless resources.

I remember what it was like when I first started working away from home. I remember all too clearly how much I wanted to quit my job and be at home. It was my mission in life. There were a lot of decisions to make and there were a lot of questions that I had to ask myself; could I afford to do this, could I afford not to do this? With my own home based business, I would be my own boss.

Starting Your Home Based Business

2008-03-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

If you're already working, stay there and run your home based business part time. It is easy to make an income from home these days. Starting your own home business is not as difficult as it appears. Your spouse can help you and be your partner in your home based business.

Building a home internet business can be daunting, but with the right effort, it can be done. The internet has opened many doors for more and more people to make an excellent income at home. Take it at your own pace but be serious and dedicated about it.

Providing an online live chat on your website would be a great way to deal with your customer queries. Online selling is by no means a simple task. If you are using pay-per-click advertising, find out where and when your ads were, and how other people looked at them.

After you find out how your first ads did, branch out to other kinds of advertising both online and offline. You may have to place ads for weeks before you see results. Studies have shown that emarketing response rates are higher than direct mail's--5% to 35% compared to 1% to 3%.

If you are buying website templates, be sure to go for templates that are professionally designed and have the option of shopping carts. You can go about creating the website by developing it yourself, hire a web designers or simply go for readymade website templates.

Entrepreneurs living in any part of the world can participate in thousands of Affiliate programs that are either Regional or Global in nature. 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.

I remember what it was like when I was still working away from home. I remember all too clearly how much I wanted to quit my job and be at home. It was my mission in life. So....there were a lot of discussions to make. And there were a lot of questions that I had to ask myself; could I afford to do this, can I afford not to start a home business?

Best Site For Starting An Online Business

2008-03-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in getting a boatload of Internet marketing tools and building a subscriber list, there is a new site you should check out a site called called Viral Marketing Giveaway 10.

It's designed for people who want to start or grow an online business because it offers tools in all the key aspects of online marketing--from setting up websites and list building to converting sales and creating joint ventures.

Choose just the products you want, or download them all. And this resource is completely free so it's a great site for Internet marketers. Check out Viral Marketing Giveaway 10 now!

Email Promos Exposed

2008-03-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been faced with the task of having to write an email promotion to your list, and then realized that you didn't know what to say or how to say it?

Michael Rasmussen's new video course "Email Promos Exposed" promises to solve that problem for you by walking you through the actual process of creating killer email promos step-by-step.

I decided to see if Michael's videos live up to their promise by trying them out myself. Here's what I found:

Overall Quality
The first thing I noticed when I opened up the first video was the stunning production quality. He used Camtasia Studio for the production, which is now the industry standard for creating high-quality screen capture video products. The audio is near studio quality, and the graphics are very professional. These videos were made by someone who KNOWS what he's doing. Well done!

I also liked how Michael divided the videos up by section, and then again by sub-section. For example, one video is all about the subject line, and then there are different parts of that video that each cover a certain area of crafting a killer subject line.

THE ACTUAL VIDEOS
Here's a brief summary of each video. Obviously it's impossible to list every single thing here, but I want you to get a feel for what each one covered, and how well it covered it.

If you're in a hurry, just go ahead and click here to get instant free access to these videos.

VIDEO 1 - INTRODUCTION
This video served as an introduction to the whole course. You get to see a picture of Michael in his every day life, and he establishes his credibility right up front by talking about some of his massive successes online. He even provides proof of credibility by displaying two checks in the amount of $50,000 and $25,000 which prove that, when it comes to the subject of making money with email promos, he knows his stuff.

This is a good lesson for anyone to get. Whenever you're teaching people how to do something, it's good to establish your credibility up front, so that there's no doubt about whether or not you're qualified to talk about the subject. Most product developers either skip or minimize this step.

VIDEO 2 - BEFORE YOU WRITE THE PROMO
This video talks about some things that no other marketer has bothered to mention. You'll learn things like:

The mindset you need in order to write a killer promo
The different tools you need before you get started
How to keep your emails laser-focused
How to create an outline that practically writes the email for you.

This was a fantastic video, and did a good job of kicking things off.

VIDEO 3 - THE SUBJECT LINE
I liked this video, because it talked about one of MY biggest weaknesses when it comes to writing email promos... the subject line. The subject line is a confusing topic, because nobody's 100% sure what the best tactics are.

Michael breaks it down, and reveals:

The biggest secret for writing a subject line that makes people insanely curious.
Techniques for personalizing the subject line.
Mistakes to avoid when using personalization.

I was surprised to find that I was making some of the mistakes that Michael mentioned in this video, but now I know better.

VIDEO 4 - THE OPENING
This is where a lot of people slack off when writing their emails. Michael talks about how important it is to create an opening that is conversational, and then reveals techniques and examples on how to do that.

He also reveals:

How to get people to keep reading your email once they've opened it.
How to make your opening interesting.
Mistakes to avoid when creating your first few paragraphs.

VIDEO 5 - THE BODY COPY
This is one of the "meatiest" portions of the course, because it reveals techniques that are not widely discussed on the forums, blogs, and in most eBooks. He talks about the importance of keeping your body copy tight and relevant, and then reveals how you can do that. You'll also learn:

How to write powerful bullets that make people curious and want to find out more.
Simple formatting tricks for making your body copy easy to read.
The secret of "bucket brigade copy" and how to use it in your email promos to force people to keep reading.

VIDEO 6 - THE CALL TO ACTION
This is where a lot of people wimp out in their email promos. They start out strong, but when it comes time to ask the reader to click the link and take action, they don't know what to say. Michael talks about some of his favorite techniques for making that happen, and also reveals:

The "magic question" to ask yourself that will make your close much more powerful.
The secret of the "unanswered question" and why handling this is a surefire way to get people to act right away.
The structure of a powerful close.
Mistakes people make when creating their close.

VIDEO 7 - CREATING AN EFFECTIVE P.S.
Some people say that the P.S. is one of the most important parts of the email, because it is often the one thing that gets people to click the link at the end. In this video, Michael talks about:

Why you should including a P.S. at the end of your email.
The 4 different kinds of P.S.'s you can use (this section was a real eye-opener for me).

VIDEO 8 - COMMON MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE
I loved this video, because it showed me some mistakes that I was making that I wasn't even aware of. Unless you're a seasoned pro, you're probably guilty of some of the things thatMichael talks about in this video as well, and that's why it's so valuable. I've shaved years off my learning curve, because now I can avoid some of the costly mistakes that I was bound to make in the learning process.

As you can see, Email Promos Exposed really packs a lot of punch! Most of the courses out there offer only watered down, weak content. Not this one! These videos are going on my "A-list" for along time.

I've already watched them twice, and plan on reviewing them every couple months to make sure that I have the principals, techniques and tactics burned into my mind.

If email marketing is an important part of your business (and in my opinion, it's the most important part of ANY online business), then you owe it to yourself to check out Michael'sexciting new videos, Email Promos Exposed.

Home Business - Private Label Rights

2008-03-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

Everybody who is working on or has a business on the Internet needs a list of propective buyers. If you're interested in creating a huge list of prospective buyers and want to get a flood of Private Label Rights products that you can change quickly and easily to resell as your own, there is a new site you should checkout a site called called Viral Marketing Giveaway 10.

This site is designed for people who want to minimize the amount of time spent on developing products and for those who want a set of tools for customizing the Private Label Rights products, such as an online E-cover creator, an Ebook store, right-click protecting your websites and much more.

Choose from a library of over 50 products to customize. Each month, Viral Marketing Giveaway 10 will add many new products to the library. Viral Marketing Giveaway 10 will help you streamline your product development so you can focus on building your business to greater and greater heights! Check out Viral Marketing Giveaway 10 now!

Starting An Internet Home Business

2008-03-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

Starting a home based internet business is exciting. The very thought of working from home and spending more time with your family gets your heart racing. You are finally going to be your own boss and set your own hours. You can work whenever and wherever you want, there are no restrictions.

There are a couple of steps you will want to take in order to make your home business a success. First, find out what you are passionate about. If you develop your business around your passion then you won't mind spending tons of hours developing and working your business. An Internet business is just like a brick-and-mortar business, it will take a lot of time and dedication on your part to be successful.

Find a niche in the area that is your passion that is profitable. Make sure there are people who are spending money in that niche for products and services that you could provide. The purpose of owning a home business is to be doing what you love and making a great income.

The most difficult part about working from home is avoiding distractions. You will have to be very focused to accomplish the tasks that need to be done in your business. It is very easy to let children, your spouse or your friends distract you from your business. You will find there will be some friends and family members who don't consider a home based Internet business a "real" business. You will need to be firm but gentle when dealing with this people to stay focused.

Telecommuting - Work From Home

2008-02-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

Are you tired of having to pack your lunch, sit in rush hour twice a day, deciding which grocery store is easiest to get to on your way home, not to mention the money and time you spend your clothes.

With e-mail, remote desktops, PDAs and other technology, you can forego these inconveniences and just work from home.

There are a number of companies that now hire work from home individuals. This arrangement benefits both the employer and the employee. Employer's don't need to provide office space for their employees and employees don't have to commute.

Plenty of people would choose to work from home if they were given the opportunity. A recent survey finds that over 27 percent of employees telecommute at some point during the year. The chance to put in a full day's work while wearing pajamas is too appealing to pass up.

A variety of companies hire home-based workers, and many entrepreneurs are starting their own businesses based out of their homes.Positions available from companies that prefer work at home individuals range from home based agents, customer service and technical support, sales personnel and administrative assistants.

There are some things that you will want to consider When looking for companies that hire work-from-home employees:

Research companies to make sure they are legitimate. Don't pay a fee, transfer money to the company or give the company to much personal information up front.
Expenses involved with working from home are a high-speed Internet connection, mobile phone, printer and other items might be necessary to perform your job, so know what you'll need and what you can afford. Check with a financial adviser to see if you can write off any of this equipment when you file your taxes.
If you want to work at home so you can spend more time with your children or aren't looking for a full-time job, don't apply for positions that will be high-stress and have long hours. Working from home can be just as demanding as working in an office, so search wisely.

If you do decide to get a home-based job, making the transition from the cubicle to the home office can be challenging:

Develop and stick to a schedule. Just because you're not at the office and nobody's watching you, a schedule will help you stay on focused and productive.
Make sure you take breaks and a lunch hour just like When you're at the office. You could use your lunch hour to run errands or meet up with a friend. It is important to take a break so you don't burn yourself out.
Dedicate a room or area in your home for work so that you won't be tempted to do spend your day watching talk shows or won't be interrupted unnecessarily
Don't work too much. You need to be self-disciplined when working at home, but you also don't want to ignore your children or your pets. Working too much won't help you accomplish more work, it will most likely just burn you out.

Working from home can be very rewarding and beneficial to both you and your employer.

The Right Home Based Business For You

2008-02-24T22:07:00.000-07:00

You have to find the right home based business opportunity for yourself. The internet has opened doors for more and more people to make an excellent income at home. A home based business means spending more time with your family and feeling financial freedom. I think that if we all couldn't wait to get up in the morning because we loved what we did, the world would be a much happier place for everyone.

The first thing you want to do is draw up a short term and a long term plan for what you intend to achieve in your home business. A home based business is an excellent way to gain independence and financial freedom. And if you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals.

With careful research, you can use advertising to your advantage in your home internet business. Understanding your customer behavior in your advertising campaign can help you retain customers and attract new customers. Providing an online live chat on your website would be a great way to deal with your customer queries.To start with, advertise in the same areas all the time and record your responses.

You must go after and grab the opportunity, as it may never come and knock your door. Home based businesses are a lot like nutritional products - everybody claims they have the best - so who do you believe. With the internet expanding at such a fast pace, the potential for starting a home based business is much more than ever before.

All you need is a computer to start your home business and who doesn't have one or access to one these days? An elementary knowledge of the working of a computer and the Internet is sufficient to get started. To be successful in life or your business you should have a plan.

I remember what it was like when I was still working away from home. I remember all too clearly how much I wanted to quit my job and be at home. It was my mission in life. There were a lot of decisions to make. And there were a lot of questions that I had to ask myself; could I afford to do this, do I have the time to work on my business? It is just a matter of sitting down and beginning to do a little research about the kind of business you want to get into or the business that is right for you. The honest truth is that most home based businesses take 1 to 3 years of hard work before you may even see these types of returns. Stay focused and you will make a success of your home business.

Starting A New Home Business

2008-02-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

The first part of starting a new business, is getting out of your comfort zone and getting started. Don't despair if you think you can't provide someone with useful advice. Everybody has knowledge that will benefit someone else.

Just take that first step and you will be on your way you might want to building a home based business. Following describes the steps you might want to take in getting your web based home business going.

Define and decide on the goals you want you might want to accomplish with your home business. Your home based business will require some thought, research, time and patience.
Next, you'll want to pick out a idea.

Decide on something that you are truly passionate about. Analyze the marketplace. You want to see if there is an interest for the particular niche that you have picked. To research the marketplace, you can use the major search engines and search on keywords related to your idea. Use a keyword selector tool to find out how much traffic your respective keywords are generating. Check bulletin boards, discussion groups and social networking sites to see if there is an interest in your niche. You want to make sure there is a market for your niche before you put a lot of time or money into the product.

Once you've decided on your idea, you'll need a web presence. You'll want to design a simple website around your niche. There are many web host companies on the internet. Make sure the one you pick meets the basics of a good web host company. The monthly costs should be reasonable, 24x7 support, guaranteed up times, web building tools that are easy to use. Some other things you might want to consider, depending on your type of business, is email accounts, newsletter creator, auto responders, home statistics, a domain name that you own. If you write down your requirements first it will speed up your investigation time in finding the right host for your home business.

After you determine the contents of your website, you'll want to upload it to the Internet. Quite a few hosting services have detailed instructions on how you publish your website to the Internet.

Congratulations, you've taken the first steps.

Start a Home Based Business

2008-02-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

You can make lots of money while you sleep. I think that if we all couldn't wait to get up in the morning because we loved what we did, the world would be a much happier place for everyone. Now-a-days thousands of people just like you want to start a home based business. A home based business can offer endless possibilities in an area that interests me.

Discover a hot product before the masses do. This is what often establishes the big money earners and allows people who have never made money before to make some nice incomes. Countless people started with limited resources and now earn unlimited wealth. Other resources can be picked up as you progress.

The first most absolute aspect of online selling is to have a experienced looking website that is designed to sell. You can start with free ads and maybe even to go to "pay per click" submission services after earning some money. Find out where and when your ads were and how other people looked at your ads.

Providing an online live chat on your website would be a great way to deal with your customer queries. Emarketing is viable in building a home internet business. With careful research, you can use advertising to your advantage in your home internet business.

Your consciousness of home based business and its money making potential is very important. It is easy to make an income from home these days. Dissatisfaction with your present boss or your employment will play a factor in how dedicated you are to your home business and how successful it will be.

The Internet is a communications medium. All you need is a computer and who doesn't have one or access to one these days? An elementary knowledge of the working of a computer and the Internet is sufficient to get started. The greatest benefit of this Internet business is that it works twenty-four hours(24/7) a day and is portable.

And if you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, but don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals. A yearning to be their own boss. When you work at home there is no outlay on things like commuting to and from work, a suitable work wardrobe, daycare for your children.

Turn Your Dream Into Reality

2008-02-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

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. Becoming an affiliate is a great way to begin making money at home. Often with an established company you may have missed the best timing to get in with them. Do you dream about owning your own business and working at home. Turn your dream into a reality.

Moreover, only those who are courageous enough to take action will find their way to enormous wealth. Draw up a short term and a long term plan for what you intend to achieve. Look for the credibility behind the home based business company that you have chosen - lack of established credibility often dooms the company to go under and you're left holding the bag and also your reputation suffers.

Your promotion activities should create a positive awareness about your online presence that leads to trust building. And face it, you want people talking about your product - word of mouth advertising is the most effective form. Developing a marketing plan will help your business grow.
The first most absolute aspect of online selling is to have a expert looking website that is designed to sell. Providing an online live chat on your website would be a great way to deal with your customer queries. Studies have shown that emarketing response rates are higher than direct mail's--5% to 35% compared to 1% to 3%.

Allocating two hours a day for your cherished dream should not be difficult to start with. What could I do that would afford me the freedom that I wanted? If you really desire to take your destiny in your own hands, begin today.

All you need is a computer or access to one. An elementary knowledge of the working of a computer and the Internet is sufficient to get started. The internet is a wonder place with endless resources. Go for web hosting companies that offer 24/7 customer support.

I remember what it was like when I was still working away from home. I remember all too clearly how much I wanted to quit my job and be at home. It was my mission in life. So....there were a lot of decisions to make. And there were a lot of questions that I had to ask myself; could I afford to do this? Your physical place of business will be your very home and no high start up fees is necessary. People who lack conviction, courage or both will not find any wealth or/and path in the home based business industry or for that matter anything. Use your skills to start a business that will earn you the money you deserve.

Home Business - Truth

2008-02-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

Actually the honest truth is that most home based businesses take 1 to 3 years of hard work before you may even see these types of returns. Most importantly never ever give up, if you fall down, pick yourself up and start over, persistence and determination will pay off. Think to yourself, "I would get to follow my passion and do something that I truly enjoy." Your success will to some extent depend on the support you receive from the members of your family.

Only those who are courageous enough to take action will find their way to enormous wealth. Allocating two hours a day for your cherished dream should not be difficult to start with. Don't miss the opportunity that will lead to your dream of working at home.

Research has indicated that a customer may have to view an ad five or six times before making a response. Understanding your customer behavior can help you retain customers and attract new customers. Advertising can inform customers of the benefits of your product, give you an identity and reputation, and lure new customers and replace lost ones.

Find out where and when your ads were displayed, and how many people looked at them. After you find out how your ads did, branch out to other kinds of advertising both online and offline. Your promotion activities should create a positive awareness about your online opportunity that leads to trust building.

A home based business career can offer endless possibilities in an area that interests you. Many people make millions of dollars a year with home-based businesses.

Design a website that sells for your home business. If you are purchasing website templates, be sure to get a template that is professionally designed and has the option of a shopping cart. If you have a computer and internet access, everything is right there, just ready for the asking.

Do you dream about owning your own business and working at home. Turn your dream into a reality. Take it at your own pace but be serious and dedicated about it. Countless people started with limited resources and now earn unlimited wealth. There is no need to create more stress when you can ease your way into you home business.

Home Based Business

2008-02-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

With a little help from the right sources, enormous possiblities will open up for you. Entrepreneurs living in any part of the world can participate in thousands of affiliate programs that are either regional or global in nature. Anyone with a desire or urge can start a home based business.

Almost everyone in their life has had a dream of working from home, being your own boss, not having to work for someone else. I think that if we all couldn't wait to get up in the morning because we loved what we did, the world would be a much happier place for everyone. Your success will to some extent depend on the support you receive from the members of your family.

Studies have shown that emarketing response rates are higher than direct mail's--5% to 35% compared to 1% to 3%. Advertising is a critical factor in building a home internet business. In building a home internet business, your advertising strategies need to be planned every week.
The first most important aspect of online selling is to have a expert looking website that is designed to sell. Providing an online live chat on your website would be a great way to deal with your customer queries.

Building a home internet business can be daunting, but with the right effort, it can be done. Each small step will lead you closer to becoming mentally and financially independent. Often with an established company you may have missed the best timing to get in with them.

Home-based businesses on the net have produced millionaires. You could have your own personal website if you are prepared to spend a few dollars.

Most people I know, especially women want to be able to work at home and make a living while they raise their children. The internet has opened doors for more and more people to make an excellent income at home. 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.

And if you're planning to start a home based business then do your homework, find something that you feel passionate about, plan your business, but don't let fear keep you from achieving your goals.

Marketing Using Traffic Exchanges

2007-11-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

If you have been marketing on the Internet any length of time you are aware of how expensive a PPC (pay-per-click) advertising campaign can be. The Internet is a very competitive market which can cost you thousands of dollars with little return for your money.

Traffic exchanges allow marketers to earn credits and advertise their websites to a community of thousands of users within the traffic exchange. As a webmaster, you earn credits by viewing other member’s websites. Credits that are earned are then used to advertise your website. Some of the newer traffic exchanges allow you to purchase hundreds or thousands of credits (hits) for pennies. This can significantly cut down on the amount of time you need to spend manually surfing the traffic exchanges.

Traffic exchanges can also create back links to your website. A website with relevant back links with increase in search engine popularity. So not only can you increase your website page rank, traffic exchanges can be a free or a very inexpensive option for advertising your website to a targeted audience. Traffic exchanges deliver targeted traffic by visitors who are interested in what you have to offer.

Passive Income

2007-11-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

The Internet is one form of communication that allows you to get to know and interact with people from all over the world. When I decided to leave the corporate world, I knew that I wanted to continue to work on the Internet. The challenge I faced was having enough time to work on the Internet and run a small brick and mortar business.

My husband and I purchased a motel in Wyoming this year. Running a motel can take up an unbelievable amount of time. Because I enjoy making money and spending time on the Internet, I looked for Internet opportunities where I could make money but not spend all my time at the computer. In other words, I wanted passive income opportunities.

I have found several business opportunities where I can make money without spending hours on the computer. The business opportunity that I have started to focus on is the Forex market; also know as the Foreign Exchange market. This is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily volume in excess of $2 trillion dollars.

Forex trading is simply trading money. You buy one currency and sell another. The exchange rate for the money involved in Forex trading is based on a country’s economy.In reality, there is nothing simple about trading currency. Unless you have an in-depth knowledge of economics and financial markets, I would strongly suggest that you allow more knowledgeable individuals to mentor you in the Forex market.

Marketing Tool For Your Business

2007-10-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

For several years I have tried different online marketing tools. None of the tools I've used before could accomplish what I wanted for my business.

well I have found an amazing marketing tool that I've started using in my business.

The tool is Marketing Burst. You can create unlimited capture pages and autoresponders. There is a lead management section as well as a daily planner, financial planner and inventory manager. I can use this system for both my brick and mortar business and my online businesses.

This powerful system is extremely easy to learn and use.

Visit my website to find out how I use this marketing tool in my business.

The Ultimate Home Based Business

2007-05-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

After spending 21 years in the Corporate world, my husband and I decided to buy a brick and mortar business. This business is a small motel located in the heart of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming.

Buying the motel was a perfect add on for my Internet business. My home based Internet business deals with terrific discounts on travel accommodations. The travel discounts can be used all over the world. If you are planning a vacation, check out some of the discounts that are available to you.

GIT members purchase Condo Cards for travel at a reduced vacation rate or the members can sell their Condo Cards for face value and purchase additional cards. For every Condo Card that is purchased, members are paid 3 times the cards value over an 18 month period of time.

The best thing about the Condo Cards is that it doesn't matter if you use the card, give it away or sell it, GIT pays back 300% of your investment in Complimentary Checks over 18 months on a monthly basis.

If you would like more information on the Condo Cards program, email me.

Training For Your Home-Based Business

2007-04-02T20:30:00.000-07:00

No matter what home-based Internet business you decide to start, you will need the proper training in order to make the business a success. With new marketing technologies coming online every day, it is important to receive the proper training to stay up-to-date.

Global Mentors International provides Internet marketing training for the novice as well as the more seasoned Internet marketer. Classes that are offered by Global Mentors International range from basic computer and HTML to advanced marketing techniques. Whether you are just starting to market your business on the Internet or you have been marketing on the Internet for years, Global Mentors International provides training for all skill levels.

Regardless of your skill level, you will want to learn as much as you can about the product or service you are planning on providing. Taking the extra time to learn all you can about your business will ensure you are successful in your home-based business.

The proper Internet marketing training will ensure your home-based business is a success. Internet marketing is a competitive industry. Increasing your marketing skills is essential to the growth of your business on the Internet.

Global Mentors International - Sign Up Before April 1, 2007

2007-03-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Global Mentors International is offering free Internet/computer training until April 1, 2007. After April 1, 2007, this excellent training will no longer be free.

Those not registered by April 1st will have to buy their way into the training and support system ($499.00). Hurry and sign up today.

This is an opportunity to take your primary business to the next level on the Internet. Your registration does not obligate you to ever do anything. But, we are here in case you ever want us to help you in earning an income from home with your primary business.

Once you have registered, you will receive a FREE copy of the Master Key System to go along with the classes on "The Principles of The Secret."
Some of the training classes include:

Multiple Streams of Income
No-Cost Prospecting
Project/Time Management
Basic Computer Classes
Press Release
Advanced Marketing Techniques
And Much More.

If you are currently trying to promote a home based business you know how hard it can be. We are here to offer you support and help make your business a success.

Our support includes:

Building your business(es)
Developing/managing your leads
Branding yourself
Communications/autoreponders
Splash/lead capturing pages
And More.

Start today and don't miss out on this opportunity.

Global Mentors International Teaches Success

2007-03-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Global Mentors International teaches home based business owners marketing techniques in order for them to be successful in their home businesses.

Success is 80% attitude and 20% product knowledge. With the right mindset, you can succeed at anything. If you want to be a winner, you have to start thinking and acting like a winner.

In order to enjoy the success in anything you do, you must have the right mindset. Your mind and the way you think about yourself, your business and your financial freedom is where it all starts. Unless you have total belief in yourself and your ability to earn serious money, you will never earn big money.

There is a saying a business, "The amount of money you make will always be in direct proportion to your personal growth."

That statement is probably one of the most important you will ever read or hear because within that statement is the key to your success. There are far too many people in the home based business industry who don't understand the importance of taking the time to grow the skills and mindset necessary for success.

Managing Your Time

2007-03-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

When I present my project and time management class to individuals enrolled in Global Mentors International, I include some of the following items that are considered classic time wasters.

Learn to say "No" - Keep away from commitments that force you to spend time on low priority items. Be prepared to say, "I can't do this now."

Banish low priority items unless you have completed all higher priority items for the day. The definition of low priority items is "they can wait."

Build time into your schedule for interruptions, unforeseen problems, unscheduled events and such. You can avoid rushing by making reasonable time estimates for activities, then adding on a little extra time for the inevitable crises.

Set aside several periods each day for quiet time. Arrange to be interrupted only in an emergency. Focus on deep relaxation using any techniques you find useful.

As a core trainer for Global Mentors International, I can tell you that time management skills are learned and will take practice.

Global Mentors International - Internet Training

2007-03-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

While starting a home-based Internet business might sound easy, just the opposite can be true. Starting and operating a business, whether it is Internet based or a more traditional brick and mortar type requires a working knowledge of business basics and creative marketing techniques.

Global Mentors International is a community of professional home-based business owners that share their knowledge on how to successfully market on the Internet.

To read the full press release, visit: Global Mentors International Provides Internet Training

Global Mentors International

2007-03-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Global Mentors International has opened their new Internet marketing training site. The site includes RSS feeds, forums, blogs, training calendar, instant messaging and much more. Global Mentors International provides free marketing training for all home based business owners who want to increase their Internet marketing skills.

The trainers are a strong support team. Global Mentors International's motto is no student left behind. All of the trainers are available for one-on-one coaching as well as the support they provide in their training sessions.

If you are a home-based business owner, you need this training. The trainers can show you how to write press releases, promote your website, advanced marketing techniques and more. This community training is something that all business owners can benefit from.

I present a class on project management and time management every two weeks. The class teaches you how to organize your business activities and your time.

Are You Distracted In Your Home Based Business?

2007-02-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

There are going to be a million things in your home environment that will distract you when you are working on your home based business; especially if the business activity that needs to be completed is particularly unsavory for one reason or another.

Computer games, hunger, the dog, the cat, kids, spouses, and various other forms of procrastination are all things that can easily be distracting to you when you work from home.

Global Mentors International is an organization that has established Internet training classes to help the home based business owner stay focused.

Some of the training courses offered by Global Mentors International include:

Effective Email marketing
Outlook and POP3 accounts
Project and Time Management
Website Promotion
No Cost Prospecting
Plus many more

In order to be successful in your home based business, you must stay focused. For more information on how you can access the courses presented by Global Mentors International, contact Jayme Hanson at contact@theglobalmentorsinternational.com.

Global Mentors International Training Site

2007-02-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

Global Mentors International will be releasing a new training site on March 1, 2007.

This training site has been developed and designed for business owners who want to learn Internet marketing skills. The new training site is a one stop shop with tools and information on how to promote any business whether it is a home based Internet business or a traditional brick and mortar business.

Most of the tools and all of the training sessions are free to business owners who wish to continue their education. Internet marketing is a learned skill and very competitive in today’s world.

Global Mentors International has designed the training sessions to teach business owners how to effectively market their business.The training courses include basic computer and HTML skills, time management, Outlook Express, basic and advanced website promotion techniques as well as a course on the “Principles of the Secret”, which was recently featured on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Time Management Goals

2007-02-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

Short-term goals for your home based business should have a time frame of no more than up to three months. Intermediate-term goals take place between three months and one year. And long-term goals are out more than a year. You should have goals in each of these areas for your home based business.

Long-term goals require patience to achieve and a willingness to give up something you want now in return for something better later. This is know as delayed gratification.

Global Mentors International has put together a group of trainers dedicated to ensuring the success of every individual who wants to learn how to establish goals for their home based businesses.

Specific Goals For Your Home Based Business

2007-02-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Pursuing specific goals is the key to reaching success. Setting good goals requires some planning and concentrated effort. Far too many individuals have good intentions for their home based business, but lack goals that are specific enought to help them achieve success in their home based business. Most individuals who fail to reach their professional goals do so because they fail to make specific, or S.M.A.R.T. goals.

S.M.A.R.T. goals are:

Specific. Your goal should be as detailed as possible.

Measurable. Good goals allow you to quantify your efforts.

Achievable. It is good to set your goals high, but not impossibly high.

Result-oriented. In order for your goals to be SMART, they must focus on what you DO want, not what you do NOT want.

Time-limited. Put a specific time limit on your goals and have someone hold you accountable for reaching that goal.

Managing Our Time Effectively

2007-02-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

As home based business owners we all struggle with managing our time effectively. I've heard it said that home based business owners are the worst people when it comes to managing their time and priorities. We have to be careful not to confuse being busy with making progress.

Here are a couple ideas I have found to help me manage my time more effectively:

1. Good habits are the key to good time management.
Creating good habits is the base of time management. A good habit to develop is to focus on results. Set goals and strive to reach them. Think to yourself, what specific results would I like to see come from my time?

2. Good habits start with setting goals.
Write your goals down. It will be easier for you to reach your goal if they are written down. Break your goals into three categories: short, intermediate and long term.

Time management is a skill the requires practice. The more you use this skill in your home based business, the easier it will become.

Home Based Business Finances

2007-02-11T08:41:00.000-07:00

You'll come into contact with money almost every day in your home based business. Managed poorly, money can be a source of anxiety and lead to financial problems. Used wisely, money can be a tool to help you achieve your goals and dreams in your home based business.

1. Learn the financial planning process - what it is and what it can do for your business.

2. Apply the process through activities you will complete during the day in your business.

3. Take control of your finances.

Managing money and finances is a learned skill. You must develop this skill in order to be successful in your home based business.

Time Management For Your Home Based Business

2007-02-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

Time management for your home based Internet business is critical. You must get organized as soon as possible. Once you are organized you will realize how much more work you can get done.

Keep it simple when you are trying to get organized. Use a calendar, a planner type book or even a spreadsheet software program to plan your activities.

Don't get so carried away with your planning activities that you become a time management fanatic. You don't really need to create priority folders and lists or spend a lot of time color coding your tasks. If you do this, you'll find that you are spending more time trying to get organized than actually performing the work.

If you spend a few minutes every day getting organized, you will find that your home based Internet business will be succesful.

The First Day Of Your Home Based Business

2007-02-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

Are you one of those people that are always going to do it "tomorrow" or "soon"? As a home based business owner you must make the best of today, it will be the first day of the rest of your life.

Take charge of your life and home based business by taking responsibility for what you want to create. It is time to become clear on the vision you want for yourself and your business. It is time to live up to your potential.

Stop letting things get in the way of what you want to contribute and accomplish. There is no time like the present to start working on your future. Being clear on what "you" want to create is the first step. You, not your boss, not your mother, not your spouse, but you are the only one that can take charge of your life and business. Decide what it is that you really and truly want. Keep your focus on what it is you want and you can accomplish anything.

Home-Based Internet Business

2007-02-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

Starting a home-based Internet business is a viable option for individuals who want to earn a residual income while working in the corporate world. The traditional nine to five work force has discovered that a corporate retirement is not the only option when they are planning for their future financial stability.

While starting a home-based Internet business might sound easy, just the opposite can be true. Starting and operating a business, whether it is Internet based or a more traditional brick and mortar type requires a working knowledge of business basics and creative marketing techniques.

Training for home business owners on these techniques can be expensive, if the courses are even available. Global Mentors International, founded in 2006 by Mr. David Barnard, offers Internet marketing training to the home-based business owner. Mr. Barnard realized the need for online training specially targeted at Internet marketers and developed a training curriculum that feels that need.

The trainers for Global Mentors International are experts in their fields. The training courses that have been developed to assist the home-based Internet business owner in succeeding are considered world class. This exceptional training is provided at no cost to all of Global Mentors International members.

Home Based Business Office Hours

2007-02-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

When you first start a home based Internet business, you will want to establish office hours. Tell you family, friends and business associates your office hours. Let everybody know you are working during those hours and you should only be disturbed if there is an emergency.

Keep your office door closed during your work hours and if you have to, hang a do not disturb sign on the outside.

Let everybody know that starting a home based Internet business is not an invitation to spend hours in aimless conversations. Make a decision about the conversation and then end the discussion.

Unfortunately, your family and friends will cause the most interruptions for you while you are working at home. Be firm about your business hours and then stick to them.

Home Based Business Time Waster

2007-02-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Procrastination is probably the biggest time waster in a home based business. When you put off completing a project or task today you have robbed yourself of time and caused unnecessary stress when you have run out of time to complete the project. Start each work day with the most unpleasant task first. Visualize and focus on the desired outcome of the project and list small daily assignments that you can get completed.

You don't have to complete the entire project in one day, just work on it daily and before you know it the project will be completed. Set deadlines to reach the desired outcome of your project. Also set consequences of not doing the project. This will help you stay focused and motivated.

Schedule your tasks and then follow the schedule. This will help you keep your home based business on track. Once you have completed your project, you will feel great and want to accomplish other tasks.

Internet Marketing and Advertising

2007-01-31T05:46:00.000-07:00

There are two types of Internet marketers. One is the aggressive marketer and the other is the passive marketer. The passive marketer will build a website, submit the site to the search engines and then sit back waiting for traffic. The average website will get very little traffic using this approach.

The aggressive Internet marketer will use proactive methods to drive traffic to their websites. One of the most effective marketing methods online currently is the ezine. An ezine is a magazine/newsletter which is produced online and emailed to a list of subscribers. It is usually free and contains articles on many differenct subjects.

Most ezines will charge a small fee to place your advertising. Depending on the distribution, this advertising dollars could be well spent.

An Internet Business

2007-01-29T05:55:00.000-07:00

When you first start your home based Internet business, you will have all kinds of experts telling how to run the business. There really aren't any expert, just a lot of people who are more than willing to share their opinion with you. You will just need to experiment and figure out what works for you.

Most people's first attempt at their very own website will be a failure. You will look back at that website in six months to one year and wonder what you were thinking. That's okay. Most people are going to give up on their Internet business because they didn't realize the amount of work or time that is involved. You need to be prepared to do what it is going to take.

Obtaining as much Internet training as you can will help. There are many valuable resources and some of them are even free. If you are thinking about joining an existing business, make sure they provide a good solid support team and also one-on-one training.

Ideas for Managing Your Time

2007-01-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

There are all types of activities that will need to be performed when you start a home based Internet business. Following are some ideas for managing your time more effectively.

1. Don't leave email just setting in your mailbox

Organize your email into folders. So if the email is a reference item, print it out. If it's a meeting, add it to your calendar. Think of your email as a piece of paper and everytime you touch or look at that item, you are not using your time effectively. Try to only touch the item once and then take action.

2. Multitasking can be bad

You will actually lose productivity when you are multitasking. It is better to perform and focus on one task at a time, if possible.

3. Do the most important task first

You will probably have a huge to-do list. Look at the list and decide which is the most important task and tackle that one first, then the second task and so on. After practicing this for awhile, you'll also discover that some items on your to-do list are not really benefitting your home based online business, so don't spend your time doing them.

4. Set a schedule to check your email

You don't need to answer or act on your email the minute it arrives in your inbox. Check your email a couple of times during the day and deal with it in groups of actions. Checking your email constantly prevents you from completely another more important task.

5. Organize website addresses

Create folders in your favorites and organize your websites. You'll spend less time searching for the website you want to visit.

Mistakes When Starting A Business

2007-01-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

For many people, starting their own business is a dream come true. That dream can rapidly turn into a nightmare if you don't avoid some of the common mistakes new entrepreneurs make.

1. Too little cash

Most start-up small businesses are not properly capitalized. Before starting your business, sit down and estimate how much you think it will cost to get started. Now double that number. That is the amount you should have in reserve for your business.

2. Thinking small

You may be the only person working in your business at first. You could be competing against larger corporations who offer the same type of service or product. You will want to focus on the advantages a small company can offer, such as greater expertise and speed of execution. You're not small, you are personalized.

3. Skimping on technology

Having the latest in technology gadgets can be expensive. However, if you have the latest technology gadgets you will be able to respond faster and ultimately it will save you money in the long run.

4. Underestimating the importance of sales

For small business owners, the focus should be on sales and revenues when you are first starting out. No matter the size of the company, you will need to be or hire a dedicated sales pro. If you can't sell your product or service, your company will not be successful.

5. Losing focus

Before starting your business, you will need to have a vision as to the direction you want your company to ultimately go. The more focused on that vision you are, the greater the chance your company will succeed. Develop a plan of specific activities that will lead your company in the direction of your vision.

Starting An Online Business

2007-01-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking about starting an online business, there are a few things you should ask yourself first.

Are you going to dedicate yourself to the business?

An online business is just like any other business; you will be putting in hours each day to make that business successful. You will need to be very dedicated to that business to succeed. Weeks, months, or even years could go by before you start making any money. Make sure you are ready for that kind of commitment before you start your business.

What type of business do you want to start?

Make a list of the things you are interested in. Make sure you pick a business that you will be passionate about. That passion will carry you through the long hours and periods of no income.

How are you going to run your business?

Make sure you know exactly what you want to do with your business. Write out your business plan and goals. The business plan should list the why you think the business will be a success and how you are going to make that happen.

Once you have answered these questions, you will be ready to start your online Internet business.

Online Internet Business - Fame and Fortune

2007-01-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

When I first started my online Internet business, I was so excited. I foolishly believed that all I needed to do was build a website, load it up to the Internet and just like magic I would be enjoying instant fame and fortune. Right? Wrong!

The first website I owned, I purchased from another individual. I had no control over the content of the website and only limited access to the back office. After I purchased the website, I started reading everything I could on how to promote your home business on the Internet. If given a choice, do the research before you make the purchase and not after, it will make your life a lot less stressful.

It didn’t take long for me to understand that content is king on the Internet. My problem now was that I couldn’t change the content on my website. So, off I go on my search for a website that I could change the content. I found an excellent website that I purchased. It had all the elements I needed, or so I thought. I loved the name of the website and I could change the content. The individual who sold me the website assured me that if I wanted to change the website at all, they would help me through the changes. This worked really well for the first two times I asked for help. On the third attempt, I was told to learn HTML and after that I could never contact the individual either by phone or email.

My next step to Internet business fame and fortune was to enroll in an online HTML class through the local college. I learned enough HTML to make minor changes to the website. I was absolutely thrilled. I was definitely on my way now.

After a few more bumps and bruises, I have finally gotten to the point where I am seeing results for all my hard work on my home based business website (three years later). I still have the second website I purchased and am doing well with it. Remember to do your research before launching your home-based Internet business.

Selecting Your Home Business Opportunity

2007-01-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

I started looking for a home business opportunity in 2006. I didn't buy the numerous heavily hyped, or worse yet, scam operations that touted the instant and fantastic riches that could be achieved on the Internet (often with little or no effort required).

While doing my research as to which business I would eventually pursue, this type of claim became an instant trigger for me to move on to check out some other "opportunity". I mean, give me a break, if those claims were close to being true, why would they share their "secret" with anyone else? During my research a few other alarms surfaced to help narrow down the realistic and legitimate opportunities from among the far too numerous unfounded offers.

Early on, I determined that the "get in on the ground floor" offers were essentially smoke. After all, if I wanted to take a chance on the lottery, I would have purchased a ticket. Because of my business management experience, it soon became clear to me that three of the primary factors that would influence my choice would be:

*successful longevity (how long has this particular company been successfully doing business?)

*reasonable income expectations of the company offering the opportunity

*support systems and online training resources available to help the participants succeed. One thing that really struck me about the company I selected for my home based business was the availability of online training 7 days a week.

You will not become rich in a new business opportunity within the first six months, give a business at least a year. It takes time to develop a good working plan. It takes time to figure out what marketing activities deliver the biggest bang for the buck. Anything worthwhile takes consistent effort. If you’re not thinking long term, you’ve set yourself up for failure.

Your selection process should focus on reality (there is no "magic" in home based businesses) and reject any so-called home business"opportunities" that seem too good to be true.

Find A Home Based Business

2007-01-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of tips to help avoid getting scammed while you’re looking for a home based business.

1. No Contact Information or Limited Contact Information.
Most scam artists don't want you to be able to locate them easily. After all, if you could find them easily, so could the authorities. That's why they often only give an email address (usually from a free provider like Yahoo or Hotmail) and/or a post office box. On the other hand, reputable companies DO want you to be able to contact them quickly and easily. They'll offer several ways... telephone, physical address, email, fax, etc.

2. No Verifiable References or Testimonials.
Do they list Web site addresses or email addresses for the people who supposedly gave the testimonials? Is there a way to contact the satisfied customers?

3. Make Thousands With No Work On Your Part.
This is the biggest lie on the Internet today. Everyone loves the idea of making thousands of dollars while they sleep. Is it possible? Yes! That part isn't a lie. The statement that it will take no work on your part is the lie.

4. Rushing You To Make A Decision.
I'm talking about the business opportunity companies that - instead of answering your questions - pressure you to go ahead and buy in now. The bottom line is this: Any company offering legitimate business opportunities will want to talk with you, will want to give you all the information you need, will not give a false appearance of credibility, and will have verifiable references that you can contact. Beware of anyone who does not offer these things.

Now that we've established some guidelines to follow the process is actually very simple. Search through the home based business advertisements and listings that you've found (by doing a search on Home based businesses on one of the many search engines) and simply look for businesses using the guidelines mentioned above.

However, remember that choosing the right product is just as important as finding a business opportunity. You can have the best business plan around but if your product is not very marketable then you will just be spinning your wheels.

Successfully Start Your Own Business

2007-01-14T09:02:00.000-07:00

The American Dream is, and always will be, to come up with an
idea, start a home business and become rich from your own efforts.
Based upon this motivation, thousands of businesses fail each
year, due primarily to not being familiar with the basics
involved in running a business.

Just about the first thing you should consider before deciding to
start or purchase a business is the legal form you'll be
operating under. There are basically four choices: sole
proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, and/or
corporation.

Each has a number of advantages and disadvantages.

As much as anything else, for many people starting a business is
a form of ego-gratification, and they form a corporation for some
sort of prestige gain - just to say, "I own a corporation."

With just a little bit of observation, you'll find that one of
the major causes of business failures is due to the founder
wasting start-up capital on frills, such as an impressive
store-front office, expensive furnishings, and corporate legal
costs.

One of the basic traits you must develop if you're going to be
successful in business, is a tight hold on your expenditures. In
fact, a good rule of thumb is that anything that does not make
money for you or protect your investment, should not be purchased
at this time. Very definitely, this applies to the expense of
setting up your own corporation.

Unless you have a partnership and start your business as such,
the only real advantage to forming a corporation would appear to
be that a corporate structure will semi-protect the property you
personally own.

As an example, you own a home and car. You form a corporation to
protect these possessions from business losses. Yet, if you can
be found guilty of misusing corporate funds, your business
creditors can pierce the corporate shield and come after your
possessions.

Basically, if you invest everything you have in your business, as
most newcomers do, you don't usually need a corporation because
you have nothing to protect. Your household possessions,
personal belongings, generally your car, and even a portion of
the equity in your home is protected by the homestead provision
of the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and cannot be taken away from you.

As a sole proprietor or partner of a business you'll be paying
taxes on your overall earnings, much the same as if you were
holding down a salaried or hourly paid job. Whether you do or
don't take out money as a salary will have no bearing on the
earnings of your business and tax return.

The often advertised advantage of incorporating, that you can
manipulate your salary in order to save on tax dollars, is real
because of corporation laws. However, the IRS frowns on this
practice. When your business is successful and making a lot of
money, definitely check with your accountant on the advantages of
incorporating.

As a corporation, you'll be subject to a number of other
drawbacks as well: generally higher state taxes, stricter laws
concerning the operation of your business, more elaborate
accounting procedures, and legal papers that are required just
about every time you make a major move or sign almost any
contract. Thus, your legal and accounting fees will be much
higher as a corporation than will those required for a sole
proprietorship type of business.

As a sole proprietor or partnership, you'll find many areas
require the registration of your business name. The cost
however, is minimal, ranging from $5 to $100. About the best way
to find out what laws apply in your area, is to call your bank
and ask if they need a fictitious name registration card or
certificate in order for you to open a business account.

Selecting a name for your business is quite important to you and
particularly relative to advertising. Your business name should
describe the product or services you offer. Fancy names such as,
Linda's Clipping Service will lose potential "walk-in and
passing" customers to the beauty shop across the street that
calls itself, Patti's Beauty Salon or Jane's Hair Styling Shop.

The advantage of using your full name in the title of your
business, such as Johnny Jones' Meat Lockers, has the advantage
of making credit somewhat easier to come by - provided you pay
your bills on time - but it also includes the disadvantage of
confining your services to a local or at most, a regional area.

Should you buy, lease, or rent a space for your business? Think
twice before you make any decision along these lines. Most
businesses tend to grow quickly or they never get off the ground.

There are a few exceptions, but only a very few, that tend to
grow at a modified rate.

So, buying a piece of property and setting up your business on or
within that property, obligates you to ownership regardless of
what happens to your business.

Leases are almost always very strong contracts written by
attorneys to the advantage of the property-owner. When you sign
an agreement to pay someone for the use of their space over any
length of time, you're "nailed in" to paying for that space
regardless of what happens to your business.

In the beginning, it's wise to either get the shortest-term lease
possible, or arrange to rent with an option to lease at a later
date. This does not apply to a retail business, unless your
particular business happens to be an untried one.

Definitely, you should open a business bank account. In
selecting a bank for your business, scout around and look for one
that can, and will help you. Determine what your banking needs
will be, and then via telephone, interview the managers of the
banks in your area. The important convenient bank to your
business location.

A point to remember: the closer you can make the relationship
between you and the bank manager, the better your chances are
going to be for approval on loans and/or special favors you may
need at a later date.

Try to become acquainted with as many of the bank employees as
possible. The better you know them, the more courtesies they'll
be extending especially to you in the course of your association.

Just as a doctor is a specialist in his field, and you go to him
for medical problems, your banker is a specialist in his field
and you should go to him for your money problems. In business,
you'll have to learn that everyone is an expert in his own line
of work, and in your associations with other business people,
refrain from pretending that you know exactly how everything works
in someone else's specialty.

You'll find that very often, different banks specialize in
different types of businesses. As an example, you're sure to
find banks that specialize in real estate transactions,
export-import businesses, and even manufacturing operations only.

Some of the questions you should ask of your banker include the
following:

Is it necessary to maintain a certain balance in your account
before the bank will approve a loan for you?
What qualifications must you have in order to obtain a line of
credit with the bank?

Does the bank limit the number of loans, or types of loans it
will approve for small businesses?

What is the bank's policy regarding the size of a check you might
deposit that requires holding for collection?

And what about checks less than that amount - will they be
immediately credited to your account?

In almost all types of businesses, it will be to your benefit to
set up with your bank, a method of handling VISA, Master Charge,
and regional credit cards. The important thing here is to
ultimately set up your account in the bank that will service all
of these credit transactions for you - one stop for all your
banking needs. In most instances, you'll find that having the
capability to fill orders/make sales via credit card
transactions, will increase your volume of sales appreciatively.

Once you've made the decision as to which bank is going to handle
your account, you'll need your Social Security Number or your
Federal Employer's Identification Number, your driver's license,
the fictitious name certificate, and if you're requesting a VISA
or Master Charge franchise, you'll also need a financial
statement.

For corporations, you'll also need a corporate resolution
approving of the opening of your business account.

You'll find that a great number of city business license
departments are there solely for the purpose of collecting
another tax. Depending on the type of business you're asking a
license for, the building and zoning people may inspect your
premises for soundness of structure and safety. Generally, you
won't encounter any difficulties - you simply pay your fee to
operate your business in that city, and the clerk types your name
onto a city license certificate.

Relative to sales tax permits and licenses, each state's rules
and regulations very widely. The best thing to do is call your
state offices and ask for information concerning registry and
collection procedures. Many states require an advance deposit or
bond, and you'll find that some wholesalers or manufacturers will
not sell to you at wholesale prices until you can show them your
sales tax permit or number.

Should your business entail selling your products or services
across state lines, in another state, you're not required to
collect taxes except in those where you have offices or stores.

You may find also that your particular business requires the
collection of Federal Excise Taxes. For information along these
lines, check in with your local office of the Internal Revenue
Service.

Some states also require certain businesses to hold state
licenses, such as those required in many states for TV Repairmen.

These are known as "occupational permits" and are most often
required of barbers, hair stylists, real estate people and a
number of other consumer oriented businesses. If you have any
doubts, check with your state offices for a list of those
occupations that require licensing.

Any business doing business in any type of interstate commerce is
subject to federal regulations, usually through the Federal Trade
Commission. This means that any business that shops, sells or
advertises in more than one state is subject to such regulation,
and this includes even the smallest of mail order operations.

Normally, very few business people ever have and contact with the
federal regulatory agencies. The only exceptions being when
there is a question of your operating your business unethically
or illegally.

Any business that sells or distributes food in any manner almost
always requires a county health department permit. If your
business falls into this category, simply call the county health
department and invite them out to your place of business for an
inspection. The fees generally range from about $25, depending
on the size of your business when they first inspect it for
permit approval.

There are also a number of businesses that require inspection by
a fire marshall, and fire department approval. Generally, these
are those that handle flammable materials or attract large
numbers of people, such as a theater. Overall, the local fire
department has to be allowed to inspect your premises whenever
they desire to do so.

You may also run into a requirement for an air and/or water
pollution control permit. These specifically apply to any
business that burns anything, discharges anything into the sewers
or waterways, or use any gas-producing product, such as a paint
sprayer.

Without a doubt, you'll need to check on local regulations
relating to advertising display signs. Each city or township
makes its own rules and then enforces those rules according to its own thinking
-check before you contract to have a sign made for your business.

The design and placement of your sign is very important to your
business - specifically to retail establishments - but let me
remind you that your business sign is usually the first thing a
potential customer sees and as such, it should catch his eye and
leave an impression that lasts. It would be a good idea to ride
around your town and take a look at the signs that catch your
eye, and try to determine the impression of the business that
sign leaves on you. This is a basic learning formula for
determining the design, size and placement of your business sign.

Some of the other things to consider before opening for business
- If you intend to employ one or more employees, you'll be
required to deduct Federal Income Taxes, and Social Security
payments from their checks. This will involve your filing for a
Federal Tax Number and necessitates contact with your local IRS
Office.

Most states have "unemployment taxes" which will have to be
deducted from the paychecks of any employees you hire. And there
are a number of states that have income taxes - disability
insurance - and any number of other taxes. Again, the best thing
to do is check with your local office of the IRS. And above all
else, don't forget to ask for the rules of the minimum wage law,
and comply.

Regardless of how small your business is when you begin, never
walk in with the thought in mind that it's something to keep you
busy. Anyone with an attitude of that kind is a fool. You begin
and make a business successful in order to realize financial
freedom. Establish your business. Put it on its feet, and then
hire other people to do the work for you. And those businesses
that require an operations manager, or someone to run a phase of
the business you're too busy to handle, hire the person needed or
the business will surely suffer.

To protect the investment of your business, you need business
insurance. If you've never had any experience with business
insurance, simply look under the heading of "business insurance"
in your phone directory. Ask for bids from several different
companies or agents...Primarily, you should have a policy that
gives you general liability, fire, workmen's compensation,
business interruption, and vehicle coverage. You amy also want
coverage against possible losses related to burglary, robbery,
Life & Accident, Key Man, and Fidelity Bonds.

As the sole proprietor of a business, you won't be paid as an
employee, so there will be no income tax deducted from whatever
you withdraw from the company's earnings. What you'll have to do is
a gain check with the IRS Office for a Tax Guide For Small
Businesses Handbook, and probably end up filing an estimated tax
return on a quarterly basis.

The minute you open your doors for business, you'll have to spend
some time engaged in the work of bookkeeping. Exactly how, and
using what forms, you keep books, should be on the
recommendations of a good tax counselor...The same holds true for
your overall business and/or payroll accounting system. Look for
an experienced CPA that knows the accounting problems to your
particular kind of business, and solicit his advise/counseling.

If your business is going to involve the possible purchase or
lease of operating equipment, again seek the help of your tax
counselor for the most advantageous method of obtaining the
needed equipment.

Basically, arranging for your suppliers to give you materials on
credit will depend upon your honesty and personal financial
statement. The best way is usually a personal visit to the
person with the power to approve or disapprove of credit at the
company where you want to set up a credit account. Show him your
financial statement, and explain your prospects for success.
Then assure him that you've always honored all of your
obligations, and that if ever there's a question or problem,
you'd like for him to call you at home. And of course, give him
your home phone number.

When something unusual happens to you, your business, or your
employees - that's news, so be sure to tell the news media in
your area about it.

The most important ingredient of your eventual success will be
the soundness of the planning you did before you started your business.
Any number of bad things can really throw your business into a tailspin, but it you've done your homework well - really set up a detailed business plan
before starting - your losses or setbacks will be minimal.
Success takes planning. Good luck, and may your life overflow with success in all that you undertake from this
moment forward.

Global Mentors International

2007-01-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

Global Mentors International has released a new training system that is bridging the gap in Internet education.

Global Mentors International introduces free training sessions conducted by world-class trainers for Internet Marketers.

Global Mentors International founded in 2006 by David Barnard and supported by Lee Jones, founder of "TruthAboutMLM.com" recently released free training sessions presented by world-class trainers for anyone who wishes to learn or improve their Internet Marketing and Lead Generation skills.

Read the entire press release on this Internet training opportunity.

Starting A Home Based Internet Business

2007-01-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

Working out of your home with an Internet business can be the most rewarding experience, both personally and financially, that a person can undertake. The Internet has made a number of millionaires. We all want to make more money, spend time with our family, and these are only a few of the fringe benefits that owning an Internet business can provide. However, individuals that have made their fortune on the Internet have certain characteristics about them that have allowed them to be successful. Their riches were not obtained overnight, and they were not obtained without realistic expectations.

Lets look at some of the things that would prohibit you from being successful online...

Are you currently unemployed?
I see so many people sign up for Internet programs these days that are not currently employed and expect that an Internet business will provide for their families right off the bat.

Businesses on the Internet are not 9-5 jobs that pay by the hour, they are "businesses", and most pay by commission. As with most businesses, there are things that have to be set in place before you are going to start attracting customers. This does not happen overnight, this is something that you will put in place over time.

Are you unwilling to invest your money?
Many programs on the Internet offer free sign-ups, free products, and free websites to help an individual get started in an Internet home business. This is fantastic, because in order to make money on the Internet, you have to have a product to sell, and you are going to need a website for your customers to go to purchase your products. However, customers won't know that your website exist unless you advertise it. Many high traffic sites on the Internet will allow you to advertise your products on their site for a fee.

Getting your website listed on the search engines is free and will supply you with a never ending traffic stream. But many search engines are unwilling to list free affiliate websites. The way that we overcome this is to build our own sites and link them to our affiliate websites. Building your own website will cost you around $25. So as you can see, if you cannot initially invest at least $25 - $50 a month on your Internet business, you are probably not going to succeed.

Are you unwilling to invest your time?
I spend about 2 hours a day online through the week working on my business. I am advertising and submitting my website to various search engines, directories, and other high traffic sites. I am critiquing my website, sending emails to my affiliates in training, making deals with other webmasters, etc.

I also do an enormous amount of reading. I have found that entrepreneurs who have made a fortune on the Internet are only too happy to share their knowledge on how they got there. Some days I put in more time and some day's I don't work at all. But, I know that every hour I spend on setting my business up is just one step closer to reaching my financial goals. If you are unwilling to invest your time...you are probably not going to succeed.

Are you unwilling to give up your skepticism?
Many times I have an affiliate sign up for my program, and the first thing I hear is how they have been burned by another Internet business. While I'm sure there are millions of Internet scams out there, I see a common characteristic that all these people seem to have...they don't DO ANYTHING!

Operating an Internet business is not a get-rich quick program, nor can you be successful if you are unwilling to invest some time and money. You must have some realistic expectations and stay focused on the goal at hand. If you are capable of doing these things, you can expect many handsome rewards in the future for your time and effort.

The Right Mindset To Start A Home Based Business

2007-01-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

Making money and achieving financial freedom can be an easy process if you have the right training and the right tools. Achieving financial freedom is a step-by-step plan of action. The journey is exciting. You will probably run into some obstacles along the way and financial freedom will not happen overnight. But with a good plan of action and the right mindset, you can obtain the financial freedom you are looking for.

In order to enjoy the success in anything you do, you must have the right mindset. Your mind and the way you think about yourself, your business and your financial freedom is where it all starts. Unless you have total belief in yourself and your ability to earn serious money, you will never earn big money.

Success is 80% attitude and 20% product knowledge. With the right mindset, you can succeed at anything. If you want to be a winner, you have to start thinking and acting like a winner.

There is a saying in business, “The amount of money you make will always be in direct proportion to your personal growth.”

That statement is probably one of the most important you will ever read or hear because within that statement is the key to your success. There are far too many people in the home business industry who don’t understand the importance of taking the time to grow the skills and mindset necessary for success.

You need to commit 20-30 minutes a day on your personal development. You should read books written by people who have achieved success in business. The topics of books should cover areas such as self-confidence, better self-esteem, or successful business strategies.

Spending just a small amount of time each day increasing your personal development will grow the skills and mindset needed to be successful in your home based business.

Are You Afraid To Sell?

2007-01-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

Relationship marketing. It's the backbone of a successful online business. Fail to forge online relationships and your business will suffer. Simple enough concept, right?

What does "relationship marketing" really mean? Simply put, it refers to the principle that, in order to be successful in business, especially online since it's such an anonymous medium, you need to establish a relationship of trust with your site visitors before you can expect them to do business with you. It requires a commitment to customer service and a willingness to help others for no certain reward other than the satisfaction of helping another and building for yourself and your business a reputation of credibility and trustworthiness.

At the end of the day, though, if your business is to be successful, you have to turn a buck. One of the most common anxieties expressed by new (and even not so new) online entrepreneurs, though, is that they don't want to come across as "selling something" to those with whom they have forged the very relationship that is a prerequisite to actually making the sale!

In other words, the focus on "relationship marketing" has been so much on the relationship that the marketing begins to feel crass and a violation of trust. Many new online business owners report that they feel like they're taking advantage of the trust of those with whom they have forged a bond. Of course, there's no reason to feel any such thing so long as you believe in what it is you're selling and that it's something that will benefit your customers. If you don't feel this way, then your bad feelings are well placed. You ARE taking advantage!

Do you have just a twinge of uneasiness when it comes to marketing your products and services? Here are some ideas to help you overcome the way you may feel in pursuing sales from your prospective customers and how to manage these relationships so that your customer understands that, although you are there to help them, you are also out to help yourself by earning an honest living.

DEFINE YOUR PURPOSES

The very first thing you need to do is decide what it is you're really doing when you create your website or publish your ezine. Is it a hobby or is it a business? The difference is the absence or presence of a profit motive. If it's a hobby, fine. Don't try and turn a profit, just enjoy yourself and make just enough to cover your expenses if you can. But if it's a business, understand that making a profit is non-negotiable. It's the reason for your business's existence. You
will no doubt have several purposes. But the profit motive is key.

Do whatever it takes to crystallize your purposes. For some people, just thinking about it and making a mental decision is sufficient. For others, crystallization requires seeing it in black and white. If that's you, write down your purposes. If you're running a business rather than indulging in a hobby, turning a profit must be on your list of purposes. Recognize that purpose for what it is. Embrace it. PURSUE it with a vengeance. It's nothing to be ashamed or coy about. So long as you intend to do so, and actually do so, by legitimate, honest and ethical means, give yourself permission to aggressively chase a dollar.

Why crystallize your purposes in this way? Because they'll keep you on track when you're confronted by the naysayers who'll inevitably pop up in your life.

BE BUSINESSLIKE AND PROFESSIONAL

The concept of "relationship marketing" does NOT mean getting up close and personal with your customers. You'll save yourself a lot of grief if you just keep things businesslike and professional - friendly to be sure, but not *overly* personal. It's possible to be friendly and helpful in a professional, businesslike manner without stepping over the line into the personal. The people you're dealing with are not your friends, they're your customers. Of course, over time, you may become friends with certain people who started out as customers. But don't start from the position that you have to be friends with your customers in order to engage in relationship marketing. You don't. Keep it businesslike and professional and you won't raise any unrealistic expectations.

ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR BUSINESS'S BEST INTERESTS

One way of keeping yourself in check is by constantly testing your decisions against the criteria "is this decision in the best interests of my business?". If so, do it, recognizing that something can be in the best interests of your business even if it doesn't involve cash flowing in your direction. If not, don't.

Occasionally, it will be in the best interests of your business to do something that may be perceived by your customer as a personal favor. An example might be giving a refund for a purchase under circumstances where the customer is not strictly entitled to one and where you have an ongoing relationship with the customer. You do so in the interests of customer service and this is certainly an example of something that is in your business's best interests.

Sometimes, however, customers can take advantage of such a policy. To forestall this type of problem, if you decide to do something that benefits your customer over and above what they have an entitlement to, make it clear, in a subtle way, that you are doing so for business reasons. Be prepared to set limits though. Know how far you are prepared to go before it stops being a business decision and becomes a personal one and to the detriment of your business interests. Being uncomfortable saying "no" is not a good enough reason to sacrifice your business's best interests if that's the right decision in all the circumstances.

BE DIRECT AND HONEST

Don't be shy about promoting your products and services and letting your prospective customers know you would like for them to purchase from you. Be direct, open and honest about it. For example, if someone emails you and asks for advice about how to get started in an online business of their own, recommend products that you think will benefit them.

As long as you're making an honest recommendation, there's no reason why you can't make a profit at the same time. It's a win-win situation. So stop being afraid to sell. It's the reason your business exists and it won't if you don't.

Minimize Bad Debt In Your Home-Based Business

2006-12-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

As a general rule of thumb, any business, whether it's home-based or brick and mortar, can expect to write off between 3-5% of debt as bad. That's if the business's receivables are managed properly. If not, that percentage will be much higher.

For any small business, especially one that's in its first couple of years of operation, cashflow is a paramount consideration. Many small businesses fail simply because they run out of cash during this period.

So don't throw away money owed to your business just because collecting money is unpleasant. The very survival of your business may depend on it.

In this article we consider whether you should extend credit and, if so, what processes you should implement to maximize your chances of getting paid.

WHETHER TO EXTEND CREDIT

You may prefer to have a strict payment-up-front or on-delivery payment policy but the realities of a competitive business environment are such that, in order to be competitive, you may have very little choice.

Assuming you have no real alternative in your line of business other than to extend credit, you need to have a policy for your business about who gets credit and who doesn't.

How rigorous your policy is depends on how much money we're talking about for a particular job. If you're performing a service or selling products worth several thousands of dollars, you're obviously going to be more concerned about the credit worthiness of your customer than if you're only talking about a $50 sale.

So what are the considerations you should take into account for major orders?

1. Character

When thinking about the character of your customer, what you are concerned with is the willingness of the customer to pay debts.What do you know about your customer? What is the history of the business and experience of its management? Does it have a history of litigation for unpaid debts? Does it or any of its principals have a history of insolvency?

2. Financial Capacity

Here we are concerned, not with the customer's willingness to pay debts, but with its capacity to do so. So find out about the financial position of your customer before deciding to extend credit.

How do you get the information you need to make a determination about your customer's character (willingness to pay) and financial capacity (ability to pay)? You should ask for this information in an Application for Credit form you
develop for this purpose. Any prospective customer who is reluctant to complete such a form should be treated with caution. Any reputable organization should understand your concern to only extend credit to credit worthy applicants.

And don't just accept at face value the information that you are provided with. Carry out credit checks (use Equifax, for example, in the case of individuals and Dun & Bradstreet for corporate credit checks). Also check with your customer's bank and two or three customers. You should ask for credit references such as these on the Application for Credit.

If the result of any of these enquiries is even slightly negative be cautious. If you're just not comfortable extending credit to a particular customer, don't. Don't be coy here. This is your business's livelihood you're dealing with. So, in such cases, require payment prior to shipment or prior to performance of services.

EXTENDING CREDIT

Once you have decided to extend credit to a particular customer, make sure your supply terms are crystal clear.

Your supply agreement should cover:

1. In the case of provision of services, what services are you to perform for the customer? In the case of sale of products, what are you selling? In other words, what is the subject matter of the contract?

2. The fee for your services or price for your home business products.

3. When delivery will be made.

4. When ownership of goods passes. If you're shipping goods to your customer, consider including a retention of title clause in your supply terms. A retention of title clause has the effect that ownership of the goods doesn't pass to the customer until payment is made. This means you can, at least in theory, repossess the goods if you don't get paid.

Note this will usually only be effective if your goods can be specifically identified. If your goods can be sourced from any number of sources and can't be identified as coming specifically from you, a retention of title clause may offer
little real protection. If you're selling goods that are identified with serial numbers though, or if you're the only vendor of a particular product, such clauses are effective.

5. When payment is due. In the case of major jobs, consider requiring part payment up front with the balance due on completion or in stages throughout the project.

INVOICING

You should issue your invoice upon delivery of the goods or completed service (unless you are receiving payment in instalments throughout the project in which case you issue an invoice for each stage of the project at which payment is to be made).

Make sure your invoice is clearly laid out and easy to understand. Make sure payment terms are unambiguous. There should be no doubt when payment is due. For example, "Payment is Due on Receipt", "Net 30 days" etc.. If you intend to impose a late payment penalty if the invoice is not paid on time, make sure this appears on the face of the invoice as well as details of any discount you offer for early payment.

GETTING PAID

Most customers will simply pay you when due. Others, unfortunately, will not. You need to have a process to make sure you get paid.

To begin with, pay attention to your receivables position. Set aside time each week to review and take action on outstanding accounts. This will undoubtedly be one of your least favorite activities. No-one likes having to call up debts. Don't put this off though. You have the best chance of getting what's yours if you act quickly and decisively, before a debt has the chance to become doubtful, let alone bad.

So, monitor your receivables and be on the lookout for danger signals which include habitual slow payment, broken payment promises, unreturned calls and postdated checks. Keep an eye on accounts where you know the customer is changing banks or refinancing too. This can be a symptom of cashflow problems.

When an account becomes overdue, take immediate action. Establish a debt collection routine and carry it out. Here's how to go about collecting overdue debts:

1. Call customers whose invoices are overdue.

First off, find out the name of the person responsible for accounts payable. If that person is not available when you call, try and find out when is the best time to reach them. Make sure you get the name of the person taking the message (this is an excellent way of increasing the chance that your message will actually get passed on!) and ask when the person you need to speak to will be available. If the person you need to speak to uses voicemail, leave a detailed, complete message and a clear request that he or she returns your call as soon as possible.

Create a sense of urgency but be pleasant and courteous at all times. After all, there may be a problem you don't know about. The customer may not have received your invoice, for example. This sometimes happens if the delivery address is different from the billing address. If you enclose your invoice in the delivery package that goes to the delivery address, the billing address may never receive it! Or there may have been a problem with shipment. At least you'll find out if you make the call.

If there is no good reason why the account hasn't been paid, get a commitment from the customer to pay you today. Expect payment and convey that expectation to your customer. After all, if you don't believe it, neither will your customer.

2. The Check Is In The Mail

If you're told the check is in the mail, ask when it was mailed and also ask for the check number, the amount and the address it was mailed to. If the check hasn't been mailed at all, you'll know.

3. Don't be Fobbed Off

If you believe you're being fobbed off, it's time to escalate things to the next level. Remain courteous and polite but start pushing for a resolution. If the person you're dealing with says they need to make enquiries and will get back to you, establish a time to call back and follow through. Make sure the other person knows you're not going to just let this go. No one likes to be hounded so if it's within their power, they'll get you paid and off their back.

Other ways to push for resolution are to make arrangements to send a courier to collect the check, agree a new payment date or even agree to payment in installments if you believe the problem is a genuine inability to pay as opposed to mere unwillingness. If, however, you conclude that your customer has the ability to pay but, for whatever reason, is trying to avoid payment, don't be offering any compromises. That just sets the scene for a repetition in the future.

4. If All Else Fails

In most cases, being persistent and firm in your insistence that you be paid will result in exactly that. In a very few instances, however, despite your best efforts, a customer will simply not pay you.

Your response to non-payment in these circumstances will depend on your customer's capacity to pay and the amount of the debt. After all, there's little point going to the expense of hiring a collection agency or a lawyer to recover a debt that your customer is simply unable to pay. Similarly, you have to weigh these costs against the amount of the debt.

Sometimes the best business decision is to cut your losses and write the debt off. Naturally, you NEVER extend credit to this customer again.

If, however, the debt is significant and you have reason to believe the customer is capable of paying, then by all means engage a collection agency or a lawyer to pursue recovery. In these cases be sure to include your recovery expenses in the amount to be recovered.

And don't forget your supply terms. If these included a retention of title clause and the goods can be specifically identified as belonging to your shipment, by all means, repossess!

Start and Manage a Business From Your Home

2006-12-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

Introduction: "There's No Place Like Home"

The cottage industry, an old-fashioned enterprise, is enjoying a revival so strong that it's difficult to find out just how many Americans are now working at home.

Because women now enter business at a rate five times faster than men, the trend of operating from home is growing. A natural starting place for many businesses seems to be the garage, basement, or den.

Homemakers, hobbyists, retirees, people interested in a second income, and the disabled are just a few of the groups attracted to home enterprises. A young mother's craft business began when she started appliqueing decorations on her children's clothes.

A retired government worker bought 36 beehives and sold honey to local health food stores and at craft fairs. A teacher did typing and secretarial jobs for her husband and friends until she realized the potential market and opened a full-time secretarial service from her apartment. Others have become home business owners by using their skills in catering, counseling, teaching, day care, sewing, writing, photography, consulting, market research, and landscape design.

The list of services that have been successfully operated from home is endless: chimney sweeping, maid services, messenger services, wake-up and answering services, home nursing, mail order businesses, party planning, dog grooming, kitchen and closet planning and organizing, and others too numerous to mention. You can target exactly the right type of business for your skills, your home space, your market, and your part of the country.

Home Entrepreneurship: Is It For You?

The first step in deciding whether to start a business is to ask yourself this important question: "Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?" Studying the characteristics of successful business owners will help you to tell whether your personality traits, experiences, and values are similar to those who have succeeded. And assessing your experience, skills, and life goals will also help you decide if you want to invest the energy, time, and resources that successful entrepreneurship requires.

Who is the "Typical" Entrepreneur?

What makes an entrepreneur successful is a hotly debated and vigorously researched subject. The following questions are designed to help you determine your "Entrepreneurial Quotient."

Do you reconcile your bank account as soon as the monthly statement comes in?

Entrepreneurs are careful about money. They usually know how much money they have so they can seize opportunities on short notice. They know what things cost, whether prices are going up or down, and whether they are getting a bargain.

Did you earn money on your own from some source other than your family before you were 10 years old?

Most people who are going to make money in business show an affinity for making money at an early age--by babysitting, selling lemonade, delivering newspapers, or some such strategy.

Do you get up early in the morning and find yourself at work before others are out of bed?

Entrepreneurs sleep and eat enough to keep up their strength, but they don't usually tarry at these pursuits.

Do you tend to trust your hunches rather than wait until you have a lot of information on hand?

Hunches are judgments based on factors that cannot be quantified. A big part of entrepreneurship seems to be risk-taking based on these hunches.

Do you keep new ideas in your head instead of writing them down?

Entrepreneurs keep a lot of things in their heads, including their most creative ideas.

Do you remember people's names and faces well?

Ease in remembering names and faces is very important in the business world.

Were you good in "hard" subjects--mathematics, biology, engineering, accounting, and so forth--in school?

People who major in business administration in college are more likely to be successful entrepreneurs than anyone else. They prefer subjects in which the answers are conclusive rather than open-ended conclusions full of contingencies.

In school, did you pretty much stay away from such organizations as Scouts and student government?

Most entrepreneurs tend to be loners rather than joiners, unless joining is a useful tactic for making contacts and gathering business information.

In courting the opposite sex, did you tend to go for one person at a time as opposed to playing the field?

Most entrepreneurs preferred one person because to play the field would have taken too much time away from business activities.

Do you close deals with a handshake rather than insisting on written contracts and guarantees?

Good entrepreneurs are often comfortable with something less binding than written contracts. When the only bond is a word, it becomes a matter of honor, and no entrepreneur can afford to lose honor.

Do you devote considerably more time and thought to work than to other activities, such as hobbies?

Entrepreneurs may have some leisure time activities, but their principal hobby is their work.

Was your parent an entrepreneur?

Having a close relative who was an entrepreneur is the single most telling indicator of a successful entrepreneur.

What size company do you now work for?

The typical entrepreneur comes from a medium-sized company -- 30 to 500 employees.

Have you ever been fired?

Entrepreneurs make poor employees. That's why they become entrepreneurs.

If you had a new business going, would you play your cards close to the vest, or would you be willing to discuss problems with your employees?

Typical entrepreneurs have a secretive streak. If they confide in anyone, it is likely to be another entrepreneur.

Are You Ready, Willing, and Able?

Now that you have studied the characteristics of others who have succeeded, look at your reasons for wanting a home-based business. Are you dissatisfied with your current job? What are your skills? What is your business experience, especially in the business you want to start? What are your life goals? What resources do you have
that might help?

Answering these questions will provide reality testing for ideas that can sound incredibly glamorous when chatting with friends or seductively attractive when you are irritated or bored by your present job.

How does your family react to the idea of a home business? Will you expect them to help out? What changes would your business use of the house mean for them? Will you have to remodel to create a usable business space?

What resources are available to you? Will you start by keeping your job and "moonlighting" for a while? Do you have a small nest egg, inheritance, or retirement income to live on until you get the business going? Do you already own tools or machines that will help (for instance, a computer for a secretarial business or professional cameras and a darkroom for a commercial photography business)? Are you able to go back to school for training if necessary? Have you built up a network of contacts and possible customers through your previous lines of work or will you be starting from scratch?

Answering these questions honestly and completely will help you assess not only your chances for success but also which type of home-based business to choose. For instance, if your past professional life and contacts are all in the educational, teaching, child-oriented school area, then you should have powerful reasons for leaving that and opening a mail-order seed business. Possibly a tutoring business
or a tot exercise franchise would use more of your resources and networks. On the other hand, if your assessment of your life goals and preferences helps you realize that you are burned out from working with kids, then perhaps a business planning birthday parties could later be built into a general party planning and catering business. You would be using your old contacts to build a long-range business
plan that focuses on a service business for adults.

The Advantages of Home-Based Business

Why have millions of Americans chosen to work and live in the same place? Why are cottage industries sprouting faster than we can count them? Some home-based businesses start by accident rather than by conscious design. Secretarial services, day-care centers, craft ventures, and the like may start out as weekend activities
in the recreation room. After a while their owners are surprised to see how profitable or enjoyable the venture has become. The glimpse of a healthy market lures them into a full-time venture. This low-risk, low-overhead, gradual kind of start-up is very attractive to new business people.

Many home-based business people cite decreased commuting time and other lessened business expenses as advantages for working at home. If your place of work is just 30 minutes away, that's five hours a week in commuting time, many dollars in gasoline and car maintenance or transit fares, and untold stress fighting traffic. Getting out of the high-fashion rat race is a plus for many who dislike having to dress up and continually buy new clothes to feel comfortable in settings outside the home.

Homemakers--mostly women but also an increasing number of men--are choosing a home-based business in order to have a more flexible lifestyle and to be closer to family. A parent who has a home office can eat lunch with the children or more easily attend special school or sports events. The home-based business person has more control over work hours than someone with a 9 to 5 job. Night owls who like to work until 3 a.m. can then sleep late (remembering, of course, to turn on the answering machine and let customers know the business hours). On the other hand, early birds can work without the usual disturbance from the telephones.

The tax advantages of operating a business from home are numerous but sometimes complicated. Wise business owners keep careful records and work with accountants, attorneys, and financial planners to make sure they are filing for the legal maximum write-offs and benefits.

The Disadvantages of a Home-Based Business

If you were hard at work in an office downtown, it is unlikely that three children would come storming in to ask for snacks or that you would end up using the ironing board for a bookshelf or have to think twice about hiring others because they might resent working at your kitchen table. These are just a few of the problems that make the glamour of working at home fade fast. Some disadvantages of working at home can be minimized by self-discipline, by setting clear limits with family and friends, and by projecting a professional image. Other disadvantages "come with the turf" and just have to be lived with. If a delivery man comes to the door, you will probably be the one to interrupt your work and sign for the package.

It takes time and discipline to establish steady, at-home work patterns. Often it seems easier to water the plants or do the laundry than to call a client, design a new brochure, or prepare bills for customers whose work you've completed. Without the deadlines imposed by supervisors or peers, it can be hard to do the least appealing jobs on your list. To make matters worse, others may not take you seriously. Neighbors may stop by to chat or friends may call your business number knowing you will answer. Without supervisors or managers, you are the one who must set limits and plan your time. There also is the problem of isolation. While you are now your own boss, you won't have the chats, the parties, the companionship of
fellow workers. Losing such social contact requires adjustments.

As the business grows and changes, the home entrepreneur has to put up with cramped or inappropriate space. No more simply putting in a request for a bigger file cabinet or a new copy machine; now you must visit showrooms or garage sales, evaluate features, compare prices, and probably pick the item up yourself.

Your teenager may resent having to keep the stereo low because you're meeting with a client in the next room. Your spouse may be irritated by having to fry that freshly caught trout on the backyard grill so your office won't smell of fish. Your son
may not want to give up the recreation room pool table so you can cut out 100 doll patterns this weekend. Neighbors may comment on the extra traffic your customers create on their quiet street. Family privacy and lifestyle patterns may be disturbed. And you will probably find yourself wrestling with laws and regulations
you never dreamed could exist before you went into business.

Your Professional Image

Developing a professional image may be hard if you work out of your home. Projecting a businesslike image is an important part of building credibility with your customers and contributes to your own professional self-image. Design a logo or have one designed; order business cards and stationery. Set regular business hours.
Use an answering machine or answering service. If other members of the family also answer the phone, make sure they know what to say. Have a businesslike office or "showroom" if you meet customers face to face. Consider referring to your apartment number as your "suite number" or rent a post office box rather than using your street address. Such practices might improve your chances of doing business
with potential customers.

Your Next Steps

Now that you have reflected on the characteristics of successful entrepreneurship and assessed your skills, experience, and life goals, it's time to plan your next steps. Ask yourself: Given the disadvantages of working out of my home, do I still want to? Now that I know more about what's involved in starting a business, is it still for me? Do I need further training or experience? Should I begin part-time in order to test the waters, check out market potential, or refine my product or service? Do I need more time to research possible products or services? Have I decided on a particular business?

Answering The Big Question: What? Who? Where? How? and How Much?

What's the perfect home business for you? You've listed your skills. You've outlined your interests. You've described your family's preferred lifestyle. You've come up with a business idea. Next, consider such questions as: Are there customers for my product or service? How do I know? How will I find them? Who are my competitors?
What will I charge? How will I promote my product or service? Finding the answers to these questions is the challenging and sometimes tedious homework that will help you determine your chances for success, and whether you should look for another more marketable idea.

What Is My Product?

"I bathe and groom poodles and small dogs." "I design, construct, and sell roll-top desks." "I provide accounting services to small business clients." "I make dried flower arrangements." "I teach intermediate and advanced piano to children." "I design and implement direct mail advertising campaigns for small businesses and nonprofit organizations."

The first step in creating a business is to decide what your product is. What are you selling? Practice writing a short, specific statement describing your product or service. Getting a clear idea of a business concept is one of the most difficult
tasks in creating a business. Your statement may change several times as you experiment with the market and test your skills.

Who Will Buy It?

To develop and test your business idea, answer the question "Who will buy my product or service?" Make a list of potential customers: individuals, groups, segments of the population, or other businesses that need your product or service. If you are making fabric-covered lap boards for people confined to bed, how will you quickly and inexpensively find a market? Through hospitals or home nursing care organizations? Through craft stores by displaying them as gift items? In mail order catalogues? Is there a market avenue that will reach children? Ask friends and colleagues for help in brainstorming all the possible markets (customers) and uses for your product or service.

Who Is the Competition?

Your business planning must also include an up-to-date analysis of your competition. Why? Because you need to plan your market position--how you will fit into the marketplace. Will your product or service be cheaper or more expensive than that of the major competitions? Will it be more durable? Will you be open during hours
that your competitors are closed? What benefits can you build into your product or service that your competitors don't offer? Will you do rush jobs?

In planning your business, look for a unique niche that will give you freedom from strong competition or that will make your product or service more valuable than others in the market. If you plan to open a day-care center and find that none in your area is open before school, early opening might make your service more competitive. If you discover that local caterers have overlooked the office party
market, you might highlight that in your brochure. The more you can learn about your competition, the better you'll be able to decide how to position yourself in the market.

Where Are the Buyers? How Can I Find Them?

As you become more familiar with the competition, you will also be discovering where and how to find buyers. Whatever the type of home business you want to open, you will need to do market research to determine if there are buyers for your idea, where they are, and how to find them. (And in the process, you will also be gathering information on pricing.)

When your marketing research is completed you will have 1) identified your potential customers; 2) found out all you can about their habits, needs, preferences, and buying cycles; and 3) decided how to reach them to generate sales.

How Much Shall I Charge?

Four main factors will help you decide what to charge for your product or service: 1) your direct and indirect costs; 2) the profit you want to make; 3) your market research data on competitors' prices; and 4) the urgency of the market demand. There is rarely an exact "right" price but rather an acceptable price range within which you will want to fall. Avoid the common mistakes made by many new business owners--charging too much or too little. Use several approaches to arrive at a cost and "test" the price. If your ego is too involved, your price may be too high. On the other hand, if you have the attitude that "this is just a little something I
do in my spare time" or "anybody could do this," then your price may be too low.

Here is a formula for setting a fair price. Calculate your price using other approaches, too, before you make a final decision on price:

Typical Pricing Formula

1. Direct Material Costs--Figure the total cost of the raw materials you have to use to make up your item. Figure the cost of a group of items and then divide by the number of items to find the cost per item. If you can easily and immediately determine the material cost of a single item, fine. Some items are produced in batches, however, and it is easier to get an item cost by dividing the cost of a batch by the number of items eventually produced.

2. Direct Labor Costs--Figure what you pay to employees to produce the item (whether or not you have employees now). You must assign a wage figure, even if you are the only one producing the item. Take the weekly salary you pay someone to produce the necessary number of items and divide it by the number of items. Add this figure to
the Direct Material Costs total.

Materials + Labor = $__________.

3. Overhead Expenses--These expenses include rent, gas and electricity, business telephone calls, packing and shipping supplies, delivery and freight charges, cleaning, insurance, office supplies, postage, payroll taxes, repairs, and
maintenance. The accuracy of your costing depends on estimating logical amounts for all categories of expenses. If you are working at home, figure a portion of your total rent or mortgage payment(in proportion to your work space and storage areas), or assign a reasonable, competitive rent figure for the same amount and type of space. List all overhead expense items and total them. Divide the total overhead figure by the number of items per month (or time period you used above). The answer is your overhead per item.

Overhead + Materials + Labor = Total Cost/Item

4. Profit--Include an amount added to the cost of each item so you won't end up just breaking even or making the employees' wages. Check your competition and see what they are charging. (Retailers generally double the wholesale price.) If your product is a little better than the competition, charge a little more. If your product is comparable, price it similarly. Remember, you will get the profit from each sale,
in addition to the salary figure. Add the profit figure you have chosen to the total cost per item to get your total price per item.

Profit + Total Cost/Item = Total Price/Item

Remember, the main purpose in operating a business is to make a profit. Don't undersell your product or service just because "I'd be baking cakes anyway" or "I'm just starting out" or "I work out of my home." If you have a new, rare, handmade product or personalized service, the demand may be so high that customers are willing to pay a little more.

Promotion

Promotion is an overall, long-range plan designed to inform potential customers about what you have to sell. Advertising is usually thought of as the paid communication part of the promotion program.

To develop a total promotional campaign you must answer these questions: 1) What image or message do I want to promote? 2) What are the best media and activities for reaching my potential customers? 3) How much time and money can I spend on the effort?

Develop a long-range, consistent program for building image and reaching customers. Your image should be reflected in your business card, logo, stationery, brochure, newsletter, telephone answering service, signs, paid ads, and promotional activities.

Word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied customers are the very best promotion any business can have. Consider which promotional tactics will build the confidence and image you are looking for--giving speeches and interviews (often good for
counselors, teachers, lawyers, consultants), having an open house or holiday home sale (for craftspeople), holiday recitals or shows (for music and dance teachers or day-care operators), free demonstrations and samples (for retailers, decorators,
caterers).

Several small ads may have more impact than one large, splashy ad. Conduct a campaign rather than having a one-shot ad or event. If you hire a public relations firm, look for one that can give you personal attention and develop a total marketing plan for you, not just a couple of ads.You're The Boss.

Now that you have decided to open a home-based business, all decisions will be your responsibility, not just those you previously enjoyed because they involved your area of expertise. You are the boss now and the good health of your business depends on your management skills.

Choosing Your Form Of Business Organization

One of the most important decisions you will make is how to set up the business as a 1) sole proprietorship, 2) partnership, or 3) corporation. Remember, the small business owner risks it all, no matter what form of organization.

The forming of a business organization depends on the following factors:

* Legal restrictions
* Need for capital
* Liabilities assumed
* Number of people associated in the venture
* Kind of business or operation
* Tax advantages or disadvantages
* Intended division of earnings
* Perpetuation of the business

Most home-based businesses are sole proprietorships or partnerships, but a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of organization follows:

A sole proprietorship is the least costly way of starting a business. You can form a sole proprietorship by finding a location and opening the door for business. There are the usual fees for registering your business name and for legal work in changing zoning restrictions and obtaining necessary licenses. Attorney's fees for starting your business will be less than for the other forms because less document
preparation is required.

Sole Proprietorship

Advantages Disadvantages

* Easiest to get started * Unlimited liability
* Greatest freedom of action * Death or illness endanger
business
* Maximum authority * Growth limited to personal
energies
* Income tax advantages in * Personal affairs easily
very small firms mixed with business
* Social Security advantage to
owner

A partnership can be formed by simply making an oral agreement between two or more persons, but such informality is not recommended. Legal fees for drawing up a partnership agreement are higher than those for a sole proprietorship, but may be lower than incorporating. You would be wise, however, to consult an attorney to have a partnership agreement drawn up to help resolve future disputes.

Partnership

Advantages Disadvantages

* Two heads better than one * Death, withdrawal, or
bankruptcy of one partner
* Additional sources of endangers business
venture capital
* Better credit rating than * Difficult to get rid of bad
corporation of similar size partner
* Hazy line of authority

You can incorporate without an attorney, but you would be unwise to do so. You may think a small family corporation does not need an attorney, but an attorney can save members of a family corporation from hard feelings and family squabbles. Attorney's fees may run high if organization problems are complex. The corporate form is usually the most costly to organize.

Corporation

Advantages Disadvantages

* Limited liability for * Gives owner a false
stockholders (while true sense of security
for big business, may not
be for small business) * Heavier taxes
* Continuity * Power limited by Charter
* Transfer of shares * Less freedom of activity
* Easier to raise capital * Legal formalities
* Possible to separate * Expensive to launch
business functions into
different corporations

Recordkeeping

Keeping accurate and up-to-date business records is, for many people, the most difficult and uninteresting aspect of operating a home-based business. If this area of business management is one that you anticipate will be hard for you, plan now how you will cope. Don't wait until tax time or until you are totally confused. Take a course at the local community college, ask a volunteer SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) representative from the Small Business Administration to help you in the beginning, or hire an accountant to advise you on setting up and maintaining a recordkeeping system.

Your records will be used to prepare tax returns, make business decisions, and apply for loans. Set aside a special time each day to update your records. It will pay off in the long run with more deductions and fewer headaches.

If your business is small or related to an activity that is usually considered a hobby, it's even more important that you keep good records. The IRS may decide that what you are doing is only a hobby, and you won't be allowed to deduct expenses or losses from your home-produced income at tax time. So keep records of all transactions in which you spend or bring in money. Pick a name for your business
and register it with local or state regulatory authorities. Call your city hall or county courthouse to find out how.

Your records should tell you these three facts:

* How much cash you owe,
* How much cash you are due, and
* How much cash you have on hand.

You should keep five basic journals:

1. Check register--Shows each check disbursed, the date of disbursement, number of the check, to whom it was made out (payee), the amount of money disbursed, and for what purpose.

2. Cash receipts--Shows the amount of money received, from whom, and for what.

3. Sales journal--Shows the business transaction, date, for whom it was performed, the amount of the invoice, and the sales tax, if applicable. It may be divided to indicate labor and goods.

4. Voucher register--A record of bills, money owed, the date of the bill, to whom it is owed, the amount, and the service.

5. General journal--A means of adjusting some entries in the other four journals.

Choosing a Recordkeeping System

Set up your records to reflect the amount and type of activity in your particular business. There are a wide range of pre-packaged recordkeeping systems. The SBA's pamphlet Small Business Bibliography No. 15 (see "For Further Information") lists many such systems. The most useful system for a small, home-based business is usually based on what is called the "One-Write System." It captures information
at the time the transaction takes place. These One-Write Systems are efficient because they eliminate the need for recopying the data and are compatible with electronic data processing if you should decide to computerize.

Even though you may be small and just beginning, it is probably wise to consult an accountant to help you decide which recordkeeping system is best for your business. Once it is set up, you can record the daily transactions or periodically have a bookkeeper post your daily transactions in your General Ledger and prepare your financial statements.

Be sure to establish a separate bank account for your business--even before the first sale. Then you will have a complete and distinct record of your income and expenditures for tax purposes, and you won't have to remember which expenses were business and which were personal.

It is important to choose a recordkeeping system that you understand and will use. It will help you see how well the business is doing and is the first step in responsible financial management.

Tax Obligations And Benefits

Significant tax savings are available to the home-based businessowner in the form of deductions, credits, and depreciation allowances. The time, money, and energy you put into keeping good records and keeping current on tax laws will be worthwhile and ensure that you operate within the law. You will need to plan for income tax, social security (all self-employed persons must pay a federal self-employment tax), employees' taxes (if you hire anyone), property tax on your home and business-related taxes, such as sales tax, gross-receipts or inventory tax (in some states and localities), and excise or individual item taxes (on certain commodities).

As a home-based business owner you should be aware that every business decision--each purchase and transaction you make--has tax implications or built-in tax advantages or disadvantages. Deductions may be available for home maintenance and improvements; automobile expenses; telephone expenses; office and work space; inventory space; major purchases, such as a computer; and a wide variety of other items such as uniforms, coffee service, trademarks, a safe deposit box, credit bureau fees, and business cards.

Each business situation is different and tax laws change, so consult up-to-date references, a trusted attorney, and an accountant who can advise you on your particular obligations and benefits.

Insurance

Insurance helps to safeguard your business against losses from fire, illness, and injury. You cannot operate without it. Talk with an insurance representative about your business needs. Check with the insurance carriers on your home policy and make sure business use of your home is compatible with your homeowner's policy. In addition to a homeowner's policy (personal plan), now that you have a business,
you will need a commercial policy for full protection. Discuss these other possible needs with your agent:

* Product Liability Coverage--to protect you in case
your product causes injury to the user

* Auto Liability and "Non-owned" Auto Liability
Insurance--if a car is ever used to support the
business in any way

* Medical Payments Insurance--payable if someone is
injured in your home whether or not it was your
fault

* Worker's Compensation--if you have employees

* Business Interruption Insurance or Earnings
Insurance--in case your business is damaged by fire
or some other cause and you must totally or partially
suspend operations

* Disability Income Protection--a form of health
insurance in case you become disabled

* Business Life Insurance--to provide funds for
transition if you die

Be sure to keep all your insurance records and policies in a safe place--either with your accountant or in a safe deposit box. If you keep them at home for convenience sake, then give your policy numbers and insurance company names to your accountant or lawyer or put it in your safe deposit box.

Final advice for the wise business person is to read and understand the fine print in all policies and to reevaluate business insurance needs about every six months.

Other Considerations

Another aspect of planning is sheltering tax dollars through a Keogh Plan or corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, if your business is incorporated, or a retirement plan.

If you have a partnership, consider making a Buy and Sell Agreement with your partner(s). This agreement requires the surviving partner(s) to buy, and the heirs to sell, the deceased partner's interest. The surviving partner(s) then becomes the sole owner(s) and the heirs receive cash for their share of the business.

Dealing With Laws: Zoning, Licensing, Permits, and Others

Unfortunately, many home-based business people try to "slide" into business, saying "I'll just try it for a few months and see how things go" or "It's not really a business. I have only ten clients." This attitude can lead to a lack of planning and big disappointments. If you set up your studio, print business cards and flyers announcing classes, and then find that regulations make it illegal to operate out of your home, you may have to start all over.

Zoning

Before you start your home-based business, do a thorough investigation of the zoning laws in your community. Zoning regulations spell out activities permitted and prohibited in specific portions of a city or county. Call your town hall, zoning office, or local library to get a copy of zoning laws. Find out the structure of your local zoning groups. Most areas have Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Boards.

If the home business you are planning conforms to zoning regulations, then all you need to do is keep abreast of new proposals that may affect your situation. It's a good idea to stay in touch with others operating from their homes by joining business organizations or neighborhood groups in case you ever need to band together to propose or oppose new regulations. Maintaining a low profile and friendly
relations with your neighbors will result in more support from them should adverse regulations affecting your business ever be proposed.

If through your research you discover that the home business you are planning would violate the zoning code, there are several possible ways to proceed. You might wish to check with an attorney who specializes in zoning law to look for a legal way around the regulation. You might decide to apply to the Zoning Board for a
variance or exception. Or you may be able to change your business enough to make the operation fit the law. If the regulation outlaws businesses that employ people other than the owner at home, maybe you can have employees take work to their own homes. If your business will create too much traffic, consider another strategy for product distribution. If your business will create too much noise, maybe you can soundproof your house. At last resort, ask yourself "Is it worth it to organize a drive to change the law?" Considering the rapid growth in the number of home-based businesses, you just might find other entrepreneurs who are also interested in
submitting a change in the regulations to the Zoning Board. Go to meetings of the Board and try to identify the person who appears most active and most sympathetic to your position.

Keeping Up With Zoning Legislation

There are two ways to keep up with zoning legislation in your community (and with other topics of interest to home-based entrepreneurs). One way is to read local newspapers, especially the business section and the local or "neighborhood" sections. Be sure you notice local items about such things as proposed subway stations or the county's plan for revitalization. Changes like these could eventually influence zoning in your area. The other way to keep abreast of trends and zoning issues is to join the local chapter of a business group, such as the Rotary Club, the National Association of Women Business Owners, the National
Family Business Council, or a Business and Professional Women's Club. Through newsletters, meetings, and friendships that develop, you will hear all the latest local (and national) issues discussed while you learn valuable business skills and make useful contacts.

Working With Professionals

Even the smallest and newest business needs help from at least two kinds of specialists: an attorney and an accountant. Depending on your type of business and your skills you may, from time to time, ask the advice of other professionals, such as a direct mail or marketing specialist, an insurance representative, management
consultant, a computer specialist, a realtor, a public relations expert.

Several guidelines will hold true no matter what type of expert you are dealing with: 1) Interview professionals to see if you will be comfortable working with them. Make sure they have served other small businesses similar to yours. Find out ahead of time exactly what service you are buying, what the working relationship
will be, and what fees will be charged. 2) Be completely honest about your business situation. Advice based on partial or incorrect information is no advice at all. If you are having problems, don't be embarrassed. If your sales are down, give the experts all the information you have and work as a team to solve the problem. If
business is good, don't be afraid that professionals will steal your idea or expect a raise. Build a trusting, businesslike relationship. 3) Expect the professionals you hire to spend at least some of their time teaching you and explaining complex
concepts. But don't expect to be spoon-fed or delegate all decisions to them. Take a course at the local community college in recordkeeping and taxes or public relations to develop more skill in areas where you are inexperienced. 4) Keep your appointments and pay your bills promptly.

Your Lawyer

A lawyer can help you decide which is the most advantageous business structure (sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation). He or she can help you with zoning, permit, or licensing problems; health inspection problems; unpaid bills; contracts and agreements; patents, trademarks, copyright protection; and some tax problems. Because there is always the possibility of a lawsuit, claim, or other legal action against your business, it is wise to have a lawyer who is already familiar with your business before a crisis arises. A lawyer experienced with your type of venture should also advise you on laws, programs, and agencies--(federal, state, and local)--that help small businesses through loans, grants, procurement set-asides, counseling, and other ways. He or she will tell you about unexpected legal opportunities and pitfalls that may affect your business.

Your Accountant

Most businesses fail not for lack of good ideas or good will, but rather for lack of financial expertise and planning. Look for an accountant as you would an attorney. Get referrals from trusted friends, business associations, or professional organizations. Discuss fees in advance and draw up a written agreement about how
you will work together. Your accountant (along with your lawyer) can advise about initial business decisions, such as the form of the business. Your accountant will help set up your books, draw up and analyze profit and loss statements, advise on financial decisions (e.g., buying a computer), and give advice on cash requirements for your start-up phase. He or she can make budget forecasts, help prepare financial information for a loan application, and handle tax matters.

State and Federal Laws That May Apply to Your Business

Most localities have registration and licensing requirements that will apply to you. A license is a formal permission to practice a certain business activity, issued by a local, state, or federal government. You may have the type of business that requires a permit from the local authorities. There is often a small fee for licenses and permits (usually $15-25). A license may require some kind of
examination to certify that the recipient is qualified. Your business name must be registered and a sales tax number must be obtained. Separate business telephones and bank accounts are usually required. Of course, you will want to have the latter anyway for accurate bookkeeping purposes, If you have employees, you are responsible
for withholding income and Social Security taxes. You must also pay worker's compensation and unemployment insurance and comply with minimum wage and employee health laws.

Think twice about the liabilities of operating without proper licenses and registrations. If you begin to advertise or are fortunate enough to "make the news" in some way, you will probably hear from a local official. You will pay with
embarrassment, time, and money if your business is not properly licensed.

Understanding the Financial Side

Who Needs Financial Planning? You do! All businesses run on money for the purpose of making money. A major reason for business failure is the lack of financial planning. Although it is nearly impossible to make exact estimates, approximate ones will help. The very process of thinking through these financial questions will develop
your business acumen and lead to solid planning. Get your accountant involved in reviewing your plans and advising you, too.

Estimating Start-Up Costs

Begin your financial planning by estimating your initial or start-up costs. Include all items of a nonrecurring nature such as fees, licenses, permits, franchise fees, insurance, telephone deposit, tools, equipment, office supplies, fixtures, installation of fixtures and equipment, remodeling and decorating, funds for your
opening promotional event if you plan to have one, signs, and, of course, professional fees for your attorney and accountant.

Depending on your type of operation, the amount of money you invest, and the energy you expect to put in (part-time to full-time) can determine how much working capital you will need. Many business experts say if you expect a profit in six months, double that time and be ready to operate without profits for twelve months to give
yourself a cushion in case of unanticipated expenses or delays. Study the growth patterns of other similar business and ask for advice from your accountant and attorney.

Projecting Operating Income and Expenses

Next, estimate the "working" capital you will need to keep operating for six to twelve months. Operating expenses include salaries; expenses for telephone, light, heat, office supplies, and other supplies or materials; debt interest; advertising fees; maintenance costs; taxes; legal and accounting fees; insurance fees; business
membership fees; and special services expenses, such as secretarial, copying, and delivery service.

In addition to business operating capital, you will need to plan for reserve capital to cover personal expenses. This estimate will include all your normal living expenses, such as food, household expenses, car payments, rent or mortgage, clothing, medical expenses, entertainment, and taxes for you and your family.

After you have estimated start-up costs, working or operating capital needed for six to twelve months, and personal expenses and obligations, you may see that you need more start-up capital than you thought. What will you do? Discuss this with your accountant, attorney, and trusted business associates and family. Entrepreneurs secure needed capital in a variety of ways. You can:

* Get loans or gifts from family members or friends. Make
businesslike, written agreements and be sure to disclose
fully the potential risk as well as the possible profit.

* Apply for a bank loan. For this you will need a
comprehensive statement of your personal financial condition
and a business plan with financial projections to present
to the loan officer. If you need help in preparing your loan
application, take a course for small business people at a
local community college or visit your nearest SBA office
to get assistance from a SCORE counselor.

* Apply for an SBA loan guarantee. The SBA is not a bank,
but it does extend guarantees and may rarely participate
in a loan when the bank is unable or unwilling to provide
the entire financing itself. The SBA loan officer will ask
you the same hard questions as a loan officer in a
commercial bank and require the same carefully considered
data on your personal finances, start-up costs, and
business projections.

* Search for some sort of venture capital. For start-up
entrepreneurs some prior managerial or entrepreneurial
track record is usually necessary in order to get venture
capital. The main disadvantage of venture capital is that
you will probably have to give up between 50 to 90
percent ownership of the new business in return for the
capital. A home business is extremely unlikely to attract
venture capital.

Understanding Your Balance Sheet

Your Balance Sheet is a summary of the status of your business--i.e., its assets, liabilities, and net worth--at an instant in time. By reviewing your Balance Sheet along with the Profit and Loss Statement and Cash-Flow Statement, you will be able to make informed financial and business planning decision.

The Balance Sheet is drawn up using the totals from the individual accounts kept in your General Ledger. It shows what you have left when you pay all your creditors. Assets less liabilities equal capital or net worth. The assets and liabilities sections must balance--hence the name Balance Sheet. It can be produced quarterly, semi-annually, or at the end of each calendar or fiscal year.

While your accountant will be most helpful in drawing up your Balance Sheet, it is you who must understand it. Current assets are anything of value you own such as cash, inventory, or property that the business owner can convert into cash within a year; fixed assets are things such as land and equipment. Liabilities are debts
the business must pay. They may be current (such as amounts owed to suppliers or your accountant) or they may be long-term (such as notes owed to the bank). Capital (also called equity or net worth) is the excess of your assets over your liabilities.

Prepare a Balance Sheet for your new business during the planning phase to estimate its financial condition at that time and also a projected one for the first year of business. This will help you decide on the feasibility of your venture and make modifications to ensure profitability. You can also use these statements as part
of the documentation in a loan application.

Understanding Your Profit and Loss Statement

Your Profit and Loss Statement is a detailed, month-by-month tally of the income from sales and the expenses incurred to generate the sales. It is a good assessment tool because it shows the effect of your decision on profit. It is a good planning tool because you can "try out" decisions on paper before actually going ahead.

The Profit and Loss Statement includes four kinds of information:

* The Sales information lists the number of units sold and
the total revenues generated by the sales.

* The Direct Expenses category includes the cost of labor,
materials, and manufacturing overhead (but not normal
overhead).

* Indirect Expenses are the costs you have even if the
product is not produced or the service is not delivered. They
include the fixed costs or normal overhead of salaries,
rent, utilities, insurance, depreciation, office supplies,
taxes, and professional fees for your lawyers and
accountant.

* Income or Profit is the last category on the
Profit and Loss Statement. It is shown both as pre-tax and after-tax
or net income. The IRS will look at your pre-tax figure,
whereas your loan officer and you are more concerned
with your after-tax figure.

Your Profit and Loss Statement should be prepared at the very minimum once a year--and more often in the beginning or growth stages of your business. It is a key document from which the economic health of a business can be determined. Make certain you do it properly and understand its meaning.

Understanding Your Cash Flow Statement

Your business must have a healthy cash flow to survive. Cash flow is the amount of money available in your business at any given time. To keep tabs on cash flow, forecast the funds you expect to disburse and receive over a given period of time. Then you can predict deficiencies or surplus in cash and decide how to respond.

A cash flow projection serves one other very useful purpose in addition to planning. As the actual information becomes available to you, compare it to the monthly cash flow estimates you previously made to see how accurately you are estimating. As you do this, you will be giving your self on-the-spot business training in making more accurate estimates and plans for the coming months. As your ability to estimate improves, your financial control of the business will increase.

The creative business owner works with his or her accountant to use the information gleaned from all of these financial tools to make a variety of managerial decisions--decisions on buying supplies, expansion, when to hire more employees, how to get the best tax breaks, and many other important steps that will shape the future of the business.

Make it Easy on Yourself

Successful home-based business owners learn from experience--their own and that of others. Eentrepreneurs use failures as learning experiences and try to understand their role in causing the failure in order to avoid similar problems in the future.

How to Learn From Experience

You can learn from experience in several ways:

First, work closely and creatively with professional advisors, such as your lawyer and your accountant. As you continually review your business records, you will see "mistakes," but you will also begin to develop skill in planning and managing.

Second, continue to learn about all areas of business operations, constantly acquiring new ideas. Most community colleges have short, inexpensive, practical courses for business owners in topics like "Financing a Small Business," "Choosing a Small Business Computer," and "Starting and Operating a Home-Based Business."

Third, get to know other business owners with similar needs or problems. Talking with others may be a way to avoid repeating the mistakes they have made and benefiting from their experience. Local and national organizations offer membership, social events, networking opportunities, newsletters, and seminars for homebased
business owners. Through these organizations you can often advertise your product or service to other business owners. They also provide a way to learn about services you may need, such as accounting, public relations, or a responsible secretarial service. These organizations offer updates in such areas as taxes and zoning in
their newsletters and workshops.

Finding and Using Resources, Networks, and Support Groups

Start out with the attitude "Whatever my current business problem, I can find the solution. Somewhere there is information, a book, a person, an organization, or a government agency that can help." A word of warning though: finding resources and building networks can be very time-consuming. Joining organizations can turn out to be expensive, especially if you are too busy to use their services and support once you join.

As a home-based business person you can overcome feelings of isolation and give and receive valuable information if you tap into networks and resources. Being active in professional and trade associations will help to build a good marketing network
for your service or product. Take the time and invest the money for memberships. Then continually evaluate which organizations and resources best serve your business information and networking needs.

Managing Time and Stress

Expect to encounter stress and time problems similar to those of other business owners but accentuated by the fact that you work at home. Follow these guidelines to make it a little easier on yourself:

1) Plan your time and establish priorities on a daily "to do" list. Decide what your "prime time" is and do your most important or difficult tasks. Set "business hours," specific times when you are at work and times when you turn on the answering machine because you are "on duty but off call." You, your customers, and your family will appreciate knowing your set routine, even though you know that for special events or emergencies you can break that schedule.

2) Notice what your four or five big time-wasters are and learn techniques to eliminate them or compensate for them. Some common ones are: telephone interruptions, visitors, socializing, excessive paperwork, lack of policies and procedures, procrastination, failure to delegate, unclear objectives, poor
scheduling, lack of self-discipline, and lack of skill in a needed area.

3) Stay in contact with people. Even though you prefer to work at home, you should plan work-related or social activities that provide frequent contact with others. This will help your morale if you feel isolated. Even for home-based business owners who like feeling isolated, keeping up with business and professional contacts is a must.

4) Build a fitness program into your day. Many successful entrepreneurs exercise in order to think creatively because physical activity sends oxygen to the brain and helps the mind function better. With regular exercise your health will improve, your stress level will go down, and your trim look will inspire people to have confidence in your abilities.

5) Give your home business as much of a separate and distinct physical identity as possible. Although you might save a few dollars by using the ironing board as a bookshelf and a cardboard box as a file cabinet, the stress and strain of operating without proper space and supplies will take its toll. Have a separate room or area
for your business, with a separate entrance if customers or suppliers visit. Consider soundproofing so your family won't be bothered by your noise and vice versa. (In addition to the psychological and physical comfort of having a separate office, the IRS requires it in order for you to make a legitimate claim for tax deductions.)

6) Take care of your major business asset: YOU. Being the boss can be exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding. It can also be lonely, stressful, and demanding. Learn to balance your professional and personal life. Go on vacation. Get a weekly massage. Join a health club. Take a class in meditation. Attend a business owner's breakfast club. Your business depends on you to be at your best.

Home-Based Business Guide

2006-12-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Because tens of thousands of people all across America want to know how they can work at home and earn enough money to run a household, there is a special need for this report. Today the need for women to work out of the home is stronger than ever. According to recent surveys, almost 70% are married and contribute up to 50% and more to the family income. Because family responsibilities play such an important part in the lives of men and women, millions of individuals and couples are seeking ways to make money at home.

In the past decade money-making, home-based opportunities that match a person's skills, interests, abilities, and ingenuity have become almost limitless. The purpose of this report is to show you that it's simple and easy to join the ranks of success-minded people by choosing a work-at-home program that suits your interests and needs.

Business histories have shown over and over again that the rewards and advantages of working at home can go far beyond a person's wildest dreams! In fact, it's perfectly possible to launch a small business in your garage, backyard, basement, or a room in your home, and become a giant corporation.

BECOME A GOAL SETTER!

If you expect any level of success you must set goals. If you expect to be successful, you must determine what that means to you and the best way to achieve it. There are two basic steps you can take to convert goals into achievements:

1) You can decide on a specific dollar amount; and
2) You can set a time frame for obtaining the dollar amount you want.

Your goal should be specific and indicate What, When, and Where. After making a list of every possible way you might accomplish a goal, select the method that best suits your situation.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF

1) "How can I support my family while I build up by business?" This question must be worked out according to each individual' circumstances. Many people start out on a part-time basis after their regular jobs to see how much they can handle. Then when their incomes reach a certain level they will switch over and go full time.

2) "What are my abilities?" To determine your abilities you will have to take an inventory of yourself. Decide what you enjoy doing the most and what you "feel" you would be good at. Examine every possibility and include every skill you have no matter how slight.

3) "Is there a market for the produce of service I have chosen?" Be cautious before you invest any money! Check it out by making inquiries directly to the company, competitors, or firms who are marketing a product similar to the one you are interested in. Test it on a small scale. Check it out thoroughly.

4) "How long will it take this business to reach the financial goal I must have?" It's really a question of knowing how much time you can dedicate to your business, and what your profits are for that time. From there, a little simple addition will tell you how long it might take to reach a particular financial goal.

SUCCESS IS HAVING THE COURAGE TO BEGIN!

Starting a business at home is a economical way to start a small business that can easily grow into a larger one. Many entrepeneurs have proven that you don't need a huge manufacturing plant to develop a successful business. Some of the most successful businesses in existence today started in a spare room or garage. It isn't how you start out that is important. What really matters is, do you have the courage to begin.

SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT OR SERVICE

Take a close look at your interests and abilities, and then decide what type of marketing you want to do. For example, do you want to assemble items and sell them back to the manufacturer; do you want to sell directly to people; or would you prefer selling wholesale to retail outlets? If you prefer doing piecework or assembling items for manufacturers, make certain it's something you enjoy working with. If you enjoy one-on-one-sales, then test the product out on your friends, relatives and neighbors. The object is to find out what has the most appeal.

DEVELOP A GOOD MARKETING TECHNIQUE

A good marketing technique is one part of a business plan that is absolutely essential to its success. In fact, the ability to properly market a product or service is actually more impaortant than the product itself. Even an inferior product can be a financial success if marketed properly. Seek out the advice of everyone in your field. Explain your needs and ask them questions. Experience is the best teacher. With good advice and a salable product, you should be able to develop a winning marketing plan.

FINANCING YOUR HOME-BUSINESS VENTURE

The first place to look for financing is right at home. Take an inventory of items you don't need and have a garage sale. Most people are pleasantly suprised a how much cash they can raise in a single weekend. Next, turn to members of your family or close friends who have faith in you and want to see you succeed. Offer to repay them through profit-sharing. Go to individuals in your community who believe in your personal worth. If you have a good credit history, your banker should consider you a good financial risk. Two other excellent sources would be your local Small Business Administration (SBA) and Chamber of Commerce. SBA has low-interest loans available for qualified applicants and your Chamber of Commerce can assist you with referrals and other helpful information.

WORK-AT-HOME OPPORTUNITIES ARE EVERYWHERE!

Anyone who is serious about work-at-home oportunities need only look around them. There are thousands of options everywhere! There are employment opportunities that involve becoming an independent contractor; working on a commission basis; working for a salary; freelancing for pay; getting paid by the hour, receiving pay for each piece assembled; getting paid by the project, or a combination of any of the above. No doubt, what you finally decide on will depend on your particular needs and interests.

Steps To Home Based Business Success

2006-12-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

All around the country, people who want more control over their lives are starting a home based business.

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

STEP #1 DECIDE WHAT PART OF THE HOUSE TO USE

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

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

Many people start a home business on a part-time basis while raising children or working outside the home. Others start full-time when family and finances allow. However you begin, figure out how may hours per week you can devote to the business.

Make a weekly chart of your activities, examine it, and determine where the business fits. Don't assume you have time and find out later you don't.

STEP #3 DECIDE ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS

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

STEP #4 CHOOSE A LEGAL FORM

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

1. You own all the profits.

2. Your business is easy and cheap to organize. You don't need any government approval, although you may be required to carry a city, state or county license. Your only other obligation is to notify the Internal revenue Service (IRS) for the purposes of sales tax.

3. You're the boss.

4. You enjoy certain tax savings. You must pay regular individual taxes on your income, property, and payroll, but these are not levied as special taxes, as with a corporation. You will also have to pay sales tax which you have received from your customers.

5. Greater personal incentive and satisfaction. Since you have your investment to lose if your business is not successful, you should be more willing to put time, thought, and energy into the business. And when your business is successful, you enjoy maximum sense of accomplishment since you know its success was dependent upon your decisions about your management ability alone.

For more information about this and other forms of business, contact the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

STEP #5 DETERMINE WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM

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

STEP #6 GATHER INFORMATION
Spend a few weeks researching home-based businesses. A library, bookstore or the Internet can provide numerous books and articles on business basics, and on the specific type of business that interest you.

STEP #7 CHECK ON ZONING RESTRICTIONS

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

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

STEP #8 PICK A BUSINESS NAME AND REGISTER IT

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

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

STEP #9 WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN

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

STEP #10 GET AN IDENTIFYING NUMBER

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

STEP #11 OBTAIN A SALES TAX PERMIT

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

STEP #12 OBTAIN LICENSES & PERMITS

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

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

STEP #13 SELECT BUSINESS CARDS, STATIONERY, BROCHURES

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

STEP #14 OPEN A BUSINESS CHECKING ACCOUNT

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

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

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

STEP #15 SET UP RECORD-KEEPING SYSTEMS

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

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

STEP #16 CHECK IRS REQUIREMENTS

If you comply with basic IRS guidelines, you can deduct a percentage of normal household expenses (mortgage, interest, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, etc.) as a business expense.

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

STEP #17 OUTFIT THE BUSINESS

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

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

STEP #18 DECIDE ON TELEPHONE REQUIREMENTS

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

STEP #19 CHECK OUT THE POST OFFICE

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

While looking into box rental, ask for information on the various postal rates, particularly bulk rate, if you plan to do large or specialized mailings.

STEP #20 PURCHASE THE NECESSARY INSURANCE

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

To save money on medical insurance, join an association and participate in their group plan.

STEP #21 ORGANIZE THE HOUSE & YOURSELF

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

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

How To Start A Profitable Home-Based Business

2006-12-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

In these days, it's becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet with just one source of income. Thus, more and more people are investigating the possibilities of starting their own extra-income business. Most of these part-time ventures are started and operated from the comfort and privacy of the home.

Most of these people are making the extra money they need. Some have wisely and carefully built these extra income efforts into full-time, very profitable businesses. Others are just keeping busy, having fun, and enjoying life as never before. The important thing is that they are doing something other than waiting for the government to give them a handout; they are improving their lot in life, and you can do it, too!

The fields of mail order selling, multi-level marketing, and in-home party sales have never been more popular. If any of these kinds of extra income producing ideas appeal to you, then you owe it to yourself to check them out. But these aren't the only businesses you can start and operate from home, with little or no investment, and learn as you go.

If you type, you can start a home-based typing service; if you have a truck or have access to a trailer, you can start a clean-up/hauling service. Simply collecting old newspapers from your neighbors can get you started in the paper recycling business. More than a few enterprising stay at home moms have found success and fortune by starting home and/or apartment cleaning services. If you have a yard full of flowers, you can make good extra money by supplying fresh cut flowers to restaurants and offices in your area on a regular basis. You might turn a ceramics hobby into a lucrative personalized coffee mug business. What I'm saying is that in reality, there's literally no end to the ways you can start and operate a profitable extra income business from your home.

The first thing you must do, however, is some basic market research. Find out for yourself, first-hand, just how many people there are in your area who are interested in your proposed product or service, and would be "willing to stand in line and pay money for it". This is known as defining your market and pinpointing your customers. If after checking around, talking about your idea with a whole lot of people over a period of one to three months, you get the idea that these people would be paying customers, your next effort should be directed toward the "detailing" of your business plan. The more precise and detailed your plan - covering all the bases relating to how you'll do everything that needs to be done - the easier it's going to be for you to attain success. Such a plan should show you start-up investment needs, your advertising plan, your production costs and procedure, your sales program, and how your time will be allocated. Too often, enthusiastic and ambitious entrepreneurs jump in on an extra income project and suddenly find that the costs are beyond their abilities, and the time requirements are more than they can meet. It pays to lay it all out on paper before you get involved, and the clearer you can "see" everything before you start, the better your chances for success.

Now, assuming you've got your market targeted, you know who your customers are going to be and how you're going to reach them with your product or service. And you have all your costs as well as time requirements itemized. The next step is to set your plan in motion and start making money.

Here is the most important "secret" of all, relating to starting and building a profitable home-based business, so read very carefully. Regardless of what kind of business you start, you must have the capital and the available time to sustain your business through the first six months of operation. Specifically, you must not count on receiving or spending any money coming in from your business on yourself or for your bills during those first six months. All the income from your business during those first six months should be reinvested in your business in order for it to grow and reach your planned first year potential.

Once you've passed that first six months milestone, you can set up a small monthly salary for yourself, and begin enjoying the fruits of your labor. But the first six months of operation for any business are critical, so do not plan to use any of the money your business generates for yourself during that period.

If you've got your business plan properly organized, and have implemented the plan, you should at the end of your first year be able to begin thinking about hiring other people to alleviate some of your workload. Remember this: Starting a successful business is not a means towards either a job for yourself or away to keep busy. It should be regarded as the beginning of an enterprise that will grow and prosper, with you as the top dog. Eventually, you'll have other people doing all the work for you, even running the entire operation, while you vacation in theBahamas or Hawaii and collect or receive regular income from your initial efforts.

Running a Home Based Business With Your Spouse

2006-12-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've heard this statistic before: the failure rate of all start-up businesses is around the 90% mark. Add to that the unpleasant fact that roughly 50% of all marriages end in divorce and you can see that the odds of your new small business succeeding, already slim, become even slimmer if you run your business in partnership with your spouse.

Here are some of the challenges faced by entrepreneurial couples and what can be done to reduce the chances of becoming a statistic.

Relationship

A structure is only as strong as the foundation upon which it is built. If you're in business with your spouse, the foundation of your building is the relationship. Make sure you honestly assess your commitment to the business and to each other up front. Do you share the same family values? Are you both committed to sharing family and business responsibilities?

In the early days of the business, your relationship will need to thrive on a lack of quality "couple" time or possibly any time at all. It's not unusual for new business owners to work 16 hours a day, 7 days a week to get their businesses off the ground. That's one reason why your relationship needs to be in good shape before you start a business together. You don't want to be adding additional pressure and stress to a relationship that is already troubled.

To help relieve the pressure and stress of your new business together, plan to spend quality time together. Go on a dinner date where you don't discuss business. Take a romantic walk together. The thing to remember is that the relationship with your spouse is important and needs to be nurtured.

Division of Responsibility

Each of you must have your own clearly defined areas of sole responsibility. Any business needs one and only one person to make a final decision. This doesn't mean that one person makes all the decisions. It means that one person can make the decisions for their areas of responsibility.

The business is not the only area where responsibility needs to be divided. Don't forget to allocate responsibility for household chores and parenting responsibilities. Who will do the grocery shopping, the laundry, the cleaning and bill paying?

Communication

Each of you should treat the other just as you would a respected colleague outside the business. Show each other the same respect, courtesy, appreciation and gratitude that you would show any valued co-worker.

No matter how well people get along, disagreements about certain aspects of the business are inevitable. And just as in any other business, what is important is how those disagreements are resolved.

A good way of communicating about business issues is to hold regular business meetings together. The meetings don't have to be formal, just discuss any issues that may have come up since the last meeting and figure out an approach to deal with each one of the issues. This way you both will stay informed on where the business is headed and what each of you is working on and planning for the business.

Set Business Hours

Set regular business hours and stick to them. Except in an emergency, what doesn't get done in business hours doesn't get done until the next day.

Outside Interests

To keep your relationship fresh and interesting, you should both pursue interests that are independent of the business and each other.

Separate Space

You live and work together. That's a lot of togetherness. Everyone needs personal space. If possible, have separate work areas so you're not under each other's feet all the time.

The prospect of running a successful business with our mate is the dream of many of us. It is natural to want to share as much as possible with our spouse. But it is not for the faint-hearted and there are many issues to take into account. Don't make your decision based on visions of romantic togetherness. The reality will be altogether very different. But if, with your eyes wide open and having taken all of the factors into account, you believe you can be successful in business together, than by all means go for it.

Start A Home Based Business

2006-11-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

One advantage of being a home based business owner is being able to start and grow your business at your own pace. If you want to jump in and devote all of your spare time to the rapid development of your business, you can. Or, if you want to take things slow and ease into your business, you can work part-time. Taking the part-time route might the best choice for the first time home based business owner because it will allow you to maintain a steady income while testing the waters of self employment.

Don't let a lack of financing deter you from starting or expanding your home business. You have many option for raising the funds you need to reach your goals. Sources can include: loans from family or friends, bank loans, your personal savings, Small Business Adminstration loans, short-term credit card financing, and borrowing against home equity.

A good business plan will clearly outline your business objectives and how you plan to reach them. Although a business plan is helpful when you are trying to obtain financing from investors, it primarily serves as a personal roadmap for launching and operating your home business.

In today's competitive market, it's mandatory for home businesses to have a web presence. Failing to create a web presence says that you are not willing to accommodate those who prefer to conduct business online. It can also imply that your company is not well established. Build a web site that informs customers what your business is all about, and give them the opportunity to make secure purchases online. Make it easy for customers to get ahold of you.

Starting a home based business appears to be a monumental task, but when you break it down to small pieces it's not so overwhelming.

Automated Marketing

2006-11-12T18:04:00.000-07:00

With the introduction of automated marketing, starting an Internet business has never been easier.

Marketing an Internet business can be extremely time consuming. Once the home based business owner has developed business and marketing goals, automating the process to reach those goals is the wave of the future. With the proper training and support, part of the marketing aspect of the home based business can be automated.

The Predator Marketing System is the automated marketing tool of the 21st Century. This system gives the home based business owner the tools and training needed to succeed on the Internet. The Predator automated marketing tool can be used for any type of business. The system teaches how to use forums, blogs and traffic exchanges, to promote and build a home based Internet business.

The Predator system separates the customers that are serious about purchasing a product or service from the tire kickers. This alone can save the home based business owner many hours of time as well as money. Using an automated marketing system allows individuals who have decided to work at home the ability to generate an income without being chained to a desk, telephone or the computer.

The whole point of working from home and being your own boss is to free up your time for the things you want to do and also to bring in an additional income. With an automated marketing system, these business goals can be accomplished. Home business owners are looking for freedom, and the use of automated marketing systems can provide that freedom and a lucrative income as well.

News Releases:
Automated Marketing

Earn Income on the Internet

Home Based Part Time Internet Business

Start A Home Business

Earn Income On The Internet

2006-11-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

With major pension reductions and layoff announcements almost on a daily basis, the business world is changing. More individuals are investigating the possibility of earning an income on the Internet as an alternative to a 9 to 5 job.

Starting a home business can provide the flexibility and security that is lacking in the corporate world. Individuals who work from home on an Internet business enjoy benefits that are not available in the corporate world. Spending more time with families, being in control of personal time and building financial security are just a few of the benefits that can be enjoyed with a home based business.

Deciding which part time Internet business to start and how to run a home based business can be confusing. The Predator Marketing System that was released in September 2006, is an automated marketing tool designed to promote any home based business or Internet business. The features of the Predator Marketing System are live interactive training sessions 7 days a week to teach Internet marketing skills, a website to promote online and professional closers that will speak to interested prospects on behalf of the business owner.

The training courses provided by this automated marketing tool teach such skills as how to market on and off the Internet, the use of web conference rooms, having the right mindset for a successful business, and planning a financially secure future. This program provides the home based business owner the tools and skills needed to earn money on the Internet.

View this press release at Earn Income On The Internet

Eight Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs

2006-10-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

1. Seizing opportunities. Have a knack for spotting and grabbing opportunities that nobody else seems to notice? In the early days of the Internet, many people talked about starting an on-line auction house. Pierre Omidyar and his collaborators organized a business plan that created eBay.

2. Running your own show. If you've had a lifelong, overwhelming desire to be in charge, you're probably already an entrepreneur. If job insecurity and workplace frustrations are driving you to be your own boss, you might be an entrepreneur in the making.

3. Innovative behavior since childhood. Shoveling the neighbors driveways when you were a kid doesn't count. Hiring your buddies to shovel the driveways and taking a cut of the proceeds does.

4. Turning on a dime. While many people are intimidated by the unpredictability of the marketplace, you spot angles in every messy situation and can shift direction in a heartbeat - without calling a meeting or hiring a focus group.

5. Tenacity. Don't like rejection? Hate it when a bank says no to your loan request? Don't quit your day job.

6. Self-confidence bordering on delusions of grandeur. Many entrepreneurs expect their startups will someday ascend to the Fortune 500. Don't scoff. One person's wishful thinking is an entrepreneur's self-fulfilling prophecy.

7. Pragmatism. Can you stick to the game plan and resist impulse? While everybody thinks entrepreneurs are big risk takers, they are pragmatic risk takers: very disciplined, very calculated.

8. A knack for "failing upward." Fumbles, setbacks even fiascos can be seen as opportunities.

Start A Home Business - Work From Home Part Time or Full Time

2006-10-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Many entrepreneurs start a home business on a part-time basis while raising children or working a full time job. Others may have so many responsibilities and obligations already that they can only give five hours a week to the business.

Others start full-time home based businesses when family and finances allow. Still others, driven by their goal to turn their home based business into a multi-million dollar corporation, spend every waking hour into making it grow.

Before starting a home business, figure out how many hours per week can be devoted to the business. Take a realistic look at current living conditions such as outside employment, family obligations and the amount of spare time that can be dedicated to the new enterprise. Make a weekly chart of activities, examine it, and determine where the business fits.

Part time involvement in an internet business venture is the less risky way to proceed, particularly for a first time entrepreneur. These are the advantages to starting an internet business from home:

• Provides supplementary income;

• Minimizes the risk involved in starting a business by decreasing the amount of time and money spent on the venture;

• Allows the business to grow gradually, in proportion to the demand for your product(s) or service(s);

• Offers an easier transition out of a current employment and into a full time home based business.

Starting a part time internet business allows complete control over the various aspects of the business, such as structure, personnel, advertising, production and regulating the amount of time spent operating the business. Do not attempt to run a full time business in addition to holding a full time job as it can leave little or no time for a personal life.

A part time home based internet business also allows the entrepreneur to get started with less money, therefore less pressure to immediately reach profitability. The income earned from a full time job provides a financial cushion to operate the household and support the business venture.

A common misconception is that entrepreneurs leverage their livelihood by starting their own businesses. Home based businesses are helping to change that. By working part time from home, the entrepreneur can create new opportunities without having to sacrifice anything in the process.

While running a home based business on a part time basis has its attractive features, it also has its disadvantages:

• Professionalism is sometimes compromised, as owners of part time businesses are not taken seriously by suppliers, potential investors, and prospective customers;

• Slower growth;

• Difficult to maintain part time status;

• Many home based part time business owners experience burnout and begin to neglect their businesses.

Even when they start part time, many home based entrepreneurs find it difficult to maintain that status. Most are goal driven individuals who expect results and are prodded by a belief that there is always more to be done. An important drawback is the perception of some people – potential customers, suppliers, among others – that home based operations (especially part time operations) are not as competent as their commercial counterparts.

Full Time Opportunities

It is difficult to say whether any business is ever really part time. Most part time entrepreneurs (especially those who are home based) spend a lot of time thinking about their businesses – planning marketing strategies, practicing sales pitches, coming up with ways to streamline operations – even when they’re not actually working in the home office. For obvious reasons, many owners of thriving part time businesses eventually shift to full time status.

Limiting the amount of time spent at a home based business gives the business owner the flexibility and freedom to work when they want and slowly grow accustomed to being a business owner. Ultimately, though, it also reduces opportunities for expansion. Some of America’s most well known companies started as an entrepreneur’s part time dream, but they didn’t stay that way for long.

Like part time operations, full time home based businesses have their share of benefits and drawbacks. Some entrepreneurs prefer starting home based businesses full time because:

• Greater time commitment allows more time to develop business ideas;

• Motivating factors include personal freedom, recognition, money;

• Opportunity exists for more rapid growth;

• A greater sense of professionalism develops;

• Fewer distractions, such as other jobs.

The more that is invested in a particular pursuit, the more important the outcome becomes. Entrepreneurs who operate their businesses full time, whether from start up or three years after starting part time, will invariably care more about their businesses well being because they have put more time, effort and money into it. If a full time schedule will help the business keep pace with an increase in demand for the product(s) or service(s), the result will be a jump in revenues (provided costs remain comparatively equal).

It is generally easier for businesses headquartered in commercial offices to convince potential customers and clients of their professionalism. Similarly, it is easier for a full time home based business owner to convey professionalism.

Starting a venture on a full time basis does have some disadvantages, including:

• Greater risk;

• Loss of second income;

• Higher start up costs.

Although the risks of a full time operation are greater compared to those of a part time operation, they are countered by the offer of unlimited growth opportunity and financial gain. The cost of starting up at full capacity, whether you are product or service based, is more substantial than if you start part time. Likewise, the potential rewards are more substantial.

View these press releases for additional information:

Start A Home Business

Home Based Part Time Internet business

Make Money Online Using eBay

2006-10-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

Describing eBay as a commerce website is like saying Elvis was a singer. The 11-year-old company that began as a virtual flea market has become an international phenomenon.

Many people using eBay’s services are making money online. While the auction service is eBay’s signature sales venue, it is only a fraction of the revenue opportunities available to marketers or business internet start-up opportunities. Publishers are leveraging the site’s considerable traffic to complement or as a portal to their own websites.

The same strategies used to attract consumers on the greater Web, including search marketing, optimization and email advertising, can be used to capture traffic within the eBay universe.

Maintaining an eBay Store not only provides the possibility of selling items for fixed prices, it also enables work at home sellers to advertise to eBay’s massive audience. Most internet business startups have a small advertising budget. By utilizing eBay’s services, work at home business owners can market to millions of users.

This information is also contained in a news release.

Part Time Internet Business For Stay At Home Moms

2006-10-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Starting a part time internet business is one of the fastest and smartest ways women today can make money. Here are several reasons for starting an internet business.

1. Money. Whether it’s to get out of debt, build a retirement, or just simply to make ends meet. With the right guidance, an internet business can start generating income almost immediately for the stay at home mom.

2. Family. Moms want to be home with their kids. A work at home job is great for just that reason unless the work at home job requires leaving home for appointments, parties, or sales calls. Then the work at home mom is right back to babysitters and being away from their family. A part time internet business truly lets moms work from home.

3. Self Esteem. Many women are so busy being Moms, and wives, and community members, they forget to create something in their lives that reflects their inner selves. Starting (and becoming successful) in a home based business can boost feelings of self worth, and that makes everyone a winner!

4. Community. A home based business provides good role modeling for our children, provides tax base for necessary programs such as police and fire, and a community where people exhibit pride and hard work is a better place to live.

5. Tax Benefits. Most women who start a business at home are going to be able to take large tax deductions for their home business. Less taxes means more money for the stay at home moms, and that’s a good thing!

6. Work at Home Household Savings. Working at home means no expensive wardrobes. The average professional suit for a woman can cost over $150! Can you imagine NOT having to buy expensive work clothes anymore, and how much money a year can be saved for the family budget? Also, a work at home mom does not buy expensive convenience foods and restaurant take out.

7. Flexibility. Working from home allows moms to arrange their schedule to be available when a child is home sick or heartbroken, for a field trip at school, or to just take a mental health day once in awhile and sit at a park and read. How many bosses would give their employees the day off to read?

8. Being in charge of your own business means you are no longer at the mercy of layoffs. Don’t get me wrong, a home business can crash too…but at least YOU hold the reins and make the decisions, not someone else.

9. You determine how much you work, and how much you make. No more being paid less than you are worth, no more begging for a raise. If you educate yourself right, you can pretty much combine hard work and persistence to equal unlimited income.

Do not start a business to please someone else. There is so much pressure on women today to do it all…many times we feel we are not successful unless we make a lot of money, are perfect moms, never gain a pound…you get the idea. Start a business for you, and your dreams, not to convince the world, or the mother in law, or your next door neighbor…that you can do it all. Running a business is not for everyone, but if you want to follow your dreams, work at home, and make a good income, starting a part time internet business is a great place to start.

Press Release

Work At Home Press Release

2006-10-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

Work at home marketing tools - read the latest press release on the Predator Marketing system Press Release

For more work at home tips and strategies, visit 21st Century Online Marketing.

Work From Home Marketing Tools

2006-09-29T08:14:00.000-07:00

The home based business industry is exploding. Establishing and marketing a work from home business can be an extremely time consuming task. The development of automated marketing tools to use on the Internet to promote a business opportunity is one strategy available to the work from home business owner.

The Predator Marketing System gives the work from home business owner an automated system that promotes their business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

While the Internet marketing company Prosperity Automated System (PAS) claims to automate the work at home business, it does not offer the high quality of products, live support and training that is received with the Predator Marketing System.

Internet marketing can be confusing for the beginning business owner. The Predator live training support gives the work at home business owner hands on training that teaches step-by-step Internet marketing techniques to use in order to be successful in the home based business industry.

With the decrease in Company pension plans and retirement options, working from home is an alternative for many individuals who want to generate additional income as well as spend more quality time with their families.

Have You Decided to Work at Home?

2006-09-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Once you’ve made the decision to work from home, make sure you pick the business opportunity that provides a strong support team, live training session and interactive websites.

Thoroughly investigate any business opportunity that you are interested in before joining.

There are several companies available to join, such as Prosperity Automated System (PAS), Emerald Passport, Liberty League and Coastal Vacations. Unfortunately some online business opportunities will promise instant wealth and overnight millionaires with little or no effort on the part of the business owner.

If you have ever started a home-based business, you know that financial freedom and independence is not an overnight event. When you work from home it takes focus, dedication and a strong support team.

When I first investigated the Predator Automated Marketing System I was impressed with the strong support team, the daily live training sessions, the online support and the interactive websites. The Predator Automated Marketing System teaches the home-based business owner proven step-by-step methods on how to be successful while working from home.

While Prosperity Automated System (PAS), Emerald Passport, Liberty League and Coastal Vacations each have their own unique business opportunities, only the Predator Automated Marketing System has successfully packaged and launched an automated marketing tool for home-based businesses.

Click here for more information on the Predator Automated Marketing System.

It Works - It Really Does

2006-09-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

The Predator Marketing System was launched on September 1, 2006.

This home based business opportunity is the 21st Century business model for building your Internet business.

Spending approximately 30 minutes a day promoting the Predator Marketing System has resulted in three sales within one week.

One of the unique features of this home based business opportunity is the live training. The live training is presented every day in an interactive web conference room.

After trying a number of home based businesses in the past without much success, I discovered the Predator Marketing System. I knew I had found a winner. The live training and support that are a part of the system has increased both my confidence and sales.

Take a look at the program. It will take your home based business to the next level.

Introducing the Predator Automated Marketing System

2006-08-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

The Predator Marketing System will take your business to the next level. The Predator Marketing System is the ultimate 21st Century wealth system. This home business marketing system will build your existing business and multiple streams of income.

The Predator markets itself. Here is the best part – with the predator marketing system you will not have to:

• Make phone calls
• Buy leads
• Answer questions
• Work long hours bother
• Your family and friends.

The Predator Marketing System:

• Generates your prospects
• Eliminates people who are not interested
• Works 24/7 even while you sleep
• Does all of your sales and marketing
• Our Professionals talk for you.

Your lead generation system uses search engines, traffic exchanges, linking exchanges, bulk email and auto responders. The lead generation system provides you with 20 free traffic portals that are designed to attract people interested in earning money from home. These offers include free leads, free ad submission, free vacations, free software, free conference rooms, and more. An additional added benefit is the lead generation system promotes itself for an additional income stream.

Contact me at Predator Automated Marketing System to get your system.

Predator Automated Marketing System - An Invitation Only Sneak Preview

2006-08-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

Here is your opportunity to be one of the first to preview the new Predator Automated Marketing System prior to the official September release recently announced by Mentors on a Mission, Inc.

Mr. Al Turnquist, founder and CEO of Mentors on a Mission, Inc., is hosting a sneak preview of the Predator Automated Marketing System on August 29, 2006. This special event is by invitation only.

The Predator Automated Marketing System is a new, totally automated marketing system. This wealth building system does not require sales skills, prospecting, making phone calls or working long hours.

The Predator Automated Marketing System is the state-of-the-art automated marketing tool for serious business owners. The Predator Automated Marketing System builds the user’s existing business, generates multiple income streams and promotes itself.

Mentors on a Mission, Inc. is a Global Training and Mentoring Company. The mission is to help network marketers maximize their potential by providing results oriented mentoring, an easy to apply methodology, and an ‘earn as you learn’ opportunity.

The now famous Make Money or Make Excuses course developed by Mr. Al Turnquist, teaches network marketers how to make money, and how to become financially free in 24-36 months. The course includes one-on-one coaching, Internet based training, and weekly training calls.

To reserve your spot for the exclusive invitation only sneak preview of the Predator Automated Marketing System, visit Predator Automated Marketing System.

Predator Automated Marketing System

2006-08-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

Mentors on a Mission has announced they will release a new, totally automated marketing system, the Predator Marketing System, at the beginning of September 2006.

The first successful automated marketing system on the market was Prosperity Automated System (PAS) where you get a website that allows you to market PAS and your own business. To produce the leads, you need to purchase lead packages monthly at a cost of US $190 a month.

Mentors on a Mission has taken automated marketing to the next level. The Predator Marketing System differs from PAS in a number of ways. First, our members do not have to purchase expensive lead packs each month. The state-of-the-art lead generation and traffic system Predator uses has a monthly cost of US $41.95 and at the same time it promotes the Predator Marketing System, it promotes itself and builds a secondary income stream.

In addition to the Predator system, Mentors on a Mission offers real training course products. The training course you get when you purchase the Predator Marketing System is worth many times it's cost.

The Predator Marketing System does not require sales skills, prospecting, making phone calls or working long hours. Predator builds the user's existing business, generates multiple income streams, and promotes itself.

If you are a current student and mentor with Mentors on a Mission at the time of the launch you will get your Predator Marketing System for FREE.

Avoid Business Opportunity Burnout

2006-07-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

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

Selecting a MLM Home Business Opportunity

2006-07-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

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.

A Starting Point for your Home Based Business

2006-07-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

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.

A Practical Guide To Starting A Business

2006-07-16T12:06:00.000-07:00

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.

Who, Why, When and Where To Start A Home Based Business

2006-07-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

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.

What To Look For In A Home Based Business!

2006-07-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

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.

Starting A Home Based Business

2006-07-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

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!

Time Management Tips

2006-07-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

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.

Five Reasons Why We Procrastinate

2006-07-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

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!

Tips To Organize Your Home Office

2006-07-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

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.

Turning Dreams Into Gold

2006-06-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about having your dreams turned into gold?

Recently my husband and I watched a movie that has changed our lives forever. It is turning our dreams into gold and the best part of the process, is that it is free. We have learned that your mind set will determine the direction of your life.

The more I help people the more I realize most of the time what is stopping them is their mind. I have mentored people for the last 20 years.

I use Veretekk to find people for my primary business which is Mentors On A Mission, Turning Dreams Into Gold. Veretekk works great for generating quality leads. If you need help generating leads for your primary business, take a look at the free Veretekk Silver System, Veretekk Silver System.

The one thing most people have in common is their struggle to succeed is belief and mindset.