Category: Home-Based Business

Managing your business from the comfort of your home is great, but since the environment is different from a traditional office, it’s easy to forget about the importance of securing it. When you’re working from home, you are the only one who’s solely responsible for office’s security.

Just the way it’s important to keep your home office organized, it’s also important to keep it safe and secure. Here’s how you do it:

#1: Install a Home Alarm System

The safety of your home office should be your top priority – not just when you’re home but also when you’re away. Installing a quality home alarm system goes beyond warding off any intruders and keeps your home office protected round the clock. Simply having visual signs such as a sticker on your front door or a clear alarm sign in your yard is enough to deter intruders from breaking in.

What’s more, top home security systems today come with “rapid alarm response”, where local authorities get notified in case of an emergency at your home office so that they can rush in for help. For more info on how the rapid response alarm works visit http://www.securitychoice.com/. And yes, here’s an added advantage for you as a small home business owner – you might be able to write off the home alarm system for that part of your house on your income taxes.

#2: Remove Obstructions

By removing obstructions around your home, you enhance natural surveillance. The main aim of natural surveillance is not to keep any intruders away from your home office, but to keep them under observation. So how do you achieve natural surveillance? The simplest way would be through effective lighting. You don’t want any potential burglars hanging out in the shadows in the dead of the night, right? Which is why having motion lights in your parking area and also next to your house can help a great deal.

Another way to improve natural surveillance is to prune any trees near your home by up to 10 to 12 feet and keep the shrubbery low. Besides this, make sure your premise is maintained and good landscaping is done as it shows that the area is active/alert. Lastly, you should place items such as dumpsters to get a better sight lines from within your home.

#3: Avoid Data/Identity Theft

Having backups is good, but what if your business computer gets stolen? Your data gets stolen too. Most of the computers today come with built-in security options/features that can be controlled through the system preferences panel. Make the most out of this to ensure you’ve got active security. For example, you can have your sensitive data dragged into folder protected by a single password.

Want to rev up security to the maximum? Then go ahead and activate the built-in encryption program that helps in scrambling all the files on your business computer. The upside to this is that not even a single file can be opened without the required password. And the downside? In case you lose the password, you lose the data. If you’re not comfortable with such advanced data security then install a strong door to your home office equipped with the solid lock.

Article contributed by Jenna Smith

Starting a new business isn’t as simple as picking an office space to lease and setting up shop. Some owners of new companies are anxious to put the cart before the horse, but creating a suitable work environment from home is the best method for establishing greater financial stability for your business to blossom. If you have an idea, you’ll need a place to execute it. Most fledgling businesses start inside the home. Whether your office is in the spare bedroom, garage, or in the middle of your living room, it’s important to keep overhead costs low, especially when your business is idling for flight.

Once you’ve developed your product concept, you may not be fully prepared to branch out from your homestead and find office space. That requires collateral and increases costs, which could take a serious chunk from your profits. Maintaining, repairing, and upgrading your home will not only allow your business to expand, but it will keep you from the sticker shock of higher bills when you inevitably expand your company prospects.

The first home improvement project you may want to pursue is creating a “business space.” When the kids are running rampant and the television is blaring, it’s difficult to concentrate. Sure, one of the luxuries of being your own boss is setting your own hours and creating your own terms. But as a professional working from home, you must maintain a safe environment from which to run your company. If you cannot separate your work self from your personal self, productivity will wane.

Consider converting a third bedroom into your home office or, if the space is not conceivable, you may wish to add on to your home. Sure, it’s a financial burden you must assume, but consider the advantages. You’ll increase the value of your home by adding more livable space and you can build the room to suit your needs. Find the outdoors inspiring? Add a large window that overlooks a scenic view. Need a rustic fireplace? Have one installed. The possibilities are endless when you’re building your workspace from the ground up.

The initial costs for expanding your floor plan may seem out of your budget, but construction loans are available to homeowners for such projects. These loans can either be stand alone, or tied to your existing mortgage. Once you’ve cleared zoning regulations with your local municipality, consult with a reliable contractor to determine costs and need. Many contractors offer free estimates. Shop around and attain several quotes to determine what best suits your needs and at what price. Qualified construction companies will offer you suggestions on what’s most suitable for you.

Before deciding on a contractor, research reviews on the company and verify their reputation through the Better Business Bureau. Once you’ve discovered these vital bits of information and you’ve worked out conditions of the construction loan with the issuing bank, you can break ground on expansion. Soon, you’ll find you now have the space you need to keep your new business growing.

Depending on your business model, at some point in the future you may very well want to develop your company outside of the home. When the time is right, you’ll know because your business has been profitable and the four walls of your house can no longer sustain your needs.

Article contributed by Jenna Smith

Before you can have clients, you need to have prospects — that’s what marketing is all about. If your marketing isn’t attracting the kind of people you’d like to be working with, it’s like pushing a rope — you are trying to sell them something they don’t need, and they are looking for something you don’t offer. A little fine-tuning of your marketing plan can make the difference between a home based business that lurches and stalls, and a business that runs smoothly and is fun to operate.

Your Four-Point Marketing Tune-Up Checklist:

Understand the difference between your Target Market and your Niche.

A target market has distinguishing demographic characteristics; for example, recently widowed working women under 50. A niche gets more specific in characteristics that might not be as easily identifiable as demographics; using the previous example, you could further narrow your target market by including only women who want to remarry and don’t know how to meet suitable men.

Make sure your Niche is focused enough.

Think of all the people who might fit in your niche. Imagine them all in a room at a business or social event. Would you find them all interesting and enjoy talking to them? If you cringe at the thought of meeting some of the people in that imaginary room, note what it is about them that you’d like to avoid – and re-define your niche to exclude them.

Perhaps you want to coach women who will be patient in their search for a spouse — not desperate! If your marketing message implies easy, immediate results, you’ll be attracting the wrong prospects. Fine-tune your language so it is clear that your solutions may take time to be successful. You won’t be eliminating potential customers – you’ll be saving yourself time wasted on less-than-ideal prospects. And you’ll find yourself more effortlessly attracting clients in the heart of your niche market.

Choose marketing techniques that fit your strengths.

Just because every other relationship coach has written a book, doesn’t mean you have to! If the whole publishing and book promotion exercise sounds like torture, don’t waste your time. Maybe writing a Dear Abby type of newspaper column is more your style. If you find dealing with your website to be confusing, but are good at speaking to small groups, ignore the advice to do a lot of online marketing and instead look for opportunities to speak at senior centers, for example.

Be authentic – be yourself.

Building an image that isn’t who you are is a setup for disaster, especially for the self employed and home based business owner. You’ll be exhausted keeping up the façade…and potential clients will sense the lack of integrity. If you yourself are recently widowed and learning how to meet the right kind of men, don’t try to imply that you are an expert. Your personal dating stories can be a great way to establish a relationship with a potential client, who can see themselves in you. Clients want someone they can trust — it is more important than all the credentials in the world.

Everyone wants more money. But not everyone is willing to give up their down time to make it. If you’re one of the ambitious few that wants to diversify your income, there are lots of businesses you can start from the comfort of your home. And succeeding doesn’t have to be rocket science. If you’ve got a tiny bit of money saved (for a tax number and business insurance), and the business acumen to make the right choices and connections, consider starting one of these nine small business from your home office (or bed).

Personal Assistant

If you love helping people, why not make some money doing it? You can become a personal assistant of the virtual office capacity using nothing but your personal computer, or you can try your hand at being a professional shopper and errand runner. Lots of busy professionals (especially in large cities) will pay for such a time-giving service, but they’re likely to entrust their house keys and sensitive shopping demands only to someone they already know or have reason to trust. If you’re the type that has nothing to do from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., consider (getting out more, or) using current corporate connections and social networks to advertise your discretion and trustworthiness, and get your home-based business off the ground.

Etsy Store

If you’re an avid quilter, crafter, or make specialized and gorgeous art or paper products, consider opening a storefront on Etsy.com. It takes little initial investment, and most of the “business stuff” is taken care of on their end. Many a crafter or freelancer has gone on to greatness (or full-time arts and crafting) by beginning their reign on Etsy. Ashley Percival is a freelance illustrator that was able to quit his day job because his Etsy store provided enough of a platform for him to make a good living doing what he loves. And he’s just one of many stories. The online small business portal of pretty things has helped countless home-based entrepreneurs turn their passion projects into their life’s work.

Graphic Design/Desktop Publishing

If you’re handy with Photoshop and Illustrator, and you’ve got a sense of sellable style, you can launch a desktop publishing or design business from home with just a little start-up cash and a few prospective clients. Create yourself a great looking and easily accessible portfolio, and carefully network to get your first few clients. Underpromise and overperform, and you’ll be getting calls for help on everything from brochures to invitations. Start with paper-based products if you know them the best, but use your time as a small business owner to enhance your skill set by moving into the ever-growing world of online desktop publishing. A graphic designer with efficient skills and just a bit of insightful vision will always be in high demand.

Day Care Service

This one’s a little more complicated, because you’ll be dealing with insurance waivers and screaming children. But if you’ve got the space (and the divine patience) to care for kids that don’t belong to you, it’s possible to start a private day care service right out of your home. Make sure that you cover your bases as far as payment procedures, liability forms, rules and regulations, and any employees you may take on — but if you’re gifted with children and want to enhance young lives while making money (and, potentially, providing free care for your own kids), this home-based service could be profitable to start. Be sure to charge premium rates for premium care, and you’ll be making plenty of extra money from home.

Dog Walking/Pet Sitting

If you’re a pet person, and you enjoy being outside, pet sitting and walking is an easy home-based business to start. Whether you’ve ever done a stint as a house-sitter or not, pet sitting (and other home tasks, like plant watering) is a simple way to make a little bit of extra money. And it’s much easier than caring for kids. If you have an animal-friendly, reliable schedule, you could book up your entire day with walking your neighborhood’s dogs, and easily expand to earn some extra money by checking in on your friends’ cats. It starts with word-of-mouth, but once you’re in, you’re in. Those who use pet sitters are often creatures of habit, and if you provide quality services you’ll have a chance to get to know the animals that you’re working with, as return customers are a perk of this enterprise.

Handyperson

Do you know the basics of electrical wiring, HVAC, and how to fix a perennially clogged toilet? Do you have the toolbox that everyone envies? You might be primed for a business as a professional tinkerer. If you want to work exclusively from home, set up a space where folks can bring you their broken computers, vacuum cleaners, or whatever your chosen specialty. If you’ve got reliable transportation and you like to see smiles, you can also make house calls. Who knew that the old lady down the street would pay you to set up shelves in her garage? Even if it’s something you’d do for free, if you put a professional face on it — people will expect to pay you, just to help.

Photography Business

If you’re a shutterbug and you’ve got anything more advanced than an iPhone, you could easily start a photography business to supplement your income and provide your life with artistic expression. Whether it’s cars, weddings, pets, or pretty people, you can set up a home studio or office for the price of a tax number and a great camera. Create a website and portfolio to spread your name to the masses, but don’t underestimate starting with people that you know. For the true beginner, keep a blog on your site, and chronicle what you’re learning and how your customers enhance the experience for you. When you’re transparent and the product is good, you’ll find yourself getting referrals posthaste.

Home-Based Laundry

Sometimes the best business ideas seem like no-brainers. If you’ve already got a washer and dryer at home, and the zoning regulations in your city are favorable, a home-based laundry business is a great place for first-time entrepreneurs to learn the ropes. Do some market research for the wash-and-folds already in existence, and try to find an angle that sets you apart. Do you pick up and deliver? Do you use your customer’s favorite soaps? Do you have a no-shrink guarantee? If you’re already an amateur seamstress, consider including darning and alterations in your fee schedule. It might sound too good to be true, but you could wash and fold your way to a second income, just by doing everyone else’s chores.

Freelancing

Whatever you do at your nine-to-five, considering going home and doing it some more. If you’re a software developer, find work creating apps. If you’re a coder, designer, or writer, check out freelance gigs on Elance.com. And if you have an eye for good products because you work retail all day, you could even work to create a vintage resale business through eBay. Who’s to say that you have to stop at a simple salary? Making extra cash by continually practicing your trade will only make you better (and more marketable) at your current job. The lessons that you learn while finding clients for yourself could make you love (or hate) your day gig even more. But be careful what you wish for: if you’re not interested in making your daily grind a lucrative side hobby, consider diversifying and learning a new monetizable trade.

Article Contributed by Melanie Cartwell

I’ve had a few friends ask me whether I thought their home-based businesses would benefit from a virtual assistant or live answering service, so I thought it would be worthwhile to write a post that covers my rationale for saying yes or no.

A virtual assistant or answering service can provide the professional phone presence that some small businesses lack, giving them the customer service capabilities that are normally reserved for larger competitors. On the flip side, integrating a service like this into your operation could prove redundant or unnecessary, bogging you down with organizational problems that small businesses should be able to escape.

You have to remember that the goal is to improve your business, not to embarrass the business owner down the street who uses his cell phone as a business line and answers with “Jim speaking.” I know it’s tempting, but business decisions need made with business in mind.

Okay, so how to decide? I would say a virtual assistant is a good fit if:

1. You’re too busy to answer all of your calls, or if talking on the phone eats up a lot of your time

If you’re going through the same processes over and over again, such as scheduling appointments or gathering contact information, these are things that virtual assistants are perfect for. Having someone field your calls will free you up to focus on other aspects of your business.

2. You currently don’t provide a business telephone number or, if you do, all callers automatically reach voicemail

The web enables a lot of businesses to operate without ever talking on the phone, which is nice to an extent, but a lot of people still want to speak with the people they’re doing business with. Furthermore, having a business line and having a real person answer it speaks to the legitimacy of your operation. So if you haven’t set up a business line yet or avoid talking to everyone by sending them to voicemail, a virtual assistant can help you out.

3. If your competitors provide exceptionally good or exceptionally poor customer service experiences

If it’s impossible to reach your direct competitor by phone, having your line answered professionally every time will help you stand out. Conversely, if they have an awesome customer service team that’s available by phone 24-7, then you need to step your game up.

There are certainly other things that could be considered before deciding to go with a virtual receptionist, but these three items are a good starting point. If nothing applies, then you may not find a service beneficial. If you’re questioning whether or not the way you’re doing things is the best, then it may need further exploration.

Do you have something that needs added to this list? A good or bad experience with a virtual assistant? Please share.

About the author:

Melanie Cartwell is an online entrepreneur and blogger. For more information about virtual answering services, check out http://www.continentalmessage.com.