|
If you’re looking for a way to spend more time with your kids, working from home just might be the answer. There are a few things you should consider first, though.
Organization
Are you organized? There are a lot of records involved when running your own business. When it comes time to file your taxes, you’ll need to have a record of your income and expenses for the past year.
You’ll need to record your mileage if you use your car for business and save receipts for your expenses. You must be able to produce these records in case you are ever audited.
Motivation
When you are your own boss, you need to be able to get yourself going. If you don’t get the work done, you won’t get paid, and if you are late finishing your assignments, you will lose customers.
Desire
Is this something you really want to do? Are you willing to put in the effort required to make it happen? If working from home is your dream, go for it!
But remember, running a successful home business often requires long hours and financial sacrifice, especially in the beginning. Can you handle it?
Choosing a business
All right, you’re determined to try working from home. So what are you going to do? It’s time to make another list. First, list all of the skills you have used in your employment experiences. Don’t leave anything out, no matter how trivial it seems.
Now list your hobbies.
Do you crochet, fish or camp?
Do you solve crossword puzzles or play golf?
Put it on the list.
All businesses sell something. Some sell products and others sell services. Look through your list and come up with some products and services you could sell, based on your skills and hobbies.
Products
Did you come up with any products? If you need help, read through this list for more ideas:
- Completed craft projects - Sell at craft shows or through online auction services such as eBay. Check with craft stores or gift shops to see if they will sell them
on consignment.
- Gift baskets, soaps or candles - Sell to gift shops and specialty stores such as florists, or sell them online and ship them directly to your customer or to the person they are buying it for.
- Wooden furniture or toys - These can be sold at craft shows and flea markets. Also try selling to your local furniture stores. Offer to let them take them on consignment if they seem hesitant.
- Fine art - Paintings, sculptures and other works of art can be sold at craft shows, art shows and galleries. You might also set up a personal web site to bring attention to your work.
Services
If you don’t have a product, try marketing one of your skills as a service. Here are some ideas of services you might be able to provide:
- Babysitting or pet sitting
- Auto repair or body work
- Writing, clerical work or desktop publishing
- Graphic design
- Photography
- Cake decorating
- Tutoring or offering lessons for children (dance, piano, etc.)
- Teaching classes for adults (crafts, computers, photography, etc.)
- Repairing small appliances, household repairs, painting and wallpapering, etc.
- Cleaning service
Getting started
Now that you have decided what kind of business you would like to run, you need to find out what the requirements are for starting a business in your area.
In many cases, all you need to get started is something called a DBA. DBA stands for “Doing Business As.” It is simply a form filed with your county clerk’s office telling them that you will be doing business under a name other than your own.
Also check to see whether there are any requirements imposed by your city or state. If you are starting a business in an area that requires specialized skills, such as finance or auto mechanics, check to see if your state requires a license.
Advertising
You won’t have any work to do if no one knows about your business. Get some business cards printed up and give them out to everyone you know. Place classified ads in your local paper.
Contact everyone in your support network and tell them you are in business. Ask them if they know anyone who could use your product or service.
Start part-time
It takes time to build a business. Don’t expect instant success. Be patient, and unless you have enough money to get by for several months to a year, plan on starting out by running your business part-time. Moonlighting serves two purposes: It allows you to get started without giving up your main source of income and it’s a good way to find out if the business you have chosen is something you really want to do fulltime.
This article was excerpted from The Single Mom's Survival Guide by Bethanny Davis. For more information, please visit her web site at http://www.booksnbids.com/singlemom.html.
|
