I am not going to lead you astray and say go put ads here or do articles and blogs when I am sitting here doing pay per click ads under keywords in our target market, I am not going to do that. I teach you what I do myself, because it works. Everything that I do I will show you. I have lots more, tons more to show you than what is in our members area right now. We constantly add to our program. We will add a video series to the powerhouse marketing system, but the main level that we will be adding things to is the higher level product package in our company.
That is our premium package. That is the package that people, if they want to, can take their business to the next level, they can get that. That is a package deal. You get the lower and higher level package for the higher level package price. And not only that, you will get all the future updates as a product owner that is paid to the higher level which we will be adding things to as we go along.
Now, the videos that we have in there, they will never be able to be downloaded. The only people able to get into that area are the people who are the paid members. Why are we not going to make downloadable videos, because we know that they will be passed around the internet really fast. And people will use them to train their down lines in their home based business and whatever else they will do with them really fast. And they will never pay a dime for it. We like to help people, but I believe, as a responsible business owner that you should pay for things that are worth the money.
These videos and the ebooks that are written are worth it because it enables people to make thousands and thousands of dollars, it enables people to do something that they have never been able to do before. It enables people who are making thousands and thousands of dollars every month to make more money. It enables people to be in control of their life, because me personally, I have been there, worked a job, I have worked different jobs since I was twelve years old. I have done hard work.
Now, working for somebody else, I do not believe that is secure, because they can lay you off at anytime for any reason. If the company is having problems, the first thing that they are going to do is layoffs without changing anything in their problems. They will not change their marketing, without increasing sales, if they layoff people who they are paying out, it immediately brings them back up to the line or put them over the line of profit. So that leaves you, who is working for somebody else, not secure. And that is what I found out.
Not that I ever was laid off, but I have heard and seen many people get the shock of their lives after many, many years of working for a company. All of a sudden they are laid off. Retirement down the drain, everything in the company that they had invested was just gone. Not only that, if you have a boss or a manager who is out for you for some reason, if you do anything wrong, even personally in your personal life, you might have gone out with them or talked with them outside your job, or anything on the job, or anything where they are all of a sudden offended, or do not like you, your job is in their hands. They can make your life miserable and can get you fired.
I found this out, this never happened to me, but I found this out just recently. People that are over you will control your career, they control when you advance or when you do not advance. So you cannot just say well, I am going to go out and make, you are making fifteen dollars an hour now, I am going to go out and make twenty-five dollars an hour and that is what I am going to do. Well, you cannot, not unless that boss gives you that raise and nobody gives you that raise at all. I find it sad that government jobs and teacher jobs and things of this sort, get raises every years like one or two percent, twenty cents, thirty cents, thirty-five cents, they are lucky if they get fifty cents. I really think that is sad.
PAS is what it takes to be successful in a home business when many others fail!
Now you can side step the pitfalls that make most small businesses fail. You can have the professional team you need that will market, prospect, follow up on prospects and then close a deal without having to hire them. This is done by using PAS (Prosperity Automated System).
Some people agonize over when to pick up the phone to follow up on a prospect. You want them to know you are interested but you don't want to annoy them. At the same time the decision must be made as to whether you should call them or appear in person. Some people appreciate a "go getter" that goes the extra mile to come in person and others think what audacity to show up without an appointment. The worst part is getting the nerve up to follow up on prospects because you are afraid you might get the wrong response.
Marketing your business is crucial. Many don't have the experience to make the right decisions as to where to advertise, for how long and what to say. A lot of money goes down the drain by making the wrong decisions. After all, marketing isn't cheap!
Some people would like to go into business for themselves but lack the self determination to get out of bed at a reasonable time every morning. Others are not good at planning their time and find themselves finishing up with one client at the same time they should be meeting with another on the other side of town.
Let's face it, people are hard to please and sometimes you would rather choke them than smile. The skill you need is diplomacy. All successful business people must have some degree of diplomacy.
These are some of the pitfalls that cause so many to fail after starting their own home business. You can have professionals that can manage all these decisions and situations without having to hire them. This is where the PAS Group comes into the picture. They have a team of professional, experienced people that can handle the situation - so you can profit! This is assured with a 100% money back guarantee. You see the results or you pay no money for this service.
PAS works, but if it shouldn't work for you, you have lost nothing. The team works for you to make you money so they get claim their fee. This is a new concept to the business world, implemented by Bill Osterhout, a former fortune 500 executive. He has successfully started and maintains a number of internet companies and he recognizes what it is that make so many fail.
Some people agonize over when to pick up the phone to follow up on a prospect. You want them to know you are interested but you don't want to annoy them. At the same time the decision must be made as to whether you should call them or appear in person. Some people appreciate a "go getter" that goes the extra mile to come in person and others think what audacity to show up without an appointment. The worst part is getting the nerve up to follow up on prospects because you are afraid you might get the wrong response.
Marketing your business is crucial. Many don't have the experience to make the right decisions as to where to advertise, for how long and what to say. A lot of money goes down the drain by making the wrong decisions. After all, marketing isn't cheap!
Some people would like to go into business for themselves but lack the self determination to get out of bed at a reasonable time every morning. Others are not good at planning their time and find themselves finishing up with one client at the same time they should be meeting with another on the other side of town.
Let's face it, people are hard to please and sometimes you would rather choke them than smile. The skill you need is diplomacy. All successful business people must have some degree of diplomacy.
These are some of the pitfalls that cause so many to fail after starting their own home business. You can have professionals that can manage all these decisions and situations without having to hire them. This is where the PAS Group comes into the picture. They have a team of professional, experienced people that can handle the situation - so you can profit! This is assured with a 100% money back guarantee. You see the results or you pay no money for this service.
PAS works, but if it shouldn't work for you, you have lost nothing. The team works for you to make you money so they get claim their fee. This is a new concept to the business world, implemented by Bill Osterhout, a former fortune 500 executive. He has successfully started and maintains a number of internet companies and he recognizes what it is that make so many fail.
Is Advertising A Home Based Business In The Local Newspaper Effective?
A lot of people contribute a lot to the profitability of most Home Based Businesses but the real question is, “How would you be able to gauge the efficacy of your Home Based Business Advertisements?” Is it really just about the rise in the number of sales and inquiry from after the timeframe wherein you have released the advertisements? Of perhaps the brand assessment is also a contributing factor?
In reality it is not only with those elements that you measure the quality of your Home Based Business advertisement, but rather it hinges on a lot of factors which includes the kind of media which you have employed, the budget or your assessment, the objective of your Home Based Business Advertisement, the phase of accuracy and consistency that is necessitated, who is your target market and the budget you have allotted for the entire advertising period.
These elements would have to be sufficed first before you'd be able to precisely proclaim that your particular Home Based Business Advertisement is effective. That is the reason why a lot of people assert that it is intricate to gauge a Home Based Business Advertisement's efficacy. Aside from the need to consider many things, there are also other influential elements for that matter such as the kind of previous Home Based Business Advertisement that had been released and its quantity.
It is also necessary for you to know the responsiveness of your consumers to the brand or the product you had advertised. Also, there are certain instances when you need to gauge the accessibility of cost effective assessment computation, the area where you have to place the Home Based Business Advertisement, the choices of matters regarding the product like the price and sometimes even the capacity of your direct market to remember.
Several advertising experts have proposed several models which one could use to be able to gauge the efficacy of a Home Based Business Advertisement. For example, some advertising experts state that the real measure of the efficacy of advertising is possible through the utility of cube diagram wherein you measure the headings which include the sales, profits, attention, persuasion and communication.
On the other hand, there are some people who only choose to settle for surveys which aim to test the brand or product recognition of the customers just after an advertising campaign. Actually, this particular method could be used with two options; the other one is to evaluate the product the other one offers for a more extensive Home Based Business Advertisement.
Overall though, Home Based Business Advertisement can be very beneficial to the promotional efforts of any Home Based Business because it enables the clients to become aware that such business does exist and that it can provide several particular products that they need. Home Based Business Advertisement has been proven to effectively set off the purchasing behavior of the clients and it is safe to assume that it will continue to do so for many more years to come.
Common Mistakes Made by Online Businesses
Many new business owners make the mistake of assuming that owning an online business requires less work than owning a brick and mortar business. While an online business does not normally require a business owner to find a location or apply for building permits, starting the business will still require a lot of work and attention to detail. It is, therefore, important to make sure that certain mistakes are avoided. The most common mistakes that new online businesses tend to make include inconsistency in their actions, trying to use too many methods, choosing the wrong products to sell, and using a free web host. Each of these mistakes could cause endless problems for a new online business and can result in the demise of the company.
Inconsistent Action
Similar to businesses that have a brick and mortar location, online businesses must be consistent in their actions. When new customers are met with inconsistency in the delivery or quality of their products, they will be less likely to return to your website. It is important to keep in mind that you may have to work harder at staying consistent in your services and products because your customers will have access to your company 24 hours a day. To avoid inconsistency you should provide your customers with realistic production and delivery times that will be easier for you to meet.
Using Too Many Methods
Another common problem that occurs when starting an online business is trying to use too many different methods in your business practices. Jumping from business model to business model will only confuse the original purpose of your company. When the idea of owning an online business you should research all of the different business models and choose one that will work best with your specific type of company.
Using Free Web Hosts
While using a free webhost can seem appealing, you should avoid using one for long-term purposes. Free webhost do not offer enough space and features to accommodate the growth of many types of businesses. While it might be feasible to use a free web host when your business is just starting, you should develop a plan to move your website once certain milestones have been reached by your online business.
Selecting the Right Product
Unless you are manufacturing and selling your own products you will need to choose specific products to offer to your customers. This will require a large amount of research and testing on your part because you will not want to offer products that will not interest your customers. One of the easiest ways to do this is to categorize each product and rate them by demand, price, and quality. Once you have done so, you can effectively choose the products that will appeal to your target audience.
When you decide to start an online business you should expect to put in the same amount of effort as if you were opening the business at a brick and mortar location. Though the logistics of each business are different, the high demand of time and resources that each will require are similar. To ensure that your business is given the right start, you should take the necessary precautions to avoid each of these mistakes.
Inconsistent Action
Similar to businesses that have a brick and mortar location, online businesses must be consistent in their actions. When new customers are met with inconsistency in the delivery or quality of their products, they will be less likely to return to your website. It is important to keep in mind that you may have to work harder at staying consistent in your services and products because your customers will have access to your company 24 hours a day. To avoid inconsistency you should provide your customers with realistic production and delivery times that will be easier for you to meet.
Using Too Many Methods
Another common problem that occurs when starting an online business is trying to use too many different methods in your business practices. Jumping from business model to business model will only confuse the original purpose of your company. When the idea of owning an online business you should research all of the different business models and choose one that will work best with your specific type of company.
Using Free Web Hosts
While using a free webhost can seem appealing, you should avoid using one for long-term purposes. Free webhost do not offer enough space and features to accommodate the growth of many types of businesses. While it might be feasible to use a free web host when your business is just starting, you should develop a plan to move your website once certain milestones have been reached by your online business.
Selecting the Right Product
Unless you are manufacturing and selling your own products you will need to choose specific products to offer to your customers. This will require a large amount of research and testing on your part because you will not want to offer products that will not interest your customers. One of the easiest ways to do this is to categorize each product and rate them by demand, price, and quality. Once you have done so, you can effectively choose the products that will appeal to your target audience.
When you decide to start an online business you should expect to put in the same amount of effort as if you were opening the business at a brick and mortar location. Though the logistics of each business are different, the high demand of time and resources that each will require are similar. To ensure that your business is given the right start, you should take the necessary precautions to avoid each of these mistakes.
Is Direct Sales A Good Business?
Direct sales increase profits for companies. It is one of the strongest forms of marketing that will make you the most money. Another key factor in direct sales is having a great product to sell to the public or to sell at whole sale prices to distributors. The wellness and fitness industries are one of the strongest marketing industries and are continually growing. Now is a good time to get into direct sales for either wellness or fitness.
Having a terrific product will make direct sales a breeze. People will automatically want to purchase your items because they will virtually sell themselves. This makes direct sales much easier because the product will speak for itself instead of you having to try and talk it up. Products in both wellness and fitness really attract the attention of customers.
The first thing to know about both wellness industry and the fitness industry is that people like to get healthy and to feel better. A great deal of money is spent on exercise and nutrition. Also, beauty and skin care products have increased in popularity. This means that you have an abundance of products that you will do well with in direct sales.
The best approach to direct sales is to provide people with a reason to buy. Customers are more likely to purchase a product if you create a strong need for the product. You want them to see the potential benefits that they can receive from the products. They will be willing to pay slightly more for a product that will help them in the short and long term. This is a strong direct sales point that can increase profits very quickly.
Another great approach to direct sales is getting to know people in the industry. You can meet a lot of people at wellness and fitness trade shows and exhibitions. This is a terrific way to network and talk with other distributors. Often you can find someone that has a complimentary product to what you are selling. You can cut them a deal and the two of you can actually benefit from the sale. Networking with other people is a terrific way to build some direct sales.
With fitness products you can direct sale to gyms, fitness instructors, and to the general public for home equipment to help with their workouts. It is important to offer DVDs, VHS tapes, and audio tapes as complimentary products. You can also offer free samples of sports drinks or complimentary energy bars when you do direct sales for fitness equipment.
Wellness products range from all types and sorts on the market. Direct sales should be fairly simple in this area. It is good to offer a sample product that your customers can have as a bonus with their purchases. You can direct sale at trade shows, flea markets, gas stations, health stores, malls, and other places to have the highest potential profits.
Direct sales increase profits because you have the potential to get repeat customers. You do the best with products that virtually sell themselves. Offering a sample product or bonus product will also help to increase sales.
Having a terrific product will make direct sales a breeze. People will automatically want to purchase your items because they will virtually sell themselves. This makes direct sales much easier because the product will speak for itself instead of you having to try and talk it up. Products in both wellness and fitness really attract the attention of customers.
The first thing to know about both wellness industry and the fitness industry is that people like to get healthy and to feel better. A great deal of money is spent on exercise and nutrition. Also, beauty and skin care products have increased in popularity. This means that you have an abundance of products that you will do well with in direct sales.
The best approach to direct sales is to provide people with a reason to buy. Customers are more likely to purchase a product if you create a strong need for the product. You want them to see the potential benefits that they can receive from the products. They will be willing to pay slightly more for a product that will help them in the short and long term. This is a strong direct sales point that can increase profits very quickly.
Another great approach to direct sales is getting to know people in the industry. You can meet a lot of people at wellness and fitness trade shows and exhibitions. This is a terrific way to network and talk with other distributors. Often you can find someone that has a complimentary product to what you are selling. You can cut them a deal and the two of you can actually benefit from the sale. Networking with other people is a terrific way to build some direct sales.
With fitness products you can direct sale to gyms, fitness instructors, and to the general public for home equipment to help with their workouts. It is important to offer DVDs, VHS tapes, and audio tapes as complimentary products. You can also offer free samples of sports drinks or complimentary energy bars when you do direct sales for fitness equipment.
Wellness products range from all types and sorts on the market. Direct sales should be fairly simple in this area. It is good to offer a sample product that your customers can have as a bonus with their purchases. You can direct sale at trade shows, flea markets, gas stations, health stores, malls, and other places to have the highest potential profits.
Direct sales increase profits because you have the potential to get repeat customers. You do the best with products that virtually sell themselves. Offering a sample product or bonus product will also help to increase sales.
Is Business Card Printing A Feasible Home Business?
Stay relevant to your main web sites theme or subject matter. If for example you own a sports related web site and you add cosmetic and make up ads to it, chances are you are not going to do well. But if you put ads for health and fitness supplements on your sports oriented web site you may interest a few people into buying those products earning you a commission. There is a particular web site where I regularly place my free internet marketing articles to generate traffic to my blog. Quite often several so called internet marketing experts place articles shortly after one of mine has been posted talking about the impossibility of making any money online without spending lots of cash on advertising.
Allying a company with several other high volume companies means the company has increased visibility with all of the other companys customers or potential clients. This increased visibility lends itself to increased hits on the companys website, and those increased hits increase the opportunities for sales.
One of the biggest reasons for this is its low cost. For as little as $5, you can start advertising on the web in less than 5 minutes from now.
Is business card printing a feasible home business?
The increasing expenses identified with going to work daily has made home based business a yearning for almost every office worker. Establishing a home based business may just be a dream for most people today but it can be a reality with proper planning and determination. A home based is ideal for working mothers who want to spend more time at home with their children. However, it is often difficult to start a home based business fulltime because of the financial requirements of every household today.
A person dreaming of a home based business should start putting his dreams into action by choosing a home based business idea. To be more feasible a person should consider a home based business that is of interest to her and which she already has the skills for.
It is best to make a list of your talent, skills and experience and match this with a list of prospective home based business ideas. If you are interested in a certain hobby this would be a good start for a profitable home based business.
If are creative and have computer designing knowledge then it would be possible for you to go into selling business cards right in the privacy of your own home. A business card home based business does not require a commercial office although you must have plenty of contacts to sell your business cards to.
As you can see, there is plenty of opportunity here to make money, legitimately. There is no con involved. Nothing illegal involved. Just good business practice. So is making money online through affiliate marketing a scam? Absolutely not!
Learning from people who are successful will drastically speed up your learning curve and help you achieve your goals. There are many tactics and strategies that you must know about before you start promoting any affiliate program. This actually will save you a lot of time and money, because you will know which systems or advertising methods will bring profit and which will not. Above all you should provide unique service. If you do not have the time you pay other people to do it. . There are no big secrets to making money.
How do you start to make money on the internet?First of all, your product or service needs to be something that people have a demand for in order for it to make any money.
You need to have a high speed computer and a colored printer to start with your business card home based business. You should also equip your computer with different graphics and design software to help you in creating different business card designs.
Business cards have a ready made market because this is an important tool not only for business people but also for ordinary people who want their own cards. Even students and young professionals feel more confident if they can present their own business cards to colleagues and acquaintances so get hold of these markets.
You also need to scout for boards in different designs and colors to match the personality and the occupation of your client. There are various designs and quality of boards for business cards and these are available in bookstores and in malls.
Make sample business cards for your friends and acquaintances and print them out in twenties. You can give out the cards as tokens and samples but keep one or two for each card design and make a business card album so your future clients can see samples of your work. Full reviews on Making Money Opportunity here. Proven Money Making Opportunity as seen on CNN Money, CBS and Forbes.
Although you are printing the business cards at home, you can get as many clients depending on your contacts and your marketing style. Make sure to post flyers and give out brochures in your neighborhood or even in nearby offices and other establishments. A business card home based business requires a meager capital if you already have the equipment but you can earn much if you know how to market your business cards.
You know that it must be possible! After all you are buying these products and you know that with the millions of people on the internet, that other people must be buying them too. So you know that it is possibile to make money selling other people’s great products, you just need to find out how. Best Money Making Opportunity as seen on CNN, CBS and Forbes! Full details at http://www.money-2007.info
These were all of the most important methods you should know in order to start making money off the internet with your home based business.
Affiliate programs are the best option to start online if one does not have enough time, finances and expertise on internet business. The risk is minimal
Christian home based business called Disciple's Cross. With Disciple's Cross, you make beautiful crosses and send these crosses back to the company. The company will pay you for the crosses it accepts. It has been a lot of fun to participate in this business opportunity and wonderful ministry.
Allying a company with several other high volume companies means the company has increased visibility with all of the other companys customers or potential clients. This increased visibility lends itself to increased hits on the companys website, and those increased hits increase the opportunities for sales.
One of the biggest reasons for this is its low cost. For as little as $5, you can start advertising on the web in less than 5 minutes from now.
Is business card printing a feasible home business?
The increasing expenses identified with going to work daily has made home based business a yearning for almost every office worker. Establishing a home based business may just be a dream for most people today but it can be a reality with proper planning and determination. A home based is ideal for working mothers who want to spend more time at home with their children. However, it is often difficult to start a home based business fulltime because of the financial requirements of every household today.
A person dreaming of a home based business should start putting his dreams into action by choosing a home based business idea. To be more feasible a person should consider a home based business that is of interest to her and which she already has the skills for.
It is best to make a list of your talent, skills and experience and match this with a list of prospective home based business ideas. If you are interested in a certain hobby this would be a good start for a profitable home based business.
If are creative and have computer designing knowledge then it would be possible for you to go into selling business cards right in the privacy of your own home. A business card home based business does not require a commercial office although you must have plenty of contacts to sell your business cards to.
As you can see, there is plenty of opportunity here to make money, legitimately. There is no con involved. Nothing illegal involved. Just good business practice. So is making money online through affiliate marketing a scam? Absolutely not!
Learning from people who are successful will drastically speed up your learning curve and help you achieve your goals. There are many tactics and strategies that you must know about before you start promoting any affiliate program. This actually will save you a lot of time and money, because you will know which systems or advertising methods will bring profit and which will not. Above all you should provide unique service. If you do not have the time you pay other people to do it. . There are no big secrets to making money.
How do you start to make money on the internet?First of all, your product or service needs to be something that people have a demand for in order for it to make any money.
You need to have a high speed computer and a colored printer to start with your business card home based business. You should also equip your computer with different graphics and design software to help you in creating different business card designs.
Business cards have a ready made market because this is an important tool not only for business people but also for ordinary people who want their own cards. Even students and young professionals feel more confident if they can present their own business cards to colleagues and acquaintances so get hold of these markets.
You also need to scout for boards in different designs and colors to match the personality and the occupation of your client. There are various designs and quality of boards for business cards and these are available in bookstores and in malls.
Make sample business cards for your friends and acquaintances and print them out in twenties. You can give out the cards as tokens and samples but keep one or two for each card design and make a business card album so your future clients can see samples of your work. Full reviews on Making Money Opportunity here. Proven Money Making Opportunity as seen on CNN Money, CBS and Forbes.
Although you are printing the business cards at home, you can get as many clients depending on your contacts and your marketing style. Make sure to post flyers and give out brochures in your neighborhood or even in nearby offices and other establishments. A business card home based business requires a meager capital if you already have the equipment but you can earn much if you know how to market your business cards.
You know that it must be possible! After all you are buying these products and you know that with the millions of people on the internet, that other people must be buying them too. So you know that it is possibile to make money selling other people’s great products, you just need to find out how. Best Money Making Opportunity as seen on CNN, CBS and Forbes! Full details at http://www.money-2007.info
These were all of the most important methods you should know in order to start making money off the internet with your home based business.
Affiliate programs are the best option to start online if one does not have enough time, finances and expertise on internet business. The risk is minimal
Christian home based business called Disciple's Cross. With Disciple's Cross, you make beautiful crosses and send these crosses back to the company. The company will pay you for the crosses it accepts. It has been a lot of fun to participate in this business opportunity and wonderful ministry.
Keep Your Kids Occupied and Your Business Growing!
How many times have you been in the middle of a major deadline with a business project or assignment, when, all of a sudden, your home office door opens, and it's your child saying "Mommy/Daddy, I'm bored......" ?
You usually just groan and say "Honey, go play with your toys or watch tv...." Children - especially young children - get bored easily. They need a constant string of activities to keep themselves occupied.
Well, sometimes that works and sometimes you have to stop what you're doing and think of an activity to keep your child busy and out of your hair for awhile.
One of the more popular activities for children is making art projects. They absolutely love art!
All of us can probably remember how great it felt when we were in grade school and drew or painted a picture of our house or a special friend. Why did that feel good? Because you were tapping into that special place inside each of us that wants to create and express ourselves. Those were your creative juices flowing through your mind-- sometimes gently, and sometimes in an excited manner!
There seems to be a growing need to promote creativity in pre-school aged children, as well as school-age children. Creativity is being discussed in almost every realm: books, articles, tv and radio programs and the work place. Creative arts and crafts can be used to teach reading, writing, history, etc. We need to get the word out to many teachers on how to use art in teaching more than just art. The arts are extremely important--very basic to the total learning experience. They are a means of self-expression: a way to communicate ideas, feelings, beliefs, attitudes, and values. Some of the values we get from creative expression include self-discovery, self-reliance, and enthusiasm. We also learn to use our leisure time constructively. And getting an early start with our children is very important.
So when you provide an art activity for your kids, you’re giving them an experience that they will cherish right then and into the future as well. Sometimes they want to do those same art activities over and over again, embellishing in a different way each time.
So I'm going to do something special for you and your business. I'm going to share one of my more popular art projects with you. It will give your children a fun activity to do, keeping them occupied for a couple of hours - giving you a chance to finish that business report or project that's due today.
Enjoy!
"PAPER MOSAIC ANIMALS"
Grade Level: 1st or 2nd Grade (But can be geared up with increased details or geared down if animal is extremely simple.)
Materials: colored construction papers - 3 x 6" in size, in various colors, 12 x 18" black construction paper, glue, scissors, pencils, erasers, zeroxed sheets of animals (or pictures of various animals),scraps for practice drawings
Procedure: 1)Use one 12 x 18" black sheet to draw one large animal (rabbits, elephants, turtles, pigs, etc.) that nearly fills the paper.
2)Choose several 3 x 6" colors for your animal's body parts.
3)Take one 3 x 6" color and cut it into 1/2" wide strips.
4)Next, cut a 1/2" strip into smaller squares, approximately 1/2" in size. Now you have a small pile of tiny squares that are about 1/2" x 1/2".
5)Use these small squares to fill in a part of the animal's body. (Spread a small amount of glue where you want the squares to go. Place the squares carefully on the glue, close together.)
6)When one part of the body is filled, choose another part of the body to fill. (If you have squares left, use those squares to fill another part of the body that you want to be that same color.)
7)When you're ready, choose another 3 x 6" color and cut it into the 1/2" x 1/2" squares. Use these to fill the next part of the body that you chose.
8)Repeat this process until all parts of the animal's body are filled.
9)Put away to dry.
You usually just groan and say "Honey, go play with your toys or watch tv...." Children - especially young children - get bored easily. They need a constant string of activities to keep themselves occupied.
Well, sometimes that works and sometimes you have to stop what you're doing and think of an activity to keep your child busy and out of your hair for awhile.
One of the more popular activities for children is making art projects. They absolutely love art!
All of us can probably remember how great it felt when we were in grade school and drew or painted a picture of our house or a special friend. Why did that feel good? Because you were tapping into that special place inside each of us that wants to create and express ourselves. Those were your creative juices flowing through your mind-- sometimes gently, and sometimes in an excited manner!
There seems to be a growing need to promote creativity in pre-school aged children, as well as school-age children. Creativity is being discussed in almost every realm: books, articles, tv and radio programs and the work place. Creative arts and crafts can be used to teach reading, writing, history, etc. We need to get the word out to many teachers on how to use art in teaching more than just art. The arts are extremely important--very basic to the total learning experience. They are a means of self-expression: a way to communicate ideas, feelings, beliefs, attitudes, and values. Some of the values we get from creative expression include self-discovery, self-reliance, and enthusiasm. We also learn to use our leisure time constructively. And getting an early start with our children is very important.
So when you provide an art activity for your kids, you’re giving them an experience that they will cherish right then and into the future as well. Sometimes they want to do those same art activities over and over again, embellishing in a different way each time.
So I'm going to do something special for you and your business. I'm going to share one of my more popular art projects with you. It will give your children a fun activity to do, keeping them occupied for a couple of hours - giving you a chance to finish that business report or project that's due today.
Enjoy!
"PAPER MOSAIC ANIMALS"
Grade Level: 1st or 2nd Grade (But can be geared up with increased details or geared down if animal is extremely simple.)
Materials: colored construction papers - 3 x 6" in size, in various colors, 12 x 18" black construction paper, glue, scissors, pencils, erasers, zeroxed sheets of animals (or pictures of various animals),scraps for practice drawings
Procedure: 1)Use one 12 x 18" black sheet to draw one large animal (rabbits, elephants, turtles, pigs, etc.) that nearly fills the paper.
2)Choose several 3 x 6" colors for your animal's body parts.
3)Take one 3 x 6" color and cut it into 1/2" wide strips.
4)Next, cut a 1/2" strip into smaller squares, approximately 1/2" in size. Now you have a small pile of tiny squares that are about 1/2" x 1/2".
5)Use these small squares to fill in a part of the animal's body. (Spread a small amount of glue where you want the squares to go. Place the squares carefully on the glue, close together.)
6)When one part of the body is filled, choose another part of the body to fill. (If you have squares left, use those squares to fill another part of the body that you want to be that same color.)
7)When you're ready, choose another 3 x 6" color and cut it into the 1/2" x 1/2" squares. Use these to fill the next part of the body that you chose.
8)Repeat this process until all parts of the animal's body are filled.
9)Put away to dry.
Keeping and Bringing Customers to Your Business
Business greeting cards are a clever way to introduce and keep contact with your potential customers. It is a perfect sales tool to open door with a prospective customer. There are times when you feel unappreciated. Ask yourself, how often do you feel taken for granted? Now think about your customers and ask yourself, how much are they worth to you? When you send well-presented greeting cards to your customers they feel that they matter to you.
Most businesses focus on quality but remember that relationships make the difference. Keep in mind that people come back when they feel special. So get personal with your customers and they will reward you with more repeat sales and referrals than you can ever imagine.
One of the good things about business greeting cards is that they last. When people receive cards from someone they don’t expect their curiosity is aroused. And after opening your card, chances are they would display it in their offices or living rooms.
There are other reasons why business greeting cards are important in businesses.
1. Oftentimes, they are more effective than initial phone calls. By sending a greeting card you have a reason to make a follow up call a few days after the recipient receives it.
2. It is a good way to keep in touch without being too pushy.
3. The greeting card lets your customers know that you are always there when needed.
4. Your unique or humorous card will be too valuable to toss; thus, they will be a constant reminder that you sent them.
For customers, business greeting cards also have advantages:
1. Your existing clients will think that you take time to think of them.
2. Greeting cards are a non-aggressive way of communicating. A greeting card will not interrupt their activities.
3. Your current and prospective clients will appreciate your effort to stay in touch with them.
The idea is to keep your card short and to the point. Save the lengthy conversation for initial phone contact or meeting.
Really, your greeting card can make your customers feel that you remember them and care about them. These little things are priceless. Just remember how much more difficult and time-consuming it is to find a new client rather than to keep a current one. In the end, taking time to contact your existing and potential customers will pay a lifetime dividend both personally and professionally.
Most businesses focus on quality but remember that relationships make the difference. Keep in mind that people come back when they feel special. So get personal with your customers and they will reward you with more repeat sales and referrals than you can ever imagine.
One of the good things about business greeting cards is that they last. When people receive cards from someone they don’t expect their curiosity is aroused. And after opening your card, chances are they would display it in their offices or living rooms.
There are other reasons why business greeting cards are important in businesses.
1. Oftentimes, they are more effective than initial phone calls. By sending a greeting card you have a reason to make a follow up call a few days after the recipient receives it.
2. It is a good way to keep in touch without being too pushy.
3. The greeting card lets your customers know that you are always there when needed.
4. Your unique or humorous card will be too valuable to toss; thus, they will be a constant reminder that you sent them.
For customers, business greeting cards also have advantages:
1. Your existing clients will think that you take time to think of them.
2. Greeting cards are a non-aggressive way of communicating. A greeting card will not interrupt their activities.
3. Your current and prospective clients will appreciate your effort to stay in touch with them.
The idea is to keep your card short and to the point. Save the lengthy conversation for initial phone contact or meeting.
Really, your greeting card can make your customers feel that you remember them and care about them. These little things are priceless. Just remember how much more difficult and time-consuming it is to find a new client rather than to keep a current one. In the end, taking time to contact your existing and potential customers will pay a lifetime dividend both personally and professionally.
Is FLASH Appropriate in a Business Web Site?
The short answer is maybe. The long answer is that the question might be better asked, “Is a 100% FLASH web site appropriate in business?.” The answer to this question, in my humble opinion is, absolutely not. In fact, we have had several clients come to us this year who have 100% Flash web sites that are going to completely remake their web sites because they simply do not work for them. They are having issues with search engines and with clients who can’t see their web sites.
Of course, they do work in terms of visuals. If you visit a Flash web site you will see it. Just because a visitor can see the web site doesn’t automatically mean that the web site is working for your business.
What is Flash?
Flash is technology developed by Macromedia, a leader in web development tools. Flash movies are a compilation of many images, elements and text that is then compiled into a nice, tight little digital file that then gets put on the internet. Some designers build entire web sites using this technology. Graphic designers quite like the technology because it gives them a great opportunity to show how talented they are by developing interactive, moving, and quite honestly some very entertaining web sites. Remember though that the purpose for your business web site is to communicate with your existing and prospective clients, not to show everyone what a talented designer you hired.
What is Flash Good For?
Flash is great as an add-on element for some graphic components of a business web site. Recently the ability for web masters to compile digital audio and video into flash movies has been simplified and using flash to stream a video is a great example of a perfect use for Flash in a business web site.
Another example of where Flash is well used and well received is on web sites that are about presentation and not information. For example a rock band, kids web sites with little games, a photo gallery, a movie clip are all places where Flash is particularly well suited.
Does Flash have a place on the internet? Absolutely it does, but as a web site purchaser though, you have to ask yourself the question, “does Flash have a place on my business web site?”
Can Everyone See Flash
The short answer is no. Although widely available and a component of most web browsers when they are installed, not everyone has flash installed with their web browser. If a visitor who does not have a flash plug-in on their PC visits a site that requires the Flash plug-in, their web browser will prompt them to install it. PC and web savvy visitors will likely go ahead and do it, but some users (like my mother) panic if a pop-up window asks a question and they walk away, or surf away, thinking they just infected their PC with the latest doomsday virus. All of that said, a large percentage of people can see Flash without too much anxiety.
Things to Consider
The Intro Flash Splash
Flash is commonly used for “splash” pages or “entry pages” into web sites. We have all seen them, the animated movie or commercial that leads us into a more traditional marketing web site. Have you ever wondered why the Flash designer almost always places a “skip intro” link on this page? I believe it’s because they know that if they don’t allow people to skip the Flash splash screen that they are going to lose the visitor. Remember that most internet surfers are impatient and they are usually looking for information, not another commercial. Get people to your main web page and do it fast.
The trend of using ‘splash’ pages has declined in the past couple of years as the internet has matured. It is my belief, and widely shared, that if your web site is about good information, then an entry screen is just a road block to your visitors.
The Search Engine
Search engines send out automated robots called “spiders” that crawl through the internet and create massive databases of web pages. People then search for web pages based on key words that are embedded in to the web page in hidden tags as well as in the text that is on the web page itself. If it is important to you that people find your web site then it is important to you to create well written text and links on your web pages that the search engines can find, read and follow. Search engines can not see the text in a Flash page. Search engines can not see hyper-links on flash pages and therefore can not follow the links. Your web page will not seem very important to most search engines because to a search engine your web site will consist of one page and the only relevant information that the search engine will see is your meta-tags if they exist.
Having said all of that, there are arguably ways to get a Flash site indexed and catalogued by a search engine. It simply is not the easiest thing to do and you will likely require a Search Engine Optimization specialist to assist you.
Reciprocal Linking
If you are kind enough to put links on your web site for other web sites then you are providing them with a “vote of confidence” in terms of search engine rankings. The more web sites that link to a web site, in the eyes of the search engine, makes the linked web site more important. Taking that a step further, the more important the web site that links to you the higher the potential ranking your site will get. Likewise sites that provide you with a reciprocal link are in effect giving you their “vote of confidence” and in turn making your web site more important.
Remember what I said earlier? Search engines can not see hyper-links when they are embedded into flash. So although the links are appreciated they will not contribute to the search engines perception of how valuable your web site may be to the world and as a result all those “votes of confidence” are going to waste.
Make sure that people who provide you with a link from their web site to your is not embedded into a flash page. Links should be in pure HTML or Hyper-Text MarkUp Language. If you provide links to other web sites on your site, the same applies to you, use HTML.
Don’t Break my Back Button
Web-browsers all have a back button. As software users, and more specifically as web surfers, we use the back button as a matter of course. It is a good practice as a web developer to not ‘break the back button’. Unfortunately because of the nature of Flash, the back button doesn’t work for backward navigation in the flash web site.
Create a Bookmark if You Can
People like to bookmark pages on the internet so that they can quickly return to them later on. Web surfers do not always bookmark the index page, or the main page, of a web site. For example if you site has a nifty currency converter or a great mortgage calculator on it, people may simply want to bookmark just that page. You can not bookmark an internal page within a Flash site. You can only bookmark the main page. Try it. Visit a 100% Flash web site, surf around a bit, then try to bookmark the page you are looking at. It doesn’t work, because you literally haven’t changed pages from when you first arrived at the site, you have simply “played the animation” which made it appear as though you went to different pages.
Cost
The cost to develop a traditional marketing web site using standard design graphic, HTML and text is in most cases less expensive than using Flash. If you designer proposes to use Flash, ask the question, “how much would it cost to do the same thing without flash?”.
Making Revisions and Updates
If you have your web site built 100% in Flash, you have subscribed to a certain skill-set in your designer. If you want to make revisions you will always need to use someone who can work within Flash. The same theory applies if your web site is images, HTML and text. The distinct difference is that there are far more web masters that work with the later than in Flash. It also typically will take longer to make revisions to Flash sites and as a result your cost of maintenance can be quite steep.
The Source Files
Flash source files are the heart of a flash movie, element or web site. The file will be names something like mywebsite.FLA. This is the native un-compiled source file for a Flash file. Once the designer is ready to deploy the Flash to the web server the file is compiled into a different format. The compiled file in our example would be called mywebsite.SWF.
So to clarify, the original artwork and design is worked on in the .FLA format and the final file that goes on the web server is .SWF.
I see it time and time again where the designer does not provide the client with the source file for their flash elements or web site. They protect the .FLA files, and guess what, you have to go to them for updates and revisions. It does not matter how talented your new web master or designer is, if you do not have the source file with the .FLA extension for your Flash site you will not be able to update it. You should ask your designer to provide you with this source file if you decide to use Flash elements on your web site.
A Final Note On Flash
Please do not interpret my remarks here as me being “anti-flash” the fact is, it really is a great media technology. If you have the budget and want to develop your web site using 100% pure flash, there are some things you can do to mitigate some of the pitfalls that I have described here.
Use a javascript to detect the browser capabilities of the visitor and ensure that they have Flash plug-in to support the Flash on your site. If the result of this simple test is ‘no they do not support Flash’ then the right thing to do is direct them to an alternative HTML based web site with your content. So, although you can overcome the missing Flash plug-in you have to have two web sites designed (the Flash one and the HTML one).
In Summary
Flash is a great design tool to add elements to your website to ‘spice it up’.
Flash is great for delivering rich media like audio and video.
Use the theory, add flash to your web page, don’t add your web page to flash and you will deliver a great experience to your visitors.
If your web site is about delivering information, make the information first and the design second. Web sites that provide great content do not need to wiggle, giggle, blink, click and buzz.
Of course, they do work in terms of visuals. If you visit a Flash web site you will see it. Just because a visitor can see the web site doesn’t automatically mean that the web site is working for your business.
What is Flash?
Flash is technology developed by Macromedia, a leader in web development tools. Flash movies are a compilation of many images, elements and text that is then compiled into a nice, tight little digital file that then gets put on the internet. Some designers build entire web sites using this technology. Graphic designers quite like the technology because it gives them a great opportunity to show how talented they are by developing interactive, moving, and quite honestly some very entertaining web sites. Remember though that the purpose for your business web site is to communicate with your existing and prospective clients, not to show everyone what a talented designer you hired.
What is Flash Good For?
Flash is great as an add-on element for some graphic components of a business web site. Recently the ability for web masters to compile digital audio and video into flash movies has been simplified and using flash to stream a video is a great example of a perfect use for Flash in a business web site.
Another example of where Flash is well used and well received is on web sites that are about presentation and not information. For example a rock band, kids web sites with little games, a photo gallery, a movie clip are all places where Flash is particularly well suited.
Does Flash have a place on the internet? Absolutely it does, but as a web site purchaser though, you have to ask yourself the question, “does Flash have a place on my business web site?”
Can Everyone See Flash
The short answer is no. Although widely available and a component of most web browsers when they are installed, not everyone has flash installed with their web browser. If a visitor who does not have a flash plug-in on their PC visits a site that requires the Flash plug-in, their web browser will prompt them to install it. PC and web savvy visitors will likely go ahead and do it, but some users (like my mother) panic if a pop-up window asks a question and they walk away, or surf away, thinking they just infected their PC with the latest doomsday virus. All of that said, a large percentage of people can see Flash without too much anxiety.
Things to Consider
The Intro Flash Splash
Flash is commonly used for “splash” pages or “entry pages” into web sites. We have all seen them, the animated movie or commercial that leads us into a more traditional marketing web site. Have you ever wondered why the Flash designer almost always places a “skip intro” link on this page? I believe it’s because they know that if they don’t allow people to skip the Flash splash screen that they are going to lose the visitor. Remember that most internet surfers are impatient and they are usually looking for information, not another commercial. Get people to your main web page and do it fast.
The trend of using ‘splash’ pages has declined in the past couple of years as the internet has matured. It is my belief, and widely shared, that if your web site is about good information, then an entry screen is just a road block to your visitors.
The Search Engine
Search engines send out automated robots called “spiders” that crawl through the internet and create massive databases of web pages. People then search for web pages based on key words that are embedded in to the web page in hidden tags as well as in the text that is on the web page itself. If it is important to you that people find your web site then it is important to you to create well written text and links on your web pages that the search engines can find, read and follow. Search engines can not see the text in a Flash page. Search engines can not see hyper-links on flash pages and therefore can not follow the links. Your web page will not seem very important to most search engines because to a search engine your web site will consist of one page and the only relevant information that the search engine will see is your meta-tags if they exist.
Having said all of that, there are arguably ways to get a Flash site indexed and catalogued by a search engine. It simply is not the easiest thing to do and you will likely require a Search Engine Optimization specialist to assist you.
Reciprocal Linking
If you are kind enough to put links on your web site for other web sites then you are providing them with a “vote of confidence” in terms of search engine rankings. The more web sites that link to a web site, in the eyes of the search engine, makes the linked web site more important. Taking that a step further, the more important the web site that links to you the higher the potential ranking your site will get. Likewise sites that provide you with a reciprocal link are in effect giving you their “vote of confidence” and in turn making your web site more important.
Remember what I said earlier? Search engines can not see hyper-links when they are embedded into flash. So although the links are appreciated they will not contribute to the search engines perception of how valuable your web site may be to the world and as a result all those “votes of confidence” are going to waste.
Make sure that people who provide you with a link from their web site to your is not embedded into a flash page. Links should be in pure HTML or Hyper-Text MarkUp Language. If you provide links to other web sites on your site, the same applies to you, use HTML.
Don’t Break my Back Button
Web-browsers all have a back button. As software users, and more specifically as web surfers, we use the back button as a matter of course. It is a good practice as a web developer to not ‘break the back button’. Unfortunately because of the nature of Flash, the back button doesn’t work for backward navigation in the flash web site.
Create a Bookmark if You Can
People like to bookmark pages on the internet so that they can quickly return to them later on. Web surfers do not always bookmark the index page, or the main page, of a web site. For example if you site has a nifty currency converter or a great mortgage calculator on it, people may simply want to bookmark just that page. You can not bookmark an internal page within a Flash site. You can only bookmark the main page. Try it. Visit a 100% Flash web site, surf around a bit, then try to bookmark the page you are looking at. It doesn’t work, because you literally haven’t changed pages from when you first arrived at the site, you have simply “played the animation” which made it appear as though you went to different pages.
Cost
The cost to develop a traditional marketing web site using standard design graphic, HTML and text is in most cases less expensive than using Flash. If you designer proposes to use Flash, ask the question, “how much would it cost to do the same thing without flash?”.
Making Revisions and Updates
If you have your web site built 100% in Flash, you have subscribed to a certain skill-set in your designer. If you want to make revisions you will always need to use someone who can work within Flash. The same theory applies if your web site is images, HTML and text. The distinct difference is that there are far more web masters that work with the later than in Flash. It also typically will take longer to make revisions to Flash sites and as a result your cost of maintenance can be quite steep.
The Source Files
Flash source files are the heart of a flash movie, element or web site. The file will be names something like mywebsite.FLA. This is the native un-compiled source file for a Flash file. Once the designer is ready to deploy the Flash to the web server the file is compiled into a different format. The compiled file in our example would be called mywebsite.SWF.
So to clarify, the original artwork and design is worked on in the .FLA format and the final file that goes on the web server is .SWF.
I see it time and time again where the designer does not provide the client with the source file for their flash elements or web site. They protect the .FLA files, and guess what, you have to go to them for updates and revisions. It does not matter how talented your new web master or designer is, if you do not have the source file with the .FLA extension for your Flash site you will not be able to update it. You should ask your designer to provide you with this source file if you decide to use Flash elements on your web site.
A Final Note On Flash
Please do not interpret my remarks here as me being “anti-flash” the fact is, it really is a great media technology. If you have the budget and want to develop your web site using 100% pure flash, there are some things you can do to mitigate some of the pitfalls that I have described here.
Use a javascript to detect the browser capabilities of the visitor and ensure that they have Flash plug-in to support the Flash on your site. If the result of this simple test is ‘no they do not support Flash’ then the right thing to do is direct them to an alternative HTML based web site with your content. So, although you can overcome the missing Flash plug-in you have to have two web sites designed (the Flash one and the HTML one).
In Summary
Flash is a great design tool to add elements to your website to ‘spice it up’.
Flash is great for delivering rich media like audio and video.
Use the theory, add flash to your web page, don’t add your web page to flash and you will deliver a great experience to your visitors.
If your web site is about delivering information, make the information first and the design second. Web sites that provide great content do not need to wiggle, giggle, blink, click and buzz.
Passing Your Home Business On To Your Kids
There is something that is part of a home business that you might not have thought of, and that is where you are going with your business in the future. Remember that although you are around right now to run your home business, like any business, you should be hoping that you are going to continue to be successful and that you are going to continue to move foreword in whatever you are doing. If this is the case, you should be thinking about the future of your business and what you plan on doing with it. Remember that you might want to pass it on, in the end.
Passing On A Business
When it comes to whether or not you want to pass your home business on to your children, you have to think about it in the same way that you would think about passing on a regular business to your kids. There are several things that you have to think about, and you have to make sure that your family knows what you want to do.
Interest
First of all, you want to make sure that your family is interested. You don’t want to expect your children to take over your business if they aren’t interested in it, or if they have no idea what it is all about. If your kids don’t seem like they are interested, you might be better of selling your business before your retire so that you know your business is in the right hands. Remember, when you sell your business, you want to make your children happy and you want to keep your business running. If you don’t think your kids are going to be happy running the business, it might not be the best thing to do.
Responsibility
Another thing that you should keep in mind is that you have worked hard to get your business where it is, and you are going to want to be sure that it gets passed on to someone who is going to be responsible with it. This is one of the most important things that you have to think about when you are considering whether or not to give your kids your home business. Remember that if they have shown interest, and you think that they are going to handle your home business in a responsible way, this might be something that you consider doing.
In the end you have to remember that you are the one who has built up your home business, and this means that you are the one who has a say in what happens to it when you are finished being in charge. Make sure that you have made your intentions clear, and make sure that you feel good about what is going to happen to your business later on down the road.
Passing On A Business
When it comes to whether or not you want to pass your home business on to your children, you have to think about it in the same way that you would think about passing on a regular business to your kids. There are several things that you have to think about, and you have to make sure that your family knows what you want to do.
Interest
First of all, you want to make sure that your family is interested. You don’t want to expect your children to take over your business if they aren’t interested in it, or if they have no idea what it is all about. If your kids don’t seem like they are interested, you might be better of selling your business before your retire so that you know your business is in the right hands. Remember, when you sell your business, you want to make your children happy and you want to keep your business running. If you don’t think your kids are going to be happy running the business, it might not be the best thing to do.
Responsibility
Another thing that you should keep in mind is that you have worked hard to get your business where it is, and you are going to want to be sure that it gets passed on to someone who is going to be responsible with it. This is one of the most important things that you have to think about when you are considering whether or not to give your kids your home business. Remember that if they have shown interest, and you think that they are going to handle your home business in a responsible way, this might be something that you consider doing.
In the end you have to remember that you are the one who has built up your home business, and this means that you are the one who has a say in what happens to it when you are finished being in charge. Make sure that you have made your intentions clear, and make sure that you feel good about what is going to happen to your business later on down the road.
Learning How To Run Your Business From Expert Business People
One of the best things that you can do as you start a business, no matter what you are doing for your business, is to talk to people who are good at this, and people who already have successful businesses. This is a great way to learn about the business world, and to learn how you can fit into your own home business and be a success with the things that you have learned.
Find them
As you go to start your own business, one of the things that you should look for is people who are good at what they do. This might be an older friend or a relative, or someone who started a business a long time ago. No matter who it is, there are going to be valuable things that you can learn from them and you are going to be able to get a great idea about how your business should be run and the things that you can do to make your business even better as you go ahead and try to compete in the world today.
Ask Them
When you have found someone who you can get advice from when it comes to your own business, all that is left is for you to talk to them. Make a list of questions that you want to ask them, and then simply go to talk to them about the things that you want to talk about. This is something that you can do in one day, or even you can do over a longer time period. No matter what, you’ll find that talking to someone who already has been through the things that you are going through is a great way to get some advice and to get some idea of what you should be doing with your life and what you should be doing with your business.
You might even end up finding a mentor who can take you under their wing and who can support you through your business and through your life. This is a great way to network and a great way to build up your skills when it comes to being a networking agent and being someone who is viable and important in the community as a whole. There are many things that you can do to make sure that this happens, and the more than you can do when you are talking to people, the better off you are going to be as you start your own business.
Remember, there are always going to be people who are willing to help you. All that you have to do is to go out and find them wherever you can, and take whatever advice that they have to offer you. You will simply find that this is the best way to be, and that you are going to be able to be very successful.
Find them
As you go to start your own business, one of the things that you should look for is people who are good at what they do. This might be an older friend or a relative, or someone who started a business a long time ago. No matter who it is, there are going to be valuable things that you can learn from them and you are going to be able to get a great idea about how your business should be run and the things that you can do to make your business even better as you go ahead and try to compete in the world today.
Ask Them
When you have found someone who you can get advice from when it comes to your own business, all that is left is for you to talk to them. Make a list of questions that you want to ask them, and then simply go to talk to them about the things that you want to talk about. This is something that you can do in one day, or even you can do over a longer time period. No matter what, you’ll find that talking to someone who already has been through the things that you are going through is a great way to get some advice and to get some idea of what you should be doing with your life and what you should be doing with your business.
You might even end up finding a mentor who can take you under their wing and who can support you through your business and through your life. This is a great way to network and a great way to build up your skills when it comes to being a networking agent and being someone who is viable and important in the community as a whole. There are many things that you can do to make sure that this happens, and the more than you can do when you are talking to people, the better off you are going to be as you start your own business.
Remember, there are always going to be people who are willing to help you. All that you have to do is to go out and find them wherever you can, and take whatever advice that they have to offer you. You will simply find that this is the best way to be, and that you are going to be able to be very successful.
Keeping Up The Appearances At Your Home Business
When you work form home, it is very easy to simply get out of bed and go to your work in your pajamas and not worry about what you look like. After all , if all of your clients are in different locations, and you aren’t seeing anyone, what is the harm in being lazy and not dressing up for work?
Be Professional
There is no harm in your business, per say, if you simply go to work dressed in whatever you feel like, but the harm is going to lie in the long term affects that you are going to see on yourself if you don’t’ dress for work. Now, you don’t’ have to be wearing a fancy suit or a glamorous outfit, but even if you are working at home all day, part of what you need to be doing is getting dressed for work.
IF you are working at home in whatever you wore to bed, you are sending yourself the message that it is okay to be lazy and that it is okay to simply slack off and not do what you should be doing. You are also sending a message, if even to yourself, that you are not professional and should not be treated as such. If you do this for a long period of time, your business is going to start to feel like just something else you do at home, and you are going to lose site of the fact that you are actually running a business.
There are some things that you can do to make sure that you always stay professional and that you keep this in your head at all times, which will make your business run much more smoothly.
First of all, be sure that you dress for work each day. It doesn’t have to be as fancy as you might if you worked in an office building, but you should be able to feel like you are at work, and you should wear something other than the clothes you would wear if you were simply at home.
Also, you should set hours for yourself to be at work. Working from home is something that can be great, but it can also turn into something that means you have to be at work all of the time. If you set yourself business hours, and stick to them, you are more likely to treat your business as a business, and not as something that is taking over your life. Something else that you have to be sure to always do is to answer the phone and emails in a professional manner, so that whoever you are communicating with will know that you are taking yourself, and your home business, very seriously.
Be Professional
There is no harm in your business, per say, if you simply go to work dressed in whatever you feel like, but the harm is going to lie in the long term affects that you are going to see on yourself if you don’t’ dress for work. Now, you don’t’ have to be wearing a fancy suit or a glamorous outfit, but even if you are working at home all day, part of what you need to be doing is getting dressed for work.
IF you are working at home in whatever you wore to bed, you are sending yourself the message that it is okay to be lazy and that it is okay to simply slack off and not do what you should be doing. You are also sending a message, if even to yourself, that you are not professional and should not be treated as such. If you do this for a long period of time, your business is going to start to feel like just something else you do at home, and you are going to lose site of the fact that you are actually running a business.
There are some things that you can do to make sure that you always stay professional and that you keep this in your head at all times, which will make your business run much more smoothly.
First of all, be sure that you dress for work each day. It doesn’t have to be as fancy as you might if you worked in an office building, but you should be able to feel like you are at work, and you should wear something other than the clothes you would wear if you were simply at home.
Also, you should set hours for yourself to be at work. Working from home is something that can be great, but it can also turn into something that means you have to be at work all of the time. If you set yourself business hours, and stick to them, you are more likely to treat your business as a business, and not as something that is taking over your life. Something else that you have to be sure to always do is to answer the phone and emails in a professional manner, so that whoever you are communicating with will know that you are taking yourself, and your home business, very seriously.
Keeping Up Business Momentum This Season
I don't know about you, but once the cooler weather sets in, I have the urge to head to the Appalachians, sit around a campfire and sip cocoa with my family. It's a bit harder for me to focus on business with the Autumn leaves so lovely!
What about you?
Here are a few ideas that will help you keep the momentum going in your business even while you play a little bit. Soon enough it will be too cold to spend much time out of doors, so better go enjoy it now.
Blog When Nobody's Home
Just because you are out playing doesn't mean your blog has to shut down. If you use WordPress you can schedule blog posts in advance. Write a bunch of them and have one a day added automatically. If your blog is on Blogger, you might want to write several posts, save them as a draft, then pay a Virtual Assistant to post them for you.
Keep In Touch With Subscribers
Most newsletter management systems allow you to schedule broadcasts. If yours doesn't, get a new one! I use Aweber and WahmCart and highly recommend both.
Load up your autoresponder with informative emails to keep selling your product for you as well as prevent your customers and subscribers from forgetting you.
Invest In Strategic Advertising
My favorite form of advertising is free, but spending a few dollars towards some valuable advertising can bring you new business while you do other things. It's a smart investment.
For instance, Kelly McCausey's WC magazine offers VERY reasonable advertising costs.
Get Others to Publish You
If you're doing article marketing (and you are, aren't you?!), why not have an article distribution service like iSnare send out several of your articles to thousands of publishers?
While you're away from your computer, other people are adding your articles to their sites and getting you additional traffic, search engine rankings and expert status. It feels really nice to log into your email program and have dozens of emails saying: "We have published your article here..."
The same applies to press releases. Craft an informative release and send it out to media outlets that reach your target market.
One of the wonderful things about an Internet business is the ability to create passive income. If you set things up properly, you should be able to get away with playing a little and still earn money. Now, go jump in a pile of leaves somewhere.
What about you?
Here are a few ideas that will help you keep the momentum going in your business even while you play a little bit. Soon enough it will be too cold to spend much time out of doors, so better go enjoy it now.
Blog When Nobody's Home
Just because you are out playing doesn't mean your blog has to shut down. If you use WordPress you can schedule blog posts in advance. Write a bunch of them and have one a day added automatically. If your blog is on Blogger, you might want to write several posts, save them as a draft, then pay a Virtual Assistant to post them for you.
Keep In Touch With Subscribers
Most newsletter management systems allow you to schedule broadcasts. If yours doesn't, get a new one! I use Aweber and WahmCart and highly recommend both.
Load up your autoresponder with informative emails to keep selling your product for you as well as prevent your customers and subscribers from forgetting you.
Invest In Strategic Advertising
My favorite form of advertising is free, but spending a few dollars towards some valuable advertising can bring you new business while you do other things. It's a smart investment.
For instance, Kelly McCausey's WC magazine offers VERY reasonable advertising costs.
Get Others to Publish You
If you're doing article marketing (and you are, aren't you?!), why not have an article distribution service like iSnare send out several of your articles to thousands of publishers?
While you're away from your computer, other people are adding your articles to their sites and getting you additional traffic, search engine rankings and expert status. It feels really nice to log into your email program and have dozens of emails saying: "We have published your article here..."
The same applies to press releases. Craft an informative release and send it out to media outlets that reach your target market.
One of the wonderful things about an Internet business is the ability to create passive income. If you set things up properly, you should be able to get away with playing a little and still earn money. Now, go jump in a pile of leaves somewhere.
Is A Limited Liability Company (LLC) Right For Your Business?
Up until a few years ago there were only 3 types of formal business formations. These were the corporation, a partnership and a sole proprietorship. Each had both positives and negatives and depending on your situation, you would choose the right one for you.
The latest business type however has attempted to create like a hybrid with the benefits of sole proprietorship and protections of a corporation without the formalities.
An LLC (limited liability company) provides the benefits of liability protection, like a formal corporation but also features the tax design of a sole proprietorship or partnership. The biggest benefits of an LLC are in the taxation and liability areas, although unlike a corporation, an LLC can be set up for a limited amount of time only.
Unlike a corporation where income is taxed twice, an LLC business passes through income to the owners. That is, the income goes directly to the owners of the company who then are responsible for the taxes. Of course good business practices are a must and this doesn't mean that the company can be treated as a personal piggy bank for the owners.
As the rules that bind an LLC are more in line with a sole proprietorship, many of the corporate governance like a board of directors is not required. The LLC formation also makes it easy to dissolve without the filing and notice requirements of a formal corporation.
LLC's can usually be formed with a simple form filed with the state. Check your local authorities for more information on the type of filing, forms, and other information that may be needed. One identifying characteristic to note is that the name of any limited liability company needs to end with the letters "LLC." Here's an example: Joe's Shoe Repair,LLC.
Filing LLC business documentation though is not difficult and can be accomplished in several ways.
An attorney can generate the basic documentation and should cost a couple of hundred dollars. This is recommended if you're planning to change the business type of an ongoing business. If you already have a business in operation, it's necessary to cover all the details. Using an attorney also can give peace of mind should you be concerned.
If however, you're just starting out or have a brand new business, filing the necessary paperwork is really very easy. To set up an LLC, you file articles of formation or articles of organization with the state. This document is usually an easy to complete one-page form. It has areas where you can fill in the blanks with basic information about your new company including the name and other important information. The state agency that is usually charged with accepting LLC filings is the state department of corporations. If your state doesn't use this name, a quick call to the secretary of state office can point you in the right direction. Some state also have additional minor requirements to open an LLC company. The state department where you file the documents will let you know of any additional requirements.
After the state accepts your articles of LLC formation and you complete any other state requirements, you're done with your LLC formation.
The latest business type however has attempted to create like a hybrid with the benefits of sole proprietorship and protections of a corporation without the formalities.
An LLC (limited liability company) provides the benefits of liability protection, like a formal corporation but also features the tax design of a sole proprietorship or partnership. The biggest benefits of an LLC are in the taxation and liability areas, although unlike a corporation, an LLC can be set up for a limited amount of time only.
Unlike a corporation where income is taxed twice, an LLC business passes through income to the owners. That is, the income goes directly to the owners of the company who then are responsible for the taxes. Of course good business practices are a must and this doesn't mean that the company can be treated as a personal piggy bank for the owners.
As the rules that bind an LLC are more in line with a sole proprietorship, many of the corporate governance like a board of directors is not required. The LLC formation also makes it easy to dissolve without the filing and notice requirements of a formal corporation.
LLC's can usually be formed with a simple form filed with the state. Check your local authorities for more information on the type of filing, forms, and other information that may be needed. One identifying characteristic to note is that the name of any limited liability company needs to end with the letters "LLC." Here's an example: Joe's Shoe Repair,LLC.
Filing LLC business documentation though is not difficult and can be accomplished in several ways.
An attorney can generate the basic documentation and should cost a couple of hundred dollars. This is recommended if you're planning to change the business type of an ongoing business. If you already have a business in operation, it's necessary to cover all the details. Using an attorney also can give peace of mind should you be concerned.
If however, you're just starting out or have a brand new business, filing the necessary paperwork is really very easy. To set up an LLC, you file articles of formation or articles of organization with the state. This document is usually an easy to complete one-page form. It has areas where you can fill in the blanks with basic information about your new company including the name and other important information. The state agency that is usually charged with accepting LLC filings is the state department of corporations. If your state doesn't use this name, a quick call to the secretary of state office can point you in the right direction. Some state also have additional minor requirements to open an LLC company. The state department where you file the documents will let you know of any additional requirements.
After the state accepts your articles of LLC formation and you complete any other state requirements, you're done with your LLC formation.
Is Your Home Based Business A Professional One?
Is your home based business a real business or simply a hobby? Most people when they start their own work at home business are quite serious about what they want the business to deliver. That is a full-time income with unlimited growth potential. While a legitimate business can certainly deliver these results, too many would-be home based business owners treat their business more like a hobby and the results correspond. A professional home based business is one that provides excellent customer service, quality products and services, and is easy to find on the internet. A professional home based business has a website that is easy to navigate with plenty of information for the customer and is one that can be found on the web. Updating your website monthly is important to help make it search engine friendly. Offer new products or services or provide links that are helpful to your customer. Add interesting articles related to your business. Give your site the occasional "facelift" in order to attract more people and keep the regulars coming back.
Once you've proven yourself to those who purchase items from your website, you will begin to build a valuable reputation that will eventually bring others to try your products or service as well. Word-of-mouth advertising is still the best(and cheapest!!!)form of advertising for a successful businesses. This is why providing quality customer service is critical. A professional home based business answers email questions and complaints promptly. Daily if possible. Notify customers on your mailing list of new products & services that are coming soon. Give them a head start. Another sign of a professional home based business is the presence of a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter that features information that your customers need or want to know. Having such a newsletter is not mandatory, but it does raise the level of professionalism for any business.
Find and invest in the right software for a home office is another way to build a professional business. Depending on what you plan on selling, you need to track orders all the way through the shipping process, collect email addresses to keep contact and send your newsletter to, and of course maintain accurate financial records. Such software is readily available at your local computer store and certainly online. A good powerful computer with lots of memory is a huge asset. File maintenance should be done monthly in order to retain valuable information and maintain accurate records.
With a solid home office set up and in place, you can really focus on building or growing your business. If you are still unsure about which online business venture you wish to pursue, then do a little online research. There are many terrific opportunities out there. Some are very much “turnkey” home based businesses that are very easy to get started with a lot of help and direction for you to follow. Consider your own skills and passions too. They may lead to business ideas for you. Creating a list of possible business ideas will help you decide which ones will be the easiest to market.
Many people run successful businesses from their homes and enjoy the freedom that working from home can bring. If you are looking for a way to spend more time with your family, pursuing other goals, or you want to be your own boss, then a home based business may be for you. You should know however, from the start, if you plan on running your business as a professional business or more like a part time job or hobby. There is nothing wrong with any of those ways you choose to approach you business. But if you choose to run it professionally in order to generate a full-time income, you can take great strides in that direction by learning from what you have read here. I wish you the best of luck. Grow a large home based business and realize your dreams.
Once you've proven yourself to those who purchase items from your website, you will begin to build a valuable reputation that will eventually bring others to try your products or service as well. Word-of-mouth advertising is still the best(and cheapest!!!)form of advertising for a successful businesses. This is why providing quality customer service is critical. A professional home based business answers email questions and complaints promptly. Daily if possible. Notify customers on your mailing list of new products & services that are coming soon. Give them a head start. Another sign of a professional home based business is the presence of a monthly or bi-monthly newsletter that features information that your customers need or want to know. Having such a newsletter is not mandatory, but it does raise the level of professionalism for any business.
Find and invest in the right software for a home office is another way to build a professional business. Depending on what you plan on selling, you need to track orders all the way through the shipping process, collect email addresses to keep contact and send your newsletter to, and of course maintain accurate financial records. Such software is readily available at your local computer store and certainly online. A good powerful computer with lots of memory is a huge asset. File maintenance should be done monthly in order to retain valuable information and maintain accurate records.
With a solid home office set up and in place, you can really focus on building or growing your business. If you are still unsure about which online business venture you wish to pursue, then do a little online research. There are many terrific opportunities out there. Some are very much “turnkey” home based businesses that are very easy to get started with a lot of help and direction for you to follow. Consider your own skills and passions too. They may lead to business ideas for you. Creating a list of possible business ideas will help you decide which ones will be the easiest to market.
Many people run successful businesses from their homes and enjoy the freedom that working from home can bring. If you are looking for a way to spend more time with your family, pursuing other goals, or you want to be your own boss, then a home based business may be for you. You should know however, from the start, if you plan on running your business as a professional business or more like a part time job or hobby. There is nothing wrong with any of those ways you choose to approach you business. But if you choose to run it professionally in order to generate a full-time income, you can take great strides in that direction by learning from what you have read here. I wish you the best of luck. Grow a large home based business and realize your dreams.
Legitimate Home Based Businesses
As a Work at Home web site owners we see many searches daily for legitimate Home Based Businesses, Home Business, on line Business, Internet Business and more.
Today we find millions of people turning to the Internet for income. It is so fantastic to be able to work from home. Many people simply have an office at home, which is an extension of their JOB, while others are looking to replace there yearly income and have a piece of the pie for themselves.
Almost anyone with the right discipline, basic computer skills and work ethic can create a nice income from home. Once a person has made the decision to do so, then the big question becomes how? You can waste a lot of time and money trying to figure it out yourself or with a little research you can follow in someone else’s footsteps that has been and is successful.
I had been a business owner and Vice President of a large company for years. To be honest I simply got tired of working. Tired of the day-to-day rat race of life. I saw my Dad save every dime and finally retire only to die one month after doing so, thus never getting a chance to enjoy life. On top of that I had a lifetime of happiness with a son I lost to leukemia when he was fourteen. I just decide enough was enough. I wanted more time with my family and further more I did not want to let the same thing that happened to my father years earlier happen to me.
After finally making the decision to take control of my financial future, I started looking for an on line business that would give me the following:
· Income level that would take care of my monthly expenses and more
· Residual Income if possible
· Web based Business – It seemed as though it was the easiest way to reach the masses
· An on line business that could still generate cash, while I was traveling
· On line business that would require a minimum of effort once setup so I could have my time back
· A business which would not require anyone other than myself or perhaps my wife to operate a few hours a week
After many hours of research I found a man, his name is Erich Winnecke, who seemed to be very successful and was willing to be helpful with others. I read all of the testimonials, but I did not really expect to find any bad ones. I wanted to believe them all. If I’m honest I didn’t really know, but I had a good feeling about him. I was simply at the point where I had to give myself a shot. I knew from past experience to either use PayPal and / or my credit card to protect myself.
Well the results are in and I have to say I have gotten so much for joining his program. Here a just a few of the many areas that Erich and his team have given me support in.
· Step-by-Step guidance on how to create exactly the type of business I was looking for.
· With in minutes I had my own web page capable of generating multiple income streams.
· Step-by-Step guidance and excellent support on how to modify my own web page thereby adding new companies on a regular basis.
· Step-by-Step guidance on how, when and where to market my web site
· Special savings on getting my web site published on the Internet
· Lifetime support for my web site
· Access to a large group of successful people who are doing the same thing (It’s like having my own board of directors to help me)
· Step-by-Step guidance on how to get people like yourself to visit my website
I cannot list all of the areas I have gotten support and direct guidance from Erich and his team. I have never gotten more support from anything anywhere.
I can tell you that I am writing this article sitting in my bus overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at South Padre Island, Texas. As I sit writing this article I can look out the window and see the waves rolling in. Mexico is about a mile away. It is so beautiful and relaxing here. Wow ! My wife and I will stay here for a few months, then if we do like last year, we may go out west as far as California. We will visit my oldest son whom I'm quite proud to say is fulfilling his dreams to be in the movies. We usually end up back on the east coast visiting the rest of our family and children. It is so beautiful here and unlike my poor dad I'm getting to see how beautiful the United States of America really is. I only wish he could have done so as well.
The best part is if you want to do the same thing as I have, or if you simply want to make some extra income, then the opportunities are there for you. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
I knew absolutely nothing about creating and on line web business or web site for that matter. I could not believe how inexpensive Erich's program was. The roadway to success has been paved for us.
Please feel free to read more of this article by visiting my link in the resource box below. I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your feedback is important to me.
Today we find millions of people turning to the Internet for income. It is so fantastic to be able to work from home. Many people simply have an office at home, which is an extension of their JOB, while others are looking to replace there yearly income and have a piece of the pie for themselves.
Almost anyone with the right discipline, basic computer skills and work ethic can create a nice income from home. Once a person has made the decision to do so, then the big question becomes how? You can waste a lot of time and money trying to figure it out yourself or with a little research you can follow in someone else’s footsteps that has been and is successful.
I had been a business owner and Vice President of a large company for years. To be honest I simply got tired of working. Tired of the day-to-day rat race of life. I saw my Dad save every dime and finally retire only to die one month after doing so, thus never getting a chance to enjoy life. On top of that I had a lifetime of happiness with a son I lost to leukemia when he was fourteen. I just decide enough was enough. I wanted more time with my family and further more I did not want to let the same thing that happened to my father years earlier happen to me.
After finally making the decision to take control of my financial future, I started looking for an on line business that would give me the following:
· Income level that would take care of my monthly expenses and more
· Residual Income if possible
· Web based Business – It seemed as though it was the easiest way to reach the masses
· An on line business that could still generate cash, while I was traveling
· On line business that would require a minimum of effort once setup so I could have my time back
· A business which would not require anyone other than myself or perhaps my wife to operate a few hours a week
After many hours of research I found a man, his name is Erich Winnecke, who seemed to be very successful and was willing to be helpful with others. I read all of the testimonials, but I did not really expect to find any bad ones. I wanted to believe them all. If I’m honest I didn’t really know, but I had a good feeling about him. I was simply at the point where I had to give myself a shot. I knew from past experience to either use PayPal and / or my credit card to protect myself.
Well the results are in and I have to say I have gotten so much for joining his program. Here a just a few of the many areas that Erich and his team have given me support in.
· Step-by-Step guidance on how to create exactly the type of business I was looking for.
· With in minutes I had my own web page capable of generating multiple income streams.
· Step-by-Step guidance and excellent support on how to modify my own web page thereby adding new companies on a regular basis.
· Step-by-Step guidance on how, when and where to market my web site
· Special savings on getting my web site published on the Internet
· Lifetime support for my web site
· Access to a large group of successful people who are doing the same thing (It’s like having my own board of directors to help me)
· Step-by-Step guidance on how to get people like yourself to visit my website
I cannot list all of the areas I have gotten support and direct guidance from Erich and his team. I have never gotten more support from anything anywhere.
I can tell you that I am writing this article sitting in my bus overlooking the Gulf of Mexico at South Padre Island, Texas. As I sit writing this article I can look out the window and see the waves rolling in. Mexico is about a mile away. It is so beautiful and relaxing here. Wow ! My wife and I will stay here for a few months, then if we do like last year, we may go out west as far as California. We will visit my oldest son whom I'm quite proud to say is fulfilling his dreams to be in the movies. We usually end up back on the east coast visiting the rest of our family and children. It is so beautiful here and unlike my poor dad I'm getting to see how beautiful the United States of America really is. I only wish he could have done so as well.
The best part is if you want to do the same thing as I have, or if you simply want to make some extra income, then the opportunities are there for you. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
I knew absolutely nothing about creating and on line web business or web site for that matter. I could not believe how inexpensive Erich's program was. The roadway to success has been paved for us.
Please feel free to read more of this article by visiting my link in the resource box below. I always enjoy getting emails pertaining to my articles or my site. Your feedback is important to me.
Merchant Account Fees To Business Owners
As a business owner, when you set up a merchant account to enable your customers the ability to pay for your products or services using credit cards (or debit cards with a Visa or Mastercard Logo), you will have some fees associated with the credit card transactions.
The specific fee amounts that you pay will depend on the merchant account provider you select to provide your credit card processing service; however, there is a list of typical fees that the majority of providers charge business owners in exchange for the ability to accept credit as payment.
Discount Rates
Visa and MasterCard have what is called “interchange” rates. They range in price- so in order to make it easier, the merchant providers created three categories.
Qualified Discount Rate – a percentage is paid from each dollar charged.
Mid-Qualified Rate – does not apply to merchants that manually enter transactions.
Non-Qualified Rate – added to the qualified rate n certain transactions. Also get billed this higher rate if you don’t use address verification service (AVS) when you manually enter transactions.
Other fees many merchant account providers charge their business customers include, but are not limited to the following:
Reward Cards- most merchant providers charge higher rates if the consumer pays using a reward card.
Transaction Fees- a specific, flat rate that is paid on every sale processed through the credit card processor. (Sometimes the transaction fee is called the interchange fee, authorization fee, or per inquiry fee).
Address Verification Service (AVS)- merchant account providers charge a small fee for the validation service to ensure that the billing address provided in the online checkout process matches the issuing bank’s records. Not using this service will result in hefty charges on the processing of the card for that sale.
Batch Fees- most merchant account providers require that customers close out their transactions a minimum of one time each day. The batch fee pays for expenses for the gateway or software that accesses the credit card processing network. If you don’t have transactions to process, there is no batch fee to pay.
Monthly Statement or Customer Service Fee – most merchant account providers charge a monthly fee in order to cover their monthly costs of operation (paying their customer service team for example).
Monthly Minimum Fee- some merchant account providers require you process a minimum amounts of sales per month, or you pay a monthly minimum. Monthly minimums tend to range between $15 and $40 per month.
Gateway Fees- for some merchant accounts, there are fees for internet and mail order merchants to use an internet gateway service such as Authorize.net, although some merchant providers will cover this fee on their customer’s behalf as part of the package deal. If you are solely an internet business, you’ll want to look for an internet merchant account that includes the gateway service as part of the package.
Annual Fees- often charged by merchant account providers- particularly the merchant account providers that offer free terminal equipment. There are numerous merchant account providers that do not charge an annual fee, so you may want to shop around if the first few you look at require an annual fee. Sometimes it would be cheaper to purchase the equipment than to pay an ongoing annual fee.
Cancellation/Termination Fees- Most merchant accounts require a contract agreement of one or two years and if you cancel early, you are likely to be charged a termination fee.
Chargeback/Retrieval Fees- When a customer requests a refund (or the customer’s credit card issuer requests a refund), merchant account providers typically charge a “chargeback” fee.
The specific fee amounts that you pay will depend on the merchant account provider you select to provide your credit card processing service; however, there is a list of typical fees that the majority of providers charge business owners in exchange for the ability to accept credit as payment.
Discount Rates
Visa and MasterCard have what is called “interchange” rates. They range in price- so in order to make it easier, the merchant providers created three categories.
Qualified Discount Rate – a percentage is paid from each dollar charged.
Mid-Qualified Rate – does not apply to merchants that manually enter transactions.
Non-Qualified Rate – added to the qualified rate n certain transactions. Also get billed this higher rate if you don’t use address verification service (AVS) when you manually enter transactions.
Other fees many merchant account providers charge their business customers include, but are not limited to the following:
Reward Cards- most merchant providers charge higher rates if the consumer pays using a reward card.
Transaction Fees- a specific, flat rate that is paid on every sale processed through the credit card processor. (Sometimes the transaction fee is called the interchange fee, authorization fee, or per inquiry fee).
Address Verification Service (AVS)- merchant account providers charge a small fee for the validation service to ensure that the billing address provided in the online checkout process matches the issuing bank’s records. Not using this service will result in hefty charges on the processing of the card for that sale.
Batch Fees- most merchant account providers require that customers close out their transactions a minimum of one time each day. The batch fee pays for expenses for the gateway or software that accesses the credit card processing network. If you don’t have transactions to process, there is no batch fee to pay.
Monthly Statement or Customer Service Fee – most merchant account providers charge a monthly fee in order to cover their monthly costs of operation (paying their customer service team for example).
Monthly Minimum Fee- some merchant account providers require you process a minimum amounts of sales per month, or you pay a monthly minimum. Monthly minimums tend to range between $15 and $40 per month.
Gateway Fees- for some merchant accounts, there are fees for internet and mail order merchants to use an internet gateway service such as Authorize.net, although some merchant providers will cover this fee on their customer’s behalf as part of the package deal. If you are solely an internet business, you’ll want to look for an internet merchant account that includes the gateway service as part of the package.
Annual Fees- often charged by merchant account providers- particularly the merchant account providers that offer free terminal equipment. There are numerous merchant account providers that do not charge an annual fee, so you may want to shop around if the first few you look at require an annual fee. Sometimes it would be cheaper to purchase the equipment than to pay an ongoing annual fee.
Cancellation/Termination Fees- Most merchant accounts require a contract agreement of one or two years and if you cancel early, you are likely to be charged a termination fee.
Chargeback/Retrieval Fees- When a customer requests a refund (or the customer’s credit card issuer requests a refund), merchant account providers typically charge a “chargeback” fee.
Leaving Your Job To Start A Home Business
Making the transition from a traditional job to working from home or starting your own business can be scary. You are giving up the known for the unknown, giving up stability and schedule for something that isn’t guaranteed. But you are also giving up limitations for unlimited possibilities, and giving up a strict schedule for complete flexibility…
I had the opportunity to share my own start-up story with a friend over coffee yesterday. I still laugh at myself when I think back on it, because the idea was completely crazy - yet I was totally confident that it would work. Chalk it up to age (23 at the time) and inexperience, but that naive confidence was probably the one factor that contributed most to my own success as an entrepreneur.
It was basically the Think and Grow Rich concept, even though I wasn’t familiar with Napoleon Hill or his work at the time. While it takes more of a deliberate thought process now ,10 years later, with plenty of experiences to contribute to decision making and goal setting… at the time I simply believed in it, and then went through the steps to make it happen.
Ten years ago I was a working wife and mother, and we were a combined family with 4 children. My husband couldn’t seem to get or keep a job, and I was making barely over $6/hour at my job in the small town where we lived. The house was rented, the car was always breaking down, and we were barely getting by from paycheck to paycheck. My one paycheck for 6 people, at that. We had no savings, no assets and no real shot of making it out of the rut anytime soon.
What I did to make the transition to a successful entrepreneur is not necessarily something I would advise to others. That said, it did work for me and I was up and running and (at least somewhat) financially stable within 3 months. To give you the short story: I quit my job cold turkey, sold everything that we owned, and started a service-based business out of our home. When I say sold everything - I mean the china, furniture, the kids’ toys, right down to my eel skin heels. It all went to auction.
I was in it to succeed, and had every intention of replacing it all. And did.
The most common advice, though, is that you save up at least 3 months worth of living expenses before you quit your job, or make the transition to working from home full-time. I think that this is great advice, and recommend it myself.
Another option is to begin working from home in your spare time, while keeping your current job. While this may mean insanely long days and unrealistic hours for you… it is only an investment you have to make for a short time. Once your business begins to earn what you are making at your job, you can comfortably leave that job and get back to normal working hours.
No matter which option you choose, you will most likely be making a sacrifice of some sort… and taking a chance. Plan smart, believe in yourself, and resolve to do whatever it takes to see your dreams come true.
Most people go into business for themselves because they want more out of life. More free time, more flexibility, more options, more financial stability. Whatever it is that you want more of… want it bad enough to throw caution to the wind and make it happen!
I am now starting my 11th year in business, and never had to even consider taking another job since I left mine in early 1997. If a struggling mother with a full house and an unemployed husband can do it - then so can you!
I had the opportunity to share my own start-up story with a friend over coffee yesterday. I still laugh at myself when I think back on it, because the idea was completely crazy - yet I was totally confident that it would work. Chalk it up to age (23 at the time) and inexperience, but that naive confidence was probably the one factor that contributed most to my own success as an entrepreneur.
It was basically the Think and Grow Rich concept, even though I wasn’t familiar with Napoleon Hill or his work at the time. While it takes more of a deliberate thought process now ,10 years later, with plenty of experiences to contribute to decision making and goal setting… at the time I simply believed in it, and then went through the steps to make it happen.
Ten years ago I was a working wife and mother, and we were a combined family with 4 children. My husband couldn’t seem to get or keep a job, and I was making barely over $6/hour at my job in the small town where we lived. The house was rented, the car was always breaking down, and we were barely getting by from paycheck to paycheck. My one paycheck for 6 people, at that. We had no savings, no assets and no real shot of making it out of the rut anytime soon.
What I did to make the transition to a successful entrepreneur is not necessarily something I would advise to others. That said, it did work for me and I was up and running and (at least somewhat) financially stable within 3 months. To give you the short story: I quit my job cold turkey, sold everything that we owned, and started a service-based business out of our home. When I say sold everything - I mean the china, furniture, the kids’ toys, right down to my eel skin heels. It all went to auction.
I was in it to succeed, and had every intention of replacing it all. And did.
The most common advice, though, is that you save up at least 3 months worth of living expenses before you quit your job, or make the transition to working from home full-time. I think that this is great advice, and recommend it myself.
Another option is to begin working from home in your spare time, while keeping your current job. While this may mean insanely long days and unrealistic hours for you… it is only an investment you have to make for a short time. Once your business begins to earn what you are making at your job, you can comfortably leave that job and get back to normal working hours.
No matter which option you choose, you will most likely be making a sacrifice of some sort… and taking a chance. Plan smart, believe in yourself, and resolve to do whatever it takes to see your dreams come true.
Most people go into business for themselves because they want more out of life. More free time, more flexibility, more options, more financial stability. Whatever it is that you want more of… want it bad enough to throw caution to the wind and make it happen!
I am now starting my 11th year in business, and never had to even consider taking another job since I left mine in early 1997. If a struggling mother with a full house and an unemployed husband can do it - then so can you!
Part Time Web Businesses...Full Time Commitment
Let us cut to the chase...
To the extent your website is an extension of or supplemental to your brick and mortar operation, it can be and probably is a part time endeavor in comparison to your main business. Note it is relative.
Treat your online presence, however, like the proverbial "red haired step child", and you might as well not waste your time, money or man power on it. After all, whether generated on the world wide web or on main street from leads generated by your website, your web's only purpose is to increase name recognition and loyalty and generate and increase revenue.
From your planning stages and business model, to the design of your virtual office, to the selection of key words and ad words, to the selection of an internet host, to your branding, to your promotion strategies, to your monitoring and tracking techniques, to follow up and deal closing - detail, brain storming, and professionalism are key. Your creation must be an entity that makes money, not cost you precious resources.
You need to stop listening to the self declared gurus, and ask yourself the same tough questions you do about your main business. And, if your primary business is going to be the internet based business this factual examination becomes even more crucial.
First, know success is never final. Without proper drive and commitment, he who is on top today will be eclipsed tomorrow. Make sure you have a dream and not a night mare. Assure you have a sufficiently tough skin to pursue your idea and have enough heart to see it through the bad times not just skim off the cream of the crop. If all you have is heart burn from the rich dinner you ate last night rather than an unquenchable fire in your gut, don't toss your cash in the furnace for it will surely be consumed.
Second, never buy into the pie in the sky schemes of the wild blue yonder hucksters who sell everything for nothing and over valued and over priced half truths and for hard earned dollars. They market visions of grandeur purportedly coming true with untold bundles of cash flowing into your bank account while you sleep through the night and golf away the days. Experience shows that virtual life does not work that way any more than real life does.
Get rich quick schemes are the same as and do not work any better than the alcoholic or addict looking for a softer easier way to recover. Lazy people will find they fail and fall faster, harder, and further playing with a new enterprise whether corporate, partnership, or sole proprietorship than punching a time clock.
In your own venture you will soon be painfully aware you cannot pass the buck. There is no lead man, no foreman, no HR department, no big bad boss to keep you honest, to keep you focused, or to keep you working. When you make bad decisions there is no one to bail you out. When you fail to pro
duce there is no payroll clerk from which to draw advance cash. There is no blame game to play because when things are not going your way there is no one else to blame. There is no one about whom to gossip except your customers and that is suicide. There is no one to gossip with except your clients, and that is even worse.
Friendships get relegated to the back burner. You are not here to make friends. A few will come with your success over time as you prove yourself to be a no nonsense professional in your field, a competent business person, and worthy of trust and friendship. But initially you will be consumed with making a living, supporting a business and maybe a staff (if you have one). Don't let it steal family time and relationships.
Don't become pompous! Think of yourself as you think of your dentist... a necessary evil with whom you are cordial and professional. You will be the dentist from this day forward. Don't let it steal your positive spiritual walk.
You will find you now have more legal and social obligations and responsibilities than ever before. People will start to demand more and more of your personal time and attention. Some are simply trying to use you for their own purposes. Don't become a recluse! Faithfully fulfill your obligations to your community and your fellow man, and good things will happen for you.
Now if you have what it takes to run your own business, if you are a self starter and driven you can make money (good money) on the internet or anywhere else. If you understand it is not about luck, not about others, not necessarily about how much money you have today and not necessarily about your education level, and if you are willing to make the commitments, invest the time and do what it takes you are probably ready to become an entrepreneur.
Little will get you more than informed persistence without spamming and without becoming obnoxious.
Part time indeed! What are you waiting for? Go make something happen!
To the extent your website is an extension of or supplemental to your brick and mortar operation, it can be and probably is a part time endeavor in comparison to your main business. Note it is relative.
Treat your online presence, however, like the proverbial "red haired step child", and you might as well not waste your time, money or man power on it. After all, whether generated on the world wide web or on main street from leads generated by your website, your web's only purpose is to increase name recognition and loyalty and generate and increase revenue.
From your planning stages and business model, to the design of your virtual office, to the selection of key words and ad words, to the selection of an internet host, to your branding, to your promotion strategies, to your monitoring and tracking techniques, to follow up and deal closing - detail, brain storming, and professionalism are key. Your creation must be an entity that makes money, not cost you precious resources.
You need to stop listening to the self declared gurus, and ask yourself the same tough questions you do about your main business. And, if your primary business is going to be the internet based business this factual examination becomes even more crucial.
First, know success is never final. Without proper drive and commitment, he who is on top today will be eclipsed tomorrow. Make sure you have a dream and not a night mare. Assure you have a sufficiently tough skin to pursue your idea and have enough heart to see it through the bad times not just skim off the cream of the crop. If all you have is heart burn from the rich dinner you ate last night rather than an unquenchable fire in your gut, don't toss your cash in the furnace for it will surely be consumed.
Second, never buy into the pie in the sky schemes of the wild blue yonder hucksters who sell everything for nothing and over valued and over priced half truths and for hard earned dollars. They market visions of grandeur purportedly coming true with untold bundles of cash flowing into your bank account while you sleep through the night and golf away the days. Experience shows that virtual life does not work that way any more than real life does.
Get rich quick schemes are the same as and do not work any better than the alcoholic or addict looking for a softer easier way to recover. Lazy people will find they fail and fall faster, harder, and further playing with a new enterprise whether corporate, partnership, or sole proprietorship than punching a time clock.
In your own venture you will soon be painfully aware you cannot pass the buck. There is no lead man, no foreman, no HR department, no big bad boss to keep you honest, to keep you focused, or to keep you working. When you make bad decisions there is no one to bail you out. When you fail to pro
duce there is no payroll clerk from which to draw advance cash. There is no blame game to play because when things are not going your way there is no one else to blame. There is no one about whom to gossip except your customers and that is suicide. There is no one to gossip with except your clients, and that is even worse.
Friendships get relegated to the back burner. You are not here to make friends. A few will come with your success over time as you prove yourself to be a no nonsense professional in your field, a competent business person, and worthy of trust and friendship. But initially you will be consumed with making a living, supporting a business and maybe a staff (if you have one). Don't let it steal family time and relationships.
Don't become pompous! Think of yourself as you think of your dentist... a necessary evil with whom you are cordial and professional. You will be the dentist from this day forward. Don't let it steal your positive spiritual walk.
You will find you now have more legal and social obligations and responsibilities than ever before. People will start to demand more and more of your personal time and attention. Some are simply trying to use you for their own purposes. Don't become a recluse! Faithfully fulfill your obligations to your community and your fellow man, and good things will happen for you.
Now if you have what it takes to run your own business, if you are a self starter and driven you can make money (good money) on the internet or anywhere else. If you understand it is not about luck, not about others, not necessarily about how much money you have today and not necessarily about your education level, and if you are willing to make the commitments, invest the time and do what it takes you are probably ready to become an entrepreneur.
Little will get you more than informed persistence without spamming and without becoming obnoxious.
Part time indeed! What are you waiting for? Go make something happen!
Is Your Home Business Going To Make Money? How To Know In Advance
These days when most people are finding they need extra money, home businesses are more popular than ever. Organizations have stepped up to the plate providing what seems like thousands of new business opportunities to choose from.
Most promise you'll make good money. More than a few outright guarantee you'll get rich. Surprising numbers say you'll never have to do any work.
I suppose it's possible to get rich without ever lifting a finger, but I've never known anyone to do it -- excluding lottery winners, of course.
With all these claims floating around, how can you know if the home business you choose will make money? There ARE some surefire ways to tell.
1. You must be selling a product a big group of people REALLY WANT. Notice I didn't say a product EVERYONE wants. That's not necessary. You'll do best if you sell a product that just SOME people want, but you need those people to want it very BADLY.
Make sure you consider THE PRODUCT that a home business is selling. Too often, business opportunities focus entirely on the compensation plan. But at the bottom of every plan is a product that MUST sell, or there won't be any revenue to fuel the compensation plan.
2. Don't plan on learning your business all by yourself. You'll earn bigger money faster if you have plenty of experienced help. Find a company that will give you upline or management assistance.
You'll not only need step-by-step explanations of how to run your home business, you'll need some personal encouragement to keep your enthusiasm up over the long haul.
3. This many be the most important point of the bunch. Make sure you have a way to get a non-stop supply of good, warm leads. Presenting your home business to your relatives and friends may work for a few weeks, but after a while, you'll need new prospects.
This is where most home businesses fail. They spend money on buying leads and advertising, but soon find they don't the results they expect through advertising.
Make sure your home business opportunity comes with a solid system for attracting new customers.
There are even more ways to ensure your home business is a good one, but using these three tips will take you miles toward creating a home business that produces the extra cash you need in a timely manner.
Most promise you'll make good money. More than a few outright guarantee you'll get rich. Surprising numbers say you'll never have to do any work.
I suppose it's possible to get rich without ever lifting a finger, but I've never known anyone to do it -- excluding lottery winners, of course.
With all these claims floating around, how can you know if the home business you choose will make money? There ARE some surefire ways to tell.
1. You must be selling a product a big group of people REALLY WANT. Notice I didn't say a product EVERYONE wants. That's not necessary. You'll do best if you sell a product that just SOME people want, but you need those people to want it very BADLY.
Make sure you consider THE PRODUCT that a home business is selling. Too often, business opportunities focus entirely on the compensation plan. But at the bottom of every plan is a product that MUST sell, or there won't be any revenue to fuel the compensation plan.
2. Don't plan on learning your business all by yourself. You'll earn bigger money faster if you have plenty of experienced help. Find a company that will give you upline or management assistance.
You'll not only need step-by-step explanations of how to run your home business, you'll need some personal encouragement to keep your enthusiasm up over the long haul.
3. This many be the most important point of the bunch. Make sure you have a way to get a non-stop supply of good, warm leads. Presenting your home business to your relatives and friends may work for a few weeks, but after a while, you'll need new prospects.
This is where most home businesses fail. They spend money on buying leads and advertising, but soon find they don't the results they expect through advertising.
Make sure your home business opportunity comes with a solid system for attracting new customers.
There are even more ways to ensure your home business is a good one, but using these three tips will take you miles toward creating a home business that produces the extra cash you need in a timely manner.
Is Your Home Business Making You Rich?
Every business owner wants to make his or her business successful. Many times we expect to make more money than working for a boss. The fact is that it is far from easy to make a living with your own business.
With the rising of the internet the obstacles of going into business have lowered. It is easier to start and it doesn¡¯t take too much investment to make it work. In the ¡°normal¡± business environment, where more investments and risks need to be taken, it is more likely that a starter will consider his future business more carefully. And rightfully so. He or she has a lot to lose. Most probably this entrepreneur will need to quit his job to work full-time on his or her business without any guarantee on success and income. Starting an e-business doesn¡¯t need those huge risks. A lot of part-time e-based business owners can make an excellent living. That is all great, but because it is relatively easy to start your own business the process of thinking your business through is not enhanced.
And that is the disadvantage of an internet-based home business. Because it doesn¡¯t take so much effort compared to other businesses, the business owner might think the rest is also easy. But let¡¯s face it, to make a living with a business that has so many competitors it is far from easy to stand out and make it work. Many business owners start to wonder after a few months what they do wrong. No sales and no income. But this can be overcome.
Forget the fact that you, without any specific experience in the home business, were able to set up a nice website where you sell your products and services. Start to think about why people would need to join you and buy your products. Think what you need to do just to make one sale. Think what resources, time and money, it will cost you to make it work. To summarize, think of your business. Even better, put your thoughts on paper and make a business plan with your goals, assumptions, forecasts and action plans. This will not guarantee your success, but will for sure let you think about how you can reach whatever you want to reach with your home business.
In the end, your home business is as much of a business as that of any other company!
With the rising of the internet the obstacles of going into business have lowered. It is easier to start and it doesn¡¯t take too much investment to make it work. In the ¡°normal¡± business environment, where more investments and risks need to be taken, it is more likely that a starter will consider his future business more carefully. And rightfully so. He or she has a lot to lose. Most probably this entrepreneur will need to quit his job to work full-time on his or her business without any guarantee on success and income. Starting an e-business doesn¡¯t need those huge risks. A lot of part-time e-based business owners can make an excellent living. That is all great, but because it is relatively easy to start your own business the process of thinking your business through is not enhanced.
And that is the disadvantage of an internet-based home business. Because it doesn¡¯t take so much effort compared to other businesses, the business owner might think the rest is also easy. But let¡¯s face it, to make a living with a business that has so many competitors it is far from easy to stand out and make it work. Many business owners start to wonder after a few months what they do wrong. No sales and no income. But this can be overcome.
Forget the fact that you, without any specific experience in the home business, were able to set up a nice website where you sell your products and services. Start to think about why people would need to join you and buy your products. Think what you need to do just to make one sale. Think what resources, time and money, it will cost you to make it work. To summarize, think of your business. Even better, put your thoughts on paper and make a business plan with your goals, assumptions, forecasts and action plans. This will not guarantee your success, but will for sure let you think about how you can reach whatever you want to reach with your home business.
In the end, your home business is as much of a business as that of any other company!
Is A Work From Home Franchise Business Right For You?
If you’re interested in opening your own business, you should definitely consider the potential rewards of a business that would allow you to work from home. A home based business offers an amazing level of autonomy, and there are a surprising number of work at home franchise opportunities. In this article we will discuss some of the pros and cons of working from home as well as some of the available home based business franchises.
Pros and cons of a home business:
One major advantage of home based business franchises is that the initial investment required is typically much lower than a traditional franchise. Work from home franchises are usually in the $15,000-$30,000 range. You can occasionally even find a work at home franchise for as little as $10,000.
Another advantage is that a home based business has very few overhead expenses. Of course you will have to maintain a home office, but your chief operating tools will be things such as a computer, telephone or fax machine. If you choose to employ one or two people, there would, of course, be some payroll.
Home based business franchises require you to stock little to no inventory, which is advantageous because it alleviates the responsibility of keeping up with an inventory system.
Many prospective franchisees find the lifestyle associated with working from home to be the key advantage. There are a number of work at home franchise opportunities that only require a part-time commitment to be successful. This provides franchisees with a great deal of flexibility in their schedules and often affords them more time to spend with their families. This flexible schedule also allows business owners to conduct business at times that are most convenient for them as opposed to adhering to the traditional “retail-style” hours of operation.
However, working at home does have some disadvantages, too. There is staggered revenue potential associated with these types of businesses. Because there is no walk-by traffic, home based businesses are dependent upon a loyal client base for repeat business.
As the owner of a home business, you will have limited exposure due to municipal law, which prohibits home based franchises from maintaining “street signage” on residential properties. You can get around this restriction if your home has been zoned for commercial use, but for the most part your business’s exposure will depend on your ability to market it through various advertising media.
National advertising campaigns are not commonly associated with home based franchises. Normally, marketing the business is the sole responsibility of the franchisee, and this may limit the reach of your marketing campaign to your own town or city.
Finally, as a home-based franchisee, your business practice will be isolated. This can curtail the number of networking opportunities you will have. If you do not maintain an active and effective advertising campaign, you are likely to lose potential customers to any competitor who operates a street-front or retail business.
Available home based business franchises:
If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided that a home based franchise is right for you, you might consider some these franchise opportunities:
PosiGrip is a turnkey, home based franchise that offers its customers protection from dangerous slip-and-fall accidents. PosiGrip is a process that creates a tread design on almost any hard surface including tubs and showers. The process does not discolor or change the look or feel of floors or showers. It simply makes them safer. For an initial investment of $8,000-$10,000, you will receive training and support, national advertising and a complete marketing program. PosiGrip imposes no franchise or royalty fees on its franchisees.
Guard-A-Kid™ Child ID Systems is a franchise that allows the franchisee to choose working from home or from a mall kiosk. The services and products they provide their customers are essential for child safety. For example, a complete child ID and safety package that includes two wallet-size printed IDs, a large file-size ID and a CD-ROM containing all the child’s information in digital format is available to patrons. The initial investment for this franchise is $19,900. Your start-up kit will include numerous technological tools to ensure your success including a state-of-the-art laptop PC and an FBI-quality digital fingerprint scanner. Guard-A-Kid was included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® list and was also recently named one of the top 100 new franchises by Franchise Market Magazine.
You can even work from home in the travel industry. For example, Cruise Planners is a nationally recognized cruise planning agency, and they were ranked number one in their category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The initial investment required for this home based business franchise is $20,000. Franchisees in this system enjoy training programs, marketing and advertising programs, exclusive lead and website programs as well as the highest commission levels in the industry.
Final thoughts concerning home based businesses:
The possibilities for entrepreneurs seeking a work at home franchise opportunity are virtually limitless. You can see the diversity in available franchises just from the short list above, and it is a short list. Many other opportunities exist.
If you’ve done your research and concluded that a home based franchise business is for you, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a franchise to meet both your personal and your professional needs.
Pros and cons of a home business:
One major advantage of home based business franchises is that the initial investment required is typically much lower than a traditional franchise. Work from home franchises are usually in the $15,000-$30,000 range. You can occasionally even find a work at home franchise for as little as $10,000.
Another advantage is that a home based business has very few overhead expenses. Of course you will have to maintain a home office, but your chief operating tools will be things such as a computer, telephone or fax machine. If you choose to employ one or two people, there would, of course, be some payroll.
Home based business franchises require you to stock little to no inventory, which is advantageous because it alleviates the responsibility of keeping up with an inventory system.
Many prospective franchisees find the lifestyle associated with working from home to be the key advantage. There are a number of work at home franchise opportunities that only require a part-time commitment to be successful. This provides franchisees with a great deal of flexibility in their schedules and often affords them more time to spend with their families. This flexible schedule also allows business owners to conduct business at times that are most convenient for them as opposed to adhering to the traditional “retail-style” hours of operation.
However, working at home does have some disadvantages, too. There is staggered revenue potential associated with these types of businesses. Because there is no walk-by traffic, home based businesses are dependent upon a loyal client base for repeat business.
As the owner of a home business, you will have limited exposure due to municipal law, which prohibits home based franchises from maintaining “street signage” on residential properties. You can get around this restriction if your home has been zoned for commercial use, but for the most part your business’s exposure will depend on your ability to market it through various advertising media.
National advertising campaigns are not commonly associated with home based franchises. Normally, marketing the business is the sole responsibility of the franchisee, and this may limit the reach of your marketing campaign to your own town or city.
Finally, as a home-based franchisee, your business practice will be isolated. This can curtail the number of networking opportunities you will have. If you do not maintain an active and effective advertising campaign, you are likely to lose potential customers to any competitor who operates a street-front or retail business.
Available home based business franchises:
If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and decided that a home based franchise is right for you, you might consider some these franchise opportunities:
PosiGrip is a turnkey, home based franchise that offers its customers protection from dangerous slip-and-fall accidents. PosiGrip is a process that creates a tread design on almost any hard surface including tubs and showers. The process does not discolor or change the look or feel of floors or showers. It simply makes them safer. For an initial investment of $8,000-$10,000, you will receive training and support, national advertising and a complete marketing program. PosiGrip imposes no franchise or royalty fees on its franchisees.
Guard-A-Kid™ Child ID Systems is a franchise that allows the franchisee to choose working from home or from a mall kiosk. The services and products they provide their customers are essential for child safety. For example, a complete child ID and safety package that includes two wallet-size printed IDs, a large file-size ID and a CD-ROM containing all the child’s information in digital format is available to patrons. The initial investment for this franchise is $19,900. Your start-up kit will include numerous technological tools to ensure your success including a state-of-the-art laptop PC and an FBI-quality digital fingerprint scanner. Guard-A-Kid was included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® list and was also recently named one of the top 100 new franchises by Franchise Market Magazine.
You can even work from home in the travel industry. For example, Cruise Planners is a nationally recognized cruise planning agency, and they were ranked number one in their category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. The initial investment required for this home based business franchise is $20,000. Franchisees in this system enjoy training programs, marketing and advertising programs, exclusive lead and website programs as well as the highest commission levels in the industry.
Final thoughts concerning home based businesses:
The possibilities for entrepreneurs seeking a work at home franchise opportunity are virtually limitless. You can see the diversity in available franchises just from the short list above, and it is a short list. Many other opportunities exist.
If you’ve done your research and concluded that a home based franchise business is for you, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a franchise to meet both your personal and your professional needs.
Over 48 business entities to seek bank licences
About three dozens entities, including billionaires like Aditya Birla Group, Tata Capital, Religare, Reliance Capital, are applying for bank licences, the deadline for which expires tomorrow.
Entities which have taken board approval for applying to for bank licence from the Reserve Bank include country’s oldest financial institution IFCI, IDFC, India Infoline, Videocon Industries, SREI Infrastructure Finance etc and the Department of Posts.
ReutersReuters
Bajaj Finance, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, has already submitted its application for the licence. According to sources, as many as five micro finance institutions are also applying for bank licence. So, the final tally at the end of July 1 could go beyond three dozens. However, Mahindra Finance, a Mahindra and Mahindra Group entity has decided not to apply citing “disadvantageous” and unclear norms.
“The RBI guidelines provide for the conversion of NBFCs into a bank, but do not provide any flexibility for an NBFC and a bank to co-exist for a reasonable period of time,” Mahindra Finance said in a statement. Although RBI is closed on July 1 for public transactions to facilitate annual closing of RBI’s accounts, the central bank has made special arrangement for receiving of application for bank licence by private companies.
Intending applicants for setting up new banks can submit their applications up to 17.45 hrs to the Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Department of Banking Operations and Development, Central Office, RBI said in a statement.
Applications received after close of business on July 1,or incomplete applications will not be considered, it added. RBI issued final guidelines for new bank licence in the private sector on February 22 while clarifications pertaining to norms was released on June 21.
RBI while issuing clarification on new bank licence guidelines said, the entities getting licences to open new banks will be given 18 months to open branches against 12 months prescribed earlier, and promoters would have to transfer their holdings to the non-operative financial holding company (NOFHC) in a stipulated period.
The NOFHC envisages holding of the bank and other regulated financial services entities of the promoters under the NOFHC and prudential exposure norms for the entities. India has 26 public sector banks, 22 private sector banks and 56 regional rural banks.
Ten banks were licenced on the basis of guidelines issued in January 1993. The guidelines were revised in January 2001 based on the experience gained from the functioning of these banks, and fresh applications were invited.Of the 10 licences issued in 1993, four banks merged with other lenders over a period of time. Times Bank merged with HDFC Bank, while Global Trust Bank was amalgamated with the state-owned Oriental Bank of Commerce.
Entities which have taken board approval for applying to for bank licence from the Reserve Bank include country’s oldest financial institution IFCI, IDFC, India Infoline, Videocon Industries, SREI Infrastructure Finance etc and the Department of Posts.
ReutersReuters
Bajaj Finance, a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, has already submitted its application for the licence. According to sources, as many as five micro finance institutions are also applying for bank licence. So, the final tally at the end of July 1 could go beyond three dozens. However, Mahindra Finance, a Mahindra and Mahindra Group entity has decided not to apply citing “disadvantageous” and unclear norms.
“The RBI guidelines provide for the conversion of NBFCs into a bank, but do not provide any flexibility for an NBFC and a bank to co-exist for a reasonable period of time,” Mahindra Finance said in a statement. Although RBI is closed on July 1 for public transactions to facilitate annual closing of RBI’s accounts, the central bank has made special arrangement for receiving of application for bank licence by private companies.
Intending applicants for setting up new banks can submit their applications up to 17.45 hrs to the Chief General Manager-in-Charge, Department of Banking Operations and Development, Central Office, RBI said in a statement.
Applications received after close of business on July 1,or incomplete applications will not be considered, it added. RBI issued final guidelines for new bank licence in the private sector on February 22 while clarifications pertaining to norms was released on June 21.
RBI while issuing clarification on new bank licence guidelines said, the entities getting licences to open new banks will be given 18 months to open branches against 12 months prescribed earlier, and promoters would have to transfer their holdings to the non-operative financial holding company (NOFHC) in a stipulated period.
The NOFHC envisages holding of the bank and other regulated financial services entities of the promoters under the NOFHC and prudential exposure norms for the entities. India has 26 public sector banks, 22 private sector banks and 56 regional rural banks.
Ten banks were licenced on the basis of guidelines issued in January 1993. The guidelines were revised in January 2001 based on the experience gained from the functioning of these banks, and fresh applications were invited.Of the 10 licences issued in 1993, four banks merged with other lenders over a period of time. Times Bank merged with HDFC Bank, while Global Trust Bank was amalgamated with the state-owned Oriental Bank of Commerce.
Delaware, Charging Orders and SMLLCs
House Bill No. 126, introduced in the Delaware legislature on May 9, 2013, would make two amendments to the Delaware LLC Act that would affect the rights of creditors. First, Section 6 of the Bill would Section 18-703(d) of the Delaware LLC Act to read as follows:
(d) The entry of a charging order is the exclusive remedy by which a judgment creditor of a member or a member’s assignee may satisfy a judgment out of the judgment debtor’s limited liability company interest and attachment, garnishment, foreclosure or other legal or equitable remedies are not available to the judgment creditor, whether the limited liability company has 1 member or more than 1 member.
House Bill No. 126, 147th Leg., § 6 (Del. May 9, 2012)(underlining in original, italics added). Second, Section 7 of the Bill would amend § 18-1101 of the Delaware LLC Act by inserting a new sub-paragraph (j), to read :
(j) The provisions of this chapter shall apply whether a limited liability company has 1 member or more than 1 member.
Id. at § 7 (underlining in original).
The first part of the amendment to § 18-703(d) elaborates on what “exclusive remedy” means. Among other things, it seems intened to avoid the result in cases such as would avoid the result, in cases such as Hotel 71 Mezz. Lender LLC v. Falor, 2010 NY Slip Op 01348, 14 NY3d at 307, 926 N.E.2d 1202 (2010) (slip Op.) and Olmstead v. Federal Trade Commission, 44 So. 3d 76 (Fla. 2010)(slip Op.), in which courts held that general creditors remedies, such as attachment (Falor) and levy and execution (Olmstead), can be used to reach interests in LLCs.
The second part of the amendment to §18-703(d), and new 18-1101(j) is aimed at the result, in cases such as Olmstead, and In re Albright, 291 B.R. 538 (Bankr. D. Colo. 2003), that allow a transferee of the interest of the sole member in a single-member LLC (SMLLC) to succeed to both the economic and the management rights of the member. With the SMLLC amendments, Delaware joins the race-to-the-bottom for the state most-friendly to the use of SMLLCs for asset p;rotection.
(d) The entry of a charging order is the exclusive remedy by which a judgment creditor of a member or a member’s assignee may satisfy a judgment out of the judgment debtor’s limited liability company interest and attachment, garnishment, foreclosure or other legal or equitable remedies are not available to the judgment creditor, whether the limited liability company has 1 member or more than 1 member.
House Bill No. 126, 147th Leg., § 6 (Del. May 9, 2012)(underlining in original, italics added). Second, Section 7 of the Bill would amend § 18-1101 of the Delaware LLC Act by inserting a new sub-paragraph (j), to read :
(j) The provisions of this chapter shall apply whether a limited liability company has 1 member or more than 1 member.
Id. at § 7 (underlining in original).
The first part of the amendment to § 18-703(d) elaborates on what “exclusive remedy” means. Among other things, it seems intened to avoid the result in cases such as would avoid the result, in cases such as Hotel 71 Mezz. Lender LLC v. Falor, 2010 NY Slip Op 01348, 14 NY3d at 307, 926 N.E.2d 1202 (2010) (slip Op.) and Olmstead v. Federal Trade Commission, 44 So. 3d 76 (Fla. 2010)(slip Op.), in which courts held that general creditors remedies, such as attachment (Falor) and levy and execution (Olmstead), can be used to reach interests in LLCs.
The second part of the amendment to §18-703(d), and new 18-1101(j) is aimed at the result, in cases such as Olmstead, and In re Albright, 291 B.R. 538 (Bankr. D. Colo. 2003), that allow a transferee of the interest of the sole member in a single-member LLC (SMLLC) to succeed to both the economic and the management rights of the member. With the SMLLC amendments, Delaware joins the race-to-the-bottom for the state most-friendly to the use of SMLLCs for asset p;rotection.
Choose Your Desktop Publishing Business Structure
Doing freelance design involves more than just saying you're open for business and getting a few clients. You need to choose a business structure. Explore the basic pros and cons of three primary types of business structures*.
*The information in this article applies primarily and in general to US and Canadian businesses. You should always check local laws as to forms of business, registration, and tax requirements.
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
The simplest form of doing business, a sole proprietorship is the structure that most freelance designers choose initially. Some stay with this form of business throughout their business life.
As the name implies, a sole proprietorship is an individual doing business under his or her own name or another name that doesn't include legal designations such as Inc. or Ltd. In some municipalities a husband and wife can be principals in a sole proprietorship without choosing a formal partnership or incorporation.
Pros
Easy to set up with few forms to file or fees to pay (generally only need to register an Assumed Name, if used, and obtain a local sales tax permit)
Business income is reported on your personal income tax form (detailed on separate business schedules or addendums)
100% ownership in the company
Cons
You assume personal liability for the business so that your own personal assets can be seized by the IRS or creditor to discharge any business debts incurred.
Doing Business As (DBA) a Fictitious Business Name (Why and How)
PARTNERSHIP
In a partnership, two or more individuals create a legal entity where the partners share in the profits. It's almost as easy to set up as a sole proprietorship although the parties need to draw up a partnership agreement outlining what each partner brings to the table and what happens when the partnership is dissolved. Partnerships can be general or limited, general partnerships being the most common. Limited liability partnerships are not available in all states or to all businesses.
Pros
Only slightly more complicated to set up than a sole proprietorship (drafting the partnership agreement)
When partners are carefully chosen the business benefits from the complementary skills and talents of each partner.
Business income and tax liability passes through to each partner so no separate tax filings are necessary for the entity.
Cons
Each partner can be held financially liable for the actions or inactions of the other partner in connection to the business.
Ownership is shared and depending on how the partnership agreement is drawn up, you may not have as much control of the business as you would with a sole proprietorship.
CORPORATION
Some businesses choose incorporation as a way to protect their personal assets and to take advantage of certain tax benefits. The C Corporation is more complicated than other business structures but may offer greater tax advantages in some situations.
Pros
Debts or other liabilities against the company do not usually pass through to the owners so that the owners personal assets are protected in case of lawsuits or bad debts.
Corporations can raise money by selling shares of stock in the company.
Corporations may be taxed at a lower rate and have better tax benefits than some other forms of business.
Cons
More paperwork, time, and expense is involved setting up and registering a corporation.
Legal requirements in terms of bookkeeping and tax filing is more complicated and expensive on an on-going basis than other business structures.
Ownership is in the hands of the stockholders and managed by the Board of Directors. Your control of the company may be limited if there are multiple stockholders and members of the board.
How to Incorporate Your Small Business in 7 Steps
The C Corporation may be the most familiar but there are other forms of incorporation including the the limited liability corporation or LLC which offers some of the benefits of both a corporation and a partnership and the S Corporation where taxes are handled similar to a partnership or sole proprietorship.
*The information in this article applies primarily and in general to US and Canadian businesses. You should always check local laws as to forms of business, registration, and tax requirements.
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP
The simplest form of doing business, a sole proprietorship is the structure that most freelance designers choose initially. Some stay with this form of business throughout their business life.
As the name implies, a sole proprietorship is an individual doing business under his or her own name or another name that doesn't include legal designations such as Inc. or Ltd. In some municipalities a husband and wife can be principals in a sole proprietorship without choosing a formal partnership or incorporation.
Pros
Easy to set up with few forms to file or fees to pay (generally only need to register an Assumed Name, if used, and obtain a local sales tax permit)
Business income is reported on your personal income tax form (detailed on separate business schedules or addendums)
100% ownership in the company
Cons
You assume personal liability for the business so that your own personal assets can be seized by the IRS or creditor to discharge any business debts incurred.
Doing Business As (DBA) a Fictitious Business Name (Why and How)
PARTNERSHIP
In a partnership, two or more individuals create a legal entity where the partners share in the profits. It's almost as easy to set up as a sole proprietorship although the parties need to draw up a partnership agreement outlining what each partner brings to the table and what happens when the partnership is dissolved. Partnerships can be general or limited, general partnerships being the most common. Limited liability partnerships are not available in all states or to all businesses.
Pros
Only slightly more complicated to set up than a sole proprietorship (drafting the partnership agreement)
When partners are carefully chosen the business benefits from the complementary skills and talents of each partner.
Business income and tax liability passes through to each partner so no separate tax filings are necessary for the entity.
Cons
Each partner can be held financially liable for the actions or inactions of the other partner in connection to the business.
Ownership is shared and depending on how the partnership agreement is drawn up, you may not have as much control of the business as you would with a sole proprietorship.
CORPORATION
Some businesses choose incorporation as a way to protect their personal assets and to take advantage of certain tax benefits. The C Corporation is more complicated than other business structures but may offer greater tax advantages in some situations.
Pros
Debts or other liabilities against the company do not usually pass through to the owners so that the owners personal assets are protected in case of lawsuits or bad debts.
Corporations can raise money by selling shares of stock in the company.
Corporations may be taxed at a lower rate and have better tax benefits than some other forms of business.
Cons
More paperwork, time, and expense is involved setting up and registering a corporation.
Legal requirements in terms of bookkeeping and tax filing is more complicated and expensive on an on-going basis than other business structures.
Ownership is in the hands of the stockholders and managed by the Board of Directors. Your control of the company may be limited if there are multiple stockholders and members of the board.
How to Incorporate Your Small Business in 7 Steps
The C Corporation may be the most familiar but there are other forms of incorporation including the the limited liability corporation or LLC which offers some of the benefits of both a corporation and a partnership and the S Corporation where taxes are handled similar to a partnership or sole proprietorship.
7 Tasks To Help You Prepare for Business Tax Season
Tax season will be here before you know it, so it's time to prepare. There are some things you can do in the fall so you can hit the ground running in the busy time of January through April. Let's get started:
1. Find a tax advisor. Every business, no matter how large or small, needs a tax advisor, that is, someone who can review your company's financial statements and offer advice on how to prepare taxes, what deductions and credits to take, and how to minimize your tax bill. A good tax advisor is worth the price, and it takes time to find the right person, so if you don't have one, now's the time to start looking.
2. Get tax software. If you have a tax advisor, why do you need tax software? For a small business filing Schedule C, it's good to start working on your taxes and getting the essential information together to take to your tax preparer. Tax software can help you do that. You can get information on possible deductions and credits to discuss with your tax preparer, and you can get your business records in order to make the process easier (and cheaper) for the preparer. Read a comparison of business tax software, some of it available free online (for basic business taxes on Schedule C) or you can order it when it comes out later this fall.
3. Get your business tax records in order.Having complete records of business assets, loans, income and expenses means you will get through tax season more easily and quickly and save money on a tax preparer. It also means more deductions and credits and better results if you get audited. Read more about how to capture information for business records and the details on the records you need for business tax purposes.
4. Review 2012 tax changes. Some changes for 2012 can save you money in depreciation on business assets purchased this year. Other changes will expire in 2011. Read this article on 2012 business tax changes, gather information, and talk to your tax advisor about whether you might benefit from any of these changes.
5. Get forms for payroll taxes. If you do your own payroll tax processing, you will need forms for end-of-year reports. That means W-2s for employees and 1099-MISC forms for contractors, as well as W-3 and 1096 transmittal forms. You must use only IRS-authorized forms. Of course, if you have a payroll processing service, they can prepare these forms for you. Read more about how to get W-2 forms and other year-end payroll tax reporting forms.
6. Consider buying business vehicles or equipment, Depreciation deductions are the highest they have been or are likely to be (it's difficult to go above 100% deductions). Buying equipment in 2012 may allow you to take advantage of bonus depreciation or Section 179 deductions. Bonus depreciation may not be available in 2013, so it may be time to buy that equipment or business vehicle to get the increased deduction. Talk with your tax advisor about this so you have time to shop around and get the equipment. You must put the equipment in service (that is, start using it) in 2012 to take advantage of these depreciation deductions.
7. Review tax due dates for your business type. Don't get caught filing late or using the wrong form.
If you have a small business, including a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLC, read this Tax Guide for Small Businesses, which includes filing deadlines and forms you will need, as well as information on amended business tax returns and extensions.
If you own a corporation or an S corporation, read this Guide to Corporate Taxes for helpful information on forms and filing.
1. Find a tax advisor. Every business, no matter how large or small, needs a tax advisor, that is, someone who can review your company's financial statements and offer advice on how to prepare taxes, what deductions and credits to take, and how to minimize your tax bill. A good tax advisor is worth the price, and it takes time to find the right person, so if you don't have one, now's the time to start looking.
2. Get tax software. If you have a tax advisor, why do you need tax software? For a small business filing Schedule C, it's good to start working on your taxes and getting the essential information together to take to your tax preparer. Tax software can help you do that. You can get information on possible deductions and credits to discuss with your tax preparer, and you can get your business records in order to make the process easier (and cheaper) for the preparer. Read a comparison of business tax software, some of it available free online (for basic business taxes on Schedule C) or you can order it when it comes out later this fall.
3. Get your business tax records in order.Having complete records of business assets, loans, income and expenses means you will get through tax season more easily and quickly and save money on a tax preparer. It also means more deductions and credits and better results if you get audited. Read more about how to capture information for business records and the details on the records you need for business tax purposes.
4. Review 2012 tax changes. Some changes for 2012 can save you money in depreciation on business assets purchased this year. Other changes will expire in 2011. Read this article on 2012 business tax changes, gather information, and talk to your tax advisor about whether you might benefit from any of these changes.
5. Get forms for payroll taxes. If you do your own payroll tax processing, you will need forms for end-of-year reports. That means W-2s for employees and 1099-MISC forms for contractors, as well as W-3 and 1096 transmittal forms. You must use only IRS-authorized forms. Of course, if you have a payroll processing service, they can prepare these forms for you. Read more about how to get W-2 forms and other year-end payroll tax reporting forms.
6. Consider buying business vehicles or equipment, Depreciation deductions are the highest they have been or are likely to be (it's difficult to go above 100% deductions). Buying equipment in 2012 may allow you to take advantage of bonus depreciation or Section 179 deductions. Bonus depreciation may not be available in 2013, so it may be time to buy that equipment or business vehicle to get the increased deduction. Talk with your tax advisor about this so you have time to shop around and get the equipment. You must put the equipment in service (that is, start using it) in 2012 to take advantage of these depreciation deductions.
7. Review tax due dates for your business type. Don't get caught filing late or using the wrong form.
If you have a small business, including a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLC, read this Tax Guide for Small Businesses, which includes filing deadlines and forms you will need, as well as information on amended business tax returns and extensions.
If you own a corporation or an S corporation, read this Guide to Corporate Taxes for helpful information on forms and filing.
Tips For Surviving Your First Year in Business
How's Your Personal Bank Account?
Few small businesses make much profit their first year - if they make any profit at all. Even with a low-start-up cost business, you will eventually need to invest money into your business in order to grow it by expanding products, services, moving into new geographic territories, or hiring others to help you. The old, familiar saying it true: It takes money to make money.
Rule of Thumb: Have one year of savings already in the bank to live off before you quit your day job.
If you are not planning to personally fund your business, raise capital before you launch the business. The promise of money is never as good as cash in your bank account.
How to Ask Family and Friends for Money
Steps Before You Personally Guarantee a Business Loan
Protect Your Marriage By Not Becoming Overprotective About Your Business
If you are married, be honest with your spouse before quitting your job and say that business is unpredictable and you may need to rely on their income for an undetermined period of time. It is better to be surprise by a "good" month than by a "bad" month.
You should also discuss how you will deal with the business as a couple. Establishing early on who will do what (if you work together) will save you the heartache of arguing about the businesses ups and downs. If you have young children, expect them to become jealous if you spend more time working than you do with them. Allowing them to help in small ways can add up to big rewards.
If you become territorial about your business instead of involving family, you are guaranteed at least some friction. Even when family members (and friends) offer bad ideas, praise them and validate them for caring. See their input as a desire to help you succeed and not as criticism of you.
Putting aside your pride and Having thick skin will help you make better business decisions and keep your interpersonal relationships healthy and strong.
5 Tips For Working With Family
How To Work With Your Spouse
The Importance of Involving Your Family In Your Business
A Rainy Day Will Come
Other first-year start-up costs include insurance, taxes, and unexpected expenses. For example, most businesses need some form of technology to operate smoothly. If your computer dies or needs to be upgraded, you could be dead in the water if you do not have funds to draw on the handle emergencies.
Although savvy new business owners will factor in some rainy day costs for the businesses, they may forget the need to factor in personal rainy day events. If you have taken the plunge and are relying on your business for income, what happens if your business cannot pay you and you incur unexpected medical expenses, your car or home needs a major repair, or you need to upgrade your business wardrobe to impress clients?
Before You Get Too Excited About Profits…
Money is coming into your business and you are (and should be) doing cartwheels. But do not forget that you will need to pay quarterly taxes to the federal government and your state on any profits made.
Unless you are not going to owe any taxes for the year, you need to budget to pay taxes. Depending upon your business structure, this could mean payroll taxes as well as income taxes.
Many localities also base business license fees on how much money you make. Have a profitable year and your business license could cost you more next year.
How To Save On Business Taxes
IRS Payment Options If You Are Having Trouble Paying Your Business Taxes
Paying Yourself
The most important start-up cost to consider is your own salary. Many business owners are willing (and expect) to work for free, or at a reduced salary while they establish their businesses. However, you will still have personal expenses and bills to pay outside of your business expenses. If you do not have personal funds set aside to cover months where the business is not bringing in enough income to pay yourself, you will quickly find yourself in a difficult place.
Have a Backup Parachute In Place
If you form a sole proprietorship you and the business are essential one legal entity. If someone sues the business, they can collect from your personally. If the business has debts - they are your debts.
If you start a corporation, you limit your financial liability, however, you could also be booted out of your own business if your board of directors rallies to fire you.
To protect your long term personal and business future, be sure to research the various types of business structures to choose the one that makes the most sense for you. Just because your friend chose one type of business structure, does not mean it is right for you.
Types of Small Business Structures
Ask yourself in advance -- what happens if the business fails and you have already quit your job? The unexpected will not catch you off guard if you plan ahead. Losing a business is hard enough to deal with - losing your home because of a failed business is far worse.
Few small businesses make much profit their first year - if they make any profit at all. Even with a low-start-up cost business, you will eventually need to invest money into your business in order to grow it by expanding products, services, moving into new geographic territories, or hiring others to help you. The old, familiar saying it true: It takes money to make money.
Rule of Thumb: Have one year of savings already in the bank to live off before you quit your day job.
If you are not planning to personally fund your business, raise capital before you launch the business. The promise of money is never as good as cash in your bank account.
How to Ask Family and Friends for Money
Steps Before You Personally Guarantee a Business Loan
Protect Your Marriage By Not Becoming Overprotective About Your Business
If you are married, be honest with your spouse before quitting your job and say that business is unpredictable and you may need to rely on their income for an undetermined period of time. It is better to be surprise by a "good" month than by a "bad" month.
You should also discuss how you will deal with the business as a couple. Establishing early on who will do what (if you work together) will save you the heartache of arguing about the businesses ups and downs. If you have young children, expect them to become jealous if you spend more time working than you do with them. Allowing them to help in small ways can add up to big rewards.
If you become territorial about your business instead of involving family, you are guaranteed at least some friction. Even when family members (and friends) offer bad ideas, praise them and validate them for caring. See their input as a desire to help you succeed and not as criticism of you.
Putting aside your pride and Having thick skin will help you make better business decisions and keep your interpersonal relationships healthy and strong.
5 Tips For Working With Family
How To Work With Your Spouse
The Importance of Involving Your Family In Your Business
A Rainy Day Will Come
Other first-year start-up costs include insurance, taxes, and unexpected expenses. For example, most businesses need some form of technology to operate smoothly. If your computer dies or needs to be upgraded, you could be dead in the water if you do not have funds to draw on the handle emergencies.
Although savvy new business owners will factor in some rainy day costs for the businesses, they may forget the need to factor in personal rainy day events. If you have taken the plunge and are relying on your business for income, what happens if your business cannot pay you and you incur unexpected medical expenses, your car or home needs a major repair, or you need to upgrade your business wardrobe to impress clients?
Before You Get Too Excited About Profits…
Money is coming into your business and you are (and should be) doing cartwheels. But do not forget that you will need to pay quarterly taxes to the federal government and your state on any profits made.
Unless you are not going to owe any taxes for the year, you need to budget to pay taxes. Depending upon your business structure, this could mean payroll taxes as well as income taxes.
Many localities also base business license fees on how much money you make. Have a profitable year and your business license could cost you more next year.
How To Save On Business Taxes
IRS Payment Options If You Are Having Trouble Paying Your Business Taxes
Paying Yourself
The most important start-up cost to consider is your own salary. Many business owners are willing (and expect) to work for free, or at a reduced salary while they establish their businesses. However, you will still have personal expenses and bills to pay outside of your business expenses. If you do not have personal funds set aside to cover months where the business is not bringing in enough income to pay yourself, you will quickly find yourself in a difficult place.
Have a Backup Parachute In Place
If you form a sole proprietorship you and the business are essential one legal entity. If someone sues the business, they can collect from your personally. If the business has debts - they are your debts.
If you start a corporation, you limit your financial liability, however, you could also be booted out of your own business if your board of directors rallies to fire you.
To protect your long term personal and business future, be sure to research the various types of business structures to choose the one that makes the most sense for you. Just because your friend chose one type of business structure, does not mean it is right for you.
Types of Small Business Structures
Ask yourself in advance -- what happens if the business fails and you have already quit your job? The unexpected will not catch you off guard if you plan ahead. Losing a business is hard enough to deal with - losing your home because of a failed business is far worse.
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