Starting Out

Starting Out Your New Work at Home Business

So you’ve decided to open your own business or join a party plan company.
Congratulations more and more women and men both are doing it everyday as an alternative to the regular 8-5 job. This for a long time has been the dream for allot of us and now your able to try it and with research and hard work you should be able to achieve it. Just remember things don’t happen over night and all businesses take time to get off the ground. With that said here are some things that should help you in starting out.

There a few things you can do to make starting out easier on and for yourself.

1. Find a business you like allot. It is easier to sell things when you like or love the items. If your making them then most likely you have the passion for them already. If you selling something because you need the money and really don’t use or like the merchandise it can make it allot harder to sell. So look for something you like before you jump into a business.
   
2. If your buying an existing business get all the details! We recommend if the business is a high price one that you spend the money to talk to a business attorney. A consultation fee with them could save you from buying a business that will drain you of time and money. Score has free local consultations in allot of cities and since they are mostly former business men and women what better to go seek advice from.
   
3. Do a Business plan. Business Plans often have a few things listed in them you have not thought of. Plus it gives you an idea of time and money needed to get going. This gives you an idea of start up costs. *See our Business resource page for business plan information. LINK HERE
   
4. Research Research Research! Score is a great place to start learning about having your own business. See our  resource page for the links
   Plus look in the search engines such as google and yahoo for products you plan to sell from a website. Sometimes products from distributors can be overly saturated and it will make it harder to get and keep customers. Even if it is something you make see
   how many others are already listed for the same or similar things. IF you plan to sell off line also this can be less relevant
   
5. Name your business. Choose a name that you will still like 2, 4, 6 years down the road.
   If your going to have a website look to see if the domain name is available also. We recommend registering .com 1^st and also the .net of the same name. Dot-com is still the most common and sought after for websites. While you may be tempted to name your website something cute naming it with your product or service in mind can make it easier for  potential customers to find.
   
6. Open a bank account just for the business. Keep it separate from “ personnel and family money” This can be a separate personnel account or a business one. Banks usually require business license for business accounts. If your doing a home party plan you will not usually need a business license but check with your city to be sure.
   Cute checks are nice but in the business world especially when starting out they are just an added expense you can live without. Few people you will be writing checks to care about the design on them.
   
7. Will you need a website? If so ask around for a good web host. Price does not always mean better but the cheap ones may be cheap in more then price. Don’t be afraid to ask for references. Ask for a few of their customers and email them, most reliable web hosts will not mind. Some websites such as our puts their webs host at the bottom of the pages, we would not do this if we did not recommend them! Discuss with the web host before hand how big a website you will need to start with. Most will let you increase your websites size later if needed. Let’s just say few people need 500mg websites!
   * If you a party plan rep having a website with your own domain name can be beneficial. This allows you to do link exchanges and do a lead in page for your company website which you can then keyword for the search engines
   *If you need a lead in page or two let us know and maybe we can offer you help getting one.
   
8. Get Business cards! When starting out this can seem like a high cost item but they are well worth it. VistaPrints.com has specials on cards with their logo on the bottom of the back so this maybe a cost saving option if money is tight
   
9. Your own Business telephone. While allot of us have kids when a customer calls even a work from home business they are really turned off by kids answering the phone when it comes to business. Plus a lot of times when older kids and even hubbies answer the phone and take the message you may not always get it. Having your answering machine at the phone company or call waiting is the best ways to go. With both you never have to put a customer on hold and the machine will answer the incoming call while your on the phone. Plus they are easy retrieve from any phone if your not at home.
   
10. Get a notebook just for business. One with separators in it works well. This gives you
    different sections for different things such as Customers names and numbers and expenses. Keeping track of expenses is a necessity if you plan to claim them on your taxes. While most of us do this on our computer We have learned the hard way that computers do crash so printed back up copies are a must have.
    
11. A decal on you car can advertise while you drive. We use and recommend Webdecals
    
    
12. Your own business space in your home. You will need it as you will most likely have a computer, fax or copier, telephone and file cabinets. Shelf are always good to have. Some of us are fortunate enough to have our own office. But if your not or you don’t want to be in a different area of the house working when the kids are outside playing then a “ Business Zone” can be set up. A place that kids and even hubby stay out of and yet your close enough to still be the stay at home mom taking care and watching over her kids. Both are good. The separate office and the business zone you just need to decide which one is best for you. Your children’s ages and other things factor into this decision. While I have a room I call an office and do store important papers, files and such in it I also have a desk top computer in the formal dining room at the front of the house near the front door that I can easily open the drapes and see what is going on outside. This works well when the kids are small and you want to be able to see them when their out front. I also use a lap top and even sit in the family room when checking email and I can then open the family room window and see the kids when they are out back in the pool area or take it out there and sit in the shade near them. A work space that works for 1 of us may not work for others.
    
13. Set your work hours. We all plan to have set work ours when we start our work at home business but keeping them flexible and not setting them in stone is the best way to go. Set hours that you feel you can handle such as when the kids and hubby are at school and work but remember there will be days you just will not be able to stick to the “set hours” you have. Flexibility is 1 of the key reasons many of us decided to work from home and keeping it flexible often means keeping family happy and being there when needed and keeping your sanity. Remember if you were working outside the home in an office or anywhere else they would give your breaks during the day so do the same for yourself! If you decide to work online most of the day while the house is quiet then also take time to stop and eat lunch! Walking away from the computer to eat lunch is not only safe for your computer keyboard as many of us can most likely tell you we have eaten at our computers and spilled, but it also gives your body and mind time away to relax. Whether you work at home or outside the home it is still work. Just as sitting at a computer for several hours a day effects your body regardless if it is at a workplace or at home.

          Source: Peggy Ross© 2003

Care to share with others your work at home story?
Where is your business space? What are the best work hours for you?
Read some stores here LINK HERE- coming soon!