Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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April 8, 2009

The Secret of Work-at-Home Businesses

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 12:25 pm

The theme of SOBCon09 is the ROI of Relationships. To underscore the importance of relationships in business and to have a chance to make and celebrate a few while we’re doing that, I’ve opened up this series by successful and outstanding bloggers like you.

The Secret of Work-at-Home Businesses by Bizymoms.com

“Working for someone else is nothing like being an entrepreneur and the boss of your own business. To become an entrepreneur requires a different plan or map. You’ll be taking a different road to a different destination.”

~Noel Peebles (Author of “Sell your business the easy way.”)

Hundreds and thousands of home-based businesses are testimony to the growing popularity of work-at-home jobs. This is understandable; most people today are looking for work-at-home options because of the constantly looming threat of the dreaded recession-related job-cuts. Working at home also offers most people relief from a hectic lifestyle made worse by work-related stress.

However, not all such ventures are successful. What is then, that differentiates a successful home-based business from a not-so-successful one? What is the secret-formula that all those successful work-at-home business entrepreneurs are using? Noel Peebles was right; to become an entrepreneur requires a “different plan or map.” What is the plan/map that you’re going to use?

Do you have what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur? Just keep the following in mind and you should be on your way to building up a successful home-based business.

Don’t get caught to “get-rich-quick” schemes

The recent years have also seen a rise in “work-at-home job-scams.” This is when so-called “job posters” use “fake” job listings in order to get hold of applicant details, which include both personal and financial information. It’s important to be-aware of such scams before you start applying for jobs online. Always think twice before you provide any website with any of your details, no matter how “authentic” the website may seem. And remember – if it sounds too good to be true; it probably is. Contact the Better Businesses Bureau (BBB) for information on the company- The Better Businesses Bureau’s website will also give you information on complaints, (if any), in relation to the company. And if you require information on commission actions, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Do something you enjoy!

If you don’t like what you’re doing, chances are that you’re not going to do your best. And if you don’t do your best, chances are that you won’t succeed. For your business to be a successful one, you simply have to do your best; give it your “best shot!”

Business planning is a must

It doesn’t matter how “small-scale” you think your work-at-home business is; you have to have a business plan. A business plan will help you plan effectively and keep an eye on your goals as well. Planning every single aspect of your business will ensure that most things – at least the ones in your control – run smoothly.

Be “money-wise”

Make sure you keep the cash flowing. If required, get yourself a good money-manager. No business can survive without a reasonable “cash-flow.”

Be “time-wise”

In order to manage a successful home-based business, it’s important that you manage your time wisely. This will ensure that your business runs smoothly, effectively and of course – efficiently. Even if what you’ve got is a small-scale, three-hour, part-time job; it’s important that you get yourself organized. When you work-at-home, most often than not, you get to choose “when” you want to work. This added time flexibility also means that most people who work at home begin to take time for granted. Make sure that you use the “time-flexibility” that comes with most work-at-home jobs, to your advantage -instead of the other way around. Allocate “business time” and make sure that you stick to your schedul

Create your own “work space” within your home. Get yourself organized. And no; you can’t do it later! Procrastination is a slow-but-sure way to kill your business. It’s also a very easily developed bad-habit; especially when you work at home.

Advertise effectively

Effective advertising can go a long way; whether you do it via a website or through flyers and leaflets distributed within your local neighborhood. Word-of-mouth advertising can go a long way too – so make sure you keep those customers happy.

Take extra care to keep your customers happy

Pay attention to your customers and make sure that you “follow-up” and “follow through.” Remember that keeping your customers is extremely important – just as important as “winning new ones over” is. Research has shown that most businesses thrive on business from regular customers rather than on business from new ones.

Atya Shakir is Manager of Webmaster Relations. he arranged for this article written by the writers of Bizymoms.com , which has been dedicated to helping women work from home for over 10 years! Visit their interactive message boards, informative articles, help and advice from the Bizymoms’ Home Business Support Team and achieve your own work at home dreams with our home business start up kits.

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Filed under Business Life | 8 Comments »




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8 Comments to “The Secret of Work-at-Home Businesses”

  1. April 8th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
    GatorWade said

    Liz,

    This was timely for me to read. Two things that convicted me from your post. I need to nip procrastination in the bud. I also need to thank, thank, thank and invest more time with the customers/readers I already have. Thank You for your insight!

  2. April 8th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
    Amy Locurto said

    Great advice. I think my biggest challenge is being “Time-Wise” and staying organized. This was a good reminder that I need to focus on those things!

  3. April 8th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
    Alex Ramon said

    Thanks for the great advice. Time management is a big problem for me, but I’m working hard to make a schedule and stick to it. All of the tax rules and business laws are also confusing but important to figure out. For people like me it might be worth hiring someone to manage that stuff so we can spend more time creating.

  4. April 8th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
    Beth Bridges said

    The interest part is that these are also important skills for when you’re working for someone else. But when you’re self-employed, or working on the side, being Time-Wise is absolutely critical. Yet probably the most difficult. Regular offices are distracting enough, but it’s so tough to concentrate at home.

    You hit on two very key points:

    – Create your own space
    and
    – Develop good habits to get things done.

    Thank you for this post.

    Beth

  5. April 9th, 2009 at 1:39 am
    Work at Home Ideas said

    You can’t stress it enough that you need to work to plan! Good article, also agree muchly with doing something you actually enjoy!

  6. April 9th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
    Liz said

    Great tips! Here are a couple of other thoughts I have gleaned over the years working from a home office;

    1. Create a strategy plan along with the business plan. Strategic Planning is a little more down to earth and focuses on the practical aspects of the business rather than who the Executive Team is and their qualifications.

    2. Hire out things you are not good at – like bookkeeping. It will save you lots of headaches in the long run and really will not cost much. Think how better your time could be spent servicing your client rather than struggling with accounting or some other task you don’t like to do. I found not wanting to do something mundane like the bookkeeping was where I was the worst procrastinator. I would rather clean the bathrooms.

    3. Put together a plan & networking goals. How many new clients you want from your networking, what types of clients etc. Working from home can be isolating and gaining new customers can sometimes be hard. Find some good Leads/Chamber/Business Groups to attend and then stick with the ones you like & that work for the networking goals you have set.

    I have found that these few things have really helped me be focused working from home.

  7. April 10th, 2009 at 10:47 am
    Friday 5 - Top 5 Blog Posts Of Week Ending On 04/10/09 | Stuart Conover said

    [...] The Secret of Work-at-Home Businesses by: David Atya Shakir on Successful and Outstanding Bloggers. This is a post that many people who [...]

  8. April 12th, 2009 at 6:41 am
    This Weeks Helpful Reads… Week 154 said

    [...] and links each week to provide the widest range of information for the home business entrepreneur. The Secret of Work-at-Home Businesses by Atya Shakir (on Successful Blog)… Some good, common sense tips to follow for any work at [...]

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