When you are ready to start a business from home, then you are undoubtedly wondering how to go about it in a way that will keep you sane, while allowing you to make some money.
You also want to keep it easy on the finances so that you will not be tempted to run up your credit cards.You do not want to get deep in debt.
Yet somehow, someway you need to make a profit in an effort to stay afloat.
There are some simple, important and clear steps you can take when you are ready to start a business from home:
Please do not quit your day job. This sounds obvious I know but there are first hand heart breaking stories around where this has happened.
This has resulted in bankruptcies and even divorce. That is surely not the steps you want to take to succeed.
However, it is tempting to take the great leap right away and jump into your business with both hands and feet.
But remember that until the money comes in, you will still need to pay your bills! Sorry, there is no way around it.
So instead of quitting your job completely, go ahead and see if you can cut your hours, a little bit, once you start making enough income to cover some of the bills.
Perhaps work part time at another job to pay for the tools you need to get started.
If things keep going well and gelling, with your business, you can go ahead and take a few less hours from your job.
Do not get to close to where you lose any benefits at all. These are your health line and are not worth the risk of losing no matter how good the opportunity looks. No Exceptions.
If things do not go as well as you anticipated, or if perhaps you decide against running a full time business at this time, you can increase your hours again to full time status.
Caution here. It is always dangerous to cut your hours, and risk losing benefits until you have a nice steady stream of income coming in.
If your employer is nasty, they might not let you have the hours back. Some people thought they could get hours back but they were not able to. Careful.
Save up as much money as possible. When you start a business from home, there will be a lot of expenses you will need to be able to pay on a regular basis.
Sometimes you will need to get permits or licenses. As long as your business is not a critical legal or medical one, the authorities will not usually bother you about this.
Be sure not to make your business a disturbance to your neighborhood and you will probably not need a license or permit anyway in most cases.
Maybe you simply need to buy some equipment. It is tempting to go ahead and use your credit cards to get started because it is so easy to do.
Please, I beg you please, do not do this. Do not risk losing your family and financial control of your life.
On the same hand, never, I repeat never, take out a second mortgage on your home to do this.
A business built, patiently, step by step will stand on a solid foundation. A business built up real quick will collapse like a house of cards and ruin your life.
Do not give in to these temptations, instead, go ahead and save up some money to use it for these reasons.
Get a second, part time job, and save up to buy your equipment with cash and you will be light years ahead. Your business start up will take longer but it will be far more solid with no debt dragging your progress down.
Use the time you would spend working on your business to finance your initial equipment with cash. The equipment is tax deductible also.
See your CPA for tax deductions. They will be worth the price.
Create a workspace you will enjoy. Work it out with your family so you all agree on it.
This is very important to do this way. Depending on which kind of home business you will start, you will need to have a suitable work area.
Make sure that the work area you have mapped out for yourself meets all your work needs for now. After all, you will be spending quite a bit of time there!
Create a highly detailed marketing plan. Whether you are selling a good or service, you want to make sure to get the word out. Word of mouth is the best kind of advertising.
If possible, donate your business skills to your church. You will be helping out your church, doing a very nice act, and creating the best kind of reference, word of mouth advertising, for your work besides.
Everyone will soon know about your good work and intentions.
Networking is important. Use all the tools you can find. Use the power of email signatures, business cards, and handing out freebies and coupons! Business cards are especially strong.
Business cards are very cheap on the internet and you can get help designing beautiful cards on the website you buy them from. The best prices on super cheap business cards I have found was with Vista Print on the internet.
Enjoy your business! You have probably decided to start the business because you want to do something you love and because you want to spend more time with your friends, self and family.
Learn to like yourself. This is very important.
Go charge ahead, enjoy your business and resist the urge to overwork yourself, especially in the beginning!
Always think quality, not quantity and you will prosper.
You do not want to suffer from burnout! Get out of the house at least once everyday. You will lose all your will to work your business if you do not do so.
Do something with your spouse, children and pets and let them help you come up with creative ideas.
Getting away from your business this way, lets your brain relax, recharge and come up with good ideas for you. A wonderful natural tool.
These tips and tricks should help you to start a business from home, keep your sanity, peace and make it an all around enjoyable process!