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Archive for November 2008

November 29th, 2008

Don’t Use Social Media to Promote Your Home Business

At the moment I’m trying valiantly to get going on Social Media, but I’m overwhelmed. Social media, for those of you who are wondering, is the recent phenomenon of connecting with others on websites for mutual information and promotion.  The problem, as I see it, is that there too many of these sites.  And I [...]

By Jean Murray -- 5 comments

November 28th, 2008

3 Ways to Promote Your Home Business with Online “Yellow Pages”

Does anyone use that phone book anymore?  I had a conversation about this subject with someone over Thanksgiving, and we decided that within 5 years printed phone books will be going the way of the dodo bird.  After all, why would you want to look in a book that is possibly out of date and [...]

By Jean Murray -- 5 comments

November 27th, 2008

Black Friday and Your Home Business - 7 Ways to Get Ready

What are you doing in your home business to prepare for Black Friday - the biggest shopping day of the year?
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After you are done eating turkey and everyone is watching the National Dog Show  (or football), here are some things you could do to make sure your home business is ready [...]

By Jean Murray -- 1 comment

November 26th, 2008

3 Reasons NOT to Use “Home” in Your Home Business Name

Home Shopping Network can get away with it, but you can’t.  As a home business owner, you may have already selected a business name.  If you haven’t, think carefully before you use the word “home” in your home business name.  Here’s why:
1.  It diminishes the image of your business as a REAL business, and makes [...]

By Jean Murray -- 0 comments

November 25th, 2008

What If Your Home Business Gets Audited?

Someone asked me a question about my post yesterday about home business deductions. First, a clarification. I said your home business must be used “regularly and exclusively” for business. Your home business location must also meet at least one of these qualifications.  It must be:

Your principal place of business, [...]

By Jean Murray -- 1 comment

November 24th, 2008

How to Deduct Your Home Business Space Expenses

Do you know how to claim your home office expenses as a tax deduction?  As promised a few days ago, I’ll give you the ins and outs of the process, and include some limits on home office deductions.
Here is the trick: In order for your home business expenses to be deductible, the space you [...]

By Jean Murray -- 3 comments

November 22nd, 2008

What’s Wrong With This Picture of a Home Business Owner?

First, the picture again:
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Here are my responses to my Fun Friday post yesterday:
1. The counter she is working on is clear. Couldn’t be a real house.
2. She is working at the counter - an ergonomic no-no, for sure.
3. In a dress?!?
4. There is no mess on [...]

By Jean Murray -- 2 comments

November 21st, 2008

Fun Friday - What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Here is the picture:
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I can find at least 8 things wrong with this picture of a woman working at home. How about you? Send me your list or at least one thing wrong in a comment and we’ll see how many we can find. I’ll post my responses [...]

By Jean Murray -- 3 comments

November 20th, 2008

Thursday 13 - Resources for Home Business Owners

I found lots of valuable information for home business owners on the U.S. government’s Business.gov website  , and I thought I would share some of these with you.  Here you go - Happy Thursday!
1, Pros and Cons of Starting a Home Based Business
2. Zoning Laws for Home Based Businesses
3. Business Plans for Home Based Businesses
4. [...]

By Jean Murray -- 0 comments

November 19th, 2008

Is Your Home Business Zoned Correctly?

Part of the start-up process for any home business should be a check on the zoning requirements of  your locality.  The restrictions on your home business depend on two factors:
1.Type of business.  If you have a business that is noisy or smelly or that has many customers coming in and out, it will be more [...]

By Jean Murray -- 0 comments