homebiznotes.com

October 24th, 2007

Home Business Is Not Just A Cushy Job - Think Before You Jump

Many people think that as soon as they’re not working for “the boss”, all will be swell.

This is another one of those home business myths. Sure, home business gives you flexibility and many other advantages. Being able to pursue your passion is a big one.

Home Business - Answering To A Different Boss
However, home business is just that… a business. If you want a steady income, and a growing business, you need to stay motivated, work hard and often long hours. If you start your business from scratch, this will be even more true.

Now you have to answer to a different boss. Yes that boss is YOU!

Getting Started In Home Business
In a home business, everything is down to you. If you are a solo operator or work with a partner, there is a shared load, but it’s still a big undertaking. If you decide to slacken off at crucial times, or if you lose momentum, your business will suffer. Once your business is established, you may be able to be a little more flexible, but the first year especially, is key.

I don’t want to paint a gloomy picture, because most home business owners would never think of going back to a cubicle and marching to someone else’s tune. For most people, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Be Realistic Before Making The Move
My caution is to realistic before you tell your boss where to go, and leave to start your own home business. Home business is not Easy Street. Sure, it can be very rewarding. Sometimes it can be lucrative. But a home business is more than a cushy job. Think, plan and research like crazy before you jump.

This post was inspired by Jim Norton’s thought provoking piece at Small Business Boomers - How hard do you want to work? Thanks Jim.

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By Yvonne Russell -- 5 comments

September 14th, 2007

The Home Business Juggling Game

 When I learned Laura Spencer, of Writing Thoughts, had juggled  a home business with caring for her father, as well as her family, I thought some of her tips would be helpful for other home business owners who are in the midst of this, too.  They’re part of the “sandwich generation” with responsibilities in numerous directions.  Even if your business doesn’t involve writing, Laura’s tips should help you.

Juggling Caring for a Loved One With Your Home Business

 By Laura Spencer

When Mary Emma asked me to write this guest post I was hesitant for two reasons. First of all, it’s been less than a year since Dad died and the memory is still somewhat painful. Secondly, I don’t feel that I was able to do what I did for my father on my own, I really feel that it was primarily the grace of God saw me through the past few years.

To Summarize My Situation: I left my corporate job in 2002 to spend more time with my (then) elementary school aged children. A home business seemed the perfect solution and I began to explore my alternatives. Just as I was starting to get a few clients for my business I found myself overseeing the care of both  my parents who were elderly and had become ill. Sadly, my mother died after a short time, but my father (who suffered from the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease) remained my responsibility until his death early this year.

Until my father died this year, my schedule nearly every day was to get up early and work on writing projects for clients until noon. About one thirty each day, I would leave the house and go to the nursing facility where my father was staying to check on him and to visit. If the kids were home from school, I would try to include them on those visits. Sometimes I would stop at a nearby gym to work out after visiting my father.

 If I had not met my goal for writing for the day, I would continue to write each evening for a few hours after the kids went to bed. Despite being squeezed between the demands of caring for my parents and my kids, my small business survived and even grew.  

Pointers for Caregiver/Business Owner: Here are some pointers for keeping your business running when you have the responsibility to care for a critically ill loved one:

• 1. Focus on quality. Where my work is concerned, I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I proofread each document multiple times. I believe that my focus on quality is what keeps clients returning with additional projects for me to work on.
• 2. Work ahead. I don’t believe in waiting until the last minute. Working ahead proved to be a real advantage on those days where a minor crisis came up and I missed getting my morning work done.
• 3. Take time off only when really necessary. There were several times that I had to inform a client, either that I would be unable to take a project or that I would be late finishing it. Each time I was specific about the situation. For example, “I can’t take any projects right now because my mother’s in the hospital on life support.” “My father has gone into hospice and I’m spending all my time with him right now.” To my amazement, nearly every client understood.
• 4. Stay part-time. I deliberately kept myself part-time while I was overseeing my parents. To me, this meant working 30 hours or less. There were times that I said “no” to a new project or client that I knew would tax my energy.

Additional Tips: Here are some tips if you find yourself responsible for overseeing the care of someone who is ill:

• 1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. At first I wanted to care for my father from my own home. I quickly saw that I was physically unable to meet the needs of a 6 foot 1 man who needed to bathed, dressed, and fed every day. I couldn’t even lift him by myself! Instead, I researched and was able to find a full-time nursing facility near my home.
• 2. Get rest. There were several times I spent the entire night in the Emergency Room because my father was sick. On these occasions sometimes I just had to go home and crash. In the long run, my getting rest was the best for all concerned. Getting rest kept me from getting burnt out.
• 3. Be an advocate. Because my father didn’t communicate very well at his late stage of Alzheimer’s, it was my responsibility to see that he was comfortable and to make his needs known to the facility where he was staying. Not only did I look to see that his basic needs were being met, I also checked to make sure that he was kept comfortable.
• 4. Ask questions. There were many times that I had to ask a staff member at the facility why they were doing what they were doing with my father. Several times these questions stopped what could have become a dangerous situation for my father. I also regularly asked questions to the doctor on rotation for the facility.

If the need arises, it is possible to juggle the care of a critically ill loved one with your home business. I hope that this post has served as an encouragement to others who might be facing a similar situation.

Laura Spencer is a WAHM and has been a freelance writer for the past five years. Laura blogs at Writing Thoughts, Work From Home Momma , and OpinionMom Contents (c) Copyright 2007, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved.

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 15 comments

August 19th, 2007

Yvonne Russell, Guest Blogger at Home Biz Notes

Yvonne Russell, blog owner of Grow Your Writing Business, will be a guest blogger here at Home Biz Notes, tomorrow, Monday, August 20.  She will discuss ideas for to Start Your Own Specialist Home Based Bookstore. Yvonne operated a bookstore in Australia for a number of years, along with other business ventures.  She has many tips for the book store owner.  However, as with most home businesses, you can learn basics from one business to apply to another, even if yours is somewhat different. So….keep tuned!

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 4 comments

August 10th, 2007

Juggling a Home Business with Triplets

Juggling a home business with family presents a challenge to any mom, as does coordinating an outside-the-home job with caring for children.  However, when one has triplets, the challenge may present even more situations to cope with.

Mary Beth Stevenson, already had her home business up and running when her triplets arrived.  Working from home at her designing business appears to have worked well for her. 

This wasn’t simply a whim, “What do I do now?” when she found she was going to have triplets.  She and her husband decided they wanted her involved in a home business before they were married, so she began developing one then.

This may be a great suggestion for anyone who thinks they would like to work at or from home.  Start planning now, before you really need the business.

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 0 comments

July 4th, 2007

5 Reasons to Work at Home (or Develop a Home Business)

We’ve covered this topic before, but it’s always good to think about, “Why am I working at home?” when we’re beset by interruptions, your family (or friends) think you don’t have to keep on task, you’re tempted to get off track yourself and a myriad of other frustrations.  Take stock of the advantages you enjoy.

Laura Spencer, at Writing Thoughts , wrote Top Five Reasons to Work at Home  and let us know  why she finds working at home is a great advantage.

*Scheduling Flexability

*You Can Say No

*No Commute

*No Dress Code

*Pets Are Allowed

Check out Laura’s discussion about these reasons and you’ll find yourself nodding, “Yes.  Yes.  That makes sense.”

Then make a list of your 5 Top Reasons for Working at Home...or the 5 reasons you’d like to, if you aren’t now.  How about sharing them with us?

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 2 comments

April 22nd, 2007

Home Business - The Desire of Many People

At a business conference I attended recently, one point was emphasized...people nowadays are looking to home businesses for more security than the traditional job offers…or to provide security if their employment ends.

Then this morning I received an e-mail from a relative, telling me she lost her job, just short of 15 years of service, when there was a change of managers where she works.  Often job terminations are without notice.  A friend of my daughter walked into work one morning and was informed her job was terminated.  She could clean out her desk that day.  She was a good employee, she was told, but her job wasn’t needed any more. 

These aren’t unusual stories with changes in management, company mergers, budget tightening. 

        Loss of employment can cause emotional as well as financial strain.    So…more people are looking toward developing an income outside their job…before that job is terminated.  This often gives them the option of deciding to terminate their job on their time frame, or at least to have a padding if they do find themselves without employment.

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 0 comments

March 13th, 2007

Many Hobbyists Develop Home Businesses

I found, through the poll I conducted on this blog during the past month, that the readers who took time to check it out appear to be ones who are turning a hobby into a home business.  (I appreciate your checking out the poll and contributing.)

This isn’t to say they’re the only ones who read my blog nor the only ones who develop home businesses.  However, it seems to indicate that many people nowadays are turning to their hobbies when they consider joining the home business boom.

               One definition of a hobby is something that a person does for pleasure but not as his/her main occupation.  Also, generally people develop abilities at their hobbies or have a natural talent for them.  When you take something you do for pleasure and at which you’ve very capable, you have two of the basic ingredients for starting your home business.  You’ll usually have more enthusiasm for this business which your customers will see.However, you will find that some of that pleasure and enthusiasm may diminish a bit when you have to meet deadlines and encounter customer demands.  Still, you’ll be doing something in which you, in general, find great pleasure.

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 0 comments

March 12th, 2007

Home Business Boom

According to economist/author Paul Zane Pilzer, “We’re in the midst of a boom in home based businesses and it shows no signs of slowing.”

He considers that a home based business has “the edge” over the traditional business. According to statistics Pilzer has researched, “Today more than 50% of Americans work either for themselves or for a small business.”

In his book, The Next Millionnaires, Pilzer looks at various aspects of the home based business in the Internet age and explains why the home business person can have an advantage.

So if you have a small business, or are looking at developing one, you’re in line with many other Americans who consider working for themselves, full time or parttime, the way to get ahead.

This is not to say a home-based business is for everyone.  As I’ve mentioned in previous blog entries, there are pros and cons to this type of business as with any type of employment.   However, it appears many people are considering working at or from home, as their grandparents or great grandparents did and find a home-based business worthwhile.

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 0 comments

March 7th, 2007

When a Home Business Moves From the Home

Some businesses that start out as home businesses, then reach the point where you have to expand into larger quarters or settle for the status quo.  You have decisions to make whether you try to do everything yourself or begin to hire employees.

Traci Bisson, owner of Bisson Barcelona, in Barrington, NH (USA), recently found her public relations firm for authors and entrepreneurs had outgrown her home.  This was a result of having to expand and acquire employees as her clientele grew.  It soon became too crowded with six of them working in her children’s playroom and around the dining room table.

I met Traci at a writers’ conference several years ago when she was starting her business.  I’ve been impressed with what she’s doing…and others are, too. 

A recent article, Entrepreneur Watch: Turning a new page, appeared about her in Seacoast Ventures, a NH Business Journal. 

Here Traci discusses the best part of being an entrepreneur, something many home business owners can relate to: “It’s an exciting venture every day with unlimted things to do and explore.  I need to do this because I make a terrible employee.”

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 0 comments

February 28th, 2007

More Work at Home Advantages

Rico Mossesgeld, who writes b5mdia’s Contract Worker blog, provides several advantages for working at home.  His post, “Working at Home Saves You a Lot,” is very informative and gives you five reasons why this is true:

*Time Saver

*Money Saver

*Sanity Saver

*Reputation Saver

*Environment Saver

Don’t these ideas intrigue you?  You might want to check out Rico’s blog to read more about these advantages/savings.

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 0 comments