First, One should ask what kind of business would I like to be involved with?

Second, What are the components that make up that business?

Third, What are the costs associated with starting and maintaining this business?

Fourth, What kind of realistic expectation should I have for the income I would expect to earn. Or even how long will it take me to be profitable?

Fifth, Will my business be online or offline or both?

Sixth, Who are my customers? (BC, BB, MB, MC).

Seventh, How much time will I need to put towards my business to make it successful?

Eighth, How will I go about selling myself and promoting my new business?

Ninth, Where do I go for assistance and resources to help make my business experience successful?

Tenth, How Do I get started?

What I would like to do now is provide you with a brief answer to these questions.  Then follow-up with related articles, that we have found important and useful.

First, One of the most difficult answers to come up with is what kind of business you would like to be involved with.  I think the most important part of this decision is passion.  If you are passionate about the idea or concept, you will have a much better chance of success. It will do little good to start a business, that may generate good returns, if one is not passionate about what they will be doing.  The best way to begin this journey is to sit down and brain storm about all the ideas you have (WRITE THEM DOWN). Then go to your computer and begin doing a keyword search on the topics you have chosen.  This will give you an idea of your competition, how much this business concept is searched for, and will help give you ideas of how to frame the structure of this business.

Second, While you are doing the search for business ideas, you will more than likely come across other businesses with similar concepts. Bookmark those sites, you will want to return to analyze at a later date.  You should be looking for information that will give you an idea of what your competition will be, if there is any and how much.  You should be looking for information about the structure of the business models (B2C, B2B, etc). You should be looking to see if this business concept is local, national or international, if so, this will give you a better idea of what makeup your customer base will be. Finally, you will then have an idea of whether you will be selling some else's product or service or whether you will be producing this product or service yourself.

Third, this question can have widely differing view points. For example, if you were to buy a small or large franchises it may cost you several hundred thousand dollars just to get started.  Where, if you were to begin a business out of your home, you may be able to start your business for as little as several hundred dollars. Either way one must look at the overall cost of development, supplies, product, marketing, and advertisement. While considering the overall run rate of the ongoing cost of doing business, while waiting for the profits to kick in.  Some businesses can be profitable in as little as several months, while other may require several years to become profitable.  These variables really depend on the makeup of your customer base, the product or service you provide and the location of those customers (local, national, or international).

Fourth,  One should always have profits in mind when developing a business.  No one wants to go into business and not generate profit and fail.  Now it is not all that simple.  As I said earlier, depending on the type of business, customer base, product or service, geographic's, delivery method, online or offline.  All these and other considerations play a role in your profitability.  Depending on the cost of doing business, the demand for your product or service, and your ability to deliver that product or service.  I have had some businesses where I was profitable in as little as a few months.  Although I have had businesses where I was not profitable for two years.  This is all dependent on how large your customer base is, how well you  communicate to that customer base (advertising).  And lastly how much demand and competition there is for your product or service.

I am going to answer both the fifth and sixth questions together.

This can be a little tricky.  In this day and age most businesses have both on and offline components.  Don't get me wrong there are businesses that are specifically online or offline.  But it is my belief that if you have a strong presence in both you have a better chance of success. Both of these are dependent on the customer base you are serving, whether it is BB Business to Business, BC Business to Customer, or MB and MC Manufacture to Business or Customer.  All this will need to be analyzed and experimented with to find the right mix.  Your decision will, in part, be based on the customer, the product or service you deliver.

Seventh, I can not answer this question directly.  There are far to many variables involved.  But I can say this.  You must put in all the time, whether 10 or 100 hours, necessary to succeed.  Some businesses may require your attention more in the beginning, and others may require less.  A lot of this has to do with the type of business you wish to start, and how much money you have to outsource certain task.  All and all, it takes what it takes to be successful.

Eighth, This is the most interesting question of all and one I take great pride in being able to address.  Today, there is no limit to the ways and components that make up marketing, advertising, and the selling of one's self.  I think I will just list various ways of promoting or advertising.  This list is not exhaustive.

Traditional: Newspaper, Magazine, TV, Signs and Billboards, Mailers, Word of Mouth, Store Fronts, Chamber of Commerce, hundreds if not thousands of Business Publications, Networking, and the list goes on and on.

Non-Traditional:  Most of these may not even be considered non-traditional now that the web is becoming a big part of marketing and advertising.  Email, Bulletin Boards, Directories, Listing Organizations, Social Bookmarking Networks, Networking, Article Publishing, Press Releases, and this list can go on as well.

Ninth, You need go no further.  We are a Business Consulting Firm and we would love to have you as a success client.  Give Us Call Right NOW!  You are not obligated, Just Call US Now and will chat about what you have in mind. 800-863-4592

Tenth, CALL US WE WILL HELP YOU GET STARTED IN A BUSINESS TODAY.  Every day you waste is one more day you will stay in that hole you have dug.  800-863-4592

Thinking of starting a business out of your home? You're not alone.  By: Sara Isaac

Home-based businesses are appealing to a growing number of workers who long for a better work-life balance, according to recent research by Darrell Zahorsky, small-business expert for About.com.

Many workers want more time for family and leisure activities, said Zahorsky, who looked at trends in home-based business for Homestead Technologies, a company that builds Web sites for small businesses.

Long commutes to work are part of the problem, Zahorsky said. Census figures show that the average American worker commutes 24.3 minutes daily -- which is the equivalent of about 21/2 workweeks a year.

"Americans spend over 100 hours commuting to work annually, and that extended amount of time in their cars takes valuable time away from their families and the ability to pursue other activities that they would normally enjoy," Zahorsky said.

Here are the 10 hottest home-based businesses for 2007, according to Zahorsky:

E-learning: With advances in Web application tools such as podcasts and video blogs, development costs will decrease.

EBay aftermarket: Helping companies conduct market research, pricing strategies, shipping, and competitive analysis is a great niche business.

Art classes for kids: There is a major market for art education, which is thought to help foster innovative thinking in children.

Garage organizers: Just as organizing closets was the next big thing in the '80's, the messy garage is the final space to clean up.

Background checks: Small businesses with limited resources are turning to background-check companies to handle investigation and due diligence.

Pet sitting: You get paid to walk and enjoy the companionship of pets.

Specialized coaching: This market has boomed in the recent years, including specialized areas such as life, spiritual, corporate, relationship and business coaching.

Home-based debt collection: Debt has become a way of life for many Americans. A home-based collection service can serve the niche sections of this market.

Specialized outsourcing: The small-business market has limited resources and a focus on core competencies. Specialized outsourcing from home to small business will have a solid market position for years to come.

Scrapbooking: In today's digital age, opportunities abound for the home-based scrapbook artist, workshop teacher or direct-sales representative.

All in the family

Once you've started a business, who is going to help you run it?

For microbusinesses -- those with up to 10 employees -- the answer most often is family members.

Whether a spouse fills in behind the cash register or a child pitches in and washes dishes after school, family help is a key to success for microbusinesses, a recent poll found.

The online survey of more than 500 members of the National Association for the Self-Employed found that nearly three out of five owners rely on family to help run their businesses.

Forty-one percent said they depend on their spouses to help keep operations running smoothly. Sixteen percent said their children work at their business, and 4 percent rely on their parents.


 

Kirk Bannerman writes:

Over the last several years, in the course of helping thousands of people start up home based businesses, I have seen the same thing over and over again. 

Once a person makes the decision to start a home based business it's usually a time of high enthusiasm along with high, and frequently unrealistic, expectations. As time marches on, the enthusiasm begins to wane if they are not making as much money as they had hoped as quickly as they wished. Often it's only after a few weeks or months that I see people start to become discouraged and, with that, their energy level declines and they start slacking off on the work that is actually required to develop a successful home based business. 

It is a known fact that a majority of the people that undertake a work at home business do not achieve real success. There are several reasons for this, but I am firmly convinced that one of the primary reasons is that these people get frustrated and do not allow themselves sufficient time to become successful. 

In the early going, one of the most difficult things about developing a new home based business is dealing with the emotional roller coaster that can result from the highs (successes) and lows (temporary setbacks) you are almost certain to experience. Once you have done the research and decided on a particular home based business opportunity, you really need to focus on persistence and realize that any real business will not just automatically become successful in a matter of days or weeks. You should be prepared to give it your best sustained effort for a minimum of 6 to 12 months in order to begin to build a solid business base and start to realize some good income.

Highs and lows were something that I began to notice when I first started a home based business. I have many years of top level management experience in "traditional" corporations and have experienced lots of business cycles (corporate "ups and downs"), but the natural "ups and downs" that occur in a home business (particularly in the early stages) can be brutal from an emotional standpoint if you don't prepare yourself in advance for the fact that it is a basic law of nature...it will be a rocky road until you have spent enough time and effort to build your business to a level that sort of smoothes out the peaks and valleys. 

The impact of the highs and lows you will probably experience in developing your home based business is amplified by the fact that you are now in business on your own. You are the boss and get to make all the decisions, but you are also on your own in dealing with the frustrations that will occur along the way while you are developing your business. 

When working at home a person can, at times, experience a feeling of isolation which is probably brought on by the lack of interaction of a work force environment. 

There can also be periods of doubt in the early going...gee, did I pick a viable business opportunity?...am I doing the right things to develop my business?...when will I start making a profit?, and so on. 

You are most likely going to experience the "two steps forward and one step backward" syndrome and the ever-looming temptation to become discouraged. However, keep in mind that as long as you have more steps going forward than backward, you will eventually get ahead! Simple, but often overlooked. 

Relatively minor setbacks can seem huge in the early stages of developing a work at home business and can really contribute to some noticeable "mood swings". For example, if you are just starting out and you have four customers/clients and you happen to lose one...that's a 25% drop! However, if you fast-forward in time to the point where you have hundreds of customers/clients and you lose one...that's just a mere fraction of 1%! Exactly the same event, just at a different point in time. 

Hang in there and just keep on keepin' on. If you have chosen a viable home business opportunity (one that has been around for awhile and in which some other people are having success) you will achieve success, but it takes time and there will be ups and downs along the way. Remember the old saying..."it takes a long time to become an overnight success".

By: Leslie Truex

Over 21.8 million people in the United States have income producing home offices and that 25% of home businesses today provide 100% of the household income? But while millions of people are successfully working at home, millions more are struggling through the overwhelming amount of information about working at home on the internet. What's real? What works? What's legal? What's risk-free?

Here are six criteria you should consider when looking into a work-at-home opportunity.

1. Stick with home business opportunities that have been around OVER five years. Most businesses that fail, do so in the first five years. Don't get caught up in the pre-launch or ground-floor hype. The truth is, a good opportunity is good for everyone no matter when they join.

2. Check that the business has third-party credibility. Most businesses you run into on the web have testimonials, but frequently they don't offer a way to verify they are real. A good business will have credible third-party references that you can check. Is it in the Better Business Bureau? Is it a member with good standing in the Direct Selling Association? Is it financially secure i.e. rated. Has it received awards or recognition from other reputable organizations? Be sure to verify any claims a business opportunity makes.

3. Check that it has a money-back guarantee that is long enough for you to work the business to see if its viable for you. A ten-day money-back guarantee and even a 30-day money-back guarantee are not long enough for you to test if a home business is right for you. The learning curve takes 2 weeks to a month alone. Check that the guarantee covers your start-up costs (kit) and any other products or services that you purchase as well. Read the guarantee and refund process carefully (small print). Many questionable programs have very limited refund policies such as everything needs to still be sealed (unused) to be returned or you need to proove you tried to work the business. Ideally you want a no-questions-asked type of refund.

4. Consider businesses with quality, affordable and commonly used products or services. Many businesses are known for inflating prices or requiring exorbitant purchasing requirements. Who really wants to buy $100 per month of some odd "wonder" product? The more common your product or service is, the easier it will be to find others who will be your customer. Further, consumable or on-going use products and services such as household products or phone services offer ongoing customer purchases. Finally, choose a company with more than one or a few products or services to insure that you have something for everyone.

5. Understand the compensation plan. Some payment plans are difficult to read. Others, when you actually sit and run the numbers, are not that profitable. Compensation issues to consider are: 1) In a matrix type business, are you penalized for helping someone start the same business who then grows faster than you (breakaways, you don't want that), 2. Conversely, can you do better than those who came in before you? 3. Are you paid based on products/services (to be legal) and what is that payment (% or flat rate)? Most importantly, is the plan fair and reasonable? Many business opportunities have lots of hype such as "we'll do the work for you", "find 3 and its free", and so on. In having a home business, you need to recognize that work is involved. You can't get something for nothing despite what the scammers say. On the other hand, if you are putting in effort and getting results, your compensation should be reflect that.

6. Is there personal support? Just about every program says it has support, but too often that support falls short once you join. You should have the name of a personal contact with phone and email that you can call for help. You should attempt to talk to them directly and get a sense of the company. Is it all hype and phony excitement? Is the person genuine and honest? Do they respond to email within a reasonable time? Do they call you back within a reasonable time? Are they invested in your success? Do they offer online training, tools, support, and resources?

The truth is, working at home is not that difficult if you do your research and find an honest, proven, doable home business. If you do that, the only way you won't succeed is if you don't work it. So heed the six criteria for a solid home business opportunity and become one of the growing numbers of people who are working at home!

About the Author: Leslie Truex is a stay and work-at-home mom who has been helping others work at home in a job or home business since 1998.

Home Based Business Faq: Answers To Basic Questions About Home Based Business
By Aidon Hughie Bilbao

* What are some legitimate types of home-based businesses?

Due to the number of scams that circulate on the internet, it is not wise to trust others easily, especially if they are offering an income that seems too good to be true when you are just starting a home-based business.

The following are some of the legitimate home-based businesses you can consider starting:

1. Buying and selling antiques. This has proven to be a good home-based business. All you need to do is choose a particular space in your house where you will store your antiques. You can use your stock room or your garage and you have now your own office! If your house is large and you already have some antique furniture, you might consider converting it into a showroom for your acquisitions. Just be sure that you satisfy local zoning regulations.

2. Baking. This is another good home-based business idea. You can start by cooking at home and selling it to local people. If your neighbors like your products, your reputation will spread by word of mouth and your culinary masterpieces may start finding their way into restaurants and bakeries.

3. Child care. Babysitting your neighbors' children in the comfort of your own home may be another possibility. You can do this for only a small investment in basic equipment and toys for the kids and in advertising your business. Often flyers posted in high traffic areas around the neighborhood are enough to get your started.

4. Computer Services. You can also have a business performing some basic computer services, even if you are just a novice computer user. If you are already a computer wizard, you can perform different advanced computer jobs such as accounting and encoding payroll records for companies. You can also perform some desktop publishing for newsletters of other businesses and organizations.

5. Nursery and Gardening. This is another good home-based business that you can work at in a legitimate way. All you have to do is clear some ground and plant a garden. You can start growing flowering plants and vegetables that you can either sell around your neighborhood or to different flower shops in your locality. There is also a market for dried flowers on the internet. In some cases, you can grow particular herbs or medicinal plants that are in demand.

6. Interior Design. If you have a passion for home decorating, then interior design could be right for you. Just have the knowledge about different designs and motifs and you can start asking your neighbors or friends if they want to re-design the interior of their homes.

* How can I tell if a business opportunity is a scam?

If you want to know if a "business opportunity" is just a scam, there are two things you need to keep in mind:

1. If a business opportunity promises you a lot of money in exchange for very little work, you should beware of it. Get-rich-quick schemes are often a sign of a scam, especially when they offer large sums of money in a short period of time.

2. If a business opportunity requires some "registration fees" or some sort of down payment for materials, it may be a scam.

* How can I discover which business opportunity is best for me?

First, consider your interests. For instance, if you are fond of children, a child care center may be a good business for you. If you often tell your friends about products you love, then maybe you should establish a specialty shop.

Second, consider your skills. If you are a computer genius, for instance, computer-related services fit you. Sometimes just a bit more training will help qualify you for a type of business where you already have some skills.

Here is an interesting twist: Author Unknown