Helene's Helpful Hints About
Starting Your Own Home-Based Business
Helene K. Liatsos, founder and owner of H.O.M.E., is a
subject matter expert in the field of setting up and maintaining
effective home-based businesses. Her on-line course, classes, workshops,
and management services have been experienced by thousands of persons
interested in talking control of their own destinies by setting up a
home business. Here is a small sampling of the type of information that
appears in her courses, workshops, and classes.
 How
do I select a home-based business?
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It's always best to do what you know: |
- Plan parties and weddings
- Produce "how to" tapes
- Tutor or give seminars
- Write and sell "how to" books
- Publish a specialty newsletter
- Become a consultant in your field
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Try to focus on doing what other people hate
to do: |
- Income tax service
- Estate planning
- Inventory a mailing list
service
- Van and RV washings
- Equipment repair/fix-it
service
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- Investment counseling
- Real estate management
- Window washing
- Shopping/gift-buying
service
- Pick-up and delivery
service
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Expand on a favorite hobby, interest or
activity: |
- Create arts and crafts
- Sell cosmetics
- Teach dance/exercise
class
- Breed, train, groom dogs
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- Sell
antiques/collectibles
- Do interior decoration
- Offer tennis or golf
lessons
- Offer singing or musical
instrument lessons
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Use your van or pick-up truck: |
- Gardening/yard service
- Swimming pool maintenance
- Mobile lunch wagon
- Hauling or moving service
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- Carpentry house painting
- Home maintenance and
repair
- Plant care services
- Mobile computer repair,
auto repair, etc.
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Use your kitchen (of course, it must meet FDA
requirements): |
- Catering services
- Cooking school
- Specialized candy
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- Pet food products
- Herb and spice packages
- Healthy snack food
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Find things around the house that could be
put to use: |
- Give piano lessons
- Teach swimming
- Turn your yard into an organic vegetable garden and sell the produce
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- Rent piano for practice
time
- Turn family room into day
care center
- Dry flowers from your
garden and create gift sachets
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Can
you provide a checklist for starting a home-based business?
- Identify why you want to
operate a home-based business
- Decide what type of
business is best for you
- Set up your office in
your home: location, desk, business telephone, mailing
address, insurance, supplies, etc.
- Choose a name for your
business
- File and publish a Fictitious Name Statement
(a.k.a. DBA)
- Open a business checking
account
- Obtain required city
business license
- Obtain a sales tax permit
(if needed)
- Write your Business Plan
- Write your Marketing Plan
- Set up your
record-keeping system
- Promote your business
through advertising and publicity
- Create a professional
image
- Keep a balance in your
life
- NETWORK! NETWORK!
NETWORK!
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What's
the best way to network effectively?
- Always identify yourself.
At meetings and mixers, wear a nametag with your name and
profession.
- Set goals. What kind of
people do you need to meet? How many contacts do you
need to make?
- Start talking about what you do.
At meetings, mixers and
events, don't be afraid to socialize - move towards people,
pick out an individual or a group of people and introduce
yourself, initiate conversation, and try to be outgoing!
- Make friends. Try to meet
five to 10 new people. Learn what you have in common. Be
attentive to each person: tune into them and make eye
contact.
- Trade information.
Exchange ideas, experiences, leads and contacts. Let them
know who you are, but also listen to who they are.
- Don't hustle. Discuss
topics of mutual interest ... then arrange to meet them at a
later date (breakfast, lunch, coffee) and do business then.
- Be a resource. "Sure,
I know where you can get that information ..." Offer
referrals and open doors for others.
- Share opportunities.
Introduce your contacts to others.
- Give and get. Give as
much as you can. Be supportive -- your own rewards come from
helping others.
- Ask for what you want.
Find the person who can provide it ... and then ASK FOR IT!
Remember, if you don't ask, you don't get!
- Keep at it. Broaden your
base. Make as many contacts as you can. You can never know
too many people. You never know where your next opportunity
will come from!
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What
are the advantages to working at home?
- Do work you like
- Have the freedom to make your own
decisions
- Earn higher Income
- Enjoy more tax benefits
- Feel less stress
- Enjoy building a business
- Have more control over the time
you spend with family, friends, your hobbies, etc.
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- Be your own boss
- Control your own destiny
- Set your own hours
- Choose your customers
- Feel responsible for your own
destiny
- Feel a sense of achievement and
self-worth
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What are the disadvantages to working at home?
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- Can be isolating and lonely
- Hard to get started
- Cash flow can be variable
- Sometimes hard to deal with
government regulations/reports
- No pay for sick days or personal
days off
- Scary to risk your personal
finances
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- Work can sometimes "take over"
your house
- Can be tedious to keep accurate
and thorough records
- Can cause family conflicts
- Hard to take vacations
- No paid company benefits
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