Home Business

How to Run Your Home Business Lean – and Profitable

November 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment

If there’s one lesson this economic downturn teaches us, it is the importance of running our business operations lean. Many small business entrepreneurs made the mistake of spending too much, too soon. They based their spending on the money that they thought will be coming in, not on the money that they actually have. While optimism in life is good, it is a big mistake to think that money will always come easily – and not preparing for those moments when things become tough (like right now). These small business entrepreneurs also made the mistake of becoming too impatient to... [Read the full story]

Marketing

Pitching the Media Correctly to Market Your Home Business

November 3, 2009 · 1 Comment

We understand the power of the media. Being mentioned on TV, newspaper or radio can significantly boost our reach and brand, even our sales. The key question, however, is: How do we do it? I’m sure many of you have spent hundreds in press release distribution hoping that your news item will be mentioned in the media, only to a find silence from a totally uninterested media (and hundreds down the drain). Highly experienced public relations professional Kristin Marquet, President of Marquet Communications sent me tips on how to pitch the media correctly in order to get PR mileage... [Read the full story]

Starting a Business

Startups and Surety Bonds: Does Your Small Business Have to be Bonded?

November 17, 2009 · 1 Comment

One of the common questions of many small business owners — especially those running a service-oriented business such as plumbing, cleaning, landscaping — is whether they need to be bonded. Is insurance enough? Why do they need to get bonded? I’ve invited Kevin Kaiser, a small business compliance expert at nationwide bonding agency SuretyBonds.com to shed light on what is a surety bond, and why your small business needs to be bonded. —————————– Building a startup company or a home-based business takes a... [Read the full story]

Online Business

15 Basic Steps to Starting an Online Store

November 12, 2009 · 2 Comments

Many people wants to start their own online stores, whether clothing, gift basket or toy stores on the Web. Using a clothing store as an example, here are some basic steps to creating your online storefront: 1. Define your business. The very first step is to always know what it is you want to do. This includes knowing what type of clothing business and what market will you tap (kids, babies, women or men). Consider some niche markets out there — some examples include online clothing shop for plus sized women, or corporate and work outfits for pregnant women. Look at your competition... [Read the full story]

Business Ideas

Starting a Bakery: Success in the Niche Food Business

October 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment

We often hear of small businesses deathly scared when big boys – particularly Wal-mart – come to town. And they have every reason to be: big businesses have deeper pockets, offer wider goods selection, and have tighter relationships with suppliers that allow them to give deep discounted prices. So it is very refreshing to see a small business thrive despite having Wal-Mart as a next-door neighbor. Great Harvest Bread in Burke, VA is a few steps away from Wal-Mart, yet their baked breads, cupcakes, cookies and even pies are almost always sold out. Every day! There is always a constant stream... [Read the full story]

Financing

Where Do Small Business Owners Get Funding for their Businesses?

October 18, 2009 · 1 Comment

One of the biggest issues faced by many small businesses during the economic downturn is the tightening credit market. Finding capital financing for a small business remains a big challenge as banks tighten lending criteria and reduce their exposure to the small business sector. In fact, according to the National Small Business Association in their 2008 Survey of Small and Mid-Sized Businesses , about 55 percent of their survey respondents have experienced difficulty in securing financing for their businesses. The credit crunch is more acute for businesses with 5 or less employees, with 35 percent... [Read the full story]

Starting a Business

Startups and Surety Bonds: Does Your Small Business Have to be Bonded?

Sourcing and Manufacturing Your Products Abroad: How to Use Alibaba.com

As a small business owner, an important element to creating and sustaining a successful business is a constant and reliable source of quality products. The key question of course is where to find these suppliers and manufacturers. If you are open to finding manufacturers and suppliers from other countries, particularly China, check out Alibaba.com... [Read more of this review]

Learning from Successful Small Business Women Entrepreneurs

One of the questions we normally ask women entrepreneurs we feature on Women Home Business is: What advice can you give other entrepreneurs? Here are the tips and advice our featured entrepreneurs shared: Suzanne Meyer, Founder of the personal greeting service business The Welcome Committee Find your passion and be true to yourself.... [Read more of this review]

5 Ways to Test Your Business Idea Affordably

Before you pour your life’s savings or a huge chunk of your time into your business, it is best to test first whether your business idea will work or not. Alas, market research is typically a tool for the deep-pocketed big businesses, and not for small businesses trying to stretch their dollars or struggling to find start-up capital. Avoid... [Read more of this review]

How to Get Six-Figure Income

Do you have what it takes to achieve financial success? Barbara Stanny in her book “Secrets of Six Figure Women” explores the strategies that financially successful women – from entrepreneurs to corporate executives to freelancers and part-timers — employ to reach their highest income potential. According to the author, here are the... [Read more of this review]

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