1) Know yourself. What are your skills and interests? You will neither do well nor enjoy a business that involves something you don’t like or something about which you know little or nothing. You must also have the skills to go along with your interest. You may love the piano and know a lot about piano music, but if you can’t play the piano, don’t start a business giving piano lessons. You get the idea.2) Decide if you are going to market a product or a service. A product could be a craft that you make and sell. It could also be something that you buy and resell on eBay or elsewhere. I know people who sell tickets, sports trading cards, fabrics, books, antiques and collectibles from yard sales, and home made crafts. They all do well, but only because they work hard and are knowledgeable about what they sell.
A service could be in-home daycare, a cleaning business, mobile or in-home pet grooming or sitting, or teaching or tutoring a subject about which you have knowledge. It would also include totally internet based services such as transcription or being a virtual assistant, or perhaps freelancing writing skills or web designing skills.
3) Is there a market for that? Can you create a market for that? Can you meet a need that is not now being met? Is there a niche market or segment within that community whose needs you can meet? Don’t start a business that does not offer something that nobody wants or does not solve somebody’s problem or meet somebody’s need. Note: people may not necessary think they need or even want what you have to offer. That does not mean you don’t have a marketable product or service. It just means they don’t yet realize they need or want what you have to offer! Think disposable diapers, paper towels, TV Dinners, or even pet rocks!
4) Have or be able to get the necessary equipment. This could include whatever you need to make your crafts or provide your service, a scale to weigh things you need to ship, and of course a good computer with all the necessary bells and whistles. Think your way through this baby step by baby step so you don’t forget anything.
5) Have or be able to get office space, storage space, or work space. Sometimes the garage, a corner of the extra bedroom or even the dining room table works, but you really need an area set aside dedicated to your business. This prevents personal stuff from getting mixed up with business stuff, keeps your business separate and organized and is essential for tax purposes.
6) You will need at least some start-up capital. Some types of businesses require more than others. Check into what you will need and make sure you have enough in reserve to last until your business is profitable.
7) Enlist support from friends and family. Listen to them and bluntly evaluate what they say, but don‘t let them discourage you. That will require some serious discernment on your part in order to differentiate between the Negative Nellie Nay-Sayers and those who truly want you to succeed but see some serious problems you need to fix before you start.
For a selection of Home Business Ideas carefully chosen for moms who want to make money working from home, visit:
123 I Work From Home 4 Me
123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me
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