Monday, May 5, 2014

Setting Realistic Goals For Your Home Based Business

By Anthony Douglas


While working from home sounds like a dream come true, it can also be a very stressful experience. A home based business requires a lot of self-motivation, and it can be hard to keep that up if your income levels aren't what you'd like them to be. Here are a few tips to help your online business get off to a great start.

If your home-based business requires you to travel to meet with clients, inspect properties, or make purchases, be sure to document all the costs of your travel. Traveling expenses are 100% deductible, and your food while traveling is 50% deductible. Even tips can be considered a business expense, so make sure to get a receipt for everything, and make sure that receipt notates the final amount you actually paid.

Install a separate phone line for your business calls. This way, you can be sure your business calls are handled in a professional manner. Make sure others in your home don't answer your business phone unless it is done in a professional fashion. You should also set up a voicemail on your business line.

Take breaks. Keeping a home business going can take a lot of work, and many work at home business enterprise owners work non-stop as long as they can. This is a mistake. Taking regular breaks makes you in fact more likely to have a clear head when dealing with business issues.

Make a budget for your business. Base it on different things, such as, advertising costs, free products or samples and printing costs. Stick to this budget and cut out things you don't need if you have to. If you can afford to raise your budget you should, at least for advertising.

Obtain all necessary permits and licenses. If you sell a product, you may need a state sales-tax certificate, and if customers visit your home, you may need an occupancy permit. License and zoning laws can be complicated but can usually be found online. If you're unsure, it's best to hire a lawyer. Obeying the laws will help you avoid being fined or even losing your business.

When you decide you want to start a work from home business, take some time and research your idea. It's easy to assume you can take a passion or hobby and assume you can turn it into a thriving business. Make sure there is a market for the business you choose, so you don't waste your time or money.

You may have more luck with your home business enterprise if you focus on a particular niche instead of trying to have something for everyone. Spreading yourself too thin is just setting yourself up for failure. Instead, find one thing that you can do really well, and focus on doing that.

Some online business will require visits to your home by clients. The outside of your home is what gives people their first impression of your work from home business. If your yard is overgrown, or there is garbage lying about, it could give the impression that you are lazy or don't care. A well-manicured lawn and a clean, neat appearance say a lot about who you are and reflects well on your business!

As you can see, there are a lot of options for home businesses. They can be a lucrative opportunity to make money and have control over how much you work and how often. By weeding out the options that are not a good fit to your skills or your lifestyle, you can increase your chances of success and satisfaction with your own home business.




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