| I love the excitement of starting up a new home | | | | availability.4. Who does your business sell to? - This will |
| based business. I enjoy trying out new ideas and | | | | help you define your market (if any) Try to describe |
| approaches with the new venture. I dream the big | | | | the personality of the market and why they would |
| dreams and hope to obtain some of them (if not all of | | | | want to buy your product. It may provide a starting |
| them). I am sure you have those same feelings as well. | | | | point for your business's marketing strategy.5. How do |
| Organization is imperative when starting any business. | | | | you want prospects and customers to contact you in |
| Some say that a well funded business has the best | | | | regards to the product your business is selling? - You |
| chance to sustain losses until it's profitable. However, if | | | | may decide that you don't want prospects to call your |
| you are on a shoe string budget like me, money | | | | home number and you may need a separate phone |
| management is the key.The place you need to start | | | | line or a toll free number. This is part of defining your |
| with your home business is with the pen and paper or | | | | daily operations and costs.6. Does your business need |
| word processing software and a PC. One thing I | | | | a web site? - If the answer is "Yes", then you will want |
| learned about starting businesses is there are so many | | | | to think about what type of site you want and how |
| variables involved it is not possible to "keep it simple" if | | | | you are going to build it.7. How is the business to |
| you try to run the entire business without some type | | | | receive money? - A very important question! Do you |
| of plan. Not knowing or not being able to prioritize your | | | | have a business checking account to receive checks? |
| needs with your business can result in bad money | | | | Does your business accept Credit Cards? Pay Pal?8. |
| management and eventually failure.Writing down what | | | | How does your business make money? - You should |
| your business is about helps put your business into | | | | know how you can make a profit on the product you |
| perspective and helps you define your immediate | | | | sell. You should know all of your costs to run the |
| needs and hold off on spending on items you don't | | | | business. This way you know how much product you |
| need right away. Most recommend you write a | | | | need to sell each month.9. How much money are you |
| business plan. You can buy software to write a plan | | | | going to spend on marketing? - Marketing your |
| and go through a set of questions to write one. You | | | | business should be the priority and you should realize |
| could always research how to write a business plan | | | | that you will need a budget to market your product. |
| online.Whether you use software or not to write a | | | | You cannot sell your product if your market does not |
| business plan you could always ask yourself the basic | | | | know about it. Also, you may want to start out with a |
| questions. Getting to the basics means a lot to me. It | | | | very small amount and try different methods until you |
| provides a foundation to your ever evolving business | | | | learn how to market your product correctly.Asking |
| plan.If you are starting your own home business, try | | | | yourself these basic questions may help you shed light |
| asking yourself these questions. They may help you in | | | | on areas of your business that you may have not |
| the same manner as they help me:1. What is your | | | | taken into account. After all, it can be overwhelming |
| business name?2. Is your business registered as a | | | | running a home based business. Asking basic but tough |
| "Doing Business As" (DBA) or Corporation? - This is | | | | questions about your business can help you identify |
| very important for tax purposes and banking.2. Explain | | | | the immediate and long term focus of your business |
| what you business does in one short paragraph. - | | | | and most of all sustain your business until it reaches |
| Describing your business in a few sentences helps | | | | profitability.Topher John is a webmaster for and He |
| define the main focus of your business.3. What | | | | specializes in building internet small businesses. His |
| products does your business sell? - List any product | | | | interests are the healthcare industry, specifically how it |
| your business is selling and any variations of its | | | | relates to the family and physical fitness. |