| Across every industry in today's workplace, cutting | | | | spend more quality time with friends and family, what |
| edge technology is being utilized to improve efficiency, | | | | other advantages do you see accruing from such a |
| develop new business, create greater customer | | | | venture? You'll have to make sacrifices, overcome |
| satisfaction and increase profits, all for a fraction of the | | | | difficulties, and your stress level will jump up a point or |
| cost of human labor. | | | | two, so what other potential payoffs would make a |
| While this is good news for share holders and cause | | | | home business viable to you? |
| for corporate boards to celebrate an impressive profit | | | | 4. Do you have a market in mind? |
| and loss statement, it often comes at the risk of | | | | Determining what and who to sell is probably the |
| displacing significant numbers of the workforce. | | | | trickiest part. You'll have to do some market research |
| Thousands of loyal and dedicated employees will find | | | | to identify a need you could supply at a reasonable |
| themselves on the chopping block, having exhausted | | | | price and turn a fair profit. And to improve your |
| their usefulness to their employers. | | | | chance for success, your choice should involve |
| Crossroads | | | | something you are passionate about. That passion will |
| Some of these folks will be fortunate enough to be | | | | fuel your drive, boost your optimism and take the |
| offered a "thank you" package of benefits and cash | | | | drudgery out of the work you do. |
| before being dumped and left to go on with their lives. | | | | 5. What skills and experience do you have? |
| Those who still have productive years left will choose | | | | In addition to doing something you love, you'll want to |
| between starting over, at worst, or parachuting to a | | | | examine your skills, knowledge and experience to see |
| situation that compensates them adequately for their | | | | how they could help you advance your ambitions. If |
| vast experience and expertise at best. | | | | you love to cook but are short on patience, it might be |
| It is often at this juncture that the question of starting a | | | | better to sell recipes than to teach others how to |
| home based business will come up. Of course, not | | | | cook. |
| everyone is pressured by circumstances to consider | | | | 6. What is the income potential? |
| that question. A few do have the luxury of deliberate | | | | The answer to this will rely in large part on the size of |
| contemplation. | | | | the market you pick and the demand for the product |
| Regardless of how you may arrive at that question, | | | | or service you offer. The rest will be up to you and |
| there are some important aspects to think about that | | | | how effectively your promotional strategies are at |
| will help you find the answer that's right for you. | | | | converting sales. If you have a sound plan and make |
| 1. Why do you want to start a home business | | | | sensible preparations you could make an extraordinary |
| anyway? | | | | income. |
| Work experience alone is not an automatic qualifier. | | | | Other things to consider |
| You'll also have to take a deep, honest look into | | | | - Make sure the zoning regulations in your area permit |
| yourself to identify your purpose for wanting to make | | | | the type of business you are planning. |
| this leap. What's your motivation? Why is that | | | | - Select a business structure that best suits your |
| important to you? How would others benefit from it? | | | | startup. |
| Are you sufficiently convinced and passionate about | | | | - Craft a business plan that clearly lays out your |
| the reason that drives you? | | | | objectives and financial requirements. |
| 2. Are you cut out to be a home business owner? | | | | - Come up with a name for your business. |
| Not everyone is a natural for developing and managing | | | | As you can see there are several elements to be |
| a home business. It involves much more than following | | | | considered long before you can hang a sign that says: |
| a job description. For starters it requires vision, | | | | Open for Business. Get ideas, suggestions and |
| creativity, tenacity, discipline, planning, organization, | | | | guidance form others you know who are running |
| courage and money. It helps if you are a self-starter, | | | | businesses of their own. Pick their brains. They'll be |
| and at the end of the day, you get to take credit for | | | | happy to share their experiences, help you weigh the |
| any success as well as blame for any failure. | | | | risks and offer encouragement. |
| 3. What are the advantages? | | | | In the final analysis though, only you can decide if a |
| Apart from tax considerations and the freedom to | | | | home business is right for you. |