How Efficient Is Your Home Based Business?

If you work out of an office you probably have most of the tools needed to run your business. However you might want to read on for some tips for the home based office that may entice you to make a couple shifts to your space at the office.

A home based office can be simple to elaborate! You may have a room at home dedicated to your office space! You may have a TV tray set up that you are using. Either way is not as important as what you do with your space.

What does your space look like?
Does it reflect the great traits about you?
Simple is great as long as it is functioning great as well!

Do you have a calendar to set up appointments, see what is happening today, planning for the future or logging your work hours?

You may or may not have a computer in your space. If you do, how is it set up? Can you use it for all of your business? Is it shared with others? I found a lap top works for portability however use what ever you have available and find the best ways to make it work for your business. A computer is helpful to make up flyers, keeping track of your customers and clients and do research to improve your business.

Get a cork board to pin up your goals, invitations, encouraging notes, up coming events and reminders. Put up pictures of the places you want to go in the next year or two. These could be the incentives that keep you going. Use this space to keep you going on those days you do not feel like working yet know it would be the best thing to do to be sucessful.

Is there a telephone near you? Many people are using their cellular phone as their business phone. Cellular phones are great however may not be cost effective anymore. Check with your provider to see if you are on the best price plan or would a land line work better for you! Remember a land line can be forwarded to your cellular phone if you need to leave. Find what works best for you and use it to its fullest!

Have a business log for yourself. Log your incoming and out going calls for your business. How long did you spend on the calls and in what way did that call serve your business. Log where you go for your business. What meetings did you attend? How long was the meeting and how did that meeting serve your business? Log your mileage, gas purchases, any meals with clients and travel expenses. Log your accounts receivables and your payables. There are many computer programs to support you with this however if you do not have a computer put it all in a log and keep track of it! (Do not just wing it and hope it all works out!) Think for a moment on why I would suggest logging everything. How do you see logging as a benefit for you and your business? Ok now that you came up with your own reasons why, here are some reasons why I do it! I log to see how much time I am spending in my business, where I am spending my time and is it cost effective for me to be in business or make some shifts. I also get to see what my average time I spend on calls, with clients, traveling and thus an accurate picture of what I make per hour in my business!

When you go out do you have a business card to give to people? There are several free options for business cards! There is no excuse to not have one! This is how you will be remembered when you leave. Always carry business cards! You may need to hand one out to the person in the grocery line or at a restaurant! You never know who you will run into so be prepared! The basics to have on your business card is your name, phone number, email address (different from your personal email) and maybe a reminder of what your business is! The rest is extras! You may want to put a PO Box on your card for privacy reasons, if you have a web page or blog page you can add that onto your card. Adding a quote that serves your business may be a good asset also. Remember you can always change your business card so do not get stuck in it having to be perfect the first time out! Just get one done and get it out to people who are potential customers/clients for your business!

Set up a system for your receipts. Use envelopes, accordion file box or a filing cabinet. Just create a system so you can log everything for your taxes at the end of the year! Trust me you can file your taxes quickly and not get stuck in looking for everything at the end of the year. Create something that you will use! I like to use envelopes. I categorize them as.
Expenses
Supplies
Utilities
Travel
Meals
Training
Insurance
Licenses
Trade Associations & Memberships

One of the most important tips I have for having your home based business is to treat it like a business! Get up in the morning, get dressed to go to work, get into action and work your scheduled business hours! Many times I hear “I like that I can just sit in my pajamas and go to work!”. That is fine if you are the kind of person that can truly take that on. I would suggest testing yourself. For two weeks go to work as you currently do. Log all your calls and new business. Then test getting dressed, add a little make up and making the calls and logging everything there as well. You may find that you accomplish more when you get yourself ready instead of just as is. If you are sitting occasionally in your pajamas ok! But what is your standard business practice? Remember you are in business. A hobby is something different and thus treated differently!

Being a business owner is a great way to be independent and fulfilled! The question you will want to ask yourself is “Do I want to be successful too?” if so, then get out there and go for it!
Know that Be A Legacy is here to support you in your success.

What Kind of Business Would You Start?

Are you ready to start your home based business?

I would suggest you get an “Idea Book” any notebook to write down all your ideas about starting a business or growing your current business. I don’t know about you, but God provides me with ideas in the oddest moments! While driving, sleeping, washing the dog talking to the neighbor and flying on an airplane.

When these ideas come along I do not discard them because I do not need that idea right now! I write them down even if it is on a napkin and then transfer to my idea book.

When ever I am in a rut or ready to do something new in my business I go to my idea book and think back over the ideas that I have written and I do not have to try to remember them. I have found that when I do not write them down then I think about having a great idea and not remembering what is was about and then that bugs me! Anyone else like that? Maybe I am alone in this one?

Start writing down ideas today to start or expand your business. Any spiral notebook or fancy journal will do just fine for all your great ideas!

What kind of business would you start?

What can you offer the world? Inspiration? Information? Product? Service?

Skills In:
Management
Marketing
Finances
Human Resources
Health & Nutrition
Team Work
Team Training
Virtual Assisting
Web Design
Web Tool Training
Mental Wellness
Consulting
Coaching
Spirituality
Relationships
Kids
Teenagers
Marriages
Friendships

Look at all the great business ideas to start thinking about.

Direct Selling Business
Network Marketing Business
Get Paid to Read Emails
Blogging for Dollars
Starting a Blog
Online Tutor
Home Tutor
Transcription Jobs
Freelance Typing Job Resources
Online Data Entry Work
How To Write a Novel
Assembly and Craft Work at Home
Clerical Work From Home
Online Proofreader
Ad Placer Online
Making Money by selling on eBay
Selling Items to Consignment Shops
Virtual Assistant or Secretary
Community Greeting Service
Personal Shopper
Web Site Developer
Gift Basket Business
Reference & Referral Service
Freelance Writing
Answering Service
Genealogy Research Service
Medical Billing
Start Your Own Daycare
Crafting from Home For a Profit
Teaching- Music teacher, Home School teacher, Writing teacher, etc.


What ever you choose to start you want to make sure you are passionate and excited about it! Starting a business is not something that is a whim! It takes time to plant the seed, nurture it by watering in ideas, information, support and commitment. As it flourishes you watch to make sure you cut back when necessary, you give it extra attention to have it grow in the right direction and you enjoy its beauty. Share it with others to make a bigger difference and cover it to protect it from the harsh realities of life! When you do this you reap the rewards of a healthy business that you started from a thought into a blooming success.

Here is my quote again

"Starting a home based business is not difficult to do! The difficult part is when you start a business you are not passionate about and then choose to make it difficult by not following through on what must happen to be successful!" Kimberley Borgens

Watch for the next posting on starting a home based business.

Starting Your Own Home Based Business

Starting a home based business is is not difficult to do! The difficult part is when you start a business you are not passionate about and then choose to make it difficult by not following through on what must happen to be successful!
Many people will jump into a home based business for many reasons.

See if any of these reasons may have been yours.

Because you got motivated to do so.
Someone said it would be easy.
Wanted to be like others around you.
Looking for extra income.

Create a future for your self & family.
Passionate about what you do to make money at it.
Saw a need in the world for your product or service.
Want to make a bigger difference.

Some of these reasons are great reasons to start a home based business. Some of these reasons will get you started, however not likely to keep you moving during the difficult times.

When starting any new adventure there must be follow through to be successful.
When that follow through is ignored you are creating a recipe for disaster.

To start a new business all you have to do is decide you are starting and then implement a plan of action.

What kind of business will you start?
What are your products or services?
Have you researched what similar businesses are charging for similar product and services?
How much money will you like to make to each month?
How much money (if any) do you have to invest in your new business?
Will your business be a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, LLC?
Will you be in business with a direct sales company or a network marketing company?
Who will you market your business to?
How are you creating a contact list to market to?
What is the name of your business?
How will customers/clients contact you? Phone, mail, email, web page?
How will you contact your customers/clients?
What are you hours of operations?
What kind of support will you reach out for?

There are so many opportunities to start a business. Whether you choose to start you own company or get on board with a direct sales or network marketing company you are still in business for yourself. Many people believe that means they are on their own. I said you are in business for yourself not by yourself!
There are many people who are willing to offer mentorship, consulting and coaching for small businesses. However the responsibility is on you to ask for support and follow through on what it will take to make your business a success!

If you choose a direct sales or network marketing company to start know that there are a lot of role models who have made it big in the industry. You will want to find out what they did to be successful!

If you are starting a business that is your own then you too will want to find out how the leaders in the industry started out and use their knowledge to become successful as well.

What did they do when they first started out?
What mistakes did they do along the way?
How did they reach out for support?
Why were they determined to be successful?
What would they do differently?
What kind of education did they need to be successful?
What keeps them going today?
What have others said about them?

Here is a common story I have heard:

I want to be the one who says “I was self taught”! I want to be able to say that I did everything and that has made me be a better man/woman!

This statement has always lit a fire under me to educate people in life. It is almost like telling our children that they do not have to go to school because they will figure it out! Yeah, they will make mistakes along the way but they will be better for it!

There are enough people in this world who have done it the hard way! They have put in the blood, sweat and tears enough for everyone. These are the people you want to familiarize yourself with! Thank them for are their hard work and now use what they learned to reach your success, quicker, fewer obstacles and less painful! They were not meant to be leaders in challenge they have been through the fire and offer you solutions!

Many of us think it has to be difficult to be successful! Image a business that starts and runs smoothly that allows time and energy to create balance in all areas of your life. To me that is when I know I am successful! When my business is running smooth and I have a life too!

Are you ready to start your small business today?
The first step is making a decision!
Second step is answering the questions above.
Third reach out and get support.

Keep watching for more information this week on starting a home based business!