We all have to work to make ends meet.

Gone are the days when one parent could stay home and build morals and relationships with our children or look after the affairs of the home. But more and more of us are realizing that we can both earn an income and stay at home. It takes some juggling, some learning, some frustrations and a lot of sweat equity in some cases, but it can be done.If you’re good, and you chose the right home based business and target market, your work-at-home enterprise should be earning a tidy profit within a year’s time.

One of the key benefits to working at home is that your expenses plummet.

No more daycare, half the travel expense, home cooked meals (way cheaper than ready made store bought or take out), clothing allowances cut down, and a number of tax advantages for your regular home expenses.

Easy and profitable start up home based business for the un-trained are:

• mail order,
• multi-level marketing,
• and in-home party sales.

These are low cost to venture into and will give you a taste of running your own business before you find your own profitable niche or salable expertise.

If you have a passion to work, knowledge of business practice, but not a lot of funds, and you can type or author articles or ebooks, you might consider selling your home-based service as a typist or researcher.

Not your thing? Okay, if you have a truck or a truck and trailer, you could operate a clean-up or hauling service. And, on the same train of thought, you could run a home, office, or apartment cleaning service.

Turn a craft hobby into a home based enterprise and sell your ‘work’ on ebay or at local craft shows. Or, take that same hobby and run a night class on the subject, teaching others for a fee. (Clicking the link above takes you to a fabulous and affordable ebook series on how to make money at home by crafting.)

In reality, there’s no end to the ways you can earn money!

Absolutely anyone and everyone (unless they have a mental disability) are able to run a profitable work at home business with minimal investment. No end to the ways, and no excuses. Just do it!

Online Customers for Your Business

Your customers - past and present - will make or break your business.

For that reason, you’ll want to treat them with respect and dignity and do your best to ensure that you operate from the perspective that the customer is always right.

Of course some customers are more trouble than they’re worth. These are the clients that you should do your best to serve, but don’t over-serve, and hope that they won’t be back for repeat business, but that they also won’t bad-mouth you either.

This takes some class and fancy footwork, but eventually you can ‘lose’ the troublesome clients and only work for the best that the internet has to offer, or that wander into your offline establishment. Basically, you are in the business to build relationships with people - don’t waste your time on less than perfect clients.

If a problem arises between client and company the trouble is usually around, and can be righted with, correct communication. At times over-communication is necessary, even though it feels as though you’re talking and listening more than serving, knowing your client and expressing the ways you can serve your client will help to bridge gaps of mis-understandings between you.

Here’s eight start up and operational tips to help you make a success of your home based business.

1. Have a separate telephone line for your business.

2. Have an answering machine answering all calls when you’re unavailable.

3. Make sure you have a fax machine for quick paper communication between yourself and your clients.

4. Get a photocopier. You’ll be surprised how often you use it and how much more effient it makes you.

5. Appearances sake - your office, your stationary, your attire should always be top notch.

6. Know it all. Read, study and research to stay abreast of current issues related to your industry.

7. Make your business name stick. Choose a name that is catchy, but descriptive.

8. Write a plan and follow it. Short term and long term goals and how you will achieve each.

Online Business Etiquette

In business, even an online business, it is people that will make or break you. Etiquette, and in particular business etiquette, is just a means of maximising your business potential through common courtesies and respect. Online business etiquette is all about building relationships with people through print.

Truly it is all about communication. Communicate correctly to your chosen audience and trust develops.

Online business etiquette revolves around two principles.

Thoughtful consideration of the interests and feelings of your readers and minimising mis-understandings. Both are dependent upon how you present yourself with the written word.

Online business etiquette will vary based on markets, audiences and websites.

The best rule of thumb before you communicate on a blog or forum is to spend some time reading other posts or articles on that site and govern yourself accordingly - follow along and play by the rules - people who read what you have to say will instantly feel as though they know you. At that point trust and rapport is built.

Online Personality Behaviour

Your mannerisms and reactions speak volumes about you. If you come across as pompous, aggressive, rude, or unpleasant you’re not likely to have too many followers or friends. Of course a chosen few can pull this off - but they are highly educated, straight-shooting types - if this isn’t your natural persona, don’t attempt to adopt it online.

Honesty is Always the Best Policy

A reputation for delivering what you say will deliver goes an extended way in the online business world. Having a reputation of integrity and honesty will carry you far in your online marketing efforts.

Be Diplomatic

Whatever you write online has a long-lasting effect, so choose your words wisely. Avoiding thoughtless words will protect you from negative results. To achieve online business success remember to consider the interests of those who will read your words and wounded feelings generally have repercussions.

Looking for some free advertising for your small or home based business?

Here’s a few ways to use the media to get attention for your business in your community.

The media can be an enormous help to your home based business.

This post aims to show you why and how,and how to start building a relationship with your local media (newspaper, television, radio, etc.)

When you first begin your business, let the local newspaper know by sending them a press release about your new work-at-home business. Almost all newspapers have a business section, no matter how small. In small community papers it doesn’t hurt to give the paper a call, talk to them about your press release and ask how they’d like to receive the information. This also applies to the larger newspapers, but it may require more effort to reach the person in charge of business press releases.

After start up, keep the media informed of your business activities, especially when your business is doing something favorable for the community. Newspapers and radio stations love to get local ‘feel-good’ stories and it’s free press time for you! Again, you’ll need to research the matter to determine the right person to send the information to and what format they prefer.

Another option for free press time are in magazines. Highly targeted advertsing for just a little of your time. Are there trade magazines in the area of your business expertise? If so, try submitting a specialized article (not about your business, but an informative article that relates to your business specialty). If the magazine publishes your article or story, you’ll have free publicity and advertising for months to come.

Click here for some inexpensive, super slick software to submit your announcements to the press.

Your home based business will need a name sooner or later, even if you are planning on positioning yourself as an expert (therefore your own name will on everyone’s lips), you should still have a registered business name from which to operate.

The trouble most of us have however is choosing the right name.

Your home based business name should be descriptive, and flow well with a tag line.

I’ll try to provide some examples in a future post, but I’m sure you know what I’m getting at…something that flows off the lips and let’s people know exactly what your business is all about.

In past businesses I’ve verbally surveyed friends and potential clients on a few business names before I go to the registration office. And, a few times I’ve been surprised by their reactions and comments. Collaboration lends differing perspectives - invaluable tips that could make a big difference to the success of your company.