Search Results for: blog home business taxes

The SBA Web Site Is A Home Based Business Resource

If you are just starting to gather information about how to start a home – based business or whether a home – based business is right for you, it can be hard to know where to look for such information. Fortunately, the United States Small Business Administration has an area on its web site where you can find quite a bit of useful information about many topics related to home – based business. The Small Business Administration website has information that is useful for people who are looking to start home – based businesses as well as those who already … Continue reading →

Is Working From Home For You?

Do you dream of working from home? Do you want to be able to stay home with your children and still contribute to your family’s income, or do you want to get rich quick? If your goal is to get rich quick, you better have a million dollar idea that no one else has already thought of, otherwise you are going to be quickly disappointed. When you decide to work from home you have to determine why you want to do this, why is it important, is it really feasible with your family and lifestyle and how much money do … Continue reading →

Helping With Homework

When Hailey was younger one of our biggest challenges was homework. After work and school there was so much to do that often homework was the last thing we thought about and it would be done in a hurry with no other thought than getting it done so we could go to bed. When you are a single parent it is hard to make time for everything but our children’s education is so important that we have to make time to let them know how important it is. I wish I knew where that dream family lives, the one with … Continue reading →

A Useful Book For Aspiring Home Based Professionals

I’m no dummy, but I do find that when I want to educate myself about something completely new, the “Complete Idiot’s Guide” series of books is the first place that I look. If you are thinking of starting a home – based business, there is a book in that series which is just for you. “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting a Home – Based Business” by Barbara Weltman is written in the same accessible style as the rest of the series and is a worthwhile read for anyone who thinks that they may be interested in starting a home … Continue reading →

Home Based Professionals Make Great Mentors

As a home – based professional, you may not realize that you are setting an example for other professionals who may want to work from home. In other words, at some point, your experiences and insight could be helpful to an aspiring home – based professional who is looking for a mentor. While I have not yet had the opportunity to assist someone in that way, I did learn most of what I know about one of my businesses from a mentor and I am eternally grateful to her. I met my mentor while I was in law school. She … Continue reading →

From Hobby to Home Based Business

One great way to start a home – based business is to build a business around your hobby. If you think about it, work should be enjoyable. You chose your hobby because you like to do it. Wouldn’t you like to earn money while spending more time doing something that you enjoy? The single most important thing to remember if you do decide to turn a hobby into a home – based business is that you must change the way that you think about it. Once you commit to turning your hobby into a business, it is no longer a … Continue reading →

Dealing with Taxes When You Work from Home

I always say it takes a disciplined person to work from home. But that applies not only to the work; it also applies to setting aside taxes. I am an independent contractor for a web content company; therefore, my taxes are not automatically taken out from my paycheck. If I’m not disciplined to take out the money, I can easily find myself in a deep hole. Now there is a difference between someone who is self-employed and an independent contractor. The IRS can help you determine which one you fall under. This year I did a little better job with … Continue reading →

Need Inspiration? Read About Other Home Based Professionals

Whether you are a home – based professional or you are thinking of becoming one, it can be very inspiring to read about other people who have made the transition from the traditional workplace to working on their own. Today, as I was taking a little time to have some fun and do some online window shopping on Etsy, I also took some time to look at the Etsy blog. As many of you know, Etsy is an amazing online marketplace where sellers can sell only handmade and vintage items. On the Etsy blog, there is an ongoing series of … Continue reading →

Home Based Business vs Home Based Job

Since there is more than one way to work at home, it may be useful for people who have never worked at home to understand the similarities and differences between two options that people can pursue if they wish to work from home. Owning and operating a home – based business and having a home – based job do share in common the fact that you work from your home instead of in an office or other type of facility. It is important for you to understand the difference between the two types of home – based work before you … Continue reading →

Home Biz Deductions

In my previous post I listed the requirements you need to meet in order to qualify for the home business deduction on your 2011 tax form. Remember: You must be able to show that you use your home as your principal place of business. This can be accomplished by sanctioning off a portion of your house, condo, mobile home or apartment for business purposes only. You can’t use your workspace to host poker games or scrapbook crops on the weekends; rather, the space must be used exclusively and regularly for business. However, there are two exceptions to this rule. According … Continue reading →