Search Results for: blog what surprised you most about running your own business

Think Carefully Before Filing For An Extension

The owners of home – based businesses have a lot of things to do to keep their businesses running smoothly and producing great work or great products for their clients and customers. From scheduling to bookkeeping and quality control to advertising, they do it all. Some of the tasks involved with owning and operating a home – based business occur on a regular schedule, whether weekly, monthly, or quarterly. There are also things that must be done once a year, and at this time of year one of those things often takes center stage – filing taxes. Sometimes people do … Continue reading →

One Way to Make 2012 a Good Year for Your Business

With the New Year fast approaching and the fresh start that it brings almost here, your mind may be full of ideas for improving your home – based business. One suggestion that I have for making 2012 a better year for your home –based business is to evaluate and improve your bookkeeping practices. If you just said to yourself “Bookkeeping practices? What bookkeeping practices?” than this is definitely something that it is important for you to do. While accounting and bookkeeping are normally considered part of the administrative duties that a home – based professional must make time for as … Continue reading →

Home Business Spotlight: Copywriting

The world of writing encompasses many different avenues. There is no shortage of job opportunities when it comes to writing. So if you are just starting out, you may be surprised at the different types that are available. One of the more potentially lucrative writing careers is found with copywriting. Copywriting is almost like an art form, as you are responsible for producing words that will effectively sell and promote a particular service, product or company. Copyrighters produce advertisements and content that can be found in newspapers, magazines, radio ads, commercials, billboards, flyers, catalogs, coupons, brochures, pamphlets and so much … Continue reading →

Is It Almost Time For A New Computer?

If you are like many people, then your computer is an essential part of your home, to say the least. You may use it for work, your family uses it for entertainment, and everyone uses it to stay connected with friends and relatives. Everyone in your house (except perhaps the baby and the dog) uses the computer. How do you know that the computer that you use every day will work tomorrow, when you need to send out that important email or your child has to do some research for a school project? Like many electronics, computers have a life … Continue reading →

Where to Buy Food

If you are tired of the high prices at your local grocery store, try the following places to by food. You may just find your grocery bill shrinking while your stock pile increases. Dollar Store People tend to be a little hesitant about purchasing groceries at a dollar store. I am not exactly sire why this is the case. After all, you can see the expiration dates on the food and check them. I guess it is just the association of cheap stuff and food. Most of the brands will be generics, but there are also quite a few name … Continue reading →

It Takes Real Work

I certainly do not mean to insult anyone and I am quite sure that all of you home business owners out there did NOT get into your work and businesses because you thought it would be easy. Well, let’s assume that we had some idea of how much work it was going to be to operate a business. I think there is a chance that a few of us thought it would be easier than it turned out to be. After all, one of the first things we realize when we start a business is that it takes real work…and … Continue reading →

Learning On the Job

I confess that I am a big reader—if I can find a book or a magazine article on something I am curious about or need to know that is my preferred way of learning. When I was a new parent, it was all about the parenting books. I read cookbooks, how-to books on various subjects, and definitely the business books. But, the truth is, there are just some things you can only learn on the job… One of the fabulous things about operating your own business is that the lessons can be endless. Unlike a more “traditional” job where you … Continue reading →

Timing Can Be Important

I do not know if I subscribe to the saying that “timing is everything”–maybe when it comes to personal relationships, but I don’t know if it ALWAYS the case when it comes to business concerns. I do, however, think that timing can be very important in operating a home-based business. I am not really talking about time management here (although we do chat about that often enough here in the Home Business blog and it is a key part of doing well in a home-based business), but more the realities of a market at any given time, the economy, the … Continue reading →

What Surprised You Most About Running Your Own Business?

I think it can be so interesting and productive to look back and take stock—a little evaluation around the differences between what we THOUGHT would happen when we hung up our home business shingle and what actually DID happen. Surprises can be both pleasant and unpleasant, but chances are, you have definitely experienced a few on your path to become a home business entrepreneur. I can tell you what surprised me—I’ve been surprised at how much more work I am able to do working from home than I ever did in a well-stocked and supported office environment. There is this … Continue reading →

Knowing How Politics Affect Your Business

We are not operating our home businesses in a vacuum or in isolation. It may seem like that sometimes, but in fact, we are part of a larger community and the economy as a whole. There is a reason that various business entities often weigh in on political discourse and battles—politics can effect how we operate and grow our little home businesses. Most of us are not particularly politically savvy—but you may find that now that you are running a business, you do notice and pay closer attention to political issues that might influence your business. And, if you don’t, … Continue reading →