The Basics of Starting A Home Based Business
You are a creative, intelligent and resourceful person who has always longed to start an independent home based business. You find your commute every workday through rush hour traffic to be stressful and tiring. You sometimes resent your boss and superiors for having more power, control and creative freedom than you do. You like your co-workers, but sometimes working day after day with them makes you feel like you need your own work space and more peace and quiet. Office politics are beginning to drag you down emotionally, and you feel like there must be something better out there for you.So now you are at a place in your life and your career in which you are seriously considering beginning a home based business. You have friends and former colleagues who work at home, and it is becoming a very appealing option for you.Here are some guidelines that you should consider before making the commitment to leaving your corporate position and starting a home based business.(1) Reflect on your personal interests and job-related skills and qualifications.You will have a definite heads up in the home based business world if you are able to create a business that maximizes your professional and personal background and experience. Think about the technical and professional skills that you have mastered or developed. For example, if you have a business degree and are working as a professional marketer for a company, then think about whether or not you would enjoy working at home as an independent marketing consult.Consider what hobbies and special interests you enjoy pursuing in your personal time. You may consider forming a business in a discipline that you are really passionate about personally, even if you lack professional experience. You will likely be required to gain qualifications in the subject area through college or university courses or certification programs. For example, if you really enjoy writing and are thinking about setting up a home based business as a freelance writer or editor but do not have an English degree or diploma, look into taking several quality writing and editing courses at your local college or university. If you prefer, look into expanding your qualifications through an on-line college or university.(2) Reflect on your talents, strengths and personality type.Take some time to sit down quietly and think about your talents and strengths, both professional and interpersonal. Consider if any of your personal hobbies or interests could form the focus of a successful home based business. It is recommended that you take one or two commercially developed talents and skills surveys or inventories. Look online for several options.Think about your personality. Are you an introvert who gets energized by being alone and enjoying peace and tranquility? Are you an extrovert who gets refueled by socializing with friends and family? Do you prefer to work outdoors or indoors?3) Conduct research about your various business ideas.Do research by reading magazine articles and online journal articles about the area of business you are thinking about pursuing. Find out if there is a real and viable market out there for your potential product or service. Think about why potential customers would be interested in purchasing your product or utilizing your service. Think about your target market or audience. Think about the people’s needs, lifestyles, interests, cultures, socio-economic status and spending trends. Remember, you want to sell a product or offer a service that will help make your business sustainable and successful over time.
