The Home Business Center

 

Less regulation and lower taxes during the former
California governor’s first term in office sent the number
of small business formations skyward and the industry,
despite increased taxes and regulation, has never looked
back. Today, as much as ever, there are outstanding
opportunities in the small business market.

Think about it. Big business puts out a controlled product
that appeals to the masses. Selling nationwide, there
isn’t much attention paid to particular regional
differences. Small business fills this void. It’s not
necessary in an environment of lower overhead and more
flexibility to have a product that necessarily appeals to
the masses. You might produce, out of your own home, T-
shirts and apparel with local slogans and insignia on them.
This product will likely appeal to the locals and certainly
may have some fascination for tourists, too. It’s not
something a major company is likely to fashion because of
its limited audience attraction. But you don’t need to
sell as many units to operate a successful small business.

There are numerous examples of small businesses having
local flavor that become an overnight sensation nationally.
Ben and Jerry’s ice cream was a Vermont tradition that
suddenly caught on big everywhere. Numerous franchises and
grocery distribution outlets later, the original owners are
ready to cash in -- big time!

Perhaps you have that kind of ambition. It may be that
your idea for a home-based business may have a national
market. It’s wiser to start smaller if you don’t have a
lot of initial capital. If you have access to capital,
that’s a different story. Wayne Huzienga, owner of the
Blockbuster video stores, borrowed heavily to finance his
outlets. The first store didn’t make any money. But he
believed in his idea -- to have numerous video copies
available for two or three nights at a time. He thought
people would pay a little more for this kind of
convenience. The first ten stores didn’t make any money.
Neither did the first 100 stores. But Huzienga knew
Americans. Suddenly the profits started to come and
Blockbuster has developed into a commercial trademark for
most shopping outlets in this country.

But you don’t have to make it that big to be a financial
success. You can make thousands of dollars a week from
our own home without having to invest that much capital in
the business start-up.


BEING YOUR OWN BOSS

Most Americans dream of being their own boss. This is true
for many reasons. First, America has that kind of promise.
If you play by the rules, there is virtually nothing you
can’t accomplish. Just ask any number of Korean and
Vietnamese immigrants who fled their countries to come here
and start up their own businesses. They are truly a late
20th Century success story in this country.

Second, it’s not often that much fun working for someone
else. There are plenty of rules to follow. There are
specific hours to be in the office. There are specific
sales goals that must be met. And on and on. Your own
business isn’t going to be a vacation, but when you go in
early and stay late, you’re doing it for you; not the
person who signs your paycheck.

Third, the control of running your own business is both
exciting and, at times, overwhelming. Responsibility is at
your feet. There is no one to pass the blame off to, but
small business owners wouldn’t have it any other way. They
take a chance every day by running their own shop. Yet
many wouldn’t trade it for working for someone else again
if they can possibly help it. The risks are great, but the
rewards can be greater.

There are many sad stories around this country about people
who dreamed big, who had a good idea, but who couldn’t
summon up the courage to take it any further than their own
thoughts. Afraid to take a chance, they passed up the
risks and the rewards of striking out on their own. At the
end of their lives is always that doubt, always that
wonder, always that speculation, about what their lives
would have been like if they’d only taken that one chance.

The independence that comes with being your own boss also
calls for a rigid discipline on your part. Because you are
the one setting your own hours, there is no one to tell you
what time to start, what time to knock off, what time to
take lunch, how much work must be accomplished each and
every day. This is the drill you must teach yourself. You
have to set your own goals and objectives, financial and
otherwise. You’ll have to analyze your market, what you
will produce, how much it will cost to produce, who you
will distribute the product to and how much you will
charge.

You will also know what your profit margin will be on each
unit. Knowing that, and how long it takes to produce one
unit, will help you to set up your work schedule. It might
be ten to twelve hours a day to start, much longer than you
worked for someone else. But instead of a paycheck equal
to a small portion of the profit, you’ll keep the entire
profit margin for yourself. It’s a whole new world!


THE CONTINGENT WORKFORCE

Layoffs at big business has become a way of life.
Companies are constantly undergoing a reshuffling of the
players and the companies under their umbrella. The
information age produces instant results data, the analysis
of which can be accomplished quickly. Once digested,
companies make moves much earlier than the past. Products
evolve so much faster today and the improvement in
technology can mean the need for less human involvement.

But technology has a bright side. Computers, fax machines,
modems and telephone answering machines have evolved to
reasonably priced equipment which, when set up in your own
home, can make you an instant player in whatever field you
choose to work. The future of America may well be in
people working at home and communicating with each other
through increasingly sophisticated equipment.

Let’s say you work for ABC Company, a large firm that is
undergoing its ninth rightsizing move of the year. This
time around you get the pink slip. Services no longer
needed at the end of the month. Here’s two months
severance pay. See you later. It’s been a great ten
years.

This is not uncommon today. There have been thousands of
layoffs at the Fortune 500 level in the last decade. But
unemployment has not changed that dramatically! Why?
Where are these people going? Why aren’t more of them
filing unemployment claims, especially as Congress made
several efforts to extend benefits to the unemployed?

Some of these people were able to find full-time work
relatively quickly. Still others took the severance
package and simply retired, being eligible (or close to it)
for Social Security and perhaps a pension benefit. Many of
these individuals became a part of what has come to be
called the contingent workforce.

The contingent workforce consists of temporary, part-time,
contract and leased employees along with people who simply
decided the time was never better to start their own
business. This is the group that doesn’t have a true
employer-employee relationship, yet are working and often
making more money than their full-time labors yielded in
the past.

Not everyone likes it. But the chance to be your own boss
has appealed to many Americans, those with that true early
pioneer spirit that former President Reagan spoke
so warmly about during his tenure as the nation’s Chief
Executive. Armed with today’s technology, many have set up
their own businesses and gone to work -- for themselves!

They’ve established their own businesses after deciding
what fields they want to go into. It may be the field they
just abruptly left -- or it may be something they’ve longed
to do for some time. Perhaps it’s a hobby they believe can
make it big. Ask Mrs. Fields, whose cookies that pleased
friends and family are now being eaten in nearly every
major airport food court in the country.

Working as a contract or temporary or leased employee gives
you the benefit of a paycheck without much of the stress.
You go home at the end of a day without the same worry you
carried as an employee -- unless stress is just part of
your character! But this isn’t the same as working for
yourself as more and more people are finding out.

The downsizing by big business in the last few years has
created the opportunity for many to finally make the big
push -- and start their own company. They are the
President! And V.P., Secretary, Treasurer and all of the
other jobs to start. But there is always light at the end
of the tunnel and if you never take the chance, you could
be another of those sad stories where, in the sunset of
life, you sit and wonder what might have been ...


CHOOSING YOUR HOME-BASED CAREER

There is one thing you can count on when you begin your own
business. You won’t be bored. There are plenty of details
to accomplish, a number of tasks that await each day. You
won’t find yourself looking at the clock much, that’s for
sure!

What do you do? That’s easy! What ideas do you have?
More importantly, what would you like to do? What are your
current interests? What hobbies do you have that you’d
like to work at more and make them pay?
Let’s say you have a vivid interest in history. You’ve
spent a lot of time reading history books. Let’s say
you’ve even specialized and do most of your reading about
the American Civil War. Do you think there might be
something you can do about the Civil War?

Of course there is! If you have a computer and subscribe
to the Internet, why not try polling people via E-Mail
about their interest in a Civil War newsletter that you
will publish monthly -- on line! A substantial interest
will set you to coming up with a subscription price and to
begin enrolling people. If you have enough interest, this
could be your full-time job. You’ll spend the month coming
up with the assorted items for the monthly newsletter, from
articles about unusual aspects of the war, to
commemorations of anniversary related events that month to
news about meetings held everywhere for other Civil War
enthusiasts to book reviews of the latest volumes written.
If you have an interest in the Civil War, you’ll know that
there isn’t any period of history which has generated more
interest and more books about the particulars.

But what if you’re not into computers? If it’s the Civil
War you’re interested in, contact the local universities
and colleges and find out who teaches the subject on their
campus. Contact those individuals first for suggestions.
It could very well be that they long to write their own
book about the Civil War, but don’t have the time during
the academic year to do the necessary research to write it
on their summer break. You have the time, though, and they
may be willing to hire you as a researcher for them.

You should also buy any Civil War magazine (current issue
if possible) you can lay your hands on and turn to the
classified sections of their pages. Read everything you
can. There may be direct advertisements needing help or
names and companies with interests in the Civil War whom
you can contact. Find out if there are any local Civil War
Roundtable chapters in your area. Find out if there are
any Sons of Confederate Veterans (or Union) or United
Daughters of the Confederacy (or Union) chapters locally.
Attending those meetings will bring you into contact with a
number of like-minded individuals. Some of these folks
might pay you to write about their ancestors. Or they may
know publishers who specialize in Civil War history that
would be willing to listen to an idea you had for a book.
Or you could contact some local community colleges and out
together your own course on the Civil War and get paid to
teach it.

This is the kind of analysis you need to do with any of
your ideas. Make lists! Put your idea at the top and
think of all the possible connections to it. Leave no idea
out! Nothing should be considered silly or off-limits!
This is your business now! The most obscure contact can
yield the greatest results. Try them all!

This should also serve notice that any idea is possible for
business. If it’s something you like to do, why not try
it? Many of these ideas can be followed up on your own
time even while you’re still working for someone else.

If you hate the job you’re currently in, wouldn’t it be
great to work at something you truly love? Especially if
what you love has an interest for others -- enough interest
to have someone put down a few bucks for your product or
service. The Civil War is a great example. People that
have an avid interest in it will shell out a few dollars to
read anything about the subject. The more they read, the
more they want to know. And there are thousands of ideas
that can sustain the same kind of interest!

Securing clients for your service is the key. New
subscribers to a newsletter will more than offset the ones
who, for whatever reason, don’t renew. The more new
customers you obtain, the more likely your business will
experience tremendous success.

Prospecting for new clientele is an ongoing process. It
never stops! Some people may not care for that end of the
business, but you’ll be different. Why? Because you’re
working in your own business, doing what you love to do in
an area that you have a great amount of knowledge and
curiosity in. When you talk about it, there will be no
hiding the fact that you truly believe in your product or
service. Talking about it is fun. Talking about it is
prospecting. Hence, prospecting is fun!

How do you get people to open up today when you’re in a
conversation with them? You ask them about a subject you
know they like -- and then let them talk. Prospecting in
your business is going to be much like that. You’re going
to feel compelled to talk to people about a subject because
it’s your favorite topic. Those that share that interest
are going to like listening -- and talking about it!
They’re prospects! They’re interested! They’re potential
clients!

You may choose to advertise your product or service. This
has more start-up costs to it, depending on where you
advertise. Try and be market-specific! In other words,
advertise to an audience most likely to be interested in
your subject matter. For Civil War buffs, there are plenty
of magazines that you can target an audience through
successfully. Advertising the same product or service
through your local newspaper at two or three times the
price makes less sense since it’s more money and not as
efficient.

You can also reach an audience through some type of direct
mail. This also carries a significant expense in terms of
postage costs. Thus you want to be sure that you are
reaching an audience base most likely to respond. This
should be a secondary approach, however. Reaching out via
the phone lines is more cost-effective.

You can start getting news out about your product or
service through your family and friends. They can do a lot
of word of mouth advertising for you. The more people they
talk to, the faster the word about your business gets
around. If you are also prospecting by calling others,
even remote acquaintances, all the better. The more people
that know, the more likely you can get some referrals.
This is the hardest part of the business -- getting enough
people to know about what you’re doing. But once you know
how to do it and you’ve started the machine rolling, this
all becomes easier. You may end up with more clients than
you know what to do with -- a great situation to have!

There are a number of resources out there for you to review
and contact as you get started. The advice and information
you can obtain may help you to avoid some of the more
common mistakes. Every connection you make might lead you
to a nest of prospects. Many of the organizations listed
here can help you focus in on the right direction and save
you time and money pursuing people who have no interest in
what you’re doing.


RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO GET STARTED

Publications:

Working From Home, by Paul & Sarah Edwards (Jeremy P.
Tarcher, publisher, 1994)
Making Money With Your Computer At Home, by Paul & Sarah
Edwards (Jeremy P. Tarcher/Perigee, publisher, 1993)
The Work-At-Home Sourcebook, by Lynie Arden (Live Oak
Publications, publisher, 1994)
Homemade Money, by Barbara Brabec (Betterway Books,
publisher, 1994)
Retired? Get Back In The Game! by Jack & Elaine Wyman
(Doer Publications, 1994)
How To Make Money With Your PC! A Guide To Starting and
Running Successful PC-Based Businesses, by Lynn Walford
(Ten Speed Press, 1994)
How To Succeed As An Independent Consultant, by Herman
Holtz (Wiley & Sons, publisher, 1993)
Newsletter: Barbara Brabec’s Self-Employment Survival
Letter, bimonthly newsletter, $29/year, P.O. Box 2137,
Naperville, IL. 60567
Newsletter: ReCareering Newsletter, monthly, $55/year,
Publications Plus, 801 Skokie Blvd., Suite 221, Northbrook,
IL. 60062
Audio Tapes: How To Make Money Doing Research With Your
Computer, by Sue Rugge, contact: Here’s How, 2607 Second
St., Suite 3, Santa Monica, CA. 90405
Audio Tapes: How To Publish A Profitable Newsletter: The
Reasons and A Roadmap for Getting Into Newsletter
Publishing with your Computer, by J. Norman Goode,
contact: Here’s How, 2607 Second Street, Suite 3, Santa
Monica, CA. 90405


Organizations and Associations:

Home-Based Business Tips
[includes a free start-up guide]
Contact: Answer Desk
U.S. Small Business Administration
409 Third Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20416
1-800-827-5722

Home-Based Manufacturing Operations
Wage and Hour Division
Employment Standards Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S3516
Washington, D.C. 20210
(202) 219-7043

American Association of
Professional Consultants
9140 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO. 64114
(603) 623-5378

American Federation of Small Business
407 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL. 60608
(312) 427-0207

American Home Business Association
397 Post Road
Darien, CT. 06820
(800) 433-6361

American Home Sewing Association
1375 Broadway 4th Floor
New York, NY 10018
(212) 302-2150

The American Society of
Interior Designers
1430 Broadway
New York, NY 10018
(212) 944-9220

Association of Desk-Top
Publishers (AD-TP)
Box 881667
San Diego, CA. 92108-0034

Association of Electronic Cottagers
(accessible on-line through the Working
from Home Forum)
CompuServe Information Service
5000 Arlington Centre Boulevard
Columbus, OH. 45220
(800) 898-8990

Chartered Designers Of America, Inc.
P.O. Box 348
Elmwood Park, N.J. 07407
(201) 794-1133 or (201) 797-0657

Family Firm Institute
P.O. Box 476
Johnstown, NY 12095
(518) 762-3853

International Association of
Independent Publishers
P.O. Box 703
San Francisco, CA. 94101
(415) 922-9490

International Information/Word
Processing Association
1015 N. York Road
Willow Grove, PA. 19090
(215) 657-6300

Mothers Home Business Network
P.O. Box 423
East Meadow, NY 11554
(516) 997-7394

National Association for the
Cottage Industry
P.O. Box 14460
Chicago, IL. 60614
(312) 472-8116

National Association of Desktop
Publishers (NADTP)
P.O. Box 508
Kenmore Station
Boston, MA. 02215
(617) 437-6472

National Association of Entrepreneurial
Couples
P.O. Box 700
Aptos, CA. 95001-0700

National Association for the Self-Employed
2324 Gravel Road
Ft. Worth, TX. 76118
(817) 589-2475

National Association of Women Business Owners
600 S. Federal Street Suite 400
Chicago, IL. 60605

National Computer Graphics Association
2722 Merilee Drive Suite 200
Fairfax, VA. 22031
(703) 698-9600

Newsletter Association
1410 Wilson Blvd. Suite 403
Arlington, VA. 22209
(703) 527-2333

Support Services Alliance
P.O. Box 130
Schocharie, NY 12157
(212) 398-7800


HOME BASED OPPORTUNITIES

There are a few businesses that you can get up and running
quickly if time is of the essence. If you’ve just lost a
job or you can’t take the one you have much longer, here
are a couple of fast start ideas.

1. Private Tutor. To start this business, you would have
to be qualified in at least one academic subject, have some
teaching skills and experience (being a training instructor
could qualify). The subjects usually needing tutoring help
are math, foreign language and any of the sciences. It’s
less demanding than full-time teaching and you don’t have
to put up with the bureaucracy. It will undoubtedly be
evening and (perhaps) weekend work, but you can charge
anywhere from $25 to $75 per hour depending on the subject.

2. Errand runner/driver. Many businesses today are in
need of a runner to bring material around from place to
place. A company who does a lot of printing may need
constant business to printer assistance. As long as you
have your own car and are a safe driver, you’re in
business. You don’t need to learn anything about
computers, either. you’re simply in business. You will
likely always be on call during the week (maybe Saturdays)
and if you don’t like traffic, this could be a problem.
You should be able to canvass local businesses for work and
be paid upwards of $10 per hour. Your auto insurance agent
should be informed of the new use for your car.

3. Computer services for small businesses. You’ll need a
computer, laser or bubblejet printer and a fax machine to
offer these services, but many small businesses need the
assistance. It might be in copywriting, mailing programs,
newsletters or maintaining a billing follow-up database.
You can charge from $20 per hour and up depending on the
work. It’s easy to get going since you’ve already got the
computer in your home. Canvass businesses locally for work
after you’ve devised an attractive flyer listing and
selling your services.

There are other jobs that may require more set-up, but can
fantastic money-making opportunities. Among these are:

1. Tax preparer/bookkeeping services. Being computer
literate will help you handle several dozen clients all at
once. You may need some training if you are not a CPA, but
software programs today make it easier to walk through even
the most complex tax situations. You will be overwhelmed
during the tax season of January to April, but you can
charge from $25 to $50 per hour and make enough during the
first four months of the year to almost get you through the
remaining months.

2. Specialty grower. Let’s say you have some land and you
love to garden. You enjoy working outdoors and are tired
of working inside a building for a living. Why not become
a specialty grower? Gourmet stores all over the country
are looking for the unusual in the way of plants and edible
flowers. Herbs are also popular. You can even sell the
crops you grow at the local farmer’s market on Saturday
mornings. If you already have the land and the desire to
do this, why wait. Start it part-time if you want, but you
may find dozens of outlets for your goods if they are up to
the test. The risk is bad weather naturally, but it’s a
chance worth taking if you love gardening.

3. Cleaning services. You’ll need lots of supplies for
this, but commercial building maintenance people are often
on the lookout for good help in this area. You’ll need a
lot of cleaning supplies, but if you can handle the evening
hours and can find reliable assistants, this can be a gold
mine business especially if you specialize in the hard-to-
do work like swimming pools, blinds and windows. People
hate to do windows. You can charge per house or, for
commercial buildings, per hour.

4. Massage therapist. If you’re good at giving massages,
consider getting a license or certification to be a massage
therapist. Health clubs, running clubs, conventions all
are good candidates for your work. You can earn up to
$100/hour but you have to be in good physical condition.
Arm, hands and back strength are particularly important.
Your hours are your choice!

5. Caterer. If you like to cook, consider the catering
business. If you have a good kitchen set-up and can cook
large volumes well and have a few handy unusual, but tasty
recipes, you can be become a local party favorite. Repeat
business is the name of this game and you can charge per
person for your catered meals or appetizers. Ethnic dishes
are the in thing for parties these days and the more
diversified you are the better.

6. Computer consultant. If you are a programmer, this is
certainly a job that can lend itself to contract labor, run
out of your own home. Competition is heavy, but once you
have a few clients, you will likely make an excellent
living at something you’re good at and probably enjoy.
$50/hour is the low starting rate for programmers and you
can charge more based on your expertise and the problem to
be solved. The more diversified your experience, the more
likely the calls coming in for your services. You will
need to stay up on current technology, but most programmers
do this naturally. There are a plethora of magazines and
other publications about the latest and greatest
technology. Canvass local businesses to ascertain their
computer needs. You’re only selling your services, so the
cold calling is a low pressure thing. Most businesses have
some complaint about their computer system and are looking
for easy answers from someone that is local and knows what
they’re doing. Solid computer expertise is invaluable to
small businesses.

7. Bed-and-breakfast accommodations. Wouldn’t it be great
to operate a bed and breakfast in the middle of a territory
that attracts thousands of tourists and other travelers
each year? If you’ve a knack for hosting people on a full-
time basis and have the house to convert to a couple of
extra bedrooms, you can be in business. It’s truly full-
time, even though you’re only serving breakfast. There’s
laundry to do, there’s beds to be made, bathrooms to clean
and reservations to handle, but it can often be done at a
eisurely pace. Room rates are $75 per night and up, so the
money can add up pretty fast. Be careful of burnout,
however, as there are no holidays from this job, unless you
have another person/couple take over for a couple of weeks.

8. Arts & Crafts. If you have a propensity for things
arts and craftsy, you should consider selling your goods
for a living, part or full-time. Have you ever walked
around an art show? There are plenty of these around and
you can get a booth and earn back your expenses for the day
with one sale. If you love to paint, or sculpt, or make
pottery or whatever, there is a lot of potential for you.
You can also starve, too, but you don’t start up the
business thinking that. Businesses buy lots of arts and
crafts each year for their firms’ decorations or for sales
contest prizes, convention awards and the like. If you are
already doing this, you probably have studio space in your
house plus some supplies to get going. Step it up to the
next level!

There are many other types of home-based opportunities
which may require more specific skills, longer training or
more time to get up and running. They are no less useful,
however. Here are a few ideas for you.

* Accounting/Bookkeeping
Small businesses may be especially reliant on contract help
for this type of work since many of them may not be large
enough to have their own accountant and/or bookkeeper on
staff. Book resource: Establishing An Accounting
Practice. Available from: Bank of America, P.O. Box 3401,
San Francisco, CA. 94137.

* Apiary
Raising bees for honey can be a part-time effort if you
have an interest in this type of activity. This is not a
business for those with no experience in this area, but for
those already doing something along this line, or have a
hobby for it, try ordering the book ABC and XYZ of Bee
Culture from the A.I. Root Library, current edition, Garden
Way Publishing, Charlotte, VT. 05445

* Balloon Rides
Popular in areas where the weather is nice, year-round, hot
air balloon rides are popular gifts for special occasions
like a birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s Day and other
holidays. Those of you who are trained aeronauts can step
into a needed void as a pilot for this craft. You can
start as a pilot, perhaps, and then accumulate capital to
invest in your own balloon. Other than advertising and the
cost of the balloons and their upkeep, little else is
required except some wide open spaces.

* Beautician
This is a popular home-based business. An investment in
the essential beautician supplies and chair can get you
started. There is a licensing course that varies by state.
All you need for this, other than the start-up merchandise
is an extra room in the house or a garage. If you’re
working for someone now and were wondering how to break
away, it only takes a few dollars and your clientele to
follow you. This happens quite frequently. Book resource:
Start and Run A Profitable Beauty Salon. Author: Paul
Pogue. Available from TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA.
17214. It’s a complete business guide, organized for easy
following of the text.

* Canning
Walk into a country restaurant like the Cracker Barrel and
the first thing you come to is a foyer/waiting area where
there are a variety of goods, including a number of
specialty food items. Pickles, sauces, jellies, many of
them homemade all sit waiting for a buyer. And people will
buy these specialties! Specialty coffee shops and gourmet
stores are always on the lookout for the new treat they can
feature. Why not sell to these stores if you have a talent
for this kind of cooking? You can start out part-time and
see how the demand and the income goes from there. The
next time you’re in a specialty food store, ask about their
distribution.

* Chair Caning
Country styles for homes are as popular as ever and the
ability to cane chairs can bring in a sizable amount of
side income if you have the talent for this type of work.
If you’re already doing it as a hobby, you’ve already
established the necessary work shop, know where to get
materials, etc. The only thing that remains is who to
distribute to, a decision that may involve both private and
public sales. There are locals who would certainly hire
you to handle a chair or two for them personally. There
are also specialty furniture stores and outlets with whom
you can also contract. You’ll have to do a little research
on it, but the possibilities are there to expand a hobby
that may already give you many hours of joy. It’s time to
cash in on that and get your home-based business off the
ground!

* Cheese making
Like making jellies and pickles, the art of cheese making
can also be turned into a tidy profit center for you,
distributing to some of the same chains and specialty food
stores. Cheese has been and will continue to remain a
sought after food. Book resource: Making Homemade Cheeses
And Butter, by Phyllis Hobson, Garden Way Publishing,
Charlotte, VT. 05445.

* Chimney Sweeping
Woodburning stoves and fireplaces are still dominant home
items and the skill of chimney sweeping is a fine one with
a number of business opportunities to choose from in plying
this trade. Very little equipment is necessary and it
won’t take long, if you have the ability and liking for
physical labor, to become proficient at this work. Book
resource: Chimneys and Stove Cleaning, Garden Way
Publishing, Charlotte, VT. 05445.

* Consulting
If you’ve been in a specific field for a length of time,
you’ve likely built up an arsenal of knowledge about your
subject. The more you know, the more you can offer any
person or firm interested in breaking into, expanding or
becoming more competent in this area. If your name is
recognized, so much the better. Consultants can earn high
hourly fees, expenses paid for. Book resource: Advice --
A High Profit Business, by Herman Holtz, Wiley
Publications, New York.

* Copy Services.
This would obviously require the purchase of a copy
machine, the more versatile the better. You’ll be
surprised at the number of individual needs for this
machine. At 7-10 cents a copy, the machine would pay for
itself relatively quickly. Booklets and collating services
for small businesses can be a relatively lucrative
practice.

* Floral Arrangements
You don’t necessarily have to grow flowers to do this. You
can purchase, make up elaborate flower arrangements and
resell them. Dried arrangements and wreaths are popular in
season. Some advertising and competitive pricing can
generate a substantial workload for you.

* Home maintenance
How many times have you heard that someone is looking for
help to do a few odd jobs around the house. Or for a
painter? Or someone that can do a variety of work from
landscaping to electrical wiring? If you’re good at
putting up wallpaper, laying carpet and other assorted
tasks, advertise! The more diverse the skills you
publicize, the better your chances of regular employment.

* Insurance Sales
Many people start off in this field on a part-time basis
until they realize that a few sales a week will triple and
quadruple the income they’re used to making. This field is
not for everyone. It requires extraordinary discipline and
a desire to succeed along with the belief that you’re
assisting people with their financial goals and objectives.
But if you can handle it, the insurance profession can be
one of the most lucrative for working out of your home.
Overhead is relatively low. You can get licensed through
your state’s insurance department, located in your capitol
city. It may require a certain amount of training and
definitely an exam, but once passed, you can seek out
insurance companies who would be glad to work with you.
Think of what your niche market might be. Who are your
natural business associates and friends? These will be
your first potential clients and you might test them by
asking their interest in having you do an analysis of their
financial goals and objectives.

* Kennel operator
If you like animals, this could be a strong home-based
opportunity for you. Pets will always need to be boarded
and, although some capital will be required to set it up,
it can be a lucrative business just for doing what you love
-- taking care of animals!

* Mail-order business
This is a new rage among the home-based opportunity seekers
in this country. You can start your own mail-order
business quite easily and if you advertise in the right
publications, generate an ample amount of business. Book
resource: How To Start and Operate A Mail Order Business,
by Julian L. Simon. Publisher: McGraw Hill, New York,
10020.

* Meals for Handicapped
Contact your local social services for the disabled and
elderly to see if there is any openings for someone who can
cook meals out of their house and deliver them. This often
involves a hot meal for lunch and a cold meal for dinner
which is left with the client at the same time. If you
like to cook, this can be another outlet for your talents.

* Music
There are a number of opportunities for those with musical
talent, especially songwriting. There are plenty of great
voices out there, but a dearth of good material to sing.
Some of the better artists along with the up and coming
ones are always on the lookout for new artists adept at
this skill. Book resources: Making Money Making Music (No
Matter Where You Live), by James Dearing, and Song Writer’s
Market- current edition, from Writer’s Digest Books,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.

* Pet breeding
As long as you’re considering a kennel career opportunity,
you might think about breeding, an animal specialty that
can earn you many dollars. Breeding can be by specific
request or you can simply breed to produce animals for
local pet shops like hamsters, cats and dogs. This
business can be run in conjunction with the kennel. You
can sell to the pet shops or take your business directly to
the public which can earn you a higher fee, since you don’t
have to pay the retailer.

* Real Estate Sales
If you like houses and don’t mind working the
evening/weekend hours, this could be a very rewarding
career for you. Sales of houses can make you some large
commissions even for one house. You have to be very
organized and always on the lookout for new listings, but
once you’ve sold a few houses in an area, word of mouth
will get you your next clients. The real estate market has
been depressed the last few years which creates an
opportunity for those that are adept at selling homes.
Sellers will tend to migrate towards the successful
Realtor. There is a licensing course involved, but you can
take this while you’re still working at your old job. Like
insurance, many people start this business part-time, until
they sell their first big house and see how much money they
can make from one sale.

* Rental Property Manager
If you live in a vacation area with a number of condominium
units, you will likely see numerous advertisements for
someone to manage the units for rental. There could be
some small maintenance duties required, too. But
essentially you are collecting rent, advertising for new
renters and managing the properties for the owner(s). It
may well require that you live in the complex, but this can
often be part of the compensation package. What a great
way to live near the beach or in some fantastic resort
spot. This can be the job for those people who have gone
on vacation and wished they didn’t have to go back to real
life.

* Repair of Equipment
Every home is equipped today with all the modern
conveniences: television, VCR, stereo, refrigerator,
microwave, stove, dishwasher, etc. All you have to do is
know how to fix these pieces of equipment and you’ll have a
new home-based business. This might be combined with the
general all around maintenance business opportunity
mentioned earlier. A skilled repair person is difficult to
find as is the general odd-job fix-it-up person. If you
have any talent in these areas, there are plenty of local
options for you to attract business. People can’t do for
long without their conveniences and the demand will be
there for the work. Consumers will bring the appliance
into the repair shop, but in this age of handiness, would
rather have someone come out and repair it -- it’s easier!

* Secretarial Services
Small businesses can be counted on to look for help on a
contract basis from someone with specific secretarial
skills. A physician’s office may be looking for a medical
records person or an insurance billing clerk on an
independent basis. The entire medical field, in its
movement towards managed care, is looking for simplified
answers to common administration tasks. This isn’t the
only industry utilizing outside secretarial services. If
you have the skills and the small capital needed for the
basic equipment, you’re in business! Book resource:
Starting Your Own Secretarial Business, by Betty Loogren
and Gloria Shoff. Published by: Contemporary Books,
Chicago, IL. 60601

* Sharpening Services
In many hardware, sewing and fabric stores, you may notice
an advertisement for sharpening services. Scissors and
other craft tools can be sharpened less expensively than
purchasing a new one. Often these businesses contract out
the labor for the service. If you know how to sharpen
these types of objects, perhaps even doing it for yourself
as you knit or make crafts, then you can turn this into a
lucrative side business. All you’ll do is call on your
store clients once or twice a week and pick up new work and
drop off completed jobs. It’s an unusual, but needed
usefulness.

* Sign Design & Painting
Every where you look across this great country, you’ll find
-- signs! Homes, businesses and individuals are all sign
candidates. Advertising for and specializing in all type
of sings, banners and, if you learn it, even billboards,
can create a substantial side business which will grow into
full-time, profitable work for you.

* Telephone Answering Service
Many small businesses are one or two person shops who have
no one but an answering machine to pick up calls should
they have to leave the premises. There is a great amount
of business lost as a result; business which can cost the
firm thousands of dollars as someone hangs up when they
can’t reach a human voice and dials another number where
they can. As an answering service, you can be that human
voice at the other end. Even if you are just taking the
message, people have confidence when they can talk to a
person in a service-oriented business. If you can add a
couple of lines to your existing home phone system, you’re
in business. A few clients and you’ll be taking messages
generally just during the day. There are organizations who
look for answering services to be on later call for product
ordering and similar tasks. This can be a very profitable
venture -- just for talking on the phone!

* Writer
There are a number of chances to obtain work doing
opywriting. The written word is still very much in demand
and you can attract a substantial amount of business in
this area from smaller firms -- even just for their basic
correspondence. Distressingly, people don’t possess the
same writing skills as they did en masse a few years ago
and hence could use the assistance. The better a letter or
document or brochure is crafted, the more likely the
business will do well. This means work for writers in all
phases of industry. A computer at home can be all the
overhead you’ll need.


Summary

Home-based businesses are the chances of a lifetime for
many of us. It’s the opportunity to be your own boss.
This is not work without risk. Knowledge of how to run a
business is critical. For that reason, consider contacting
one of these Small Business Development Centers for help in
breaking out on your own -- and the information every
employer needed to know. That’s right! You’re a bona-fide
employer now!

Dallas: 8625 King George Drive, Dallas, TX. 75235-3391
(214) 767-7633

Kansas City: 911 Walnut Street, 13th Floor, Kansas City,
MO. 64106 (816) 426- 3608

Denver: 999 18th Street, Suite 701, Denver, CO. 80202
(303) 294-7186

San Francisco: 71 Stevenson St. San Francisco, CA. 94105
(415) 744-6402

Seattle: 2615 4th Avenue, Rm. 440, Seattle, WA. 98121
(206) 553-5676

Boston: 155 Federal Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA. 02110
(617) 451-2023

New York: 26 Federal Plaza, Rm. 31-08, New York, NY 10278
(212) 264-1450

Pennsylvania: 475 Allendale Rd. #201, King of Prussia, PA.
19406 (215) 962- 3700

Atlanta: 1375 Peachtree St. NE, 5th Floor, Atlanta, GA.
30367 (404) 347-2797

Chicago: 300 S. Riverside Plaza Suite 1975 South, Chicago,
IL. 60606 (312) 353-5000