I think just about everyone, at one point in their life, dreams about starting their own small business. If you are reading this post, chances are you have had those dreams, as well.
If so, there are many things you need to consider before making this life changing decision. In truth, starting a small business of any kind takes hard work, determination and start-up funds… and that is only the beginning.
Typically it takes several years for the average small business to show a profit. Because of this fact, you can’t depend on any fledgling business to generate the money you will need to cover your living expenses, even the most basic ones.
Chances are you will have to keep your ‘day job’, in order to survive. This means you will probably be working 60-70 hours, per week.
On a more positive note, once your business begins to take off and you start to see a profit, there is no better feeling in the world! You will have accomplished a feat that is unobtainable to many.
There are countless resources, on the Internet that can assist you in finding the right small business for you. By taking the time to put together a reasonable plan, you will have taken your first step toward success.
There used to be a time when you either ran your own business or worked for an employer. These days, you no longer need a business to be self-employed, you just need to know what you are good at and try to find jobs you can actually do on your own. Believe it or not, there is a multitude of jobs you can do from home or anywhere else you choose!
Almost all types of jobs can be done from the home from freelance writing, transcription to customer service and sales. Because of the growth and the lowering costs of communication devices and media, you no longer need to be strapped to the office desk 8 hours a day, 5 days a week to do a phenomenal job. And when done correctly the set-up is mutually beneficial for both the worker and his employer or contractor.
For the employer, it means lower head costs and the added bonus of not having to deal with the employee personally everyday. Often, when projects and jobs are outsourced to individuals who are under self-employed status, the employer no longer has to pay for the Internet use, electricity and even a lot of Human Resource functions.
For the employee it means keeping a personalized, flexible time and having more time do other things. This means that depending on the work load, a free lancer may opt to work full days or shorter. Or he can choose to work at a time that is most convenient for him. It means being able to structure one’s work life to maintain the best work life-home life balance possible. Some freelance jobs also allow the worker to work anywhere in the world he chooses. Freelance writers have the opportunity to work from home or even in a sunny resort while on vacation. Laptops are great tools and since there is practically Internet connection available worldwide, you can send in your work even if your contact is halfway around the world. It also means not having to deal with office politics and emotionally draining colleagues and bosses.
Of course there are also downsides to working at home. First there are a lot of distractions when working at home. There are the home chores that need to be done, phone calls that need to be answered and all the little fires that need to be put out. Sometimes, it’s easy to prioritize other things aside from work that may leave you becoming a lot less productive. It is best to set up a home office and maintain a regular time for work so people will learn not to disturb you during this time. You may also choose to get a dedicated phone line and Internet for your work so that you can focus on work and not have to entertain personal phone calls while working. You also don’t have to share the Internet with your family when you have to work. Self-employment also requires a lot of self-discipline since you have to maintain your own work schedule and work at your own pace without anyone pushing you.