A: Congratulations on starting a much-needed service because of our present hectic lifestyles.
 

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A: Hello, thank you for your questions  Here are some suggestions:

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A: With your business management and personnel experience, you could start a B2B (business-to-business) venture related to the industries and companies with whom you are familiar.

Here are some business ideas:

Specialized Staff Training & Development Consultant ~ Experts in this service business, advise companies how to integrate temporary, dislocated, or older workers; welfare recipients, and people with disabilities successfully into the workforce. You could subcontract your services to distribution companies to train employees to work in distribution centers; or instruct business owners in this industry in how to retain a quality and dependable workforce that enable them to maintain and improve their economic competitiveness. In your B2B services, you could also offer all types of businesses to conduct reference and background checks for possible employees.

Professional Consultant ~ Many persons who have experience, expertise and/or the credentials in a specific profession or industry often consider becoming a consultant. Based on your work experiences and own training, you could offer to analyze and problem-solve for owners of distribution centers to help them improve their efficiency and operations. Write articles and conduct workshops to increase your visibility and establish yourself as an expert.

Suggested resources:
 *The Business of Consulting: The Basics and Beyond by Elaine Biech, Jossey-Bass Publishers
 *Start and Run a Consulting Business by Douglas A. Gray.
 *http://www.distributiongroup.com/about.php - Industry publication

Internet Technologist Recruiter ~ You could become an Internet Technologist Recruiter who assists businesses in supplying the ongoing need for Internet technology workers. A couple of resources (please remember that professional organizations are primarily networking and advocate groups, and do not have startup business information):

 *The Association for Internet Recruiting (AIRs) – The Recruiters Network www.recruitersnetwork.com - a free resource and information association for human resource professionals, recruiters and hiring managers.
 *E-book - The Internet Recruitment Training Manual by Shannan Hearne www.booklocker.com/bookpages/shannathearne01.html

No matter which home business you consider, you want to make sure there is an existing market for your idea. Talk to business owners and managers in the industries that interest you to see what type of services they need most. Your best clients could be new businesses just starting out; or those companies that have downsized recently, but still need those services you can provide.

I suggest that you also visit local offices of Women’s Business Development Center www.onlinewbc.gov or a Small Business Development Center www.sba.gov/SBDC or a local chapter of SCORE www.score.org for free or low-cost business counseling and advice (visit these web sites to find offices nearest to you).

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A: From what I gather from your question, you wish to import clothing into the U. S. (If I have misinterpreted your intent, please correct me). Here are some resources for you to investigate:

FEDERAL

Because of the U. S. growing trade deficient there is more support for U. S. companies who wish to export, rather than import good; however, you can find help for both importing and exporting at the U. S. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) that are located around the U. S. and its territories. Some of the SBDCs are designated export-import centers with business experts to help guide you through the entire process of doing business with other countries. To locate a SBDC nearest to you, search the following site: www.sba.gov/SBDC.

Also available locally are offices of SCORE. SCORE Program: Members of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, many with years of practical experience in international trade, provide one-on-one assistance. Specialists assist small firms in evaluating export potential and strengthening domestic operations by identifying financial, managerial, or technical problems. Find a SCORE office by searching the site www.SCORE.org.

Several years ago the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also launched a new Web site: The new Web site at www.AssessYourInternationalRisk.org, designed to provide small businesses with information that will help them determine what insurable exposures they may encounter in doing business overseas. These can range from credit and liability risks with unknown customers to workers' compensation laws, which can vary widely.

The Trade Information Center (TIC) < www.export.gov/TIC > 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) first stop for companies seeking export assistance and directs them to U. S. Export Assistance Centers located across the U. S. < www.sba.gov/oit/export/useac.html >. TIC is part of <www.Export.gov >, the portal to all export-related assistance and market information offered by the federal government.

OTHER

Local: Check with a Chamber of Commerce, city or town offices, or your county's economic development arm to see if local trade offices or councils exist.

State: Contact your state or (or Canadian province) for offices of international trade assistance or an export network.

ADDITIONAL TIPS--Marketing:

If you are considering an international trade venture, here are some fundamentals offered by U. S. international trade experts:

Preliminary Research: A small business owner should analyze what is unique about your clothing line. To compete against large companies that are the major clothing importers, you will have to differentiate what will be unique about the clothing you are importing Is it pricing? quality? a unique niche? all of these?

Market Research: Which U. S. markets offer the most profit potential? You can find this out by writing a business plan. SCORE staff will help you write one for free. This is the MOST IMPORTANT part of your plan, finding the right markets. That depends on the potential customers that will be wearing your clothing---their age, gender, income level, buying power, cultural aspects and so on. Once this is determined, then you will have to find outlets that serve (sell to) your ideal market or customers and what their policies are in buying from you and overseas markets. If feasible, you may have to take samples to these outlets. You may try some test-marketing first at trade shows, or hold your own local fashion show.

In summary, find out WHO wants to buy these clothes first; and then how you will get the clothing into their hands via small boutiques or shops; or open an online Web site. Once you have determined who your market is, then send out press releases to the Web sites and media that reach these potential customers. It may take as long as a year to do your market research, write a business plan, and find outlets for your clothing, but statistics show that a business' success relates directly to the amount of preliminary research an entrepreneur does BEFORE they start a venture.

SUGGESTED RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

Books
*Import/Export: How to Get Started in International Trade, 3rd ed. by Carl A. Nelson.
*The Business of Fashion: Designing, Manufacturing, and Marketing by Leslie Davis Burns and Nancy O. Bryant.
* Fashion Entrepreneurship: Retail Business Planning by Michele Granger & Tina Sterling.
Finding those niche outlets to sell your clothing is what will bring you success. Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions.

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A: Good morning

I'm Diana Ennen of Virtual Word Publishing and I've been working at home since 1985 doing word processing, virtual assisting and most recently publicity. I've also written numerous books on same.

The good news -- YOU have no idea how many clients are out there looking for help in this area. And every year it just gets better and better as more and more businesses realize the benefits we provide by helping them get their work done on an "as needed" basis, but also the work is done to the same or even better professional level as their administrative assistant or personal secretary in the office. The key to landing these clients is to provide them the benefits you will give them. I'm going to give you a few tips, but feel free to to to my websites for additional information including a free brochure on landing clients.

1) Decide on your target market. Determine by your skills and experience who you want your clients to be. Who do you want to work with? Lawyers, doctors, authors, students, corporations, online shops, businesses, new businesses, real estate agents, insurance agents, teachers, florists, etc.
The list is endless.

2) A website is crucial. A very professional website. Everything you do you want to portray to that client -- when you work with me you get the BEST. If you don't know Front Page or web designing have someone create a site for you. You'd be amazed how reasonable it is. Plus, the more you do as far as providing your web designer with information, the less it costs.

Make sure you add in keywords-rich terms to get clients there. Keep in mind, when a potential client gets to your site you have 30 seconds to impress them.

3) Direct mail -- This works extremely well for landing local clients.
Compose a letter that tells them why working with you will make their business better. I have samples, I'd be happy to share. Whenever possible personalize it to someone's attention. I never recommend faxing these letters. You can mail them or a postcard. Follow-up. I'll often follow-up with a postcard three to four weeks after my letter went out.

4) Network -- Get listed on directories online. There are numerous VA directories. Often times they have listings for clients looking for someone to help out. Network locally as well. Get active on listserves as well where other VAs or word processors frequent. You might find subcontractors work there.

5) Yellow Pages -- Many put ads in the Yellow Pages. A simple business listing will suffice for now.

6) Writing articles and press releases. I saved the best for last. This is crucial for your success. You establish yourself as an expert and you would be amazed how clients will read your article or press release and then feel more confident working with you. Make sure to add all articles and press releases to your press page on your site.

Hope this helps! I wish you the very best of luck. Let me know if I can provide any additional assistance.


Diana Ennen
Author: Virtual Assistant the Series
Virtual Word Publishing
www.virtualwordpublishing.com
www.publicity-VA.com
(954) 971-4025

A:Hello, congratulations on your new baby and also your new venture!!
Some business ideas for you with your financial background:

For Seniors (my article) "Reprinted with permission from the February, 2006 issue of Home Business Magazine, an international publication available on newsstands, in major bookstores, and via subscriptions. Visit www.homebusinessmag.com for more information."

MEDICAL CLAIMS ASSISTANCE PROFESSIONAL
Seniors often overpay medical bills; because they do not understand the insurance labyrinth involved in the filing and tracking of insurance claims that accompany accidents and illnesses. Medical claims assistants examine and compare their clients’ medical records with medical bills to ensure their clients are charged correctly. These professionals sometimes work as advocates to overturn decisions denying clients’ claims. Health care providers also hire medical claims assistants to check if they have billed for all the services they provided.

Success Tips: You need a current knowledge of medical terminology, the regulations and procedures of Medicare, and private insurances. Your business will come from the referrals from satisfied clients; marketing your services directly to small medical offices, hospitals, senior centers; and networking with lawyers, bankers, accountants, and other professionals whose clients may need your expertise.

Resources:
http://www.medicalcodingandbilling.com/prof_associations.htm
Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billing and Reimbursement by Jo Ann C. Rowell, Michelle A. Green, 2005.
**Many scams in this area, make sure you only deal with reputable agencies!

SENIOR CARE CONSULTANT
Senior care consultants are nurses, social workers, gerontologists, and other professionals with the credentials and experience in elder care and aging matters. They provide seniors, their adult children, or caregivers with information and recommendations for long-term health-care and living arrangements that best suit their clients’ needs, finances, and preferences. They help ensure their clients will have an on-going, optimum quality of life.

Success Tips: You should possess the qualifications, the understanding of elders’ needs, and a familiarity with community services and agencies for the aging, including knowing how to negotiate around the often-existing “red tape barriers” to obtain services for your clients. Business will primarily be from referrals from satisfied clients and the personnel of the social service agencies with which you will be working.

Resources:
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, 1604 N. Country Club RoadTucson, AZ 85716-310; www.caremanager.org/.
Complete Eldercare Planner: Where to Start, Which Questions to Ask, and How to Find Help, rev. ed. by Joy Loverde
Long-Term Care: How to Plan and Pay for It by Joseph L. Matthews

IN-HOME CARE (NON-MEDICAL) SERVICES
With the existence of in-home (non-medical) services that assist their clients with cleaning, shopping, running errands, and transportation, many retirees are opting to stay and live independently in their homes or apartments. In-home care specialists work with social services, family members or guardians to develop individualized programs to best manage and monitor their clients’ daily needs.

Success Tips: Education, training, and previous work experience with older populations is essential. Survey your community and potential clients to determine what types of non-medical services are most-needed. You can build a list of clients to personally assist on a regular or on an as-needed basis; or you can hire and direct other qualified caregivers. Check for local or state regulations and certifications you may be required to have.

Resources:
In-Home Care for Senior Citizens: A Bedside Companion by Shirley M. Baker-Davis
AgelessCheckers – www.agelesscheckers.com - Excellent (and reputable!!) Home-business opportunity that hires seniors to assist other seniors with non-medical services.

DAILY MONEY-MANAGERS
Seniors are often overwhelmed by the day-to-day money-managing tasks due to age-related disabilities or illness, or because of the death of a spouse—especially if it was the one who primarily managed a couple’s expenses. Daily money-managers supervise clients’ bill-paying tasks, balance their checkbooks, sort mail, and refer their clients to professionals such as accountants or tax preparers, when needed. Managers will also help their clients keep track of their scheduled appointments and engagements.

Success Tips: You will need money-management skills, and to develop a trustworthy reputation to build up a clientele that you will visit on a regular basis. Market your services to seniors and their adult children, as well as to bankers, financial planners, and others involved in managing the finances of older adults.

Resources:
American Association of Daily Money Managers, www.aadmm.com/, State College, Pennsylvania
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) Article, “Financial Caregiving: A Survival Guide, www.fdic.gov/, dealing with money from a distance for a loved one.

NUTRITION CONSULTANT
With age, people often develop medical and physical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health concerns that require them to follow specific diets. Nutritional consultants educate their clients about the food and meal-planning regimens they need to follow while coordinating their efforts with the clients’ caregivers and their health care professionals’ recommendations.

Success Tips: Certification and licensing is required in most states for this profession. As a consultant, you can market your expertise by teaching classes, leading seminars at health fairs; writing articles; speaking to area organizations and seeking referrals from visiting nurses associations, hospice programs, and local health and aging departments.

Resources
American Dietetic Association www.eatright.org/ - information; online booklets on nutrition for older adults.
The American Dietetic Association’s Complete Food & Nutrition Guide by Roberta Larson Duyff
National Health Information Center - www.healthfinder.gov/

Nurse Entrepreneur
A group of nurses in my area started a successful business providing CRP and first aid courses to community groups and businesses’ employees. Here is an association to give you some ideas and networking opportunities with other self-employed nurses.

National Nurses in Business Association, Inc:
http://www.nnba.net/ - web site has a 13 page article on self-employment opportunities.

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A:Hello,

Thank you for your question. You have several directions you can go to start a business or become a self-employed professional. It might be best to start your ventures on the side, part-time to (a) test your business idea and (b) and then build your business up to the point that you can financially take the leap to self-employment. You will have to really concentrate on time management, especially with twins; but if you prioritize your tasks, it is possible.

With your qualifications, here are some ideas you might consider:
With your educational background, you could subcontract your consulting, Web design or course proposals or online teaching
your school district
neighboring school districts or private schools
your undergraduate college or university
community colleges
the college or university where you received your Master's degree
homeschooling groups
educational tutoring services

See if any or all of these schools offer online courses for their students middle school; gifted students; homebound students; college courses, and so on that you could develop for them.

2) Become a certified business and you might qualify for contract educational online work with your state and/or federal government. Find a Women™s Business Development Center www.onlinewbc.gov or a U. S. Small Business Administration Small Business Development Center www.sba.gov/SBDC to find out more about certification and these centers also offer free or low-cost business start-up and management support. Search their Web sites for offices located near you.
Two more government Web sites with business information, articles, resources:
* www.sba.gov/women/ - SBA™ My Biz section for Women™s Business Programs
* www.sba.gov/training/courses.html - FREE online SBA startup, marketing, and management courses.

3) Work for educational publishers, writing online educational courses:
---As an educator, you already know the publishers of your students™ textbooks. Go to their Web sites and search for freelance employment; or search The Association of Educational Publishers**“ http://www.edpress.org/
http://teachonline.msu.edu/public/ - information

Two others:
-- www.WritersWeekly.com - e-zine for freelance writers and authors of all genres. Sign up for their weekly e-zine that has helpful articles and also a weekly listing of publishers or jobs, sometimes for educational writing. Check, too, classified Web sites like www.CraigsList.com for other opportunities.
**Please, note, professional and trade associations generally do not usually have business start-up information. However, they often have publications, member networking opportunities and additional information you may find helpful.

4) Apply to become an online course designer and instructor for online schools like Virtual High School - www.govhs.org/ - www.govhs.org/Pages/ContactVHS-Home
 

5) Start your own Web site and offer writing freelance services as well as designing and selling YOUR own courses:
Book: Essential Elements: Prepare, Design, and Teach Your Online Course (Atwood Publishing, 2002) by Cynthia McIntyre, Alese Smith and Bonnie Elbaum.

6) Information Specialist“ most information brokers, specialize in their professional fields or industry. See these Web sites, for example, for resources, publications.
*American Society for Information Science and Technology - www.asis.org/
*Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) - www.aiip.org/index.html
*American Educational Research Association - www.aera.net/

7) Writing your own series of technology & design books for middle or grade school. See the latest Writer™s Market (www.WritersMarket.com), published by Writer™s Digest Books. It is an annual directory of publications and publishers. Make a list of the ones that match your credentials and interests and get a copy of their writer™s and author™s guidelines.

8) Web design business“
*HTML Writer™s Guild - http://www.hwg.org/*
International Web Masters Association - http://www.iwanet.org/
*Book: How to Start a Home-Based Web Design Business by Jim Smith
Ideally, you could combine ALL your teaching and technology experiences into a profitable œniche. Look first in your own field and contacts. Ask what courses are needed and see if you could offer an online course to fit potential customers™ needs.
I have given you a number of resources to explore. Now, you will have to do the research to look for potential customers for your business idea(s). This takes time, maybe a year or more, but statistics show that the better pre-business study an entrepreneur does before she starts a business or a self-employed venture, the more likely she is to succeed! If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me again!!

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A:Hello,

Thank you for your question. Take heart! There are many mothers (and fathers) who wish they could work from home to be there with their families.

Unfortunately, cost-of-living wages have not kept up with inflation over the last 30 years; however many parents have decided to start a home business to bring in extra money and many have been able to go full-time.
Here are some suggestions:

Ask yourself these three questions:

a) Do I have the background, expertise, or experience to bring into this business?
Statistics show a better business success rate if the owner has previously worked in the industry or has the credentials to bring to a new venture. If you do not have the credentials or experience, see what education or training you need and if possible, work in the industry to get some hands-on knowledge.

b) Is there an existing market, a substantial number of potential customers to make my business profitable and (very important) will they be willing to pay the price I need to set to make a profit!!
Take the time to write a business plan and to conduct a thorough market research to see if you will have customers for your service or product and to determine if these customers are willing to pay the prices you need to have a profitable business. SCORE volunteers can help you write a business plan at no charge. Search for an office nearest to you at www.SCORE.org.
Take some courses, too, at a Women’s Business Development Center www.onlinewbc.gov; or a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) www.sba.gov/SBDC (search these sites for offices nearest to you).

c) Realistically, how much time and money can I afford to spend on this business at this time in my life?
Instead of working 9AM to 5PM, you are more likely to work 5AM to 9PM to get your venture going. Are you and your loved ones ready for this amount of time you will ask of yourself and your family to devote in order to launch your venture? Most home businesses (and many small ventures) are started on a part-time basis. Starting this way is usually less risky financially than going full-time and provides you the opportunity to test-market your goods and services and decide if this business idea is worth your investment of time and money.

Parents of young children most often work in blocks of time; and will have some sort of child care coverage when they are making important phone calls or need to work on a project. They will hire a mother’s helper to come into their homes; or start a neighborhood play group; or some other arrangement so they can concentrate on their business.

Some business ideas for you with your financial background:
1) Helping seniors manage their checkbooks and pay bills
2) Independent bookkeeper – get referrals from accountants to assist other home-business owners in keeping their accounts and sending out invoices and collecting payments.
3) Tax preparation Service – need some basic training and certification.
4) Financial planner – need a license

A good book to read to determine your career/business direction: Finding Your Perfect Work by Paul and Sarah Edwards.

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A: Hello,

Thank you for your question. Here are some suggestions that I hope you will find helpful.

As far as what home-business I might recommend, that depends on your likes and dislikes, any experience, skills, and/or education you might already have that can assist you in a venture, and most importantly if there are any potential customers for your business idea. Visit your local library for books that you can read for some business ideas. Talk to other women who have started home or small businesses.

You will want to start something on a part-time basis, perhaps just a few hours a week, to see if your idea brings in any money. It is less risky this way.

If you are thinking of pursuing work-from-home opportunities, just be careful of SCAMS – especially any ones that ask for money to find paying jobs!!

There are also several people in my area that I know have jobs working for other businesses from home, and they found these jobs by asking around—friends, local business organizations like local Chambers of Commerce. For example,

One woman makes calls from home for a moving company to confirm times that the movers are coming for their clients, so she can be home for her daughter who has a learning disability.

One suggestion, too, is that with the growing number of senior citizens, many living by themselves at home, errand-type businesses and others that assist senior are growing rapidly in demand. For example, one service in my community, offers grown children of elderly individuals to simply telephone their elder parent on a daily basis to check on them. This gives the grown children peace of mind that someone is checking on their parent; and it provides some contact to the elderly persons. I just wrote an article for the print magazine, Home Business Magazine about 15 business ideas for serving seniors (Feb. 2006 issue) that should be available now.

Another idea: Many with a nursing background are starting various businesses. For example, a group of nurses in my area started a business providing CRP and first aid courses to community groups and businesses’
employees. Here is an association to give you some ideas and networking opportunities with other self-employed nurses.
National Nurses in Business Association, Inc.
PO Box 561081
Rockledge, FL 32956-1081
http://www.nnba.net/ - web site has a 13 page article on self-employment opportunities.

I would also recommend that you contact the nearest Women’s Business Development Center www.onlinewbc.gov; and/or a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) www.sba.gov/SBDC  (you can search these sited for offices nearest to you). These offices are supported in part by the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and offer FREE or low-cost business start-up counseling and management courses.

Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or need specific information for a business idea you might like to pursue.

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A: Dear Sally,

Congratulations on the launch of your new business venture!! Here are some suggestions:

Several years ago I wrote a feature about a young mother who started her own bookkeeping/business management business after she was tired of clearing only $20 a week from her job (that is after child care and other expenses).

She obtained some of her first clients from referrals from an accountant that she knew. The accountant referred her to primarily entrepreneurs that owned seasonal businesses—landscaping, concrete contractors, and other similar enterprises—especially those where their spouses handled the books!

She said the spouses were extremely happy that she did their spouse’s business books because it eliminated many family arguments!

She also trained her clients to use a popular bookkeeping software program to make her job (and their accountants’) easier and her clients’ bookkeeping more efficient. As her business grew, she expanded her business into offering additional business management services.

Some additional promotional ideas…
1) As mentioned, contact local accountants to see if they can give you potential client referrals.
2) Join your local business owners’ organization for networking opportunities.
3) Write a press release about the launch of your business and send it to your local media with your photo.
4) Write a basic business plan to determine exactly who your potential customers are; and send out post cards to them and follow-up with phone calls.
5) Carry your business cards with you at all times to hand out.
6) Handle the bookkeeping for a nonprofit organization for contacts and more referrals.
7) Host a workshop at a business conference on bookkeeping basics.

Know, too, that new business owners spend as much as 75% of their time in marketing. Once you get your first clients, deliver more than you promise them, and you will find your business will continue to grow through word-of-mouth praises!

Here are some experts’ Web sites for additional marketing tips:

Marketing & Publicity
www.yudkin.com - “Creative Marketing Solutions” by Dr. Marcia Yudkin

www.sethgodin.com/purple - Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow (excellent marketing book!)

www.gmarketing.com - Jay Conrad Levinson, “the Father of Guerrilla Marketing” books.
www.wilsonweb.com - “Web Marketing Today”
www.promoteyourself.com - Raleigh Pinskey (her book) 101 Ways to Promote Yourself

www.publicityhound.com - Joan Stewart, publicity expert – excellent articles, e-books, e-zine.
www.dobkin.com - web site of Jeffrey Dobkin, author of How to Market a Product for Under$500.
www.marketingpower.com - The American Marketing Association (AMA) – useful articles.
www.FrugalMarketing.com by Shel Horowitz – excellent money-saving tips.
www.MarketingInk.com - low-cost, high yield marketing strategies, effective for small, home-based businesses.
http://wdfm.com/ - Web Digest for Marketers, founder – Larry Chase – e-zine

I hope these ideas are helpful. Please keep us posted on your entrepreneurial journey!

101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A:

Thank you for your question. 101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A: Hello Maria,

that has quite a few profiles of women who have/had Internet businesses. For home business ideas in general, check out Paul and Sarah Edwards’ book, Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century; and my book, 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women,3rd ed.

4) If you see a work-for-home opportunity advertised in the newspaper OR on the Internet, you know the adage: “If it sounds too good to be true, it IS.” And I will add that you should NEVER have to pay for information about a job or business opportunity. These web sites have information about many business scams: Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org, the Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov; and www.Fraud.org.

As I say over and over, invest in yourself, your abilities and your entrepreneurial dreams, not someone else’s!!

Thank you for your question. 101 Best Wishes for Entrepreneurial Success!!

Priscilla Y. Huff
Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd ed., and The Self-Employed Woman’s Guide to Launching a Home-Based Business. She also sells start-up information (resources and articles) for over 100 home-small business ideas. Contact her at BestBiz4Me@earthlink.net for more information.

A: Dear Stephany,

A: Dear Arnold George,