Are you thinking about
creating a home based business, working from home,
or looking for a
2nd part-time job to supplement your current income?
This page lists some
resources and suggestions for reaching your goals.
You may want to develop
an "internet based business" or service,
or a home based service
- perhaps "secretarial" or "consultant" based.
You may also want to
start your own Information business,
or become a Seller of
Items or Books via eBay or other Online Auctions.
For those who dream of
being their own boss, and who think they have an idea for aproduct
or service that would be good for a home based business -
I have listed some links
for resources that you may find useful.*
*Please
note this page & my website has NOT been updated in the past few years
2005-2008 - so some links may no longer be available and/or information
may NOT be Current.
PLEASE
NOTE! I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE SITES LISTED -
and
I make no claims as to the authenticity, services, or
information
you may find on any of them.
They
are presented as Informational Only.
YOU
are responsible for doing your homework and research on any business opportunity!
and
for knowing what talents, experience, and finances you have in place "before"
considering opening any type business. Do NOT risk money you can't afford
to lose, or pay back even if the business fails.
And
Remember - when visiting or reading online resources:
If It Sounds
too Good to Be True...
Resources
for starting your own business,
a home based
business or maintaining a home office:
Home Business Start-Up
Center
http://www.at-homeworks.com/home_business_center.htm
Excerpt quoted from website:
Home Business Readiness
Checklist :
Stop! Before you start
your home based business, there are a few questions
you should ask yourself
in order to determine how prepared you are,
or what areas you may
need to work on.
http://www.at-homeworks.com/checklist.htm
Read from IVillage.com
Excerpt quoted from website
Find the Hot Home Business
for You
"I want to work from
home, but I don't know where to start!"
Sound familiar? Creating
a plan for working from home is easier than you think. Here, you'll find
work-from-home ideas for all types of skills.
read complete information
www.ivillage.com/work/wfh/features/articles/0,,187811_258692,00.html
**Note**: for some of
the home business ideas mentioned, I also have links listed on this page
to some of the same or additional resource links.
Articles of interest:
*excerpts quoted directly from websites
In-House
By Sara Wilson
| November 14, 2007
Thinking of starting
your own homebased business? Take a peek behind the shutters and
find out what it's like
to make the dough right at home.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/homebasedbiz/homebasedbasics/article186854.html
40 Best Business Tips
for the Home-Based Entrepreneurs
By Compiled by PowerHomeBiz.com
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/
Work at Home index:
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/Index/workathome.htm
Home Based Business Directory
http://www.bizymoms.com/hbmd.html
REMEMBER
to ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN "HOMEWORK" AND "RESEARCH" ON ALL ASPECTS OF ANY
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY.
DON'T
INVEST MONEY YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE or pay back if the business fails.
DON'T
WORK AT SOMETHING YOU DON'T ENJOY OR ARE ATTEMPTING WITH NO EXPERIENCE
DOING THE JOB OR THAT YOU ARE DOING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME - UNLESS YOU
CAN LEARN QUICKLY AND BE ABLE TO ADJUST AND WEATHER THE UPS AND DOWNS
OF A BEGINNER IN THE HOME BASED BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
UNDERSTAND
YOUR LOCAL MARKET - IS THERE A REAL MARKET FOR YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICES.
IS YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY ABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR PRICES AND SERVICES.
Ask
questions of others who own their own home based business, subscribe to
magazines, or trade publications related to your own business. Stay educated
in the latest trends in your particular business. Take classes online or
at local schools or outlets to update your skills if needed.
IF
YOUR BUSINESS WILL BE INTERNET BASED, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BACKUPS
OF ALL MATERIAL/DOCUMENTS/SOFTWARE/PRODUCT SHOTS ETC. NEEDED, AND PROPER
SECURITY SOFTWARE ETC. INSTALLED. YOUR COMPUTER SHOULD BE UP TO DATE, AND
YOU SHOULD HAVE A BROADBAND, CABLE OR HIGHSPEED INTERNET CONNECTIONS.
IF
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN WEBSITE, KEEP IT CURRENT AND MAKE SURE IT IS VIEWED AND
WORKS CORRECTLY ON ALL WEB BROWSERS AND BE MINDFUL OF VISITORS WHO MAY
BE ON DIAL-UP CONNECTIONS. EVEN IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DESIGN OR MANAGE
A WEBSITE, YOU SHOULD EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE BASICS OF HTML, WEBPAGE BASICS,
ETC. SO THAT YOU CAN BE PREPARED IN THE EVENT YOU NEED TO ADD/OR/EDIT
THE SITE YOURSELF.
TRY
TO HAVE ONE COMPUTER DESIGNATED JUST FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES, AND KEEP A
EXTERNAL DRIVE FOR BACKUPS ETC. AND/OR HAVE AN ONLINE SERVICE BACKUP YOUR
MATERIAL NEEDED FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
Keep
accurate & organized records/copies of business related Expenses
and Transactions,Contracts, Invoices, Letters, Emails and Business related
material. Keep Printed copies organized and filed in a place of their own.
Do
NOT Keep sensitive or private information on the computer, make sure you
have printed or backups of everything important or needed for proper business
operation off the computer.
Remember
HOPE for the Best but PLAN for the Worst!
HOME
BASED BUSINESSES REQUIRE PROFESSIONALISM, HONESTY, DEDICATION. ORGANIZATION
AND EXCELLENT WORK ETHICS AS MUCH OR MORE THAN TRADITIONAL JOBS IN THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND SKILLED TRADES.
Self Assessment:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/homebasedbiz/selfassessment/index115796.html
The US Government has lots of FREE
information available online
US Small Business Administration
has most of the resources
you'll need to get started
(for United States based businesses)
http://www.sba.gov/
Visit also: The SBA's
Online Women's Business Center
http://www.onlinewbc.gov
Related US Government
sites ~ see:
Federal Consumer Information
Center
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/
Life Advice about Starting
a Small Business
This Life Advice
pamphlet about Starting A Business was produced by
the MetLife Consumer
Education Center and co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/smbuss/start-business/strtbiz.htm
Publication of the week
(June 17, 2002)
The Facts About Starting
a Small Business
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/smbuss/start-smbusiness/smbus.html
Small Business Links -
Starting and Managing a Business
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/links/sm69links.htm
A Guide to Business Credit
for Women, Minorities, & Small Businesses
http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/buscredit/default3.htm
Small Business - Publications
or CDs availalbe free or for small fees at
FCIC
(Federal Citizen Information
Center)
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance
http://www.cfda.gov/
Consumer.gov
http://www.consumer.gov/
Related:
Starting a Food Business?
- see the Food biz links below
More - Small Business
Resources Links
www.abusinessresource.com/Business_Resources/Additional_Resources/
From Entreprenuer.com
Home Based Business
http://www.entrepreneur.com/homebasedbiz/index.html
Excerpt Quoted from website
How to Start Your Own
Business
The number of tasks you
need to complete and the information you need to track down before you
begin a business can feel beyond overwhelming. To help you cross this hurdle,
we've compiled the basic information you need to begin your own business.
From marketing and hiring employees to legal concerns and financing, you've
got access to the best that we have. You'll be on your way to business
ownership in no time!
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/howtoguides/index115868.html
See more How-to
guides from http://www.entrepreneur.com/
excerpt quoted
Whether you need help
writing a business plan or marketing plan, finding a franchise or business
opportunity, starting a homebased business or building a better business,
our extensive how-tos will lead you through the process. Free, thorough,
and easy to use, these learning tools are essential to starting and growing
your business.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/howtoguides/index115868.html
Business Owners Toolkit
http://www.toolkit.cch.com/
Creating
a business plan:
Entrepreneur.com
An Introduction to Business
Plans
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessplans/article38290.html
Related:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/bizstartups/index.html
Learn that:
Creating a Business Plan
- How to Prepare a Proper Business Plan
http://www.learnthat.com/courses/business/businessplan/index.shtml
Business town
Creating a Business Plan
http://www.businesstown.com/planning/creating-plan.asp
Business Plan Archive
Excerpt quoted from website:
To help us learn from
history, we are creating the Business Plan Archive (BPA) to collect business
plans and related documents from the dot com era. These plans – the “blueprints”
that lay out the assumptions and strategies of Internet entrepreneurs –
will enable entrepreneurs and researchers to conduct both qualitative and
quantitative research.
http://www.businessplanarchive.org/
Read this article (**it
is a PDF file - you'll need Adobe acrobat reader to open)
Home Based Business:
the Hidden Economy
http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs194.pdf
HOW TO START A HOME-BASED
BUSINESS
Judy Vorfeld [http://www.ossweb.com]
wrote this
series of articles
to help business support services owners, but many of the principles apply
to other small and home-based businesses.
How
to Start a Home Based - Office Support Business
HOW TO START A HOME BASED
BUSINESS
http://www.empowermentzone.com/home_biz.txt
Home Based Business Guides
& tips
http://www.bizmove.com/home_based_business/HomeBasedBusiness.htm
PowerHomeBiz.com
Articles:
Working at Home: What
Should I Do?
For many of us, deciding
to start a home business raises a lot of questions, foremost of which is:
what should I do? Know how a work-at-home mom was able to decide what she
really wants in order to push through with her goal of running a business
from her home.
by Tammy Harrison
Contributing Author
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol46/what.htm
Are You Geared for a Home-Based
Business?
Millions around the world
are beginning to see the benefits of working at home. More and more people
are working their way back home by putting their talents to work. Here
are 10 questions to help you evaluate whether you are suited for a home
business.
by Steve Ma. Reyna
PowerHomeBiz Staff Writer
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol15/candidate.htm
Be Ready to Pay the Price
for Working at Home
The home-based entrepreneur
is rapidly becoming the boom industry of this new millennium. More and
more people are changing their lifestyles and shattering the long-held
dictum of corporate employment. However, working from home has its price.
by Lyve Alexis Pleshette
PowerHomeBiz Staff Writer
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol19/price.htm
Work-at-Home Scams
How various scams operate.
Beware of companies promising
you big money to compile names.
by Isabel M. Isidro
Managing Editor
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/Index/scams.htm
Find more articles and
resources on:
http://www.powerhomebiz.com
Home Based Business Opportunities
http://www.home-based-business-opportunities.com/
Home Based Business Opportunities
(HBBO) Library
This library has over
300 pages of valuable information to help you
make money from home.
http://www.home-based-business-opportunities.com/library/index.shtml
Why I Started My Home
Business
by LaDonna Vick
http://momslife.com/zine/home_business.shtml
How to start a Home Based
Office Support Business / by Judy Vorfeld
http://www.ossweb.com/start-business.html
Related:
Work At Home Ideas
http://www.work-at-home-ideas.com/
From Entreprenuer.com
Excerpt Quoted from website
How to Start Your Own
Business
The number of tasks you
need to complete and the information you need to track down before you
begin a business can feel beyond overwhelming. To help you cross this hurdle,
we've compiled the basic information you need to begin your own business.
From marketing and hiring employees to legal concerns and financing, you've
got access to the best that we have. You'll be on your way to business
ownership in no time!
http://www.entrepreneur.com/howto/startyourbiz/0,5969,,00.html
Homebased Startup Checklist
Excerpt quoted
from website article
The devil is in the details--we've
created this checklist so you don't forget anything crucial when starting
your new business.
HomeOfficeMag.com
- November 2002
By Laura Tiffany
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,304303,00.html
**PDF** Checklist to
print
http://www.entrepreneur.com/misc/checklist.pdf
Home Office - helpful
resources & articles
http://www.entrepreneur.com/homeoffice/0,6289,,00.html
Home Based Business -
helpful resources/articles
http://www.entrepreneur.com/Your_Business/YB_Node/0,4507,129,00.html
Sales & Marketing
for Your Homebased Business
http://www.entrepreneur.com/Your_Business/YB_Node/0,4507,343,00.html
BIZ 101
All
Biz 101 Articles
Business Owners Toolkit
(not just for *home* business owners)
http://www.toolkit.cch.com/
2Work At Home.com
http://www.2work-at-home.com/index.shtml
Barbara Brabek
for home business
owners who are striving for financial success and happiness in both their
professional and personal lives.
http://www.barbarabrabec.com/
Related see some of
the Books that Barbara Brabec has written
Light Keeper.com
Excerpt quoted from website:
This site is dedicated
to all those who keep the light in their homes - stay-at-home moms and
dads, work at home moms and dads, and parents who want to stay at home
and are looking for resources, support and ideas.
http://www.thelightkeeper.com/
Articles for Work at
Home Parents
http://www.thelightkeeper.com/wah/articles.htm
Register at Careers from
Home.com
and find jobs that are
already out there, needing to utilize your "skills"!
www.careersfromhome.com
Excerpt quoted from website:
CareersFromHome.com Members
receive:
The ability to POST YOUR
RESUME to be viewed by Fortune 1000 companies seeking telecommuters.
Access to HUNDREDS of
TELECOMMUTING OPPORTUNITIES.
CAREER SUPPORT to help
make you more attractive to employers.
A monthly E-NEWSLETTER
to inform you of the latest telecommuting trends.
Books to consider for
purchase or borrow from your Public Library
Mompreneurs
Online: Using the Internet to Build Work at Home Success
by Patricia Cobe, Ellen
H. Parlapiano | ISBN: 0399527087 | c.October 2001
From the Publisher
According to the
National Foundation of Women Business Owners, six in ten women business
owners use the Internet with frequency. In this up-to-the-minute book,
Patricia Cobe and Ellen H. Parlapiano offer these entrepreneurial women
advice on how to get an at-home Web business up and running, take an existing
business online, or find a company that allows telecommuting. With the
sound and timely advice in Mompreneurs Online, women can build an Internet-based,kid-friendly
business in the comfort (or chaos) of their very own homes.
July 2004 upcoming publication
Ultimate
Homebased Business Handbook: How to Start,Run and Grow Your Own Profitable
Business
Entrepreneur Press |
ISBN: 1932531025
From the Publisher
Here's the proven
road map to move from start-up to profitability fast, regardless of prior
business experience or education. Comprehensive, detailed information for
every stage, combined with step-by-step how to, plus tips, ideas, tools,
and resources make this the required one-stop guide.
Find other
suggested titles with the keywords home
based business
Related Books to
consider for purchase:
See 20
titles from Home-Based Business Series
To top
of page
NEED IDEAS for what types of Businesses
you might want to create or work
in?
Read from these online resources
Business Ideas for Your
Small & Home Business
Have you ever dreamed
of starting your own small or home business? Read some advice on choosing
a business, and ideas of businesses you can start and grow.
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/BizIdeas/bizideas.htm
25 Part-Time Businesses
to Start Today!
Looking to earn some
extra cash in your spare time? We've got 25 great ways to get started!
September 30, 2003 |
Carla Goodman
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/article64720.html
Working From Home.com
http://www.workingfromhome.com/
Online Support & Articles,
Resources
http://www.homeworkers.org/sitemap.shtml
4hb.com
- Home Office Articles
http://www.4hb.com/06index.html
Be Organized - Articles
http://www.4hb.com/03index.html
Home & Home Office
tools, products and articles from Hewlett Packard
http://www.hp.com/country/us/eng/solutions/home_homeoffice.html
work at home : getting
down to business
http://www.homeandoffice.hp.com/hho/us/eng/work_at_home.html
Small Business Startup
Information & Resources
http://www.businessnation.com/library/bizstartup.html
Hidden
Costs for New Business Owners
Check out all the wonderful
resources at:
Victoria's Entrepreneur's
Business Resources
magazines.ivillage.com/victoria/workshop/resources/articles/0,13011,284725_367629,00.html
**Note these links may
contain duplicative info already linked on this page**
About.com's
Small
Business Information Sites & Resources
Small
Business / Self Employed - U.S. Tax Information
Related visit this page
on the IRS site:
Excerpt quoted from site~
Online Classroom
The Small Business/Self-Employed
online classroom has a series of self-directed workshops on a variety of
topics for small business owners.
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=97726,00.html
Example: Lesson One **PDF
document***
Excerpt quoted from site:
Lesson 1, Introduction
This presentation covers
the following topics: Employer Identification Number, Recordkeeping, Income
Statement and Balance Sheet - Accounting Methods, Types of Business Organizations,
Business Returns, Net Profit or Loss, and Business Deductions and Credits.
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/2003_pub_1066_module1.pdf
Also of interest - excerpt
quoted from website:
The 2004 Tax Calendar
for Small Businesses and Self-Employed (Publication 1518) is now available
to view online.
This online version of
the tax calendar is filled with useful information on general business
taxes, IRS and SSA customer assistance, electronic filing and paying options,
business publications and forms, common tax filing dates, and Federal legal
holidays.
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=104682,00.html
Records to Keep
Small Business - Records
- What to Keep and for How Long.
See more related information
on paper & document management
on this page : papermngt.html
See the Free resources
library & business information links
for Small Business owners
and Home Entrepreneurs
http://novaplaza.com/library.shtml
Selling Items
via Online Auctions
**related see my page
on Sipping Tea.com for Collectors
of Collectibles
Tips & Advice
eBay Basics of Selling
http://pages.ebay.com/education/howtosell/index.html
eBay 101 - Beginner's
Guide to eBay selling and buying
http://netforbeginners.about.com/cs/buyingselling/a/eBay101.htm
Auction Insights
Sane Advice & Unique
Tools for eBay Auction Users!
http://auctioninsights.com
eBay Tools
http://auctioninsights.com/ebay-tools.html
Auction Sellers links:<
http://auctioninsights.com/auction-sellers.html
Tutorials
http://auctioninsights.com/tutorials.html
Auction Insights - FREE
Website
Excerpt quoted from website:
Free Web Sites from Auction
Insights. You get Free:
12 MB of Web space
Online Web page building
tools (no HTML experience needed!)
Subdomain name (http://username.auctioninsights.com)
Web-based e-mail
A "My Member Area" to
manage your Web pages
Technical support from
our friendly technical support team
http://auctioninsights.com/hosting/index.html
Auction Artist.com
Auction editing &
formatting Tool - $10
http://www.jswe.com/AuctionArtist/Index.htm
Excerpt quoted from website:
Formatting your auctions
is a proven way to build trust and attract bids.
You can avoid monthly
fees and prepare your auctions professionally with an editor
The Utility Every Auctioneer
Should Have
Auction Artist is a stand-alone
editor that combines word processing and
HTML formatting in one
easy-to-use program so you can prepare
and preview your auctions
offline, before posting.
http://www.jswe.com/AuctionArtist/Index.htm
Other articles are listed
to the left of each of the following:
How To Maximize Your Profits
And Sell More With Online Auctions!
http://jswe.com/AuctionArtist/howtosell.htm
Following The eBay Rules
http://jswe.com/AuctionArtist/howtosell15.htm
Pictures Are Worth A Thousand
Words - Or At Least Higher Bids
http://jswe.com/AuctionArtist/howtosell12.htm
Credit Cards Mean Higher
Bids
http://jswe.com/AuctionArtist/howtosell7.htm
Online auctions -- information
for sellers
Articles by Richard Seltzer,
http://www.samizdat.com
http://www.samizdat.com/auc.html
AuctionEssentials4U
http://www.auctionessentials4u.com
SoYouWanna Use eBay
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/ebay/ebay2.html
Auction Guide.com
The Internets Guide to
Auctions and Auctioneers WorldWide.
http://www.auctionguide.com/index.htm
More links from Google
Directory listing
Auctions
Home
> Consumer Information > Auctions
If you don't have a website
or place to store your images of items to sell
consider using sites
such as:
Image Hosting.com - 25cents
per image to host your photo for 30 days
http://www.imagehosting.com/
also: *excerpt quoted
from website~
Auction Image Hosting:
Do you wish you had an
easy way to upload pictures to the
Internet so you could
increase the selling price of your items?
If so, then you've come
to the right place!
http://myphotodrive.com
Have Books? - Sell Books
Sell Books at half.com
http://half.ebay.com/
Excerpt quoted from website:
Selling - How does it
work?
Half.com is the place
for you to turn your unwanted stuff into cash.
Here, you can sell all
sorts of stuff, like books, CDs, movies, video games, home electronics,
computer equipment, trading cards, sporting goods, etc. Listing your stuff
for sale is easy on Half.com. In many cases, Half.com's catalog already
contains all the information that buyers are looking for on the product
you're listing for sale.
However, if you are listing
an item that is not a book, CD, movie or video game and the item is not
in our catalog we'll provide you with the tools needed to get it listed.
Read more:
http://half.ebay.com/help/tour/how-sell.cfm
Learn how to
publish Ebooks:
Visit: EBooks-N-Bytes
http://www.ebooksnbytes.com/
Quoted from this site:
http://www.1st-in-ebooks.com/
If working at home, sharing
your ideas with others and
earning walk away income
is important to you -
then learn how to self
publish ebooks...
Other sites for the Ebook'ies
Ebook Publishing tips
http://www.ebookpublishingtips.com/
Ebook Compilers - be sure
to check out their listing of
"Free Software downloads"
http://www.ebookcompilers.com/
eLECTRONIC Book Shell
1.0
Quoted from site:
http://www.primasoft.com/iebook/freebook2.htm
Do you want free advertising
for your service?
Do you want to send organized
information to your customers?
Do you want to create
electronic books?
Do you want to send news
letters in a notebook format?
eLECTRONIC Book Shell
features:
100% Free.
Notebook-like interface.
Easy-to-use.
Very fast and small.
Fast search.
Flexible filters.
Print reports.
Unlimited number of entries
and ebooks.
http://www.primasoft.com/iebook/freebook2.htm
To Top
of Page
Building an ONLINE Business
Remember if you are building
a Business website, or planning to sell items from a website:
-
You must plan for "bandwidth"
loads - make sure your site can handle the visitor traffic that you hope
to build.
-
Make Sure you are able to
process payments from credit cards or via a system such as paypal.
-
If Have your site "created"
by a business professional, Learn how to maintain and update it yourself!
*Never depend on someone else to know what goes into or onto your very
own "business" website. You should learn all you can about website design
and management. If
you "employ" someone else to maintain, design or manage your website -
remember they are your employee - treat them with respect and professionalism,
but understand what they do(don't sign contracts or service agreements
without knowing all that is involved with their services), and be prepared
to interview, hire, and/or fire them as you would any employee who works
for you.
-
If you design your own site
- Keep It Simple. "Less" is Better!
-
Make sure you understand
all about Copyright
and the Web.
-
Be Sure to have your site
"backed up" - ALL images, text, web pages, etc. on a CD, External Drive
disk or on your harddrive. Keep
Printed Copies of Important and/or Irreplaceable information or documents
in a safe secure place.
-
Be prepared for Computer
glitches, outages, etc. - when orders don't come through.
-
State clearly on your site
- your Contact information, and Response times to customer inquiries
the customer can expect, etc.
-
Use Internet Hosting Services
that provide good Customer Service & Support for your Business Website.
Building an Online Store
- software and services
http://www.howtoweb.com/corner/stores.htm
Setting Up Shop in Cyberspace
http://www.inc.com/resources/ecommerce/
http://www.inc.com/guides/ecom/index.html
and also see
E-Commerce Starter Kit
http://www.inc.com/guides/ecom/20696.html
and
http://www.inc.com/resources/startup/
Pointers on how to create
business websites that work
http://www.viacorp.com/pointers.html
Building Your Business
Web Site
http://www.at-homeworks.com/your_business_web_site.htmE-Business
Building
Planning the Design of
Your Web Site
Erum Zehra | Biz Talk
4U
You are all set to give
your business global exposure through the internet.
http://www.smallbizcommunity.com/articles/index.htm?article=22
How to go about building
websites for the average small business
http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum10/1066.htm
Do's and Don'ts of Web
Design
Small Biz Community,
LLC
http://www.smallbizcommunity.com/articles/index.htm?article=24
Site Design
http://www.wilsonweb.com/art/design/index.htm
Promote YOUR Site Every
Day!
Irena Whitfield | The
Cassiopeia
http://www.smallbizcommunity.com/articles/index.htm?article=21
Free
Hosting Sites for Business's - Remember you get what you "pay" for.
And - Read ALL the Details.
Related: Read this
article
Are Free Sites Worth
the Cost? | Small Biz Community, LLC
http://www.smallbizcommunity.com/articles/index.htm?article=29
Online Website Builder
Software
http://www.ebizwebpages.com/main/home
Site Build It!
http://buildit.sitesell.com/main/home.html
Free Site Stuff
http://www.smallbizcommunity.com/resources/index.htm?resource=4
Sign up for:
Published since November
1995, Web Marketing Today is
the largest circulation Internet marketing e-mail newsletter in continuous
publication.
Learn how to create Online/EZines
/ Mailing Lists or Print NewsLetters
http://librarysupportstaff.com/4createnewsletr.html
Learn how to create your
own Online Discussion Group / Bulletin Board
http://librarysupportstaff.com/4creategroup.html
Please NOTE: I am not
affiliated nor can I vouch for services provided by the above links. They
are provided as informational only. Please be sure to do your own research
and learn as much as you can, before proceeding to invest time and money
in creating an online business site.
to table
of contents
Sites
for Women
Can You Afford To Stay
At Home?
By Sharon Davis
http://www.momslife.com/zine/afford_stayathome.shtml
How To Articles for Business
Women
Everything from how to
write a mission statement to how to design a business card, to how to sponsor
an online contest, how to get a grant for women and even more how to's.
How to Start A Home Based
Business
http://www.digital-women.com/howto04f.htm
Where can I find funding
to start a business?
http://fdncenter.org/onlib/faqs/faq18.html
Bizy Moms.com
http://www.bizymoms.com/startup.html
Articles
http://www.bizymoms.com/artstart.html
Making Money From Home
- FAQs
http://www.bizymoms.com/faq.html
Avoid The Scams!
http://www.bizymoms.com/scams.html
EBooks available *PDF*
http://www.bizymoms.com/main/?10000!header
Center for Women’s Business
Research, founded as the
National Foundation for
Women Business Owners,
is the premier source
of knowledge about
women business owners
and their enterprises worldwide.
http://www.nfwbo.org/
National Association of
Women Business Owners
http://www.nawbo.org
National Women's Business
Council
http://www.nwbc.gov/
Online Women's Business
Center
http://www.onlinewbc.gov/
Resources and Financial
Tools for Women in Business
www.digital-women.com/resources/
Free Daily Planners to
print out
www.digital-women.com/daily-planner/
Sipping Tea & Business
Excerpt quoted from website:
Sipping Tea & Doing
Business is designed for You -- The Woman in Business.
We know that women are
multi-faceted, therefore we address the physical,
emotional, and spiritual
needs of being a woman entrepreneur.
We hope that you will
find the things you need most --
information, support
and business development assistance,
right here in one place.
Sheronde Glover
http://www.sippingteaonline.com/
Women's Work
http://www.wwork.com/
Women Entrepreneur Resources
http://www.businessjeeves.com/MoneyWomen.html
Working Solo
http://www.workingsolo.com/
How to start a Home Based
Office Support Business / by Judy Vorfeld
http://www.ossweb.com/start-business.html
Related Books to consider
for purchase:
See 20
titles from Home-Based Business Series
to table
of contents
Some Ideas
to consider to use your skills
These
are things to think about, but remember if you need licensing,
insurance
coverage, or any other credentials to offer certain services,
it
will be your responsibility to find that out, and make sure you are compliant
with
any local or state regulations, for operating a business.
Also factor in the
costs of a DSL or Cable line,
Access to Databases,
Faxing, and Scanning
Services into your pricing
for your Services.
And make sure that you
are trying to do something that you "enjoy".
It is important that
if you are going into a business of "your own",
that it be doing something
that you can put your heart into, and
something that you are
willing to work very hard at to make it successful.
To Top
of Page
I am the webmaster for
a Librarian friend who decided to become
a Professional Organizer.
Read from Get-Organized.com
So
You Want To Be a Professional Organizer?
Find out more about the
field
at:
NAPO
: National Association of Professional Organizers
FAQs
http://www.napo.net/faqs/want.to.be.organizer.html
Related - Organize a Small
Library or Collections
using some of the inexpensive
software available
http://librarysupportstaff.com/4automate.html
Also related - if you
are good at organizing - consider the career of "Event Planner and/or Organizer"
Find out about the career
at : www.ivillage.com/work/wfh/features/articles/0,,187811_232937,00.html
Read this online information
article
Hot Home Business: Wedding
Planner | by Ellen Parlapiano and Pat Cobe
www.ivillage.com/work/print/0,,224135,00.html
To TOC
Become
a "Virtual Assistant"
Resource links:
How to start a Home Based
Office Support Business / by Judy Vorfeld
http://www.ossweb.com/start-business.html
University of Kansas
Virtual Communication
Assistants Site.
This site links a series
of tutorials designed to assist individuals in various interpersonal tasks.
www.ku.edu/cwis/units/coms2/virtualassistants.html
Wordprocessing & Bookeeping
services are always needed by individuals
and small businesses.
Become a Virtual Assistant
http://www.virtualassistants.com/
For book keeping:
Find jobs or advertise
your business at:
http://www.allbookkeepingresource.com/
Remember if you need to
learn new skills, or brush up on Office applications, software programs,
etc.
See the many Free or
Inexpensive Learning Opportunities available online.
To Top
of Page
Start
your own Information Business | Information Brokering
Note: Not all Information
Professionals have MLS degrees,
find out more about
the career
at:
The Association
Independent Informaton Professionals
The Independent Information
Professional
Excerpt quoted from website:
Information Brokering
as a profession probably has its roots in the 1960's, when a few individuals
and library organizations realized that the computer and the photocopier,
harbingers of the significant role to be played by technology in the information
revolution, would have a major impact on the organization and retrieval
of information. The ability to deliver documents, copies of published articles,
and similar material to the academic, business and professional communities,
on-demand, presented an opportunity to those with enough foresight and
entrepreneurial spirit to turn the need into a service business.
Read remainder of article
at:
http://www.aiip.org/Resources/IIPWhitePaper.html
Getting Started as an
Independent Information Professional
http://www.aiip.org/Resources/getstarted.html
What is an Information
Broker? | What do You Want to Know Today?
By Keith Londrie
http://www.4hb.com/marketing/0111infobroker.html
Burwell Inc.
http://www.burwellinc.com
Information for Information
Brokers
Find out about a Career
as a Information Broker
read Hot Bytes
http://www.burwellinc.com/hotbytes.html
Visit: Mary Ellen
Bates Information Services website -
http://www.batesinfo.com
Excerpts quoted from
website
The Independent Info
Pro Business (a.k.a "Information Brokering")
http://www.batesinfo.com/info-brokering.html
FAQs About the Independent
Info Pro Business
http://www.batesinfo.com/faq.html
For a description of
a fairly typical day in my business, see my Day In The Life article
**PDF document
http://www.batesinfo.com/day-in-the-life.pdf
Tip of the Month
http://www.batesinfo.com/tip.html
Marketing
Base.com | Amelia Kassel
Excerpt
quoted from website
Amelia
Kassel is President and owner of MarketingBase, a firm specializing
in industry, company and competitive and market intelligence research since
1984.
...Her
successful email-based training program for independent information professionals
and business researchers, The Mentor Program began in 1994 and is tailored
to each student. Other training venues include telephone training and personalized
retreats.
Information
Broker Mentor Program
http://www.marketingbase.com/mentor.html
Frequently
Asked Questions about Information Brokering
http://www.marketingbase.com/faqs.html
Excerpt
quoted
from website **no date listed for this webpage's information
Starting
An Information Brokerage
http://www.libsci.sc.edu/bob/class/clis748/Studentwebguides/infobroker.htm
This is a guide for the information professional interested in becoming
an information broker. Brokers, also called independent information professionals
or research professionals, provide information services to organizations
such as corporations, law firms, the general public, and banks. They perform
services such as document retrieval and delivery, establishing and maintaining
special libraries, and analysis of data into a value-added report. Brokers
use a variety of research methods from online database searching
to public records searching to personal interviews.
http://www.libsci.sc.edu/bob/class/clis748/Studentwebguides/infobroker.htm
Related Links
for "Informational folks":
2004 GUIDE TO EMPLOYMENT
SOURCES
in the LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
PROFESSIONS
http://www.ala.org/ala/hrdr/libraryempresources/2004employmentguide.htm
The Information Professional's
Career Page
http://www.brint.com/jobs.htm
Information Resources
for Information Professionals
http://web.syr.edu/~jryan/infopro/
CILIP is the Chartered
Institute of Library and Information Professionals,
a new professional body
formed following the unification of the
Institute of Information
Scientists (IIS)
and the Library Association
(LA). (**A United Kingdom organization**)
http://www.cilip.org.uk/
Books to read
- find at your local Library or purchase online
Building and Running
a Successful Research Business
By Mary Ellen Bates;
Edited by Reva Basch
CyberAge Books • 2003
Excerpt quoted from website:
This is the handbook
every aspiring independent information
professional needs to
launch, manage, and build a research business.
Organized into four sections,
“Getting Started,”“Running the Business,”
“Marketing,” and “Researching,”
the book walks you through every step of the process.
http://store.yahoo.com/infotoday//builandrunsu.html
Information Broker's Handbook
by Sue Rugge, Alfred Glossbrenner
ISBN: 0070578702 | Pub.
Date: January 1997
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
Things to think about
-
You could be an internet
consultant, finding information for
companies doing research.
It could be doing public record searching,
medical literature, research
for a writer, price comparisons,
product research, etc.
What ever you're really
good at mining off the net.
See some free reference
resources on the librefpg.html page
Think about working for
Conference and/or Event planners in your city or town,
doing research and creating
information packets customized about your city or town
for event attendees,
or geared with topical (conference or event topic)information geared for
attendees, etc.
You might also be a trip
planner, obtaining maps, ideas for things to do
on the trip, find the
best deals, etc.
Do research for people
who are moving to a new town, or who have
just relocated to your
town. For instance you could be a "virtual"
welcome wagon. Produce
packets of information all about the community,
the neighborhood, where
things are, (many online mapping places,
will show how far from
a certain address -things like bakeries, florists,
the movie theater is.)
You could create individualized reference
packets, baskets with
coupons, books on the area..etc and partner with
a local real estate agent,
who would buy the baskets from you for
presenting to new home
owners, etc.
You could also present
informational packets & basket combos,
for people to buy for
putting in guest rooms, summer cottages,
or for visiting friends
or relatives coming, from out of town for family celebrations,
such as weddings - they
could be placed in hotel guest rooms.
PLEASE
NOTE** if you'll need to subscribe to databases,
or obtain articles online
that charge a fee, or if you'll need
a highspeed access line,
all of those expenses each month will have to be
taken into consideration
when you are deciding on fees to charge clients.
Records & Paper Management
- how long to keep documents,
how to organize, and
how to preserve
papermngt.html
To Top
of Page
Indexing as a
Career
Excerpt
Quoted from website:
Career
Profile: Indexer
Interview
by Janet Scarborough with Carolyn G. Weaver, M.A., M.P.A., Indexer,
Weaver
Indexing Service
What
is indexing?
Indexing
is the process of providing organized access to information in any form
-- books, journals, technical documentation, or Web sites. An indexer
assigns subject headings or coding that will allow information to be retrieved
in a systematic fashion.
Read
remainder of interview:
http://www.bridgewaycareer.com/profile-indexer.htm
Preparing
for an Indexing Career--Part 1
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1019/49938
The
American
Society of Indexers
Publications
Includes:
Starting
an Indexing Business, Third Edition, edited by Enid L. Zafran, 1998.
Topics
covered include an overview of what indexers do, setting up a business,
finding clients and setting fees, indexing while holding a full-time job,
the ASI Recommended Indexing Agreement, the 1997 salary survey and much
more.
http://www.asindexing.org/site/asipub.shtml
Society
of Indexers
Indexing
as a career
http://www.socind.demon.co.uk/indexing/career.htm
Books
for Reference:
Indexing
from A to Z
Hans
H. Wellisch
ISBN:
082420882X
Format:
Hardcover, 569pp
Pub.
Date: April 1996
Introduction
to Indexing and Abstracting
Donald
B. Cleveland, Ana D. Cleveland
ISBN:
1563086417
Format:
Hardcover, 283pp
Pub.
Date: November 2000
To
top of page
Use
your Computer, Software, and Skills & Knowledge
Create Tutorials, Presentations,
Photo Albums, etc.:
If you are going to be
using your computer in any home business,
it should have a cd rewriteable
drive.
Learn how to create
presentations or tutorials for using online,
for local businesses
and schools.
Put completed presentations
on cd roms.
Find further info
on the presentations.html page
and onlineteach.html
page.
If you feel you are ready
to provide services, sign up as a
service provider at Elance,
and start finding projects
that need being done
today.
http://www.elance.com/c/cats/main/sellers.pl?
Other sites to consider:
http://www.allfreelancework.com/
If you have a digital
camera, you could offer services of
taking pictures of home
interiors, and organizing on cds for
insurance purposes.
You can also use a scanner
to offer services of scanning
family photos and making
digital scrapbooks.
There are inexpensive
software programs like Microsoft Picture
It
that allow you to create
albums and put them up the internet
You could offer services
along those lines.
Put together albums on
CDs or make websites for new parents, etc.
If you need to know or
learn about digital cameras etc.
Learn from Ulead.com
tutorials
Digital Photography tips
http://www.ulead.com/learning/photography.htm
and also from Internet
Brother
Photo tips using your
digital camera
http://internetbrothers.com/phototips.htm
I also have links
for learning about photography on
the ed4you4.html
page
and the photopg.html
To
TOC
Purchase logocreator
software and learn how to design & sell logos.
I have links to sites
for creating free banners for websites
http://librarysupportstaff.com/pgbanners.html
Learn how to design website
sets.
In addition to the many
"website design, learning html tutorials, etc."
links that I offer on
the webpubhelp.html page
Visit also:
Website
Tips.com
Quoted from the site:
WebsiteTips.com
provides over 2 dozen articles, tutorials,
and tips, color charts,
HTML charts and over 2,400 categorized,
annotated links to resources
to help with your
Web site presence, whether
educator, site owner, designer, or developer.
*Libraries may be looking
for custom designed,
logos and complete webpage
sets.
Many current website
designers use Paint Shop Pro.
Here are a few
sites with Free tutorials:
Paint Shop Pro
tutorials
Learn how to design
and create brochures for local businesses.
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/brochures/
See more ideas for your
creativity:
Desktop Publishing Design
Projects
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/thingstodesign/
To Top
of Page
Food
Based Services:
Starting a Food Business?
-
Excerpt quoted from website
FDA Industry Assistance:
301-436-2600
FDA's primary focus as
a regulatory agency is food safety. FDA does not offer financing or business
tips for starting up and maintaining a business. FDA offers information
on food safety guidelines and regulations it has established that are required
for informative labeling and the safe preparation, manufacture, and distribution
of food products.
Visit: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/foodbiz.html
See more Food Entrepreneur
resources from this Penn State University website
http://foodsafety.cas.psu.edu/processor/resources.htm
Starting a Homebased Food
Business on a Sweet Note
Make sure to follow state
regulations when selling
Entrepreneur magazine
- May 2004
By Paul and Sarah Edwards
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,315230,00.html
Example of publication
available online - check your own states resources to see if there is something
similar from your Cooperative Extension offices, in your own state:
Starting a Food Processing
Business in Virginia
Publication Number 348-963,
Posted June 2001
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/foods/348-963/348-963.html
And here is a PDF document
avalable to open and read:
Starting a Food
Business in Minnesota
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/dairyfood/startingfoodbiz.pdf
Here is a resource page
for those in New England area
http://www.umass.edu/nefe/starting_a_food_business/
See this page with some
links to US States resources:
in this article:
Resources for Starting
Your Own Preserved Foods Business:
Can I sell my home preserved
food?
National Center for Home
Food Preservation | March 2005
http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/business/starting_business.html
Canadian - About.com Small
business guide
Excerpt quoted from website
Starting A Food Business
Have you ever thought
of starting a business producing a food product? Then you won't want to
miss this discussion, which includes links to food processing manuals in
various provinces and insights into the problem of needing a commercial
kitchen.
http://sbinfocanada.about.com/b/a/2004_01_14.htm
If you're a good baker
- consider making items to sell to libraries for celebrations, or events,
or conferences - you might offer catering services.
Remember Kate &
Allie....:- )
If you're good at cookies,
offer cookie trays, design "book shaped" cakes and or cookies. Use
your skills and imagination to come up with unique services and items that
may not
have been sold
or offered in your area before.
Article:
Starting a Catering Business
http://www.4www.us/catering/catering-business.htm
Books to consider for
purchase:
How
to Start a Home-Based Catering Business
by Denise Vivaldo , 4th
ed. c. 2002
ISBN: 0762724803
Publisher: Globe Pequot Press
From the Publisher
Are you passionate
about parties? Do you live to cook? Now you can realize your dream of working
from home at something you enjoy -- a home-based catering business. Author
Denise Vivaldo shares her experiences and advice on every aspect of setting
up and running a thriving home-based catering business, from estimating
your start-up costs and finding clients to outfitting your kitchen and
staying profitable. She even offers tips on the latest high-tech help,
including CD-ROM recipe books, culinary Web sites, and computer software
designed especially for chefs and caterers.
How
to Run a Catering Business from Home
Christopher Egerton-Thomas
ISBN: 0471141062
Format: Paperback, 208pp
Pub. Date: November 1996
Publisher: Wiley, John & Sons,
Idea to Consider:
Offer complete organizing
& setups for Library events, small parties, etc.
Library
Lovers Promotional Calendar of Ideas
Use this calendar for
planning library events and newsletters (*learn
how to create newsletters on the 4subscribe.html
page)
http://www.calibraries.org/librarylovers/calend
Related: Read this article
Starting a Gift Basket
Businss
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol100/giftbasket.htm
to table
of contents
Crafty
ideas
Computer Crafting
or Starting your own Home Craft Business
Using
your computer, a scanner, and/or a digital camera,
you can produce
all kinds of ideas and products.
You could design t-shirt
iron on transfers, scrapbooks, logos, business cards, etc.
Here is a freelance site
for those looking for graphics jobs to work on.
http://www.deezin.com/indexf.html
Use your PC for Crafts/Crafting
projects - Use your imagination, and creativity
See:
HGTV
- Computer Crafts
More ideas for the "handy
types"
If you are a builder
or do-it-yourselfer
Find some ideas, patterns,
and how-tos for projects
(as well as other handy
learning tutorials) on the ed4you4.html page.
Learn how to build something
really well, and mass produce to sell at craft fairs.
To Top
of Page
Want to
Have Your Own Crafting Business?
Articles
& resources to read:
**NOTE**
excerpts are quoted from online articles/websites
Visit
http://artsandcrafts.about.com
Starting a Craft Business
Excerpts quoted from
individual web pages:
Starting
a Craft Business 101
Part 1: First Steps
Having a plan is important!
Decide exactly what you want to do and how you are going to do it before
starting. Here are some basic things crafters should know when planning
a strategy
Read complete details/article
http://artsandcrafts.about.com/bl101.htm
Starting a Craft Business
101
Part 2: Marketing a Craft
Business
Marketing is the key
ingredient to any successful business! You must have ways to get the word
out about your products. Whether you will be attending craft shows, placing
mail order ads, or selling your crafts online.
Read complete article:
http://artsandcrafts.about.com/bl101b.htm
Starting a Craft Business
101
Part 3: Finding Craft
Suppliers
Running a craft business
requires finding reliable suppliers with reasonable prices.
Read complete article:
http://artsandcrafts.about.com/bl101c.htm
Also:
The Crafts Report
http://www.craftsreport.com/
Industry FAQs
http://www.craftsreport.com/commonfiles/faq-industry.html
Related information:
Selling your crafts Online - resource links
Finding Craft
Shows to sell at or to buy crafts **let your friends know where
you'll be setting up a booth!
Making It
The art of growing a
crafts business.
Business Start-Ups magazine
- September 1998
By Linda Formichelli
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,229170,00.html
Starting an Arts & Crafts
Business
Think all you need to
know is how to knit or paint? Not quite.
If you want to start
a serious crafts business, you'll have to focus
on the business and the
craft.
HomeOfficeMag.com - April
2002
By Laura Tiffany
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,298543,00.html
6 Important Things To
Know About Setting Up Your Craft Business
By Susan West - 02/01/01
http://www.sunshineglassworks.com/articles/settingupbiz.shtml
and
33 Bookkeeping Necessities
for the Craft Business
By Susan West - 02/07/01
Ever wonder just what
you need to know when setting up your financial records or when tax time
comes? Take a look at our easy checklist to get organized!
http://www.sunshineglassworks.com/articles/bookkeeping.shtml
Article to read
How to Sell at Craft
Fairs and Shows
Interested in turning
your artistic hobby into a business? Find out how you can make money by
selling your handicrafts at art shows and craft fairs.
April 04, 2005 | By Rosalind
Resnick
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,320667,00.html
Articles & Tips for
Craftsmen, Artists, Food Vendors & Resellers
http://www.smartfrogs.com/articles.html
Crafts
Report.com
Related article to read:
from Crafts
Report.com
Payroll tax withholding
& Your Craft Business
Excerpt quoted from website
page:
http://www.craftsreport.com/february03/feature.html
Payroll tax withholdings
… three words that strike fear in the hearts
of most small-business
owners. And craft artisans and retailers are no exception.
What comes to mind are
complicated calculation tables, myriad forms,
frequent deposits and
reporting to the IRS, exemptions that
vary widely from employee
to employee and laws and tax codes that differ between the Federal government,
states and even local municipalities.
Read select articles online
from the CraftsReport Magazine
http://www.craftsreport.com/commonfiles/backissues04.html
Example article excerpt
of interest: from March
2004 issue
Make
Your Business “Official”
Many reasons to tell
the world about your venture.
Despite the necessary
research and paperwork, becoming an “official” home business may not be
as difficult as most artists think — and it can bring definite advantages.
and
Can
You Succeed as an Artist and a Licensed Designerat the Same Time?
by Bernadette Finnerty
From the April 2004 issue
Financing
Your Craft Business
Find morearticles online
from the CraftsReport Magazine
http://www.craftsreport.com/commonfiles/backissues04.html
Find Useful Links from
The Crafts Report
NATIONAL
CRAFT ORGANIZATIONS AND AID FOR CRAFTSPEOPLE
The 12 Secrets to starting
a home based craft business***
http://www.getcreativeshow.com
***Excerpts
from "Crafting the American Dream" by Karen Booy.
http://www.getcreativeshow.com/crafting_american_dream.htm
and CraftLink
Newsletter
HGTV online
Home
Business Set-Up
Carol Duvall Show : Episode
CDS-127
Continuing the discussion
from an earlier show, professional crafter and author Jean Kievlan supplies
further guidance for setting up a home crafting business
Home
Business Set-Up
Home Based Craft Business
Survival Tips by James Dillehay
http://www.craftmarketer.com/home_based_craft_business.htm
Setting Up Your Own Craft
Consignment Shop
http://www.home-based-business-opportunities.com/library/craftshop.shtml
Money Making Crafts And
Your
Craft Home Based Business
http://moneymakingcrafts.com/
Setting up a Jewelry Making
business
http://jewelrymaking.tqn.com/hobbies/jewelrymaking/library/blsell.htm
Article:
The Essential Survival
Guide to Getting started with craft fairs
http://www.candlemaking.org.uk/fairs.html
Related: find where/when
the craft fairs are being held
Visit and Join (for free)
CraftBits.com
- lots of good articles and resources for crafters
http://www.craftbits.com/html/articles.htm
Online article:
Using professional sales
techniques at craft shows
http://allsands.com/Money/craftshowssal_ruy_gn.htm
Online Craft "pricing"
calculator
http://home.iximd.com/~carousel/CraftCalc1pt6.htm
Setting Up Your Own Business:
Selecting The Best Location
For Your Business
**Has checklist to print
out
http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/consumered/nf285.htm
Canadian resource links
and information
Starting
a Craft Business
Canada-Saskatchewan Business
Service Centre
PDF Document
Craft Business - Business
sourcing guide
http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/pdf/crafts.pdf
Finding space in your
home for "crafting"
Dollar Stretcher article
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/03/03jun30b.cfm
Related information for
Professional Crafters
Visit the website
resources of
CERF : Craft Emergency
Relief Fund
the following excerpts
have been quoted directly from CERF website
http://www.craftemergency.org/index.htm
An organization to Help
Crafters : CERF Craft
Emergency Relief Fund
http://www.craftemergency.org/about.htm
Mission
The mission of CERF is
to strengthen and sustain the
careers of craft artists
across the United States.
CERF accomplishes its
mission through direct financial and educational assistance to craft artists,
including emergency relief assistance, business development support, and
resources and referrals on topics such as health, safety, and insurance.
CERF also advocates for
the interests of craft artists.
Excerpt quoted on 2003
efforts:
CERF LOOKS BACK ON 2003
http://www.craftemergency.org/pressrel.htm#2003
In 2003, the Craft Emergency
Relief Fund (CERF) provided over $62,000 in emergency and disaster relief
assistance to 32 professional craft artists from 15states across the country.
CERF awarded $37,300 in no-and low-interest recovery loans, $10,000 in
grants,
and $15,540 in wholesale/retail
booth fee waivers and donated equipment and materials.
Read complete article
http://www.craftemergency.org/pressrel.htm#2003
Also
Example of articles
available on the site
A River Worth Crossing:
Learning Basic Business
Practices to Help Sustain Your
Career
http://www.craftemergency.org/issue8.htm#ariver
Refreshing Your Perspective:
Ways that Craft Artists
Can Create New Opportunities
by Doug Wilhelm
How can craft artists
take a fresh new look — at the work they can produce,
at the business and marketing
opportunities they can find, or at both?
http://www.craftemergency.org/issue9.htm#refresh
What Would I Do Differently?
Insurance Advice from
the Trenches
Many craftspeople who
are in the process of recovering from a natural disaster or devastating
fire will tell us they’re finding out a lot about insurance that they
wished they had known
beforehand.
http://www.craftemergency.org/issue5.htm#trenches
See all available articles
http://www.craftemergency.org/archives.htm
Related
information :
For those wanting to
sell their crafts Online
Arts & Crafts Business
- Four Keys to Success Online
Tips for your Online
Venture
So, you've made the
decision to try your hand at selling crafts online. What now?
In order for you to
make the most of your online storefront,
there are a few guidelines
to follow.
http://artsandcrafts.about.com/cs/sellyourcrafts/a/050803.htm
Also see, one of the
many options available to have an online presence:
Sell Your Crafts on
the Web!
http://www.kinfolkcrafts.com/sellcrafts.htm
Craft Site Medic
Sell More of your
Arts & Crafts Online!
Craft Site Medic is
the only service of its kind on the Internet. Our goal is to help you sell
more arts and crafts online and improve your website traffic and profits.
Here you will find a wealth of information, tools, and services for creating
and promoting your online craft business. Find out complete details
at:
http://www.thecountrygallery.net/craftmed/
CraftFinder.com
- Marketing Services
http://www.craftfinder.com/html/mktservices.html
Marketplace Gallery™
is a virtual marketplace, offering a wide assortment of Arts, Crafts, and
Collectibles from selected artisans. We offer affordable e-commerce
solutions catering to the small business community,
and offer a unique venue for arts & crafts aficionados.
http://www.marketplacegallery.com/index.html
Visit too: http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/
Sales & Marketing
Resources for Crafters
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/resources/index.html
CRAFTS FAIR ONLINE
The Oldest And Largest
Craft Directory On The Web
http://www.craftsfaironline.com/
Examples of: Website&
Graphics Design Studio - geared for Crafters
The Old Drawing Board
http://www.theolddrawinboard.com/index3.htm
Gone Country Graphics
Original country graphics
and affordable craft website design with a country touch
Free graphics, free
pagesets, country graphics, sig tags, custom graphics, banners, logos,
linkware, country clip art and more
http://www.gonecountrygraphics.com/
Prim Mart
http://www.primmart.com/services.html
Find
crafts fairs, festivals, etc. going on in the US
Selling Offline - at
Craft Fairs - find out where they are
**Excerpts quoted from
websites**
About.com Guide
Craft shows from A to
Z. Listings of craft shows, fairs, events, festivals and more!
http://artsandcrafts.about.com/library/showabc/bla.htm
*note: some listings
are not current**
The ABC
Art & Craft Event Directory
This
site is now a "Subscription Only" site
ABCraftEvents.com is
dedicated to serving the artists, crafters, food vendors, entertainers,
and others who exhibit, sell, and perform at art & craft events.
We provide current, detailed,
and accurate information on art & craft events across the entire United
States. You’ll also find great sources for wholesale art & craft supplies,
professional resources and lots more.
THE CRAFTS FAIR ONLINE
The Oldest And Largest
Craft Directory On The Web
CraftsFairOnline
GROUP SHOWS, CRAFT MALLS
& ORGANIZATIONS
http://www.craftsfaironline.com/Malls.html
Craft show listings online
http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/craftshows/
Festival Network Online
'Nationwide craft show,
art fair, music, festival & event guide'
http://festivalnet.com/events2.html?fn01003
Find Local Craft Shows
A simple how to on finding
local craft shows. ... Shows Versus SitesFuture of Online MarketingCraft
Shows in Louisiana. How To Find Local Craft Shows ...
http://artsandcrafts.about.com/cs/retailcraftshows/ht/How_Find_Local.htm
And
http://artsandcrafts.about.com/od/articles/a/0719a04.htm
Craftlister.com
http://www.craftlister.com/
Craft Shows, Craft fairs,
Festivals
Craft shows, craft fairs,
festivals, juried shows,- more!
Detailed show listings
for Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia & West Virginia craft shows,
craft fairs, and festivals- and events from other states, too! ...
http://www.smartfrogs.com/
Best New England Craft
Fairs, Shows, and more
http://www.newenglandcraftfairs.com/
Sugar Loaf craft festivals
http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/
Ontario Canada
"SHOWSOURCE 2005" ONTARIO
CRAFT SHOW DIRECTORY
http://www.showsource.ca/
More sites of interest:
ArtsCraftsShowBusiness.com
Arts and crafts events
in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Caroline, South
Caroline and Tennessee.
CraftMasternews.com
Our magazine lists
thousands of upcoming events throughout the Western States.
CraftShowYellowPages.com
Art & Craft Show
Yellow Pages is a regional show guide / directory for craftsmen artists,
food vendors and resellers in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, W. Virginia, Vermont.
Directory Resources
Craft
Site Directory: Show Listings
Google Directory Listing
of sites
http://directory.google.com/Top/Arts/Crafts/Events/
Graphics for Business
- links to artists, etc. that sell graphics that can be used on crafts
for selling
**Be
sure to read the fine print, Angel Policies, or Terms of Use, for any licensing,
or copyright agreements, before creating and selling merchandise, using
any artists graphics** See my Teas2Dine4.com printables page
with
copyright
info links
BizArt
Cafe.com
http://www.bizartcafe.com/index.html
PCCrafter.com
http://www.pccrafter.com
DAISIE Company
http://www.daisiecompany.com
Graphics
for Business use / for your websites, business cards, etc.
Excerpt
quoted:
Sheryl's
Originals Country & Primitive Graphics.
Here
you will find "mouse-made" country and primitive graphics for all of your
small business needs from logos to labels, business cards, stationery,
address labels and so much more!
http://www.sherylsgraphics.com/
**note
there are many online artists, that design business websites, or sell packages
of"webpage" sets, etc. - and artists that sell graphics for business use**
my links are just some of the many examples.
Related see:
Also see, one of the
many options available to have an online presence:
Craft Site Medic
Sell More of your
Arts & Crafts Online!
Craft Site Medic is
the only service of its kind on the Internet. Our goal is to help you sell
more arts and crafts online and improve your website traffic and profits.
Here you will find a wealth of information, tools, and services for creating
and promoting your online craft business. Find out complete details
at:
http://www.thecountrygallery.net/craftmed/
Examples of: Website&
Graphics Design Studio - geared for Crafters
The Old Drawing Board
http://www.theolddrawinboard.com/index3.htm
Gone Country Graphics
Original country graphics
and affordable craft website design with a country touch
Free graphics, free
pagesets, country graphics, sig tags, custom graphics, banners, logos,
linkware, country clip art and more
http://www.gonecountrygraphics.com/
Prim Mart
http://www.primmart.com/services.html
Excerpt
quoted from website page:
Business
and Marketing Net Links for basketmakers and crafters.
Tents,
canopies, tarps and pedestals, along with other dealer supplies. Panels,
canopies, and other displays for craft shows, festivals and exhibitions.
http://www.basketmakers.org/topics/business/buscanindex.htm
National
Craft Association - Kits for sale
Each
Kit is an easy to follow step-by-step guide designed to help you
succeed
in building your arts & craft business.
http://www.craftassoc.com/newbiz1.html
to
top of page
Books
to consider purchasing or borrowing from your local Library
Have your own
reference Library on hand to help you every step
The
Crafts Business Answer Book & Resource Guide: Answers to Hundreds
of Troublesome Questions About Starting, Marketing, and Managing a Homebased
Business Efficiently, Legally, and Profitably
by Barbara Brabec
Professional
Crafter's Business Management and Marketing Guide
Barbara Brabec
Start
Your Own Crafts Business: Your Step-by-step Guide to Success
Entrepreneur Press, Jacquelyn
Lynn
How
to Start a Home-Based Craft Business
Kenn Oberrecht
Synopsis
Comprehensive yet practical
step-by-step explanations give readers the tools to launch and grow a home-based
craft business. Worksheets, quizzes, and checklists help to turn dreams
into reality.
Homemade
Money, Starting Smart!: How to Turn Your Talents, Experience, and Know-How
into a Profitable Homebased Business That's Perfect for You!
Barbara Brabec
**NOTE**
Visit Barbara Brabec
online
for home business
owners who are striving for financial success and happiness in both their
professional and personal lives.
http://www.barbarabrabec.com/
Crafts Marketing
http://www.barbarabrabec.com/crafts_marketing.htm
Handmade
for Profit: Hundreds of Secrets to Success in Selling Arts & Crafts
by Barbara Brabec
Creative
Cash : How to Profit From Your Special Artistry, Creativity, Hand Skills,
and Related Know-How
by BARBARA BRABEC (Author)
Creating
a Successful Crafts Business
Rogene A. Robbins, Robert
Robbins
Synopsis
Sharing their
decade of experience starting and running art and craft businesses, the
Robbins' explain the basic principles of business, focusing specifically
on the needs of artists and crafts people. They suggest that their treatment
might also be suitable as a textbook for a craft business class. Annotation
©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
The Basic
Guide to Selling Crafts on the Internet
by James Dillehay
Crafters'
Internet Handbook: Research,Connect and Sell Your Crafts Online
Genevieve Crabe
The
Basic Guide to Pricing Your Craftwork
by James Dillehay
Related
- see this online "Craft pricing" calculator
http://home.iximd.com/~carousel/CraftCalc1pt6.htm
Crafts
and Craft Shows: How to Make Money
Philip Kadubec
Selling
Your Crafts
Susan Joy Sager
Make
It Profitable!
by Barbara Brabec
Book Info
Emphasizes how creative
people are using computers and the internet to save time, cut costs, and
increase profits. Presents the best ideas and information on the present
and future of the craft business from eighty professionals in various fields
of the craft industry. Softcover. DLC: Home-based businesses--U.S.--Management.
Related books:
Homemade
Money, Bringing in the Bucks!: A Business Management and Marketing
Bible for Home-Business Owners, Self-Employed Individuals, and Web Entrepreneurs
Working From Home Base
Barbara Brabec
Start
Your Own Gift Basket Service (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start up Series)
Jacquelyn Lynn
This guide tells you
everything you need to know to start a successful gift basket business.
With Entrepreneur magazine's Start Your Own Gift Basket Service, you'll
learn how to design the business the way you want it, whether it's part
time or full time, homebased or in a commercial location, with employees
or without
Related: See 20
titles from Home-Based Business Series
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of Page
See the FREE Printables
available to crafters and much more online
http://teas2dine4.com/4printable.html
More Free Stuff to check
out
www.nvnet.org/nvhs/edresource/hubpages/Free.html
See the resources of:
DeskTopPublishing.com
Attend Classes Online
at - Crafty College..Improve
your skills,
Find the latest trends,
& How-To's,
or You may want to teach
a class yourself,
It is a great way to
put your NAME out there.
From Perfect Entertaining.com
Learn
flower arranging tips
and from Save on Crafts
Introduction
to Flower arranging
Read the FUN Newsletter
"Seed Pod"
The Primitive
Pals Newsletter - for Folk Art Crafters
Good for Networking with
other Crafters!!
More ideas for the "handy
types"
If you are a builder
or do-it-yourselfer
Find some ideas, patterns,
and how-tos for projects
(as well as other handy
learning tutorials) on the ed4you4.html page.
Learn how to build something
really well, and mass produce to sell.
to table
of contents
Free
Business Forms
Business Forms
these documents are free
to download and customize for your own professional use.
http://www.officedepot.com/BusinessTools/forms/default.asp
Business Forms, Letters,
Contracts, and more
http://www.businessnation.com/library/forms/
FreeBusinessForms.com
http://www.freebusinessforms.com/
SBA Shareware Library
All-In-One Page
Files for Starting Your
Business
Files for Financing Your
Business
Files for Managing and
Expanding Your Business
Files for Marketing Your
Business
Files for Running Your
Business
http://www.sba.gov/shareware/indexalt.html
FormNet
Download ready made business
forms
http://www.entrepreneur.com/Home/HM_Static/1,4472,formnet_index,00.html
MORE
FREE PRINTABLES - FORMS, DOCUMENTS, Tax Forms, etc.
HP (Hewlett Packard) office
templates -
create a professional
image with free, easy office templates
http://www.hp.com/sbso/productivity/office/index.html
Internal Revenue Service
- [United States]
Search for Free Federal
Tax Forms & Publications
http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html
Small Business / Self
Employed forms & information
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html
Related: Find links to
"State" tax forms & info at:
The LSU Libraries page
http://www.lib.lsu.edu/govdocs/taxes.html
MochaBay Design - Free
Printables
Excerpt quoted from website:
We've put together a
few printables to use both
for business related
tasks and also several to use for personal situations.
Such as: Death in the
Family Checklist | Auto Service & Maintenance
Bill of Sale Personal
Property | Daily Mileage Worksheet |
Auction Inventory Worksheet
If you sell items on
eBay or at other auctions, + Many more
http://www.mochabaydesign.com/printables/index.shtml
Find other FREE Business
productivity tools:
http://librarysupportstaff.com/freetools.html
and
On my Teas2Dine4.com
site - Resources for
FREE Printables of every type
See other Free Tools that
may be useful for your home business
on the freetools.html
page
To
Top of Page
Would you like to compile
- your text files
and covert to PDF documents
- FOR FREE
without having to puchase
the expensive
Adobe Acrobat software?
Try:
FREE Text File
to PDF file format software application
Gymnast:
Quoted from site:
http://www.oakworth.demon.co.uk/gymnast.htm
Gymnast converts text
files to Adobe Acrobat PDF format without the need for any additional Adobe
software.
Gymnast supports hyperlinks,
annotations, and automatic generation of bookmarks from headings.
You can even include links to Web sites and other PDF files!
Use it to publish electronic newsletters, brochures or price lists.
Use it to compile database or spreadsheet reports for distribution to clients
or staff. Use it to distribute readme files with your software.
Produce professional-looking documents for the Web.
http://www.oakworth.demon.co.uk/gymnast.htm
Related: see other Free
tools available online for help with
office procedures, etc.
on the freetools.html
page
to table
of contents
Books
to consider purchasing & using as your reference
library in your home, for now and in the future. Solid practical advice,
usually does not become outdated.
Working
from Home : Everything You Need to Know About Living and Working Under
the Same Roof
by Paul Edwards, Sarah
Edwards
ISBN: 0874779766
Publisher: Putnam Publishing
Group
Pub. Date: May
1999
The
Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide to Making Money from Home,
How to Choose the Business
That's Right for You Using the Skills
and Interests You Already
Have
Revised 2nd Edition
by Liz Folger (Author)
The
Work-at-Home Mom's Guide to Home Business:
Stay at Home and Make
Money with WAHM.Com
Cheryl Demas
ISBN: 1891506498
Publisher: Hazen Publishing,
Incorporated
Pub. Date: April
2000
101
Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home:
How to Choose and Build
Your Own Successful E-Business
Susan Sweeney
ISBN: 188506859X
Publisher: Maximum Press
Pub. Date: July
2001
101
Ways to Promote Your Web Site: Filled with Proven Internet Marketing
Tips, Tools, Techniques, and Resources to Increase Your Web Site Traffic
Susan Sweeney
ISBN: 1885068573
Publisher: Maximum Press
Pub. Date: July
2001
Making
Money With Your Computer at Home
by Paul Edwards, Sarah
Edwards
ISBN: 0874778980
Publisher: Putnam Publishing
Group
Pub. Date: October
1997
Related Books to consider
for purchase:
See 20
titles from Home-Based Business Series
See the Crafting
as a Business | suggested book titles
to table
of contents
CLASSES/COURSES
to take
**FREE** Online Course
My Own Business:
A Free Internet Course
On How To Start A Business
www.myownbusiness.org/index.html
How
To Find The Perfect Home Business For You
Instructor: Liz Folger
4 Week Online Class via
Email
http://www.bizymoms.com/main/?10533
Find interesting Learning
Online
at hplearningcenter.com
(Hewlett Packard)
and
Vitrual University
http://vu.org
Related Informational
sites:
Free Training (by email)
to Help You Sell More
http://www.practicalselling.com/train/
Building an Online Store
- software and services
http://www.howtoweb.com/corner/stores.htm
Setting Up Shop in Cyberspace
http://www.inc.com/resources/ecommerce/
http://www.inc.com/guides/ecom/index.html
and also see
E-Commerce Starter Kit
http://www.inc.com/guides/ecom/20696.html
and
http://www.inc.com/resources/startup/
And check out the many
online learning opportunities **note this page not updated 2005-2008**
on the ed4you
pages
To Top
of Page
Buying a Franchise
- tips and resources
Quoted from website:
WHAT IS FRANCHISING?
Franchising is a method
of doing business, of selling goods or services where one party (a franchisor)
allows another (a franchisee) to use its trademark and its business system
in exchange for a fee. The term "franchise" can refer to the relationship
between the franchisor and the franchisee, or is sometimes used to refer
to the business itself which the franchisee buys.
The legal definition of
a franchise under federal law is a written contract (regardless of what
it's called) where three elements exist:
1. the use of another's trademark, tradename, etc.;
2. the payment of $500 or more during the first six months of operations
(excluding wholesale purchases of inventory); and
3. significant assistance and/or significant control of the operations.
If these three elements
exist, it's a franchise under federal law.
Franchising comes in various
forms. One is the franchise of an entire retail business operation, such
as a fast food restaurant or real estate sales office (a "business format"
franchise). Another is a product distribution system, where a franchisee
distributes the franchisor's products, such as automobiles, gasoline, or
soft drinks under the manufacturer's name (a "product" franchise).
Read complete
page from Florida Bar Association
From the U.S. Federal
Trade Commission
Articles/Resources
Franchise &
Business Opportunities
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menu-fran.htm
Consumer Guide to Buying
a Franchise
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/invest/buyfran.htm
Franchise and Business
Opportunity FAQS
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/franchise/faq1.htm
American Franchisee Association
Thinking of buying a
Franchise? What you should know before you sign an Agreement.
http://www.franchisee.org/Buying%20a%20Franchise.htm
From PowerHomeBiz.com
A Checklist of Questions
to Answer Before You Buy A Franchise
Franchising is
booming. Here are the right questions to ask when evaluating franchise
opportunities.
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol2/franchisechecklist.htm
Knowing the Do's and Don'ts
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol13/buyingfranchise.htm
Raising Money for Your
Franchise
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol3/franchisemoney.htm
From Inc.com
Buying a Franchise
Excerpt quoted from website
Established name recognition.
Cooperative marketing. Bulk purchasing power. Training and management expertise.
They are some early advantages of buying a franchise rather than building
your
own business. They're the types of advantages solo entrepreneurs might
reap -- if they're lucky -- after years of hard work in the trenches.
http://www.inc.com/guides/buy_biz/20674.html
From
Bplans.com
Buying a Business
http://www.bplans.com/bb/
To Franchise or not to
Franchise | by Tim Berry | April 27, 2004
http://www.bplans.com/bb/article.cfm/32
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of contents
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of page
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Supportstaff.com main page
THANK YOU!!
Page updated May
2004
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