Making Christmas Sales on eBay

Christmas is always a retailer's biggest time. Online, it's particularly important for several reasons. The first is that Christmas falls during the winter when people are indoors and spending a lot of time online. The other is obvious - people need gifts. They need gifts by a specific date and they either don't want to brave the cold to do it or they simply don't have the time. Keeping these factors in mind, there are many ways to increase your Christmas eBay sales.

Sell on eBay With Christmas in Mind

If you want sales, you have to remember that deadline. You can't wait until mid-December to list your item. You also may not want to list as many auction-style eBay listings. Instead, opt for Buy It Now listings that offer a fixed price for the items. With auction prices being driven up during the Christmas season and the set deadline of December 25, a fixed price is welcome to many buyers. They may even be willing to pay a little more in order to get the item sooner.

List Anything on eBay at Christmas

Some people make the mistake of only listing their winter items or Christmas-themed items in the months preceding Christmas. However, you may lose eBay sales by doing so. people are buying gifts for everyone close to them, include people in warm climates. Just about anything will sell in November and early to mid-December on eBay. But if you don't list it now, you may have to wait months to sell it. People do their serious shopping during that time, so that's when to take advantage of eBay's online traffic.

Ship Your eBay Sales on Time

During the Christmas season, people are hyper critical of handling and shipping times. If you wait a week to ship, expect massive disappointment from buyers. Remember that your buyers have to wrap the gift and may have to then ship it to someone else. They need their purchases quickly. Plan to ship items at least three times a week if you are making regular eBay sales.   

How and Where to Locate the Merchandise to Sell on eBay: Insider Information You Need to Know from the Experts Who Do It Every Day

Article by: L. Shepard

Women Make Great Entrepreneurs

According to the National Foundation of Women Business Owners, women-owned businesses have grown significantly over the past 7 years. As of 1999, it's estimated that one-third of all US small businesses are owned by women. Now, more than ever women have access to the tools and support to be a success in today's "Corporate America". Why not you?

There are 10 traits of a successful entrepreneur...those are:

1. Desire to achieve and succeed.

2. Perseverance and persistence.

3. Self-Confidence.

4. Creative problem-solving skills.

5. Self-motivation.

6. Goal setting and self-discipline.

7. Respect for money.

8. Persuasiveness.

9. Knowledge of your market.

10. Customer service oriented.

Women are great entrepreneurs. Why is this? Women tend to focus on the business relationship and in return that leads to customer loyalty and recurring sales. So why do you want to own your own business?

Here are five questions I want you to ask yourself:

1. What interests, talents or skills can I bring to my new business?

2. Am I a self-starter?

3. Do I enjoy challenges?

4. Am I a creative problem solver?

5. What are my strengths and weakness's?

Approximately 60% of all business owners do not make it. Most people understand that running a business take some know-how. Most successful business owners posses additional skills and interests. The passion drives them to move ahead. Before starting a business think about what is driving you to this decision. What is the reason behind starting your own business? Maybe you want more $$, the flexibility to be with your family or you want to be boss lady. Whatever your reasons are, making a change in your life can be exciting or it can be exhausting. This is supposed to be a exciting experience a new journey in your life. Eliminate the guess work.

It does not have to be exhausting....try this technique: make a list of all the reactive reasons (push you away) and the active reasons. Reactive (pull you in) reasons are the negative and that are objectionable about working for others. Active reasons are the positive about having your own business. It is the "Push and Pull" response. Ask yourself these questions....what drives you?....what are you passionate about?....what other options are there?

There are so many reasons to start and grow your very own business. The most that I have heard over the years of coaching are:

* The pure reason of feeling free

* Helping others

* Leaving a legacy

* The feeling of being wanted and needed

* Contributing to your family income

* Personal financial gain

* Fame and recognition

* Chance of ownership

I am sure if you sat down with a pen and a notebook and over the next few days write a little and think a little. You will find LOADS of reasons. There are many reasons and they are quite powerful reasons. Starting a new company is a great challenge. To those with entrepreneurial instincts, it is very appealing.

Nine Lives: Stories of Women Business Owners Landing on Their Feet.

Article by: Dawn Hogan

I Found A Way To Market My Idea Online

The old days of advertising are over and if you've ever asked yourself the question, "How can I market my idea", I have some answers for you. We all know how much the internet has changed the way we communicate, but have we really grasped how much money average people are making online doing marketing and advertising?

Regular people like you and me with a little entrepreneurial spirit and some sweat equity are making an absolute killing online. We are literally seeing the signs of a brand new economy being born. In fact, we're already in it, the question is how are you going to get a piece of the action?  Check out.   http://www.blogworld.com/

Well for starters, if you aren't building anetwork on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter you're already missing out on some of the most incredible free traffic out there. Next you have to have your own blog. You can get a pretty nice free one from Word Press. This is where you post your original content, build trust, and a build rapport with your audience.

A blog is your home or your storefront on the internet. This is where you present your ideas. This is where you offer your products or services, or you can offer other people's products or services. The social networks are where you go out and mingle with people, post informative, educational, or inspirational content and make new friends. Your goal is to get those new friends to your blog to get to know you even better and see what you have to offer.

If you have an idea that you think someone might invest in, your blog and the social networks will help you to build credibility, get a lot of people to see it, and then the sky's the limit from there. You can make YouTube videos explaining your idea and educating people, then you can post them on your blog.

There are a ton of ways to advertise online IF you have a budget, but I just wanted to throw out some really effective free strategies for you real quick. There are also some really good internet marketing systems out there that will do a lot of the work for you on auto-pilot as well as educate you on the whole process.

The bottom line is that if you want to market your idea online, or do ANY other kind of business online, be it network marketing, affiliate marketing, or direct sales (My personal favorite, and most lucrative), you have to take ACTION and get training from qualified mentors. It's all more possible than ever in this emerging new economy, but you have to act. I wish you much success!

Johnny Wall is a home based business builder, Internet marketer, and trainer with a passion for showing others how to create real and lasting freedom for themselves through entrepreneurship and a practical approach toward personal growth. Johnny works with a group of inspired entrepreneurs who are committed to contributing to the new economy and to empower as many as possible to achieve personal and financial success in their lives.

Article by : Johnny Wall

How Can You Make Your New Home Business Succeed?

More and more people are quitting their day jobs in order to invest all their efforts in a home business. It seems a huge risk to take but most of the time, their gambles have paid off. If you think you're ready for this kind of opportunity as well, be sure to take as much time as you need in choosing the type of home business you'd like to start up.

Do What You Love

You hear this all the time, but did you take it to heart when you applied for a job? Were you happy with your last job? A home business gives you the ultimate opportunity to earn without working. You know the answer, right?

It's because you're doing something you love. For now, forget about profit margins and target markets. You'll get to that later. Just focus in the meantime on discovering or rediscovering what your true passion is.

Study Internet Marketing

Most - if not all - home businesses rely on the Internet for all their marketing and sales needs. Compared to print and other forms of media or advertising, you'll definitely save a lot more money if you start promoting your home business online.

And don't worry because Internet marketing is truly easier to learn than most people think. A quick search on Google will immediately point you to the right direction. You may even realize that a few basic strategies are something you're already well familiar of like Twitter, blogging, and social bookmarking. You just didn't use it for business purposes before.

Know Your Target Market

Whether you wish to sell online or not, it's important to have the right target market in mind. Start by asking yourself the questions below.

Who does my products or services best appeal to?

Consider the demographics of your prospective market. What is their age range? What are their preferences? How much do you think they'd be willing to pay for your products or services?

Ideally, a newly established home business should focus on a niche market, one where there's minimal competition and they'd be able to provide high-quality customer service. There'll be time for expansions later on. But at the start, it's critical that you focus on what you can do best.

How do I reach my target market?

This is when your Internet marketing research comes in. Articles with relevant keywords in relevant places will draw your target market to your website. But you need to post your articles in social networking platforms that they're known to use. Senior citizens, for instance, are more likely to blog than to use Twitter. Target Marketing: Researching, Reaching and Retaining Your Target Market

Prioritize Quality over Quantity

This is a good rule of the thumb not just for home businesses but for all income-generating ventures in general. If you want your business to survive and flourish then focus on achieving total customer satisfaction!

Article By Marian Pinera

How to Make a Strong First Impression

We have all heard this warning: "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression." Also, psychologists, writers, and seminar leaders caution that we only have from seven to seventeen seconds of interacting with strangers before they form an opinion of us.

With this widely acknowledged pressure to "make our case" instantly, here are my seven tips for making your first impression strongly positive.

1. The greatest way to make a positive first impression is to demonstrate immediately that the other person--not you--is the center of action and conversation. Illustrate that the spotlight is on you only, and you'll miss opportunities for friendships, jobs, love relationships, networking, and sales. Show that you are other-centered, and first-time acquaintances will be eager to see you again.

Recently I attended a conference. At lunch, my wife and I sat with several people we didn't know. While most of our tablemates made good impressions, one man emerged as the person we'd be sure to avoid all weekend. He talked about himself, non-stop. Only rarely did anyone else get a chance to speak. Unfortunately, he probably thought he was captivating us with his life story.

I applaud this definition of a bore: "Somebody who talks about himself so much that you don't get to talk about yourself."

2. Closely related: You'll make a superb initial impression when you demonstrate good listening skills. Give positive verbal cues: "Hmmm... interesting!" "Tell me more, please." "What did you do next?" Just as actors benefit from prompts, your conversational partner will welcome your assistance in keeping the exchange going.

Nonverbally, you show you're a skilled listener by maintaining steady eye contact. Remember how you respond to the social gadabout who appears to be looking over your shoulder for the next person he wants to corner.

3. Use the name of a new acquaintance frequently. "Judy, I like that suggestion." "Your vacation must have been exciting, Fred." You show that you have paid attention from the start, catching the name during the introduction. Equally as important, you'll make conversations more personal by including the listener's name several times.

4. Be careful with humor. Although a quip or two might serve as an icebreaker, stay away from sarcastic remarks that could backfire. Because you don't know a stranger's sensitivities, prolonged joking might establish barriers you can't overcome, either now or later.

5. Follow Dr. Wayne Dyer's advice, offered in his wonderful book "Real Magic," by "giving up the need to be right." Confrontations with somebody you've just met will destroy rapport before you even start building it. Wait until you have established credibility before you challenge another's statements.

6. Appearance counts. Several years ago, a professional colleague offered to meet me for lunch. I decided against wearing a suit, opting for a sport coat and tie. When he showed up in shorts and sandals, the message he conveyed was: "Bill, meeting you is a rather ordinary experience, and doesn't call for me to present a business-like appearance." Not surprisingly, that was the last time I met with him.

True, standards for appropriate attire have changed drastically. Maybe the best advice I can share came from a participant in a seminar I conducted. She said, "I don't dress for the job I have now, I dress for the job I want to have."

7. As a communication specialist, I have to point out that an individual's speaking style impacts the first impression, maybe more than we wish. Listeners judge our intelligence, our cultural level, our education, even our leadership ability by the words we select--and by how we say them.

Think of Professor Henry Higgins of "My Fair Lady," who changed a "guttersnipe" into a lady by teaching her to speak skillfully. While none of us occupies the lowly level of Eliza Doolittle, we can keep her example in mind. Rather than mumble, speak so you're easily heard. Enunciate clearly. Alter your pitch, to avoid the dullness of a monotone. Display animation in both voice and facial expression. Gesture naturally, without "canning" your movements.

Keep these seven tips in mind. They will reduce your fear of business and social encounters with unfamiliar faces. More positively, you'll start enjoying poise and success that you thought were beyond your reach.  Try Improving Your Company Image a do it yourself guide -creating a positive first impression.

 
Article by: Bill Lampton    expert@selfgrowth.com

Creative Entrepreneurs

In an industry wherein only the strong willed and innovative survive, entrepreneurs need to have a certain sense of creative discipline in themselves in order to stay in the game. That is because entrepreneurs are expected to run a business even at the initial stages. How could they do this otherwise if they are not creative enough to invent new strategies that can garner positive results? For small business owners that are just starting out, having creative entrepreneurs by your side can be very advantageous for you. Below are a few advices that can help stimulate your brain to become as creative as you can be in your career.

Being Infinite

There are plenty of entrepreneurs in the business industry that are only limited in their thinking. Similar to minimalists, they have their own universe wrapped up in one jar and ideas that exist outside of that are not allowed in their minds. As an entrepreneur for your business, you cannot afford to have a limited thinking ability especially when it comes to making profit. You have to think in an unlimited sense and open up your mind to the infinite possibilities outside that jar. Always set your mind to think that there are no boundaries in your decisions and that the sky is the limit in whatever you do. This is the base mindset that most creative entrepreneurs thrive on.

Focus on the Future

When you start to think about creative ideas, you will always come across something that delves within the future. It is a great motivator every time you get the feeling that you are moving forward and thinking how you can approach or handle a situation that has not yet happened. This is a trait that young entrepreneurs should develop early in their careers. Thinking otherwise will not generate a positive result in your output. Discipline yourself in thinking about the future and concentrating on that to help you find the answers while looking ahead for the solutions.

Write Down Ideas

Once you have started to enjoy the familiar sensation of having a creative mindset, you will start to appreciate the idea of writing down whatever comes into your mind. In this case, bring a pen and a small notebook wherever you go and write down even the simple ideas that you can come up with. Writing the ideas that you think of encourages your mind to become creative and stimulates your brain even with this simple technique. Remember that your million dollar idea can hit you in the middle of the night while you are awake reading a book, so having a pen and paper nearby can capture that idea before it is lost.

When you start to come down to doing all that have been mentioned above, you will realize that you are becoming more creative each day. Practice the creative mindset in order to help grow your business in ways that were not known to your limited thinking before. This is how creative entrepreneurs become successful in the long run.

Tired of working for someone else? Be the boss! Learn how to unlock the entrepreneur in you and start building your own business.

Click here to order The One Page Business Plan for the Creative Entrepreneur .

Article by: Justin Timory

Entrepreneurs At Work - Ways To Identify the Entrepreneurial Streak In You

If you have finally had enough of the 9-5 grind and want to strike out in business on your own, can you be sure that you have an entrepreneurial streak that will carry you through from start to finish of your vision? Looking at entrepreneurs at work, maybe you are asking "are there keys to help identify the entrepreneurial streak in me?"

First off the bat is the nature vs. nurture debate. Is it all down to genetic make-up or is it home conditioning that has the magic mix? Who can say for sure? Suffice it to say that there are definitely those gifted with a mind that can see opportunities that have been blinded to the rest of us.

So, if you want to be an entrepreneur at work in your own business, what are some of the ways that help identify an entrepreneurial streak? Rate yourself on the following:

1. Do you live your life in the fast lane? How are your levels of energy and drive compared to others?

2. Do you boldly go where no-one else has gone before? Are you confident enough to take a risk?

3. Are you over your head in debt? Or do you have a clear understanding of how money works to help generate more income?

4. Are you a team leader? Can you get others to work for you in a productive way?

5. Are your best goals achievable or are you living in la-la land?

6. Are you in charge of your journey, or are you a passive follower?

7. Can you admit when you have made mistakes and learn from your failures?

8. Is there a long-range forecast for your business, or is it only for the foreseeable future?

9. Does your competitive streak work for you or against you?

These questions are all based on a study carried out by the Harvard Business Review where they noted the top most common attributes at work in successful entrepreneurs.

It's easy for the majority of us to give up, thinking that we don't have the necessary 'talents' that people like gazillionaire Richard Branson have, but rumour has it that even he had his failures. He actually had a very poor academic record at school, but somehow was gifted with the ability to do things as a 16 year old that set him on course to success.

So how did you get on with the questions? Are you good to go? Do you have a green light to full steam ahead? Or do you have a desire lurking deep on the inside of you that you want to turn into a reality but need some extra help with?

Article by: Olive Bush

How To Start The Perfect Online Business

There is not the slightest doubt that people who are trying to build an online business usually have to struggle against an ever-expanding number of competitors.

When you stop to think about it, this is hardly surprising. As you get immersed in areas such as search engine optimization, web development and design, online advertising, video marketing, product creation, you soon discover that the hordes of other people doing the same thing and many of them are quite prepared to undercut your prices and push you out of the market.

Therefore the issue becomes - how can one build a business where there is virtually an unlimited supply of customers and in which there is limited competition?

The answer lies in marketing to offline businesses.

World-wide there is an astonishing number of offline businesses who either don't have an online presence, or if they do, it is ineffectual. This means that there is an equally astonishing opportunity to build your brand and become a recognized authority with the services that you offer.

It doesn't matter whether we are talking about web design, SEO or traffic generation, you can build a business with limited competition and minimal effort.

This incredible area of opportunity is sometimes referred to as "offline gold" and with very good reason. The challenge is to determine the needs of each customer and then offer services tailored to those needs. You then introduce them to a whole new world where they can harness the power of the internet to help them grow their own businesses. And guess whose business grows at the same time? You guessed right - yours! Offline gold is a very appropriate name

Let's imagine for a moment a small business owner in your local community who has no web presence. You come along and show him how you can help him grow his business through an effective online presence. This owner is spending over $3,000 per year in advertising in the Yellow Pages and is not getting any new customers as a result. You find out as much as you can about his business and then you set him up with a web site, auto-responder, email, articles and videos and you get his business ranked on the first page of Google. You do this for less than he is spending on his advertising. Do you think he would be interested?

And remember - you can do this with virtually no competition because the field is wide open. All you have to do is start looking around your local community.

Marketing to offline businesses is definitely the way of the future and the way to have the perfect online business.

Do you want to have the perfect online business? Surely, you can't say "no" to that question! That's why you should pick up your free report Getting The Word Out

Article by: Ian J Purdie

Job Search Tips - Three Key Steps to Follow Before You Write Your Resume

Finding a job used to be easy, and you pretty much followed the same process each time you tried for a different position at a new company. You would complete an application form, attach your resume, and get called for an interview. Then, it was up to you to sell your skills in person during the interview process. Unfortunately, it is not that easy to land a job in today's competitive economy.

Sometimes, there are literally hundreds of candidates trying for the same position, while a few years ago it was only a couple dozen running the race, so to speak. With so much competition for any type of job now, there has to be a better way of getting noticed amongst the crowd of candidates.

Successful job seekers know that they have to change with the times in order to be competitive. They understand the key aspects of a job transition, and they research and prepare for each stage of that transition.

A Job Marketing Plan is Necessary

There are many components to a successful job campaign today. It involves an entire marketing plan - not just circulating a resume that you put together using an easy template.  So, how is your marketing doing for you? Is your resume working today?

Every successful campaign follows a strategic plan. We develop a plan for everything else in life, so we should also follow a plan in a job marketing campaign.

Think about it - we plan details for many different things: running for office, planning a wedding, organizing a party, planning a vacation, remodeling a house, etc.

If we organize and prioritize for these events, we should do the same for a successful job campaign. Get your campaign in shape for maximum results during your job transition!

Here are three preparatory training phases to complete before you develop your resume:

Phase 1: Goal-Development

You need to know what you want in a career and how you are going to get it. Developing a job transition goal along with a strategic marketing and action plan will ensure you stay on focus.

Take some time to understand what you enjoyed in previous positions and what you would like to do in future positions. Sometimes, this will reveal skills that you excel in that could be used in different industries or positions. You do not always have to move to a similar position, and goal-development will help you think outside the box to new possibilities.

Phase 2: Company/Industry Research

This is a critical step that many do not take the time to complete; yet it ensures success as the process develops. Learn all you can about the companies that you would like to work for, so that you can better fit your marketing materials to what they are seeking.

Nothing speaks success better than being prepared for a job interview, ready to answer specific questions pertaining to the challenges or growth opportunities of that company. And, company research will reveal which of your accomplishments you should include in your resume to prove the value you can bring to that company.

Phase 3: Individual Analysis

Time for an honest evaluation! Most often, this phase will reveal how you are best suited for your ideal job in the future, based on how you successfully contributed value in the past.

Employers want to know what you will do to make their company better. Take the time to analyze how you helped your previous employers. Think through scenarios where you made a difference, and determine the best way to phrase this for your value-based resume.

After you have completed these training phases, you will be better prepared to develop a resume that will help you win the job race. And, preparing a value-based resume will also prepare you for acing the interview.

If you already have a resume, you may want to analyze it to see if it is fit enough to compete for positions with employers today. The traditional, chronological resume is no longer very successful. Employers want to see, in advance, the potential value you will bring to their company.

By now I bet you are wondering what you need to change in your own resume in order to land a job in today's economy? Then get your FREE Instant Access to a video series at http://www.HowDoIGetHired.com/getvideo

You'll get short, easy-to-understand videos outlining the components of a value-based resume, PLUS additional special reports to help you along your job transition and career advancement.

From Naomi Lolley - Helping You Stand Out In The Crowd During Your Job Search.

Article By: Naomi Lolley

Start a Home Daycare - Tips in Putting Up Your Own Child Care Center

If you want to start a home daycare center, you have to make sure at first that you have what it takes to put up a good child care business. Like starting any other business, it is important that you have the important requirements that will help you make your business successful.


Here are a few tips on how to start a home daycare.
- Obtain licenses for your business. This is indeed one of the important things that you have to take care of in a child care business as these types of businesses are also crucial in teaching the young ones as well as in taking care of them.

- Decide on whether you want to go solo with your business or you want to have a business partner to share the cost on investment. But of course, you want to consider the sharing of profits as well.

- Check your local ordinances and regulations pertaining to child care establishments. For sure, your local government is particular on the day care centers and find out if you are putting up your business in a zone allowed by your local government.

- Decide on the facilities and amenities you want to offer. Parents are particular on this one as well, so make sure you provide complete facilities and services especially when it comes to child learning.

- Make sure you have clear policies and regulations that protect the children under your care and make them safe and secured in the daycare center. Safety regulations should be one of your priorities as you are dealing with children, and of course, parents want to leave their kids in an establishment that they trust and they find safe for their children.

- Encourage open communication with parents and make sure you listen to feedback as well as suggestions and problems that they may have with the daycare establishment. Keep in mind as well that your business' success also relies on establishing trust with your clients as well as being able to provide them with good quality service that they are looking for especially those that concerns their child.

- Make sure you accept only a number of children that you can handle from day to day and given your available resources as well. Also determine the age bracket that you want to cater into your center. This will help you focus on the needs of the specific age and make you focus your programs and services on a particular age group and save time as well.

- Make sure that your center is equipped to manage emergencies and prepared to deal with safety and security matters. Equip your center with medicine cabinets and make sure you also follow health code rules. This will not only make your center safe for children, it can also help you avoid having to pay more later if there are violations found or emergency arises.

These are just a few of the things that you have to consider to start a home daycare. Keep in mind that there are a lot of things to consider and you have to study them carefully before trying to put up your child care center.

If you are looking for a great resource that can help you manage your daycare center, check out this guide in managing a day care. Also check out The Daycare Starter Kit, where you can find important tips in starting a daycare.

By: Carolyn Anderson

8 Tips to Start Your Own Business Today

Let's face it the job market has been awful for the last couple of years. The Labor Department says that unemployment remains unchanged and the future for employment does not look promising. Over 14 million people are looking for jobs that don't exist and for every one position being offered hundreds of people are applying. People want to work but they can't because many employers and companies are afraid to hire because of the bad economy.


What can you do when there are no jobs and you need to work?

If you think about it; instead of looking for a job why don't you become your own boss by starting your own business? If your business becomes successful and you are able to hire other people then you can take credit for helping to turn this economy around.

If you want to be successful as a business person then you should have certain traits:  First you should know exactly what kind of business you want to create and believe that you can be a SUCCESS.  Do you have VISION? Can you see yourself doing something you never thought you would be doing, can you go the extra mile to make things happen?  Are you PREPARED for opportunities that cross your path and can you set GOALS and meet them?  If you FAIL are you going to stop because of FEAR or are you going to get back up and start again?  Are you willing to take RISKS and step outside of your comfort zone?  Are you CREATIVE and can you think of outside the box ways to raise money for you business?

If you have even half of these traits then you should consider starting your own business.

* If you go to Google and type "what is the best industry to start a business" you will find several industries that you can start researching to start your business.
* Have a business plan, which is a written proposal for a new business. Business plans typically include a description of the company and its products or services, a budget, an overview of current and projected financing.
* Go to the library or bookstores to read magazines and books on entrepreneurs and how to start a business.
* Visit websites like sba.com or allbusiness.com to research business start-up plans.
* Go to workshops, seminars, and take business classes to enhance your business skills.
* Find a mentor who already has a successful business and ask them for advice.
* When your business plan is complete have someone look over the details to make sure you didn't miss anything.
* When you are ready for financing ask friends and family to help you with start up costs or go to your local community bank; that might identify with you and your vision for starting a business more than a commercial bank.

Remember if you start your own business, and you are successful then you might be the one person to help turn this economy around.

My name is Andrea, I created "Savings Scoop" for people like me who are not sure about their financial future and are living paycheck to paycheck. I want to inspire people to think outside the box and reinvent themselves in this economy.

Article by: Andrea Camille

Online Business Websites

Online business websites can be a really great way to earn a part time or full time living online. They have many great advantages over building a traditional business or starting a franchise.

Some of the main advantages are the extremely low start up and running costs.
In addition they are also extremely easy and simple to set up and run, and you can usually be up and running very quickly, often in less than a week.

I usually find that my start up costs are around $8-$10 per website and that my running costs are usually around $40-$60 per month for all of my websites.

These extremely low costs allow almost anyone to start up and run their own online business websites without risking any severe financial loss.

Some of the most simple and easy to run online business websites are often found in Internet marketing, affiliate marketing, and photography.

Internet marketing and affiliate marketing often have similarities with each other, and in many cases the whole business revolves around promoting your own or other people's products online.

In both cases it is a case of doing some simple research and finding out where people have problems in their lives, and in turn finding and showing them solutions to their problems or dilemmas.

The people who are looking for solutions will happily pay you good money for you to solve their problems. Some of the biggest problems that people have are related to health, the need to earn extra money, or ways to improve their health or lifestyle.

These are also some of the most lucrative markets around the world. Even if you have no knowledge or products in any of these markets you can still make money online.

You can do this by searching online for good quality ready made digital products. You are now free to promote these products with your online business websites on behalf of other companies.

These companies will often help you with your advertising for example allowing you to use free banners etc. They will also look after your customers, deliver their products, and deal with any problems or complaints on your behalf.

There are thousands of products available from digital marketplaces, and these cover everything from building a chicken coop to curing migraine headaches.

By promoting these products and generating sales you will then earn a commission based income from every sale that you make through your online business websites.

Most of us have specialised knowledge in a range of different subjects and this can be anything from baking the best apple pie to renovating antiques or old motor vehicles.

These are known as niche markets; by building our online business websites within specialised niche markets we can rapidly built a customer base of people who are hungry to purchase our specialised niche products and services.

These products are usually in the form of DVDs, CDs, and MP3s, as well as digital e-book's and reports, and occasionally paper products.

Another simple way to earn money with our online business websites is with digital photography; almost everyone has a digital camera or easy access to one.

By submitting your digital photographs to online companies who specialise in stock photography you can build a residual income for life from your photographs.

Once accepted your photographs will be displayed online where the general public and commercial businesses can view your photographs, and in turn purchase them for their own use.

It is possible for each photograph to be sold hundreds of times over and this can lead to a very good residual income. The more photographs you have approved the greater your chances are of earning higher residual incomes.

In addition it is a good idea to submit your photographs to more than one company. This will allow your photographs to be seen by a wider audience, which will allow you to make more sales.

By building several of your own online business websites you can also promote your photographs with the added benefit that you will earn more money by cutting out the middleman.

By building your own online business websites you have the ability to gradually increase your income at your own pace. Over a period of time many people take early retirement and work part time from home.

Article by: Robert Waugh and Karen Waugh

How to Get More Customers - 2 Things to Give Away For Free!

Looking for ways to get more customers? You have come to the right place, here I'm going to share with you 2 very effective ways to generate more customers and prospects to your business. I'm sure some of you may already know this but 'free' is a very powerful way to get people's attention and promote whatever services or products that your company is offering.


1. Give Away Free Demonstrations Or Distribute Free Samples Of Your Products

- Whether you are a big company or small company, this tactic can still be used very effectively. Consider giving away some samples of your products for free. It may costs some money in the beginning but I can guarantee you that this works very well.

If you're offering some kind of a services or training, you might want to consider holding a free event to demonstrate and educate people more about your services. People like to try before they buy.

2. Distribute Give Away Free Literature

- Some of you might not know that 'education' is one of the most effective ways to market your products. What you can do is create brochures, flyers, websites where you put all the benefits, features and ideas of your products onto them and then distribute them to the mass public. If you have a great product that is doing okay right now, then you can definitely do better by doing a better job at educating your prospects about the history, features and benefits of your current products.

We all like to make informed decision when purchasing something, if people do not know what you really have to offer, how do you expect them to buy from you, right?

Article by: Todd Chin

Seven Unique Qualities Of An Entrepreneur

Innovative

A successful entrepreneur is always thinking beyond the ordinary.

He thinks of multiple ways of doing things differently from what presently exists.

This unique quality is what keeps him apart from the average business owner.

Effective planner

Every entrepreneur is a good planner. He packages himself and business in an organized format.

This quality makes him to be able to plan his time, resources and business in a better perspective.

Positive thinker

Successful entrepreneurs are not pessimist but optimist.
They are never discouraged of any major setback in business.
An optimistic entrepreneur is always looking at the positive way of getting things done in a better and more efficient manner.
This quality makes him to have a high degree of self-control and self confidence.

An achiever

The desire to achieve something worthwhile remains a top priority in the life of every successful entrepreneur.
It keeps him motivated and determined.
Success has a price tag, and the entrepreneur is always seeking to break new grounds in business.

Independent minded

Every entrepreneur love working alone without supervision.

They hate monotony and love autonomy with passion.

Passionate about their business

Passion is a prime mover in the engine of every successful business.

This basic ingredient is always present in the life of every successful entrepreneur.

When things are not working according to plan, passion takes over and creates the capacity to overcome boredom and weakness.

Humble

Humility and the desire to learn new things in the ever changing world of business help the entrepreneur to remain on top.

Humility enables the successful entrepreneur to learn from errors and start all over again. Pride remains the number one killer of destiny and business.

By Clement Sadjere

Getting What You Want By Setting Smart Goals

Do not wait for another day because the future is now. Perhaps you have heard some of the techniques and strategies for accomplishing goals before but oftentimes we have to hear them again. A simple and easy acronym to recall is “smart” goals. These smart goals actually stand for specific, measurable, action-oriented and attainable, realistic and time-specific.


Someone already applied these techniques and methods in becoming a motivational inspirational speaker. These simple tips produce incredible results if you follow and practice them constantly. Whether you aspire to expand your business, take a long awaited vacation, increase and boost your sales, or simply to be more physically fit.

Each person dreams or aspires of attaining success. Try to look at your objectives and dreams daily and jot down those specific steps of action. Keep them in your wallet as a reminder.

1. Specific goals— write down an appropriate affirmation for your every goal on any piece of paper after you jot down all your specific smart goals. You can begin with the words, “I am”. “I am” makes your affirmation positive, personal and in the present tense. Then, insert a feeling positive adverb like, “easily” or “happily”. After that, add an action word or verb. Include a particular year and month for when you will like it to have reached that goal.

2. Measurable goals—you can in fact be as measurable and specific as you can include things like a particular sales goal, a job title promotion, or the number of pounds you want to lose…or gain. Think and write down a specific date. For instance, one of my colleague’s affirmation way back in 2000 was, “I am happily interviewing famous movie stars and celebrities all over Southeast Asia by April 2001.

3. Action-oriented and attainable smart goals. Almost all athletes bound for Olympics do this because they know that it’s effective and it reaps favorable results! At the back of the piece of paper or index card, I spent several minutes each day just writing down some action steps on how I could possibly attain this goal. Then, I imagined or visualized myself taking action and achieving it.

4. Realistic smart goals—for a close friend of mine, it might sound quite unrealistic that one of his objectives was to do business in Hawaii. But, having talked to some motivational and inspirational speakers who conduct conferences in Hawaii, he knew and realized that this was a realistic goal, and have achieved it since.

5. Realistic time frames on goals—my friend knew it was going to take time to prepare and distribute demo videos to speakers’ bureaus, so he gave actually gave himself ample time--10 months to accomplish his objective of becoming a motivational and inspirational speaker. In the end, greater success is highly possible if you practice the steps above and take action on your desired targets.

Then, imagine how it would feel to have already achieved those goals. Well, ultimately goals indeed are nothing without action. As Colleen Kettenhofen said, “Set a specific goal and take action because goals alone are nothing without action.”

Article by: Amy Twain

Business Success - What is So Special About Doing Business With You?

What does it take to stand out and be seen as unique? It is an important question and if you are in business and serious about being successful, it is absolutely necessary to know and be very clear about the answer. It will make all the difference between spectacular success and mediocre, or even failure. Today's consumer is inundated with choices and to grab and keep their attention you will need to be remarkable!


We know that, we have heard it before, but what exactly does it mean and how can you cultivate and implement such a powerful concept? Unfortunately, there is not a system to share or a step-by-step formula to help you take action and make it happen. Being unique and remarkable are things that you figure out yourself and continue building over time. You hold on to it when you figure it out and it is a personal and somewhat confidential subject.

You can get started with your own journey from average to remarkable. You need to know that to stand out and be an obvious choice for your prospects is to over deliver value where none or little was expected. You need to be open to taking risks and putting yourself out there in a way that makes it possible that you most certainly will not succeeded. Think about it, if you play it safe or play by the rules you are no doubt going to remain in the ranks of mundane and average because that is what most everybody else is doing.

Get very clear about what the main problems and concerns are with your clients. This is a great place to get started with your brain storming about adding vale and standing out as the only obvious choice. People would prefer to do business with those they feel relate to who they are as people and the unique circumstances they face in their life or business. What will it take, how will you move forward with this idea of standing out and being unique in your market place?

Please enjoy the FREE bonus gifts that are available for you by visiting http://www.ActionHabits.com. You'll receive a 20 minute reply of a webinar called "Keep moving forward", a free report of '200+ Action Habits of successful entrepreneurs' and also a '7 day simple start' action plan to take action now!

By Helen Raptoplous

Business Idea.... Start a Delivery Business

Looking for an in-demand small business opportunity that doesn't require you to take out a second mortgage to start? Then consider starting a delivery business! There is an ongoing need for quality delivery services that are affordable and reliable, and if you have a truck, van, or even a motorcycle, you can use it for making light deliveries or messages and letters in your community. Many people begin a delivery business by contracting with stores and other businesses in their communities, like law firms or real estate agents, to drop off packages and messages on a retainer basis per trip. Typical rates for businesses of this type are twenty cents per mile, a certain dollar amount per in-city drop, or a certain dollar amount per month to be on call. This can be a very lucrative small business that you can use to supplement your existing income or to build a full time income from.


The Market for Delivery Services
Most businesses have at least some need to make local deliveries and maintaining an on site service can be less cost-effective than farming the task out. After all, merchants and businesses would need to have a vehicle as well as commercial insurance - and then they would need to hire someone to drive the truck and make the actual deliveries, all of which can add up to a lot more than paying your delivery service to do the job. Those businesses that have an on-site delivery methods often experience a peak season where they need the extra help to please their customers and satisfy their demands and orders. A delivery does not have to be merchandise; it can be time-sensitive documents or other papers or a part that a mechanic needs ASAP but doesn't have time to go across town to pick up.

What You Will Need to Get Started
To get started in a delivery business, you will need:

Reliable and fuel-efficient transportation; in large metropolitan areas, some delivery businesses are operated by bicycle, although this business model will not go well in all areas.

A business license and permit from your local and state government as needed.

Commercial insurance for your delivery vehicle.

A cell phone for staying in touch with clients while you are on deliveries.

A mileage log to keep track of your mileage for tax purposes.

Bookkeeping software, if you plan to keep your own records.

Landing Clients

Many businesses have used the same delivery services for years and will be reluctant to give your business a try. This is why it is important to be patient during the start up phase. Slowly develop a stream of clients, provide a good service to them that is reliable and affordable, and you will begin to see your client base grow. You can begin by advertising your services in your local newspaper, and by passing out fliers to various businesses that may need your help. You should also build a custom website that will allow you to be seen in the local search result when someone queries for delivery services. And remember: doing a good job allows you to get the best, free advertising of all: word-of-mouth advertising from satisfied customers.

Good luck with your delivery business!

Article by: Joseph_Alexander

How to Write a Business Plan For a New Start Up Business

When you're starting a business, it's best to start with a written business plan. This way you can logically think through your vision for the business, set out your goals, along with a timeframe, and tell the reader how you'll achieve those goals.

In the book What They Don't Teach You in the Harvard Business School, Mark McCormack tells of a study conducted on students in the 1979 Harvard MBA program. In that year, the students were asked, "Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?" Just three percent of the students had written goals; 13% did have goals, but not written; and a massive eighty-four percent didn't have specific goals.

Ten years on and the students were interviewed once more.The findings, while a little predictable, were very much astonishing. The 13% who had goals were earning twice as much (on average) as the 84 who didn't have any. The learning point here though is the about the 3% who had clear and written goals. On average, they were earning TEN TIMES as much as the other 97 percent put together.

A business plan is a logical explanation of how you intend your business to achieve its goals. Do you think you should write one?

A plan enables you to think through the issues that face you, and how to overcome them. It also assists financiers (bankers or investors) in deciding whether your plan holds together, and helps them form a view as to whether your new business will succeed - and therefore whether they will back you!

Article by: Mattew Broadbent

Business Opportunities For Women

Today every person wants to work and earn some money because high the cost of living. Women who are housewives, mothers etc can help family's financial status. For this, a home business is best for them. Here are some ideas:

1. Catering:

Many women have started catering business from their homes. Do you love to cook, why not start selling the food? You can contact to several organizations and offices for your service.

2. Childcare

This is the business for those women who have children. They can start childcare business from home. There are two certain benefits in childcare business. First one is It will give you extra income and secondly it will keep your child busy.

3. Direct selling

Direct selling is very popular way to earn some extra money from home. If you think you can tell others something about new products, Start direct selling business. There are some very good direct selling companies in the market. Think about your interest and relate it to products.

4. Event Planning

Event planning is the way of planning the festivals, ceremony, party etc. and An event planner handle all the event related jobs. To become an event planer you should be creative and you should know how to manage situation. You can start event planning business from home.

5. Tutoring

Tutoring is very cheap home based business idea but it is not for anyone. For tutoring you need to be smart and knowledgeable according to subject. If you have these two qualities then start with one or two children and charge hourly.

6. Home Decoration

Sometime it is called interior designing. For home decoration business you have to be creative and need an eye for design. You can start with no college degree, little investment. Today many people have not enough time to decorate their homes. That is why they want a professional for decoration.

For any business you have to advertise your business. Tell about your business to your friends, relatives, and others as well. Be patient. Every business needs time to grow.

Article by: Naven K

Learn to Make a List For Your Small Business

When you first start building your business, and as a smart move on your behalf, you have so many details that you don't know where to start. You're trying to make sure that you keep it straight, right and make sure you don't miss anything. So what you should start doing is keep a list.


What I've learned is to keep or make a list of things to do. Keeping a list helps you control your thought and helps you keep it straight. Plus by you seeing how or what you have to do in a list, you will let it happen.

I have a list for things to do for the day. What needs to happen this week and what to complete by the end of the month. List help you feel organized and help you make sure you don't miss anything.

Lists provide away to see if you are accomplishing anything. List helps you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Lists give you or help you think outside the box.

The biggest reason I always tell a small business owner is to keep a list is to have a good record or history of what you are doing. That to me is more valuable than anything else. Record keeping should be the number one thing of owning a business.

Lists are great and they are also great motivators of agenda. List helped me build a portfolio of facts about my business. List helped me redo my business plan. List allowed me to help with a sales letter. List provided me with information I needed for an account error we found. List helps me create a press release when I needed one.
                           No matter how big or small your business that you own is. Lists are great for business.

Article By: Ricardo Gonzales

No Confidence? How to Have a Happy, Confident Mind

No Confidence? How to Have a Happy, Confident Mind


Want to improve your confidence? Even the most outwardly successful person can lack confidence in themselves in particular situations. How can you learn to be a more confident person? Read these essential self-esteem and confidence-building tips.

WHAT IS CONFIDENCE?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines confidence as "a feeling or consciousness of one's powers" or "the quality or state of being certain". Confidence is also a trust in a person or being.

YOUR INNER VOICE: YOU AND ONLY YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BE CONFIDENT
Confidence is essentially an attitude. Having a confident state of mind and secure self-esteem is something that comes from within YOU and ONLY YOU. Many people consider confidence as a result of a particular achievement or status. For example, they think "when I'm slim and beautiful, I'll be more confident", or "when I've made a success of myself and I'm driving a Ferrari, I'll have all the confidence in the world" or "if I weren't such a loser, I would be more confident". People who lack confidence and self-esteem often feel that they have no control over their lives, that they were born ugly, or poor or stupid. You have to realize that self-confidence is not dependent on your achievements or status (or perceived lack thereof). And that confidence can be learned and developed with practice and the right techniques.

Remember too that a lack of self-confidence is an extremely common worry for many and you are not only in your fears.

GETTING INTO A CONFIDENT STATE
Remember the last time you felt truly confident and happy. Perhaps you received a prize at school, or your father once praised you for a particular achievement. It does not matter how big or small the actual achievement was: you are simply trying to replicate the emotion of feeling totally confident. Close your eyes and recall that emotion in as much detail as possible. Remember your physical feeling, your emotions, the sounds around you, the colors, the smells and environment. It does not matter if you don't recall every detail straight away, with practice you will develop a clearer mental picture. Practice bringing that feeling of confidence back again and again until you can summon that confident state almost immediately. Now, whenever you are in a stressful state or need a confidence boost, bring back that feeling. It might take some practice at first. Do not worry if you don't get it the first few times. Try to practice it everyday for about one month. If you require a certain trigger to help you recall that feeling then use it. I find that if I attach a song to that emotion, then all I need to do is play it loudly on my earphones, and I can immediately recall it.

SMILE AND WALK TALL
Look in the mirror and give a big, deep smile. Straighten your shoulders, put your head up and walk tall. If you act confident, you will feel more confident. Your mind and body are capable of incredible things.

BE AWARE OF YOUR BREATHING
If you need to, slow down your breathing. During stressful moments, be aware of your breathing. Focus on making each breath deeper and slower and you will gradually feel more calm and confident.

USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE
Use positive language as much as possible. Avoid phrases such as
- "I'm not good at"
- "I can't"
- "I shouldn't"
- "I have to"
- "But..."
- "Alright for some"

BE POSITIVE TOWARDS OTHERS
If we are positive towards others, they are more likely to be positive towards you. Try to be positive, polite and as nice as possible to people around you. Focus on them, listening and empathizing with their situation and you are likely to receive a similar response back.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CONSTANTLY BATTER YOUR CONFIDENCE
Remember that self-confidence comes from you and not from others. If you have someone who is constantly putting you down, you could try and avoid contact with them, but you could also try to turn their words into a positive. You might have a parent who is always telling you to save more money, get a girlfriend, lose weight, work harder, be more like someone else. Whenever you hear these words just say to yourself "they are only saying these things because they love me and want the best for me. I love mom and her comments because she only wants the best for me".

CONFIDENCE WILL COME
Like many things in life, having confidence takes practice. Do not expect it to come overnight. If you are shy in public places, the more practice you have meeting people, the better you will become at confident, social interactions. Just keep working at your confidence and self-esteem little by little and the results will come.

Article by: Gemma_Swansburg

8 of 32 Online Money Makers

1. Offer Credit Card Know-How:
This knowledge is golden today. You become familiar with the formats of electronic payment methods and help other entrepreneurs achieve merchant card status. Once a company or an individual decides to start a business online, they will reach conclusion that they must accept credit cards in order to function and conduct business.

2. Start A Blog:
Pick a topic you know something about and start blogging. Use Google's AdSense program to sell ads on your blog; the more your readers click on the ads, the more money you make. Promote your blog on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

3. Sell Your Creative Wares:
Start a website to specifically sell your own CD, designer outfit, accessory or book. One doesn't need a record contract, a big book deal or a Macy's to make it any longer.

4. Help Entrepreneurs Get Online:
You'll investigate all the Internet Service Providers and help get your clients online. You can even help them pick out a computer if they need that, too.

5. Open An Import Shop:
You can start your own import shop online. Find a product from another part of the world that you want to import and sell via your website.

6. Turn Trash To Cash:
Visit eBay and other auction sites and start your own business turning your junk into treasure. There are so many auction sites available, but do some research and some reading on the online auction action so you can avoid the pitfalls. Visit eBay.com and open an account; it's free!

7. Begin A Promotional Biz:
You can start a business helping others establish different types of promotions-lotteries, sweepstakes and contests- on their websites. Trivia contests and promotional gimmicks keep customers returning to a website.

8. Go Cyber In Your Current Biz:
Add online capabilities to your existing business. If you have any type of business, conduct a survey to see if your clients would like it if you added a terminal so they could go online-for a fee, of course.


Article by: Hassan Aryamand
Published in parts.  1 of 3

Seven Reasons to Start Your Own Profitable Business in 2010

Starting a business of your own, can open a world of opportunities and options. A close look at successful entrepreneur indicates that majority of them run their own business which brings in a residual income stream. Below are some of the reasons why you need to start your own business this year:


Imagine how it would feel to get up at your own sweet time and not hurry to office in the regular chaos of snarling traffic. And then, to begin the day as though you are fresh from home and nothing has happened. You are your own boss, and you determine when to resume and when to close.

Extra Income has not hurt anyone up to now, and it should not be hurting you either. If you are willing top do that extra bit of work or travel that extra mile for your boss, I am sure you will be more than willing to do so for yourself, especially if you feel that it would improve the quality of life of you and your family.

Multiple stream of Income does not come for free. It involves hard work! It is not hard work when you are doing what you are passionate about. The benefits of creating a multiple income stream far outweigh the risk and stress involved.

I consider it foolish working hard daily, only to be paid peanuts as salary on a monthly basis. Just check the following benefits accruing to every business owner:

1. Work at your own pace
The monotony of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm is completely eliminated. You have the advantage of been your own time keeper. Flexibility enables the average entrepreneur to perform at the optimum.

2. Flexibility to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it
Working for others can reduce you to a human robot, because your suggestions many sometimes be discarded at the expense of management policy and decisions.

3.Confidence and Fulfillment
Having your own business makes you more of a complete person who can proudly say that he/ she is an entrepreneur who has achieved something.

4. Limitations of earning do not exist
You can earn as much as you want by just putting more effort and the risk of financial failure is ultimately eliminated

5. Job security and fear of unemployment becomes history
The fear of been sacked ranks as the number one fear among employees. This fear can become a major obstacle to achieving the goal of having your own business.

6.You retire when you feel like not when you become old and weak
I once had a boss who after retiring from service became useless to himself and family. This was someone who had put in 35 years of meritorious service to the company and here he was living in a dirty apartment owned by the company. He did not have a home of his own, and to make matter worse, he did not have a business of his own. That was the day I decided to opt for a business of my own and end the rat race of paid employment.

7. You will be your own boss with no one looking over your shoulder
The joy and freedom to take crucial decision that will ultimately shape your business can be exciting and at the same time challenging. It is however a motivational factor as an entrepreneur.

Success is very much achievable to everybody. Believe that and you have taken the first step on your way to starting your own business in 2010.  Do a thorough analysis of the above points before making a decision on whether your have the drive and guts to face the turbulent and risky world of entrepreneurship

Remember, you can never achieve real wealth, working for someone else!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clement_Sadjere

3 Things You Must Do in Business If You Want to Make a Profit

For many people, starting and business and then succeeding in that business seems a very ambiguous task; most have no idea how it is done. For those that do understand how to start and succeed a business, the rewards can be great and unparalleled. The truth is that being successful in your own business encompasses only three things: revenue, cost, and capital. These three items are what you need to understand, know how to drive, and be able to change at your will. So if you want to be successful in business, you need to know all about them.

Revenue
Revenue is why you go into business. It is driven by customers and price; the more customers you have, the more revenue you will have. Also, the higher your price is for your product or service, the more revenue you will have. So first, let's focus on customers. You get more customers by doing the right kind of marketing. You may need to consider advertising, partnerships with other businesses that correlate to what you do or that can benefit from what you have to offer. You may need to get an online presence also. Whatever the case may be, you will need to find where your customers are and where they go to look for the kind of product you have to offer. Once you find that out, you will be ready to start attracting them.

Next, let's address price. Pricing is really important for a successfully business. You want to make sure that the price of your product or service directly relates to the value that you are providing. Many people recommend using the market value of related or similar goods and services. However, this is not always as good strategy. You could end up pricing yourself too low for your product, or even too high. Your price should be what you think your target customer is willing to pay for your product taking into consideration the value that you are providing them.

Cost
For any business to be profitable, you have to keep your costs low. Before you get your hopes set to high on whatever business you are going to get into, you need to figure out if it is feasible. Talk to your potential supplier and really get a good feel for what it is going to cost you to produce you product or service. Discover if there are bulk discounts; you will also want to shop comparatively. Use this as negotiating room to get your suppliers to lower the price. Even small decreases in the cost to you can make a huge difference in your bottom line. Sometimes you may have to think outside of the box when creating your product or service. Doing things differently may offer you more cost benefits as well.

Capital
Many people underestimate and overestimate how much capital they really need. It is recommended that most start up businesses need 18 months of operating money to get started. This may sound like a lot but depending on the kind of business you go into, it may not be very much at all. For example, if you start an online business, you may only need as little as $5,000- $10,000. If you are starting a software company, however, you may need upwards of $1,000,000 to fund properly. The right financing will make or break your business, so make sure you understand how much you are going to need; that way you get it right the first time. Otherwise, you will be 8 months into your venture and have found a real opportunity for success but be missing that key factor: money.

So before you go into business, consider these three items. Make sure that you take the time to plan. Business plan can be a great place to start, but the real key is that financial plan. So make sure you understand the money, otherwise you won't understand how to get it!

By Sheila Dollarsby

You Can Too......(Make Money)

It is no news that we are living in rough times, but there are millions of people doing rather well despite this fact. Regular, ordinary, plain "Joe Schmo" people are managing to keep their heads above water and many of them are doing it in the comfort of their own home. You many have already guessed what this post is about. That's right... the home based business world is growing bigger all the time. The success rate for home based businesses is around 70%. For those of you who are not aware, 70% success rate for businesses is staggeringly good. On top of that, more and more resources are coming available that make it easier and cheaper to start an online or home based business.

All it really takes is to stop and think a little and add to that a little bit of research and you can find a way to make money from home. Additionally, it is very possible to make a decent living from home. Some online businesses are even built on top of other online businesses. It really comes down to an age old idea that if you can find a need and fulfill that need, you can make a lot of money. I challenge you, and it is an easy challenge, to do a little sniffing around to see what opportunities are available. There are many different kinds of platforms specifically tailored for use by people who have a skill or talent or idea to make money with. If you find the right platform that provides the proper foundation and framework for what you need to do, the only thing left is for you to do is do it.

One such resource is etsy. This website gives people a platform to sell handmade items and supplies. It has given a money making opportunity to people whom, without it, would just be dabbling with some crafty little hobby. The variety and craftsmanship of the sellers at etsy is endless. Each seller gets their own online shop from which they can present and sell their wares. You may have never given much thought to magnets, but take a look at this shop called StuckTogether. So much goes into the detail, beauty, and value of items like those found at StuckTogether and you won't find these things just anywhere. Each item from these lone vendors comes with a cherisable rarity. Many items are one of a kind. StuckTogether is just one of the many shops you can go to as a buyer to find unique gift ideas. The items range from practical to whimsical.

Maybe you have a knack for making something. Maybe people would find your creation useful or amusing. Maybe someone would be willing to pay money for your creation. Turn your hobby or craft into a money machine. Many people have already proven it can be done and places like etsy have helped to pave the way. The rest is up to you. This may be starting to sound like a blog version of an infomercial. I just wanted to throw out an idea for anyone looking for a way to make some extra money using what you may already have at your disposal.

Good luck to you and I hope this helped.
By: Anthony Hall
http://www.uvalue.org