Did you realize that Apple Computer, Hershey Chocolate, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and the Ford Motor Company all started out as home based businesses? A website from the U.S. Government claims they did, and that over half of all U.S. businesses are based out of an owner’s home. The website, Business.gov, is chock-full of resources for those exploring a home business opportunity.
Some of the resources include:
• Small Business Start-Up Assessment
Are you ready to start a business? In less than 5 minutes, this assessment tool will help you understand your readiness for starting a small business.
• Can You Live Where You Work … And Work Where You Live?
Find out what’s like to live and work in the same space, and read about experiences of other home based business owners.
• Home Based Business … Is it For Me?
Learn about several factors to consider when starting a home based business.
• Starting a Business in Your Home: Weighing the Pros and Cons
Consider these factors before you begin a home based business.
• Small and Home Based Business Virtual Resource Library
Get resources to help you start, run and manage a home based business.
• How to Set Up a Home Based Business
Checklist of things to do when starting a home based business.
• Business Plan for Home Based Businesses
Provides a comprehensive approach to developing a business plan for a home based business.
• Zoning Laws for Home Based Businesses
Learn how your local government’s zoning ordinances may affect your home-based business.
The website also has categories dedicated to:
• licenses and permits, with a handy zip code search function to learn what licenses and permits are required for your type of business in your neighborhood.
• Finance and taxes, with sections dedicated to business insurance and loans and grants.
• Staying compliant with the law, which addresses everything from advertising law to workplace safety and health. It also provides links to the most-requested government forms and government agencies.
Collaborate with others through discussion groups listed on the website. Current discussion topics include “7 tips to give a name on a product”, “do you outsource” and “4 ways to happiness in the online business.”
To demonstrate its environmental good sense, the website even has a section entitled, “Green Your Home Office”. Among the tips and ideas it offers are “the top six Marketing tips for marketing to green consumers over the Internet.”
With this website, you can prepare for your home business opportunity at your convenience. Who says the government can’t be helpful?
The economy rises and falls depending on varying factors. So, how does one predict their success in relation to the local, national or international economic situation? How will students be prepared for their first steps into the workplace? For many, the smart answer is entrepreneurism. The home-based business is growing at a rapid pace as more and more people are seeking self-reliance, security and the ability to control their own financial future. With the developments in e-commerce, becoming an entrepreneur has become even easier.
