Any business is going to require time and effort to get going. If you’re working at home and are surrounded by distractions, this might be harder than it sounds. You must act same as if you were going out to an office or factory to work. Set aside certain hours that are devoted only to your business. Set aside space just for your business. Buy tools you need to do quality work.

You need not buy new equipment. Check out what’s for sale at eBay or at garage sales and flea markets. Buy your materials when they are on sale or from clearance bin. Buy online. The same products you see in stores can cost 33% to 50% less. The important thing is not to scrimp. Your customers will know it and your sales will be affected.

You will have to devote some time and expense to advertising of one sort or another. You have to find customers or you are just wasting your time. Local craft shows are a good place to start, as are online auctions at sites such as eBay or Yahoo.

I really can’t tell you what your budget should be. It need not be enormous. But this is definitely not something that can be done for free, nor will you get rich quick.

Please go to www.theartfulcrafter.com/craft-business.html. Read articles I wrote and check out some of resources I recommend. You will be starting out with a lot more ammunition than most.

Good Luck. Let me know how things work out.

Eileen Bergen http://www.theartfulcrafter.com Your Guide to Fun & Profits from Crafts

Notice I have only mentioned fact that it is "probably time to quit". No one but actual business owner can sufficiently measure when a business should be declared a failure and when they, business owner, should walk away.

Let's face it, even older businesses can face renewed challenges to their survival. Markets can change drastically sometimes, seemingly overnight. Consumer behavior also can change quickly. Newer businesses can face start-up challenges, but older businesses can encounter significant "bumps in road" to business success as well.

All above factors need to be weighed carefully before deciding either to "quit" or "stay" with home-based business.

There are some methods that can be successful for alleviating some of financial and emotional stress that accompanies a failing business:

1. An outside source of employment can be taken "temporarily", and business can be worked on "part-time" in an entrepreneur's free time.

2. Loans and grants can be taken to alleviate financial strains until business becomes solvent.

3. The entrepreneur can enlist aid of family and friends, by allowing them to "buy into" business, or by forming an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), wherein business owner is no longer solely responsible for debts or liabilities. Most new business owners start with a Sole Proprietorship model, so switching to more encompassing LLC may indeed aid business in its quest for survival.

4. Business owners can "downsize" their expenditures, both in business, and in their personal lives. Downsizing of expenditures can literally save thousands per month and may indeed "save" business from ruin!

In reality, there is no "shame" in failure. Failure at anything only teaches valuable lessons, lessons that may be incorporated into success at another time! If you're suffering in your home-based business, don't allow pride to stop you from admitting defeat and moving forward in another area of life! That's what being an entrepreneur is really all about.