Highs and lows were something that I began to notice when I first started a home business. I have many years of top level management experience in “traditional” corporations and have experienced lots of business cycles (corporate “ups and downs”), but natural “ups and downs” that occur in a home business (particularly in early stages) can be psychologically punishing if you don’t prepare yourself in advance for fact that it is a basic law of nature…it will be a rocky road until you have spent enough time and effort to build your business.

The impact of “Yo-Yo” (ups and downs in developing your home based business) is amplified by fact that you are now in business on your own…I guess you could say that it is sweet/sour or yin/yang of work at home businesses. You get to call all of shots, but you are also standing there alone (the emperor has no clothes).

In closing, I would leave you with two thoughts:

1). Pick your opportunity carefully and then be prepared to stick with it through inevitable ups and downs that you experience.

2). Once you decide on a program, work it consistently for at least 6 to 12 months and try not to pay much attention to early month-to-month results (avoid “Yo-Yo”)

What Jenni should say is, "I would be thrilled to come out, but I'll have to keep consultation charge in place. What I can do is credit your consultation towards first room we makeover, each additional room would be at regular rate. I'm sure I'll have some great ideas that we can work on together"

Of course it takes confidence in yourself to come back with that kind of a reply. Jenni is only going to have that kind of confidence in herself by knowing her competition, what they charge, and that fact that she is as good, or better, than they are.

So here's key to not giving away farm:

Know your competition and commonly established rates for your service.

If you are competent, confident and know you have as much skill and talent as your competitors, there is no reason why you should be charging any less than they do. In fact, some people believe if you charge more it's a sign that you must really be good!

But let's not get carried away, point isn't to see how much you can charge before you run yourself out of business. The point is, "Don't sell yourself short"

One great way to measure your competition is to call and try them out. I personally did this not long ago when I was thinking about opening a software consultation / training business. I found a small business specializing in software training and had them send out an employee for two hours of Microsoft Access training. The friendly lady who arrived spent two hours reading 'help' screens (to herself) and flipping though paperback user's manual trying to figure out how to show me some rather simple tasks I had questioned her about. Hardly what I would call expert training. However, it served its purpose - I knew I could do a better job.

Do your research and provide an efficient, professional service. Show them that you're worth every penny. If you build that kind of reputation, price will not be much of an issue. Your customers will admire your confidence and work ethic and be happy they're doing business with you.

Oh, and keep deed to farm in your drawer where it belongs.