Home-Based Business Safety and Security IssuesWritten by Vishal P. Rao
Anyone that operates a business from home knows that home-based business security issues often come up. This is just part and parcel of running any home-based business.Realistically, in order to be successful at a home-based business, a business owner needs to release their address and phone number to potential clients or buyers eventually. Even if this is not done, it is rather easy for potential clients and buyers to research and discover phone number and location of a home-based business. Therefore, it can be harrowing at times, for home-based business owners in issues of safety and security, especially if their home-based business is indeed, in their home, exposing their family members to security and safety issues and risks, as well as themselves. This is not to say that undue measures should be taken, or that undue fear should pervade. A home-based business is really at no more risk of crimes against person or property than a personal residence or any other type of business. Pre-cautionary measures should however, within normal guidelines be employed, to prevent any untoward occurrences during course of a business day and after office hours. These measures can include, but should not be limited to following: 1. The locking of doors and windows as is convenient and implementation of safety and security devices, even when building is occupied. Many home-based business owners don't feel that they may legitimately keep doors and windows "locked", as they may feel that this will inconvenience their clients. This is not true, as any visit to a corporate building will soon prove. Whenever visitors enter a corporate structure, they are usually scrutinized well by cameras, security personnel and other safety and security methods. As a home-based business owner, you do have every right to employ locked doors and windows, and even implement security cameras and other devices. It is your right under law, and clients, overall, will understand this. 2. The use of structural security measures, such as deadbolts, dogs, fencing, and one-way viewing glass inserted into doors. Measures such as these are used routinely by homeowners and a business within a home does not rule out use of these deterrents. 3. The use of a separate phone line for business needs. This is only a small added expense per month, but when clients call, no one in a home-based business person's "family" will inadvertently answer, thus lending to belief that business is not attached to a personal residence in any way.
| | Today's Entrepreneur - Promoting Your BusinessWritten by ReGina Crawford-Martin
Today’s Entrepreneur By ReGina Crawford-Martin President of G Styl Productions Incorporated, Cleveland, OH Independent Writer Promoting Your Business Your business is registered, business cards and letterhead are printed, you purchased office equipment, and rented a storefront to set up your office. Why don’t you have any clients/customers? Other than close family and friends and your landlord, who else knows you’re in business? Now it’s time to promote your business, and here are some ways to accomplish your goal of gaining clients/customers. One: Networking Groups and Events. There are tons of networking groups all over globe, and these groups have events where its members can meet face-to-face. Most of these groups are free to join, or have a minimal fee. The key to successful networking is to make sure you join a group that will allow you to meet potential clients/customers for products/services you offer. You don’t want to join a group whose primary interest is cooking, when your business is computer repair. Also, you don’t want to join a group whose primary objective is to leave business world behind, and strictly socialize. Before joining a networking group or attending an event, make sure you know mission and purpose of group and/or event. When attending a networking group that meets your needs, be sure to have plenty of business cards on-hand to distribute to other attendees. Nothing says unprofessional as an entrepreneur looking for business, who needs to write down his/her information on a cocktail napkin. Also, pre-script and practice a thirty (30) second commercial about yourself, your business, products/services you offer, and products/services that you need. Be sure to keep it to thirty seconds, especially if there are a lot of attendees. Don’t give to many personal details about yourself, and don’t recite your complete business plan to group. It is extremely important that you present have/need scenario at these events, so that attendees know that you plan to utilize their products/services as well as offer your own products/services.
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