How to Start A Profitable Home Based BusinessWritten by Patrick Baghestani
In these days, it's becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet with just one source of income. Thus, more and more people are investigating possibilities of starting their own extra-income business. Most of these part-time endeavors are started and operated from comfort and privacy of home.Most of these people are making extra money they need. Some have wisely and carefully built these extra income efforts into full-time, very profitable businesses. Others are just keeping busy, having fun, and enjoying life as never before. The important thing is that they are doing something other than waiting for government to give them a handout; they are improving their lot in life, and you can do it, too! The fields of mail order selling, multi-level marketing, and in-home party sales have never been more popular. If any of these kinds of extra income producing ideas appeal to you, then you owe it to yourself to check them out. But these aren't only fields of endeavor you can start and operate from home, with little or no investment, and learn as you go. If you type, you can start a home-based typing service; if you have a truck or have access to a trailer, you can start a clean-up/hauling service. Simply collecting old news papers from your neighbors can get you started in paper recycling business. More than a few enterprising housewives have found success and fortune by starting home and/or apartment cleaning services. If you have a yard full of flowers, you can make good extra money by supplying fresh cut flowers to restaurants and offices in your area on a regular basis. You might turn a ceramics hobby into a lucrative personalized coffee mug business. What I'm saying is that in reality, there's literally no end to ways you can start and operate a profitable extra income business from your home. The first thing you must do, however, is some basic market research. Find out for yourself, first-hand, just how many people there are in your area who are interested in your proposed product or service, and would be "willing to stand in line and pay money for it." This is known as defining your market and pinpointing your customers. If after checking around, talking about your idea with a whole lot of people over a period of one to three months, you get idea that these people would be paying customers, your next effort should be directed toward "detailing" of your business plan. The more precise and detailed your plan - covering all bases relating to how you'll do everything that needs to be done - easier it's going to be for you to attain success. Such a plan should show your start-up investment needs, your advertising plan, your production costs and procedures, your sales program, and how your time will be allocated. Too often, enthusiastic and ambitious entrepreneurs jump in on an extra income project and suddenly find that costs are beyond their abilities, and time requirements more than they can meet. It pays to lay it all out on paper before you get involved, and clearer you can "see" everything before you start, better your chances for success.
| | Internet is my true agentWritten by Dessislava Oundjian
Internet is my true agentYou know type -- that doodling type. Every time there is a pen and paper on table, they will be sketching something down, with a mysterious smile, giggling quietly and making funny faces. Vlad Kolarov is no exception -- however, he has built a carrier out of his funny habit. If you are no Internet stranger, probably you have already seen his work. It might be a Yahoo ecard, or a funny cartoon on some web site, a greeting card or even his online portfolio (http://www.vladkolarov.com). Vlad has been around for some time. Q> Why did you decide to become a cartoonist? R> I don't think I ever had a choice. Obviously I was born with cartoon gene - I've always loved to doodle and create my own little world on paper. As a kid at school I noticed that my cartoons made people laugh and brought me some respect. That's a nice feeling. So to get paid to do it is best. In spite of my law education (which I actually have never used), I decided to follow my stars and become a full-time cartoonist/illustrator. It turned out to be a very tough job but I also love fact that I make my own hours and work at home. And it's great having a job that deals with humor. Q> So how did it all start? R> It all started in 1989 (my God! That makes me almost as old as Triceratops). It was a very exciting time. After some time freelancing, I landed a job as a cartoonist for biggest Bulgarian daily newspaper "24 hours". Several years later I decided to expand my horizon and moved to Vancouver, BC with my family. I’ve been living and working there ever since -- I love place!!! Q> Vlad, how do you find new markets? Do you make any "cold calls" or do you wait for clients to call you? R> Finding new markets is key to being a successful freelancer. As an artist working at home you should be always looking for new clients. I contact magazines, websites, greeting card companies, etc... Also, they contact me. I find having a web site portfolio very useful (check it out - http://www.vladkolarov.com). A freelancer MUST promote himself in every way possible. If one simply waits for clients to come to him, they'll never make it. Q> Share a marketing secret with our readers. R> Always be creative! For example my latest idea is to use power of Internet and turn my fans into my agents. Anyone who recommends me and brings in a new client will receive 15% commission of what I get. So if you want to make some extra money -- spread my name around:) Q> You have such a wonderful drawing style! Do you have any art training? R> No. I’ve had some art classes, but I was not very good -- so gave up and started drawing what I like instead. I noticed that my style changed a lot during years, and eventually it is what you see now. I am a fan of simple forms, so that is what I am after. Less is more (except in bedroom):) Q> What is schedule of a man "working @ home"? R> My day starts at around 8AM. I start with answering my mail, then drawing cartoons and promoting my work. The nice thing is that each day is a new challenge with a different project and a different client, so I never get bored. This usually goes till 8PM -- six days a week. Freelancers must work as many hours as possible.
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