So you're starting a home-based business. You realize that getting up everyday, day after day, using some of your skills and knowledge to prosper someone else more than yourself is not your calling in life. You have skills buried inside of you trying to escape and reveal themselves. You are passionate about things you want to share with others. This passion, this desire is burning so bright within you, you find that even though you work hard all day long at a full-time job (this includes homemakers whose jobs are longer than average 9-5 job), you take care of personal matters after work, you still sit down in evening and begin fulfilling your dreams late into night. You're a Midnight Warrior.

Even though you've taken initiative to follow through with your plans, staying up late and working on your dreams only describes you on surface. A Midnight Warrior possesses qualities not found in most people. Let me spell it out for you:

Masterful, highly skilled, wise, yet teachable

Idealistic, a visionary who is constantly pursuing ideals

Determined, confidently settling and knowing inwardly you will succeed

Noble, showing greatness, high-quality in your work and product you offer, brave

Ingenious, having an inventive mind, clever

=== 1. Research Your Market.

Don't try to force a new product or service on an unwilling market. Research your intended market first, then create a product or service to fit that market.

Put another way, you can't force people to want what you have to offer... but you can offer them what they want.

Your research should also include an in-depth look at your competition. Is there too much competition for area that you plan to service? Can you offer something that your competition cannot, while still making a profit? By analyzing your competitors, you'll be able to learn from both their successes and failures.

=== 2. Don't Try to Be Everything to Everyone.

You will never make everyone happy, no matter how hard you try. So don't; instead, focus your efforts on one particular segment of population.

For example... let's say you run some sort of business related to gardening. Gardeners range in skill from rank amateur, who can barely manage to keep even most robust houseplant alive; to serious professional who is able to nurture and coax exotic and fragile flowers to bloom.

Instead of attempting to offer every type of plant or information to all types of gardeners, you could instead narrow your focus to one specific group: for example, amateurs who are interested in colorful, low-maintenance and easy-to-grow plants.

Focusing on a niche market allows you to more easily build a unique and solid reputation for your business.

=== 3. Keep Your Spending Under Control.

Keep overhead costs low, and don't spend frivolously. There will always be necessary expenses - for example, if you're running a business online, you'll need a good computer and a reliable Internet connection. But would you also need new, top-of-the-line home office furniture?

On other hand, don't balk at spending money when you need to. Figure out which expenses are true necessities, and which are luxuries. As cash flow improves you can look into purchasing other items you may need.

=== 4. Keep Growing.

A business can't be successful unless people know about it. That's where marketing comes in. All businesses require hard work - and even after you've established your business, you will need to continue to work hard in order to make it grow. At times, hard work may be necessary just to sustain your current level of profitability.

=== 5. Have a Contingency Plan.