a different kind of biz

Restoring the flow of credit to entrepreneurs

2008-12-16T18:25:00.002-05:00

The credit crunch looks like an espresso machine.

At least it does to Michael McDonald, who is trying to open a coffee shop near UC Santa Barbara next month but just heard that his funding had evaporated for an equipment leasing deal. McDonald needs the espresso maker and other gear in place in two weeks so he can train the first employees for the Zizzo's Coffee franchise.

"If I don't get my funding, those are 15 or 20 people who are not going to have work," said the Goleta resident, recounting his third brush with the credit crisis.

McDonald was squeezed this year when his bank cut off the home equity credit line he was using to help fund his start-up. He had looked into a conventional business loan but found most banks weren't interested in new businesses, requiring at least two years of operations. And the cost of the money was too high, he said, despite his good credit.

You’ve heard of Hockey Moms, Soccer Moms…Now Meet the Metromom

2008-10-14T19:43:00.001-04:00

Wire Service Canada

With the country focused on the hard choices that Sarah Palin is making as a mother, women are more uncertain than ever on whether they can have it all. In fact, many women figure it’s impossible to have a truly fulfilling career and enough time to be a hands-on mom. Kim DeYoung says you can do both—if you’re willing to be a metromom.

So what is a metromom? She is a highly-motivated mom with an entrepreneurial spirit, looking to be successful in all aspects of life…on her own terms. A driven, evolving woman committed to her family, her career and to managing her own home-based business with class. Kim says that by running your own home-based business you can become the CEO of your own life.

Let's face it, with the recent trends in the economy—especially at the gas pump—many women need something to provide financial breathing room. A home-based business gives them the ability to meet and establish their own financial goals, whether that's a few hundred dollars a month or a more substantial income. For example, direct sales—like Avon, Tupperware, Melaleuca etc.—usually require just a small investment to get started. Plus women get tax write-offs from running a home-based business.

Should you start a home staging business in these times of economic uncertainty?

2008-10-14T19:41:00.001-04:00

American Chronicle

With the whole free world talking about the current state of the US economy, you can actually feel the tension in the air – everywhere. Nobody is excluded from this because the United States´ financial well-being has an impact on the entire continent of North America and beyond.

If you´ve been considering starting a home staging business and have put the brakes on that plan, don´t be so quick to squash your dream. A home staging business is surprisingly inexpensive to start and it´s very easy to recover your initial investment.

In regards to the US economy - the media´s job is to do what it takes to glue you to their papers and news stations. They are going to publish/air whatever they can to keep you reading/watching and feeling strong emotions so you want to keep coming back. In this case, the most prevalent emotion we´re feeling is fear.

Woman turns gourd art into business

2008-10-14T19:39:00.002-04:00

Batesville Daily Guard

Fifteen years ago Joyce Campbell’s sister mailed her a gourd with a note attached saying, “See what you can do with this.”

Now Campbell — who claims to have “gourd fever” — has started her own home-based business and sells in a dozen different locations.

Campbell’s business is called Gourd Art by Joyce Campbell, and she has produced award-winning gourds. One of her large creations — a lidded bushel gourd finished with wood burning, leather dyes, carving and gemstones — was chosen as one of the 20 finalists in the 2008 Featured Artist Contest open to all Arkansans. It will be on exhibit this month at the Fine Arts Center in Hot Springs and will be part of the Gallery Walk.

How To Design Your Own Business Cards

2008-09-30T17:43:00.001-04:00

Ready To Be Rich

A business card is an essential tool for any professional and entrepreneur. Aside from providing contact information, it can also serve as a mini portfolio to showcase your work and products. Moreover, business cards also function as a marketing tool that helps create brand awareness.

For these reasons, one should never take for granted the design of one’s business card. It may be tempting to simply use business card templates that are available online or use the sample layouts provided in business card making softwares. But be aware that by doing so, you are undermining the real power of an effective business card.

How To Get Guest Blogging Jobs

2008-09-25T18:53:00.001-04:00

The Home Business Archive

Blogging has turned into a vital piece for entrepreneurs to add to their online businesses.While it is essential to make a post every day to keep a blog going, many small business owners simply do not have the time to do this.Because of this, there is always the demand for guest blogging jobs.

As a guest blogger, there are several benefits. You get to expose your knowledge and content to a new readership that you may have never found yet.And if you work out a deal with the person you are blogging for, you may be able to link back to your blog generating more content.

As the owner of a blog, they benefit from having a guest blogger for a number of reasons as well.It gives the owner a break from posting so they can focus on other facets of their business.In addition, it can be beneficial to get a different writer’s perspective on things and freshen up the site.

Top tips for your home business

2008-09-25T18:52:00.001-04:00

Metro

Those starting up their own home business could use these tips.

• Desk: To sit perchance to file. Every entrepreneur needs a place to operate his or her business — a place for billing, filing, copying, writing and e-mailing. For many homepreneurs, their desk becomes their office, so it has to be great. Ideally, the desk has a lot of drawers for storage, at least two or three full sides so that there is a lot of desk space and a high wall on one side so you can block out other rooms and activities.

• Headphones: Listen up — working from home can be noisy — being able to plug in your headphones and ignore everything around you is a crucial part of staying focused and achieving what you have to in order to build your business.

Network Solutions® Wins Outstanding Web Site Award from the Web Marketing Association

2008-09-17T17:54:00.001-04:00

PR Web

Recognizing the best Web sites in 96 industries, the Web Marketing Association's WebAward is today's premier Web site award program. Yesterday it was announced that Network Solutions®, the leading provider of e-business solutions for small business, has been given the 2008 Outstanding Website Award for its innovative and elegant storefront design.

Competing with 2,400 entries from 45 countries around the world, the Network Solutions storefront site effectively and easily combines the educational and design elements for selling the company's services including Web site hosting, Online Marketing, and Web site design options. The site is easy to navigate, and combines a contemporary yet stylish look. To win the Outstanding Website Award, the site was presented to a panel of three judges assuming the role of target users. After evaluating the site based on seven different judging criteria, the two highest scores were averaged for the final score, which resulted in the Outstanding Website Award going to www.networksolutions.com.

Candle business binds friends

2008-09-15T22:47:00.001-04:00

Detroit News

Starting a home-based business together has turned into a glowing venture for best friends Anne Simonetti and Siouxsan Miller, who happen to live across the street from one another.

Earlier this year, the Ferndale residents decided to start a candle making company they named Green Daffodil Soy Candleworks.

"Siouxsan has a line of soap, and we had been talking about starting a candle company with scents to compliment the soaps," explains Simonetti.

Their candles, available in 4-ounce and 8-ounce metal containers, come in a variety of scents, including linen, blackberry sage, lavender, tangerine sage and vanilla. "Right now, we have 12, but we will change those seasonally," says Simonetti. She adds that their candles are made using "eco-friendly" products, meaning they "never get sooty" and allow for more fragrance.

Interlaken looks to amend home-business code

2008-09-15T22:46:00.001-04:00

Asbury Park Press

Borough officials are working to amend the language of a "home occupation" zoning code after realizing that the language puts many residents at risk of moving or losing their home businesses.

The code amendments are a direct result of a resident's complaint against Mayor Robert Wolf's wife, Hana, who has been using their home to operate an Internet retailing business and fundraiser for a local charity.

"As a volunteer, she cannot work from home. The code prevents my wife from raising money for the (club). That's how extreme and vague this ordinance is," Wolf said.

The borough code, which uses language from state statutes dating back to 1975, defines home occupation as any business, for profit or nonprofit, that is operated in or around a home in the borough. The code prohibits any home occupation that involves sales or other commercial activity at the premises.

KISS and tell: Gene Simmons talks business

2008-09-14T17:02:00.002-04:00

MSNBC recently interviewed Kiss co-founder, Gene Simmons, to discuss his business acumen.

Q: Which do you consider yourself first, a rock star or an entrepreneur?

A: That's an interesting question and the simple answer is a bit of both. Nobody does just one thing. But the real difference between being an entrepreneur and everyone else in the world is the ability to monetize. I am an entrepreneur in the classic mold. No matter what I do — outside of sticking my tongue out — I tend to make money, and quite a bit in non-KISS stuff.

Q: How did you understand so early that you could leverage KISS into other business ventures?

A: When the band was starting off, we noticed that T-shirts and non-music items were earning a substantial amount of money. KISS quickly became a multi-headed beast: rock band and rock 'n' roll brand — and the only one to have endured the ages and decades of fads and fashions. Today we have 3,000 licensed products, everything from condoms to caskets. We have you coming and going.

Which Work At Home Business Opportunity is Best for You

2008-09-14T16:57:00.001-04:00

Home Business

While many people want to work from home, work at home business opportunity is not fair for everyone. The best way to find out if you have what it takes to do some work at home business opportunity is a success to assess for himself the following questions honestly.

1. Are you self-motivated? With a work at home business opportunity, you will not have an employer telling you what to do or setting deadlines so you can meet. People who start a business must be self-motivation. You need to be able to go to work and make your business a success without someone telling you to. There are a lot of things to lure you away from work when you work at home. You have to ignore pile of clothes or friends who want to go for an afternoon shopping adventure. You must be self-motivation to continue to focus on your business, regardless of other distractions in front of you. If you are self-motivated by their work at home business opportunity, you will feel at the grand finale of the day, when you look back at how accomplished rather than fearing all the extra work they have to do to get to tomorrow.

2 day. Is it possible not only set goals for their work at home business opportunity, but also comply with them? You will receive your business where you want it by setting and enforcing goals. Do not jump into a work at home business opportunity without a clear plan for success.

Home-based business offers natural, organic products for moms & babies

2008-09-14T16:52:00.001-04:00

The Press

Like many busy parents, Joshua and Maria Maluchnik didn’t really think too much about the baby care products they had been using on their kids.

Then one day, their baby developed a severe diaper rash.

The concerned parents tried medicated creams to help ease their daughter’s discomfort and heal her skin, but they were just not working.

"That’s when we decided to look at the components that go into these creams, and during our research, we realized that a lot of the stuff that we were using had really bad chemicals that were not good for our kids," said Joshua.

Though Joshua was a science teacher for some years and had some idea about chemicals, he and Maria, a teacher at Genoa Middle School, didn’t really know a lot about natural and organic products. What they did know was they wanted to use products that were effective and safe for their kids.

Franchise Business Opportunities: The Pros and Cons of Buying a Franchise

2008-09-14T16:47:00.001-04:00

F For Franchise

Have you always wanted to go into business for yourself? If so, it’s possible that you’ve considered whether buying a business franchise is the right choice for you. Starting a business in any field is a significant life and professional decision, and, as with any major decision, it is important to weigh all of the pros and cons before taking the leap into a business franchise opportunity.

There was a time when someone wanting to start a business would follow the traditional route of selecting an industry, researching and establishing financing, and then hanging a shingle on the doorpost. These "mom-and-pop" businesses in many ways became the backbone of economic growth and development.

Yet, as many entrepreneurs will readily tell you, independent businesses, even with their allure, often carry great risk, and the vast majority of small businesses fail within the first few years of operation.

Starting a Home Based Business

2008-09-14T16:41:00.001-04:00

Home Based Business

Starting a Home Based Business can be the biggest challenge you may ever encounter, not because there are so many Home Based Businesses available, and there are, but because it means you are on your own and it is all up to you. We also know that 80% of Home Based Business opportunities are scams at best, they are designed to take your money without giving you any return and most have a life of less than 12 months. Then they disappear and reappear with a different name and website design to do it all again. Mind you for the operators of these scams they can make a lot of money in a short period of time. The reason they can do this is because there are no regulations and many people are looking at starting a Home Based Business with little knowledge of what to look for.

Sometimes the people that are thinking of starting a Home Based Business just want to make a lot of money because they hear all of the stories about 19 year old millionaires online. They figure that it must be easy to make money on line. So when they see web pages stating that they can make $10,000 per month within 90 days, they get excited and do not Google the business or the principals to see whether the business is a legitimate Home Based Business.

Company Now Offers Serious Entrepreneurs a Revolutionary Online Business Opportunity

2008-06-25T17:01:00.001-04:00

Web Wire

Michael Paulley, of Paulley Enterprises, is now offering serious entrepreneurs a revolutionary online business opportunity. Paulley, who grew up in the mountains of Colorado, originally started his entrepreneurial career in the roofing industry. Paulley recalls, “I built a very successful roofing company from scratch. I was determined to succeed, despite many obstacles. My roofing company was successful, but I became stressed out dealing with deadbeat employees. I now work with serious entrepreneurs who have a true vision of creating success and wealth in others, one person at a time.

Paulley states, “Originally I was attracted to Wealth Masters International for several reasons. The integrity of the company’s leadership was a major factor. I was looking for serious entrepreneurs who had a desire to help others, not themselves. I have found all of this and more with Wealth Masters International (WMI).” The co-founders, Kip Herriage and Karl Bessey, are two visionaries who lead with integrity and strive to build the company based on this important principle.

Home Business Ideas And How To Get Started

2008-06-24T18:42:00.002-04:00

American Chronicle

It would not make much sense working at home doing something that you do not really enjoy, so firstly, before deciding which home business is best suited to you, find your who *you* are. You need to consider the things you are good at and list your skills, hobbies, personality, likes and dislikes.

This discussion will help guide you with some great ideas for your own home business. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to zero in on what business ideas are well suited for you.

Are you a creative person? Event planning such as weddings, corporate events, birthday parties may be may something to look into. Perhaps you are already into the internet so maybe web design would be great for you. What about photography or creating your own custom gift baskets. A creative mind allows for endless home business possibilities.

Entrepreneurs to speak to high-schoolers

2008-02-27T19:20:00.001-05:00

The Albert Lea Tribune

National Entrepreneurship Week started Saturday, and to commemorate the event Deb Monson, who teaches entrepreneurship and management at Albert Lea High School, will have a visitor talk to her students Wednesday about the trials and triumphs of starting a business.

Jena Thompson, owner of Daisy Blue Naturals in Albert Lea, will speak to ninth- through 12th-grade students in Monson’s entrepreneurship and business classes Wednesday morning.

“It will give them a realistic view of what it takes” to start a business, Monson said.

Internet Marketing Entrepreneurs At It Again

2008-02-19T20:49:00.001-05:00

PR Web

Rory Wilfong, Steve Young and Dave Conklin are once again launching a technology company in Lancaster, PA. Starting companies with no funding on a shoe string budget is what the trio has been doing together since 2000, when Rory ran a successful entertainment company, Steve ran a mortgage company and Dave was in the real estate business.

So what are they up to now? Their new project is called ProspectMX, and it's an internet marketing services company that is slated to help companies nationwide to http://www.prospectmx.com generate leads through online marketing. Rory, Steve and Dave have become experts in the lead generation business through building GetMyHomesValue.com, a profitable company that helps real estate agents to meet people who want to buy or sell a home.

Thinking about mompreneurship?

2008-02-18T21:01:00.001-05:00

Columbia Tribune

It’s an increasingly popular choice, said Patricia Cobe, who trademarked the term "mompreneur" with Ellen Parlapiano. Cobe and Parlapiano are the founders of mompreneursonline.com, and they wrote "Mompreneurs: A Mother’s Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success" (Perigree), and "Mompreneurs Online: Using the Internet to Build WorkHome Success" (Perigree).

"Technology makes it so much easier to run a business from home than it was even five years ago," Cobe said by e-mail from Scarsdale, N.Y. "It’s easy and inexpensive to set up your own Web site, do e-mail blasts to attract clients and customers and run a business on the go."

Cobe offers five things to consider before you get started, as well as some of the challenges women might face:

A New Home Business With Ancient Connections…Ornamental Blacksmithing

2008-02-09T14:32:00.000-05:00

Power Home Biz:

"A farrier for twenty seven years, William Jones, has developed an ornamental blacksmith shop. Years ago a Blacksmith and farrier were one in the same but today the two fields have separated. Today a farrier only shoes horses and a blacksmith creates ornamental metalwork. “While the two fields have gone their separate ways today, my history as a farrier led to my passion of blacksmithing,” Jones said recently."

Top 10 Reasons Home Staging is a Great Home Based Business

2008-02-08T10:32:00.000-05:00

Home Based Business:

"If you have a flair for decorating and an interest in real estate, Home Staging could be the right career for you. This service business, also called House Fluffing, Real Estate Staging or Home Styling, is based on the art of decorating a home to sell quickly and for top dollar.

Home Staging is a great service business to run from a home office for these 10 reasons:

1. Home Staging is a low cost business to start.

You can work from your own home office. You don’t need a store front or inventory. You also don’t need expensive advertising to grow your home staging business successfully.

2. There is no need to invest in inventory or recruit others into the business. Home Staging is not a multi-level marketing scheme."

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Treat Your Internet Home Business Like The Investment It Is

2008-02-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

Promotion World:

"There are many parallels between running an internet home business and investing in the stock market. The main reason for this is because stocks are ownership in a business. For the amount of stocks you own in any business you will receive a profit. When you buy a stock the company uses that money to operate and grow the business and they give you a percentage of the business's total profit, called dividends. You can either choose to re-invest these dividends into the company(for more shares), or have them paid out to you on a monthly or quarterly basis. When you run an internet home business you own all the shares and you decide what is done with the profit. This article will outline how sound investment strategy can be used to grow an internet home business that you can profit from well into the future.

If you're starting off small, your initial investment in your business/stock will not be enough to make you much money. As with stocks the amount of time you stay with your investment is the determining factor in your success with it. With an online business it can take months of work to start generating a steady stream of income. Over time your efforts will build upon each other like compound interest does to stocks."

Barroso plea on climate change

2008-02-08T10:27:00.000-05:00

The Press Association:

"President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso is set to urge companies to treat the fight against climate change as a business opportunity and not a burden.

He will use a speech in London to insist on the need to 'incentivise the saving of the planet'.

The call comes ahead of Wednesday's unveiling by Mr Barroso in Brussels of tough news greenhouse gas emission limits - including a controversial demand on Britain to increase its use of renewable energy six-fold by 2020.

Mr Barroso knows a backlash from business across Europe could scupper the Commission's determination to meet climate change targets the EU pledged at the Bali global summit on the environment last year."

Starting Home Business

2008-02-07T17:04:00.000-05:00

Home Business Profits Guide:

"First, forget about picking a company, any company, without doing some homework first, because most home based businesses are network marketing type opportunities. You can be successful and make money, but learn how first.

Here are some keys to being successful in any network marketing business.

1. Learn how to market and sell, globally, not just at 'arms length' and develop a marketing plan.
2. Reread #1 above 1000 times, because this is the key. With a good marketing plan and sales expertise, you can sell anything to anyone."

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