|
|
|
How to price your property?
A house properly priced is half sold. But there are plenty of ways to price it improperly.. * You can't go by what you paid for the place. Perhaps you bought two years ago when local prices were skyrocketing, and things have cooled off since....
Landscape Techniques - Lawn Aeration
Landscape Techniques - Lawn Aeration Article by Henry Thompson Copyright © 2003 by ProGardenBiz ProGardenBiz, an online magazine http://www.progardenbiz.com Aerate, in the context of landscape and grounds maintenance, means "to supply the soil...
Learn From Role Models
Learn From Role Models By: Roy Bartell Copyright (c) 2003 All Rights Reserved First you have to do research. You have to know your subject. So you shouldn't be interested in people who have been successful because they've been...
Richard Parkes Cordock Interview
There is no question that Richard Parkes Cordock is an
inspiration.
In his own personal quest to develop his entrepreneurial
abilities he interviewed 25 ultra successful millionaire
entrepreneurs on everything from the developing the...
Turn Your Wisdom Into a Workshop
The Technical Revolution has done a lot for us -- we merely have to pick up a phone or send an email to conduct business. Yet, there still is no substitute for live, personal appearances when you want your teaching to count, and that’s why I...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turn your hobby into a business
Many people these days would like to work from home running their own business. Plenty of these, have hobbies and skills that they could use as the basis of their business. The best way to break into self-employment at the beginning is by starting up alongside your ‘day job’. This way, you can start to make your contacts and plan for the day you will be able to kiss being an employee goodbye, without actually losing your regular income straight away, unless of course you have a chunk of capital to inject into the business at start.
The best thing you can do in this life is to get paid for doing something you would be doing anyway, so building up a small business from a hobby is the ideal way to make a living. Not only will you be your own boss, you will also be doing something you love to do anyway - work isn’t like work if you enjoy what you are doing. On top of this, if you are marketing your own products and designs you are far more likely to work harder and have a belief in your product and the love you put into producing your work will shine through, not like if you were selling or promoting someone else’s wares.
There are many ways to turn a hobby into a business. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something you make to sell. If you like cooking, why not start a recipe newsletter for other like minded chefs. Or if your forte is fancy cakes or cheesecakes, why not try to get one or two regular customers, for example local coffee bars or sandwich shops, to buy your extravagant confections to sell in slices to customers. Obviously if you are going to do something like this you will have to comply with health and safety regulations, but it is definitely something which is entirely possible.
If you enjoy making crafts, why not sell them via mail order, rather than going down the usual route of selling through craft fairs. What about sewing? Are you a good quilter? Could you make exclusive cot quilts and bumpers? Cuddly toys, clothes alterations, soft furnishings? All these pastimes can be turned into lucrative businesses. By working as many hours, or taking as many or as few orders as you like, you can control how big your business grows and at what rate.
When you have decided to take the plunge, it is useful to read case studies about how other people have started up home based businesses. There are plenty of books in the library to you inspiration, tell you about tax issuesand all the necessary accounting and statutory rules and regulations you may have to comply with. Some of the business opportunity magazines are also interesting reading. In these, you will find many other home based opportunities, information and contact names and addresses which may be of help to you when you are starting up.
Your hobby might involve a very specialised product, or may even be something that relates to a locality. If you are a
collector and want to start up an agency that deals with your particular obsession, then the best way to find other like minded souls, is by advertising your service or product in some of the specialist magazines that are available on the news-stands. These days, you can get magazines on almost any subject, from miniatures, through to family trees through to card making. They’re all there if you just go out and find them. Also it is worthwhile looking in trade magazines too, which refer to the field you will be entering into. Many useful contacts and associations can be found in the pages and you will need all the information and help you can get at the beginning.
The next stop is to find out if there are grants or bursaries available to the small business person. However, usually you need to put up some of the capitol yourself too to match these awards.
You will need to set up a business account, making sure the bank in question does not charge and administration fees for at least a year. ALternatively you could opt for a completely free business account. These are usually postal or internet based though. Let's face it though, you don’t want any profits made in the early days being frittered away on bank charges do you?
You also have to decide on your method of advertising. If your product or service will sell on a local level, why not try leafleting door to door in your area, posting small flyers promoting your services. Alternatively you could always use the tried and tested method of post cards in shop windows. Not very glamourous admittedly, but an effective way of advertising very cheaply.
On the other hand, if you are going to have to advertise nationally, then you will have to have at least some budget put aside for this purpose before you start. Advertising can be expensive - but doesn’t have to be. It depends on the publication. Contact magazines relevant to your product with a press release telling your story or advertising what you have to offer. You might even get a feature about you. Your story has to be unusual or different however, if you are to hit gold straight away.
In summary, turning your hobby into a part-time business is the ideal way to be your own boss, work at something you love doing and get paid for it, be in complete control of your working life and have the opportunity to possibly work from home. You have to do your research before you start though. Never jump in before you are confident that there is a market for your product and that you have enough financial reserves to keep you going during the early days of your business.
About the Author
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gail Miller is a UK artist and writer. View her vibrant,
contemporary artwork at her website, Gails Art Gallery
http://home.freeuk.net/gails-gallery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
| Afterhours Inspirational Stories |
| Collection of inspirational and motivational stories, poems, parables, and jokes. |
| www.inspirationalstories.com |
|
| inspirational |
| mamarocks.com. Inspirational. Google · What Would You Do · An Angel For You · Angels · Amazing Grace · In The Valley · Deck Of Cards ... |
| www.mamarocks.com |
|
| INSPIRATIONAL FLASH MOVIES |
| LATEST MOVIES. Let there be Peace (30 Nov 06) Life on the Train (4 Nov 06) I'm Alive (20 Oct 06) Sea of Life (9 Oct 06) ... |
| www.inspiringthots.net |
|
| Inspirational - An Angelina Jolie Fan Site |
| http://www.makepovertyhistory.org. Would you like to receive free update notices in your e-mail? Then please join the mailing list below! Beowulf Filming ... |
| angelinaj.net |
|
| Quotable quotes, famous sayings, motivational stories ... |
| Welcome to the Motivational and Inspirational Corner, where the winning begins. Check out the Power Performance Program © - America's System for Success. |
| www.motivational-inspirational-corner.com |
|
| INSP - The Inspiration Network |
| Ministry Resources. Daily Devotional · Convoy of Hope · Inspirational Mall · Stewardship And Planned Giving. Additional Resources ... |
| www.insp.com |
|
| Motivational and Inspirational Quotes |
| A collection of inspirational quotes on topics including success, life, leadership, teachers and more. |
| www.inspirational-quotes.info |
|
| Inspiring Quotes to move and inspire you |
| Quotes to move you towards fulfillment - helping yourself and helping others. |
| www.heartsandminds.org |
|
| Inspirational Messages, Poems, Stories, Humor, Cartoons, Quotes |
| Christian poems and Inspirational poems, stories, messages, humor, cartoons, quotes. Over 3000 Inspirational and Christian pages, new daily content, ... |
| www.skywriting.net |
|
| The page of Inspirational Poems and Stories |
| Your web browser is NOT capable of playing Music. Subscribe to Mr. Mom's Mailing List for updates, Inspirational poems and stories Click Here ... |
| mrmom.amaonline.com |
|
| Star Trek Inspirational Posters |
| BASED ON THOSE DELIGHTFUL INSPIRATIONAL POSTERS WHICH HAVE BECOME A FIXTURE OF DENTIST'S OFFICES EVERYWHERE. Terms of use: You're welcome to save these ... |
| echosphere.net |
|
| GoodQuotes.com - Funny and Inspirational Quotes |
| GoodQuotes.com lists thousands of funny and inspirational quotes: bumper stickers, proverbs, funny thoughts, silly quotes, Murphy's laws, gravestones, ... |
| www.goodquotes.com |
|
| Motivational Posters at AllPosters.com |
| Motivational Posters at AllPosters.com. Choose from over 300000 posters and prints. Professional custom framing available. |
| www.allposters.com |
|
| Inspiration Peak: Inspirational Quotes, Poetry and Short Stories |
| A beautiful collection of inspirational quotes, poetry and short stories. Updated weekly with a new inspirational message. |
| www.inspirationpeak.com |
|
| DaySpring Christian E-Cards |
| Free Christian E-Cards | Christian Gifts & Products | Inspirational Movies | Find a Store | Contact Us | Job Openings | FAQ | Site Map | ... |
| www.dayspring.com |
|
| Inspirational Fiction |
| Please note: The books listed here cover a wide variety of genres and types, from traditional inspirational fiction authors such as June Masters Bacher and ... |
| www.ci.irving.tx.us |
|
| Inspirational Christian Poems and Stories |
| Inspirational poems and stories with photos and art which seeks to help Christians in their walk of faith. |
| www.promiseofgod.com |
|
|