Open Discussion Blog

Question by joshkirstyn: A friend and I are hoping to start a small Christmas Light Hanging business. Any tips?
We are just looking for tips and tricks, if anyone has tried to do this too! Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by Darren J
Don’t fall off your ladder.

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Question by xBrokenxHeartedx: I want to start my own cleaning business… any tips?
I’m not really sure where to start. Any ideas from people who have started their own business. What it will cost me? I know I can start small doing a few homes myself, and then add employees and more clients. But what are the basics? Do I need insurance? What all do I need? Any tips would be appreciated!
Thank You in Advance!

Best answer:

Answer by heyteach
You want to be insured and licensed and bonded. You need a legit business structure, probably an LLC would be good for you. You need to do the paperwork.

Good basic article and yes a business plan does make sense for you as you do need to figure out costs, charges, equipment, supplies, billing, payroll, taxes, advertising, do you want homes or commercial cleaning? Willing to do one shot deals or you want long-term contracts with weekly or biweekly cleanings? Etc.

http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2006/st0504.htm

http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/index.html

will have resources for you.

Good luck! If people want to pay you less to start tell them you’ll consider a break on the price for awhile IF they will serve as a reference for you.

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Question by dickson: How do you start a internet home based business from stretch?
Is there any avenue that I can start my internet home based business from home without any experience. And technical skill whatsoever cause I heard that you can make money with it. But had no idea to start off. Thank if anyone could give sound advice.

Best answer:

Answer by Jenny F
Are you working in a full time job as well? You may not have a lot of time to devote to your online business, so think carefully about that – also how much money you have available as many opportunities require an initial investment.

My websites will give you some good ideas about businesses you could try and also the training and resources you will need to be successful.

Sendoutcards is a good example of a homebased business with a product everyone uses.

http://www.jennyfletcher.ws

http://www.mygreetings2u.ws

or go straight to my Sendoutcards site here

http://www.mygreetings2u.co.uk

Jenny Fletcher

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Question by Miss Ella: I want to start my own business, any tips?
I have been working on a business plan for the past few years and I’m finally getting close to having the perfect plan to open my own clothing store, and I know it will be huge in my city because there’s nothing like it and it also benefits the art community as well.

Here’s the catch. I have no real savings to put in it, and don’t want to take out a loan. Where can I find the right investors, and how do you pitch your business plan to them so they see the greatness of your idea?

ANY suggestions would be helpful.

Best answer:

Answer by lynnbodoni
Investors won’t invest unless you put in a substantial amount of your own money, so that you will have an incentive to do your best to make the business work.

Neither will banks. You’re going to need to be able to put in a lot of your own money into any business venture, or take out a large personal loan secured by your own assets.

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Question by Trillium: What are the top home based business ideas with minimum start up costs?
Has anyone been successful with starting a moderately successful home based business with little to no start up costs? How long have you had it? And is it worth the effort?

Best answer:

Answer by thormale
The easiest way to make money online is by selling a product that can be delivered electronically. There are no shipping or fulfillment costs eating away at your revenue. Electronic products are easy to produce and it is not necessary to get anything published. Selling software online is excellent because new software is always necessary. Programmers at local colleges come cheap, if you have the funds. If you do not have extra funds, cut them a profit for the first two years. You will still earn more than your expenses.

What other businesses can be started with little or no money? Here are a few examples:

House and Office Cleaning Business
Laundry Business
Alteration Service
Babysitting
Pet Sitting or Walking
Personal Chef
Court Paper Server
Resume and Document Writer

It all depends on you and what skills you have and what you enjoy doing and are good at.

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Question by mahongany_brown2005: Which home based business I can get involved in with low start cost?
I am looking for a home based business with low start up cost. I can only afford to start an business with 0. Is there any business I can get into with such little funds. Please help.

Best answer:

Answer by jmartinez562
AVON is a good and solid business to start. Ebay is another,but you would have to have a real interest in anything you start because there MUST be passion. I would first write down on a piece of paper all the things you would do with your time if you never had to work a day in your life. Just write them down. Not all can convert into a home based business,but at least one will. Find your passion first then work around that.

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Question by Seth W: How to start a home based business selling cookies ?
I want to start a home based business selling baked goods and I wondering how I go about it I was thinking of sitting up a kitchen in my basement (Finished) so it would be away from pets which are on the main floor. How do I go about packaging and do I need a license ? What do I need to do to get started ?

Best answer:

Answer by Joshua R
Join the girl scouts? Just Kidding you will need a health permit. A friend is a personal chef and needed to do the same.

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Question by sweet_cheex86: how hard is it to start a business? tips, ect.?
my dad owns a big branch off family trucking business, which is linked to 2 other huge family trucking business’s. Im planning to open a flaggers ( traffic controll ) business. Gathering a bunch of girls and start a contract with my dad business. This is my idea…where should i start? (besides flagging im taking the course right now )how hard is it to get up and running? i dont even know where to start…

Best answer:

Answer by lady23
start by knowing your potential market and also by looking for a good place to put up your business. putting up business isnt as easy as it may seem it requires alot of study and time consuming. if you really are into it you should do some feasibility studies about it so you’ll get to know more about your potential market and other factors that might affect your planned business. you can also ask advices from people who are engage in the same kind of business and learned about how they mange and how they’ve started.

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Question by rakshaagro: I am a stock analyst , I want to start my own business for givng tips, please guide me how I can start?
I AMA STOCK ANALYST ( NSE AND BSE )AND I GIVE TIPS FOR DELIVERY ONLY FOR A WEEK TIME. I WANT TO START MY OWN BUSINESS FOR GIVING SHARE TIPS . PLEASE INFORM ME HOW I CAN START AND HOW I CAN ADVERTISE MY BUSINESS

Best answer:

Answer by Shopping-onlie starts Ec21baba
With Yahoo and GOOGLE search ads

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Question by sctrojanfan504: i want to start an online business. tips would be appriceated?
i’m a highschool student. my goal in life is to become a successful CEO. i wanted to start an online business and expand from there. any tips?
is it a good idea to start an online business first

Best answer:

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