This post was inspired by Marjorie Jones of Working Class Wow.
If you have small children, you know it’s important to be at home and take care of them, but you also want to bring in some money to help your family make ends meet. You can do both by starting a stay-at-home business. Read on to learn how to do this.
Choose Your Business
Your first step is to choose a business that fits your skills and interests. You might choose to freelance online as a writer, tutor, translator, or virtual assistant. But you could also start a craft business, provide custom sewing and alterations, or bake and decorate cakes. Also, consider giving lessons in art or music or becoming a personal trainer.
Write a Business Plan
When you’ve decided what the business is, write up a business plan. Start with a simple description of the business and its purpose; then include sections that describe your products or services, the tasks, the budget, and the marketing. A business plan helps you stay on track as the business grows.
Find Funding
Funding might be needed to start the business, especially if you have to purchase supplies, set up a proper workspace, or take out some advertisements. Check with your local bank or credit union, especially if you don’t require too much money. You could also research about loans available through the Small Business Administration. Be sure you understand all the rules and expectations before you sign anything.
Start Marketing
After you’ve accomplished the initial set-up and secured any needed funding, it’s time to start marketing. Depending on the business chosen, this could entail taking out ads in local newspapers, putting up posters, or asking friends and relatives to spread the word. You definitely should build a website and announce the new business on social media. Try offering some special promotions to help grow the client base.
Set Up a Workspace
Since you’ll be working from home, you’ll need a dedicated workspace. Choose a spare bedroom as an office, or set up an area of a finished basement. You’ll definitely want to minimize distractions, so make sure a door can be closed to have some privacy. Furnish the workspace according to the business needs, and include some storage.
Have a Recovery Plan
Finally, even though you’re just getting started in your business, you should improve IT security and have a recovery plan in place in case something goes wrong. This might touch on disaster responses and financial backup plans, but it should also outline of steps you can take if the business experiences a cyberattack. The plan might include a timeline, tools you’ll need for data recovery, names and numbers of people who can help, and ways to notify your customers. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use a cyber recovery plan, but it’s smart to have one.
Enjoy Your Business
When you’ve put in all the work to set up your business, you can focus on enjoying it. In fact, working from home might be the best decision you’ve ever made. Visit Gemini Media for more inspiration.
