10 Businesses to Run from Home

The Small Business Administration reports that some people who have been laid off from their jobs decided to start their own home-based small businesses. Is that you?

Here are 10 businesses with potential for growth in the coming years that require little startup capital. In many cases they can be run out of a home office. Most require minimal equipment beyond a computer, phone, printer, a few tools, and perhaps your car or truck. You won't need advanced degrees or highly specialized training beyond what you may already have or can learn on the job.

Consulting for your former employer or in your old industry - Just because your former employer downsized doesn't mean all the work you used to do disappeared miraculously. Stories are legion about employers rehiring as consultants the very people who used to work for them as employees. Don't underestimate the value of your skills on the open market. Use your industry contacts, and online networking and freelance marketplaces to find opportunities.

Web businesses - Publishing ad-supported content websites; affiliate marketing; SEO consulting; ecommerce sites; and eBay sales are just some examples of Web-based businesses that growing numbers of entrepreneurs thrive at.

Virtual assistant - With so many people working virtually, and the volume of email and other correspondence growing, the need for virtual assistants will grow.

Online social media consulting; online content production - To say that social media has exploded in the past year is an understatement. But social media, and the content that goes along with it, is time-consuming for many businesses -- they will need help.

Convenience services for consumers - As we come out of the recession and pocketbooks open up again, the little conveniences (ie: dog walking, house cleaning, gourmet coffee) are affordable luxuries that consumers look for.

Pet businesses -- Americans spend $10 billion a year on pet supplies and over $3 billion on pet services* -- and those numbers are projected to grow in 2010.

Kids products or services - Today you can find kids' online communities; spas just for kids; even entrepreneurial support programs for children and teenagers.

Mobile apps development and mobile consulting - There are four times the number of cellphones* in the world versus computer (4 Billion vs.. 1 Billion) and 20% of all U.S.. households are now "mobile-only". Businesses are jumping on the mobile marketing bandwagon and will need help to navigate the road and reach their target customers.

Specialty foods - Consumers are more health and wellness conscious today, driving demand for specialty foods (example: gluten-free baked goods). Do check into FDA and state inspection/licensing requirements for food businesses.

Landscaping and handyman services - Homeowners and businesses seem to always need help keeping up their premises. Handyman and landscaping businesses are relatively easy to start. Now (before the weather breaks) is the time to get started marketing through flyers and door to door visits.

As always when starting any business, do some planning. Research the business and your market to make sure there is demand. Write a business plan. There's nothing like putting a business plan down on paper to force you to think of issues you might have overlooked.

Time to Yourself

Say what you want about Bill Gates and his company, but there is at least one brilliant idea the former Microsoft CEO was known for.Twice a year, Gates would schedule a "Think Week." He would disappear to a remote location, surround himself with reading material (and, reportedly, a huge stash of Diet Orange Crush), and he would spend an entire week alone, reading and thinking, without interruption.

You don't need to be a nerdy billionaire to do this. Just spend one week away from the distractions of life, surround yourself with thought-provoking reading material, and spend every day of that week absorbing as much of it as you can. These are the kinds of conditions that will lead you generate valuable new concepts and ideas for your clients.

Can't get an entire week alone? Then schedule a Think Weekend, or even a Think Day.The real currency we have as writers is our ideas, so give yourself an annual or twice-annual Thinking Retreat, and I believe you'll come up the better for it.

Going Green for Businesses

Reducing our carbon footprint to improve the environment is something we’ve all heard about. While we understand at home we can cut back on water consumption, compost and grow our own fruits and veggies, but what’s a business to do? IBM has created a reference mini-book to help you get started. “Green IT For Dummies” is for companies big and small. It offers ideas on making IT departments operate on a greener scale.
If you want to be more environmentally responsible and at the same time, cut your operation costs, get your free copy of Green IT For Dummies (download-able version) today.

HELP!

Help others. There are plenty of reasons why this is a MUST:

Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward.

You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected
.Your relationship with that person will become stronger.

It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person.

You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help.

Karma (if you believe in it).

Because there are more people in this world than just you.

eBay in the News

As reported by Indiana’s Tribune-Star, Indiana’s Terre Haute International Airport has just sold a total of seven planes on eBay. Here's the online article from ebayinc.

Free Guidlines for New Online Businesses

In 16 simple steps, this report shows you how to go from finding your niche to promoting your products.

This is an online business blueprint--perfect for new businesses! Don’t let the size fool you. At 39 pages in length, it’s still a very easy read and the pictures help you to visualize the process.

Download=> Quick Start Marketers Blueprint (40) to make sure you haven’t missed an important step.

8 Reasons to Blog

You can blog--it's not hard.

1. You have something to say: If you’re someone who likes to discuss the issues, blogs can help others see your point of view. As you build up your community, discussions among like-minded bloggers and blog readers will ensue.

2. You’re an expert in something: Are you a champion bowler? Do you produce a line of specialty soaps? Do you know everything there is to know about Samurai Swords? Start a blog to offer tips and advice to others.

3. You have a business to promote: Blogging not only helps to keep customers updated, but it can also lead to new clients. A business blog allows you to promote your wares, offer updates on existing products, and provide alerts to future products and promotions. You will also be able to receive feedback on your products and services through your blog’s comment section.

4. It’s easy: There's never been a better time to blog than now! Most blog templates are user friendly and available at no cost to you. All it takes is registering and following a few simple instructions. Even those with little or no technical skills can blog.

5. Stay in touch: Family blogs are a great way to keep in touch. Not only can you publish family newsletters through your blog, but everyone can keep in touch via the comments.

6. You can make a difference: When you publish your blog, you have the ability to reach people. At first traffic might be low, but if your topic catches on, you have the potential to reach thousands, even millions of people. Your blog can become a powerful medium.

7. It’s a wonderful way to express your creativity: Whether you’re a poet, an artist, a comedian, or write short stories, you’ll have an outlet through blogging. In fact, blogs make it easier to reach more people. Besides, you never know when the right person might land on your blog and turn it from a hobby into a career.

8. It’s easy: There’s never been a better time to blog than now! Most blog templates are user friendly and available at no cost to you. All it takes is registering and following a few simple instructions. Even those with little or no technical skills can blog.

There’s still time to register for the blogging class offered by Central community College! It will be an evening class on May 24. Call Judy at 308-398-7445 to sign up.

What I Do

I have taught a variety of basic computer classes: computer for senior citizens, eBay, writing your life story, and of course Blogging. These classes have been offered by our local Community College, another Community College 25 miles south of here, and a private Technology Learning Center in another community.

My Corner Office Support blog will be a connecting point for friends, colleagues, and clients. I hope to make it both fun and entertaining as I pass along a few hints about Social Networking! Being connected on different levels is essential to growing your small or homebased business. Twitter, Facebook, and blogging can form an ongoing bond with potential customers (or fellow hobbyists).

My Many Hats

What a perfect day to start a new blog! May 17! May is my favorite month: everything has turned green and the overly hot days of summer have not arrived yet. And, 17 is my favorite number: When I was 17 (many, many years ago!) I decided it was the perfect age, and I have stuck with that number ever since.

Let me introduce myself: My name is Rae Osenbaugh. I live in Nebraska, right in the middle of the country, but with the wonder of the internet, I have friends all over!

I have worn many hats so far in my life: student, teacher, writer, editor, wife, mother, cook, personal driver, genealogist, computer guru, and now blogger. Some of these hats have overlapped, some are from more than one part of my life—and they all have been an influence in forming my own world. Please stop back here to visit—I promise to entertain you with motivation, stories, ideas, and conversations!