Home Biz Notes

May 17th, 2008

Presidential Politics - Do They Affect Home Businesses?

HomeBizNotes.com

You may think your home business is  beyond any fall-out from political politics.  You’re a small business owner, minding your own business and staying away from involvement in politics, whether locally, statewide, or nationally.  You aren’t running for any office and feel you can be immune from the whole situation.However….

*Many local political decisions can affect your business…from zoning regulations to spending that raises taxes.

*Statewide decisions can affect your business.  In our state, there are no sales tax.  However, this issue frequently comes up among the politicians as something to initiate to raise money.  Business taxes, employee taxes, environmental regulations, etc., when begun or changed affect your business.

*Federal decisions can change your business, too.  Some may be beneficial while others increase your cost of operating a business.

Whether your business is a walk-in one where you’re dealing face-to-face with customers or one operated solely online, many decisions voted in or down by political representatives have an affect on one’s business.

In a Presidential election year, more legislation often is suggested, and sometimes passed, at all levels, that may not benefit the business owner, yet will appeal to the majority of voters.  Sometimes it may be worthy in the short term (long enough for candidates to be elected) but detrimental in the long run.

Look carefully at any proposed legislation, environmental regulations, tax suggestions, and zoning laws to see if they benefit you and the community, state, and nation in the long term.  Or are they simply proposed to aid particular political candidates and ensure their election?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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May 16th, 2008

Fun Friday: Where Do Items For Your Home & Home Business Come From?

HomeBizNotes.com

 Here at the b5media Business Channel, we’re having a Fun Friday post consisting of a listing of where various products used in our home and business come from. 

On some business and financial blogs, there has been chatter implying the US economy would be better off if residents purchased products made in this country. 

So….bloggers here are checking around their homes and businesses to determine where the items they use/eat/buy come from.

Food - Most fresh produce somes from the US.  However, often some fruits (especially exotic ones) and vegetables come from foreign countries.  It’s amazing that they can keep so well when shipped so far.

Clothing - It appears that more and more clothing one buys says “Made in ….a foreign country.”  If you purchase handmade clothing from US crafters, would it still contain foreign fabric or embellishments?

Furniture, electronics, kitchen utensils….where do yours come from?

 Autos, parts, and other machinery - do you know where yours is made?Do other countries feel this way about US goods coming into their countries?  Do they try to purchase items made by individuals and companies that reside there?

 Perhaps this means there may be a larger market for home crafted items…those made by individuals and small businesses in this country and others…if consumers are looking to purchase those made at home.

It would be interesting to see what you think.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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By Mary Emma Allen -- 3 comments

May 16th, 2008

In Home Daycare Business Series - Appearances Do Matter

HomeBizNotes.com

Debbie Yost is our first Work At Home Mom guest this month. Our Home Biz Notes May theme is Work At Home Moms in honor of Mother’s Day this month.

Would you like to contribute a Work At Home Mom Top Biz Tip or a Home Biz Myth Busted with a mom or family theme? Contact us. Email details are in the sidebar.
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This is the first in a 4 part series from Debbie Yost about In Home Daycare as a home business.

Guest Post
By Debbie Yost

A common advantage to working from home is not being concerned about appearance. You can type away at your computer or take business calls in your pajamas if you want. However, when you run a daycare, you are meeting with others in person and they will judge not only whether their child is happy and well cared for, but on how you present yourself.

Remember to dress professionally. Obviously you do not want to wear a suit. You are going to be spending your day changing diapers, playing on the floor, and being spit up on. However, a parent still looks at the care you take in presenting yourself everyday. You are your business. If you don’t care how you look, you give the impression you don’t care about your business.

Just as your appearance matters, it is important that you get to work on time. When I was using in-home daycares, it irritated me if the provider was still getting dressed when I arrived. I understand that I was dropping my child off early (6:30 a.m.) but if you are going to be open that early then you need to be up and dressed and ready for the day; not back in your bathroom still in your robe and drying your hair. It’s your business so set the hours you can handle.

Whether we like it or not, first impressions matter. I have had many prospective or new clients tell me about their interview experiences. Some providers had dishes stacked on the counter and the house was a mess. The parents felt that if the provider could not take the time to clean the house for an interview, what would the house look like during the day when their child was in this person’s care?

My house is not always clutter free. I have an island in my kitchen that is a magnet for papers, toys and anything else the family can’t seem to put away. However, when I have an interview, my kitchen is clean and the island is spotless. I take the time to show the people I am interviewing that I care.

Read Part 1: It’s Not Just Babysitting - Intro To Running An In Home Daycare Business
Read Part 2: In Home Daycare Business Series - You’re The Boss Of The Parents Too

Debbie Yost is a work at home mom who has run a small in-home day care, The Tot Stop, for the last five years. She and her husband have three daughters ages 11, 5 and 3. Debbie’s youngest daughter has Down syndrome.

Because of her daughter, Debbie has become an advocate for people with Down syndrome to ensure they have the same opportunities to live a full and rewarding life as others.

Debbie writes from home whenever she finds time between bottles, diapers, naps and other parental duties. Her personal blog is Three Weddings.

© Bio photo courtesy of Debbie Yost.

© Guest Post Button Image courtesy of Yvonne Russell at Grow Your Writing Business.com

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May 15th, 2008

Thursday Thirteen- 13 Types Of Home Businesses For Mom Entrepreneurs

HomeBizNotes.com 

Work at home moms become involved in many types of businesses.

There’s so much opportunity out there…on the Internet and offline in a traditional business, or combining the two. Some businesses may involve working entirely from one’s home; others include going to places outside the home, yet using your home as a base.

Here’s simply a small list of 13 home business ideas for moms:

1.  Quiltmaking and related activities
2.  Teaching online classes
3.  Daycare in the home
4.  Housecleaning
5.  Medical transcription
6.  Web designing
7.  Freelance writing and it’s many variations
8.  Teaching scrapbooking and multi-media classes
9.  Dressmaking and alterations
10.Bookkeeping for other businesses
11.Tutoring
12.Giving music and/or singing lessons
13.Cake decorating

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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May 14th, 2008

In Home Daycare Business Series - You’re The Boss Of The Parents Too

HomeBizNotes.com

Our Home Biz Notes May theme is Work At Home Moms in honor of Mother’s Day this month.

Would you like to contribute a Work At Home Mom Top Biz Tip or a Home Biz Myth Busted with a mom or family theme? Contact us. Email details are in the sidebar.
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This is the second in a 4 part series from Debbie Yost about In Home Daycare as a home business.

Guest Post
By Debbie Yost

Last time I explained that running a home day care business has many state, city and county requirements. When you decide to open a home daycare, you will receive a list of items that need to be done in order to operate your business legally. Although this list can be time consuming and tiresome at times, it is a simple matter of following directions and checking off items.

Before you open your doors, you need to prepare a handbook of your policies so both you and the parents of the children you watch will have a mutual understanding. Many parents have the impression that you are their employee. They believe they have hired you to watch their child and therefore they are in charge. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This is your business and the parents are your clients. Although it is imperative that you work together for the good of the child, you have to keep in mind there are several families and children involved and policies must be made and enforced. My handbook addresses all areas of my daycare and policies. This handbook has been revised on several occasions to deal with unforeseen issues that have arisen with parents.

Once you have developed your policies you must enforce them. Nothing breaks down the provider/client relationship faster than letting the parents break the rules. In this business, you are inviting individuals into your home and it is important to have a friendly relationship with your parents.

However, if you start viewing your parents as friends instead of clients, you may begin to give them allowances that you would grant a friend. Very quickly these “friends” will start taking advantage of your generosity and you begin to lose control. Trying to go back to enforcing your policies is difficult and can cause conflict in your provider client relationship. In addition, it is not fair to the other parents who have diligently followed your policies.

Read Part 1:
It’s Not Just Babysitting - Intro To Running An In Home Daycare

Debbie Yost is a work at home mom who has run a small in-home day care, The Tot Stop, for the last five years. She and her husband have three daughters ages 11, 5 and 3. Debbie’s youngest daughter has Down syndrome.

Because of her daughter, Debbie has become an advocate for people with Down syndrome to ensure they have the same opportunities to live a full and rewarding life as others.

Debbie writes from home whenever she finds time between bottles, diapers, naps and other parental duties. Her personal blog is Three Weddings.

© Bio photo courtesy of Debbie Yost.

© Guest Post Button Image courtesy of Yvonne Russell at Grow Your Writing Business.com

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By Yvonne Russell -- 3 comments

May 13th, 2008

Will Your Images, Photos, Artistic, & Other Copyrighted Work Become Public Property?

HomeBizNotes.com

If a proposed law, H.R. 5889, The Orphan Works Bill of 2008 passes the U.S. House of Representatives or  S. 2913, The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008, passes the Senate, your images, photos, artistic work  and authored works could be in danger of becoming public property.  Apparently, the infringers just have to indicate they can’t find or couldn’t contact the owner and will have free use of much written and artistic work.

In a radical departure from existing copyright law and business practice, the U.S. Copyright Office has proposed that Congress grant such infringers freedom to ignore the rights of the author and use the work for any purpose, including commercial usage. In the case of visual art, the word “author” means “artist.”  (From Overview at Illustrators Partnership of America)

The House Bill already has passed the House Judiciary Committee.

For more information on how this affects you, the artist, photographer, painter, designer…small and home business owner, visit the Illustrators Partnership of America web site. 

Another source of explanation of “Orphan Works” and the consequences to authors and artists if one of these bills becomes law is at Public Knowledge.

“Orphan Works” are copyrighted works - books, music, records, films, etc - whose owner cannot be located. (From Public Knowledge)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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May 12th, 2008

It’s Not Just Babysitting - Intro To Running An In Home Daycare Business

HomeBizNotes.com

Our Home Biz Notes May theme is Work At Home Moms in honor of Mother’s Day this month.

Would you like to contribute a Work At Home Mom Top Biz Tip or a Home Biz Myth Busted with a mom or family theme? Contact us. Email details are in the sidebar.
————————————————————————————————————————-
This is the first in a 4 part series from Debbie Yost about In Home Daycare as a home business.

Guest Post
By Debbie Yost

Five years ago when I wanted to stay home with my children, I thought the perfect way to supplement our family income was to run an in-home daycare. I had an advantage over many individuals entering this profession because I had audited the State of Missouri Child Care Facilities Inspections and Licensing department. During this audit, I had the opportunity to observe many in-home child care facilities and saw the good, the bad and the ugly.

In order to run a successful in-home daycare, a lot of planning needs to be made. There are many state laws and regulations you must follow as well as possible city or county codes. There are fire safety standards. There are training requirements including CPR and First Aid. There is a lot of equipment needed. However, in many ways, all these requirements are the easy part. It’s all written out for you and all you need to do is check it off as you get it done.

What the laws and regulations and statutes don’t cover, however, you are left to figure out on your own.

Over the next couple weeks I will discuss some of areas that can cause conflict and stress and make a dream job become a nightmare.

Debbie Yost is a work at home mom who has run a small in-home day care, The Tot Stop, for the last five years. She and her husband have three daughters ages 11, 5 and 3. Debbie’s youngest daughter has Down syndrome.

Because of her daughter, Debbie has become an advocate for people with Down syndrome to ensure they have the same opportunities to live a full and rewarding life as others.

Debbie writes from home whenever she finds time between bottles, diapers, naps and other parental duties. Her personal blog is Three Weddings.

© Bio photo courtesy of Debbie Yost.

© Guest Post Button Image courtesy of Yvonne Russell at Grow Your Writing Business.com

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By Yvonne Russell -- 5 comments

May 11th, 2008

Take a Chance - Develop Your Home Business

HomeBizNotes.com

Taking a Chance

When anyone decides to leave their current job and develop a home business or turn their hobby into a money making venture from their home, they’re taking a chance and jumping into the exciting entrepreneurial field.

 Over the next few days, we’ll be learning from Debbie Yost about developing a daycare business in one’s home. I’ve had several readers ask me about this type of business. Since I have never operated one, I needed to go afield to find answers.

Fortunately for all of us, Yvonne Russell, my co-blogger here at Home Biz Notes, has scheduled a series of guest posts by Debbie with do’s and don’ts for operating a daycare.

Yvonne posted an introduction, Want To Start An In Home Daycare Business? This will be a 4-part series by Debbie, beginning Monday, May 12.

Have you taken a chance with a home business? Share with us.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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May 11th, 2008

The Different Drummer & Taking Chances

Henry Thoreau said

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

It’s much easier to follow the crowd, but if you hear that different drum, it’s important to be true to yourself. Imagine if you had the chance to start your home business, but you didn’t have the courage? Making the move to run your own business definitely does take courage and commitment.

We take chances every day in life, let alone in our business. Every time we move outside our comfort zone we challenge ourselves. Taking chances does not being completely reckless. It means learning new skills, stretching and trying new things.

Take A Chance In Your Business

• Try a new marketing strategy
• Introduce yourself to someone new at a networking event
• Learn a new skill
• Set yourself a realistic challenge
• Promote yourself and your business in a newspaper article
• And the list goes on….

• Have you taken a chance, no matter how large or small that has paid off for your business?
• Any tips on taking chances in business?
  

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By Yvonne Russell -- 2 comments

May 11th, 2008

Happy Mother’s Day Australian Style

It’s Mother’s Day today in Australia and New Zealand as well as the USA and many other countries - 65 in fact.

Mothers are much the same the world over, so Mother’s Day in Australia is all about mums as Aussies call “moms”.

Kids serve mum breakfast in bed if she’d lucky… and with Dad supervising, maybe she’ll hope for something more than burnt toast.

One of our favorite breakfast spreads is Vegemite. Most non Aussies think it tastes like shoe polish, but we think they’re taste buds just need adjusting. :) We love the stuff! They’re even flying it in for the Australian athletes at the Beijing Olympics.

There are presents and the rest of the day is about spoiling mum and doing the work for her - cooking meals or taking her to lunch or dinner. Phone calls from children far away and flowers are the order of the day. It’s mum’s day.

Pity it can’t last forever. Not much different from Mother’s Day in other parts of the world, is it? Oh well, maybe apart from the vegemite.

How are you spending your Mother’s Day? Are you enjoying a relaxing break?

© Image courtesy of HellAsMultimedia. Used with permission.

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