After reading a guest post, Walking the Line at Work: Choosing Appropriate Attire, and the comments at Susan Gunelius’ Women on Business blog, I began to consider how this applied to a home business. Most home business owners don’t have employees, but a few do.  Also, if your business is one where you have walk in customers/clients or you meet them outside the home, you have appropriate dress to consider.
I’ve begun to realize that many women feel, “Because I’m a woman, don’t tell me how to dress.”  You may run into this if you have a dress code, even a very informal one, in your business. I …read more

Much has been written about business dress and often this changes with the times and the type of work you’re doing.  Recently I wrote the post, Dress the “Brand” for your Home Business, which concerned promoting your products/services by the way you dress.
I discovered an interesting post, Walking the Line at Work; Choosing Appropriate Attire, by Bonnie Marcus at Women On Business.  Although Bonnie writes mainly about women and dress in the corporate world, you may find some tips that apply to your home business.  Some of you may operate home business with walk-in customers.  Others may be meeting with people in the …read more

They make it look simple.  But we all know it isn’t.  For inspiration, today I’ll give you some brief secrets from Entrepreneur’s Top 50 Women Business Owners (my comments in italics). This inspirational tips are good for all businesses, from Fortune 500 companies to our home businesses:

Create a clear vision for your business and hire great employees to help you execute it.
“Get better before getting bigger. I made the mistake of growing too fast in the beginning, and it was overwhelming for my team and the customers. Focus on delivery and customer service.”
Quality people are a company’s best assets.
 Communicate “incessantly and consistently.”  …read more

I found lots of valuable information for home business owners on the U.S. government’s Business.gov website  , and I thought I would share some of these with you.  Here you go – Happy Thursday!
1, Pros and Cons of Starting a Home Based Business
2. Zoning Laws for Home Based Businesses
3. Business Plans for Home Based Businesses
4. Home Based Business: Market Your Product
5. IRS FAQ’s For Home (and other) Businesses
6. Energy Efficiency for Home Businesses
7. Market and Sell Green Products in Your Home Business
8. State and Local Resources for Home Business Owners (check out zoning regulations here)
9. Can You Live …read more

I ran across a list of websites for women in business and thought I would share it with you.  Have you been on any of these sites?  Have you used their services?  I would love to know what you think, if you do.
Ghost CEO.  This one was suggested by a reader.  I will contact them for more information and a possible interview.  Stay tuned….
National Association for Women Business Owners – A national dues-based organization for women entrepreneurs.
Count Me In -  This non-profit helps women start businesses
Women Business Enterprise National Council -  Advocates for women in business.
WomenBiz.US – A national monthly …read more

Now that I’m “retired” and staying at home to devote full time to my writing, I’m worried I will turn into a slug.  I mean a big fat lazy loafer.  I don’t mean mentally, but physically.  If your home based business means you sit at a computer all day, how are you staying fit?
A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health shows that older women who were more physically active performed better on cognitive (learning) tests than women who were not as active.  Makes sense, doesn’t it? And if, like me, you depend on your mind to make …read more

HomeBizNotes.com
All of the discussion about Oprah apparently refusing to have Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin on her show got me thinking…does it matter? 
Oprah can back whichever candidate she wishes and have whomever she wants on her show.
So why should it matter to Sarah Palin if she appears on Oprah’s show or not?
Oprah’s show, admittedly a very prominent and influential one, isn’t the only show in town although she’s to be admired for what she’s accomplished.
At this point, would Sarah Palin show greater strength if she refused to be a guest, rather than seeming a puppet on Oprah’s strings?
So how does this …read more

HomeBizNotes.com 

Author/illustrator, Tasha Tudor, was a very gracious lady who gave me, an aspiring children’s writer, (as well as parents and aunt) an afternoon of her busy life many years ago.  I’m sure this wasn’t with the idea of promoting herself and her books when she invited us to tea at her farmhouse home.  However, her kindness has resulted in my spreading my delight with her. 
*I’ve written reminiscenses about this visit in print and online media.  As a result many of my readers have responded and said this added to their enjoyment of Tasha Tudor.
*My daughter and I have purchased, not only her …read more

HomeBizNotes.com

With the choice of Sarah Palin, Alaska’s Governor, as the Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, will more women be encouraged to seek more in their lives and businesses?  Will they say, “I CAN achieve and attain my dreams!”

Will women decide to pursue home businesses and to higher levels?
Will they realize they can raise a family and pursue a career?
Will they be encouraged to serve their communities and country in various ways?
Will Sarah Palin’s achievements encourage you?  HOW?

(Amazon image; click here for details)
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

HomeBizNotes.com
Networking has become the popular “buzz word” in the business and social arena today.  “Making friends,” I like to call it.  We see it discussed everywhere nowadays.
Elizabeth Gordon, author of The Chic Entrepreneur, who visited Home Biz Notes recently, has an interesting post at her blog, What Are the Best Ways to Network?.  Some of these ideas also were contributed by Elizabeth’s blog visitors.
We hear so much about networking online that we sometimes forget there are ways to do this offline.  Some businesses still are mainly offline, with physical location in your home , store front or office.  Many of …read more