In my previous post, I pondered on how to tie my enthusiasm for my one-room school heritage into my blog and my writing/speaking home business.  I listed various ways I could do this. 
Then it occurred to me…make a scrapbook, illustrated journal or CD about my heritage.  Then teach others how to do this with their school memories and provide scrapbooking kits.  These scrapbooks don’t have to be about a one-room school education.  These could include any school memories.
This also could expand upon my idea of providing kits for teaching scrapbooking in nursing homes.  In other words, Themed Scrapbooking.  The brainstorming could …read more

In establishing a direction for your sewing business, or any home business, look at the maket trends. 

*What is catching on in the market? 
 *What’s likely to be the new trend? 
*Does the current product you’re contemplating have limited or long life?

One of the current trends appears to be patchwork and fabric tote bags.  When I had a quiltmaking business, I found that tote bags, interspersed among my other patchwork products, were popular.  Some people have made an entire business with tote bags, especially if they can tie it in with the “green” movement.  Tying totes into environmental concerns seems to be a current trend …read more

This weekend I learned about an interesting business…Personal Dresser or Wardrobe Assistant/Consultant. 
If you like clothing, coordinating colors and styles, selecting make-up and determining closet arrangement, perhaps this is a business you could consider.  You might only want to do one phase of it, but becoming someone’s personal dresser, shopper, or wardrobe coordinator may be just what you’d like to do for a home business.
If you don’t have expertise in all these areas, do the one(s) you know and find resources for the others.
The woman who mentioned having a personal wardrobe assistant said she helped with wardrobe selection.  “Every article of …read more

What shall businesses do if the “cap and trade” tax goes into effect?
 According to estimates, this tax on energy and energy use will cause an average increase per family of more than $3,000 per year?  Can families endure it in this recession prone era?  Can businesses survive?
 The bill is hotly debated, but those who promote the global warming agenda (which more and more scientists say is over emphasized) are using scare tactics to push it through Congress and impose this tax on businesses, which ultimately greatly affects the consumer.
 Will your home business survive with added taxes?  In other words, you’ll …read more

For those who enjoy cooking, there are many ways you can turn this into a home business, something you can work at from your home.  If you are doing actual cooking to provide food for others, you’ll need to research the regulations for your state and community.  Also, check out zoning laws to see if this business is possible from your home.

 
Decorating cakes
 Providing breads for restaurants and stores. 
 Making and providing party foods
 Doing party planning for others
 Writing about cooking.  I wrote (and still write) a cooking column for newspapers for more than 40 years.
 Compiling a cookbook.  This even can be an …read more

 Many authors offer free e-books to help promote their writing and themselves.  These are of various lengths and formats.  Some even have been prepared as CDs.  (Other businesses can do the same.)
 Promotional e-books may include:

An excerpt from a current book
A complete small book that enhances a current book
An extension of a current book
A compilation of work by various authors
A collection of recipes from authors

 I’ve been involved in a number of these promotional projects and found them thoroughly enjoyable.  I haven’t used the promotional possibilities to the fullest, but know they’re ongoing.
 E-Cookbooks
 I’ve participated in two cookbooks coordinated by Kathleen (Katy) Walls, …read more

“What’s your brand? Your niche?” I recently was asked.
I sometimes spread myself into many projects, all involved in earning a living, but still somewhat related. For instance, I’m a freelance writer, blogger, substitute teacher, speaker and workshop teacher.
Do these tie together? Yes, in the way they all relate to writing or my writing topics. However, not all are connected to one niche.
Should I have a niche?
Generally I’ve adhered to the old adage, “Don’t put your eggs all in one basket.”
Then when the economy changes, people’s interests change, fads change, or technology decrees some areas obsolete, I …read more

It’s exciting to be back at Home Biz Notes. I was the original blogger here; then Yvonne Russell joined me for a year. More recently Jean Murray kept the blog going with her informative posts. Now I’m back and plan to provide you with helpful information for your home business.
I have a background in home businesses or small businesses going back to childhood because I grew up on a family dairy and poultry farm. Our home was a business. When I was in high school, my mom, who had no experience as a storekeeper, took over …read more

If you are proficient on the computer and you want a great home business job, consider operating a typing service.  Now, the word “typing service” is kind of a misnomer these days, since no one uses a typewriter any more.  So a typing service is really a service that produces documents on a computer.
I had a home typing service when my children were young, and it was a good way to combine family and work.  I could work when I wanted (and when my children were sleeping) and get a lot done.  None of my clients came to the house; …read more

With the downturn in the economy expected to last a while, it may seem that this is not the time to make your dreams of owning your own business at home a reality.  But if the only reason you are hesitating is fear, then put that fear aside and get started.  If you start now and start small,  your business will be in place when the economy takes off.
It takes time to get started. There are many tasks involved in starting any business, and 10,000 decisions to make.  And you know the rule: everything takes twice as long and …read more