In January, a Thursday 13 provided a list of home business opportunities

Yvonne talked with Four Ingredients Cookbook authors – maybe you have a cookbook in you, too?

A Genealogy-related business might be genetically suited to you.

Maybe Craft Shows are your passion. Developing a home business around this idea can be profitable.

In February, Mary Emma listed 13 Online Businesses to Pursue from Home

In March, Yvonne asked, “Do You Have What it Takes?” to run a Bed and Breakfast?

A Home Daycare Business
13 Types of At-home Businesses for Mom-Entrepreneurs

An EBay or Online Business

Another Thursday 13 – Home-based Writing Businesses

And 13 Travel-related Businesses

Home Businesses Involving Pets

A Home Day Care Business series … (Introduction, Licenses and Regulations, Organizational Skills, the best mix of ages,

13 Regional home businesses

ETSY as a home business

and a home EBAY business too

And from my time here, two posts on Virtual Assisting as a home business (from AssistU owner Stacy Brice and from VA Cindy Gaffen )

Stay tuned for more in 2009.  If you are interested in a specific home business opportunity for me to research, let me know and I’ll do that.

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Suzanne Wells has built a very successful home business as an eBay shop owner. She writes the interesting and informative eShop Owner Blog here at b5 media.

Whether you’re a beginner with eBay or an experienced shop owner, you can learn a lot from Suzanne’s blog. She has sold over 15, 000 items on eBay since 2003.

Suzanne says

eBay is a great fit for stay-at-home or work-at-home moms, since Moms in general love the idea because their kids are constantly outgrowing clothes and toys, and eBay gives them a way to recoup some of the expense of those items.

I actually wrote a book to help other moms make money on eBay “The Stay-at-Home Mom’s Guide to Successful eBay Selling.” (Amazon.) I’ve since realized that eBay is also a great fit for retirees, college students, and anyone who wants to add another stream of income to the household.

I’ve also created a free forum for eBay sellers, video tutorials, podcasts a resource library, and a collection of eBay How-To articles to help you on the road to eBay success.

Most everyone has “stuff” in their homes that can be sold on eBay for a profit. The problem is that many people are not aware of what they can sell, what types of items are profitable, or they are intimidated by the eBay process in general. This blog will help you get started.

Learn more from Suzanne Wells about ebay at the eShop Owner Blog or at her site – eBay Selling Coach and check out her HOT LISTS. They’re great!

Photo courtesy of eShop Owner at b5 media.

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Currently, Suzanne has a number of posts concerning the in’s and out’s about setting up an eBay store.  She does this in the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) format.

For instance, in FAQ#1, Suzanne discusses, What Should I Sell?, and differentiates between the hobby and serious eBay business owner.  She also touches upon her experience as an eBay business owner.

Keep tuned at eShopOwner and you’ll discover a great deal of information about operating an “e” business in today’s Internet world.

Incidentally, there  is an introduction to Suzanne and her blog by Business Channel CE, Kelly Erb, b5media Goes Online Shopping.

(Amazon image: click for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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International Shipping Costs
One of the most contentious issues on eBay is shipping costs, especially international shipping costs.

As I am based in Australia, Power Seller King author, Suzanne Wells asked me to give an Australian perspective on shipping costs. I’ve found shipping costs are often more than the item.

Sometimes it’s fair. Often it’s a rip off. Some eBay sellers overload shipping costs to make extra profit. That’s not a good idea if you want a good reputation, and want return customers.

An Open Letter To eBay Sellers About Overseas Shipping Costs
Read my open letter to eBay sellers about overseas shipping costs in How US eBay Sellers Can Better Serve International Customers – An Australian Perspective.

© Image courtesy of Yvonne Russell at Grow Your Writing Business

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My colleague and friend, Suzanne Wells is a successful ebay selling coach. She is an ebay Power seller. Suzanne blogs at Power Seller King and Ebay Selling Coach.

She is the author of The Stay At Home Mom’s Guide To Successful Ebay Selling available from Amazon. Watch the video to learn more if this is a home business idea you’d like to know more about.

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 Are we facing a recession?  Are we in the midst of one?  Or is it simply media generated based on a few facts?

Whatever else you think, you’ll find that oil has reached a new high on the world market. Thus, with this increasing price of fuel, whether for transportation or heating,  and translating into higher costs of merchandise, businesses have become affected.  We now have to alter our way of thinking.

Business owners and consumers have to become more creative in their thinking and planning.

*This fuels the trend for shopping online and offering your products and services that way.
*The popularity of community sites like eBay, Etsy, and Craig’s List continues to grow.
*Business owners are going online with their products and services in their web sites and blogs…instead of, or in addition to, their home based stores.
*They become creative on how they can use blogs and/or web sites to provide for  customers and generate income.
*Shoppers combine trips, doing a number of errands in one area at the same time or car pool. Is there a way you can offer a discount if someone shops at your at home business while shopping at a nearby grocery, etc.? 
*Develop a list of savings tips that you offer to your shoppers, either online or when they stop in person.

What fuel and money saving strategies can you offer your customers?

©2008 Mary Emma Allen

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These regulations may vary from state to state, county to county, and even town to town.  However, it’s better to be aware of them before you begin.

Ms. Klein mentions the book, eBay for Dummies, by Marsha Collier and quotes advice from her.

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Some thought could be given to developing a home business, probably along with your job as an employee for someone else at this stage, unless you’ve already been establishing yourself in a work from home career.  However, in today’s Internet world, many graduates have been looking already into ways to earn income online, possibly to supplement while they were in school. 

*Continue developing your home business if you have started one.  Concentrate making it a full time income, if this is the direction you’d like to go.

*Check out the b5media’s Business Channel for great information about starting and operating a business.  With the diverse topics and bloggers, you’re sure to find information to give you ideas and help you get started, as well as continue your business.

Other resources and suggestions:

*Mark Allen had some good ideas for an online business utilizing the capabilities of Cafe Press, something he hopes to turn into a full time income in the future.  I wrote about him at Developing a Home Business Utilizing Cafe Press, Part 1 and Part 2.(Example from Mark’s Defy Gravity store.)

There are other types of “stores”, or places where you can develop sites for selling your items.  Many people utilize eBay for a store site, as well as auctions.

*If you’ve been involved in some type of art  or craft work, you may want to start promoting this online, as well as from your home, craft fairs and other events.  You’ll find info about establishing these businesses at Barbara Brabec’s site and newsletter.  Also, Alyson B. Stanfield, at Art Biz Blog, has great advice, too, for those in the art world.

*In the writing field, Yvonne Russell, of Grow Your Writing Business, offers continual suggestions about operating a home business, particularly one involving the Internet.

*Laurie Neumann at Christian Home Business Connection delves into many home business ideas.  She researches those that are viable businesses, not scams. 

This is a time for new beginnings in a graduate’s life.  Which path are you going to venture down?

(Incidentally, don’t disregard business ideas and suggestions simply because the person giving them is in another field than yours.  Some business principles are universal.  Or you can tweek the suggestions to fit your needs.)

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