So often your customers are rushed and stressed this time of year as they finish their shopping, attend school holiday programs, do extra baking, wrap up year-end reports at work and often deal with stormy weather.
How can you make them smile and feel less stressed when they shop with you or visit your online store?
1. Smile of course. Often a smile will bring one in return.
2. Put smiley faces or cheery design on e-mail correspondence with them.
3. Tuck little cards, no larger than a business card, into their packages with an uplifting saying. This works for online …read more

Starting a home business can be puzzling and frustrating before it’s satisfying and producing an income.  That idea you approached with excitement, still seems great, but is producing uncertainties as you wonder where to begin.
Go on over to Startup Spark and see what Shannon Cherry has to say in Starting a Business on a Limited Budget.
Using the example of Kay, who wants to start a business marketing aprons and chef’s hats for children with a limited marketing budget of $500, Shannon mentions many tips that will give this business great exposure.
She discusses such areas as:
*Know your goals
*Do some research
*Get an inexpensive …read more

In this age of often less customer contact, with a great deal of shopping taking place over the Internet, some home business owners find an increase in their business if they make home visits. This doesn’t mean being a salesperson who stops by the home, only to find no one there.
Make appointments to conduct your services at your customer/client’s homes, deliver products, adapt to their personal needs. An article at Seattlepi.com, Mobile business owners find personal touch is worth hassles, by Mary Ann Albright, relates the experiences of several who’ve taken their business to this level.
“By being …read more

My top home biz tip is to choose a home business that is a passion, or that you feel you will enjoy and be able to sustain long term.
That doesn’t mean that if your favorite thing in the world is gift baskets, that you should necessarily have a gift basket business. It means, choose a business you’re passionate enough about to sustain the enthusiasm and momentum, even through the more difficult times.
Financial Return & Your Home Business
Money is, of course, important, and choosing a business that has a decent finanancial return is part of the planning process. But surveys and …read more

We frequently find advice about what you need to do to maintain a successful home business, how you can build it up, how you can have happy customers.  Are we ever warned about some of the worst mistakes we can make…so we can stay away from them?
Not usually…so, Business Channel bloggers will be giving you advice on things you shouldn’t do.
Some of the mistakes a Home Business Owner shouldn’t make….
*Tell a customer they’re wrong or stupid and don’t know what they’re talking about…even when they have no clue.
*Don’t worry about meeting deadlines for producing an item or providing a service. 
*Ignore a customer’s complaints. 
*Fail …read more

Laurie Neumann, at Christian Home Business Connection, continues to offer useful information and tips for the home business owner, or someone considering starting a business from their home.  She spends a great deal of time researching legitimate business opportunities.
At her web site, you’ll find a very helpful feature, an archive of articles on home business topics.  You, also, can sign up for her free newsletter with it’s business tips.
You may want to check out Laurie’s web site and blog to see what information applies to your situation.

Many home business owners (and traditional businesses, as well)  start their venture without seeking advice or learning much about the various aspects to consider about a business.  Some businesses require more business accumen than others, yet some basic business knowledge is beneficial.
Nowadays, operating a business by utilizing the Internet often requires much less investment and stocking of products than businesses which operate out of a physical location (your home, in this case) or perform services requiring equipment (like carpenters, lawn maintenence, etc.)  
(See the posts about Mark and Dorothy’s  online businesses as examples of those requiring little overhead.)
Here are 7 items to consider and perhaps seek advice …read more