Home Biz Notes.com
Shoppers often look for “after Christmas” and “after New Year’s” sales.  So home business owners can utilize this as a shopping promotion, too.  The manager of a mall store told me shoppers are always coming into her store looking for special sales after Christmas and for new sales to start out the new year.  So her store regularly plans specials
1. Do you have Christmas or seasonal items you don’t want to hold over for another year?  Put these out at reduced prices in your shop and online…while supplies last.
2.  Plan a New Year’s special or beginning of the …read more

In her post, Buy Something Just for Yourself for Christmas, Yvonne Russell mentioned books and wondered what others would like to put on their list.   I listed books for home business owners in another post, Thursday Thirteen: 13 Books to Inspire the Home Business Owner.
Do you have books on your list you’d like to share?
In a comment on the Thursday Thirteen post, Laura Spencer of Work From Home Momma, said:
Great list! I love to read. I would also add “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss. It’s about trying new things.
To Yvonne’s post, I added another book I’ve been reading:
Lincoln on Leadership, …read more

“What should I charge,” long has been a quandry for home business owners concerning their products and services. 
Laura Spencer at Work From Home Momma provides some interesting information to consider about the question, “Should You Set Your Initial Price Low to Get Clients?”
Many business owners often think this way because:
*They aren’t confident of their abilities and quality of their product.
*They want some money…even if it’s a little money.
* They have other income and don’t have to depend on this income for a living.
*They can always go up on their price.
Check out what Laura Spencer’ post and her readers’ comments for ideas.  She …read more

We have a guest post today by Laura Spencer of Work From Home Momma.
She has some tips in case you’re invited to give a presentation or talk about your home business. This can be, once you get over any initial hesitancy, a really enjoyable way to spread the word about what you’re doing.
5 Tips on Making A Successful Business Presentation
Guest Post By Laura Spencer
As a home business owner you may occasionally have the opportunity to make
a presentation about your business to clients, perspective clients, or
local groups. If you are asked to speak, be sure to take …read more

                                         
You’ll find many things to consider when choosing health insurance when you’re self-employed…or when you desire to change health insurance if your premium skyrockets.  Sometimes, too, you’ll be priced out of your health insurance, as we were, because you’ve entered an age bracket that generally has more health problems.  Even though my husband and I hardly ever needed medical treatment at that time, this didn’t come under consideration.
When I asked, at the insurance office if we were deliberately being priced out of health insurance with that particular company (premiums had become higher and coverage lowered), the woman I was talking with  …read more

Are you’re trying to operate your home business this weekend while the children are home from school?  Do you become dismayed by the many interruptions?  (In the United States, most schools are closed so students have a 4 1/2 day holiday weekend.)
Laura Spencer at Work from Home Momma has just the solution!  Check out her post, Twenty-five Thanksgiving Activities and Puzzles for Kids. 
Ah!  Now to get some work done on the Internet, finish making items for an order, or wait on customers in your shop while the youngsters are occupied with Laura’s suggestions and checking out activities in books you may …read more

Laura, at Work from Home Momma, mentioned in her comment on Yvonne’s post, Mystery Shopping Scams – Consumer Affairs Caution – Video , that she’d written today about a mystery shopping scam that’s making the rounds, especially to appeal to those working at home.  So I checked out her blog and thought some of our Home Biz Notes readers might like to read Laura’s post, Mystery Shopping Scam; Work-at-home Scam Alert.
It’s interesting when we find information that reinforces something we’ve written.  Yvonne’s post must be a timely one.  She also wrote about mystery shopping itself, Mystery Shopping – Home Business Savvy.

Laura, at Work From Home Momma, mentioned in her comment to the previous post, Basing Your Home Business Promotions Around Themes, that business owners can begin planning for next year. 
“It’s not too late to put it [pilot theme day...or any other] on your calendar for next year, either.  Especially if you are going to purchase or make items based on the theme, you will need some lead time.”
So begin planning ahead for theme days.  Then the date isn’t suddenly upon you without your having made any products, prepared a promotion, or developed a strategy.
* Put the various dates on your calendar. 
*Look at the dates …read more

We generally like to learn about other’s success stories that give us the feeling…
“Ah! If she/he can do that, I can be successful with my business” 
Or…“What a great tip!  I’ll have to try that with my home business.”
Over the existence of Home Biz Notes, I’ve interviewed and mentioned numerous home business.  I’ll round up some of these in case you missed them…or are at a point in your business where some of these tips now will inspire you.
*Mark Allen operates an online business through the utilization of CafePress as his “store.”
*Dorothy Thompson has discovered that the Internet offers her the opportunity to …read more

 When I learned Laura Spencer, of Writing Thoughts, had juggled  a home business with caring for her father, as well as her family, I thought some of her tips would be helpful for other home business owners who are in the midst of this, too.  They’re part of the “sandwich generation” with responsibilities in numerous directions.  Even if your business doesn’t involve writing, Laura’s tips should help you.
Juggling Caring for a Loved One With Your Home Business
 By Laura Spencer
When Mary Emma asked me to write this guest post I was hesitant for two reasons. First of all, it’s been less than …read more