Dr. Jean Murray, whose “swipe” file tips I published recently, has written a post, Keep Your Small Business Going After Surgery,  at Small Business Boomers that may be of interest.  Jean’s small business actually is a home business, so her suggestions on keeping her business going should prove helpful.
Many of us will encounter illnesses, disabilities, whether short term or long.  Jean’s was knee replacement surgery, and she’s looking at having the second knee done in November.  She should find her own tips helpful in preparing for this next surgery.
If you’ve encountered illness or surgery, how did you manage your business?

Reading blogger Des Walsh’s post about effective business signs, and his analysis of the honey market sign, got me to thinking about the necessity of signs that work for one’s home business.  This would be for a business with walk-in customers.  You also might have an online presense along with your walk-in business and could carry your logo there.
In his Sunday Markets series at Thinking Home Business, Des pictures signs he finds at the farmers’ market and analyzes their effectiveness.  Of the honey sign, he said, This one I love for its simplicity of style and for the beautiful succinctness …read more

As I browse around the Internet and through newspapers, I enjoy leaning about small and home business ventures that feature success.  Some of these are very unique and bring great enjoyment to the owners.
 Mountain Ash Design (www.mountainashdesign.com) in Vermont (USA) features the reuse of old clothes.  (In modern verbage, we might call it “going green,” because owner Sarah O. Green …no pun intended…is redesigning and recycling old clothing and creating unique items from the fabric.)
 Using “good” old fabric again and again stems back to the pioneers who didn’t have nearby stores with new fabric.  Also, usually their budgets didn’t allow for …read more

In Jean Murray’s guest post, Working at Home with Your Spouse, she discusses sharing an office with her husband, both of whom work at different businesses. 
What if you and your spouse work at the same home business, as my husband and I do?  As my dad and mom did on their farm?  As my classmate’s parents did operating a country general store?
What problems do you encounter and how do you solve them?

Both of you are different personalities and may tackle the jobs in your business differently.  It may be a challenge at first to work together, especially if this is something …read more

We have a guest post today from Jean Murray, a former blogger at Home Biz Notes and currently the Small Business blogger at Bizzia.  Jean also has a home business and shares an office with her husband. 
Working with Your Spouse
How would you like to work with your spouse, in the same room?  Every day?  Could you do it? Could you do it at home?
 My husband retired from his job of 27 years last June and he immediately started to work for a small company where he is now able to work much of the time from home.  I semi-retired …read more

Creative thinking lies at the root of many unique home businesses.  Who would think one could evolve from composting?
 Recently I learned about Megan Kolbay in Vermont (USA), who has developed a business toting her compost and that of others to a community compost collection point or pile.  Apparently first one friend, then another offered to pay Megan to take their compost to the pile, down a dirt road, when she took hers.
 This gave Megan the idea there might be a market for this service.  See…something we’ve mentioned before….find an need and fill it.
 This concept has grown into Earthgirl Composting, Megan’s …read more

Jean Murray, who has blogged here at Home Biz Notes, both as a guest blogger and regular blogger, now writes about Small Business at Bizzia.  She recently published an excellent post about the pros and cons of starting a home business.
Very often, when someone thinks of expanding their hobby into an income producing venture or starting a home business entirely new, they consider only the thrill of working for themselves.  They fail to look at the downside of a home business.  Yes, there are downsides, as well as the advantages of working from home and setting a somewhat flexible schedule.
What …read more

This can be all too true. Cost things carefully, before spending money to save money.
Have you had this experience?
Cartoon Reprinted with permission from Its NGenius.com

The United States Army is offering selected new recruits up to $40 000 towards a home or a small business. This is in drive to encourage a big roll up in elistments.
This seems like a proactive approach. The “New Advantage” program offers an incentive to sign up. It also gives recruits a reassurance that they’ll have a good start to life after the Army. $40 000 is more than many people have when they start a small business, including a home business.
I wonder how many recruits will take the home business option. Judging by the growing trend towards working from …read more