Running a home-based business can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. BUT, It can also be one of the most frustrating. Somedays it will feel as though you are all alone on a neverending hamster wheel (BUT, if it were easy…everyone would do it!)
There are thousands of books out there that claim they have all the answers to success, but don’t fall for this trap. Just as every home-based business is unique, so is every entrepreneur’s needs and goals.
Success means different things to different people, which means what works for some may not work for others.
There’s of course no easy answer to success or a one-size-fits-all solution, but there are tips and tricks to make your life a bit easier.
Here are 30 tips that will help you stay sane while running your own company from the comfort of your home.
1. Plan for success
Small businesses fail primarily because they are not planned for success. This means having a business plan, setting goals and objectives, and putting a system in place to track your progress. Take your business seriously from day 1!
2. Have a clear vision
What is the purpose of your home-based business? What do you want to achieve? How will you know when you’ve succeeded? These are questions you need to answer before starting your business. Without a vision, it’s tough to stay motivated when things get tough.
3. Do your research
It’s important to know as much as possible about the industry you’re entering, the competition, and the consumers you’re targeting. This information can be found online, through trade magazines, or by talking to other businesses in your industry. Do not be afraid to reach out to others whom have done it before you!
4 . Define your market
When starting a home-based business, it’s important to define the people most likely to use and benefit from your products and services. That way you can create marketing strategies that successfully reach this target audience. You want to define how you’re going to find customers and what separates them from ordinary visitors.
5 . Solve problems
No one wants businesses in their industry just for the sake of having competition around, so focus on problem-solving when developing your business strategy.
If there is no need for another dry cleaner or computer consultant, then you may be heading down the wrong path!
6. Take care of yourself
Running a home-based business can be extremely time-consuming and with everything else going on in life (kids, spouse, life in general….),
It can be tough to find time for yourself. Make sure you schedule some time each day for exercise, relaxation, reading, or whatever makes YOU happy or you’ll quickly burn out.
7. Set boundaries
One of the benefits of running a home-based business is that you can set your own hours. However, this also means that you need to set boundaries with family and friends regarding work time. Otherwise, you’ll never get anything done!
This one goes back to #1, take your business seriously. Set some hours (that work best for you), and stick to a schedule as much as you can.
8 . Get your space organized
There’s no way to run a successful business if you’re constantly scrambling around trying to find things.
The key is to get organized from the start by creating a clean and organized space for your office. Create a system for filing paperwork, tracking inventory, and handling customer service inquiries.
9 . Delegate
I’ll be the first to admit…this one is extremely hard for me. When starting a home-based business, be careful not to try to do everything yourself. While it’s important to wear many hats when you’re just starting out, eventually you need to hire help or delegate tasks to your employees. The key is finding the right balance between hiring staff and managing them effectively. Fiverr is a great website to dip your toes into delegating.
10 . Set goals
Having a clear vision for your business will help you set the appropriate goals. Once these are in place, you can develop strategies for reaching them. It may (okay it will…) take some time for your home-based business to grow into what you’ve envisioned, but this process doesn’t happen overnight!
11 . Be flexible
One of the keys to successfully running a home-based business is being adaptable enough so that when things change, either due to an unforeseen circumstance or because you’ve decided to change course, you can roll with the punches.
12 . Get an online presence
A successful home-based business should have a website to showcase its products and services. Not only will this help you reach more customers, but it will also give your business a professional appearance. You may also want to consider setting up a blog and/or social media accounts to connect with potential customers online.
13 . Set prices carefully
When starting a new business, it’s important to set prices that will cover your costs while still making a profit.
Take into account the cost of materials, labor, shipping, and other expenses associated with your product or service. Also, be sure to factor in enough money for advertising and marketing. DO NOT PRICE YOURSELF TOO LOW!
14 . Use technology wisely
Technology can be a great asset for home-based businesses, but it’s important to use it wisely. For example, make sure you have a good spam filter for your email and an antivirus program for your computer. You may also want to invest in a backup system in case of a power outage or other emergency.
15 . Get organized virtually
Paperwork is one of the biggest headaches for any business, but it’s especially troublesome for home-based businesses. One way to reduce the amount of paperwork is to scan documents into your computer and store them digitally. This will save you time when looking for a particular document and will help keep your office organized.
If you do not want to invest in any additional project management systems, you can easily organize your business files using folder in your Google Drive!
16 . Manage money well
When starting a business, it’s important to be mindful of your expenses and to keep track of how much money you’re making. This will help you stay in business for the long haul. One way to do this is to create a budget and stick to it. You can do this using Google Spreadsheets (for free), Quickbooks (additional cost), or with one of our printable budgeting tools!
17 . Make a business plan
A business plan is essential for any business, but especially for home-based businesses. I know I already mentioned this in #1, but it is so important that it needs its own number.
This document will outline your business goals, strategies for reaching them, and financial projections.
It may take time to create a detailed business plan, but it’s well worth the effort!
18 . Take advantage of tax breaks
When starting a new business, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the tax breaks available to you.
Many home-based businesses qualify for tax deductions on items such as computers, office furniture, and phone and utility bills.
19 . Market your business
If you want your home-based business to be successful, it’s important to market yourself and your products or services.
This can be accomplished through traditional means such as print ads, billboards, and commercials or through social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.
You can do so organically (for free) by being consistent with your social media posts, utilizing reels. and engaging with your following.
20 . Network with other entrepreneurs
One of the best ways to learn about running a home-based business is by networking with other entrepreneurs in the community.
Find out which events they attend regularly and join them there.
You may also find that some will mentor you or allow you to shadow them for a day in order to see what their daily routines are like. Many go online in order to meet new people, post their profiles on social media networks, join discussion groups, and contribute to blogs.
21 . Solicit feedback
It’s important for any business to receive feedback from its customers in order to continuously improve. Satisfied customers are more likely to keep coming back, while unhappy customers will tell everyone they know about their negative experience if given the chance.
When starting a home-based business, it’s a good idea to collect customer testimonials so you can display them on your website or use them when marketing your products or services.
In our Esty business, we offer a small discount on additional purchases in exchange for a review. BUT, I always reach out to each customer privately after they receive their product to ensure happiness!
22 . Start small
If you have never run a home-based business before, it may be best for you to start small with the goal of growing the business as time goes on.
However, if you have a lot of business experience, it might be a good idea to start out big and expand as your skills and customer base grow.
ALSO… there is no need for perfection. SOMETHING is better than nothing. You can always go back at perfect as time goes on.
23 . Treat your home-based business like a real business
One of the most important things to remember is that your home-based business is actually a legitimate business.
This means it’s essential to keep your personal and professional lives separate as much as possible.
A great way to do this is by having an office or designated work area in your home that only contains items related to your home-based business.
When doing paperwork, it can also be helpful for you and others (such as customers) who may visit the office not to discuss personal matters such as family life or other nonbusiness topics so that it doesn’t appear to be a distraction.
24 . Keep your personal life organized
It can be easy for any home-based business to get off track due to disorganization, but it’s important that you keep things under control in your personal life in order to reach your goals.
If things get out of control (or at least feel that way) in your personal life, you will likely be too stressed out to focus on your home business. Utilize a planner, or google calendar to keep your life organized.
25 . Outsource work
Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of thinking they have to do everything themselves in order for their business to succeed.
However, one of the best ways to free up time is by outsourcing work that can be completed by someone else. It’s important to trust the person you choose to outsource work to, though.
When outsourcing, make sure you review their qualifications and feel confident in their ability to complete the tasks assigned to them in a timely manner.
26 . Take advantage of free business tools
There are several online tools available for entrepreneurs which can help you run your business better and even make it more fun.
Some great ones include Evernote (which provides a place to store various types of information, such as text, video, images, etc.), Google Apps (if you haven’t already switched over to using Gmail for your e-mail needs, now’s the time!), and Quip (an online word processor that makes collaborations easy).
You can also use some software programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva for designing your company logo or other graphics you’ll need.
Tip! Canva is my absolute FAVORITE design tool. There is a free option that is great to start with, but the paid tool is 1,0000 percent worth it.
27 . Make yourself indispensable
If you want to keep your home-based business running smoothly, it’s essential that all clients know they can count on you whenever they may need you to handle a job or order.
This is why it’s so important to always deliver top-notch work and retain open communication with your customers so they never have a reason to look elsewhere for assistance. This will lead to great referrals, and repeat business!
28 . Expand your business
You may find that one of the best ways to expand your home-based business is by partnering with other entrepreneurs in the industry.
By helping each other out, you can pool resources together and reach a wider audience while saving money on overhead costs such as advertising.
Or, how about expanding globally?
If there’s demand for your quality products or services outside of your country of residence, consider reaching out to foreign investors, especially if you’re looking for capital funding.
29 . Stay positive
One way to help ensure your home-based business is successful is to always stay positive and have a can-do attitude.
This not only helps you maintain a good outlook, but also encourages clients and employees to believe in your vision. Positivity breeds success!
Imposter system is reallllll (thinking you aren’t cut out for this whole business thing), BUT a positive can-do attitude can combat some of these feelings.
30 . Get professional help
If you feel like you’re struggling to keep up with all the demands of running a home-based business, it may be time to get some professional help.
This could include hiring an accountant to help with bookkeeping, a virtual assistant to take care of administrative tasks, or even a coach or consultant who can provide guidance and support.
This could also look like investing in a course or coach in your industry.
Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance when you need it – after all, that’s what they’re there for!
Conclusion :
There are many things that can help you run your home-based business more efficiently, but the most important thing is to stay focused on how you’re going to achieve success.
If you have a clear vision of what you want for your company and a plan to get there, then everything else will fall into place fairly easily.
What other secrets would you add to this list? What have you learned in your home business journey?
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