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Do what you like.
Then do it better than anyone else.
Think about what you’d do if you had all the money in the world. What would you do with your time? Maybe you’d want to teach others how to organize their homes. Maybe you’d want to write resumes. Maybe you’d want to bake all day. How you answer could just be the start of a very lucrative business
What are you good at?
Surely you’ve seen people on their way to work who look like they’d rather be having a tooth pulled. Unhappiness in the workplace is a sign of a bad career fit. And the same can happen when you own your own business. If you don’t like what you’re doing, it’ll be hard to make it a success. Ask yourself what you’re good at – or what others tell you you’re good at. Then ask yourself what you enjoy doing so much that you’d do it even if it came without a paycheck. Once you figure it out, you can start looking into how to transform it into a business to call your own.
There’s no place like home.
A home-based business may seem too good to be true. There’s no commuter headache to worry about. No dress code. And you call the shots – when to work and for how long. But it’s the last perk that can get you into trouble if you lack discipline. If you decide a home-based business is for you, here’s how to make the most of it.
Create an office – Whether it’s a spare bedroom or the basement, designate one room in the house to be your “office”. You’ll endure fewer distractions from everyday household duties when you do.
Keep business hours – Although it may seem contradictory to the freedom to do what you want, getting dressed and keeping a consistent schedule will keep work moving along. And make you more profitable.
Build a support system – one of the drawbacks of working from home is the lack of contact with coworkers. Find other self-employed women you can count on to brainstorm with you or help with work overflow. And remember, networking can also lead to new business and growth.
Building a better franchise.
If starting a business from scratch seems a bit daunting, franchising may be the answer for you. You still have the opportunity to be your own boss (up to a point) but, since they have a vested interest in your success, most franchises will help with start-up, training and advertising. It’s kind of like being in business for yourself, just not all by yourself. However, if you’re fiercely independent, that might create a problem down the road. Once you’re attached to a franchise, you’ll have to play by their rules including dress codes, hours of operation or products you carry. You’ll probably also have to pay a percentage of your monthly gross back to the parent company. So weigh your need for independence versus your desire for assistance before researching any franchise opportunities
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