Summer 2019 Home Business by Home Business Magazine

H O M E

225+ HOME-BASED BUSINESS START-UPS

B U S I N E S S

GET STARTED TODAY! Home Business TV / Podcast – Pg. 42

Home-Based Business & Opportunity Magazine

Summer 2019

Special Start-Up Issue

PART TIME PROFITS

PART-TIME START-UPS — Pg.18

It’s Easy to Run a Side Hustle Around Your Day Job!

60-SECOND MARKETING Start a Blog — It’s Easy! MARK CUBAN Exclusive Success Insights BUSINESS “CANDY” Find Your Niche! START-UP CAPITAL 4 Funding Opportunities Display Until 9/2/2019 INTERVIEW: AMY POEHLER Thriving in the “Juicy Middle” – Pg. 16

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“HELP People DEFEND Themselves and Make Hundreds, Thousands, Even Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars--Month In, Month Out--Selling Stun Guns, Tasers, Pepper Sprays, Personal Alarms, Hidden Cameras & Survival Equipment – PLUS . . . We'll Even DROP SHIP For You!”

CRIME is real! Women who are assaulted or raped… families whose homes are invaded...the damage done to people this way goes far beyond just the loss of money or jewelry. And, for the most part, the police can only get involved after the damage has been done.

You can be the real first line of defense. You can educate and equip people to protect themselves, their loved ones, their homes and businesses. This is not something most people do of their own initiative. They don't get up in the morning and say "Let's go over to Wal-Mart and buy some non-lethal self-defense products." PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY CAN FIND THESE PRODUCTS. Which is where you and I come in, and do good! In this business, you can take real pride in the fact that you save lives for a living. That you provide peace of mind and real security. That you earn your money by helping people make their lives, homes and businesses safer. Second, this is a very, very, very PROFITABLE business. In fact, I'm happy to show you how to add a few thousand dollars a month of spare time income, if that's what you want...or how to make $10,000.00 a month or more. Our top dealers enjoy GIANT incomes --- with far less work, stress and investment than owners of other businesses. Emergencies can occur anywhere, and preparedness matters. Think Hurricanes that devastated parts of Florida and Texas. Or the fires in the Northwest and California. Or the everyday crimes that are committed to people and property. God forbid people are victims, but if they are, and need to fend for themselves and protect their families, they’d be a lot better off with a Taser, stun gun or at least MACE in their pocket. Most people are "under-protected" and admit that "they ought to…" as soon as these products are put in front of them. A lot of our products are "Impulse Items", purchased as soon as shown and explained. Like the Stun Guns, Pepper Sprays and Personal Alarms. We also have a full line of hidden cameras and surveillance systems needed both by home and businesses. The Surveillance Systems will put 1000’s of dollars in your pockets! Safety is on peoples’ minds. There's a legendary marketing expert named Robert Collier who says that the secret to success in selling is to "enter the conversation already taking place in the customer's mind." Well, is there a day that crime isn't in the news? Child abductions, robberies, mass shootings, rapes, muggings, bombings, break-ins & home invasions. As soon as you bring up the subject of personal and home security, you tap into real concerns.

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7 REASONS TO JOIN SAFETY TECHNOLOGY… First...FREE Drop-Shipping This means we will ship to your customers with your name and address on the shipping label. NO drop shipping fee! NO minimum order! You don’t have to stock anything. You are paid by your customer before you have to pay for any product. Second...Over 400 Products We warehouse all our products so we can ship quickly to you or your customers. The variety of products we offer means there’s something for every person – family – home and business. We are proud to offer over 50 stun gun models and colors, over 60 pepper sprays, hidden cameras, Diversion Safes, Personal Alarms. Go to www.safetytechnology.org and fill out the no obligation dealer application to access our online catalog and wholesale prices for all our products. It’s FREE to fill out the dealer app. Third...Our Unbeatable Prices You get maximum profits from Safety Technology’s great wholesale prices. The prices are low because we are the source. Further, because I remember what it's like to start small, there is no minimum order requirement…and, we will drop ship for you. Fourth...Many Ways To Sell The Products!!! Sell on the Internet, at Home Parties, Flea Markets, Gun Shows, Trade Shows, To Businesses, Give Safety Seminars, Mail Order. Fifth...at your option, a Complete "Web Site Super Store" Business Without a doubt, selling on the Internet is the biggest way to sell these products. Not only do we build a website for you, we teach you how to use it, how to get traffic to your website and convert it into sales. Sixth...Our reputation for fair-dealing, quality and service stands behind you. I started small, off a card-table in my house! Over these 33 years, I've seen a lot of "operators" come and go....sell cheap, imitation products that don't work right... then disappear. Safety Technology has been wholesaling these products for 33 years. We stand behind all our products GUARANTEED! Seventh...Exceptional Dealer Service & Support Our phone lines are manned 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, by people right here in my office, who really know our products, and who want you to succeed. You will also have access to our 24/7 Help Ticket System.

You came this far. You read this information; you want success in a good, profitable business of your own. Now - don't wimp out!!! The temptation is to procrastinate, to waffle, to "think it over”. But what is there to think over? Do you want success or not? Act decisively and start now. We will help you. As a wholesaler, we don’t make money until you make money.

“Everything is now in place for YOU to join me in making more money than you ever imagined possible. These products are high impulse. Get them in front of people and you will sell them!!!” Michael Gravette/President Safety Technology

"While still in the Army, I set up an online business through Safety Technology and it was the best decision I ever made. I’ve have grossed over $3,000,000.00 in ONLINE sales.” Steve Thibeault, Fayetteville, NC “I started out by buying $350.00 in products and spending $25.00 for a table at a gun show In Lincoln Nebraska. At the end of the two days my $350.00 turned into $1,800.75. You took a 60 year old cancer survivor and give me a business that has changed my life.” Robert Breeling, Cook, NE “I do an average of 3 or 4 gun shows a month. Occasionally I will do other events like women’s expos. Because of the income I make at the shows, I was able to quit my full time job.” Wendy Megyese, Emerald Isle, NC

HOW TO GET STARTED Go to www.safetytechnology.org now to get started. Fill out the no obligation dealer app to gain access to our wholesale prices and product info. Or, we can mail you our Catalog & Wholesale Prices by sending $5 (cash, check or money order) to: Safety Technology 1867 Caravan Trail #105 Jacksonville, FL 32216 Make sure to include your mailing address and email address, if you have one.

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AAJudgment JudgmentRecovery Recovery Business Business isis Hot and andininDemand. Demand.Here’s Here’show how to to start start your your own... own...

ave aveyou youever everwatched watchedJudge JudgeJudy Judy or or any any of of those those mid-afternoon mid-afternoon court courtTV TVshows showswhere wherepeople people sue sue each each other other for for unpaid unpaid rent rent or services? services?InInmany manycases, cases,Judge JudgeJudy Judyslams slamsdown down her her gavel gavel and and barks barks orders ordersatatthe thedefendant defendanttotopay payup, up, but but here's here's aa little little known known fact: fact: the the court courtdoes doesnot notenforce enforcethat thatjudgment. judgment.And And that that goes goes for for non-televised non-televised court courtcases casestoo. too. That's That'sright, right,just justbecause because aa judge judge orders orders someone someone to to pay pay aa debt debt doesn't doesn'tmean meanthat thatperson personisisgoing goingtoto do do it.it. Imagine Imagine ifif someone someone owed owed you youa afew fewthousand thousanddollars dollarsand anddecided decided not not to to pay pay you, you, regardless regardless of what whata acourt courtofoflaw lawordered. ordered.Would Wouldyou youknow knowwhat what to to do? do? Most Most people people don't, don't,sosothey theywait waitininfrustration frustrationfor forthe thedebt debtto tobe bepaid. paid. Christina ChristinaSmiley, Smiley,founder founder ofof Sierra Sierra Judgment Judgment Recovery Recovery and and selfselfproclaimed proclaimedopportunity opportunity junkie, junkie, learned learned how how to to profit profit from from this this little little known knownmarket marketofofunpaid unpaiddebt debtby byhelping helpingjudgment judgment holders holders collect. collect. She She explained explainedthere therewas wasvirtually virtuallyno no one one who who was was providing providing this this service. service. And And that that once once people people had had been been awarded awarded these these judgments... judgments... 80 80 percent percentofofthem themwere werenever neverpaid.” paid.” This Thisdiscovery discoverycouldn’t couldn’thave havecome come atata abetter bettertime; time; Christina Christina and and her her husband husbandTerry Terrywere werepart partowners ownersofofaa carpet carpet store store and and had had amassed amassed aa large largeamount amountofofdebt. debt. They Theyhad hadthree threesmall smallchildren childrenand and thought thoughtthat thatbybyowning owningaastore storethey'd they'd have havemore moremoney moneyand andtime timefor fortheir their family. family.Initially Initiallyit itwas wasan anexciting excitingtime time forfor them, them, but but that that dream dream quickly quickly turned turnedinto intoa anightmare nightmareofofdebt debt and and endless endlesshours hoursatatwork, work,as as Christina Christina remembers, remembers, "We "We accumulated accumulated monstrous monstrousdebt. debt.We Wewere weretruly trulyonly onlyaa few few paychecks paychecks away away from from being being homeless." homeless." And Andthen thenshe shelearned learned about about the the big bigmoney moneyininsmall smallclaims. claims.Christina Christina focused focusedononlearning learninghow how toto recover recover judgments judgmentsfor forpeople. people. She She says, says, "It "It was wastrial trialand anderror errorfor forsix sixmonths monthstotoaa year. year.I buried I buriedmy mynose noseinincivil civilcodes.” codes.” Christina Christinacontacted contacted aa number number ofof small smallbusinesses businessesininher herarea areatotosee seeifif they theycould coulduse useher herservices, services,and andas asitit turned turnedout, out,there therewas wasplenty plentyofofwork work forfor her. her. "These "These people people were were overjoyed overjoyedtotogive giveus usallallofoftheir theircases cases totocollect collectand andwere weremore morethan thanwilling willing toto letlet me me keep keep 50% 50% ofof what what I I collected collectedfor forthem," them,"she shesays. says. InInmost mostcases, cases,they theyhad hadfiled filedaway away their theirjudgments judgmentsaafew fewyears yearsprior priorwith with nonohope hopeofofever evercollecting collectingon on them. them. Christina's Christina's business, business, Sierra Sierra Judgment JudgmentRecovery, Recovery,gets getsthat thatmoney money back. back. These These people people figured figured they'd they'd never neversee seeany anyofofthat thatmoney moneyagain, again, sosothey're they'remore morethan than happy happy toto pay pay Christina's Christina'sfee. fee. Another Anotherattractive attractive aspect aspect ofof this this

service service isis there's there's no no up-front up-front cost to her her customers. customers. Any Any filing filing fees or costs costs incurred incurred by by Christina Christina are reimbursed reimbursed to to her her out out of the judgment judgment once once it's it's collected. collected. The customers customers don't don't have have to pay anything anythingout out of of their their own own pocket. pocket. From From what what she she says, says, this is primarily primarily behind-the-scenes behind-the-scenes work, which which makes makes itit an an entirely entirely nonconfrontational confrontational business. business. She She does everything everything through through the the court court system from from seizing seizing debtor debtor bank bank accounts, accounts, garnishing garnishing wages wages and and other other income, to toplacing placingliens liens on on property. property. One One year year after after starting starting the judgment judgment recovery recovery business, business, Christina Christina and and Terry Terry closed closed the carpet carpet store. store. Finally Finally they they could could work at at home home and and have have money money left over at at the the end end of of the the month. month. They've been been running running Sierra Sierra Judgment Judgment Recovery Recovery for for over over 10 10 years years and are bringing bringing in in aa five-figure five-figure paycheck paycheck each eachmonth. month. And And the the most most important important aspect aspect isis they've they've got got more more time for their their kids. kids. “I“I can can attend attend their their events and and my my husband husband gets gets to to go go on field trips trips now now -- he's he's usually usually the the only dad on onthem.” them.” But But the the story story doesn't doesn't end end there. Christina Christina wants wants to to share share her knowledge knowledge with with others others across across the country country as as aa home-based home-based business opportunity. opportunity. She She has has put put together together aa judgment judgment recovery recoverytraining training course. course. In In addition, students students have have access access to to aa National Network, Network, which which can can be be extremely extremely helpful helpful in in cases cases where where the the debtor has has moved moved out out of of state. state. Christina also alsoincludes includes unlimited unlimited support. support. The The training training course course is is on a home-study home-study basis basis and and itit teaches

Christina Smiley Smiley

contact judgment judgment holders holders how to contact their business, business, the the steps steps to to to get their down aa debtor debtor and andsorting sorting tracking down the paperwork paperwork from from the the through the court. Christina's motivation for Christina's motivation for this business business opportunity opportunity sharing this others isn’t isn’t to to get get money moneyfrom from with others the course course (a (a one-time one-time sales of the of $185.00, $185.00, she she only only flat fee of enough to to cover cover the thecost costof of makes enough producing course course materials): materials): she she producing continue to to develop develop the the wants to continue Network of of judgment judgment National Network specialists. recovery specialists. Anyone interested interested in in aa homehomeAnyone business who who really really likes likesto to based business research could could benefit benefit from from do research training course, course, according according to to this training Christina. "This "This business business isisfilling fillingaa Christina. niche. ItIt provides provides steady, steady, true niche. predictable home-based home-based income income predictable $5,000 -- $8,000 $8,000 per per month month on on of $5,000 There is is no no lack lack of of average. There customers and and no no foreseeable foreseeable customers decrease at at any any time time in in the the decrease says Christina. Christina. future," says you’d like like information information on on If you’d your own own home-based home-based starting your judgment recovery recovery business, business, judgment for their their free free guide guide at at register for www.recoverycourse.com. You You www.recoverycourse.com. also contact Sierra Sierra may also contact Judgment Recovery Recovery directly directly by by Judgment them at at (912) (912) 882-8190 882-8190 calling them email Customer Customer Support Support at at or email Support@recoverycourse.com. Support@recoverycourse.com.

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Home-Based Business & Opportunity Magazine

Magazine

Contents

Summer 2019 FEATURES

Part-Time Profits! How to Get Started with a Home-based Side Hustle.

Interview with Comedian Amy Poehler. On her new Netflix film Wine Country, Tackling the Patriarchy and Single Motherhood, and Being in the “Juicy Middle” of Life.

Top 15 Ideas for Home-Based Businesses. Start with Little or No Cash.

Part-Time Home Business: Earn extra money on the side.

What’s Your y Business’ Penny Candy? Determine your company’s money-making business model.

Classified Ads.

Business Candy: Define your unique product or service that sets you apart and gets clients.

Giving Back to Others.

The Goal of Freedom.

60-second Marketing.

HOME OFFICE

Financing a Start-up.

Manage Capital.

Workspace Design Tips. The steps to creating a home office that is warm, personal and inspiring.

Product Review. Essential product for the business owner.

powerful content, the best your business has to offer.

MONEY CORNER

Importing Cashflow: High school dropout succeeds with niche importing business.

Audience Interaction. Start a Blog: Showcase, via Publicize a business on social media.

Safe Sleeping Environment for Infants.

Unplugging Teens from Screens.

Top tips to start a business blog, and it will take you less than one minute.

28 33

MARKETING & SALES

Banishing Frizz with Natural Products. Simplifying Tasks for Smartphone Users.

Small Biz Ad Marketplace. Letters to the Editor

Amy Poehler: “It’s figuring out how to raise compassionate people who are open-minded and connected to the world and take care of each other.”

WORK-FROM-HOME SUCCESS STORIES

BUSINESSES & OPPORTUNITIES

Courtesy of ©Reuters/The Interview People

Four funding opportunities your home-based business should consider. Funding Sources: Get the Track cash flow at three stages money you need to grow your of business. new home business.

Office Setup: Create a functional work environment.

Summer 2019 | Home Business

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Magazine M i Volume 26 Issue 3 Summer 2019 www.homebusinessmag.com

The Home Business Team ®

Publisher Richard Henderson United Marketing & Research Company, Inc. Editor-in-Chief Stacy Ann Henderson Managing Editor Sherilyn Colleen Publicity Editor Shannah Carol Graphic Services Slice, Inc. Production Manager Jon Crossley, Ultra Graphics Digital Ad Production Angel Macias, Ultra Graphics Art Direction Richard Rabil Advertising advertise@homebusinessmag.com Phone: 800-734-7042 Shayla Christine homebusinessmag.com/magazine-advertising

homebusinessmag.com/online-advertising Distribution Manager James Travers, Curtis Specialized Circulation Bob Kennedy, Cavendish Media Circulation Manager Dennis Porti, Curtis Michelle Ingenito, Curtis Subscriptions Publication Fulfillment Services Int. Call 888-881-5861 - M - F 8am-4pm PST. For International, call 714-226-9782. Fax: 714-226-9733 Email: homebusinessmag@pfsmag.com Print Manager Keith Oelke, Quad Graphics Mark Quartaroli, Quad Graphics Reprints Betsy White, The Reprint Outsource, bwhite@reprintoutsource.com Mailing Lists www.homebusinessmag.com (Click on “Mailing Lists” to order) Mailing List Manager Danny Grubert, Danny.Grubert@lakegroupmedia.com List File Manager Travis McMillian, Lee Coats Newton Digital Media Manager Jim Clark, GTxcel E-Readers Bob Mehta, Supremus Group Rachel Unclebach, Libre Digital Internet Manager Sam, Fixrunner SEO Janice Johnson Social Media Shelby Cara Home Business Expo Dan Storm, eDirectory IT/Computer Operations Jim Easton, letmefixyourpc.com Virtual Operations Mike Davidson, VDI Networks Customer Service customerservice@homebusinessmag.com Phone: (800) 734-7042 Fax: 714-388-3883

Editorial Dustin Siggins, Gerri Detweiler, Cain Castor, Kyle Lawheed, Esq., Hugh Fennell, and others.

Distribution Curtis Circulation Company 730 River Road New Milford, NJ 07646 Tel: (201) 634-7400 Fax: (201) 634-7499

Home Business® Magazine Home Business Magazine (ISSN 1092-4779) is published by United Marketing and Research Company, Inc., 20664 Jutland Place, Lakeville, MN 55044. 4-issue Subscription Rates: Domestic $15. Canadian $31. Foreign $47. For Subscriptions: 714-693-1866, M–F Periodicals Postage Paid at Lakeville, Minnesota, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Home Business® Magazine, 20664 Jutland Place, Lakeville, MN 55044. Printed in the United States

8 Home Business | Summer 2019 ®

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LETTER FROM PUBLISHER

Part-time Business Survival Tips Simple Advice to Increase Prospects for Success It’s not easy launching a business around a full-time day job. You might end up working late, not getting enough sleep or maintaining a social life. Beginning stages are tough, but with perseverance you will survive! Here are tips to weather the part-time business start-up storm: Organize Your Time and Plan: Use a predetermined schedule and planning calendar. Block in business time, but also plan family and personal gaps. Complete to-do lists each week, prioritizing tasks each day. Use Contractors: Estimate how long it will take to complete specific jobs. Hire independent contractors to do work you are unable to complete efficiently. Make use of the talent available in platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork. A virtual assistant is a time-saver whom all entrepreneurs can use, and are particularly easy to connect with via online job platforms.expo Lunchtime: Utilize the lunch break during your day job to complete simple and administrative tasks linked to your business. This is also a good time to get caught up on business calls with your mobile phone. Automate, Automate, Automate: Look for routine work in your new business to automate. Use autoresponder replies, spreadsheets and have a frequently asked questions section on your website. Begin building an email contact list of vendors and clients, and communicate via regular newsletters. Delegate: Look for other entrepreneurs, vendors, family members and peers with whom you can barter/exchange products and services that you need in your business. For example, you could send clients to a web design company who in return provides website support to your business. Live Answering Service: Clients and vendors will need to reach out to you with a phone call. But this is tough to manage when working part-time, and you don’t want to send callers to voicemail. Use a live answering service that can be customized to your business and will field incoming calls. Avoid Burnout: Set personal time aside each day (even just an hour!) for rest or recreation. Save yourself from job fatigue by observing holidays and don’t work every weekend. Set realistic goals. Don’t expect your home business to be a huge success overnight! Good luck in your part-time business. It gets easier each day.

Richard Henderson Publisher, Home Business® Magazine

Notice to Readers HOME BUSINESS® Magazine is sold as information only. The publisher, United Marketing and Research, Inc., considers its sources reliable and verifies as much data as possible, although reporting inaccuracies can occur; consequently, readers using this information do so at their own risk. The publisher has not done a background check on listed companies (which includes advertisers), nor does it know people at all the companies. The publisher cannot assume any responsibility in any manner for the actions of any of the listed companies, and the publisher cannot guarantee the outcome of any correspondence, arrangements, or subsequent transactions the reader may make with any of the listed companies. HOME BUSINESS Magazine is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering medical, legal, financial, accounting, tax, or other professional service. If medical, legal, or other expert advice and assistance are required, the services of a competent qualified professional person should be sought. The publisher, United Marketing and Research Company, Inc., assumes no responsibility for any changes of offers, nor for any companies/advertisers that may go out of business. All correspondence regarding questions or problems on a company’s (including advertisers) program, products, or services should be directed to the company, not to the publisher. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all contents of advertising and for any claims arising therefrom. It is up to the user of this publication to investigate the product or service offered, and to make sure the company is reliable and that the product or service meets the user’s requirements. United Marketing and Research Company, Inc., is not responsible for the delivery of merchandise, starter kits, supplies, or other products and services ordered from advertisers. ©1993-2019. Reg. # 4180563 and 4145799. TRADEMARKS: Home Business, Serial Number 74/713646 and Home Business Magazine, Serial Number 75-086596, issued by the United States Department of Commerce, Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks. Mark Type(s): TRADEMARKS: Conform to the minimum requirements set forth in 37 C.F.R. Sec. 2.76 (e); and formal requirements set forth in 37 C.F.R. Sec. 2.76(b) and (c). All rights reserved. No part of HOME BUSINESS® Magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed, in any form or by any means, photocopying, electronic, mechanical recording or otherwise, without prior permission in writing of the publisher, United Marketing and Research Company, Inc., Lakeville, MN 55044. Articles appearing in this publication express the opinions, experience, and research of its authors and not necessarily the opinion of HOME BUSINESS® Magazine. ®

www.homebusinessmag.com

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Part-Time Profits How to Get Started with a Home-based Side Hustle By a Panel of Home Business Experts

F E AT U R E

hen you're looking to start a part-time home business, it's important to choose a market or niche that you are interested in. Running a part-time home business is challenging enough without trying to do it when you don't have any interest in what you're doing. But when you love what you're doing, you have the motivation to learn how to make it successful. As most part-time home business owners also have another full-time job or perhaps are a full-time parent, they must have enthusiasm and drive.

Undoubtedly, the best part-time home business opportunities are online — on the Internet. The set-up costs for a part-time online home business are low in comparison with a conventional brick-and-mortar business, and the Internet makes it possible for you to have customers from around the world. However, there are also many “offline” home business opportunities, too. Drawing on their years of experience, a panel of home business experts in this article provide information on: starting your part-time home business; reading and researching your markets or niches; becoming a home-based affiliate; first steps to launching a part-time home business; and the types of online and offline part-time home businesses to consider.

Getting Your Part-Time Home Business Started What do you do to start working from home part-time? Do the following: Find the Time Finding the extra time can be challenging when starting a part-time online business from home, but not impossible. Just getting up an hour earlier in the day, working during your lunch break, not watching too much TV in the evenings or during weekends — it all adds up to time to work on your part-time online business. See If the Timing Is Right to Start In the current economy, more and more people are starting to realize that they can no longer rely on one income from one job. When you set up a part-time online business from home, it can help to supplement your income and act as an insurance in case you lose your job or must take a pay cut. 10

Home Business Summer 2019

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Start a part-time home business.

In the current “ economy, more and more people are starting to realize that they can no longer rely on one income from one job.

”

Determine How Much You Will Earn How much you earn on the internet really will depend on how much work you are prepared to put in. If you make the effort to master the correct online marketing skills, you will have a realistic opportunity to build a sound part-time online business and earn as much as you want. Establish Your Objectives and To-Do List You must determine what you want most from a part-time home business. Additional income? Possible full-time income in one year or so? Flexibility to work from home or anywhere you find an Internet connection? Establish your top 3 objectives and create an immediate to-do list.

What's necessary to get a business online? Your first three objectives are to get a domain name, build a website, and get an autoresponder. This is not as complicated as it might sound and there are many online business training courses available. Also, you need to make sure you have high-speed Internet access that's reliable and the highest-quality computer you can afford.

Reading About and Researching Your Markets or Niches If you're not sure which markets or niches you are interested in, imagine you have a whole day to yourself. What do you spend it doing? Would you spend it perfecting new recipes? Working in your garden? Writing stories? If you're still having trouble, look at your part-time hobbies. What do you enjoy doing? What do you spend your money on? Get it down to your top three. These three should be your main choices — the niches you have the most interest in. Sign Up to Receive Updates from Relevant Industry Blogs It pays off in big ways to know the current issues and events in your chosen niches. Blogs from both experts and amateurs are great ways to learn about what's happening. Search blog directories for your category by going to a search engine and typing in "blog directories." Then choose a blog Continued on page 12

www.homebusinessmag.com

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Part-Time Profits Continued from page 10

directory and browse it by category.

F E AT U R E

When you're researching a market or niche, don't just be guided by income level. Just remember when your niche interests you, it shows to your customers, and when you're only in it for the profit you can make, that shows too. Choose a niche that you can earn an income in and gain personal satisfaction from. Choose a market or niche that not only interests you, but one that you feel excited about working on. That way, you'll stay motivated and will look forward to growing your home business in your spare time.

Earn some extra money in your spare time.

See Which Hot-selling Items Are in Your Chosen Market

opportunity for you as there will be plenty of potential by tapping into that market.

Look for these top-selling items on websites such as Amazon or eBay or other market websites. The bestsellers lists will tell you what the pulse of the people buying is. For example, if you see that on Amazon a product sells well enough to be in the top ten, you know you're onto something. Let's say one of those products was a brand-new fitness gadget and they were selling like hotcakes. It might be the best part-time home business

Check Out the Self-Help Books to See What's Selling There Books on depression, weight loss, and relationships always provide good part-time home business opportunities. The market is and always will be wide open for self-help products and services. Once you know which market or niche is appropriate for your part-time home business, take a

moment and ask yourself, "What's not being included? What people are being overlooked? Who are the rising stars on the horizon and how will they change the market?" Since you already have an interest in these markets, you'll be better at getting customers that other entrepreneurs are missing out on.

Becoming an Affiliate in Your Part-Time Home Business Did you know that you can start a part-time home

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business without any of your own products or services to sell? You do not have to buy any stock, sort out payment systems, organize delivery, or even sort out fulfillment and customer queries as the product owner will take care of all these issues. This business model is called affiliate marketing and is one of the most popular and easiest home business opportunities to start. Affiliate marketing is when you promote other people's products or services and when you make a sale, you get paid a commission. You find a product that you believe is good and will sell well, and you begin to promote it to a target audience. Promoting is when you raise awareness about a product by driving potential customers to the product or service owner's website. When you become an affiliate for a product or service, you'll want to check the amount you'll earn by becoming an affiliate rather than the percent of commission. You'll earn more money that way. Remember, as an affiliate you can sell both tangible and intangible (like online video training, eBooks etc.) products as well. Jon Allo is a professional with over 26 years’ experience working within the advertising and marketing communications industry. To learn more about building a successful part-time business on the internet, get your free access to the best online business video series available. Visit https://jonallo.com.

own websites. You can set up on your own in a few minutes by using Blogger.com and WordPress.com. You can then use your blog as your home business website.

Consider online and ofﬂine home business opportunities.

If you are prepared to spend some money to get a professionally done website, you can hire the service of an expert and get it done to suit the needs of your home business online. Then you must use a good hosting company to host your website. Or alternatively you can obtain, at a not-so-large expense, a turnkey website set up on your own domain. Such turnkey websites can be customized to your requirements. This is easy as most turnkey website systems come with hosting as part of the package and with a pre-written email campaign as well. Choose Keywords

First Steps to Launching a Part-Time Online Home Business If you are new to running a part-time online home business, here are the first steps: Set Up a Website The first step for launching your part-time online home business is a website of your own. Learning HTML will be useful. There are easyto-use free resources on the web like Wix.com that can be used by beginners to format their

You must choose specific keywords. These keywords need to be used to optimize your website by means of search engine optimization (SEO). There are free resources on the web to learn all about SEO. Expertise is obtainable at a fee to optimize your website through SEO. Build Your Email Subscriber List Once SEO is done, you need to build your email list of subscribers. There are various methods Continued on page 14

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F E AT U R E

Part-Time Profits Continued from page 13

for building your list. This can be done by buying leads to add to your auto-responder or getting visitors to your site to subscribe to an email newsletter, etc. Then you must set up an auto-responder with a pre-written email newsletter campaign to promote your products or affiliate programs. Suppose now you have a very attractive website promoting marketable products and you need sales. For this, you need visitors to your website. That is traffic. To get traffic, there are many avenues. Advertising via eBooks, banner ads, payper-click ads, content marketing, tutorials and links are some of the popular methods that can be used. Guest articles on relevant websites are a free means of getting traffic to your website. The best way to get targeted, good-quality traffic is through search engine searches. Promote your site to be on the first three pages of Google and other search engines like Bing, MSN, etc. This requires optimization for search engine acceptability, link popularity, etc. of your website. These are brief steps needed to launch and promote your part-time online home business. There are a few more ingredients that are needed. Those are a budget, a strategic plan, business goals to

Unleash your inner entrepreneur.

aim at, a vision to reach and consistency of purpose and enthusiasm to make your part-time online home business a success. Chandrasoma Perera was born in the beautiful island of Sri Lanka and he writes regularly on a variety of subjects. He introduces tested and proven home business online ideas and opportunities. His website is http://www.chanano.com.

Part-Time Online Home Businesses to Start There are many who have been able to turn

their part-time online home businesses into full-time careers. Attaining full-time success online is something anyone can do part-time. Let's look at some part-time online business ideas worth considering! Build a Blogging Empire on Autopilot You can build blogs from scratch and turn around and quickly sell them. Or you can buy existing blogs that are undervalued, fix them up, and turn around and sell them for profit. This is very similar to the house-flipping business model except you're dealing with virtual real estate on the Internet. Start a Blog Writing Business There are millions of blog owners that would pay you right now to write content for them if they knew who you were. You can turn this good part-time online home business idea into a full-time career if you want to. Develop and Sell Digital Information Products Purchasing information products in a digital format is something people love to do â&#x20AC;&#x201D; mainly because they are easy to download, and you can get instant access to them. When you focus on providing information (eBooks) that helps people out, making money on these types of products is easy. ClickBank is one way to sell your products. This is a good way to get affiliates to sell your new eBooks, too. Become a Member of a Residual Income/Network Marketing Opportunity Many companies exist that have been around for many years now that provide excellent opportunities to make money on a part-time basis. You can join one of the many multibillion-dollar companies such as Amway. Not only will you make money selling their products, but

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ÂŽ

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Choose a niche “ that you can earn an income in and gain personal satisfaction from.

”

Tupperware. Now it's possible to start a parttime home business like this and run it primarily online. You do not have to host parties or deliver products unless you want to. Become a Virtual Assistant You will do tasks such as answering the phone or typing for successful business owners. There's plenty of work if you have talent in these areas. Sell Big-Ticket Items and Make Money Per Sale

you can also earn by recruiting new distributors underneath you.

Once you learn how to use the Internet, it is just as easy to earn $1000 a sale as it is to make $20.

Do Email Marketing

Join a Get-paid-to Program

You can use co-registration leads to jumpstart email lists in multiple categories. Once you have built a relationship with your subscribers, promote affiliate products to your list. To keep in touch with all your subscribers, you can use an auto-responder. This can lead to a very large income when done correctly and will not take up much of your time.

Believe it or not, there are people who get paid to do things such as take surveys, comment on blogs, or data entry. There are survey sites you can join for free and they will pay you to take surveys for companies that value your opinion.

Start a Direct Sales Business You are probably familiar with Avon or

Cynthia Minnaar, the owner of cyns-home-biz.com, runs her online business ideas website full time from home. She invites you to visit her site for a variety of part time business ideas and opportunities. Visit http://www.cyns-home-biz.com.

GROWING ECONOMY

Broker Notes from home and Earn Huge Fees!

Continued on page 38

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Interview with Amy Poehler By Rachel Combe / The Times / The Interview People itting on a leather couch in a corner of would be telling everybody what to do and the cavernous studio, comedian Amy over-planning it. I mean, I was the one who Poehler, 47, gives off an electric “let’s get was like, ‘We should make this a movie,’ and cracking” energy. She described herself as a then I made it a movie. So, it’s very meta,” she “plain girl with lots of personality” in her 2014 laughs. People keep asking her if it was difficult best-selling memoir, Yes Please, but in person to direct her friends. “I tell them, ‘No, I love she is almost exotic-looking, with her angular telling my friends where to stand and what to features, doll-blue eyes, and baby-blonde hair. say!’” The three met doing improv comedy and Tales about female friendship and She’s promoting her new Netflix film Wine working at SNL in their twenties and thirties, women’s interior lives have always Country, which she directed and co-stars in and they are just as tight-knit as they appear interested comedian Amy Poehler more with fellow Saturday Night Live alumnae Tina than traditional love stories. in the film. “The closest thing to feeling like Fey and Maya Rudolph. an athlete for me would be working at SNL,” Globes from 2013 to 2015 and co-starred in Poehler says of those days. It was a “very highTheir film is based on a trip Poehler and 2015’s Sisters. Poehler also had a small role in pressure environment.” her girlfriends took to the California wine Fey’s iconic Mean Girls). In the 1990s, Poehler country and examines the way even close Born and raised in Massachusetts, Poehler first joined the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy friendships must grow or perish. Poehler plays became enamored of comedy at Boston Colgroup and moved to New York, where they the linchpin of the group — a woman who is lege. After graduation, she moved to Chicago wangled a Comedy Central TV show and (lovably) anxious and controlling. “We all play to dive into the vibrant improv community opened their own improv theatre. From there, distorted semi-versions of ourselves,” she says. there, which is where she and Fey met and she made the transition into films and, of first hit it off (the two later hosted the Golden “I definitely would be the one on the trip that course, Parks and Recreation, which earned

F E AT U R E

Courtesy of Reuters/The Interview People.

On her New Netflix Film Wine Country, Tackling the Patriarchy and Single Motherhood, and Being in the “Juicy Middle” of Life

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hoping that our boys will enter this world where gender and gender roles won’t be so defined.”

My job for this year is to “ stay open and to let the world

– Amy Poehler

Courtesy of Reuters/The Interview People.

answer that question for me rather than me trying to shape my experience.

”

16 Emmy nominations and Poehler’s Golden Globe for Best Actress. Tales about female friendship and women’s interior lives have always interested her more than traditional love stories. Poehler’s company, Paper Kite Productions, is the force behind Comedy Central’s Broad City and the latest Netflix sensation, Russian Doll. She has described Wine Country as “the female Hangover” and tells me, “We have been joking that [it] not only passes the Bechdel test” — meaning two women talk to each other about something other than a man — “but it passes

“It’s ﬁguring out how to raise compassionate people who are openminded and connected to the world and take care of each other.” – Amy Poehler regarding motherhood.

the Jeffdel test: no two straight, white men talk to each other at any point in the movie.” Regarding motherhood, Poehler has been thinking a lot about how to help her boys avoid the toxic-masculinity culture that has been bubbling up. “It’s figuring out how to raise compassionate people who are open-minded and connected to the world and take care of each other,” she says. “It’s the same old stuff: empathy, world view, lead by example. But I’m also

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When I met Poehler the first time, she was looking to move out of sketch comedy and into a project where she had more creative control. Parks and Recreation soon materialized. In 2014, she told me she wanted to move into producing, writing and directing, because that’s where she saw the power in the industry. Again, she made it happen. “I’m a strong manifester,” she agrees. But for the first time in a decade, she has no master plan. “The year turned 2019 and I didn’t write my intentions down. My job for this year is to stay open and to let the world answer that question for me rather than me trying to shape my experience.” Poehler describes herself as being in the “juicy middle” of life, where work and family are all-consuming, but also better than ever. “When you’re in your twenties and thirties, as a woman, you get so many questions: ‘What do you want to do? Do you want to have kids? Do you want to be married?’ As you turn into your forties and fifties, people ask you less, because they think, falsely, that you’ve decided exactly what you want in life.”

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Top 15 Ideas for Home-Based Businesses to Start with Little or No Cash

ome-based businesses have become the refuge for many who have gotten tired of the everyday work routine or people who want to make a living from the comfort of their homes. Who could have foreseen the possibility of starting a business without spending a fortune? It is happening today! There are endless opportunities available on the internet for those who are committed, hardworking and tenacious that require little or no investments. You can start a home-based business today by relying on your interests, knowledge, skills, tools and the resources you have. If you have a desire to start your own business that allows you to work from home but have little or lack investments, here are the top 15 home-based business ideas that will inspire you: 1. Blogging Setting up a blog is simple and requires minimal investment on a domain name and web hosting. It is a profitable home-based business if you can select the right niche that has not been overcrowded by competitors. While picking a niche, you need to choose a topic that you have expertise or interest in. Examples you could try include: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Travel Food Cooking Sports DIY Nutrition

If you are a professional medical specialist, it’s a good chance to share your knowledge via your own health blog. You will need to provide free, useful, actionable, relevant, entertaining and educational content information on these topics. To turn your blog into a business, you will need to learn how to get traffic on your site and start earning from advertising and selling products on your blog through affiliate marketing. 2. Writing You can use your writing skills and knowledge

to offer such services to other blogs, authors, business websites and students. You can begin easily, and you only require little or no capital. All writing jobs require access to a computer and high-speed internet. Some writing services you can offer include: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Freelance writing Copywriting Magazine/newspaper article writing Web content writing eBook writing Proofreading Indexing Editing Transcribing

3. Podcasting It involves starting up shows online daily. It requires minimal investment because most of the tools used to set one up are available for free. Similar to blogging, you will first need to establish a niche then start earning income by advertising and selling products online. 4. Virtual Assistant Work These are similar to secretaries or customer service agents in the real world with the only difference being that they offer assistance online to businesses and individuals. All you need is a phone, computer, internet access and a little experience to qualify. You can use the following services to get clients: Upwork, Guru, Freelancer, PeoplePerHour and so on. This job has a flexible working schedule, and while working as a virtual assistant, you might be required to complete all or some of the tasks below: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Scheduling and organizing travels Preparation of reports Managing social media platforms Setting appointments Researching Calendar and email management Blog posting Data entry and editing

5. Affiliate Marketing It is a strategy that is easy and requires minimal investment. You earn by promoting another website's products. To get started, you will need to be the owner of a blog or website, and prove your effectiveness through showing evidence of traffic rates and how you have succeeded in the business. Once you have signed up for an affiliate program, you can share links on your website or social media channels. If a consumer purchases a product based on your recommendation, you earn money in the form of commissions. 6. Services-based Home Business This job requires you to tell people how you can be of help by use of your acquired skills and knowledge, then offer the services at a fee. You can provide services such as pet sitting, tutoring, interior design, wall painting, window cleaning, handyman services, babysitting, etc. 7. Drop-shipping When doing this business, you don't need a warehouse or investments to start the business nor inventory located in a particular store in a specific location. You need to find a dropship products supplier online. When someone purchases a product from you, you contact the company about the purchase, make the payment on behalf of the buyer then the company handles everything including packaging and shipping it to the customer. You don't come into contact with the product, which is why you don't need a physical store. You can create a website to increase traffic and sales too or sell the products on auction. 8. Launching Online Courses Depending on your expertise and knowledge, you can record videos of yourself carrying out some activities then begin and host online courses on those activities on your blog or on other platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. You can also offer these courses to clients either at your home or at their homes. Some classes that you can provide include: Continued on page 20

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Top 15 Ideas for Home-Based Businesses to Start with Little or No Cash Continued from page 18

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Tutorials Music coaching Dance teaching Yoga instruction Personal training Life coaching

■

9. Forex Currency Trading The reason this activity has made it on this list is that it is one of the easiest ways to make money at home. It's a promising home-based online business that requires you to have a little amount of cash flow, some technical skills, a phone, computer and internet access. You will have to find tools and services such as training tutorials to learn how to make informed decisions without making losses. You usually trade between two world currencies through buying and selling to make profits. 10. Listing Your Spare House on a Website Such as Airbnb Do you have extra rooms in your house? Use a service like Airbnb to advertise your place as a vacation spot with a pleasant and clean environment. Alternatively, you can rent out your home when you go out of town. It's a simple way of making passive income. 11. Becoming a Reviewer Many startup companies, as well as individuals, are always looking for people to test their brands in exchange for reviews that will create awareness for other people looking to buy. Offer your service as an influencer to test out their product and review it in exchange for monetary compensation. You can review many products, from books, beauty products, food, to movies among others. Some sites where you can earn compensation for reviewing their products include: ■ ■

■

SoftwareJudge — For reviews of apps and software. FameBit — For brand sponsorships. They pay you for video reviews instead of written ones. Crowdtap — You get free samples as well as gift cards in exchange for your opinion and accomplishing missions for

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brands such as polls, as well as photo and text missions. ModernMom — It gives moms who are bloggers a chance to give their opinions on products. ValuedVoice — It sponsors content on social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. On this site, you have the choice of prices and the jobs to accept or reject.

Give becoming a reviewer a try. You can do it from home! 12. Website Development In this digital age, there is no shortage of companies that want to establish a website, not only to create awareness of their brand, but also to improve traffic, increase conversions and sales. As such, web developers are always needed. If you have the technical skills for web building, then you can do it as your home-based business. You can practice your skills in coding on platforms that are free websites. You can get better at it by learning more skills in website creation on Codecademy, such as how to personalize shopping carts, feedback forms, product pages, and others as per your employer’s needs. Create an online portfolio where potential employers can find your work. Highlight sites you have successfully developed and your talent for coding. 13. Cake Decorating If you are looking for a job where the market is always assured, then a cake decorator is what you should become. Cakes are needed for many events nowadays, from weddings, birthdays to graduation parties. The skills you will need to have for this job are minimal but important. You need to know how to bake and decorate. You will need equipment such as an oven, baking ingredients as well as the utensils for baking and decoration. You can bake the cakes at home and decorate according to what your customers want and deliver them. 14. Graphic Design Branding is very crucial for any business; that is why many companies are always on the lookout for graphic designers. To do this

job, you will need to have a computer with software such as GIMP or Adobe Illustrator. You will have the responsibility of creating logos, adverts, newsletters as well as fliers for the company according to what their target audience needs. 15. Launching and Growing a Channel on YouTube YouTube is nearly overtaking mainstream media in popularity. Starting a channel is free and open to anyone. You can find the best niche for your channel depending on your passion, demand and competition. Some popular ones include: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Music Dance Cookery Sports Comedy

Record videos on your phone and upload them on YouTube and get some money for every 1000 views you get. You can also use your channel to promote or review products then earn commissions. You can shoot the videos from the comfort of your home initially, but as you gradually become more professional and have more viewers and subscribers, you might have to get a studio. Conclusion Having a home-based business is a beautiful thing. You enjoy the freedom of working at your own pace and time. It requires discipline, the right tools, and dedicated steps. You can start any home-based business discussed above that fits your interests and budget. Most of them require little or no investments. Therefore, you have little or nothing to lose. But remember, persistence and determination are the keys to success for most businesses. Surprisingly, you may be bootstrapped to millions out of no investment. Get started today! For more information about starting a home-based business, visit https://homebusinessmag.com and https://homebusinessexpo.com. Hugh Fennell is a psychologist who is passionate about people's minds and a blogger who writes on topics of digital marketing, career, and self-development.

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SUCCESS STORIES

Banishing Frizz with Natural Products How Bath Time Inspired This Mom to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Hair Care Business By Francesca Hill

iko Branch is no stranger to building a business from the ground up, two times over. She filled in the gap within the hair-care industry and created revolutionary products for women with underrepresented hair textures, all from home. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from FIT, Miko and her sister Titi opened up a small salon in Brooklyn. The salon proved to be extremely successful within the first few years and led Miko and Titi to open up a larger salon, not knowing that they were spreading themselves too thin. Shortly after opening they were forced to close the second salon which left Miko and her sister scrambling to make ends meet. Miko had just enough money saved up to purchase a small brownstone in Bushwick, Brooklyn and open up a small salon in her basement. This worked out well for Miko as she could conduct business in the salon, while also watching over her son. As a single, working mother, Miko was responsible for solely taking care of

her son and wanted to provide as much for him as possible. After school, Miko would come up from her salon for bath time, where her son would frequently splash around and ultimately ruin her perfectly straightened hair. Frustrated by the fact that there was no way to quickly re-straighten her hair after every bath time, Miko tried finding products that would effectively tend to her naturally textured hair, with no luck. Miko and Titi started using kitchen ingredients, as well as natural ingredients to create high-performance hair-care products geared towards consumers looking to embrace their natural curls. The first product to ever be created is Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding. It’s now a world-famous pudding designed to enhance natural curls by banishing frizz, while also enabling the curls to remain soft and shiny. The innovative entrepreneurs named Miss Jessie’s after their paternal grandmother, Miss Jessie, who was a powerful force in their lives

Miko Branch, CEO and Co-founder of Miss Jessie's

growing up and helped raise them. Their grandmother taught them how to embrace and treat their naturally textured hair. Miss Jessie encouraged Miko and Titi to become strong, independent women who can do whatever they set their mind to. Miko credits her tough and resilient attitude to her grandmother. Miss Jessie’s now sells in all 1600 Targets along with drug stores nationwide including CVS, Duane Reade and Walgreens. Visit https://missjessies.com.

Simplifying Tasks for Smartphone Users Hoosier Entrepreneurs Launch Indiana-based Company That Redefines Mobile Accessibility By Paul Porter, Marketing Director of Scooch

our years ago, Hoosier entrepreneurs Matt Foley and John Stagge saw a void in wireless phone case technology. There were options for protection, and options for fashion, but nothing for function. With millions of Americans using their smartphones nearly every minute of every day, Matt and John searched for new ways to combine functionality and accessibility that would meet the ever-growing demand for enhanced mobile experiences, while also standing out in the oversaturated market. Enter Scooch, the Noblesville-based company that transformed a home office and an idea — a phone case that offers versatile one-handed use — into a $6 million business.

Scooch is a cell phone accessory company focused on creating the most functional smartphone cases and accessories on the market. Scooch has grown to offer five innovative smartphone accessories that continue to DO MORE 22

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for consumers — the Wingman, Wingback, Wingmount, Wingmate and Wingpro. The Wingman offers a sleek, innovative design with an attached snap-up kickstand that allows mobile users to seamlessly view the device in both landscape and portrait mode. The streamlined design and resilient covering protect against 10-foot military drops while also providing a comfortable grip with its refined curves and textured edges, allowing users to reach the highest corners of the new device. Additionally, the unique kickstand can easily be inserted into a horizontal air vent while on the road for a hands-free car mount experience. Scooch has expanded its presence across 6,000 retail environments across the United States and Canada, and throughout e-commerce websites such as Amazon and Best Buy. Designed in Indiana, the Scooch Wingman has been featured in Forbes, Tom’s Guide, Business Insider and Digital Trends. Since 2015, Scooch’s

Matt Foley and John Stagge, Co-founders of Scooch

revenue has grown from $250,000 to over $6M, doubling its revenue almost every year, and has experienced 200% growth in the number of employees and products. Between redefining how mobile users watch content on their phones and reducing distracted driving, the Scooch Wingman’s unique kickstand simplifies everyday tasks for smartphone users unmatched by competitors. All while keeping functionality, style and durability at the forefront. With each purchase, Scooch donates 10% of profits to charities that serve victims of domestic violence and abuse and remains committed to supporting programs that provide empowerment, protection and autonomy to those in need. Visit https://scoochcase.com. www.homebusinessmag.com

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FIND YOUR BUSINESS! Worlds Largest Directory of Home-Based Businesses, Franchises and Opportunities.

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Workspace Design Tips The Steps to Creating a Home Office That Is Warm, Personal and Inspiring

an working from home actually reduce stress? Research shows it does. Statistics about remote work show that 82% of telecommuters report lower stress levels, 80% have higher morale and 69% have lower absenteeism*. As an interior decorator, I feel a good portion of those positive percentages can be attributed to working from a home office that is warm, personal and inspiring.

To meet those criteria, our team begins home office projects by asking a lot of questions. The same questions hold true regardless of if you choose to work with a decorator or DIY. To begin establishing a foundation for creating a home office, it’s important to gain an understanding of the lifestyle of those who will be using the space. They may have pets and/or children or can be easily distracted. Therefore, a dedicated room with a door is where to start. They may plan to use the office to accommodate client visits, which requires extra seating. Perhaps they like to work late, so lighting will be a big factor. In the Louisville, KY home of Emily Ho, a designated office was key to her productivity. “Being able to walk into my office at the beginning of the day signals to my brain that it's time to work,” says Ho, who is the founder and chief strategist of Authentically Social. “I appreciate the formality of sitting in an office to get work done. The space was designed in a way that makes me want to be creative, professional and productive. Having a space solely dedicated to work, rather than being multi-functional, helps keep distractions to a minimum.” In conjunction with the lifestyle needs, we discuss physical elements the homeowner feels are must-haves for the office. Two pieces that Ho required were a glass-top desk that sits on a gold metal base, and a painting her dad made that includes some of Ho’s favorite vibrant colors: blues, lilac, pinks, corals, and yellow. “The glass desk was an important find because I needed a large, functional surface area, as well as the need for it not to visually fill the entire office. The glass really keeps it open, but it's a large workspace. The painting is cheery and makes a good backdrop for the video calls I do during the day.”

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In addition to the elements that are key to the homeowner, there are three things we recommend as essential to creating a functional home office. These include: Storage Adequate storage options are needed throughout the space. A mixture of open and closed storage is ideal in order to easily access items used the most while tucking the rest away. We suggest a great way to accomplish this is with built-in shelving, which allows closed cabinet storage and open shelving. Another way to create functional storage is with a free-standing shelving unit. You can add baskets for the items you wish to be hidden and have the rest open.

lighting “isGood vital in a workspace. ” Lighting Regardless of the type of work you are doing, good lighting is vital in a workspace. When choosing which room or space to make your home office, choose one with the most natural lighting. The last thing anyone wants to do is work in a dark space. If you do not have the luxury of great natural light in your space, add overhead as well as lamp and task lighting anywhere that you can. Specific to overhead lighting, if you want your office to feel fancy, consider a chandelier. If you prefer it to be more utilitarian, a ceiling fan with a light on it is a safe choice. Desk The actual space where work is done can vary greatly. There are stand-up desks, shelving consoles that are placed against a wall and writing desks that sit in the middle of the room. The type of workspace needed depends on how the homeowner likes to work. Are you more comfortable being able to move around while on a laptop or sitting stationary at a PC? You’ll spend a lot of time at the desk, so, when available, position it to where you can look out a window. After the required items are in place, it’s

Adequate storage options are needed throughout the space.

Photo by Vladimir Mokry on Unsplash

HOME OFFICE

By Liz Toomb

time to get creative! Just because the area is designated for work, doesn’t mean it needs to be dull or boring. Adding items such as photos and accolades in frames, artwork and motivational posters, and accessories in your favorite colors creates a positive environment for you to happily work in. For Ho, it was pops of gold and colorful art that made her office come to life, “After having worked a long time in the corporate world without much say over my surroundings, the balance of beauty and function was important in an office. My home office is modern, but not stuffy or cold, and has a lot of my personality in each of the pieces that are on display.” In addition to colorful accessories, I also suggest painting the walls a color that fosters positive workflow. When choosing the shade, be careful to not go too dark or too bright. Paint that is too bright can make you feel wired, which can lead to trouble focusing. Dark paint can make you feel tired, instead of alert and ready to work. Source: https://remote.co/10-stats-about-remote-work Certified Interior Decorator Liz Toombs is the president and owner of PDR Interiors. The award-winning decorating firm offers comprehensive services for homes, offices and Greek housing. Established in 2009, the work of PDR can be seen on college campuses around the country, as well as homes and businesses in more than 22 states. More may be found on www.PDR-Interiors.com.

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BUSINESSES & OPPORTUNITIES

What’s Your Business’ Penny Candy? Determine Your Company’s Money-making Business Model By Dustin Siggins

he world’s longest candy counter is located at Chutters in Littleton, New Hampshire. When I was a kid, the counter was a lot shorter – and Chutters was the local candy store, not a tourist destination. I spent more money on penny candy and $5-per-pound jelly bellies than any kid should. Over 20 years later, Chutters has changed. Its candy counter is 112 feet long, it has three locations, and jelly-bellies cost $13.99 per pound. But its brand is the same. Candy is still the unique selling point that drives all other purchases. Chutters makes very little money on what initially brings customers into the door – and a lot of money on everything else. This successful business model can also be yours. What is your unique product or service which sets you apart, gets clients in the door, and establishes credibility to make real money from the relationship? What’s your candy?

As you consider “ your business – how can your candy make you money, even if it’s not proﬁtable?” Sweatshirts Are Everywhere. Candy Is at Chutter’s Like many other stores, Chutters sells sweatshirts, mugs, and maple syrup. You won’t find any of this on their website because without candy, they’re just like everyone else – fighting for a small share of the sweatshirtselling pie. With candy, they are literally unique. This brand is reflected throughout the store, their website, and their Facebook page. It is what landed them in the Guinness Book of World Records and – earlier this year – in Forbes. 26

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The same is true for the Cape Cod Gutter Monkeys. If you live on or near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, you’ve probably heard their award-winning radio ads. They “clean gutters so you don’t have to.” Gutter cleaning is their brand. But according to my business partner, who co-founded the Cape Cod Gutter Monkeys, their profits come from gutter installations, chimney repairs, roof repairs, power washing, and all of the other business which derives from the cleanings. Gutter cleaning is the Cape Cod Gutter Monkeys’ candy, but it is the residual work that has made them a multi-million-dollar company. How can your candy drive profit elsewhere in your business? Your Candy May Not Be Proﬁtable, But It’ll Bring in the Proﬁts Chutters probably loses money on every single piece of candy they sell. I know I was a profitloss for them as a kid. Their business model, however, is the same one which makes movie theaters so successful. Theaters are lucky if they make any money on movie tickets, but without the tickets nobody would pay for overpriced popcorn, soda, and sweets. A 2009 TIME article quotes an equity analyst saying that food and concessions have an 85 percent profit margin – and in 2016, AMC’s profits increased thanks to food and concessions even as ticket sales fell. “Life’s Tough” founder Dustin Plantholt’s candy is his podcast. Launched in March, the show has already had former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield and billionaire investor Michael Loeb as guests. Dustin told me he has thousands of dollars in sponsorships. But the real money in Dustin’s brand will come from sales of his book this summer, and branding thereof. The podcast just introduces people to his brand in a fun and interesting fashion. As you consider your business – how can your candy make you money, even if it’s not profitable?

Business candy is a unique selling point that drives purchases. Do Your Candy Every Day More than 20 years after they launched the candy brand, the first thing visitors to the Chutters website see is the candy counter. Cape Cod Gutter Monkeys is five years old, but gutter cleaning is still most of their every-day business. Your candy may not bring in revenue seven days a week, but it’s still necessary for you to do it. A violinist friend sometimes loses money playing gigs, but playing keeps her skills sharp – and it puts her in front of a lot of potential clients.

“Even if your candy doesn’t make you money today, it can still be setting your company up for longterm success.” Attorney Jack White told me that his first 14 months as a Partner at FH&H PLLC was spent on lawyering, not business development. “I do a lot of business development now,” he told me for this piece. “But I did everything from legal research to drafting and arguing motions www.homebusinessmag.com

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The same is true for any company. Writing for Home Business Magazine and getting placed in The Washington Post doesn’t make Proven Media Solutions any money, but it pays dividends in other ways. A photographer who spends a morning taking beautiful photos of the sunset to put on the business website and LinkedIn is wise. So is the martial arts instructor who spends an hour a day practicing and showcases his or her skills on a Facebook Live video each week. Even if your candy doesn’t make you money today, it can still be setting your company up for long-term success. You just have to keep doing it until you get great at it, then let everyone in your target market know about it. Your Candy Needs to Get the Right People – Not All of Them The penny candy business model doesn’t catch every single person. The Cape Cod Gutter Monkeys only service two percent of the buildings on the Cape with gutters. Most of Chutters’ candy is sold to tourists traveling to the North Country of New Hampshire. Movie theaters don’t care if ticket sales fall as long as people in the theaters buy lots of food and concessions. Once you’ve identified your candy, find the people who want it. Then market to them in a creative and dynamic way. For Chutters, the Guinness Book of World Records is a major part of their marketing plan. For the Cape Cod Gutter Monkeys, it’s radio ad campaigns. Theaters show the newest and hottest movies. The aforementioned violinist friend is using her alumni network to reach students at her college’s new campus. The uniqueness of her candy – how many violin instructors do you know? – and the tight-knit collegiate network will serve her well. You only need candy that will get the customers you want. Let everyone else fight over the rest. Dustin Siggins is founder and owner of the publicity firm Proven Media Solutions. Find out more at www.provenmediasolutions.net.

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BUSINESSES & OPPORTUNITIES

to writing white papers to making copies and putting together binders. Establishing within the community that I was a fully capable lawyer was the most important thing for me to do before I began going full-tilt into business development.”

FROM INSURANCE TO THE GYM – SETTING YOUR BUSINESS UP FOR SUCCESS

nowledge is power, and experienced business owners love to pass on their knowledge. I reached out to nine people in diverse fields for insights into how

readers can avoid mistakes and develop strategies for success. Jack White, Partner, FH+H PLLC, on the need for legal advice. Seek counsel early. Legal counsel is not necessary or advisable at every critical step in the growth of a small business. But, having a partner through growth as a resource – one who possesses an experienced legal eye – can help both to avoid and to address legal and regulatory challenges. Rhiannon McHugh, Creative Director/ Partner, Do Something Different LLC*, on a strategic approach to building a website. A website is both your company brand and an integral part of your business process. Your website should be a great digital first impression and should represent who you are and what you do. Your website should also be a functional part of your business process by driving sales through forms for customer inquiries, payment processes if appropriate, etc. Gerald DuBose, Chief Operating Ofﬁcer & Co-Founder, The New Wealth Order, on the need for specialized focus. A lot of people who come to our public trainings don't have direction. We guide them through a variety of strategies, but the core question is, 'What do you do naturally better than most people you know'? Once you know that, market that. Jeff Nader, Owner, Domira Freight, on ﬁnding good advice online. There are groups on social media full of people in your industry, and you can get very expensive knowledge and advice by joining. That’s helped me immensely in the freight business. Susan Trivers, Owner, Trivers Consulting Group, on the right mindset for success. You are in a business based at home, not a homebased business. The mental confidence

this gives you will convey to prospects and eventual clients. Elizabeth Lademan, Owner, Harmony House Studio, on identifying a target market. Find people of a similar mindset. I teach the violin, but specifically I provide a total education in music. I looked for schools with education based on the liberal arts because I knew families there understood the importance of a broader focus. Wayne Gatewood, Founder, The Gatewood Group LLC, on the right tools for success. When I started my small business, the euphoria slowly tapered off. Then I realized that building a small business was a serious commitment. Drawing strength from a higher source, engaging in motivational reading, and surrounding myself with like-minded people helped me realize that successful entrepreneurs make things happen. Christina Nuar, President, Rock Creek Insurance Inc., on insurance protection. It is important for small businesses to have general and professional liability insurances. These are basic protections against claims that your work was inadequate, in violation of a contract, etc. As you grow, be sure to know employee insurance laws in your state. T. Juwon Nichols, Owner, Gymdorks Fitness Training, on breaking through in a saturated market. The low barriers of entry for personal trainers meant I had to think outside the box. I specialized in two ways: first, training sedentary people who wanted to change their lives in significant and creative ways – such as doing a workout with stairs, a jump rope, and canned food. I also focused on training people with physical and mental handicaps.

*Do Something Different is part of my company’s freelance team. Dustin Siggins is founder and owner of the publicity firm Proven Media Solutions. Find out more at www.provenmediasolutions.net.

Summer 2019 | Home Business

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SUCCESS STORIES

Giving Back to Others Entrepreneur and Mother of Three Strives to Create a Legacy for Her Family By Kalani Dantley

ominique Penn is a proud mother of three, an author and an entrepreneur. “My passion is to create multiple businesses that will become a legacy,” Penn says. “Why stop at just a business when I can create something that my grandchildren can pass to their grandchildren?” Which is exactly what she’s doing — from home. Penn, a Los Angeles native, operates a baby boutique, a charitable foundation and — as of a year ago — Discreepzis, a start-up company designed to help women privately discard their feminine products.

The mother of three launched the company with her cousin and sister with the hope of working more from home. And thus, spending more time with her family. And after several months of work, so far so good. Discreepzis is launching a global application this summer and intends to distribute scented, decorative bags as part of an

organic feminine line. “I couldn’t be more proud of myself and my team,” Penn says. Penn is plenty experienced with businesses. Albeit primarily away from home. She wrote a children’s book called The Many Adventures of Donald. She opened a baby boutique named Strollers & More. She developed her own makeup line — Demi Jolie Cosmetics. And she started a charitable foundation — The Mrs. Penn Open Heart Foundation. All of her endeavors, she says, are intended to help others in the community. Motherhood, naturally, served as the inspiration for the book and the boutique, which distributes strollers, baby gadgets and clothing in Woodland Hills, California. Empathy inspired her foundation, which encourages, counsels and provides support

Dominique Penn, Founder of Discreezips

for the underprivileged. “I want to be the Hilton of my generation, building businesses that will make room for others to strive from,” she says. “Doing for others makes me feel good.” Penn also re-enrolled in school to pursue a degree in business marketing, and says she feels accomplished when she gives back to

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others. Hence the founding of Discreepzis in 2018.

“Whether it is a corner or a room,” she says, “Give yourself and your business breathing room to get things done.” Penn also offers some words of encouragement to the entrepreneurs that can’t afford their own space.

Penn, though passionate about her projects, sought to spend more time with her children, and figured her new company would provide her with that opportunity. She says she came up with the concept several years ago, and has worked, rather diligently, to develop the brand.

“You don’t need an office to have an idea or to put something in motion. Everyone nowadays is tech savvy,” she says. “There is no need to rush into an office space and pay for overhead. Put that money into your business or save it for your business ideas or marketing points. An office will not make or break your business.”

“I have literally been sitting on this concept for about six to seven years now,” Penn says. “One day I just told myself that I would just start jotting down my ideas in my composition book or notebook. I have a ton of notebooks all around my house so when I get an idea, I can just jot it down.” The new company provides the option for Penn to work out of an office space or at home. She says she spends an average of three or four hours at her office, and works the rest of the time at home to maintain some flexibility with her family. She also says that long hours are important in a new business and some sacrifice is required in order to build a dream. But she’s figured out how to have some balance. “I am soon to be divorced so the more time that I have at home with my kids is the way

Lastly, she stresses how pivotal it is to remain focused while staying true to yourself. “Please have tunnel vision. Do not get distracted on what the next person is doing,” she says. “Take a deep breath and remember who you are, where you want to go, and the person that you want to become.” to go for me,” she explains. “Although I am building this company, I never want to be too busy to the point where I am stuck at an office that takes my time away from them.” Penn has plenty of advice for home business owners. First, she emphasizes making space for a business. Literally.

Penn, for one, knows who she is and what she wants to become: a mother of three and an entrepreneur with a focus on family and her future. Visit Strollers & More at https://strollersandmore.com and check out Discreezips at https://www.discreezips.com.

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MARKETING & SALES

60-second Marketing Top Tips on How to Start a Business Blog, and It Will Take You Less Than One Minute By Neil Sheth

blog presents the chance to kickstart your own passion project. It provides a creative outlet for you to express your innermost workings, while doing wonders for your brand. When perfectly targeted, your blog can become a shop window for your business, showcasing, via powerful content, the best it has to offer.

It is within the parameters of your blog that you can help customers to understand your brand’s narrative and personality and become an authoritative voice within your industry. You can achieve this through astute topic selection and never being afraid to speak your own mind. If you strike the right balance, you can address trending topics and controversial issues in ways that demonstrate your keen understanding and varying sensibilities of the subject in hand. This will result in a blog that sounds both reasoned and authentic, making it a destination space for keeping up with the latest sector news and developments, while offering insightful advice. This will instil trust and encourage people to stay loyal and explore the rest of your commercial offering. Here are five top tips that will deliver a fearless and thought-provoking business blog that truly resonates with your customers. 1. Stay Focused Nobody wants to read a blog that is irrelevant or tries to wear as many hats as possible. The more useful information that you post, the more readers you will attract and retain as regular followers. It is these people who will go on to recommend your blog to their own colleagues as the online place to be. Take the time to sharpen your content by creating posts that are targeted towards a specific area and provide a solution. One way is to take a singular business strategy and provide examples about why it was successful. Another is to mention your own experiences and anecdotes. This personalisation can transform your readership into an engaged community. If they read a post they empathise with, they will be more likely to share it and return to your website. Ask your audience to share their opinions in the comments section of your posts. The

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feedback will allow you to tailor your content according to reader demand, keeping your focus on track. 2. SEO Is King If you want to rank highly in the search engines, Google being the one to crack, then starting a blog is your best bet for achieving tangible results. You need to start off on the right foot, making sure that you build up your blog site with SEO at the forefront of your mind. Factors to consider along the way include scheduling and publishing regular blog posts that are good quality and broach topics that are relevant to your target audience.

When perfectly targeted, “your blog can become

Add a little controversy to put your blog on the map.

a shop window for your business, showcasing, via powerful content, the best it has to offer.

fresh ways to look at already popular topics to add interest and explore new angles as part of a wider debate. Research exactly who your audience is and avoid posting articles that might make them switch off. Factors that could leave your customers feeling cold include an inconsistent style or tone of voice or selecting irrelevant subject matter that fails to resonate.

This will do the job of keeping your overall website fresh and current, giving it a frequent revamp where other pages, such as the Homepage and About sections, will invariably remain the same for longer periods of time.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little controversy to put your blog on the map, so do not shy away from tackling a hot industry topic and make sure to adopt a clear and coherent stance. Not only will your audience appreciate your honesty, but you will reap the rewards as well with an engaged brand community.

”

Search engines do not want to deliver outdated information. An active website is able to deliver a wealth of valuable content that can be indexed to remain firmly on the radars of search engine algorithms. Try to remember that consistent delivery on your blog will massively increase your chances of being visible in search engine results at a time when your audience needs either your advice, point of view, expertise or simply an outlet upon which to share their own opinions. 3. Avoid the Adage “Money for Old Rope” Your content must not be churned out repeatedly in lazy iterations. Aim to produce remarkable, never-before-seen content. Be willing to introduce new conversations or

A blog that is brimming with bright ideas will drive traffic to your website, in turn increasing social media engagement once posted across your accompanying channels. Regularly adding new content to your blog will also result in links, shares and brand mentions, all while providing you with fresh angles to approach further marketing campaigns which will, in turn, convert to optimum results. This kind of content marketing activity will also establish you as an authority within your niche, proving your expert credentials, while building on your brand’s authority. 4. Grow Your Own Audience A casual visitor to your website is by no means a committed customer. To encourage this, collect their email address in order to www.homebusinessmag.com

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kickstart a meaningful dialogue that leads to a sale and improved brand advocacy. Your incentive for people to willingly provide you with their personal details is to offer an arsenal of irresistible downloadable materials. They may include eBooks or white papers and, above all, they must contain information that is important to potential customers. The work on offer should provide expert advice on a variety of problems, placing you at the forefront of your sector. In a nutshell, your work should be a source of guidance that eases pain points and creates viable solutions for your audience. Understand your customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs by researching how long they spend on your website, the type of content that appeals to them and what format they would like to see it in. A B2B business trying to establish itself as a thought leader might benefit from a white paper that distills a complex topic. Meanwhile, a B2C business that wishes to show off a particular product might see better results with a short video. Make sure your subscription options are easy to find and keep your opt-in process hassle-free. Offering access to the RSS feed and sending posts via email are also popular ways to increase your blog following. 5. Think Visually Do not underestimate the power of video content. At one time largely absent on blogs and the social media platforms that support them, they are now a vital way to engage with customers, particularly the Millennial and Gen Z markets. Support your worded blog posts with accompanying short videos that quickly sum up your main points in one soundbite. This will emphasize the key messages in your long-form blog posts, while giving your brand added personality. Create and share video content that explains how to use your product or service, as visual aids can increase sales. If people are skeptical about buying online, such fears should be assuaged by an honest video. Videos also provide an incentive for people to remain on your blog for longer and you are more likely to rank high on Google if you have them embedded on your website. www.homebusinessmag.com

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Social Media and the Power of Engagement

n 1996, Bill Gates famously stated: "Content Is King." Fast forward 23 years, and he couldn't be more accurate. The companies outperforming their competitors put content marketing at the forefront of their marketing strategies and let their content act as a lighthouse to the sea of consumers. But what is high-quality content without an audience to see it?

If a blog is posted, and no one is around to read it, it's as good as nonexistent. The same applies to your social media pages. You may have 300 high-quality posts on your Instagram, but the results have yet to come pouring in. While content is a great way to nurture an audience, you must first make the public aware, and today it's never been easier. The Modern Landscape Today companies can interact directly with their target market every day for free through social media, but so few take the opportunity to do so. On Instagram, the general plan for small businesses is to post a photo, add a witty caption, add a couple of hashtags, and wait for the magic to happen. While this is effective, direct engagement can take your social media strategy to a whole new level. By layering in engagement time to interact with your current audience, and new, potential fans of your business, not only do you deepen the connection in your community, but you also add a new tactic to your brand awareness. Something as simple as a like on a photo or a tweet can drive traffic back to your page and potentially score you a sale.

This means that you can make your videos as SEO friendly as your written blogs. Just make sure you provide interesting titles and creative descriptions and always link back to your products and services.

At the very least, leaving a positive comment, or liking a few photos will make you stand out above most competitors in your field. Finally, engagement makes your audience feel the human behind the brand. Brands are often emotionless and selfish on social media; engage with your community, and make your presence felt. How to Find Your Market This past spring, I was fortunate enough to help bring a new vaporizer to market in the state of California. The product was positioned as a health & wellness tool for millennials. When creating the go-to-market strategy, I had to figure out an efficient way to generate sales through social media. Luckily enough, the product stood out visually from the competition, and a properly executed feed would be enough to convert. To drive traffic to the page, I focused on finding where my target market stayed and effectively engaging directly with them. For these California healthfocused millennials, that meant yoga studios, gyms, wellness centers, and advanced hiking trails. With the proper engagement and rich content, we were able to generate 1,000 Instagram followers the first month with 17 images. For your brand, find locations that are popular with your target market, and engage with the photos in those locations. Go down a rabbit hole and like/comment on everyone who falls in your target market. Within days you will see instant results. Cain Castor is a marketing strategist and co-founder of Good People. Visit https://wergoodpeople.com.

Neil Sheth is a digital marketing coach who helps businesses to drive relevant traffic, grow customers and subsequently build a successful brand online. Neil, who runs established consultancy Your Brand Found (https://yourbrandfound.com) has 10 years worth of industry experience and is perfectly placed to offer a wealth of expert insights around digital marketing and content strategies that will help business owners to expand their enterprise, whatever that might be.

Summer 2019 | Home Business

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Safe Sleeping Environment for Infants By Samantha Fenlon

afe sleep is the driving force behind the newly launched baby sheet company Linen & Leah. The start-up created by Jen O’Malley sells a first-of-its-kind Pack & Play sheet that attaches securely to a playard mattress, cutting down on dangers for sleeping babies. “We are the only brand that has created a fitted sheet with foolproof safety features, that not only promotes, but ensures a safe sleep environment,” says O’Malley. O’Malley is a single mom of two with a passion for SIDS prevention. She says her experience as a childcare provider coupled with a terrifying incident with one of her own daughters ultimately led her to create this product. O’Malley shares her frightening ordeal with the hope that other parents can better understand the real-life dangers that loose bedding can pose for babies. “I went in to check on my daughter before I went

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to bed, right around 9:30,” says O’Malley. “She had gotten the entire sheet off of the mattress and was completely wrapped up in it. I couldn’t see her breathing. I ran in and picked her up panicking. Thankfully she gasped for a huge breath, and besides being sweaty she was perfectly fine, but I’ve never been more scared in my life.” O’Malley says that was just one scare. When she operated her own daycare, she was constantly battling with loose and bunching Pack & Play sheets. O’Malley says there wasn’t a single product on the market that she could find to offer a safe solution. With the help of a local sewing shop, O’Malley created a prototype. It took almost two years to create the perfect product. O’Malley researched every detail down to the thread count, even traveling to China and India in search of the most pure organic cotton. Linen & Leah officially launched in November

Jen O’Malley, Founder of Linen & Leah

2018. O’Malley donates 15% of each sheet sold to the SIDS Foundation, a cause she is incredibly passionate about. In the first five months, she has already donated $1,550.

SUCCESS STORIES

Single Mom Launches Baby Sheet Company to Help Protect Children

Looking ahead, this new business owner would love to see her sheets sold with Pack & Plays. O’Malley also hopes to see resorts like Disney one day carry her product. To learn more about Linen & Leah or to purchase the product visit https://linenandleah.com.

Summer 2019 | Home Business

5/29/19 7:00 PM

Financing a Start-up Four Funding Opportunities Your Home-based Business Should Consider By Gerri Detweiler

MONEY

s you grow your home-based business, you may find yourself needing additional funds. But there are dozens of different types of financing available to small businesses and finding financing can feel overwhelming. Don’t let that stop you from getting the capital you need to grow your business. Here are four funding sources your small business should consider, and tips from entrepreneurs who have used them successfully:

Business Credit Cards When Sandeep Kumar Aggarwal started his online concierge service, The World Concierge, from his home in West New York, NJ, he needed funding to purchase travel packages he would resell to clients. He received financing from two sources: a bank loan and a business credit card. The business credit card he chose allowed him to pay over time: “I was able to get the funds right away and start using the money to purchase the goods I needed to run my home business,” he says. A business credit card is one of the easiest ways for a business to get funding. Most credit card issuers base the decision on the owner’s personal credit, and will consider income from all sources — not just business revenues. That means these cards are often available to start-ups. As a bonus, most business credit cards report to business credit reporting agencies, which means they can help build business credit. Sandeep’s Success Tip: Always make your credit card payments in time; it is crucial. Keep your credit score as high as possible. The higher your credit score, the higher the loan amount you will receive and the lower your interest rate.

Retirement Savings Debra Cohen, founder of Home Remedies of NY, Inc. launched a business that prescreens and refers local home improvement contractors from her home in Hewlett, New York. She turned to retirement savings to get started, borrowing $5000 against her husband’s retirement plan. “While I felt it was a bit risky, I evaluated a lot of options and the interest rate (3%) and payback terms (10 years) were the best I could find,” she explains. “I set a goal of paying it back within a year and actually was able to do it in 6 months.” 34

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Her gamble paid off. Not only did her business grow, but she was subsequently able to help more than 300 individuals launch home-based HRN businesses nationwide. She noticed that many of those entrepreneurs were turning to their credit cards to get their businesses off the ground. “I also started accepting credit cards and offering 0% financing because I saw how difficult it was for most people to secure financing to start their businesses,” she says. Borrowing from personal savings and retirement involves risk, so Cohen was right to be cautious. After all, starting a business is risky, and if your efforts don’t pan out, you could lose the money you’ll need to live on someday. Make sure you have a solid business plan and try to test the waters before you risk too much capital. Debra’s Success Tip: As a business owner, you need to think creatively and be determined and that starts with financing. If you need a small loan and traditional financing isn't an option, consider selling personal items, borrowing against your home, taking a loan from friends or family or launching the business with a partner.

Grants The three co-founders of Pip & Grow, which introduced a durable, portable and eco-friendly European-style baby box to the U.S., work from home in multiple cities: Charlotte, NC, Portland, OR, and Sarasota, FL. Although sales were growing, they needed additional capital to launch new products. But looking for funding was frustrating. “Because we were a small start-up, we didn’t even qualify for the majority of funding options out there,” says co-founder Lauren Hughey. “Even the education process of the different kinds of funding available was daunting,” she adds. The three entrepreneurs broadened their search and struck funding gold. “We pursued a grant from SCORE and won!” says CEO & Founder Amber Kroeker. “It was exhilarating. The SCORE Award helped fund our company which resulted in some amazing growth. Not counting the incredible networking opportunities.” Small business grants offer money that does not have to be repaid. And unlike venture capital or angel funding, founders don’t give up equity in their business. But finding — and winning — grants can be challenging. There are a variety of

Get funding through a business credit card. Keep your credit score as high as possible.

organizations that give grants, ranging from the federal government, to private organizations, to grants designed to help underserved entrepreneurs such as women or minorities. Cast a wide net as you research small business grants (visit Nav.com/grants) and carefully follow all instructions in the application. Lauren’s Success Tip: Do your research and get a SCORE mentor to help you through it. (Tip: Find a free mentor through the SBA locator at SBA.gov/tools.)

Bank Loans Josh Elledge has been a home-based business owner for more than two decades. He’s founded multiple businesses, and he and his entire team have always worked from home. Recently, he sought funding for his Orlando-based business, UpMyInfluence.com, which increases authority, influence, and sales for clients. “I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of experts,” says Elledge. “Terms and interest rate were the most important to me. I didn’t want expensive money; I’m not desperate,” he says. UpMyInfluence was able to get an SBA loan, which is often considered the gold standard for small business financing due to low interest rates and favorable repayment terms. SBA loans are made by a variety of lenders around the country; a portion of the loan is guaranteed by the Small Business Administration if the borrower defaults. The downside of SBA financing is that these loans take time and effort. “We probably worked a solid 30 days to complete the application process,” Elledge explains. But it’s been worth it. This funding “put us in a position for increased Continued on page 36

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Financing a Start-Up Continued from page 34

growth that far eclipses what we are on the hook for,” he notes. Josh’s Success Tip: Don’t put everything on your personal credit. Avoid that as soon as possible. Create a minimal viable product, get some revenue coming in and if your credit is good, get a business loan.

Proper financial management necessitates a careful planning approach to opening a business, running a business, and expanding a business. With these categories established, let us explore tips during each phase of business.

Increase Your Approval Odds There are three main criteria that many lenders consider when evaluating applications. Use the following strategies to help improve your chances of getting approved:

1. Financial Management Tips for Opening a Business

1. Time in Business Start-ups often have a harder time getting funding. Lenders are often more willing to finance businesses that are at least two years old, so establish an official start date for your business as soon as possible. Incorporating your business as an LLC, S or C Corp is a great first step. But even if you decide to operate as a sole proprietor, file a fictitious name registration (also known as a “DBA”) with your state. Keep in mind, however, that until you create a business entity your personal and business financing will never be truly separated. 2. Revenue Some lenders have specific minimum revenue requirements. It’s essential that you open a business bank account and use that exclusively for business income and expenses. That way you’ll be able to document revenues if the lender requests them. 3. Credit Some lenders review the owner’s personal credit reports and scores, some review business credit, and some— like many SBA loans— evaluate both. Business owners can get their personal credit reports for free each year at AnnualCreditReport. com, the government-mandated site for free consumer credit reports. In addition, there are more than 150 places where you can monitor your credit scores for free located at Nav.com/ free-scores. Business credit reports and scores are compiled by companies such as Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax and Experian. Unlike personal credit reports, however, there is no law that mandates free business credit reports. Nav.com gives business owners the ability to check and monitor reports from each of those three agencies for free. Gerri Detweiler is a business financing and credit expert with more than 20 years of experience guiding individuals through the confusing world of credit. Gerri serves as the Director of Education at Nav, an online platform giving business owners free access to their business credit reports. Visit https://www.nav.com/.

Financial Management at Three Stages of Business

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• Estimate all initial costs. To test judgment, estimate what you believe costs are and then calculate numeric overhead. Get a sense of being able to estimate so future costs and expenses can be roughly tracked. • Set money aside for attorneys and legal expenses. Many businesses require special licenses which are granted on a local level. Some businesses must be filed as formal business entities. Ensure funds are set aside to address any potential issues unearthed by legal counsel. • Assess and brainstorm liabilities. This can be greatly boosted with the assist of legal counsel. Think about the worst-case scenario during business start-up and have resources available to meet challenges.

2. Financial Management Tips for Running a Business • No-nonsense audit. When it comes to business an honest assessment of costs and profits is necessary. Often an individual cannot see with the necessary level of scrutiny so hiring an outside consultant to do an audit is recommended. • Collate business profits and create a “fatty” layer of insulation. Assuming the business is profitable after an audit, ensure the profits are funneled into the appropriate channels. This will often lead to expanding or diversifying. • Assess business partners or colleagues. Assess all parties who you rely on for business needs and see if the open market has better partners or can be used as leverage to lower overhead costs.

3. Financial Management Tips for Expanding a Business • Keep a layer of fat; do not let your business starve! Think of the insulation like the human body. Although humans can operate with very little body fat, this is not optimum. Like the human body, ensure business profits run at least between 12-20%. • Expand or diversify if the business is obese. If the business is inundated, perhaps open a business which accomplishes a task necessary to your business. This creates a synergistic effect and when done right, greatly increases profits. • Have an end goal. Life can be unpredictable. Health or harm can befall anyone at any time. At all times it is worth it to know the selling price of your business. If a dynasty is desired, grooming friends or family to take over the business takes advance planning and foresight. Be honest and practical in your assessments of your future. Kyle Lawheed Esq. is an independent legal consultant who does consulting work for fields ranging from Personal Injury to Contracts plus many other fields. For business inquiries please contact him by email at KyleLawheed@gmail.com.

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5/29/19 7:00 PM

SUCCESS STORIES

The Goal of Freedom High School Dropout Becomes Business Success with Niche Importing Business By Fleur Chapman

here is an increasing number of people shaking off the confines of the expected and designing their own life with complete freedom and flexibility. Matt Buchel is one such entrepreneur, determined from a young age to create a working life on his terms, not according to someone else’s vision. He left school halfway through year 11 and took to the world of business. He tried a few different opportunities — many of which turned out to be less than profitable — before landing in property maintenance. From here, Buchel decided to take a risk on a flailing importing business, which he managed to quickly turn around with clever marketing, advertising and automation. This was the beginning of Buchel’s highly successful journey in this industry, where he now helps others set up their own tailored ‘business in a box’ with nothing more than a phone, a laptop and an Internet connection.“I wanted to create a

lifestyle on my own terms, rather than being stuck in a job,” he says. “My goal now is for everything to be run with a laptop, phone and Internet connection so I’m not tied down to any one location. Not being tied down equals freedom. Freedom gives you the ability to do what you want, when you want and how you want. You can go to a different place, experience a different part of life, just by picking up your laptop and going.” From high school dropout to importing over $1 million of goods per year from the comfort of wherever he chooses to work, Buchel is an inspiring story of determination and creativity in the business world. He now passes on his knowledge and expertise gained over years of trial, error and outside-the-spare thinking to help others set up their own niche importing business and similarly find the perfect working life balance through Importing Cashflow.

Matt Buchel, Founder of Importing Cashflow

the daily grind and create a more flexible, profitable business of their own is to simply believe you can…and do it. “Instead of thinking about doing it, actually do it. Don’t listen to those around you who say it can’t be done. There are always going to be negative people around you, just ignore them!” Visit https://yourimportingcashflow.com.au/.

His primary advice for anyone looking to escape

Unplugging Teens from Screens Former High School Teacher Creates Starlux Games to Promote Outdoor Play Among Today’s Youth By Sherry Sanderson

Starlux Games will promise hours of screenfree, outdoor fun for kids, teens, and adults — all ages can play together! From Capture the Flag REDUX to Wizards and Werewolves and Glow Battle, these glow-in-the-dark games all spark physical activity outdoors as well as inspire stealth and strategy. The games are also easy to learn within minutes using the illustrated rulebooks. Great for gifting and for birthday parties, sleepovers and family www.homebusinessmag.com

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reunions, Starlux Games help people unplug and engage face-to-face. Although people and kids of all ages enjoy playing Starlux Games, King says the main users are youth ages 8-14 and the primary customers are parents who are especially involved in their kids' lives and are looking for something unique and engaging but easy to set up and implement. He shares that his main source of business promotion has been customers getting out and playing the games. Starlux Games are all built for groups, so each time a game is played it is being shared with anywhere from 4 to 50 people. “I've always enjoyed the exuberance and enthusiasm of people who are excited about exploring the world and their role in it,” says King. This led him to teach three high school subjects prior to creating Starlux Games. He now manages many aspects of the Starlux Games company from his home office. According to

Judd King, Founder of Starlux Games

King, the main advantages of working from home are the ability to set his own schedule and completely customize his work environment. King’s greatest business achievement thus far has been seeing his flagship game, Capture the Flag REDUX, secure the #1 Novelty Game spot on Amazon during the holidays for the past three years. He also has even bigger plans for the future! “We will release more games and you will see us expand our presence in retail,” King says. “The dream is that we become the go-to company for group and party games for youth.” Visit https://www.starluxgames.com. Summer 2019 | Home Business

SUCCESS STORIES

hile teaching high school for nine years, Starlux Games founder Judd King observed that today’s youth were becoming increasingly disengaged with their surroundings and their peers. He wanted to create something so incredibly engaging and dynamic that teenagers would actually put their phones down and interact with each other. With this goal in mind, King set out and invented Starlux Games glow-inthe-dark games.

5/29/19 7:01 PM

Part-Time Profits Continued from page 15

If a part-time “ online home business

F E AT U R E

Ofﬂine Types of Part-Time Home Businesses

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If a part-time online home business does not appeal to you, possibly because you do not like to be confined inside the house for too long, then you can consider part-time “offline” home business ideas at home. If you have a truck or have access to a trailer, you can start a hauling or clean-up service; if you type, you can start a home-based typing service. Consider, too, that others have found success and fortune in something as simple as growing and supplying freshcut flowers to restaurants and offices on a regular basis. Others have started home and apartment cleaning services. Others have even turned a simple ceramics hobby into a lucrative person- Get Started Working alized coffee mug business.

does not appeal to you … then you can consider parttime “ofﬂine” home business ideas at home.

”

Part-Time from Home

There are probably good examples of similar types of home businesses in your own city. If so, study the home business and consider duplicating it. There is no end to the ways you can start and operate a profitable part-time home business. Yossi Callomiti is from Israel. He is a poet and writes online from time to time as a hobby. Visit http://moneyway.yolasite.com.

As home business expert Lisa Cherney (www. lisacherney.com) states, “Step back and visualize what your life would look like if you had 2 or 3 extra days a week to spend any way you wanted. Would you spend more time with family? Or do some volunteer work? Or maybe start exercising, or take a class at the local college?” If the

An Exclusive Interview with Mark Cuban on Success in Business By Dustin Siggins

allas Mavericks owner and “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban is one of the world’s wealthiest people. A self-made billionaire, he told Home Business Magazine in an exclusive interview that aspiring small business owners should “be unique.” This is what he looks for when investing on “Shark Tank” — “uniqueness of the product and [the] entrepreneur.” The practice of being unique has certainly worked for Cuban. He is the most-fined owner in the NBA — something he told Inc in 2014 helps grow his Twitter following — he was on the leading edge of the technology boom, and he has invested tens of millions of dollars into dynamic businesses on and off of “Shark Tank.” Uniqueness was a constant theme of the interview. According to Cuban, business success is based around “knowing what makes you unique, making your customers happy, and always looking to improve.” He also encouraged business owners to “know what makes your company excel and do more of it” to accomplish a high level of business efficiency. Cuban has publicly said on several occasions since 2010 that unless he’s getting a check from someone, he doesn’t do meetings because they are inefficient. He has the same view of phone calls. “…I’d rather do 700, even 1,000 or more e-mails, than sit in long

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and tedious and boring meetings,” Cuban told Vanity Fair in 2018. Cuban told Home Business Magazine that success also comes from “hiring smart people.” The greatest mistake small business owners make, according to Cuban, is “they don’t focus on sales. To solve it, be the best salesperson in the company." This advice is a regular theme for Cuban. At the 2015 CNBC/Inc iCONIC tour in Chicago, he urged new business owners to stop looking for help and mentors. “Get out there. Ready. Fire. Aim. Go.” He also said that colleges students should stop asking him and others to help them — “help yourself,” he told conference attendees. Cuban’s final advice was to “read as much as you can and learn about as many [businesses] as you can” because “there is no one company” to look at for a successful model to follow. Cuban has certainly taken this model of education to heart — CNBC reports that he reads several hours per day to continue his own learning process, and at the iCONIC conference he said that business owners who aren’t the smartest person in a room about their industry are lying to themselves about their chances of success. Dustin Siggins is a communications strategist and founder of the public relations start-up Proven Media Solutions. Visit http://provenmediasolutions.net/.

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5/29/19 7:02 PM

know that “youDidcanyoustart a part-

”

F E AT U R E

time home business without any of your own products or services to sell? answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then it’s time to consider starting a part-time online or offline home business. Find something that interests you, that you will be passionate about, and that can help you become successful beyond your wildest dreams. Source of editorial: ArticlesFactory.com. For more information on starting a part-time home business, visit https://www.homebusinessmag.com or https://homebusinessexpo.com.

Grow a part-time home business idea into a full-time career.

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We appreciate your feedback and work-from-home success stories for review and consideration. Please send both via e-mail to: editor@homebusinessmag.com, or via postal mail to: HOME BUSINESS® Magazine, 20664 Jutland Place, Lakeville, MN 55044. 40

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own passion project or activity that engages them and forces them to think in a new way. Why? Here are three key reasons: 1. It’s crucial for you, as a business owner, to be involved in a passionate activity outside your company. Otherwise, you run the risk of becoming a single-focused, compulsive workaholic! Been there, done that, and I don’t recommend it. 2. When you are engrossed in a non-workrelated passion project, the sting of the problems troubling you will fade out. 3. This is when you will do your most revolutionary, innovative thinking and will come up with solutions to many of your dilemmas. Allison Maslan CEO and Founder of Pinnacle Global Network Author of Blast Off!: The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams into Reality Author of Scale or Fail: How to Build Your Dream Team, Explode Your Growth, and Let Your Business Soar www.AllisonMaslan.com

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Start a Local Business Directory & Coupon Website We provide a turn-key website business and everything you need to be successful in your community. ile Site Mob ded! Inclu

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Starting your own business has never been easier. A local business directory and coupon website is a great way to earn money while supporting local businesses in your community. You make money selling business listings and ads on your site. The more listings and ads you sell - the more money you make!

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Income Potential When you sell a listing or any ad on your site you keep 100% of the revenue. The chart below illustrates how much money you can make if you charged just $50/mo for each business to be listed on your website. Number of Advertisers

100

200

400

1,000

Your Monthly Income

$1,250

$2,500

$5,000

$10,000

$20,000

$50,000

Your Annual Income

$15,000

$30,000

$60,000

$120,000

$240,000

$600,000

* For illustration purposes only. Ideal Directories does not make any claims or guarantee to how much money you will make.

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