say you want to start a dog washing business and you want to charge thirty dollars for each dog you bathe. You figure you can bathe about seven dogs a day and since you have very little overhead, your business should be profitable almost instantly. Unfortunately, when you start to advertise and you open up for business, you do not get a single call. What went wrong?
If you would have done your market research, you would have found out that there are five other dog washing businesses in your town. Not only do these businesses already have relationships with the local dog owners, they charge between fifteen to twenty dollars for their services. So not only are you the new kid on the block, you are the one charging the most for the services you are offering. With the right amount of market research, this costly mistake could have been avoided.
Do not make the same mistake made in our imaginary scenario. Perform market research and know exactly what you are getting into before you jump in.
Proper Planning
Every successful business, whether it is a home business or a brick-and-mortar business, needs a substantial amount of planning. Because of this, it is essential that every home business has a detailed business plan written. You can write the business plan yourself or you can hire a professional business writer to perform the work, but make sure the business plan is in black and white and is updated as needed. After all, as a home business grows and changes, the business plan will need to grow and change along with it.
Great Advertising
Every successful home business invests in good advertising. Without advertising, no one is going to know about your business. However, bad advertising can be just as detrimental to a home business as no advertising can be. If the advertising you produce for your home business does not reflect the quality your home business offers, why would potential customers trust you to provide them with quality products or services? Your advertising speaks volumes about your home business, so make sure it is done properly and professionally.
Self Discipline
All successful home business owners are self disciplined. Without self discipline, you might find it tempting to sleep in until noon everyday or let mundane paperwork slide. Your home business is as real as any storefront business and it must be run as such. Because of this, self discipline is a characteristic that all successful home business owners must possess.
Organization
Every successful home business has a certain amount of organization involved. The paperwork and files must be organized, the bookkeeping must be organized and the home office itself must be organized. Without organization, things will fall through the cracks and mistakes will happen. To ensure that your home business is as successful as possible, make sure you have an effective system of organization in place.
Remember, a home business is like a baby. It needs to be nurtured and cared for in order to grow. By practicing these keys to home business success, you will be well on your way to operating a lucrative and successful home-based business.
By:
Curt Miller