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1.
Organise
It goes without saying that work is better
done when your needs and time are properly organised.
You must set aside a specific place and time everyday
to get your work done, otherwise you will be drawn towards
other distractions. Children must be taught from the beginning
that Mum or Dad may not be disturbed during certain times
of the day, except for emergencies.....and Discipline
with a capital D is imperative. Its always a more attractive
option to linger over breakfast just a little while longer.
2.
Keep in touch with the world outside
One can get too comfortable at home -
so its important to make regular appointments outside
the home to keep in touch with recent trends and ways
of operating your business. Make time to upgrade your
skills or improve existing ones.
3.
Equipment
Without access to the standard equipment
easily found in traditional offices, like the copier,
computer, telephone reception etc. , you would have to
set aside a budget for your home office needs. The following
are essential :
telephone answering machine, computer
with word processing and accounting software, printer,
scanner, copier, and filing system.
Ensure that they are adequately serviced
and maintained.
4.
Image
For some businesses, a professional image
goes a long way - and some of the ways to project your
product or service more favourably include :
- having a P.O.Box address on your invoices
and letterheads instead of your home address
- keep up your personal appearances and
do not make the mistake of meeting your clients in your
home apparel
- have a separate phone line for your
business calls and do not allow the children to answer
or use that particular phone
- set up a personalised greeting on your
answering machine for times when you are unable to personally
answer your calls
5.
Within the law
Do your homework to find out what is
legal and what's not before you embark on your home venture.
Know what businesses can be done from home and whether
any licences are required.
6.
Creativity & Resourcefulness
With just you and yourself handling
all the work, try to be resourceful and use time and cost
saving techniques like planning your day's schedule in
advance or using all the FREE classified listings in the
World Wide Web to promote your business or get contacts.
7.
Responsible Accounting
Keep proper documentation and account
for all income and expenses to keep track of your business
financially. Maintain a budget of expenses and stick to
it. All this will become important when you need to talk
to your banker or a potential partner.
8.
Promote & Advertise
Identify your target group. Whether by
word of mouth or via small classified advertisements,
do make time to promote your product or service to your
target market.
WE WISH YOU SUCCESS IN YOUR HOME VENTURE.
PLEASE LET US HAVE YOUR VIEWS OR COMMENTS OR JUST TO SHARE
YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH US, BY E-MAILING TO
WEBMASTER.
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