One of the most difficult aspects of owning your own business is committing to a schedule.  This can mean many things, depending on the nature of your business.  But, for all of us, there comes a time when our “normal”, money making tasks are slowed, and we witness some “down time”.  Frequently, this times goes to waste, and not much is accomplished.  But as time has passed, we’ve learned to use this time to our advantage. 

My husband’s business is 100% mobile, and his work is done outdoors.  So obviously, rainy, drizzly, or snowy days are slow.  Use of this time has become essential in keeping up the “paper” side of the company.  Patrick uses these days to catch up his books, make deposits, make follow-up phone calls, and set appointments.  We try to use our unusually slow days to brainstorm marketing strategies, as well. 

These days won’t always fall into your perfect schedule, and you’ll probably have to take a few “regular” days to do some of this, as well.  But don’t look negatively at your down days.  Look at them as opportunities. You never know what’s at the end of that rainbow!

Photo by Peter Kaminski via Flickr Creative Commons.

Just over two years ago, when my husband was presenting all the “perks” of owning his own business, the idea of having more time as a family really appealed to me.  It was probably the biggest selling point my husband could present.  I don’t believe that either of us were prepared, however, for sharing our family time!

Yes, I admit, we do spend more time together as a family.  But very rarely do we do anything or go anywhere without my husband’s phone ringing.  Nine times out of ten, it’s a business call that he “has to take”.  At restaurants, movies, the park, family gatherings…EVERY CALL COUNTS. 

One evening had been particularly rough, and the two of us were just sitting down to watch some of the many shows we’d recorded on DVR.  About 15 minutes into our first show, at around 11:30pm, his phone rang.  To say I was irritated is putting it mildly.  He answered to find a very intoxicated man requesting a quote for a windshield replacement.  Being the good businessman that he is, he looked up the part and price, and gave the man a quote.  The man scheduled the job for the next day.  My husband called me after doing the job to inform me that he had met his first customer who actually jumped up and down with excitement about having his windshield replaced!  Yes…he was still drunk.  But he was a happy customer, and we made money we wouldn’t have made if Patrick hadn’t answered that call.  EVERY CALL COUNTS!

I am constantly reminding myself that the decision “we” made (in quotes because I only take responsibility for it when it’s good!) to become business owners requires us to be on call all the time.  If we miss a call, the next glass company may get that job.  And in this economy, we can’t afford that! 

This is why Patrick carried his phone into the ocean this past June…he was waiting for a call.  The call came, but several hours later when the phone was being eaten alive by the salt water after the largest wave EVER struck my husband…and his shirt pocket (where the phone was nice and safely waiting).  By the time Patrick could get back in touch with the caller, all eight jobs had been contracted out to another company.  EVERY CALL COUNTS!

So, do we enjoy our added family time…YES.  Do we like sharing it with strangers?  Not really!!!  But we have learned rather quickly that owning our own business is not an eight to five gig!  It’s all day, every day.  The key is learning to appreciate what it means.  Our business is growing.  We’re making more money.  We’re a step closer to reaching our goals.  We’re succeeding!

Photo by Mykl Roventine via Flickr Creative Commons.

Yesterday I claimed business cards as one of my favorite marketing tools.  Today I expand my list of favorites.  I am really a big fan of what I like to call “favors”.  Similar to party favors given away at a party, these are those little “goodies” that you pick up free at fairs, parades, community gatherings, etc.  Now, there are all kinds, and definitely some are most useful than others.  My favorite favors include, but are not limited to, pens and pencils, magnets, post-its, clips, and rulers. 

All of these tools can be used everyday, therefore allowing exposure of your company name.  And since they can be used everyday, and someone has taken the time to pick them up from you, they are usually less likey to throw them away.  In the same way as the business cards, they’re a convenient go-to tool when a need arises. 

 What’s the down side?  Sometimes they can get pricey.  They vary in color, size, weight, etc., and the prices reflect those differences.  I’ve found pens that cost over $10 each.  So, you have to choose carefully and plan for the purpose of each.  For instance, basic, one color magnets are very reasonable.  Consider purchasing these as handouts at an event, along with some inexpensive pencils and pens.  Purchase a few of the higher quality pens or desk tools for those customers you see often.  For instance, we have an awesome insurance company that has given us countless referrals.  They get the good stuff! 

So, when considering your marketing tools, whether they are simple business cards, “favors”, or full-page ads in the phone book, remember to consider their purpose and their audience.  Think about how each will be used and it’s “shelf life”.  Be careful about the decisions you make, but remember to always show appreciation to those who help or have helped grow your business.  They ARE your best marketing tool!

Photo by steakpinball via Flickr Creative Commons.

There are a number of work from home scams floating around out there, from the “Google Jobs” scam to different networking marketing scams. While there are some legitimate marketing scams, including MLM, it is important to note that you still need to be careful. You want to be careful to avoid scams that could turn your home business dream into a nightmakre.

Online Home Business Idea recommends that you take the following steps to avoid work from home network marketing scams:

* Research the company to make sure that it is established, and has a track record of several years. Check with the BBB for complaints.

* Look at the products being promoted. Are they useful? Would you want to buy the products? Be wary of products that offer some sort of “miracle”, “cure”, or “amazing money making potential”.

* Check with others who have done this, probing them for how they make their money, and proof that they are earning well.

You can never be 100% sure that something will work out. But you do need to be careful. Do your homework, and if something doesn’t feel right, or if it seems too good to be true, stay away.

One of the most common ways to work from home is to do so a freelancer. Whether you are writing or doing graphic design, you can earn a decent living with a freelancing home business. I know. I’ve been freelance writing for years now, and am lucky enough to be making a good living at it.

Over at the Freelance Folder, Laura Spencer offers her thoughts on 5 things you can do to kickstart your freelance business:

1. Develop an online presence: Start a blog or a web site showcasing your abilities.

2. Social media profile: Make sure your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social media includes freelancing availability.

3. Bidding site: Build a profile on a bidding site, just to get started.

4. Apply for jobs at online boards: Look around and apply for jobs you see on the many job boards out there. Just be careful of work from home scams.

5. Offer a freebie: While you don’t want to make it a habit, you can do one or two things for free, just to build your portfolio and maybe garner a reference.

In the end, there are ways to get going with a freelancing home business. While I’m not a fan of the freelance bidding sites, I did get two gigs that way. I’ve had way more success, though, landing jobs through LinkedIn, Twitter and even StumbleUpon.

One of the most important things you can do for your small business is to do a little networking. However, you can’t just show up to a networking event and expect everything to just turn out. You need to have a strategy. And that is where I’m at a Networking Event — Now What??? by Sandy Jones-Kaminski comes in.

This book is a guide to making quality connections when you attend network events, as well as providing you with insight into how you can build “social capital” wherever you go. The books is written in an easy to understand style that provides insight into how social networks — online and offline — actually work. That way, you learn the basics of how to connect with people, as well as gaining knowledge of what to avoid.

Jones-Kaminski offers a helpful handbook for those who are struggling to understand what they need to do in order to find success through networking their home business. With a little help from this book, it is possible to gain something of an edge. This book is available in paperback and in PDF format as an eBook.

(Disclosure: I am not being paid to promote this book. However, I am an affiliate of HappyAbout.info, and my affiliate link is included. I am also co-authoring a book that will be published by HappyAbout.info.)

As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to start thinking about home business tax deductions. And one of the things you can deduct is your home business Internet use.

For many people who work from home, the Internet is a lifeline. However, it costs money to get a fast, reliable Internet connection. The good news is that you can deduct some of your expenses. Many people don’t want to get a separate Internet service for the home office, and that is okay. You can actually deduct a portion of your Internet costs.

Figure up how much you use each month for Internet, and then take a percentage of that. For example, 85% of the Internet usage in my home is for my business. We pay about $28.81 for Internet, what with access fees and equipment rental. So, I multiply .85 by $28.81 and end up with $24.49. For 12 months, that’s $293.88 that is eligible for deduction. This amount should be added up with other home business expenses. It should be part of the P&L statement you have if you are a business, or added on Schedule C if you are a sole proprietorship.

And, of course, since I am not a tax professional, it is a good idea to double check things with a tax professional or with the IRS.

This morning, my Internet connection went out for about an hour and a half. Which really put a damper on my workday. I had bills to pay an errand to run, so I did those things while I waited for the outage to end, but what would I have done if I hadn’t had something else to do? What if I really needed to get something done immediately? It helps to have a back-up plan for such situations, so that you are prepared. And I do. My back-up plans include the following:

* Take the laptop to the coffee shop, where there is free wi-fi. I’d have to buy a pastry and a hot chocolate while there, to avoid feeling guilty, but it’s worth it!

* Go to the library to use those computers. Of course, there is an hour time limit, so I’d have to see what I could manage in that time and then go elsewhere.

* Go to my brother’s house. I’d probably take the laptop there, too. My brother has a different Internet provider, and isn’t usually out when mine is.

It’s a good idea to have contingencies in place for when things go wrong. I have a cell phone so that when my phone is out, I can still make phone calls as well. Of course, if something major happens and nothing works, no matter where I am, then we’re all hosed anyway, so getting my stuff done is the least of my worries.

What are your plans for when something goes awry with your Internet connection?

You’ve probably seen those ads claiming that you can “Use Google to make 1000s of Dollars!” Those ads (which charge hefty monthly fees when you send in payment information for a “startup kit”) are the result of Pacific WebWorks, a Utah-based company that Google is taking to court. Because the company uses Google’s name and even uses the logo — or something quite similar — in some of the ads, Google feels it has a case.

Google has been the subject of a number of work from home scams, which sometimes even use Google’s own AdWords platform to get the word out. Google is trying to weed out such work from home scams (even those that don’t mention Google) from AdWords and from search engine results. Google also warned against work from home scams, and listed some companies to watch out for that use Google in their names, reports CNN Money:

Legitimate work-at-home jobs are those in which a person is paid a regular wage for services performed or hours worked, such as computer data entry, remote tech support, or transcription services. The illegitimate jobs, or “scams” as Lister refers to them, can usually be identified because they ask job seekers to put up money with the expectation of earning money back.
The Mountain View, Calif.-based Google provided other names users should be wary of: Google Adwork, Google ATM, Google Biz Kit, Google Cash, Earn Google Cash Kit, Google Fortune, Google Marketing Kit, Google Profits, The Home Business Kit for Google, Google StartUp Kit, and Google Works.

As always, it is important to remember that if it seems too good to be true, it most likely is. Be careful of the work from home opportunities that you engage in.

There is a lot written about how women who work outside the home have a lot of pressure to be “super woman” — keeping house, helping to take care of the kids, and bringing home the bacon. However, not much is said about the plight of the work from home mom. As a WAHM myself, I know it can be a real pain to get everything done. And there’s the added onus from the fact that I am home all day. I’m working for a decent percentage of it, but I’m still here, and many assume that it means I have plenty of time to be the perfect homemaker (if such a person exists).

But the truth is that sometimes the house doesn’t get cleaned. While my son is at school priority #1 is getting work done (well, after I’ve done my morning swim). When my son gets home, my priority is getting him started on homework and piano practice and spending a little quality time with him. When my husband gets home from school, my priority is hanging out with him. And in between I try to start dinner.

This means that sometimes the house doesn’t get cleaned. I try to break it up into days, so I’m not trying to clean everything at once, but sometimes there’s toothpaste in the bathroom sinks, sticky spots on the kitchen floor and dust on the bookshelves. (My husband does the laundry, is in charge of the master bathroom, cooks regularly and occasionally does some vacuuming.) But I generally feel good because I’ve brought in the paycheck, taken care of my boys and done a little something for me. So if the house doesn’t get cleaned, so be it.

It took me some time to get to this point, but the fact of the matter is this: If you try to do everything, all the time, you will be stressed, unhappy, and not very fun to be around for your family. So figure out your priorities and let the less important things slide.