Legitimate Home Based Businesses

Archive for October, 2009

Question: need advice from women who own their own small business?

I have an idea for a small business that I would run out of my home. I would employ only myself and I would be providing a service. After careful evaluation, i believe my start up costs to come in around $4000.00. I don't want to borrow money because I dont want to start off in the hole. Every search i have done on the internet looking for grants, has only produced a list of people who want to sell me a list of possible grants. can anyone tell me where to look for a grant. sba does not provide money for start ups. hoping to hear from strong, motivated woman who have taken this step before me. thanks for any info or advice you might have.

Answer: I suggest you focus on other possible sources of funds -- such as family, credit cards or a microloan financer http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol145/microloanproviders.htm -- and forget about grants

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html...

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE.

http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

Free Business Grants for Women!

The good thing about Stuffing Envelopes is that you can do it from home. Stuffing Envelopes from home became a hit Home Based Business because it is very easy to do and requires no usage of brain whatsoever. The drawback is that Stuffing Envelopes from home pays very little. That is if you manage to find a legitimate Stuffing Envelopes from home opportunities.

How does Stuffing Envelopes from home work?

Most of the time, there is an upfront fee for the cost of the materials or start up kit of some sort when you sign up with a company to stuff envelopes at home. You send them the money and they are supposed to send you the supplies for Stuffing Envelopes from home. The problem is that there are so many scammers now that won't send you anything in return.

If you happen to luck into a legitimate company for Stuffing Envelopes at home, then they will send you supplies for your envelope stuffing with clear instructions. As long as you follow the instructions you will not go wrong. The instructions are simple such as fold the papers and place in the envelopes and attach the labels.

The hardest part about Stuffing Envelopes from home is to sort the bulk envelopes according to the state so that they could be taken to the post office and mailed using the cheaper rate.

Why do people like Stuffing Envelopes from home?

There are obvious attractions to Stuffing Envelopes from home. The first is that it is very easy to do. Mom can do it with her children. Anyone without skills or without any knowledge of anything can do. Handicapped folks can also do. Although it is a slow job that does not pay much, it is something people can do at home in their own time on their own schedule most of the time and their kids can also help.

Question: business management software?

I have a very small home-based business that has grown to the point where I need some organizational tools beyond pen and paper. I would like to be able to print invoices for about 100 customers and be able to store their order info and back up onto a CD. The orders need to be stored by weekly entry as well. Any suggestions? Anything free on the web? Much appreciated.
D.

Answer: I recommend Quickbooks. They offer programs that will suit just about any industry. I am currently using the Pro version for my home improvement company and am quite pleased with it.

http://quickbooks.intuit.com/product/accounting_software/industry_solutions/?lid=site_header

A Normal Guys Skype Secret To Build Any Home Based Business