Starting a business from home can be an exciting venture for anyone, especially mothers who find themselves continually trying to make ends meet. Starting a business in this economic climate is a solution that more and more people find themselves turning to as prices continue to soar and job opportunities plummet. So, if you’re thinking of striking out and starting up your own home business, these are 5 must-knows that every mom should know.
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Make Sure a Niche Exists for Your Business
You may have come up with what seems like the most fail-proof idea for a business, but there is never a guarantee that any business idea will succeed. However, a good way to forecast whether or not your business will survive is to evaluate your niche. In other words, find out if there is a significant demand for what you want to offer people.
Pay Your Taxes 4 Times a Year, Rather Than Annually
Once you strike out on your own with a home business, you’ll inevitably have to pay taxes out of your gains at the end of the year. The IRS offers an opportunity for entrepreneurs to pay their taxes in 4 payments throughout the year, rather than the lump sum at the end. It’s a good idea to go with the gradual payments so that you’re not stuck with a hefty bill at the end of the year.
The Vitality of Measuring Customer Satisfaction
Once your business is set up and ready to go, you’ll want to constantly evaluate how satisfied your customers are with your product. This can be done in a number of ways including surveys, assessing competition, social networking, and so much more. There is no better way to keep customers coming back than to gauge what their experiences were like working with you. Find a system for customer satisfaction analysis that works for you.
The Importance of Designating a Work Space
When starting a business, you’ll also need a designated workspace. It might be hard enough to run a household with a spouse, chores, two children, a pet, and many other responsibilities, but do you really want to work in the middle of all of that? Find a space in the home that will allow you to quietly and consistently get work done.
A Separate Phone Line Will Be Needed
Lastly, grab a second phone line. Routing personal and business calls through the same phone line can easily become confusing and stressful, so it’s a good idea to get a separate line where you solely make business-related phone calls.