This article was originally called "Do You Need a Business Plan?"
The title was changed because in truth, every business needs a business plan. It's a common misconception that business plans are used only for raising capital, as in "my bank wants to see a business plan before they will approve a loan," or, "I need a business plan so I can get venture funding."

But a business plan is really just what it sounds like: a plan for running your business. The business plan will usually be divided into sections relating to the key activities of your business, such as Sales, Hiring, Manufacturing, and so on. In each section you will list the major goals and tasks to be accomplished, and the steps needed to accomplish them. For very small businesses you may plan a year in advance, but a more typical planning time frame is three to five years. In additional to these "operations" sections, your plan will have some informational sections that will be used in setting the operational goals. For example, what is the market opportunity that your company is pursuing? The information sections are especially important if you are using your business plan to raise capital, but they should not be neglected even if your company is self-funded. The information you gather about the market and your competitors is literally the foundation of your business plan.

The final key piece of your business plan is the financial section. In the operations section of your plan, you included a schedule of tasks, and that schedule should match your financial plan. For example, if you said that you would start advertising in April, you would spend $1500 per month, and the result would be a 20% increase in sales, then the $1500 per month advertising expense, as well as the increased sales, should be included in your financial plan.

Banks and venture firms will require the financial plan to be in a specific format; you may need an accountant to prepare this. But even if that's the case, start will a financial plan that you create and understand. Make sure the financial plan matches your operational plans, and be sure you understand how every number was determined!

You'll learn a lot in creating your business plan, and avoid many mistakes. Once your business plan is complete, don't put it away! Consult it regularly. Be sure your actual income and expenses match your financial plan. And if reality doesn't match your plan, figure out why and adjust the plan accordingly.

One small business owner initially projected that 65% of her business revenue would come from services her business provided, and 35% from product sales. Six months after the business was launched, she discovered that, although total revenue was very close to the plan, the ratio of service to product revenue was exactly the reverse of what had been projected. This raised several possibilities. Perhaps not enough effort was being spent to promote the service side of the business. Or perhaps the product portion of the business was a simply bigger opportunity than originally thought, and more emphasis should be placed there! Based on experiences such as this, I recommend that small businesses review their business plan at the end of each quarter, and that they conduct a thorough update of the plan at least once a year.

Simple Business Plan; Preparing One That Will Work For Your Business
Creating and starting your own business should be an exciting and thrilling time in your life. And a simple business plan can help.

Getting Outside Funding For Your Business
It is also hard to overestimate the importance of having a solid simple business plan to the success of the new startup business. A complete and accurate business plan is a necessary first step toward getting the financing that will be needed to create a new business.

Few new businesses can succeed without some form of outside funding, and a properly executed business plan is the key to getting this funding.
Any loan officer will want to see your business plan when you apply for business funding.

Using Private Investors And Partners
The simple business plan is also important for those business owners who plan to use only private funding. Private investors and prospective partners will want to see the business plan before they decide to invest their hard earned money there.

What Should You Include In Your Business Plan?
Many new business owners are confused about just what a business plan should include, and what format it should take. While the format of a business plan will vary from business to business, there is some basic information that simple business plans for any industry should contain.

Including Details About The Management Team
The management team section is actually one of the most important sections of the simple business plan. This is because the management team is such an integral part of a company’s eventual success or failure.

A company is only as strong as its management team, and it is important that the business plan showcase the qualifications and relevant experience of the principals in the business.

Including An Honest Assessment Of The Finances
An honest assessment of the finances of the business is also an important part of any business plan. Of course this is somewhat more complicated in the case of a startup company without a financial track record.

In the case of a startup, the business plan will include some financial assumptions. It is important to point out that these assumptions should not represent the opinion of the business owner.

This financial information will be vital to anyone reading the simple business plan.

Every time you hear someone say “May I have one of your business cards?" you should get excited. A business card is an entrepreneur’s best friend, his most valuable marketing tool and an essential element to becoming UNFORGETTABLE. Unfortunately, too many people have business cards that simply blend into the multitude of cookie cutter crap. And that’s a shame, because a business card is more powerful than you think.

Of course, it’s impossible to know this unless you actually have a card that’s really, really good. Therefore, this article will examine The Four Corners of Unforgettable Business Cards:
1. Stacking Up
2. Creative Enhancement
3. Implementation

CORNER #1: How Does Your Card Stack Up?
Think back to the last trade show, networking event, seminar, convention, social hour or association meeting you attended. How did people react to your business card? Did they compliment its design? Quickly shove it into their pocket? Whatever the response was, your card made some type of impression. But only the most creative, unique and memorable business cards make UNFORGETTABLE impressions. And those types of cards elicit reactions like…
• “I showed your card to everybody in my office!” says a hot prospect.
A friend of mine will LOVE this!” exclaims your tablemate.
• “Oooh!
• “Hey…can you show my friend Paul your business card!” asks a colleague of yours.
• “You know, I’ve never thrown your card away!” says one of your customers.

If you’ve ever heard a compliment along those lines before, congrats! You’re on the right track.
During the program, the facilitator asked the audience members to exchange cards and get to know each other. Gus’s card was amazing: thick, colorful, double sided, bold, shiny and best of all, simple. Nice guy, I thought.

Now, here’s the cool part: although Gus and I didn’t really keep in touch, I’ve never thrown his card away.

CORNER # 2: Standing Out
Recently I took 66 business cards I've collected over the years and spread them out on a table. I closed my eyes for 30 seconds, opened them and took note of which cards stood out the most.
• Red: every card that had red on it stood out.
• Picture: only a few cards had pictures of the cardholder.
• Vertical: several cards were formatted vertically, which caught my eye.
• Black Background: most cards have a white background, so the black ones REALLY stood out.
• Image: cards with some sort of colorful image that took up at least one fourth of the total surface area captured my interest.

(To view a high quality image of this game of 66 Card Pick Up, go to http://hellomynameisscott.blogspot.com/2005/03/does-your-business-card-stand-out.html)
This was a valuable exercise in understanding UNFORGETTABLE business cards, and I recommend it to everyone. Gather dozens of accumulated cards from your desk and discover which ones stand out. Oh, and don't forget to put your OWN card in the pile.

CORNER #3: Creative and Unique Ways to Enhance Your Card
Now that you’ve analyzed your own card and have been exposed to a large quantity of other people cards, your mind should be swimming with new, creative ideas. This is the perfect time to brainstorm ways to enhance your card. So, grab a blank sheet of paper. Let your creativity run wild! And to help you get started, here’s a list of 16 creative ideas to make your business card UNFORGETTABLE:
1. Size or Shape – Rectangle, schmectangle. I’ve seen squares, circles, ovals and triangles. Each shape made a connection to the brand, and each shape stood out amidst the endless regression of the same old rectangles.
2. Chocolate Business Cards (yes, these DO exist) – Several companies have online catalogues for personalized chocolate cards. Expensive? Delicious? Memorable?
3. Trading Cards – If your company is team oriented, get trading cards with your “players” pictures and stats.
4. Cartoons – Get a custom cartoon commissioned for the back of your card. It’s cheap, royalty free and absolutely unique to your business.
5. Table/Chart – Include a mortgage loan interest table or some staggering statistics on the back.
6. Pop-Ups – Just like kid’s books, some business cards can be printed as folded, pop-up cards. Talk about thinking three-dimensionally!
7. Credibility – The smartest thing I ever did to my business card was add color images of my two books. Instant credibility. And, I noticed an immediate change in the reactions from the people to whom I gave cards. One lady even said, “Scott, this is the coolest business card I’ve ever seen!” Money well spent.
8. Rubber Stamps – Buy 10 different customized rubber stamps for the backs of your cards. When someone asks for one just say “Pick a card, any card!”
9. Die Cutting – My friend Lisa works for the Rock Island Fire Dept. Her business card has a charred hole burnt right through the middle of every card! You can also specify various shapes, bite marks or hole sizes.
10. Recipe – If you work in an industry connected to food, kitchens or homes; include one of your favorite recipes on the back!
11. Material – Use leather, blinking or brail business cards (yes, these actually exist too!)
12. Language – If your business requires international travel, consider offering multiple languages, or print the phonetic spelling of a difficult to pronounce name.
13. Motivation – If you’re the motivational type, include a famous quotation, bible verse or movie line that connects to your brand. And be sure to read it aloud when you give someone your card, it might just make their day!
14. Stickers – Print one side of your cards on adhesive label paper. This gives the recipient a peel off sticker for reminders, appointments or phone numbers.
15. Non-Cards – Who says a card has to be a card? After all, the first rule of creativity is “break all the rules!” I’ve seen million dollar bill cards, coin cards, even a banker in Boston who uses business cards that are actually miniature checks he tears off of a pad each time he gives one out! The possibilities are endless.
16. Double Up – Make your card “double” as something other than a card. For example, mine doubles as a business card AND a nametag. Thanks for the free promotion!

CORNER #4: Implementation
Once you’ve come up with the layout for your new, creative, UNFORGETTABLE business card, there are only two things left to do: print ‘em up and hand ‘em out!
First, as you approach you printer, remember a few rules:
• It’s OK to Spend Money – when I did my taxes this year I calculated that I reprinted my business cards 11 times and spent over $1,400 on printing costs. Once again, money well spent.
• Local is Better – by choosing a local printer you can work closely with the designers; touch, feel and smell your paper and even do a few test runs until you get the card perfect. The only problem with that approach is that most cards designed, created and ordered over the Internet look like they were designed, created and ordered over the Internet.
Once you have your new cards in hand, keep a few final rules in mind:
• Reminders – be sure to tell people you’ve got a new card. Also, if you printed on both sides of your new card, remember to either tell people about the back of your card; or hand them the card back side up, so they know there’s more to it.
• Etiquette – don’t “Deal the Deck” by inconsiderately throwing thousands of your cards to everyone in sight. Remember: people throw away business cards from those who failed to establish rapport or make a connection.
• The Card Creedo: finally, when you’re ready, reach into your pocket and grab one of your business cards. My business card is not a formality. It’s not a piece of paper containing my name and contact information. My business card is the most important networking tool that I own. It’s a reflection of my personal brand and a bite-sized morsel of the mission of my business.

I LOVE my business card. After you’ve face lifted your business card from unacceptable to unforgettable, I promise you will feel great.

So, you have a business card? Great! But did you get those cards to give to your acquaintances or to get business? Are they getting business for you?? Most of us today have a business card, except those few who plans to survive the battle of brands without the most necessary armor. In this 20th century business world, even a mom-n-pop shop needs a business card and a logo to survive—today these are the bare necessities for any business.

Now, having business card is not good enough, the question is how good is your business card? Is it getting the desired business for you? Or in other words, are you able to use your business card to its full potential?

We must realize a business card is not just a piece of paper or a small card stock with your contact information. When you hand over your business card to a client, you expect him to contact you for your product or service, but have you ever thought, why should he contact you and not your competitor, if he has both the cards? This is where a well-planned business card gives you the advantage. Your business card must have something in it that would create an interest in the prospect to contact you.
a) You can add a tag line to your business card that speaks about your USP.
b) You can offer a discount to people purchasing your products if they present your business card while purchasing.
At the same time, when they come to return you those survey cards, don’t forget to give them a new business card without any survey.
(This serves two purposes, you get a client base to inform about your new products and services at the same time your prospective customers became aware of your web presence)
c) Give your business cards to all your first time customers and promise them a discount on repurchase – this can be highly effective to increase your customer loyalty.

You must also understand that when I say that your business card should get you more business I don’t want your business card to look like a billboard. You must be careful while drafting your business card and ensure that along with your contact information it has got just the minimal information that is required to prompt a prospect to initiate an action that can culminate to a sale. If you can keep in mind, all these factors while designing your business card and then use it effectively, be assured, you have just employed one of the most effective sales agent for your company.

Business Card Design Tips
Often, your business card is the only item left with a potential client or business partner. After a conference, meeting or display of your products, you are likely to meet dozens of people and leave your business card with them. It is essential that the business card design is complex and complete. When you are having your business card designed, aim for an image and a “feel” that best represents you and your company. Do not go for a flashy business card design if you are working in the financial field as this might give a feeling of sloppiness and insecurity to your clients.

Adapt the business card design to your clients
It is not important that you like your business card – but it is very important that your business partners and clients like it. One useful trick is to print out a few dozen business cards and give them out to potential prospects and conduct an “on the spot” interview about them. Gather their opinions and make any necessary changes to improve your business card design.

Business card printing
If a professional graphic design company created your business card, you can rest assured that they also followed all the necessary guidelines to make the business card printing process a good one. Many advertising and creation agencies also offer business card printing, either with their own printers or by using a dedicated printer’s services to do it. Quite often, a graphic design company will offer you a package for your card: both the design and the business card printing.

Costs of business card printing
Because there are many design and print packages and a variety of prices for business card printing, we will not stop to analyze actual costs.
• Black and white business card printing is the cheapest, but do try to print on high quality paper, or the business cards will look unprofessional.
• Full color business card printing is more expensive, but can also produce some great visual results.
• The larger your order, the cheaper you get with the individual business card printing cost.

If you are married, both partners must work, spending countless thousands of dollars on childcare and business clothes. To offset their monetary deficit, many people are looking into getting started in their own home business. Both full-time and part-time home businesses can be operated from the comfort of your own home.

Some people are making extra money to pay for extras, while others have turned their home business into a primary source of income. Some people use their home business as a diversion, to have fun and earn a little "pocket money." The important thing is that they are taking positive action, rather than waiting for a financial disaster. Multi-level marketing, mail order businesses and other in-home businesses are very popular. If this way of earning extra income appeals to you, by all means check out the possibilities. Some other ways of getting started in your own home business include on-line businesses such as a typing service, ghost writing for others, creating ad copy, dating services, credit counselling service, producing how-to DVD's or videos on various topics, preparing resumes, etc. In reality, the options for getting started in your own home business are almost unlimited.

One of your first tasks in getting started in your own home business is to do some market research. Then take a look at how many potential clients would be willing to pay for your services. In other words, define your market and identify your potential clients and customers. After you check the pertinent data, discuss your plans with other knowledgeable people and get their ideas and suggestions. Your next task will then be to develop a detailed business plan. Your business plan should show how much money, if any, you will have to invest, your plan for getting the word out that you're open for business, the exact procedures you plan to use, and how much time you will need to invest. Avoid "jumping in feet first" without first getting all the facts and figures together to avoid finding out that the time and costs involved are too much, which could lead to failure and disappointment. It will pay off in the long run to develop your plans and outline them in a written report prior to getting started in your own home business. Your chances of success will be greater if you know what to expect before launching your home business.

After you have identified your target market and know who your potential customers will be, how you're going to get your service to them and you've identified the time and money it will take to run your business, you're ready to put your plans into motion and get started with your own home business.

I started out in home business following a business model created by Stone Evans aka 'The Home Biz Guy'; I found it to be an excellent starting point for launching my own home business. I now have my own new website, blog and newsletter; you too can achieve home business success if you truly want it. -- Cardinal Newman
Start your home business today and live your dreams.

21 Steps To Home Business Success
Fifty million home-based businesses will be in operation by 1997, according to Link Resource's National Work-at Home Survey. All around the country, people who want more control over their lives are starting home businesses.

In New Orleans, Rick Hart's home based cajun Cargo ships seafood nation wide. In Palatine, Illinois, Stephaine Heavey works from home designing and selling original patterns for fabric dolls. And in Dallas, Lisa McElya published the Dallas Party & Event Planners Guidebook from the entire first floor of her two-story home.

These three people are living the new American dream of owning a business, but avoiding the high overhead and start-up costs of a commercial location. If the idea of working from home is appealing, but you don't know where to begin, here is a step-by-step guide.

STEP #1 DECIDE WHAT PART OF THE HOUSE TO USE
Select an area away from family activity. The perfect space is a separate room (or perhaps the garage), but any area will do, if it can hold all the business supplies and equipment, and also provide enough work space for desks, tables, or counters.

STEP #2 DETERMINE HOW MUCH TIME YOU CAN SPEND ON THE BUSINESS
Many people start a home business on a part-time basis while raising children or working outside the home. Others start full-time when family and finances allow. However you begin, figure out how may hours per week you can devote to the business Make a weekly chart of your activities, examine it, and determine where the business fits.

STEP #3 DECIDE ON THE TYPE OF BUSINESS
Look over this line-up, and using ideas from it, list possible businesses to start. Eliminate any business that isn't appealing or doesn't fill a need people have. For ideas on different types of businesses, consult the end of this article. Other ideas can be found in the source material listed at the end of this article.

STEP #4 CHOOSE A LEGAL FORM
The three basic legal forms are sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation. It is the oldest form of business, the easiest to start, and the least complicated to dissolve. Here are some of the advantages of this business form: Your business is easy and cheap to organize. Your only other obligation is to notify the Internal revenue Service (IRS) for the purposes of sales tax. You enjoy certain tax savings. You must pay regular individual taxes on your income, property, and payroll, but these are not levied as special taxes, as with a corporation.

STEP #5 GREATER PERSONAL INCENTIVE AND SATISFACTION
Since you have your investment to lose if your business is not successful, you should be more willing to put time, thought, and energy into the business. And when your business is successful, you enjoy maximum sense of accomplishment since you know its success was dependent upon your decisions about your management ability alone.
For more information about this and other forms of business, send for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Publication MP25. Selecting the Legal Structure for Your BUsiness (50 cents). If after reading it you are still uncertain what form of the business should take, consult an attorney.

STEP #6 GATHER INFORMATION
Spend a few weeks researching home-based businesses. A library or bookstore can provide numerous books on business basics, and on the specific type of business that interest you. Homemade Money by Barbara Brabee (see sources) is an excellent book to start with.
If you are considering a computer business, get in touch with the association of Electronics; Cottagers, P.O. Box 1738, Davis, CA 95617-1738. To keep informed of what is happening in home business world, contact National Home Business report, P.O. Box 2137, Naperville, IL 60566, for subscription information; and Mothers Home Business Network, P.O. Box 423, East Meadow, NY 11554 (send SASE for free information).

STEP #7 CHECK ON ZONING RESTRICTIONS
Find out how your property is zoned, the call City Hall and ask what regulations apply to home businesses in that zone. Also, if you rent or live in a condominium, check the lease or homeowner's association rules to be certain a home business is allowed.
Generally, if you do not annoy your neighbors with excess noise, odors, and traffic, you will not be deterred from running a business at home.

STEP #8 PICK A BUSINESS NAME AND REGISTER IT
If the business you choose is different form your name, file an assumed (or fictitious) name certificate with the county. You are notified if another business already has that name, so you can select a new one.
It costs only a few dollars to file, and it protects the business name from being used by someone else in the county.

STEP #9 WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN
A good business plan clarifies your ideas and establishes a plan of action. A good business plan should include a description of what you are selling, your background and qualifications, who the prospective customers are and where they can be found, what is needed to build the business, how you plan to promote, and how much money is need for start-up costs.
SBA Publication #M925, The Business Plan for Home-Based Business ($1) is helpful.

STEP #10 GET AN IDENTIFYING NUMBER
If you are the sole proprietor of the business and have no employees, you may either use your Social Security number or an Employee Identification Number (EIN) as the business number on official forms. If you have employees, or the business is set up as a partnership or corporation, you must obtain an EIN. To do this, complete IRS Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) and file it with the nearest IRS Center.

STEP #11 OBTAIN A SALES TAX PERMIT
If the product or service you sell is taxable, you need a state sales tax permit. Call the local tax agency, explain the type of business you have and what you sell, and ask if you need to collect sales tax. You also use this tax number when your purchase items for resale.

STEP #12 OBTAIN LICENSES & PERMITS
For example, some cities and counties require a general business license, and most have special laws regarding the preparation and sale of food.
Call City Hall to find out what is need for your particular business. In addition, Chamber of Commerce provide information on city, county and state licenses and permits.

STEP #13 SELECT BUSINESS CARDS, STATIONERY, BROCHURES
Spend time on the color, design and paper for these items.

STEP #14 OPEN A BUSINESS CHECKING ACCOUNT
Call several banks to find out what services they offer, and what minimum balance, if any, must be maintained to avoid paying a service charge. Also ask about credit card if you plan to offer this convenience to your customers. If your personal checking account is with a credit union, see if it can also provide a separate business account. when you open your account, you may need to show the assumed name certificate and business license.
Finally, investigate obtaining a credit card in the business's name. If this is not possible, set aside a personal credit card to use for business expenses.

STEP #15 SET UP RECORD-KEEPING SYSTEMS
Put together a simple and effective bookkeeping system with an 8 1/2 x 11" three-ring binder, columnar pad sheets and twelve pocket dividers from the office supply store. Use a pocket divider for each month's receipts, bank statement, deposit tickets, and canceled checks.
In addition, an automobile log for business mileage, and filing system for correspondence, invoices, supplier catalogs, client records, etc. are two other useful tools.
For more information on record-keeping, see IRS publication #583, Information for Business taxpayers.

STEP #16 CHECK IRS REQUIREMENTS
If you comply with basic IRS guidelines, you can deduct a percentage of normal household expenses (mortgage, interest, taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs, etc.) as a business expense. see the box accompanying this article and, for more detailed information, IRS publication #587, Business Use of the Home.
Also become familiar with these IRS forms: Schedule SE (compensation of Social Security Self-Employment Tax) and Schedule 1040 ES (estimated Tax for Individuals).

STEP #17 OUTFIT THE BUSINESS
Make a list of everything needed to start the business, but before you buy anything, look around the house for things you already own that are usable.

STEP #18 DECIDE ON TELEPHONE REQUIREMENTS
Call the telephone company to find out the cost of a business phone in your area. If you cannot afford a separate business line, investigate the telephone company's regulations on using your personal phone in a business. Keep a record of long distance business calls as they are a deductible expense.

STEP #19 CHECK OUT THE POST OFFICE & UPS
Using a post office box as the business address down plays the fact you are home-based. While looking into box rental, ask for information on the various postal rates, particularly bulk rate, if you plan to do large or specialized mailings. If you mail many packages, check out United Parcel Service (UPS), as it is less expensive than the Post Office.

STEP #20 PURCHASE THE NECESSARY INSURANCE
Check with your homeowners insurance agent about a rider for your existing policy or the need for a separate business policy. Shop around, as each company has different rules regarding home businesses
To save money on medical insurance, join an association and participate in their group plan.

STEP #21 ORGANIZE THE HOUSE & YOURSELF
To have more time for business, organize and simplify household routines. Start by holding a garage sale to get rid of unnecessary possessions. Finally, set up a work schedule so you won't get sidetracked by TV, neighbor's visits, snacking, and telephone calls.

Creating and operating a home business is a wonderful and rewarding challenge.

If you're looking for ideas for easy start home businesses, then this article is for you. The opportunities to have an easily started home business are more abundant than you've ever dreamed.

In fact, if you own a computer, you already have a multitude of home businesses available right there. Other easy start home businesses you can operate on your computer are in the affiliate and multiple level marketing arenas. Start-up costs, here too, are minimal, and most of them come with training and support to make them good prospects for easy start home businesses.

Another area you might look for easy start home businesses is in the services area. Do you love to work outdoors, making your lawn beautiful? Do you love dogs? Then you might consider easy start home businesses such as lawn care services, pet sitting services, or personal errands services. None of these opportunities cost a great deal to get going and can be started part-time, while you keep your day job.

All you have to do once you've chosen your easy home business idea is to have a few flyers printed up, anywhere from 50-200, and place them in strategic places around your local areas.
Contact local businesses and offer your services. You can also place ads in your local newspaper announcing your new business.

And there are few businesses that would turn down the chance to have a free, trial run of your services. This is a great way to show your stuff and seal the deal. Crafts and hobbies are also good things to think about when searching for easy start home businesses. Demand for handcrafted items is at an all-time high-and at premium prices.

So turn your quilts, your sailboats in bottles, your dollhouses, your embroidery, your taxidermy, anything you love to make into dollars. These are also especially easy home start businesses because you likely already have some items to sell and the supplies you need to make more.

Local flea markets and consignment shops are good places to begin selling your items. Upscale shops are another great place to sell your work. If you have office skills and a computer, then you truly have an easy start home business you could start tonight! Outsourcing is the latest trend for corporations and small businesses. Virtual assistants, typists, medical transcriptionists, office managers, researchers and many other types of office jobs are all in huge demand, and all by telecommute.

Just go online and you'll find more easy start home business opportunities in this area than you can shake a stick at, as the old saying goes. You should never sign up to provide a service with anyone who charges you for the opportunity, though. There are, however, job and outsourcing sites that charge a subscription fee. These sites post high-quality projects and allow people bid on them. These services are highly reliable and well worth the subscription investment-and all easy start home businesses. If you're in doubt, however, check with the Better Business Bureau. Better safe than sorry!

Best Home Based Businesses to Build Your Fortune With!
Type in best home based businesses on any search engine today, and you'll get thousands of hits. That's an indication of just how many opportunities there are for home businesses these days, but which ones really deserve to be in the category of best home businesses?
For starters, the top ten home business opportunities picked by Entrepreneur magazine's Business Startups Online are listed below:
• Internet Consultant
• Personal Organizer
• Network Marketer
• Mystery Shopper
• Career Coach
• Adventure Tour Guide
• Home caregiver for elders
• Specialty Catalog Merchant
• Medical Biller
• Craftsperson

Other businesses that you'll find as top rated home businesses and that may even be in the top 100 home business opportunity category are:
• Research surveys
• Online proofreading
• Typing services
• Internet research
• Web surfing
• Multi Level Marketing (MLM's)
• Affiliate programs of all kinds
• Internet marketing
• Online auctions
• Email reading
• Pay-per-click Business

These are just a few of the many businesses that you'll find listed on best home business opportunity lists. What's my goal in wanting a home business?
Am I looking for the best home based businesses that only require part-time work, or would I prefer a full-time home business opportunity?
Do I want to turn my hobby into a home business?
Would one of the best home businesses requiring sales be right for me?

The purpose of these questions is to get you thinking about what you really want from a top rated home business. The best home internet business opportunity for web surfing or pay-per-click may sound great, but if you like being around other people much of the time, then you aren't going to be happy stuck in front of a computer screen all day.

You'd probably be better off in a home business that offers you the chance to be out and about with people. Having a realistic view of yourself and your abilities is vital as you make a decision about the best home business opportunity for you.

Also, be aware that many of the so-called best home businesses are are scams. The recent spike in people wanting to start home based businesses is the reason behind the increased scamming. These supposed best home based businesses may not be entirely illegal, but they are over-promising on the financial results you'll get.

Well, Dad was right. You won't get rich overnight unless you win the lottery or inherit a large estate. Many of the investments required for the top home rated businesses are as low $29.95 to sign up-that's because marketing research has shown that the "sweet spot" for the amount of money people are willing to hand over is between $25 and $50.

So keep your cynical dad around when exploring the businesses on any top home business list.
And always make certain you have a contact person's name, a land address, a land line phone number that's active, and a valid email address for any company you want to sign up with for a home business of your own. Also, check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) before you make an investment. And if you do run into a scam, report it immediately.

The truth is the best home businesses are the ones people truly enjoy doing. Having a passion for what you're doing helps immensely when obstacles rise during the running of any home business-and they will. Loving what you do also helps you keep your focus and determination to succeed where they need to be-on creating the top rated home business of your own. Your best home business idea just might make it into the number one slot on the top 10 home business list someday.

Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server Consulting Profits
Over the past 7 years, Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) has gained traction as a widely-respected Small Business Server networking suite.
As a result, many small business computer consultants, systems integrators, and value-added resellers have jumped on-board the Microsoft Small Business Server bandwagon.
However, before you go ahead and bet YOUR company on Microsoft Small Business Server, consider the following three Small Business Server Business Tips... so you can maximize your Small Business Server consulting profits.
(1) Most small businesses in your area have never heard of Microsoft Small Business Server.
Although there may be hundreds, if not thousands, of small businesses in your area that would be excellent candidates for Microsoft Small Business Server, don't make the ultra-common mistake of assuming that the typical non-technical small business owner even knows what Microsoft Small Business Server is.

(2) Sell your small business prospects on YOUR company first.
The real money in Small Business Server is NOT in reselling the Microsoft Small Business Server software. The real money comes from selling the RELATIONSHIP with the small business. Remember, no small business owner is going to wake up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, craving Small Business Server. However, small business owners DO constantly lose sleep over what will happen to their companies if their computer systems fail them. Little known fact: the first version of Microsoft Small Business Server, planned in 1996 and released in 1997, was code-named "SAM"... because Microsoft's goal was for Small Business Server to completely bypass their reseller channel and be sold at "Sam's Club" warehouse clubs.

So the product team had the mandate to make the Small Business Server product SO simple that a non-technical small business end user could buy Small Business Server at the warehouse club and have the Small Business Server suite running in their office that same day.

Shortly after the first-version shipped, Microsoft realized that the most cost-effective way to reach small businesses with Small Business Server was through their reseller channel. And since then, Small Business Server resources have flowed toward the channel.

However, even today, you can often find 5-user versions of Microsoft Small Business Server in retail stores.
Which brings us back to points one and two: Small business owners aren't actively shopping for a “Small Business Server”. So instead of "selling" Small Business Server per se, you're much better off selling a small business on YOUR company, BEFORE you sell Microsoft Small Business Server.

Small Business Software Shopping Tips
Choosing the right small business software for your home-based internet business can be a confusing undertaking to say the least. The challenge in choosing small business software is striking a balance between what you have to have and what you can afford. There are many small business software packages that have a number of features included, even though you may not use all of them. The first step in shopping for small business software is to distinguish between what you need now, what you want, and what you might need in the future. Never start buying small business software until these two steps are done. Otherwise, you are likely to buy some of those things you want, rather than the things you definitely need, and then you'll end up with a busted budget and you won't have the small business software that is crucial to running your business.

At a minimum, most businesses need a recordkeeping system, a word processor and an email program. Other small business software packages you may or may not need include spreadsheet programs, database programs, web design and graphic design programs, time management programs, and desktop publishing programs.

Some small business software packages, like Microsoft® Office products for instance, have several basic programs that are most commonly used by small businesses packaged in one small business software package. Before you spend a dime on small business software, familiarize yourself with the types of software that are available and their features as well as their benefits. Research is vital when choosing small business software for your company.

Here is a quick overview of the very basic, commonly used small business software:
Word Processors
Word processing capabilities are something that just about every business needs from its small business software. Word processors are primarily used for preparing written communication such as letters and reports. Word processing software can also be used to prepare information products and web copy for your internet based business.
Some word processing programs don't have these features, so that is something to watch for when reviewing small business software that will be used for preparing business communications.

Email Programs
Many of the small business software packages that include email programs. A basic email program is usually included with computer operating systems. Some of the more advanced email packages include time-saving organizational features that are great for small businesses. While a basic email program may be sufficient, some of the more advanced email programs can sure save a lot of time and aggravation.

Recordkeeping Programs
For most businesses, recordkeeping is accomplished through the use of small business software programs designed for accounting or bookkeeping, although recordkeeping can be accomplished using database or spreadsheet programs. A comprehensive recordkeeping package will have modules for tracking sales and expenses as well as paying bills and managing accounts receivable.

If you have employees, you need payroll processing capabilities and if you carry inventory, you need inventory control features. Some bookkeeping programs integrate with reports from online sources like eBay® or Elance®, so if you are working with such marketplaces it may be wise to see what types of recordkeeping programs arecapable of uploading their reports. This capability will save you lots of data input time.

There are many other types of small business software that you may find useful. For instance, if you are going to be designing your own websites, you will need an HTML editor and website design software. The trick to getting the small business software that you need is to determine exactly what you are going to do, then evaluate small business software packages and explore the numerous capabilities of each. Compare the features, benefits and prices, and select the small business software that best meets
your needs within your budget.

It is always said "If you Fail to Plan, you Plan to Fail"
Success in business comes as a result of planning. You have to have a detailed, written plan that shows what the ultimate goal is, the reason for the goal, and each milestone that must be passed in order to reach your goal.

A business plan is written definition of, and operational plan for achieving your goal. You need a complete but success tool in order to define your basic product, income objectives and specific operating procedures.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN to attract investors, obtain financing and hold onto the confidence of your creditors, particularly in times of cash flow shortages--in this instance, the amount of money you have on hand compared with the expenses that must be met.

Aside from an overall directional policy for the production, sales effort and profit goals of your product--your basic "travel guide" to business success--the most important purpose your business plan will serve, will be the basis or foundation of any financial proposals you submit. Many entrepreneurs are under the mistaken impression that a business plan is the same as a financial proposal, or that a financial proposal constitutes a business plan. This is just a misunderstanding of the uses of these two separate and different business success aids.
The business plan is a long range "map" to guide your business to the goal you've set for it. The plan details the what, why, where, how and when, of your business--the success planning of your company.

Your financial proposal is a request for money based upon your business plan--your business history and objectives.
Understand the differences. Writing and putting together a "winning" business plan takes study, research and time, so don't try to do it all in just one or two days.
The easiest way to start with a loose leaf notebook, plenty of paper, pencils, pencil sharpener, and several erasers. Once you get your mind "in gear" and begin thinking about your business plan, "10,000 thoughts and ideas per minute" will begin racing thru your mind...So, it's a good idea when you aren't actually working on your business plan, to carry a pocket notebook and jot down those business ideas as they come to you--ideas for sales promotion, recruiting distributors, and any other thoughts on how to operate and/or build your business.
Later, when you're actually working on your business plan, you can take out this "idea notebook" evaluate your ideas, rework them, refine them, and integrate them into the overall "big picture" of your business plan.

The best business plans for even the smallest businesses run 25 to 30 pages or more, so you'll need to "title" each page and arrange the different aspects of your business plan into "chapters." Title Page Statement of Purpose Table of Contents Business Description Market Analysis Competition Business Location Management Current Financial Records Explanation of Plans For Growth Projected Profit & Loss/Operating Figures Explanation of Financing for Growth Documentation Summary of Business & Outlook for The Future Listing of Business & personal
References
This is a logical organization of the information every business plan should cover. I'll explain each of these chapters titles in greater detail, but first, let me elaborate upon the reasons for proper organization of your business plan.

Overall, you'll be developing an operating manual for your business--a valuable tool which will keep your business on track, and guide you in the profitable management of your business.
Because it's your idea, and your business, it's very important that YOU do the planning. This is YOUR business plan, so YOU develop it, and put it all down on paper just the way YOU want it to read. Seek out the advice of other people; talk with, listen to, and observe, other people running similar businesses; enlist the advice of your accountant and attorney--but at the bottom line, don't ever forget it has to be YOUR BUSINESS PLAN!

Remember too, that statistics show the greatest causes of business failure to be poor management and lack of planning--without a plan by which to operate, no one can manage; and without a direction in which to aim its efforts, no business can attain any real success.

On the very first page, which is the title page, put down the name of your business-ABC ACTION--with your business address underneath. Now, skip a couple of lines, and write it all in capital letters: PRINCIPAL OWNER--followed by your name if you're the principal owner.

Examples: ABC ACTION 1234 SW 5th Ave. Anywhere, USA 00000
PRINCIPAL OWNER: Your Name
That's all you'll have on this page except the page number -1-
Following your title page is the page for your statement purpose. This should be a simple statement of your primary business function, such as: We are a service business engaged in the business of selling business success manuals and other information by mail.
The title of the page should be in all capital letters across the top of the page, centered on your final draft--skip a few lines and write the statement of purpose. Then you should skip a few lines, and from the left hand margin of the paper, write out a sub-heading in all capital letters, such as: EXPLANATION OF PURPOSE.
From, and within this sub-heading you can briefly explain your statement of purpose, such as: Our surveys have found most entrepreneurs to be "sadly" lacking in basic information that will enable them to achieve success. This market is estimated at more than a 100 million persons, with at least half of these people actively "searching" for sources that provide the kind of information they want, and need.

With our business, advertising and publishing experience, it is our goal to capture at least half of this market of information seekers, with our publication.

MONEY MAKING MAGIC! Point to remember: Keep it short. Very few business purpose explanations justify more than a half page long.
Next comes your table of contents page. Don't really worry about this until you've got the entire plan completed and ready for final typing. It's a good idea though, to list the subject (chapter titles) as I have, and then check off each one as you complete that part of your plan.

By having a list of the points you want to cover, you'll also be able to skip around and work on each phase of your business plan as an idea or the interest in organizing that particular phase, stimulates you. In other words, you won't have to make your thinking or your planning conform to the chronological order of the "chapters" of your business plan--another reason for the loose leaf notebook.

In describing your business, it's best to begin where your statement purpose leaves off. You can briefly summarize your business beginnings, present position and potential for future success, as well.

Once you've defined your market, go on to explain how you intend to reach that market--how you'll these prospects to your product or service and induce them to buy. publicity and promotions, advertising plans, direct sales force, and dealer/distributor programs. Each section would then be an outline of your plans and policies.

Moving into the next chapter on competition, identify who your competitors are--their weakness and strong points--explain how you intend to capitalize on those weaknesses and match or better the strong points. Later on, you might want to compile the answers to these questionnaires into some form of directory or report on this type of business.

It's also advisable to contact the trade associations and publications serving your proposed type of business. For information on trade associations and specific trade publications, visit your public library, and after explaining what you want ask for the librarian's help.

The chapter on management should be an elaboration on the people operating the business. Those people that actually run the business, their job, titles, duties, responsibilities and background resume's. It's important that you "paint" a strong picture of your top management people because the people coming to work for you or investing in your business, will be "investing in these people" as much as your product ideas. Individual tenacity, mature judgement under fire, and innovative problem-solving have "won over" more people than all the AAA Credit Ratings and astronomical sales figures put together.

If you've been in business of any kind scale, the next chapter is a picture of your financial status--a review of your operating costs and income from the business to date. Generally, this is a listing of your profit & loss statements for the six months, plus copies of your business income tax records for each of the previous three years the business has been an entity.
The chapter on the explanation of your plans for the future growth of your business is just that--an explanation of how you plan to keep your business growing--a detailed guide of what you're going to do, and how you're going to increase your profits. These plans should show your goals for the coming year, two years, and three years. By breaking your objectives down into annual milestones, your plan will be accepted as more realistic and be more understandable as a part of your ultimate success.

Following this explanation, you'll need to itemize the projected cost and income figures of your three year plan. You may have to adjust some of your plans downward, but once you've got these two chapters on paper, your whole business plan will fall into line and begin to make sense. Unless you're independently wealthy, you'll want to use this chapter to list the possibilities and alternatives. Make a list of friends you can approach, and perhaps induce to put up some money as silent partners. Make a list of those people you might be able to sell as stockholders in your company--in many cases you can sell up to $300,000 worth of stock on a "private issue" basis without filing papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Make a list of relatives and friends that might help you with an outright loan to furnish money for the development of your business.

Then search out and make a list of venture capital organizations. Visit the Small Business Administration office in your area--pick up the loan application papers they have--read them, study them, and even fill them out on a preliminary basis--and finally, check the costs, determine which business publications would be best to advertise in, if you were to advertise for a partner or investor, and write an ad you'd want to use if you did decide to advertise for monetary help.

When you're researching these money sources, you'll save time by noting the "contact" deal with when you want money, and whenever possible, by developing a working relationship with these people.

If your documentation section, you should have a credit report on yourself. Use the Yellow Pages or check at the credit department in your bank for the nearest credit reporting office. If you own any patents or copyrights, include copies of these. If you own the distribution, wholesale or exclusive sales rights to a product, include copies of this documentation. You should also include copies of any leases, special agreements or other legal papers that might be pertinent to your business.

In conclusion, write out a brief, overall summary of your business- when the business was started, the purpose of the business, what makes your business different, how you're going to gain a profitable share of the market, and your expected success during the coming 5 years..

The last page of your business plan is a "courtesy page" listing the names, addresses and phone numbers of personal and business references--persons who have known you closely for the past five years or longer--and companies or firms you've had business or credit dealings with during the past five years.

And, that's it--your complete business plan. Take care of any changes or corrections, and then have it reviewed by an attorney and then, an accountant. It would also be a good idea to have it reviewed by a business consultant serving the business community to which your business will be related. Type and print the entire plan on ordinary white bond paper. Now you're ready to have it printed and published for whatever use you have planned for it--distribution amongst your partners or stockholders as the business plan for putting together a winning financial proposal, or as a business operating manual.

Don't settle for photo-copying..Have it printed!
Photo-copying leaves a slight film on the paper, and will detract from the overall professionalism of your business plan, when presented to someone you're trying to impress. Next, stop by a stationery store, variety store or even a dime store, and pick up an ordinary, inexpensive bind-in theme cover for each copy of your business plan. Have the holes punched in the pages of your business report to fit these binders and then slip each copy into a binder of its own.

You have a complete and detailed business plan with which to operate a successful business of your own.