10 Businesses You Can Start For $500 Or Less!

By Carol Denbow

Long time statistics have shown that 9 out of 10 new businesses fail in their first year. Lack of planning and financial ruin is one of the most common causes. Starting small is a way to insure minimal risk in new business. The founder of Dell computers was a college dropout on a shoe-string budget who started his business out of his garage. One in three computers sold today is a Dell.

The following is a list of just some of the businesses you can start for $500 or less.

1. Housekeeping - Requirements/ household cleaners, mop, broom, vacuum, towels, bucket, business cards - approximate cost $150.
Molly Maids is a multi-million dollar business started with a broom, a mop, and quality and reliable service. I can guarantee you that the CEO of Molly Maids doesn't clean houses any longer.

2. Gardening or landscaping - Requirements/ mower, edger, blower, rake, shovel, clippers, business cards - approximate cost $450.
Some education won't hurt you here, but even without it, how much money did you make mowing the neighbors yard when you were young?

3. Internet sales - Requirements/ computer - approximate cost $500.
It's likely you already have a computer at home so this just might be the cheapest and easiest business to start. It has been estimated that by the year 2020, nearly all retail purchases will be done over the World Wide Web. Getting on the bandwagon now may set you up for a prosperous internet business in the near future. Look into working with "drop ship" companies to avoid up front expense and storage fees.

4. Mobile food service - Requirements/ business cards - approximate cost $30.
With a half hour lunch break, employees at many companies have little time to leave work and order lunch. Providing a morning menu for lunchtime delivery can be helpful to these people and provide a good source of income for you. Your job? Call in the order, pick it up, and deliver it; for a fee of course. Delivering 15 lunches to one company at $3 to $5 profit apiece can add up quick. Or how about a hot dog cart at special events?

5. Pool service - Requirements/ pool cleaning supplies, start-up chemicals, brush, net, hose, business cards - Approximate cost $400.
States with warmer climates have many homes with swimming pools needing weekly care. Service to numerous homes in the same area can net you a small fortune. Business cards on the door or mailbox lets the homeowner know you are available. It may take some time to get a solid clientele, but be patient; established pool service routes can be very valuable if and when you decide to call it quits.

6. Consulting service - Requirements/ know-how, business cards - Approximate cost $30.
What do you know that might be of monetary value to others? Sell your smarts!

7. Delivery service - Requirements/ the car, scooter, or bicycle you may already have/ business cards - Approximate cost $30.
A great business within large city limits. Corporations, small businesses, restaurants, etc. may be in need of delivery services. Whether it is paper documents, payrolls, food, or other items, delivery services can be a steady and profitable business.

8. Painter - Requirements/ brushes, rollers, edger's, towels, tarps, business cards - Approximate cost $200.
Visit local hardware stores to let them know you are available for work and will purchase paint through their stores. Their referrals may keep you busy for months at a time.

9. Handyman - Requirements/ basic tools, business cards - Approximate cost $500.
Depending on they type of jobs you acquire in this business, a contractors license may eventually be required. Check with your local and state government offices to determine at what point you will need one.

10. Daycare - Requirements/ toys, educational materials, bedding, a safe and clean home, love - Approximate cost $300.
This business requires patience and child care experience. If you care for more than three children at one time, it's likely you will be required to be licensed. Check with your local and state government offices for restrictions and requirements.

Most of these business start-up ideas will require an additional two items you likely already have; an automobile and a telephone. But otherwise, they are super simple and easy to start new businesses suitable for nearly anyone wanting to become self-employed.

The key to having a successful business is to do what you would enjoy doing anyway. Make a list of the things you like to do and follow that with an extended list of ways to make money in a related business. Be creative with your business idea, there are many more options available for you than you probably realize!

Learn more about starting a business at
http://www.booksbydenbow.weebly.com/business-books.html

Carol Denbow is a business start-up expert and the author of several on-line publications and books including "Are You Ready to Be Your Own Boss?" a 144 page, easy-to-read and comprehend business start-up book. See more about Carol and starting a business at http://www.booksbydenbow.weebly.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Denbow
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Home Based Business - Be a Personal Trainer and make money online

By Yasir wazir

Employ yourself, be your own boss. Do something that you really like. Work at the comforts of your own home. Have more time for your family or do more work as you convert wasted time used in traveling from work to home and vice versa. Among the popular home based business today is becoming a personal trainer.

A personal trainer is a professional who teaches people about physical fitness. Assess individual’s training needs. Design an exercise program to meet these needs. Recommend a diet that is best suited for the individual. Trains people with muscular dysfunction, trains to improve strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility. The trainer ensures that clients executes the movements and exercises properly and safely, monitors the client’s progress and implement changes accordingly.

Obviously, people expect personal trainers to look in shape. Trainers should walk the talk, their image and lifestyle should reflect what they teach. They themselves are the advertisement for their business. This would give them the credibility necessary for clients to trust them. Personal trainers are teachers passing on instructions and knowledge in an understandable manner. One problem with people starting fitness programs is that their interests gradually decline throughout the program. Especially true, if they have pressing schedules or the program gets too challenging for them. Thus, the trainer should be a good motivator, be ready to inspire the client until they reach their fitness goals. Get updated with the latest in fitness and diet. Attend related seminars and training. Read fitness books or surf the net.

To start your home based business, choose a place in your house, which you could turn into an exercise studio. Invest in basic fitness equipment like, free weights, treadmills, exercise balls, and resistance bands. Additional equipment can be acquired one at a time dependent on the needs of the clients. Get certification, there are associations out there providing such and continuing education credits. After certification and setting up your own studio, now you are ready for that first client. Offer your services to acquaintances and friends. If they are satisfied with your services, ask for referrals. Better yet, ask for writing like a testimony, very useful in advertising your services. Get creative with marketing. Give discounts for clients with referrals. Put up a fitness program for corporate people meet up with human resources department of organizations.

As a personal trainer, you must also be skilled in first aid and CPR. Training places undue stress on the client that may cause harm. It is best to be prepared for unlikely but possible events such as ankle sprains or other injuries sustained when falling off balance. Safety is a paramount concern when conducting fitness training.

If you are a fitness enthusiast and you like teaching other people. This maybe the appropriate home based business for you. Transforming out of shape, obese clients to fit individuals is a source of joy and fulfillment not only for the client but also for the personal trainer himself.

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What You Should Ask Before Buying a Franchise

By Sebastien Page

Buying a franchise means putting big dollars on the line, and, for better or for worse, your success doesn't entirely depend on you - the quality of the company behind your franchise also matters. It is therefore important to learn as much as you can about the parent company before you make an investment.

Consider asking the following ten questions:

1) Is it a "package franchise" or a "product franchise"? The majority of franchises are "package franchises" - businesses such as fast-food restaurants, muffler shops or motels that come complete with a laid-out business model covering everything from financial controls to hiring guidelines. "Product franchises," on the other hand, include businesses such as car dealerships and gas stations that exist primarily to distribute the parent company's goods. Understandably, product franchise owners have more control over how they run their businesses than package franchise owners.

2) Does the business lend itself to the franchise model? For example: fast-food businesses greatly benefit from their associations with the brand name and products of the franchisor. Don't take it for granted that this holds true for another kind of business, such as, for example, a car wash.

3) Take a look at the offering circular: What does it say? According to the Federal Trade Commission, franchisors are required to provide prospective franchisees with an offering circular that contains basic facts about the company. Be sure to read the UFOC document; it contains invaluable information about the firm's legal history, business experience and other franchisees.

4) What is the number of franchisees in the organization? The more franchisees there are, the more successful and established the business is. Be aware, however, that if a firm's other franchises are located near yours, you could end up competing with a nearly identical business.

5) What's the franchise fee? According to the International Franchise Association, 95 percent of franchise fees were less than $40,000 as of 1996. However, you could end up paying more for a franchise affiliated with a blue-chip national chain.

6) How much will you end up paying in royalties? Generally, franchisors charge royalties equal to 3-6 percent of each franchise's revenues. However, some firms charge much more, and still others charge flat fees on an ongoing basis.

7) How much money will your business bring in? Usually, the parent company's projections are optimistic. Franchisees may have different opinions, however - the UFOC will tell you how to get in contact with them.

8) Are these people you can work with? Franchising is a long-haul kind of commitment, and quite expensive, too - so you'd better get along with your bosses. Visit the company's home office, regardless of how far from you it is, and ask other franchisees about their experiences with the parent company.

9) How is the franchisor going to help you? A franchisor may negotiate a lease, select a site for your business, advertise for / interview prospective employees, finance the franchisee fee or equipment costs, get business licenses, or provide other services. What will your franchisor do for you? Get it in writing.

10) How legitimate is the franchise company? Occasionally, franchisors will try to bilk new entrepreneurs. Look to other franchisees, the FTC, and the Better Business Bureau to determine just how legitimate your franchise company is.

Sebastien Page is Director of Marketing for WorldFranchising.com, a website that provides franchise opportunities information to potential franchise buyers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sebastien_Page

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Scrapbooking: From Hobby to Business

Author: Santo Gallo

You know that you love scrapbooking as a hobby, but have you ever considered scrapbooking full time, as a business? Statistics show that the most successful businesses are those in which the owner of the company thoroughly loves and enjoys what they do. If you've been looking for a way to create additional income and are a scrapbooking enthusiast, you may want to consider merging the two ideas and begin scrapbooking for both fun and profit.

Some of the benefits involved in running your own scrapbooking business are that the only qualifications that you need are to be an expert in scrapbooking. If you are skilled in scrapbooking, then you have already gained the majority of the experience that you need. If you have never run your own business, you may want to take a business course. This will help you understand the legal, financial, and marketing aspects of your business. You can contact your local Small Business Administration for more information, but you will also find much of what you need available online for free.

There are a number of different scrapbooking businesses or services that you can choose. First, if you are an experienced scrapbooker, you may want to consider teaching others how to scrapbook. This is an excellent business and could be held in your home, or you may prefer to provide instruction in the student's home. You can charge a set fee for the classes, determine how many classes you will give, and also determine a material list that the student will need to purchase.

Since many people love scrapbooks but simply don't have the knowledge, time, or the desire to learn how to create these memory holders themselves, you may find that it is more profitable for you to create scrapbooks for clients. In this type of business, you will need to invest in software, a website, business cards, and materials. Since the scrapbooks will be created according to the client's preferences, you will most likely need to choose the materials with the client. You may require the client to pay for the materials before the scrapbook is complete as well. There are a lot of different marketing and advertising avenues out there, but studies show that the best form of advertising is word of mouth. Create beautiful scrapbooks for clients, and you'll find that business will increase simply by satisfied clients telling others who created their scrapbooks. Make sure to always have sample scrapbooks on hand for display and advertising purposes.

Some people prefer to run a direct sales scrapbooking business. In this type of business, you would sell scrapbooking materials, kits, and supplies to other scrapbookers. There are vendors that provide these materials and many find that these are very profitable businesses to run.

No matter which type of scrapbooking business you choose, one thing is certain. Scrapbooking is here to stay and it is becoming increasingly more popular daily. New shows, magazines, and books are continually being produced that attest to scrapbooking's popularity. Those who choose to turn their hobby into a business are rewarded with earning a profit from a craft that they are passionate about.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/scrapbooking-from-hobby-to-business-356959.html

About the Author:
I have been enjoying the world's greatest hobby,scrapbooking,for many years.To view more articles,resources and tips about scrapbooking visit my website http://www.funscrapbookshop.com.

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Home Based Business Options for Moms

Author: Bizymoms.com Management

Why start a home based business?

It is the dream of many moms to start a home based business. Reasons are many but usually it is because you want to:

· Spend more time with family & kids
· Save on exp. Otherwise spent on commuting, office attire etc.
· Be your own boss

If you’re doing a regular 9-5 job you wouldn’t be able to spend much time with your kids as you like. You will also be stressed out after coming back from your office. It is in such a mood that you attend to the house work and as such your focus will be shifted away from the actual tasks itself. Also there is very limited time to attend to your kids under such a situation. You’re caught in the rat race of life.

· You want more quality time to spend with your kids.
· Set your own (flexible) working hours
· While also making a contribution to your family’s income.

Then starting a home-based business is the best thing for you!

WHAT'S A BEST HOME BUSINESS FOR MOMS?

Licensed Day Care Center Operator

Just one thing before you start this kind of business. You have to comply with the local day care licensing home business regulations. Provided that you do and it’s a field where you have had some experience or were planning to get into this may just be the right home-based business opportunity for you.

Become a Distributor

Many national companies offer distributor or affiliate programs. For a reasonably small fee, the company provides you with the marketing tools you need to sell their products to others. Many moms just like you have found business success through companies like Avon, Tupperware, Watkins and other distributors, direct selling companies.

Pet services Business

There is a growing demand for pet services from pet sitting, doggy day care (while owners are on vacation) pet grooming, dog walking to almost any kind of pet services.

Selling Homemade Baked Goods

If cooking is your forte selling your own homemade baked goods is the right thing for you. Yummy! You may also want to consider offering your services as a personal chef. You will be interested to know about the story of Giada De Laurentiis of Food Network before she became a TV hit.

Image Consultant

This kind of business is suitable for those having a feel for balance, color and psychological impact along with a strong desire to help others achieve a positive image with their targeted audience.

Independent Wine Consultant

If you enjoy being amongst people and are the sociable type then being an independent wine consultant is the vintage home-based business opportunity for you.

Online home business

Last but not least you can start an online (internet based) business. This is fast becoming a very popular means of business and there are a great number of opportunities available in this field. You could start earning through selling goods on e-bay, by affiliate marketing, writing etc. in most cases this could act as a kind of supplementary venture in addition to your primary business as having an online presence or website is almost essential irrespective of what kind of business you undertake.

It’s really simple to start a home business and what you need most is the determination and motivation to succeed. These two factors play an important role and as long as you have plenty of these you are sure to succeed.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/home-based-business-options-for-moms-354664.html

About the Author:
Bizymoms.com has been dedicated to helping moms work from home for over 10 years. Visit today to enjoy free resources including interactive message boards, informative articles, Work At Home Internet Business Opportunity, hundreds of work at home ideas, and of course help and advice from the Bizymoms’ Home Business Support Team!

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10 Work At Home Jobs You Can Do

By Kenneth Shorey

With more and more companies trying to cut costs, the number of people turning to home based jobs is also increasing. Search on the Internet for home jobs and you will be rewarded with ample information and links to various websites, citing about the various advantages of making money online. Most of these sites would require you to pay a small fee, while some don't. Either way, working from home has been increasingly popular. Sick of searching for the right kind of job? Here, we have 10 work at home jobs you can do, especially recommended for all stay home moms or those who are just in need of extra cash.

Book keeping is a legitimate Work at home job that is gaining popularity recently. Small companies are finding it increasingly more economical to outsource their bookkeeping needs to contractors.

The most common ones would be data entry jobs. These jobs would require you to process data into a program. You will be required to enter information into a database. It seems pretty easy to go about doing it, but this job would require some level of precision and speed.

It seems almost impossible to get yourself hired for the purpose of shopping. But nowadays, Mystery shopping is another popular option in the list of legitimate work from home jobs. These mystery shoppers would visit businesses, acting as ordinary customers and then provide detailed evaluations of their experience in report form.

Billing is also one of the popular jobs available over the Web. It has quite a broad scope, comprising of hospital collection clerks, and medical billing clerks for example.

They also offer Internet research as legitimate work at home. You just need to do simple research assignments. For instance, your task would require you to visit a particular website and collate info that is relevant to the given assignment.

At-home telemarketing jobs are best suited for those who feel at ease speaking to customers and selling goods and services over the phone. Some companies might only be hiring employees that have telemarketing or sales experience, but some are willing to train the right people.

As for work-from-home customer service position, it will require some prior customer service experience. You will be required to answer customer questions, take note of reservations, etc. As such, it is necessary that you have excellent data entry and typing skills.

Typing jobs are also popular. You are sometimes required to type out articles that are to be posted on a web page or blogs. This job is definitely recommended for stay home moms. You have enough time to write nice stories and poems to be published over the Internet.

Online surveys. This job would require you to fill in survey forms. Fast and easy. The more you fill, the more money you will get. If you recommend it to your friend, your income will double. Depending on which website you sign up with.

Lastly, there are also tutor coordinators that allow you to match tutors and tutee, at the comfort of you own home.

There are loads more options for you to choose from. This list is definitely not exhaustive. Try looking for a job that suits your interest the most and you will find working it a breeze.

Kenneth Shorey is an expert providing valuable advice at http://ez-work-at-home.net. He has been teaching thousands how to work at home on the internet to earn a good income. Click Here to get FREE business tips on making money at home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_Shorey

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Low Cost Home Based Business Ideas

Author: Brice Mattson

Home businesses can be expensive, but there are businesses that don't cost much to start as well. Here are a few ideas.

One inexpensive way to start a home business is to set up a website. The site can be used to sell a product or to give information. With an information site, you can make money by joining an affiliate program. Setting up a website can cost well under $100, and can even be free, but you will spend a lot of time marketing your site. If you know nothing about internet marketing, there are websites and books that can help.

Another home business idea on a budget is selling at online auctions. If you start small, the cost in both time and dollars is minimal. Begin with items you don't want around your house anymore, or buy a few items at garage sales. Sell a product you make if that appeals to you. Eventually you can connect with a wholesaler, possibly one who will dropship items. This takes away all the work of wrapping and shipping your products.

If you have typing skills, offer them to local businesses. Often there is a need, and businesses can get it cheaper paying you by the job rather than hiring an employee and paying benefits.

Consider tutoring on a subject you know well. This can be an academic subject or a creative subject, such as music. If you do this in your home you will have very little, if any, startup costs.

Think of what you know and like to do best. Then find a way to offer these services or information to the public. Find a home business idea on your budget and start doing what you want to do.

About the Author:

To Get the Best Home Based Business Ideas, Opportunities and Articles visit: http://www.siriusfreehomebiz.com

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Unique Home Business Ideas

By Oscar Salcedo

Working from home covers a very large spectrum of home business ideas. When it comes right down to it you could turn just about anything into a legitimate business. This is especially true if you research your business niche and have a "never give up" attitude. Too many people believe that the above statement is not true. They might feel like they do not have a specialty to build a business upon that would earn them enough income to support themselves and their family. In today's business world the statement above is completely true and hopefully this article can show people from all walks of life that there is a home business with their name on it. This article is going to cover some of the more unique home business ideas out there.

There are many home businesses that use your home as the main place of business but will also get you out and into the world. If you are a person who is really into physical fitness by working out and eating right there may be a business hiding within that interest. Consider becoming a personal trainer. Although there is not any training required it would be a good idea for you to take a few health classes for the safety of your clients. You could be traveling to different homes helping people get in shape one session at a time. There are many home business ideas that allow you to interact with people outside the home on a daily basis. If you enjoy having parties for your family and friends think about becoming a party caterer/planner. This job would be similar to a wedding planner although you would be providing plans and food for parties such as retirement, birthdays, or even baby showers. A home business like this is a great way to add a personal touch to your everyday work.

If you would strictly like to work within your home you still have a lot of unique options. There are many home business ideas that follow this format. Are you always setting your friends up on blind dates? If that describes you then maybe you should open up your own home dating service! The suggestion may seem absurd at first but if you really think about it, it is ideal. Create an office in your home that has a very down to earth feel with couches and chairs. You can provide a service where people can come in and submit their application and you personally match them up with one of your other clients. Not only would this home business be unique and successful, it would also be a lot of fun! If the dating scene isn't your thing, maybe numbers are more your style? If you think you are particularly good at keeping your finances straight and often find you are giving others advice maybe you should become a financial advisor. This is one of the home business ideas that can be done strictly out of the home from within an office.

With today's economy the way it is you can't go wrong with starting your own business. If you are truly creative there is no telling where you could go with it! Always keep in mind though that you should always research your business focus before investing any money. Look at other businesses. Focus on why they thrive or why they failed and learn from their successes and their mistakes. With preparation you can avoid your mistakes before you even think about making them! Never be afraid to ask the advice of others! A smart businessperson knows every aspect of the work they do, even if it is from the comfort of their own home. Of course this article does not contain all of the unique home business ideas out there! Research and find out what suits you. With a little creativity you could take your business to the top!

Oscar Salcedo is owner of YouProfit2day.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about unique home business ideas visit Home based Business

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Part Time Business Ideas that Work

By Naz Daud

A couple of friends of mine needed to generate a little extra income on top of their wages. They were both into keep fit and enjoyed working out. They decided to supplement their income by becoming part time fitness instructors.

They had to do a course which lasted less then six months and taught them the basics of keep fit. They both enjoyed doing the course and made some great friends along the way.

The money is good and they keep fit at the same time! One teaches spinning on the stationary bikes whilst the other does aerobics classes. They both benefit from free membership in the gym they teach in…

If you are good with your hands and into DIY then why not become a part time handy man? Busy people nowadays just never get round to fixing that faulty cupboard… and the money that they are willing to pay for odd jobs is not that bad either for a couple of hours work.

Start up costs are very low as long as you have the full range of basic tools. Most people who start out working part time find that this can easily turn into a full time occupation!

Do you enjoy gardening? This is a great little earner if you do not mind getting your hands dirty… especially enjoyable if you find someone rich with a beautiful garden! The only problem with this business is that work dies away in the winter months.

A mobile car wash can be a nice earner and if you buy all the equipment it can be very easy to clean a large number of cars in a short time. Pick one or two street and whiz around a couple of times a week.

You will need to buy a van with some specialist tools and carry your own water on board. Starts up costs are higher than other part time businesses and therefore this business demands a lot more careful planning.

A photography business can be run from home and it is easy to make a decent income. Digital cameras are so good now that you do not even need a dark room to process your pictures. Start of with the usual weddings and birthday parties. Take pictures of all the landmarks in your city.

More websites are being created every day and all of them need some images. Speak to web designers and take pictures to their specifications. Online networks are expanding rapidly and people need portrait pictures. Demand for head and shoulders shots is massive.

The great thing about the photography business is that you can take pictures all the time. You do not have to be in work mode to snap away! It is easy to build a huge collection of images and showcase your work on a website. Start up costs are now very low and this business can become extremely lucrative once you have built up a collection of images.

Do you have any ideas for a part time business that can help to provide additional cash flow for people struggling to pay the bills?

Naz Daud
Business Franchises and UK Business Directory
Franchise Opportunity & Business Opportunity
Ireland Business Directory & Franchises
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com

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How to Start A House Cleaning Business In 7 Simple Steps

By Fayola Peters

One of the main reasons people start businesses is to make money. For some it’s a blessing to make money doing something they love. I’m not saying that you have to love house cleaning in order to have a successful house cleaning business; however it would be a good idea if you didn’t hate it.

How much money you make depends on how big you want your business to be. It could be a one person operation where you set up at home and service areas close to home, or you could set up a commercial office and hire people to work for you.

Here are 7 simple steps to get you started on your own house cleaning business.

1) Decide exactly what kind of house cleaning services you will offer.

Here you decided what cleaning you will do, like making beds, vacuuming, mopping and waxing floors, dusting and so on. Also note what you won’t do, e.g. laundry. You can also decide to specialize, e.g. by cleaning carpets only, or cleaning suspended ceilings only.

2) Pricing your housecleaning service.

To have an idea of how to charge for your housecleaning service, use your competition. Check your telephone directory and the classified ads section in your local newspapers for cleaning businesses, call them up (pretend to be a prospective client) and find out exactly what cleaning services they offer and how much they charge. With this information gathered decide the best price to charge for your cleaning service.

3) Workout startup costs.

For this you need to consider, tools, material, transport, advertising, insurance etc. Write down a list all the tools and material you need, like cleaners, sponges, mops, carpet cleaning equipment etc. Next find out the cost of each item on the list and write it down next to the item.

Transport: you will have to estimate your costs here. You see it depends on where your client is located and your means of transportation to get to your client. (Having your own vehicle would be to your advantage).

Advertising: You can use free advertising (word of mouth) and paid advertising (classifieds, telephone directory ads etc). Phone calls to your local newspaper and the telephone company who publish your telephone directory will tell you the cost of placing ads.

Once you’ve gathered all this information, calculate your total startup costs.

4) Name your business.

Choosing an appropriate name for your house cleaning business is important. Here are a few examples I got of the internet, ‘Maid Brigade’, ‘All Shine Cleaning’, ‘White Glove Cleaning Service’. Please avoid using ‘Your Name Cleaning Services’. Using your own name as part of your business name is over done by many house cleaning businesses. Brainstorm and come up with a name that helps you stand out of the crowd.

5) Learn the zoning regulations of your community.

Check the city clerk’s Office or your local library for a copy of the zoning laws governing your community. Your reason for doing this is that some zoning regulations prohibit home businesses in a community.

6) Do a few free cleaning jobs.

Well you’re not actually doing them for free. You’re doing them in exchange for references (these add to your credibility for future paying clients and are invaluable). You can offer these free cleaning jobs to friends, non profit organizations in your communities etc.

7) Get your first paying client then get another and another and another and so on.

Tell everyone you know that you’ve started a cleaning business and place ads in the local newspapers. In the beginning you need to spend most of your time and money getting paying clients. However, the more clients you get the less time and money you spend on marketing and more time you spend on cleaning and making your clients happy.

This is just the beginning. Once you start making money take a house cleaning business course to help you better manage your business in terms of growth, accounting, taxes, insurance better marketing strategies and more.

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. fayolap@yahoo.com

About The Author
Fayola Peters is the webmaster of housecleaning-tips.com. To find more information about a house business cleaning course check out her website at http://www.housecleaning-tips.com.
fayolap@yahoo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fayola_Peters
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Start-A-House-Cleaning-Business-In-7-Simple-Steps&id=13869

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How to start a house cleaning business

By Tom Laing

Have you ever thought about how to start a housecleaning business? When you think of how to start a housecleaning business you will probably think of questions such as - How do I start a housecleaning business? - Do I have what it takes to run my own house cleaning business? - How do I find and keep clients? - How much should I charge? - What other services can I offer to my clients? - How do I hire and train staff? - How does commercial cleaning differ from home cleaning?

And most of the people who have dreamed about how to start a housecleaning business have been hesitant to put their plans into action, as they cannot find the correct answer for these questions. This comprehensive guide will help you to successfully launch and grow your business by offering expert advice on each and every aspect of setting up and running a prosperous home-based housecleaning business.

Housecleaning businesses are one of the fastest-growing service businesses in the United States. It is an ideal option for new entrepreneurs, part-time workers, and also for those people who would like to make a career switch. In today’s busy world, these are highly sought commodities, and a good housecleaning service offers comfort and order. Housecleaning is a cost effective business with low operating expenses, inexpensive equipment, and a flexible work schedule. Generally speaking, the answer to how to start a housecleaning business is an understanding of basic cleaning technology. In the very beginning of housecleaning business, the home cleaning service might start out small, but it has the potential to foster into a multi-million dollar business with branch offices and franchises.

The very first thing about how to start a housecleaning business is to develop a business plan and policy. After developing a business plan you need a unique name which must stands out from the rest. The next and important step before starting the business is to insure your housecleaning business. You are starting the business, and as you are the sole-proprietor, insuring your business entitles you to the status of independent contractor. Insurance also eases the minds of your future clientele as well as it gives you peace of mind to work freely.

The next important step is to get a copy of your background check and police record. Hopefully, you won’t have one; but depending on which state you are residing in, you have to pick up the application at the State Trooper Barracks, City Hall or the Police Station. This is a simple step; you just take about 5 minutes to fill out the form. The application fee will be between $3 and $15.00. After filling out the form, mail it in, and within 14 days the form will be mailed back to you with an official stamp stating "No record." You can take photocopies of this form, as you should provide this certificate to your prospective clientele with your information packet.

The information packet is the major step in the housecleaning business – it is what makes your business professional. The information packet must contain a printout or photocopy of your policy and procedures, insurance and background check, references and a sample work order. In your policy statement you should explain the details of your working policy. This will give information such as: your hours of operation; if you will work in a house that has a dog; if you bring the cleaning products or the client has to provide his/her own cleaning products; your rates (per hour or per job); and what form of payment you take. All these details have to be included in the policy statement.

Don’t forget to include a sample work order in your information packet. For example, in cleaning a bedroom, what will you do? That is, you must write - ceiling fan will be dusted, trinkets dusted, bedroom furniture dusted, sheets changed and bed made, carpet vacuumed and any other service you will provide. Also, you can custom create a work order if a client wants something done which is not on the work order.

Also, it is a plus for you to include at least two references. Adding references might be a difficult task as you are just starting out so add them as you go along. You can get a references by offering a free cleaning for some community organizations or churches.

When you create your business cards, you must only include your name with the title of proprietor, and your telephone number. Don’t put anything such as FREE ESTIMATES or CHEAP on the cards. You have to present yourself as a person offering a professional service.

Now you’ve got some idea about how to start a housecleaning business! It is a highly profitable business. So what’s stopping you now?

Copyright 2005, www.bringyourbusinessonline.com
Other Business ideas
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Can You Make Money Without Money?

By Abel Cheng

When I ask why you don't start your own business, I always hear, "I don't have money to start a business."

This is a common excuse people give for not starting their own business.

There is truth in the statement. You actually need money to make money or to start a business. But the question is "Do you need a lot of money or little to start a business?" and "Whose money do you use?"

Yes, I admit that it does take money to make money but it doesn't need to be your money!

Recently, one of my friends closed his restaurant business due to staff problems. But he quickly jumped to another business opportunity.

The business idea is so good that I want to share with you.
He is now running a training company. He focuses on corporate training. Basically, what he needs to do is to bring in famous trainers to his workshops. Market and promote the workshops and get people sign up for the workshops.

How much money do you think he needs to invest to organize one workshop? From getting the speaker to marketing, from selling tickets to renting a venue?

It will definitely cost a lot of money! Even if you only talk about marketing.

You know how much money my friend put in to organize a workshop? Close to zero!

How could that happen? How on earth that he doesn't use his own money to organize a workshop but all the profits go into his pocket…

Here is how.

He got the idea to look for sponsors for his workshop. After a few rounds of searching and corresponding, he managed to get big companies to be the sponsors for his workshop.

For companies to become my friend's sponsors, they need to contribute money to promote the workshop. This single idea helps my friend to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in marketing.

Not only that, his sponsors also help him to market and sell tickets for his workshops. He also can leverage on the sponsors' client databases.

Of course, my friend doesn't mind to give some commissions to the sponsors from the sales of tickets. It's only a small fraction of the whole profit.

By making such an arrangement, a lot of work is off-loaded from my friend. It's like having a well-oiled machine working for you without much of your involvement.

My friend doesn't need to invest a big sum of money for his workshops. Someone else will pay for his workshop expenses.

Does this sound like an excellent business idea? Of course, it does.

This is what I call ideas at work. Making money does not necessarily require huge capital, it's all about coming up with ideas that other people are willing to invest in.

As Napoleon Hill once said, "One sound idea is all that you need to achieve success." And also stressed by Robert Kiyosaki "Money is an idea."

Abel Cheng offers small and medium enterprises exclusive global profits insider tips in his free publication, Abel Cheng's Business Diary. To officiate a bi-weekly subscription, please go to http://www.abelcheng.com/diary.html

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9 Ways to Increase Business Profits Quickly and Easily

By groshan fabiola

Many business owners who operate a business want as many clients as possible, both those who have just started their business and those who have owned one for a long time. They are, however, not fully utilizing all of their assets as they could be in order to achieve their desired results.

The objective of increasing business profits isn’t only met by attracting more clients. There are several other reasons why a business doesn't make as much money as it should besides not having enough clients.
Here are a few simple, yet effective business coaching ideas that will help you unlock the hidden profits in business and also some reasons why things aren't operating at full potential as they should:

- Focus more time on the important matters - you may not have enough time available to boost your business, especially if you are the one who is serving clients on a regular basis. In this case, you should consider hiring somebody to help. Running a business takes a lot of work, so let the employees handle the day-to-day issues, while you take care of the important ones such as developing strategies for present and future growth. Set aside an hour each week to brainstorm ideas, implement strategies and nurture key business relationships.

- Carry out competitive intelligence on other businesses, especially the ones that are successful and emulate them. This doesn’t mean copying whatever they do. Take the best parts of your competitor’s business and apply them to your own. It is also very important to keep a close eye on the competition, regardless of the nature of your business. If you are running a restaurant, for example, you should inspect the services, the offers and the prices of the competition. By doing a little research on other businesses, you will be able to reorganize, improve your services, adjust the prices depending on the competition, as well as introduce new offers to your clients. By knowing what your competitors are up to, you will always be one step ahead of them.

- Spend less of your gross profit on overhead and ineffective marketing. Lease unused space in your office or warehouse. Track sales as a result of expense. Employ salespeople on a higher commission scale rather than a high base salary. Test and measure for effective marketing campaigns before dumping a ton of money on any marketing campaign that is doomed to fail from the start.

- Instead of competing on price, develop an ultimate strategic advantage™. Emphasize the qualities that make your business stand out and create a whole new positioning in the industry. Find out what really matters to your clients by surveying them and give it to them.

- Talk with clients and find out if they are delighted or not. Ask for suggestions. Dissatisfied customers will not return, while a delighted client will refer others.

- Nurture existing clients. Instead of focusing on acquiring new customers, concentrate on nurturing and maintaining the clients that you already have! Make sure they are pleased with the services you provide for them and pay attention to their needs, desires and complaints. It is very important to establish and maintain good relations with your clients, as they are the ones who keep your business running.

Many business coaching companies encourage selling more to existing clients because it improves a business bottom line by increasing the lifetime value of a client. It also brings new clients, attracted by positive experiences from your delighted clients. Referrals lower your acquisition cost through word-of-mouth marketing and this also adds to business profits.

- Up sell other products/services. Selling extras is known to be a great method of increasing profits. For example, grocery stores strategically place many magazines and snacks near the checkout. People browse and buy these while waiting in line raising the average dollar sale with these extras. McDonald’s is well-known for its up sell before a sale is completed by simply asking a simple question to add on more products (complete meal, fries, sundae, or apple pie).

- Increase your advertising - advertising is expensive but if things work well, the money will definitely return to you. You can also try to make the best use you can out of free advertising. Get the most out of promotions and limited offers, especially around holidays.

- Seek out business coaching advice. Having a comprehensive set of business strategies can help you further, by providing you with new efficient methods of increasing the profits of your business. To operate a business effectively long-term, most businesses will have to deploy several strategies in order to diversify their sources of leads and maximize their profitability through smart marketing, team building, and business process management.

About the author:This article was written by Anthony Yap of http://www.billionaireintraining.com/, a comprehensive business coaching resource site for entrepreneurs. Anthony Yap helps small and medium businesses develop sound business strategies and business processes. He believes that business should give business owners more financial freedom and not a life sentence.

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How To Generate Unique Business Ideas That Make Money?

By Abel Cheng

Every money making opportunity that you see boils down to one common thing: idea. As you know the best ideas pay. The most creative ideas pay.

The best thing about ideas is it's free and everybody has the capability to think of ideas.

In order to be creative and innovative about ideas, you have to have knowledge. Knowledge is important. You need to know thousands of things to be creative.

Below are steps that you can take to come up with profitable innovative ideas:

1) Read and study as many things as possible about your industry or product. You need to investigate specific information of what you are going to sell. For example, if you want to be involved in real estate, you study everything about the subject matter in details. If you want to start a business, you have to know what's going on in your industry, what sells and at what price, etc.

2) Improve general knowledge. Don't limit yourself to only learn about things in your own industry. Learn as many topics as possible from other industries. It can be any topic. This enables you to think out of your own industry.

3) Mix and match ideas from cross industry. Once you investigate and research enough, your mind is the storehouse of all the ideas you have studied. And this is the main source to your creative ideas. All the knowledge you have learned so far is the raw materials to produce new ideas.

4) Thinking of raw idea. After you have done your study, think hard about the solutions you want to your problem. Then stop and relax. Get a cup of coffee or go for a movie. Do something relaxing and let your subconscious mind work for you. The idea or solution will come to you at a much unexpected moment. For me, ideas always come to me before I sleep. My mind will be bombarded with ideas that I can't stop.

5) Refine your raw idea until it's up to your satisfaction. You can always do your own research on the raw idea by asking questions to target market to test the feasibility of the idea and how to improve the idea further.

Basically new idea is a combination of old ideas. You need to have enough old ideas to come up with new ideas. That's why constant reading and observation are important.

Sometimes when someone has launched a new product, you would say, "Hey! I thought about that before. That's my idea." You might have had thought about the idea but you didn't capitalize on it. Someone has done it before you.

It's always good that you have an ideas book. Whenever you think of a good idea, write it down. You can always work on it or improve it later. Bring along the ideas book wherever you go. It doesn't need to be fancy. It can be a normal pocket-sized spiral notebook.

With the method outlined above, I hope that you will be the next person who makes fortunes with unprecedented ideas that people can never think of.

Abel Cheng is publisher of Abel Cheng's Business Diary, a free publication that provides unorthodox home and small business success tips, tools and resources. Get instant access to his publication at http://www.abelcheng.com/diary.html

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Be Creative and Innovative

By Derek Gupta

This is very important to have a constant flow of new ideas. New ideas are the lifeblood of our business. So it is important to encourage creativity and to be truly innovative. But creativity and innovation are not the same. Creativity is all about coming up with new ideas, whereas innovation involves putting new ideas into action.

New ideas can be very difficult to find. When you do find them and put them into action, they can provide powerful marketing tools and become a license to print money.

Here are some ways to help generate new ideas:
Ask For Opinions

You could hire consultants or you could simply seek opinions from someone who knows absolutely nothing about your business. We get so involved in what we are doing, that often we can't see another way of doing things. There are times when we need to step outside our own environment because sometimes ideas used in one trade can be adapted to another.

Encourage Staff Creativity

Encourage your team members to come up with new ideas and let them suggest a better / smarter way to be innovative. You will need to be open-minded and encourage their input.

Brain Storm

One of the best ways to tap new ideas is through brainstorming. This could involve family, friends and other team members. The purpose of a brainstorming session is to produce a bunch of ideas. Its quantity, not quality. Refining the ideas come later.

Re-educate The Mind

There is an old saying, "you never stop learning" and its true. If you are willing to make a personal commitment to perpetual re-education, you'll reap the rewards.

Read And Subscribe

There is a wealth of information on the Internet and most of it is free. Search other areas of business rather than just your own as you might be able to adapt a totally unrelated idea.
You can often find ideas in the most unlikely places. Business, fashion and trade magazines are all worth a dekko. These days its easy to subscribe to any number of national and international newspapers,magazines or newsletters.

Travel Opens Your Eyes

Visit different places or even unrelated businesses areas. You'll be surprised at how freely many of them share their knowledge, after all you are not a threat to them.

"The main purpose of a business is to bring in customers; and there are really only two ways to do it... through Creativity and Innovation

Thanks and please let our creative juices flow. Feel free to discuss your ideas with your immediate supervisors or reach me any time at derekgupta@gmail.com but do not let them go waste.

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