| 1 Overview of the Work-at-Home Industry 1 -- What Will You Call Yourself? -- Entrepreneurial Moms and Dads -- Home Businesses Then and Now -- Importance of Trends -- Restructuring of the Workforce -- Who's Working at Home and Why -- 2 Homework Myths, Scams, and Unprofitable Ideas 17 -- Work-at-Home Misconceptions -- Mail Order "Get Rich" Schemes -- Work-at-Home/Home-Business "Opportunities" -- Scams Against Business Owners -- Ten Money-Making Ideas That Violate Copyright Law -- Celebrity Rights Act -- 3 Assessing Your Personal Situation 43 -- Are You a Good Home-Business Candidate? -- Your Opportunities for Learning -- Why Business May Fail -- Identifying Special Skills and Talents -- Why People Avoid "Business" -- Why People Fear Success -- Is Something Holding You Back? -- Home-Business Pros and Cons -- "Self-Employed Individuals" vs. "Entrepreneurs" -- Taking a Chance on Yourself -- Why Businesses May Fail -- Overcoming Your Fear of the Unknown -- 4 Selecting the Right Type of Business for You 69 -- Two Basic Kinds of Business -- Arts and Crafts Businesses -- Product-Oriented Businesses -- Service-Oriented "At-Home" Businesses -- Service-Oriented "From-Home" Businesses -- Mail Order Businesses -- Direct Sales Businesses -- MLM/Network Marketing -- Home-Business Franchises -- 5 Brainstorming the Perfect Home Business Idea 93 -- Read, Listen, and Observe -- Keeping Technology in Mind -- Find a Need and Fill It -- Do What You Love -- Build on What You Know and Do Best -- Making Money in the Country -- Country Businesses Idea Checklist -- Starting a Business on the World Wide Web -- Change Is Part of the Picture -- 6 Profiting from Your Special Expertise and Know-How 117 -- Writing for Money and Recognition -- Profits from Publishing -- Money in Your Mouth -- Teaching Others What You Know -- Offering Your Knowledge Through Consulting -- 7 Positioning Yourself for Success 135 -- To Be Legal or Not--That Is the Question -- Selecting a Business Name -- Projecting a Professional Image -- Developing a Mindset for Business and Financial Success -- 8 Planning Your Moves 149 -- Writing a Business Plan -- Your Financial Plan -- Many Hats of Business -- Doing Market Research -- Outline for a Simple Marketing Plan -- Home-Business Start-Up Checklist -- 9 Developing Necessary Printed Materials 167 -- Designing Your Own Printed Materials -- Business Card Design and Copy Tips -- Brochure Design Considerations -- A Crash Course in Working with Printers -- 10 Pricing Guidelines for Business Beginners 177 -- Value of Your Time -- Buying Materials Wholesale -- Bringing Overhead Into the Picture -- How to Quote a Job -- Pricing Formulas for Product Sellers -- Industry Pricing Guidelines -- 11 Learning to Use the Latest Computer Technology 195 -- Computer's Role in Your Business -- Learning Later in Life -- Your Computer Learning Option -- Analyzing Your Current Computer System -- Software Considerations -- Personal Benefits of Computer Ownership -- 12 Maintaining Control 211 -- Blending Business into Your Personal Lifestyle -- Working Around--and with--Your Children -- Time Management Tips -- Organizational and Stress Management Strategies -- Talking to Yourself -- Home Business Small Business Organizations 319. |
