As evolving technology allows people like you and me to do more and more from the comfort of our own home, it’s easy to understand why the idea of starting your home-based business is growing in popularity. However, that doesn’t mean all businesses started from home are successful — actually, most aren’t. There is a process of starting and growing a home-based business that succeeds, and there are no shortcuts. Chameleon Collective was built on this same idea and through careful strategy and growth, has been able to survive as a virtual company ran entirely from their homes. If you are thinking about making the plunge into this part of the business world, here are some tips you need to keep in mind.
Evaluate Your Talents and Skill Set
The first step in your business venture will be to assess your talents and skills. What interests, inclinations, and personality traits were you born with? What specific skills have you developed through life? Factoring the answers to these questions into your business plan will give you a better picture of what niche to pursue and make you more likely to succeed in the long run. For instance, are you naturally a motivated person with experience in managing money? Financial consulting may be a great option for you. Are you a creative person with experience in design or SEO? Digital marketing could be your space to freelance just like some of the Chameleons.
Consider Help
Depending on your business ideas and skill set, you may be able to run the operation yourself, or you may need help. For example, if you struggle with staying organized and have little experience in financial management, you may want to hire someone to step in. One of the most common reasons for small business failure is the lack of financial management skills and knowledge. The best way to go about this is to interview as many candidates as you can think of; that way, you will leave yourself with the most options. And before you start the interview process, be sure to research and decide on the best questions to ask each interviewee.
Offer Something Special
For your business to get started on the right track, you will constantly need to consider how you can attract customers and/or clients. To do this requires you to think both narrowly and broadly. Start by focusing on a single product or service, and put energy into making that product/service special in some way. Then, you can get an idea for the market and niche. Once your initial product/service starts to grow your business and customer base, there will be opportunities to expand from there. Start small and focused, always have the larger picture in mind when making decisions, and gradually expand your product/service line and target market.
Stay Productive
The comfort that comes with working from your own home can backfire. You can get so relaxed that you never feel like you’re at work, family responsibilities can increase, and a lot of other distractions can keep you from getting your work done. In order to stay productive, you must be proactive and approach your work as you would any other job. Set weekly work hours — and stick to them. Create an inspiring workspace, and keep it clean and organized. Get with your family, come up with a schedule that works for everyone, and ask them to respect your work parameters and business goals. Being your own boss and working from home provides you with more freedom, but just make sure you still get stuff done!
Starting your home-based business and keeping it running is not easy, but it can be thoroughly rewarding. To increase your chances of success, assess your talents and skills, and hire someone to help run the business if you need to. Also, make sure you have a product or service that people can’t find anywhere else, and take the necessary measures to ensure your productivity at home. Find the balance and you could have your own Collective someday.
Guest Blog By Jim McKinley
Photo Credit: Pexels
Header Image Credit: https://www.aresearchguide.com/
