Start and Run A Business From Home: How to turn your hobby or interest into a business (Small Business Start-Ups)

Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 12
My story......Page 16
Prepare yourself for some difficult times ahead......Page 17
The five secrets of being a successful entrepreneur......Page 18
Before we go any further, have you got what it takes?......Page 23
So – have you got what it takes?......Page 24
To do list......Page 26
2 Great Business Ideas Start at Home......Page 27
Where to get great ideas......Page 28
Evaluating your ideas......Page 33
Your resources......Page 34
Feasibility......Page 35
Hobby business ideas......Page 38
Don’t limit your ideas to your hobbies or what interests you......Page 41
A great idea should be at the core of your business......Page 43
Summary......Page 44
Deciding on a name for your business......Page 45
Opening a business bank account......Page 49
Creating a business identity......Page 52
Local authority......Page 57
Where to base your business......Page 58
Complying with the law......Page 60
Data Protection Act......Page 61
Summary......Page 63
4 Research: The Doorway to Success......Page 64
Why businesses fail......Page 65
Researching your idea......Page 66
Market research......Page 70
The cost of starting a business......Page 73
Who is going to finance your new venture?......Page 75
Dealing with slow and non-payers......Page 76
Writing a winning business plan......Page 77
Summary......Page 80
You don’t have to be a sales expert to sell......Page 81
The three golden rules for selling anything to anyone......Page 83
Overcoming objections......Page 92
Closing techniques......Page 97
Mastering the three Ps of selling......Page 101
Five ways to turbo-boost your sales......Page 104
Summary......Page 114
Learning from larger businesses......Page 115
Why advertising doesn’t always work......Page 116
Ten ways to market your business with a small budget......Page 119
Press releases......Page 124
Sponsorship......Page 128
Media stunts......Page 129
Making more use of your business cards......Page 130
Local networking groups......Page 132
Self-employed sales agents......Page 133
Leaflet drops......Page 134
Giving talks to groups and other businesses......Page 136
Writing for magazines and newspapers......Page 137
Summary......Page 138
Be exposed to your target market......Page 140
Choosing where to sell your goods......Page 141
Summary......Page 155
8 Your Business on the World Wide Web......Page 156
Creating a website for your business......Page 157
Marketing your website......Page 163
Staying ahead of the competition......Page 171
How much time do you spend on your website?......Page 180
eBay......Page 183
Summary......Page 184
Home-based forever, or will you take to the high street?......Page 185
Traditional retail products......Page 187
Shop......Page 198
Deciding on a trading identity......Page 201
Registering for VAT......Page 212
11 Ten Great Business You Can Run from Home......Page 218
Start your own cleaning business......Page 219
Start your own gardening business......Page 221
Starting your own childminding service......Page 223
Start your own pet sitting service......Page 227
Start your own greetings card business......Page 230
Start your own home tutoring agency......Page 233
Start your own bed and breakfast......Page 236
Start your own catering business......Page 241
Start your own Internet business......Page 245
Start your own antiques business......Page 250
M......Page 255
W......Page 256