Stop Wasting Money in Your Home Office

Controlling Hidden Costs When Working from Home

At-home professionals face a challenge that many of their office bound colleagues do not – managing the costs associated with their home office. Business professionals who work in a traditional office setting very rarely worry about the different costs the building accrues over time such as printing, electric, and software costs . At-home professionals need to take these costs into consideration and, luckily, there are some simple ways to help control the costs of working from a home office.

Leverage Available Technology

It is no secret that software packages can be very expensive. More often than not, corporate companies have contracts with software developers to get these programs to their associates on a discounted basis. But, at-home professionals do not always have those connections but still need basic and updated software to do their job. A great way to avoid these steep costs is by researching and utilizing free software that is available through a number of big name companies. Google, for example, offers online spreadsheet, presentation, and word processing tools that account holders can use for free.

It is also no secret that travel is expensive – gas for vehicles, plane tickets and other travel services can definitely have at-home professionals taking a big hit right to their wallets. Instead of traveling for every client or colleague meeting, considering using an internet based conferencing tool. These tools allow people to meet face to face over the Internet and are usually much less costly than the gas it would take to travel to every meeting an at-home professional has scheduled during a regular work week. Some of these programs even allow meeting members to share documents and data live through the internet.

Minimize Printing Costs

One of the largest expenses that businesses have is printing costs. This includes the printing equipment, ink, maintenance and, of course, paper. At-home professionals face these same challenges with printing costs but they also have an advantage when it comes to reducing them. Pay close attention to exactly what is being printed in your home office – do all of these emails really need to be on paper, or can they be filed digitally? This is the type of question that should be asked every time you reach for that print button. By analyzing what is needed on paper, it can help to majorly cut down on this cost.

Additionally, there can be a huge cost benefit to investing in a high-quality printer or multifunctional device. Although these high-end pieces of equipment will cost more up front, they can often lead to big savings down the road. Newer printers are using less and less ink to print documents meaning that less cost will be incurred replenishing the supply. Not to mention, newer printers are fast and can also perform multiple jobs just as printing, scanning, faxing and even sending emails – this can help increase an at-home professional’s efficiency which can lead to a boost in productivity and even profits.

Many corporate professionals never wonder or worry about the costs associated with their office space. At-home professionals, however, pay much closer attention to where money is being spent. Leveraging technology and reducing printing are two very effective ways to control the costs associated with running a home office. Not only do these techniques reduce spending, they can also increase efficiency and productivity overall, which can have a great, positive impact on the business and its profits.

What? You don't have a home office because you haven't started your own legitimate home business yet? Then you need to talk to Stacy O'Quinn! If you already have an idea, he can help you as your business mentor. If you need ideas, Stacy has opportunities for everyone that wants to work from home. For more information, click here.

*Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Levine via Creative Commons License

How to Choose Your Business Name

Tips for Creating a Unique Name for Your Business

What would you name your business?

Creating and implementing a business name is an important step in the business planning process. It is important to make sure that the name is unique, reflects the business’s branding and purpose, and is not already being used by another company. It is also important to register and protect the business’s name long-term in order to keep the business’s branding high-level and recognizable. Additionally, business owners should consider how their business’s name will look on the web and in social media – having a business name be Web-ready is crucially important if the business chooses to use this type of platform.

What to Consider When Naming a Business

Many businesses start out as one individual freelancing or working solo. In these cases, using the owner’s name as the business name is acceptable but, once this small operation blooms into a business, it may be time to consider another name. Having a professional name will help the business portray a professional image. But, it is also important to note that throwing any old name out there as a business name is probably not the best course of action. There are some items that all business owners should consider when they are choosing a new business name. 

How the name will look aesthetically, both in print and on the Web? What feelings or connotations does the name evoke in others, either positive or negative? Is the name unique and unclaimed by another business? Answering these questions will help owners create the best possible name for their business and enable them to brand the business properly. Creating a unique name is very important – when considering a name, check into any trademarking associated with it. Violating trademarks can have huge financial consequences and this can even apply to variations of a trademarked name. 

Make Sure Your Business Name is Web and Social Media Ready

One aspect of business name branding that many owners do not consider is making sure the name is Web-ready. This means that the business’s unique URL and domain name is available for use as well as being search engine friendly. There are hundreds of thousands of websites, so it is important to make sure the business’s name can be used online. Along this same line is social media – claim your business’s social media names early in planning process to ensure they are available when the name is finalized. Facebook, for example, allows businesses to set-up and later change their pages and even allows business pages to have vanity URLs.

Registering Your Business Name and Apply for Trademarking

Once a name has been created, it is time to register and trademark the businesses name. Registering the business name tells the state government that you are doing business under the name of the company. In most cases, the business will use its own name as the business. However, if you decide to use a name for legal purposes and another name as the business name, both have to be registered with your state agency. For instance, you would have company Joe Smith, LLC as the legal name as well as Joe's Steak's as your DBA (Doing Business As).

Once this is complete, business owners can also trademark their business name. Trademarking protects the business name, symbols and logos from being used by other business. This will help not only protect the business’s image but also ensure that your business’s name does not get confused with another, unrelated company.

Do you have an idea that you would like to turn into your own work at home business? If so, you may want to consider using a business mentor to help you get started. Stacy O'Quinn has helped dozens of people not only start a business, but also create a six figure income. For more information on how Stacy can help you, click here.

*Photo Courtesy of Ken Zirkel via Creative Commons License

How to Make Your Small Business Stand Out from the Competition

Tips to Help Build Your Brand and Grow a Stand-Out Business

Small businesses are a great opportunity to live your dream and create positive experiences with customers. These types of businesses often provide niche markets with the products and services they are looking for locally in their own communities. Because of this, small business owners can take advantage of limited competition and work to create a strong brand image among their consumers. Although small business budgets are sometimes tight, there are some inexpensive yet effective ways to grow the company’s brand and business within a community and help stand out from others.

Offer Great Products and Services

One of the easiest ways to stand out from other, similar businesses is to offer superior products and services. In order to communicate this point to consumers, make sure to do research to determine what exactly makes your business’s offerings better than the others. Think of things such as quality, product longevity and customer service. Once these unique factors have been identified, make sure to work them into the business’s overall messaging so customers know what to look at when comparing organizations and give them valid reasons to choose your business over others.

Put a Face to Your Business

Too many consumers only know a business by its branding or product. Being a small business owner gives you a unique opportunity to connect with customers on a more personal level and have them know the business by your name and face or the names and faces of your employees instead of just a logo or company slogan.  Making these types of connections shows customers that the business owner and employees are passionate about what they do and truly care about their customers. Customer service of this kind is so important to consumers and will have them coming back again and again.

Build a Positive Community Around Your Brand

Building a strong community around your business and your brand is crucial for attracting new customers and continuing strong connections with current customers. This type of positive energy around the brand should be made both online and offline and often cost little to no funds to create. A great way to get started in building this community is by launching a Facebook or other free social media page. This is a great stage to interact with customers and help promote your business events within the community – these online promotions then translate to offline promotions when the event takes place and the community is invited to participate in a positive way.

 Standing out from the competition, especially in small business, is crucial to the organization’s success. By really caring about customers, offering superior products, and building a positive community around your brand, it can show potential customers why they should choose your company over others. Building a stand-out brand does not have to mean spending a lot of money on advertising and marketing – by making personal connections with customers and having them know your business by you and not your logo or slogan is a simple and cost-effective way to stand apart from other, similar businesses.

Need more tips on how to make your work at home business more successful? Stacy O'Quinn can help! To find out how, click here.

*Photo Courtesy of Phil Wood Photo via Creative Commons License

Dani Johnson Is My Blueprint for Success

Most people who are interested in the business world will go to college and take a few business courses. Although these courses can be helpful, there is no way that they can prepare someone for every bump they may find on the road to success. Dani Johnson has created a blueprint for other people to follow her example and recreate her amazing success.

Simply hearing the story of how she got where she is today is an inspiration for many people. When Dani was a teenager, she became a mother and found herself homeless by the time she was twenty-one years old. She did not let any of this stand in her way and began selling products out of the trunk of her car, making a million dollars when she was just twenty-three.

It is difficult to imagine how a young woman like Dani could overcome such odds to become so successful. When asked about this, she mentions that her faith has been the driving force that helped her overcome every adversity. Her deep spirituality helped guide her through many struggles and even allowed her to guide others through theirs.

In fact, after she became a success herself, Dani began mentoring other people. She knows what it is like to start with nothing and to have to earn everything for yourself. Luckily for everyone else, she knows exactly which steps she took to get to where she is today and is willing to share that information with others.

It is perhaps not even her own success that is so amazing but the way that Dani has used it for good. These days, she is no longer in the retail industry but literally spends her life helping other people to become successful. This selfless attitude serves as an inspiration to millions of people who change their lives with Dani’s help and then pay it forward.

Dani Johnson is an inspiration to people around the world because she stood up in the face of adversity and turned her life around. After becoming a teenage mother and living on the streets, she became a millionaire as a result of her own resourcefulness. Today, she spends her time mentoring other people and helping them to achieve the same success that she has. With her faith as her guide, she hopes that she will be able to spread her valuable message to people around the world.

Dani Johnson helped get out of debt and create a successful work at home business. I would love to do the same for you and serve as your work from home mentor. To learn more about my story and the opportunities available to you, click here.

What a Home Business Opportunity Can Do for You

Benefits of a Legitimate Home Business

It is never too late to say goodbye to the corporate world and become a business owner. Unfortunately, far too many people do not realize this and spend their lives toiling away for “the man,” receiving only limited income in recognition for their hard work. The sooner you realize that you are not a prisoner to any employer, the sooner you can begin creating a fulfilling career with unlimited income potential.

The Best Home Business Opportunity for You

No single home business is ideal for all people. Skills, education, and interests are among the determining factors. Fortunately, almost everyone can learn how to become a business owner so the business focus is the biggest decision. Think outside the box, focusing on a beloved hobby that has the potential to generate income or a product or service that is not currently available in the marketplace. Talk to friends and co-workers to find out what they need and design something that meets these needs at a reasonable price.

If ongoing income is needed during the startup period, retain your current job while learning the best way to get the new business off the ground. Entrepreneur Dani Johnson an expert who makes this task easier through her proven business and career programs. These products teach even the most inexperienced professionals how to start and maintain businesses that will generate comfortable income for a lifetime.

Social media has become a worldwide phenomenon and is an essential tool for any business owner. Dani devotes an entire program to using social media to build a business empire. Her methods work on every social network and all types of connected devices including smartphones and tablet computers. Entrepreneurs can conduct their business on the go, allowing them to enjoy the flexibility that business ownership provides. Social media is a free and easy way to generate profits from across the globe so there is no excuse not to use it.

A Legitimate Home Business Lasts a Lifetime

An online search will reveal thousands of businesses devoted to the same subject, making business ownership seem like a daunting process. Realize that many online business ventures are questionable when it comes to reputability and these are not likely to endure. An online home business that is legitimate is almost guaranteed to outlast these fly-by-night ventures because it has a strong foundation.

Having a mentor can prove invaluable when times get tough. Unfortunately, many new business owners are still establishing their networks and do not know anyone who would make a good mentor. They should consider a worldwide expert like Dani as their mentor. She offers in-person workshops and seminars and broadcasts a weekly radio show that features tips for all entrepreneurs.

Take a moment to consider how much better your life would be as a business owner rather than a cubicle dweller. Then, get started creating the online home business of your dreams. Though this requires hard work and dedication, it also offers rewards that no employer can, including ongoing potential for income generation.

*Photo Courtesy of New Chaos via Creative Commons License

You Need Not Be An Owner To Take Ownership

Though many people have found success with a work at home business, others continue to work for someone else. Being a business owner is not a prerequisite for taking ownership at work. Everyone should have a vision and focus on it regularly. Keeping purpose in mind enables us to put forth our best effort. Instead of showing up and doing the least possible to get by, we work with what business expert Dani Johnson calls “excellence.”

We all want to succeed at work and understanding the purpose and importance of our roles is the key to doing this. When the head is in the right place, the heart follows. We become diligent workers and outstanding performers who set examples for others. Each employee plays an important role in an organization and when you understand and appreciate your role, your attitude toward work changes. You begin to see the purpose in everything you do and understand how it ties into the big picture.

When we have purpose and vision, it shows in our actions. We bring more to the work environment and others begin to notice. Accolades, bonuses, and raises follow, propelling us toward our intended level of success. Whiners and complainers stay where they started and we eventually leave them behind in the dust. If only they followed our lead, they could be as successful as we are!

People who find themselves complaining about work should snap out of it. Changing this attitude to one of ownership will make a world of difference. Be eager to do the best job, look for new ways to contribute, and keep purpose in mind, letting it serve as inspiration for working with diligence and excellence each and every day. What you do makes a difference not only in your own life but also for your family and others who rely upon what you produce.

This is the way to become a valuable asset even when you are not a business owner. People will talk about you as an example and this will lead to many opportunities. If the motivation does not exist within, find it through training programs and seminars such as those offered by Dani. Taking an approach that has worked for thousands of others makes everything much easier. Dani provides advice and relays success stories that are powerful enough to encourage anyone. 

Anyone who has tired of working for someone else should take ownership to a new level by starting a business. With comprehensive research and the right tools and resources, anyone can get a new business off the ground and experience success. By keeping your purpose and vision in mind, every day will be a productive one.

If business ownership seems overwhelming, rely upon the experience and support of a mentor. Dani has mentored many entrepreneurs by offering books, training, and in-person education that help them achieve success. Whether you choose to become an entrepreneur or continue working for someone else, success will follow when you take ownership of what you do.