Guide to Home-Based Jobs

How to find a legitimate home based job that fits you

Home based jobs have become a popular trend, and many employers are happy to allow some of their employees to work from their home offices. You could also seek home based part time jobs in addition to your regular full-time job to earn extra cash.

If your job doesn't allow home based employment, you should be cautious when searching for a home based job.

1. Ask your employer if it's possible to work at home. Many companies are seeing the advantage of allowing their employees to work from home.

2. Check the integrity of any company before applying for or accepting a home based job.

3. Read any home based job contracts carefully, and make sure you understand what the company expects of you.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Don't pay money for home based job leads

Many work-at-home jobs are not legitimate jobs. Some jobs listed in the classifieds ask you to pay for information. Most of these jobs, and I use the word "job" loosely, are pyramid schemes. After you send in your payment, you'll receive an envelope filled with information on how to place a classified ad just like the one you answered.

I recommend: Don't apply for a home based position that sounds too good to be true. Legitimate employers will list full contact information and will be seeking qualified individuals to fill their home based positions. The Telecommuting Jobs website offers legitimate home based employment opportunities. Money Making Mommy also offers home based job opportunities for moms who want to work jobs from home.

Find home based jobs listed in legitimate venues

Answering classified advertisements isn't the only way to find home based employment opportunities. Employment agencies and online job sites list telecommuting opportunities. A telecommuting job is a great way to utilize your talents, education and experience with a job geared toward your abilities. It also offers you the options of staying home with your children and the freedom to set your own schedule.

I recommend: Visit Journalism Jobs for work-at-home writing opportunities. Monster and Career Builder also list telecommuting jobs.

Read between the "job ad" lines

If an advertisement offers trips, prizes and the opportunity to become your own boss, it's probably not a job. More than likely, it's a direct marketing or multi-level marketing opportunity. If selling makeup or plastic containers appeals to you, this may be a great home based work opportunity for you.

I recommend: To determine if a direct marketing opportunity is legitimate, check to see if the company is a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA).

Bring it home

Many companies that use overseas employees to answer the customer service lines are reconsidering their options. After complaints from customers, more and more of these companies are offering some of their customer service jobs as home-based positions. For most of these jobs, you'll need DSL or cable Internet.

I recommend: Worldwide Work at Home lists several well-known companies, such as 1-800-Flowers, that offer work from home opportunities for customer service technicians.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Home based work poses challenges that working in an office environment doesn't. Set limits with your family so they respect your office space and give you the time you need to complete your work.
• If you have children, you may need to arrange appropriate childcare so you can get your work done with minimal distraction. If you don't want to place your child in childcare outside the home, hire a sitter to come into the home for a few hours a day.

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Guide to Starting Your Own in-home Personal Training Business

How to Find Personal Training Clients

If you love exercise and have the desire to share your knowledge to help others get in shape, personal training may be the career for you. However, most personal training jobs pay little and are frustrating because you end up competing against other trainers who work for the facility. If you are interested in making an enjoyable living in the personal training world, consider striking out on your own and starting a personal training business.

Before you begin investing in the personal training industry, realize that being a successful personal trainer is about more than sets and reps. You are going to need to deal with some difficult personalities including people who simply hate to exercise. You also will need to be self-motivated and super-organized to run a successful business. In addition, you will need sales and marketing skills to attract new clients to you and persuade them to write you that first check.

The benefit of having an in-home personal training business is that you have very little to no overhead costs. You drive to the clients' home, so you do not need to equip and pay for rent of your own facility or pay for utilities.

The main problem you will have is finding clients. There are a variety ways to market yourself, but keep in mind they all take time and/or money, which you have to factor into your work week and budget.

Action Steps

The steps you need to take to have your own thriving in-home personal training business.

1. Begin working part-time in a health club

What? Didn't you just say health club jobs aren't great? That's generally true, but nothing replaces the experience you gain working one on one 'in the trenches' with clients. It's also a great way to start generating word of mouth business. If you have a client at the health club who is aware of your in-home services, he or she may refer friends or family to you. This form of 'advertising' is free and usually leads to the best clients because they are already aware of the nature of your services and the results you have generated for their friend. Furthermore, even a part-time job will help bring in income while you wait for your in-home schedule to fill up.

2. Create business cards and a newsletter.

You can get free business cards on www.VistaPrint.com. You can publish a newsletter using Microsoft word. It is best to produce one every month, but even every other month is great. Fill your newsletter with helpful articles for your prospective clients. You can then leave copies of these at doctor's offices and health clinics, and mail your prospects and clients. For an example, go here:

http://www.homeexercisecoach.com/Home-Bodies-newsletter-Dec-Jan-2009.html

3. Launch a website

You need at least a brochure-type website to earn your prospects' respect (such as basic contact info, program info. for your training methods, and testimonials from your clients). If you can expand upon the site with pictures of your clients and health and fitness articles (that you can copy and paste from your newsletter) you will stand out from the crowd and be found more easily when people search for trainers online. It’s important to have a form the prospects can fill out to provide their contact info. to you. Most won’t pick up the phone and call, but they will usually provide their contact info. if they are truly interested in your services. 

Go here to read about the website program I have used with smashing success:

http://www.homeexercisecoach.com/how-i-built-this-website.html

4. Advertise

The smartest way for trainers to advertise is to use only trackable advertising methods. That is, avoid dropping wads of cash on things like a newspaper ad that are hard to determine how many clients you are generating from the ad.

If you have some money to spend, you can start a Google adwords or yahoo search marketing account to advertise your services in your area to those who search online for trainers. There are ways to track how many clients you get from this to determine if it's worthwhile.

http:///adwords.google.com/
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/

List yourself in as many free and paid yellow pages online as you can find, such as here:

www.google.com/local/add

 You can find these by searching for personal training businesses and see how they are listed in the search engines. Consider using service provider or personal trainer directories, which typically charge a fee per lead that you decide to take—and you are free to screen the lead quality and location before you purchase. Here are a couple:

http://www.findmyfitnesstrainer.com/
http://respond.com

5. Offer referral incentives to your clients.

Offer a promo such as a free personal training session for each new client referred. You will find that this is usually less expensive in the long run than paying out big money for ads that are not guaranteed to work, and your clients will appreciate the opportunity to save money.

Tips & Tactics on Getting Started

1. Arrange to provide free health and fitness seminars to increase your visibility

Businesses, schools, clubs and organizations like to feature guest speakers. Look in the yellow pages or online for opportunities, or ask your friends for ideas. Bring your business cards and newsletters, and offer a special introductory price if they sign up today. Don’t be intimidated—most groups prefer shorter talks, and the more interactive you can make it, the more your listeners will enjoy it and it takes the pressure off you! Everyone is interested in being healthier so it’s a welcomed topic.
Offer a special introductory rate to get the ball rolling.

To help generate referrals, you may want to temporarily lower your fees to get more people 'in the door' right away. The hardest part about this business is getting started. Offer a starter package with discounted fees, but be sure to explain what the normal fees are so they are not surprised when they want additional sessions. Also, explaining your normal fees will ensure that the clients take what you do seriously.

2. Don't be afraid to travel

You will have the greatest amount of regular clients in areas with a higher income. If that means you have to drive a half an hour to a client, that's OK, because most likely their neighbors can afford your services too. Once you drive to an area, you will probably be able to find other clients in that area to make your trip worthwhile. Even if you have to drive a long way for one client, keep in mind that you will earn much more money than you ever could at a health club, even factoring in the extra travel time and cost of gas.

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Guide to Knowing When to Turn Down Online Freelance Writing Jobs

How to decide if you should reject a freelance Web writing gig and knowing when to fire a client.

I want you to repeat the following two sentences out loud until you believe them wholeheartedly:  

“It is OK to turn down a Web writing gig.”  

“It is OK to fire a client.”  

One of the biggest perks of being a freelance Web writer, as opposed to a full-time writer working for a single employer, is the fact that you get to choose what kinds of clients you want to work with and what kinds of projects you want to take on.  

When money is tight, especially early in your freelance career, some writers feel as though they should take on all freelance writing jobs that come along.  

I do understand where they’re coming from. I’ve been there – wondering if you’re going to bring in enough work to pay the rent this month, worrying that you might not have enough to cover this bill or that, or knowing that you probably won’t have enough money to go out this weekend with friends. 

Believe me – I know.  

But believe this too – you need to tough it out!  

Just as no one wants to spend their life living paycheck to paycheck, you don’t want to spend your life living gig to gig. That’s what you’ll do if you never let yourself say “no.” You’ll take on gigs that don’t pay enough just to get a few dollars in-hand, when you should instead be spending that time marketing to your actual target market or building your reputation to earn much more in the long run.  

ALWAYS think about the big picture!!!  

If you’re only freelancing for some spending money, you can ignore that bit of advice. If you’re serious about making freelance Web writing a viable career, you need to take it to heart.  

This is also why I often mention the importance of “writing for yourself” by setting up additional revenue streams. You have long-term goals that you need to constantly be thinking about and working towards. That’s true when deciding to diversify your income streams, and it’s also true when it comes to deciding what clients to work with and what clients to stay away from or let go.

With that in mind, here are some situations where you would be perfectly justified in either turning down a prospective client or letting an existing client go:  

• The client won’t pay your minimum rates. When you set freelance writing rates, it's important to stick to them.
  
  
• The client is extremely “needy” (you know you’ll spend far more than your average time for this type of project).
  
  
• The client is asking you to “rewrite” something where they don’t have the legal right to contract a derivative work.
  
  
• The client wants you to write about something that you consider unethical (such as adult topics), which may affect your future reputation.
  
  
• You don’t trust the particular client (maybe you had a bad dealing with them in the past, or know others in your network that have).
  
  
• Writing for a client would be a conflict of interests (for example, writing for a non-profit dealing with gambling addiction and then being asked to write articles on poker).
  
  
• The client asks you to do something that you feel would damage your reputation – such as asking you to purposely misspell words solely for SEO, when you’re primarily hired to write authoritative, reader-targeted content.
  
  
• Even if the client will pay your minimum or regular fees, you know for a fact that you could be earning more “writing for yourself” or by promoting something you’ve already written (like an e-book) during that same time period.
  
  
• You already filled your billable hours – you shouldn’t make it a habit to sacrifice your administrative and marketing time, no matter how full your schedule is.
  
  
• You have several clients interested in hiring you, and you have the ability to be choosey – this client simply doesn’t appeal to you in comparison to the other options.

No matter how hard you try, you won’t make everybody happy. Sometimes clients you have to reject will come back to you later if they have a project that better suits you. For example, even if I have to turn down an article-writing gig due to time constraints for a multi-article project, I’ll often have the client come back to me to have a press release done later or they’ll check back to see if I have more time available down the road.  

Be “nice” about it if possible. While there are some situations that may certainly lead to bitter splits (such as a client using your content and not paying you, or a client who doesn’t live up to promises or their end of a contract), in most cases it’s a good idea to leave things on a high note. You never know if one of those people will refer you to someone else later. 

 At the same time, don’t become paranoid about hurting someone’s feelings. Remember – you’re not marketing your services to make friends (although it can be a side benefit of a strong network of colleagues); you’re in it for business. If you allow yourself to be taken advantage of, you’ll begin to hate the job you loved enough to want to pursue in the first place.

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Guide to Sell your handmade goodies to the world

a better alternative to ebay.com

I love to the idea of handmade things. Anything that is not mass produce and one of a kind. I used to sell my handmade items on ebay.com which ranged from greeting cards, organic soaps, jewelries and photographs. But at the end the overhead was too much for me to handle.

An ebay listing
- 35 cents to list an item
- 3.5% commission fee after the item is sold
- listing is up for 7 days and maximum of 10 days if you pay a bit more
- for photo you get one upload for free and the more photos the more money
- more options more money
- set up a bid or use buy it now
- if you set up a shop the monthly fees adds up pretty quickly

One day awhile surfing the web I found something that I was looking for ... etsy.com.

An etsy listing

- set up a storefront for free
- 10 cents listing per goodies and they stay up for 6 months
- 4 photos of your product to upload for free
- 3.5% commission fee per goodies sold

After setting up my shop for less than a month I sold 2 items for the price I want. And since it is a niche market cause people who browse the shop are looking for the unique handmade touch of everything. It is a great way for a small handmade goodies business to start.

If you are just starting out with selling your unique creation you definitely should check out etsy.com.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

DIY passion is the key

Anything about handmade is the passion and the love that you put into every little thing you make. You start out with making things for your friends and families. And why not for the world to enjoy your crafty creations.

I recommend: If you need some resources check out the diynetwork.com. They have sections for crafts and hobbies. Also hgtv.com.
Use your local craft stores as resources too such as Michael's and Joann's.

Join crafty groups.

I would recommend to join some local craft groups or any groups that shares your interest. It is the best way to get critiques of your work and to improve on them.

I recommend: I like flickr.com to showcase creations because you can sign up to be in groups and get critiques of your work. A great online group is getcrafty.com. Every creative needs a journal so sign up for a blog at blogger.com and start typing inspiration, ideas and showcasing your work to others.

Get raw materials.

As a crafter you should have stocks of raw materials to work with such as paperstocks, beads, yarns etc. Best way is to buy in bulk among your crafter friends. You will have more to work with and you spend less money and space for storage.

I recommend: Buy from the manufacture if you can get wholesale price. For retail stores, I like dickblick.com or misterart.com for general art supplies, michaels.com for scrapbooking and paper supplies, and joann.com for fabrics. Also do not forget to check out your local flea markets, swap meets and craft fairs.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• start with something you really love to do then expand to other things
• know your niche market you are trying to reach will help you price your goodies accordingly
• do not be discourage if something doesn't go well the first time
• if you need help don't be afraid to ask for it
• most of all have fun with it

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Guide to Solutions for Work-At-Home Parents

Can kids and work mix? Definitely – if you follow some guidelines.

You love your at-home business. You love your kids. How do you do right by both? To work successfully from home, you need:

1. Dedicated space and time for your business
2. Help with other household tasks
3. Support and ideas from other work-at-home parents

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find support

Working at home creates challenges that your traditional colleagues may not understand. Find a network of other at-home working parents to swap advice and commiseration.

I recommend: Entrepreneurial Parent and Work at Home Moms are two sites dedicated to supporting and information at-home working parents.

Get household help

Consider investing in a cleaning service or grocery delivery service to ease some of the stresses of working and living in the same place.

I recommend: Simon Delivers is a nationwide grocery home-delivery service. The Cleaning Service Directory can connect you with a local cleaning service to lighten your load.

Take advantage of short-term or virtual offices

Meeting in an office outside your home may look more professional to clients.

I recommend: HQ can provide you with rent-by-the-hour office space or a "virtual office" including mailing address, voice mail and access to private office space.

Hire childcare

If your kids are at an age where their needs can't be put off, hiring a mother's helper or in-home sitter can help you stay close by — while somebody else fetches snacks and changes diapers.

I recommend: A Nanny On The Net is a nationwide agency placing full-time nannies, while Welcome To NannyVille hooks up parents with part-time nannies and mother's helpers.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• It's easy to get distracted by household needs when you're working at home. Set — and keep — regular business hours.
• It might be tempting to work in your pajamas, but going through the motions of showering and getting dressed — even if it's in comfy clothes — can help put you in a "work" frame of mind.
• Set up separate office space, even if it's just a corner of the living room or kitchen, for your business.
• Don't isolate yourself. Going to networking meetings can help keep you connected to other adults and the outside working world.

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Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business

Get your business off the ground without leaving the house

Home-based businesses are one of the fastest-growing segments of small business ownership in America today. Work-at-home moms or dads, retirees, part-time entrepreneurs and many others are discovering ways to generate business income from a home or apartment. Starting a business from home boasts numerous advantages over an office-based location. A home-based business can:

1. Reduce startup and ongoing operating costs
2. Give you additional tax write-offs
3. Allow you the freedom to set your own hours and be with your family
4. Eliminate time wasted commuting to an office
5. Make it easier to conduct business at any time of day

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Make it legal

Before you start, make sure it's legal to run a business from home in your area. Every city, county and state has its own zoning restrictions regarding signage, on-street parking, business hours and hiring employees.

I recommend: Ask zoning questions or find a zoning lawyer at Free Advice. Or go to MegaLaw for links to state, county and municipal zoning law sites. If you live in a condominium or co-op, check your homeowners association for any restrictions regarding home businesses.

Determine if you've got what it takes

Although there are many good reasons to start a business from home, it isn't for everyone. To be successful, you've got to have strong motivation, a healthy dose of self-discipline and top-notch organizational skills.

I recommend: Take this quiz from SCORE to see if starting a home-based business is right for you.

Set up your home office

To help create a physical separation between your work and home life, choose a room that you can dedicate as an office. Every business is different but basics you'll need include a desk, chair, computer, printer, fax machine, copier, Internet service, phone system and filing cabinet.

I recommend: Find equipment and basic furnishings at Staples or design and furnish your office using IKEA's "For Your Business" space-planning tool.

Be prepared to wear all the hats

As a home-based business owner, you won't have the luxury of a big company's administrative staff to assist you with the more mundane tasks associated with running a business, such as ordering supplies, paying bills and mailing packages. Simplify time-consuming tasks so you can focus on more important things.

I recommend: Create online shopping lists for items you regularly order at Office Depot. Just check the items you want, and your order arrives at your doorstep within a day or two. Make bill paying a relatively painless chore with Quick Books. Avoid lines at the post office with Stamps.com, which lets you print postage right from your own computer.

Image is everything

Even though you may be wearing pajamas while you work from home, you never want your business to come across as amateurish or unprofessional.

I recommend: Establish a professional image with a dedicated business phone line, professional-sounding outgoing message, email with your company domain name and a website.

Separate your business and personal finances

Even if your new venture isn't a huge moneymaker yet, it's a good idea to keep your business and personal finances separate. Having business and personal checking accounts will make it easier to track business income and expenses when tax time rolls around.

I recommend: Open a business checking account at Wells Fargo.

Decide on your business address

To protect your privacy, you may want to consider using a post-office box for your mailing address. However, you should be aware that some customers are suspicious of doing business with a company that doesn't have a physical address.

I recommend: If you'd rather not use your home's physical address as your mailing address, check into a post office box or a mailbox rental that gives you a real street address rather than a P.O. box number.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Strike a balance between work and family life. Turn off the computer and turn down the ringer on the business phone when it's family time.
• When you work from home it's tempting to sleep in late. Instead, create a regular work schedule and stick to it. Your best bet is to work the same hours as your customers.
• Your new home-based venture may not be profitable immediately so consider a gradual transition from employment to business ownership. Start by running your home-based business on part-time basis to build your customer base and sales.

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Guide to NAFTA for Small Business

How to get your small business plugged into free trade with the neighbors.

Has NAFTA – the free trade deal in effect since 1994 – had an impact? You bet. The dollar value of total trade – exports plus imports – between Mexico and the United States rose 136% over the ensuing decade, while total trade with Canada jumped 85%. (U.S. trade with the entire world rose 76%, including its Nafta partners.) Nearly 37% of all U.S. trade is with those two countries, about two-thirds of that with Canada, which has had free trade with the United States since 1989. The deal phases out tariffs once as high as 250%. It includes intellectual property agreements and extends to both goods and services. The tri-country bloc moves $6.5 trillion worth of those goods and services – equal to about half of U.S. economic output – each year. While plenty of kinks remain, the fundamental reorganization of our economic relationship with Canada and Mexico has generated jobs and investment on all sides of the borders. Getting a piece of this massive business opportunity needn't be daunting. Here are some starting points:
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the ropes

If you're a beginner to exporting, you'll need to understand a lot of complex ideas, beginning with customs.

I recommend: U.S. Customs has a good, simply written FAQ-style guide for newcomers to NAFTA trade. Canada publishes a detailed guide to selling in the country. Mexico does as well. The San Diego World Trade Center has handy links to the actual forms you'll need. And the United States government's Trade Compliance Center follows closely any disputes over continuing barriers.

Start building your network

Finding out where your product fits in the trade flow can be time consuming. Luckily, the government thought of that and has built up a steady flow of data on how to get business done.

I recommend: The U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Information Center has extensive Nafta background data, including phone and address contacts by business sector, customs details, labeling rules and names of trucking firms.

Leads! Leads! Leads!

After the deal was signed, a number of Web sites promising trade leads proliferated, then died as companies made their own connections. But some still provide specific opportunities to buy or sell across NAFTA borders.

I recommend: One of the better-managed sites is at the World Trade Centers Association home page (registration required). New Mexico's International Business Accelerator has one, too. The granddaddy of them all, though, is the Federation of International Trade Associations Buy/Sell Exchange database.

Develop a government sales program

Part of the benefit of free trade – often overlooked – is selling to the biggest of all buyers, city, state and federal governments.

I recommend: Signatory countries to the World Trade Organization's agreement on government procurement are listed by the U.S. Trade Compliance Center, including links to Canadian and Mexican purchasing sites.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Products that are made from materials produced in the block can qualify, as can items that are assembled, if minimum content levels are met.
• Customers administrator in each country will give advance rulings to your product upon request. They don't want you hanging around the border any longer than needed.
• Find friends on the ground at American Chambers of Commerce (many countries have them) and U.S. Commercial Service offices in each U.S. embassy abroad.

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Guide to Protecting the Home Office

Stay safe and secure at home while you’re making money in your pajamas

The home office has become more and more ubiquitous now that business persons like yourself can get high-speed Internet access to the home, and can now easily stay in touch with video conferencing and email. Home offices have also been useful for the salesperson whose schedule means that time at their home must be multi-tasked between family and ongoing business matters. While many employers and employees rush to take advantage of the personal flexibility that home-based work allows, don’t leave the doors to the (home) office unsecured. Residences have always been targets for burglars, and they are also easy prey to network crimes since many homeowners don’t use the same kind of computer and network security they would if they were in a traditional business environment. Make sure you also think about fire safety since the kitchen is just a room or two away. The best way to examine your home office security is to assess it on these three levels: 

1. Home business insurance.
2. General home security and fire safety.
3. Computer network security

 Your thoughts on how well prepared you are in those three areas will drive how you improve your home office security, which is especially important if your home office is the one and only home of your business. Let’s get you started down the road to protection:
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Install a home security system

A home security system is a must, especially if you’re protecting business equipment and business data in addition to family members. Expect to pay at least $1,000 for a simple home security system and budget another $30 or so for monthly monitoring costs. If your home office is accessible on the ground floor, talk to the sales or system design representative about extra intrusion protection for that area.

I recommend: Brink’s Home Security and ADT are still the biggest names in the business, but many local independent alarm dealers offer exceptional service and a community presence. Consider upgrading to a system that may also offer peace-of-mind such as remote access for system management. You can even add water sensors (for leak detection)—not a bad idea if your office happens to be in a converted basement.

Reconsider your locks

While security systems are great for your security, don’t underestimate the value of a good lock. Especially if you’re increasing the importance of your home by hosting business information there, you need to make sure you have good quality locks. Make sure the door to your home office is also lockable, and not just with the quality of lock used on a lockable bathroom door (which is more for courtesy than real security).

I recommend: If your house doesn’t have a deadbolt on all exterior doors, call a locksmith right now, or if you’re handy, run down to a store like Home Depot or Lowe’s or Menard’s and buy a quality unit. Fire chiefs aren’t fond of ones that require a key to exit, but that’s an extra deterrent to a would-be thief because it makes it that much harder to exit with stolen goods. Just make sure that all family members have a key at their fingertips in case of a fire when a fast exit is required.

Examine your home’s fire safety

It’s a no-brainer that you shouldn’t overload your electrical system, even if you need a fax, a PC, a scanner, a server, a reading lamp, an external hard drive, a large monitor, a copier, a paper shredder and a coffee machine in your home office. That’s one part of fire safety, but also make sure you have good quality smoke detectors and equip your office with a small fire extinguisher to protect your business.

I recommend: Kidde is a trusted name in residential fire protection and can deliver everything from fire extinguishers to smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Professional quality smoke detectors from Honeywell can be networked in such a way that your security monitoring company can also monitor these devices. They will need to be professionally installed.

Insure your home office

The insurance industry is quite candid: Standard homeowners insurance may not sufficiently insure your home office. Many insurance contracts have a specific rider defining how much they will pay out based on home business losses or liabilities. Many limit their losses to $2,500.

I recommend: Look into a specific insurance program developed for home-based businesses like State Farm’s Business in the Home policy. These types of policies can offer business-type insurance needs like business continuity insurance, business liability and more. Trusted Choice has some excellent information on how a home-business policy differs from a standard home insurance policy.

Itemize your office purchases

Because your office may be covered to some extent by your employer’s insurance or by your specific home-based-business policy, you’ll need to create a list of your home business assets. Be very clear on what is being used for your office. Not only include all the essential office items like a computer and file systems, but think about furniture like a bookcase that may have once been solely for personal books but which now houses your business books. In summary, if you use something even partially for business, make sure it is listed in your inventory and include a value (a receipt is great) and a description.

I recommend: A receipt scanner from Neat Receipts is a great investment because it converts your receipts into a digital file that you can save on your computer. Be sure to back up that computer file of your business expenses in case it gets stolen. Quicken makes a useful Home & Business software kit that is helpful for tracking your expenses. Those records are good to have if you ever suffer a major loss.

Virus protect your computer

Today more than ever, office security is about computer security. Load up your computer with anti-virus protection, and an anti-spyware/adware program. This is especially useful if a spouse or kids might be jumping on your PC when you’re not looking. Make sure to update it constantly to get all the latest virus definitions.

I recommend: Avast! is a great anti-virus system that’s received favorable responses from corporate IT staff, and they even offer a free version for home use. Also consider a product from Symantec and McAfee to fight viruses, worms and Trojan horses. Windows Defender is a free anti-spyware program developed exclusively for Windows-based PCs.

Password protect it

Passwords are simple to use, hard to remember and, well, very useful for simple data protection. It’s a must if you can’t lock up your home office. They can be used on a macro level (lock down the entire computer) or at a micro level (lock down individual files. If your kids do their homework on the same computer you use to manage your business, you should set up different users who have different access to unique segments of the PC.

I recommend: Microsoft will allow you to protect individual files—such as those on Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel—and has information on how to do that here.  Microsoft Windows, the most common operating system on all home PCs has built-in password protection that is managed through the User Accounts function on Windows XP (and presumably handled similarly in the new Vista version of Windows). Macintosh computers running OS X have a similar system (here’s how to change or reset your passwords). Mac OS X users who have the time may also consider buying a thorough book on Mac password protection like Joe Kissell’s Take Control of Passwords in OS X.

Shred it

Home offices produce proprietary information, just like any business. Protect your privacy and that of your customers by shredding unnecessary documents.

I recommend: Drop somewhere between $30 and $100 for a paper shredder, like a Fellowes personal unit. You can browse models at stores like Office Depot and Staples as well. While you’re at it, consider a software for “shredding” old data on hard drives like HP’s StorageWorks Data Shredder Software. CyberScrub is another provider of full data destruction software.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• If possible, try to arrange your office so that only you need to enter it and that it’s not also doubling for other home functions. This lowers your level of risk.
• Having a dedicated computer for work, and another for all other home functions is ideal if your budget allows for it. This means that your teenager won’t be surfing the wide-open Net on the same machine that you depend upon for tracking sales.
• Make sure that all the electronic devices and peripherals are UL-listed, as this means they meet insurance-company standards for quality and protection.
• If you’re using a wireless router for your home network, make sure it is password protected. An unsecured network is an invitation to a hack, made all the more problematic if that router can be used to access your computer’s business files, not just your daughter’s MP3 collection.
• With more and more executives working from home, consider asking your company’s IT director/consultant and security director/consultant to give you advice on securing your home office. They may have developed best practices for home and home office security.

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Guide to Properly Insuring Your Business

Protect your business assets and income by identifying the right risks

Insurance policies come in different varieties with a tangle of wording, definitions and exclusions. You need to understand what you want to protect and be certain that you get the right amount of security from your insurer. Obtaining insurance for your business can be summarized in three basic steps:

1. Understand the different kinds of coverage and determine what kind of protection you want and what is required by law.
2. Review the coverage terms and make sure the policy gives you the level of security your business requires.
3. Put the policy to work. Familiarize yourself with claims filing, deadlines and ways to update the policy as your company grows.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the terminology

You need to know how risks are defined, what coverage you are getting - property/casualty, liability, workers compensation - and the policy terms.

I recommend: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a guide with an insurance-needs checklist and glossary.  Q&A's are available from the Insurance Information Institute and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association.  The Nonprofit Risk Management Center provides annual webinars on the fundamentals.

Determine what you need

Examine your company's risks before shopping for a policy so you are ready to answer the insurer's questions.

I recommend: Check out the International Risk Management Institute to learn more about the subject.

Get quotes

Agents and brokers sell the policy and provide support services after the purchase. Online quote requests enable you to compare multiple instant options to get the best price for the best coverage.

I recommend: Before you buy insurance from anyone, check the insurer’s rating with A.M. Best.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• A multi-coverage business owners policy (BOP) may be all you need, but ask about additional specialty policies, like e-commerce insurance, for your particular niche.
• Price is not everything. The lowest cost may not provide enough protection, but don't waste money on risks that your company can afford.
• The differences are fading between agents (who work for the insurer) and brokers (who work for you). But be aware if the agent is affiliated with multiple organizations or just one.
• In certain industries, reasonably priced insurance coverage is difficult to find, so organizations band together to form a pool, or a self-financed and administered group insurance program.

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Guide to Properly Insuring a Home-based Business

Homeowners allowance is not enough; you charge get specific advantage to assure your home-based business

There are four options for insuring your home-based business:

1. Homeowners Action Endorsement. This agency advantageous a little added to aggregate up on how abundant you can balance for acreage losses, but about does not awning all the accountability issues you may face.

2. Home-Based Business Policy. This stand-alone action can be purchased as an accession to your homeowners advantage or alone from a altered insurer. It can accommodate the accident of business-related abstracts and papers, business interruption, a baby cardinal of advisers and accountability for business audience and products.

3. Business Owners Action (BOP). These are the broad-based behavior that best baby businesses use. The advantage actuality is about the aforementioned as the home-based business policy, alone with greater aegis and added options for additions like malpractice.

4. Self-Insurance. This is acclimated mostly by ample corporations that can bear ample losses. Instead of advantageous an allowance exceptional anniversary year, the business invests the money, and hopes that the absorption accrued covers any approaching loss.

Action Steps

The best contacts and assets to admonition you get it done

Understand what you need

Review the altered types of business accident and the allowance programs that awning them.

I recommend: The U.S. Baby Business Administration (SBA) provides a adviser with an insurance-needs account and glossary. Click-through capacity and Q&A's are accessible from the Allowance Information Institute (III) and the Absolute Allowance Agents & Brokers of America.

Identify what's at risk

What do you charge to protect? Take an account of your property. Assess how continued your business can survive an abeyance afore it is terminal.

I recommend: The Allowance Information Institute's Know Your Stuff is a chargeless affairs for the accomplished house, but includes tips on what to accommodate from your home office.

Find a action that works for you

What are the risks to your business? How abundant or how little aegis do you need? Be abstemious with your evaluation. Review the packaged options that insurers or absolute brokers action to get an abstraction of the options and the cost.

I recommend: Learn added about accident administration from the International Accident Administration Institute.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful admonition for authoritative the best of this Guide

* Know what your archetypal homeowner's action does NOT accommodate back it comes to your home-based business: Appointment accessories is about covered for no added than $2,500, which will acceptable not awning alike your computer and printer if they are baseborn or destroyed. Accountability for bodies afflicted in your home is alone covered for amusing visits, not business clients.

* If you accept employees, you may additionally accept to attending into purchasing abstracted workers' advantage and bloom insurance.

* If you're attractive to save money, alone get the advantage you need, not all the accretion and whistles.

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Guide to Business Owner Insurance Basics

Identify your risks and get the right coverage

Insurance may seem like an expensive purchase for your small business, but it's an important safeguard against the many risks facing your company.  Lawsuits, natural disasters and injuries to you or your employees could threaten your business at any time, so knowing the basics of business insurance is critical.

The most affordable way to insure your small business is a Business Owner's Policy (BOP), which bundles several of the basic insurance policies into one neat package. You can get instant BOP quotes online at a variety of insurance comparison websites. BOPs offer less flexibility when determining your coverage limits, but they usually provide you with the chief insurance you need:

1. General liability insurance protects your business assets if someone is injured as a result of using your product, or is injured in the general operation of your business, or if negligent acts or omissions result in bodily injury or property damage on your premises. In the event of these misfortunes, general liability insurance will cover the cost of the damages and also the legal fees and other costs associated with your legal defense.  

2. Property and casualty insurance covers your physical property, such as office furniture, company machines, and the building structure, in the event of burglary, fire or hazardous weather.  

3. Business Interruption Insurance protects your income and any expenses incurred to keep your business going in the event of natural or man-made disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, or explosions.

While a BOP provides you with the essentials, there are still other insurance policies that may be necessary for your business:

1. Workers' compensation is required in almost every state. This insurance protects you from lawsuits resulting from workplace accidents and provides medical and rehabilitation care and compensation for lost income to injured employees. 

2. Professional liability insurance is critical in many industries for additional liability coverage.  Errors and omissions insurance (E&O), or professional liability insurance is common for consultants, accountants and medical practitioners because it protects against negligence or errors in their work. Another add-on is employment practices liability insurance (EPLI), which protects your business against wrongful termination, sexual harassment or race and gender discrimination claims.

3. Business vehicle insurance is necessary if you have any company cars, trucks or other vehicles. As with personal auto insurance, you can save money by raising your deductible or forgoing comprehensive and collision coverage.

4. Umbrella policies provide an extra layer of coverage in case your other policies leave certain liabilities uninsured or don't have high enough limits.  Contracts with landlords or vendors sometimes require high limits of insurance, and an umbrella policy would allow you to increase your coverage.

Compare quotesOnce you've identified which policies are right for you, shop around to compare prices.  Joining a trade association in your industry or a group such as the National Federation of Independent Businesses can get you special rates on small-business policies.

Connect with an agent
While price is important, it's more important that you find the right coverage for your business. A good commercial insurance broker can save you money and find a policy that meets your business needs.

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Guide to Business Insurance for the Self-Employed

Even without a group insurance plan you can still protect your business

If you're one of the more than 10 million self-employed Americans, don't let insurance stress you out.  If you're looking for ways to insure your sole-proprietor enterprise, here's a plan to get you covered:

1. Join a network of other self-employed business owners, whose purpose is to unite and assist people like you.  The National Federation of Independent Businesses offers access to insurance resources and savings programs to its members.  And the National Association for the Self-Employed has various types of insurance plans set up for self-employed workers.

2. Determine which of the various types of insurance you need.  Health insurance is typically the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about insurance coverage.  But there's other coverage to consider, including disability insurance and professional liability insurance.

3. Research the specific plans and rates that work best for you.  Find affordable insurance and save time by getting instant quotes online.

Health insurance
Healthinsurance.org is one of the many Web sites offering quotes with just your zip code, gender and age.  These sites cover a variety of different plans for you to choose from, including affordable low-premium, high-deductible policies to provide you with basic coverage in case of emergency.

Disability insuranceAs a self-employed individual, you don't have the luxury of paid sick leave if you need to miss work, which makes disability insurance extremely important.  Most disability policies have waiting periods of one to six months after the onset of sickness or injury before benefits kick in. 

If your business is your only source of income, choose a plan with as short a waiting period as possible to keep you afloat should you need an extended leave.  However, shorter waiting periods often result in higher premiums.  

Errors and Omissions insurance
Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance is professional liability insurance that commonly covers doctors, attorneys, accountants, engineers, stockbrokers and other skilled workers in case of negligence lawsuits.  These plans can be expensive because of potential litigation costs.  Premiums depend on your experience level, the size of your business and the claims history of your industry.

E&O policies vary in price, depending on your industry, geographical location and coverage limit.  E&O Coverage of America requires only a short online application for sign up and usually processes coverage in one day.  Alternatively, NetQuote.com can help put you in touch with several licensed insurance companies that offer competitive E&O quotes.

Get in-person help
For face-to-face guidance, schedule a consultation with an agent familiar with your industry. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America can connect you with an agent in your area.

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Guide to Creativity and Innovation for Small Business

Creativity and innovation put you on the road to market leadership

You have to be extraordinary agile to keep up with today's constantly changing competitive environment. The best way to ensure lasting success is to make sure that everyone in your company is encouraged and rewarded for thinking and behaving creatively. Create a culture of creativity and innovation and you will:

1. Continue to deliver products and/or services that are valuable to your customers
2. Establish yourself as a market leader
3. Build a more vibrant and engaged workforce
4. Become an expert at identifying and acting upon great ideas

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Encourage brainstorming and idea generation

Innovation is essentially the introduction of something new - the concrete result of creative ideas. With the right tools, everyone can be taught to think creatively.

I recommend: Ten Ways to Spark Creativity will help you jumpstart the process. Go to Invention-Help.com for some simple brainstorming tools. Try a creativity coach: check one out at Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching.

Listen to your customers

Your customers are often your best source of new ideas. Ask them how they'd like your product or service improved, but also master the art of observing them. Look for trouble spots; they're your opportunity for innovation.

I recommend: Follow the steps in Turn Customer Input into Innovation.

Develop systematic methods for evaluating new ideas

Consider all ideas, even the ones that seem a little crazy. But make sure you evaluate them objectively before investing time and money bringing them to market.

I recommend: For step-by-step advice on assessing ideas, go to Planware.org. Also check out The Innovation Managers Check-List.

Protect new inventions

Great ideas breed copycats. First, do a thorough patent search to make sure you're not infringing on anyone else's territory, and then register your own patent or copyright.

I recommend: If you have an idea for a new product, see The Inventor's Handbook to find out whether your idea is patentable. Go to The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to do trademark and patent searches. Access patent application forms on this page of the USPTO site. File a USPTO trademark application here.

Reward success (and failure!)

Employees need to feel invested in innovation, so reward them for suggesting great ideas that fly and for "failing fast" with ones that don't quite get off the ground.

I recommend: Follow the University of Washington's Principles for Successful Employee Recognition.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Customers can't always articulate their needs, so instead of asking them about your product or service, watch them using it and look for trouble spots.
• Educate employees about the rules of engagement for brainstorming (i.e. no negative comments!).
• If you've invented a new product, seek legal advice on patents and trademarks immediately.
• Great innovation breeds copycats, so stay one step ahead of the competition by innovating continuously, not just once.
• Prototype new ideas as quickly as possible to give them form and substance.

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Guide to Project Time Tracking and Billing

How to track time and bill clients properly for your business projects

Whether your projects are big or small, your business should have a way to efficiently and accurately track time and bill clients. Most firms rely on software to get the job done accurately. Whatever you choose, remember that when you streamline your company's time and billing practices, the end result is an increased cash flow and a better bottom line. The top three things you should do to track and bill for your company's projects are:

1. Make and follow a To-Do List.
2. Track times using the best computer resources and software.
3. Analyze time expenditures against your company's goals and priorities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Tackle the to-do list

The to-do list is vital for any project, especially those with multiple parts. This sets forth all tasks – big and small – to be completed, and lets you and your employees work on one item at a time, so nothing slips through the cracks.

I recommend: Check out TimeTiger, a "one-click," Web-based time and project tracking system with many benefits, including a track-as-you-work system. There's a free trial download.

Use the top tracking software

Tracking and billing time manually on a project is difficult for even the most organized business. Instead, look to specially designed software to tackle the job for you.

I recommend: One great solution is BillQuick Software - you choose the best version, add-ons, and pricing for your company. The software comes with over 400 invoices and reports. Order their Free Evaluation CD to see if this software will work for you.

Track time and expenses

Check out the various software choices available for project tracking and billing, rather than choosing the first one you find. Look for software that is customizable or small business-focused.

I recommend: Netsuite Small Business can track and process job and customer-related expenses with a single click. Remote employees can track/bill projects from their off-site locations, allowing for quicker cash collection.

Analyze time and billing to estimate future project success

During and after a project is completed, take a close look at how you and your employees used your time and whether this project (and this client) was profitable for your company. Was this project and its time/profitability in keeping with your company's goals?

I recommend: Activity & Expense Tracker includes detailed invoices and reports, and offers a free 10-day trial. Visit Timewatch for scheduling and project management solutions that include tracking and billing projects for your telecommuting and traveling employees.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Customize: Look for customizable tracking and billing resources.
• Delegate: Whenever possible, to your employees.
• Outsource: If you're running solo, outsource some work to free time up for the tasks you, the business owner, must handle.
• Just Say "No": Be choosy in the projects you accept – do not bother with those that drain workplace productivity.
• Bill incrementally: Want to improve your cash flow? Then bill at project landmarks or specified time increments for larger projects.

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Guide to Small Business Accounting Guide to Small Business Accounting Software

Choose a financial program that fits your needs and your budget

Gone are the days when paper-based ledgers were the only option to track key accounting tasks. Now, a plethora of small business accounting software choices are available. Accounting software can help your business in numerous ways: reducing errors, saving time, organizing customer data, streamlining payroll and giving you a complete view of your company's financial status. With a clear picture of your financials, you can make smarter business decisions.

Before choosing among software accounting systems, here are some key questions:

1. Can it scale or upgrade if my business grows?
2. Is it easy to learn and easy to use?
3. Does it have all the features I need?
4. Does it have features I don't need?
5. Will it run on my computer?
6. Will it work on an office network?
7. Does the vendor offer online and phone support?
8. Is the price right for my needs?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

QuickBooks rules the roost in small business accounting software

The leading small business accounting software offers many products to fit your needs. Simple Start, its most basic version, is ideal for sole proprietors and tracks sales and expenses, prints checks, pays bills and prepares invoices. More powerful, yet still easy-to-use versions are geared for multi-users in growing small businesses. They work with Microsoft Office and offer additional features, such as managing payroll, forecasting, budgeting and tracking inventory. QuickBooks also offers industry-specific accounting systems for retailers, professional services, manufacturers, nonprofits, wholesalers/distributors, contractors and accountants.

I recommend: Take a quick interview at the QuickBooks Web site to determine which program is best for you or compare features.

Try Microsoft small business accounting software for familiarity

If you like the familiarity of Microsoft Office, its Small Business Accounting software may be a snap to learn. This comprehensive accounting software suite includes inventory management, sales order and purchase order processing, job tracking, banking and payroll. If you only need basic accounting help, this program may offer more than you need.

I recommend: Microsoft Small Business Accounting provides a comparison chart with other leading accounting software programs so you can decide which one fits your needs.

Try MYOB small business accounting software for Mac

MYOB offers three accounting systems for Mac users, two for Windows users. Its basic version handles simple accounting needs, including banking, sales, expenses and customer management. In its more sophisticated versions, you'll get a comprehensive accounting software suite with tools such as forecasting, budgeting, banking, sales and receivables, purchases and payables, time billing, payroll, inventory management, contact management, appointment scheduling, employee file management and even logo design.

I recommend: MYOB offers a free trial version of its software so you can give it a test drive.

Try Peachtree small business accounting software for an entry level solution

Choose from four options: a basic, standard, advanced or premium program. If you're in start-up mode, or you're just switching from manual accounting systems to business accounting software, try Peachtree First Accounting. This entry-level solution offers simple check writing, invoicing and accounts receivable. Look into its more souped-up versions if you need inventory management, payroll solutions, time billing, job costing or depreciation calculations for fixed assets. Check out industry-specific accounting software for construction, distribution, manufacturing, nonprofits and accountants.

I recommend: Peachtree offers demos and a side-by-side comparison of features to help you choose a suitable product, or click on "Right Choice for My Business?" under each product heading and answer a few questions to zero in on a program.

Try MultiLedger small business accounting software for a networked solution

A networkable accounting solution, CheckMark's MultiLedger allows up to 10 users to manage jobs, track cash flow, monitor accounts receivable and accounts payable, calculate commissions and manage inventory.

I recommend: Download a demo version MultiLedger of so you can test drive the features

Try Simply Accounting small business accounting software for a growing business

Designed for Microsoft Office users, Sage's Simply Accounting comes in a Basic version designed for smaller businesses and a Pro version for growing businesses. With Basic, a single user can write checks, track projects, manage inventory, handle payroll, track taxes and create budgets. The Pro version lets up to six users handle time and billing, departmental accounting and multiple price lists. It also lets you create orders, invoices and time slips using your Pocket PC.

I recommend: Sign up for a free trial of Simply Accounting, or check out the comparison chart to choose which version is right for you.

Consider online accounting systems

Instead of installing an accounting software solution onto a single PC or network; you can buy access to accounting solutions hosted online for a monthly fee. The upside is that you (or your accountant) can access your business's financial records using a Web browser; the downside is that you must have a live Web connection to work with your online accounting application.

I recommend: Check out Intacct Express, QuickBooks Online Edition, ePeachtree and NolaPro.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• If you're new to business accounting, consider a solution that also has books - as opposed to online help guides - available to step you through accounting software and the accounting process.
• As you evaluate small business accounting software packages, make sure that your industry-specific versions or add-ons are priced right for your needs, and that you buy the correct version - for example, "basic," "pro" or "enterprise."
• If more than one person will use your accounting software from more than a single computer, make sure that your version will run on a network and/or is priced right for multiple licenses.
• Don't always choose based only a price. A solution that saves you $30 might cost you hours of time if it's harder to use or requires customization.

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Guide to Finding an Accountant or CPA

When picking an accountant for your business, choose wisely because you'll be sharing some of the most sensitive and intimate details of your business with this person. You'll be relying on your accountant to help you keep your finances in order, your books balanced and your taxes filed properly and on time. Finding the right financial professional for your business is a task that you should approach seriously and thoughtfully to make sure you find someone you trust and who meets your needs. Hiring a good accountant or CPA can help you:

1. Keep your company's finances running smoothly
2. Meet your tax obligations properly
3. Watch for unusual or improper financial transactions
4. Avoid tax audits
5. Do long-range financial planning for your business

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get recommendations or locate an accounting pro online

Referrals are an effective way of finding an accountant in your area. Ask business associates, your banker, your financial planner or your lawyer. You might also want to get referrals from accounting associations or online databases.

I recommend: For online searches try Accountants World or CPA Directory.

Decide what services you need

Start your search with a clear picture of what you want your new accountant to do. If all you need is help filing your taxes, you may need no more than a tax preparer. But if you're like most business owners, you'll benefit from an accountant who can prepare financial statements, conduct audits and perform other financial chores.

I recommend: See "Working With Your Accountant" for a discussion of business financial tasks, including those you might want to do yourself and others you would likely want to have an accountant do.

Interview candidates

Once you know what types of services you want, start lining up candidates for interviews. It's a good idea to interview several candidates so you can compare services and costs. Your ideal candidate should not only know accounting but also should have some familiarity with your type of business. You also need to find someone you feel comfortable sharing your finances with.

I recommend: For help in interviewing candidates, see SCORE's list of essential questions you should ask. Inc. Magazine provides additional tips for the interview process.

Get written estimates

You want to hire the best accountant you can, but also stay within your budget. Accounting fees vary widely, depending on the size of the firm, the expertise of the accountant and the level of service. Once you have all your written estimates, evaluate and rate them.

I recommend: Most spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Excel, can be used to create a grid for evaluating various aspects of the estimates you receive. Try to rate each candidate in specific areas and then give each one a final score.

Sign an engagement letter

When you've decided on an accountant, you'll most likely enter into an agreement for services called an engagement letter. This document, usually drafted by your accountant or CPA, sets forth what services will be provided and at what cost. Some smaller accounting services still operate on little more than a handshake agreement. An engagement letter is more typical today. Be sure you read and understand the contents of the engagement letter and that you agree to the terms and conditions.

I recommend: The Oregon Society of CPAs has a helpful discussion of engagement letters, including what they are and why an account will ask that you sign one.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Take your time: Don't feel rushed into making a decision that you'll regret later. Take a week or two to do a thorough search.
• Join a club: One good source of referrals is by networking through a local service organization like a rotary club or a chamber of commerce.
• Do it yourself: You can save money by doing some accounting functions yourself or by hiring a basic accountant instead of a Certified Public Accountant, who has a higher level of training. Be sure your bank loans don't require a CPA.
• Review your engagement letter: Things change, and so do businesses. Review your engagement letter periodically to see if it needs to be revised to reflect changes in your situation.

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