Virtual Assistants A New Breed of Work at Home Entrepreneurs

According to a 2004 study, the Center for Womens Business Research reports there are an estimated 10.6 million privately-held, 50% or more women-owned firms in the U.S., accounting for nearly half (47.7%) of all privately-held firms in the country. Astonishing, isnt it?

Its the dream of millions to start their own business and utilize their computer to make money at home. Now, with the help of Diana Ennen and Kelly Poelkers latest book, Virtual Assistant The Series, 3rd Edition (29.95, Another 8 Hours Publishing), its a reality! With the latest technologies, the rapid growth of the Internet, and the business community recognizing the benefits of partnering with a qualified virtual assistant, the virtual revolution has begun. And there is no end in sight!

What started out in the 80s as home-based word processors has grown into what we are seeing today. The local limitations are gone. The boundaries are erased. Modern advancements and the sheer power of the Internet coupled with enterprising, cutting edge entrepreneurs such as these authors have skyrocketed this industry. They know the technology. They have the resources. And theyve written the book on it! A book so powerful that its cited as the bible for the virtual assistant industry. Virtual Assistant The Series is currently used as training material for VA courses including: Virtual Assistance U, an online training center for virtual professionals; Red Deer Colleges VA Certification Program (in Canada); and other higher level learning organizations and colleges who are recognizing the potential for growth and continued education in the VA industry.

Priscilla Y. Huff, Author of 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women, 3rd. rev .ed, states, Its more than just a startup manual, it is written by professional virtual assistants (VAs) who combine their knowledge and experience with practical tips from other successful VAs to help ensure your own success in this exciting new venture. Virtual Assistant The Series is an essential tool for launching one of the most exciting new entrepreneurial venturesbecoming a professional virtual assistant.

This book leaves no stone unturned. Virtual Assistant The Series is a complete guide to starting and running a successful and PROFITABLE practice. It covers the nuts and bolts that are the foundation of a successful practice including business and financial planning, bookkeeping, marketing, and setting up a business. Plus it offers information on domain registration, creating a web site, and most importantly, how and where to find clients.

Virtual Assistant The Series: Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA 3rd Edition Revised ISBN # 0-9742790-5-6 is available at Amazon, Borders, and online bookstores everywhere also at www.VA-TheSeries for 29.95 plus 5.00 shipping and handling. (First and second editions published under the title Up Close and Virtual).

Small businesses have many challenges to stay afloat. Many budding entrepreneurs think that all they need is an idea or product, a name for their small business, and a bit of work and the product will sell itself and money will come rolling in. If you have ever run a small business – even a home based business – you will know there’s much more to it than that!

The first thing you, as a potential small business owner must always do, is research your market. Then research your competition, then the available supply for your product or service, and find your unique selling position. This alone can take weeks often months.

Once you are satisfied that there is a market for your product or service then you need to sort out your business plan and cash flow projections.

Small businesses may appear low cost but many suck up substantial capital before they turn a profit so now, unless you are very fortunate, you must sort out how to finance your small business. Do you remortgage your house? look for investment partners? borrow from friends or family? or approach the bank? Whichever you choose you need to convince others that your small business will be profitable and they will get a return on their money.

Once finances are in place the hard work starts. You may have premises to arrange, suppliers to sort out, staff to recruit and mangage, accounts to keep, products to design or source, lawyers to consult, accountants to hire and we must not forget in all of this market and get the all important customers to look at and purchase your products.

To do that you have to advertise your small business, but where and at what cost? Don’t forget you have to provide customer support and accept returns. Then there’s waste disposal … and on and on.

Who’s paying for all of this – in simple terms you, and your friends, investors andor your bank are paying, until you are selling sufficient product or service to cover the costs – usually many months or even years away.

New small businesses rarely return a profit in the first year and frequently not for two or three years. Make sure you can finance it properly.

Is it worth doing it? That’s your decision but every year tens of thousands of people do start their own business and many are succesful and reap the rewards of all that hard work. But many also fail, and all too often it’s due to lack of preparation

If you’re about to set off on your new business venture prepare well and Good Luck. With good planning, persistence and a lot of hard work you too can build a profitable small business.

The 12 Most Common Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make & how to avoid them

A large number of people who start their own business do not realize how much work and time will be involved. They fail to carry out any primary research and as a result become quickly overwhelmed.

Perhaps the first question to ask yourself then is whether you are in fact ready to start your own business. Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset? Are you committed to spend all the time you need to succeed? And are you ready to take massive action?

At first, you will have to wear many different hats; you will be the CEO, the general manager, the accountant, the salesperson, the computer technician, the secretary, the receptionist. You must therefore prepare yourself because there will be days when you are disappointed, depressed, or frustrated. You have to realize that success will not happen overnight. And it may take a year or two before you achieve your expected results.

To avoid these disappointments, here are The 12 Most Common Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make & How to Avoid Them:

Mistake # 1 – Failure to spend enough time researching the business idea to see if it’s viable
Numbers of new entrepreneurs have often failed because they were not truly interested in the business; they were more interested in making money. It is important to start something that you really like, because you will be spending a lot of time on it.
Your assignment Spend all the time you need working on your business plan, which should include: your mission statement, your business strategy, research on your target market (demographics), industry analysis (size, economics, trends, success factors, challenges, etc.), your marketing plan, your financial projections and sales.

Mistake # 2 – Failure to determine whether the business actually adds value
The most sustainable businesses, those that withstand the test of time, provide value by performing a service that people need.
Your assignment Make sure your products or services provide value and benefit to your clients. Be ready to solve any business problems that your clients may have.

Mistake # 3 – Failure to gain a complete and total understanding of the business
Every business has drivers; hot buttons and key levers. What drivers exist in your business?
Many business leaders, executives and management consultants would say that success largely depends on attention to detail.
Your assignment Understand all the aspects of your business, and of particular importance, know how to present them in an easy and simple manner.

Mistake # 4 – Failure to describe the business in only one or two sentences
No doubt youve experienced the entrepreneur whose business is so technical or complex that he cannot explain the concept in plain English. Or, it takes 20 minutes to convey the purpose of the business. What value or benefits does your business offer?
Your assignment Have an efficient 15 to 60 second elevator pitch that introduces you, your business mission, focuses on the benefits you provide and makes you and your business memorable.

Mistake # 5 – Failure to conduct the primary research
There are many great ideas you can latch on to, but the key in business is to make sure the ideathe central theme or mission of your business venturecan attract customers and generate sales and profits. A great idea in and of itself is not enough to start a business.
Your assignment Take the time to gain experience, study the business, understand what makes the business work (how to serve the customers and generate profits) and what leads to losses.

Mistake # 6 – Failure to contact professionals who can help you get started
Numbers of new entrepreneurs ask their friends and family for advice when starting a new business. The problem is that they often ask people who have never started a business; so in reality, these people are not in a position to offer sound advice.
Your assignment Get a mentor or two. Surround yourself with experts who possess skills and expertise that you lack. Team up with professionals who can complement your strengths and cover for your weaknesses.

Mistake # 7 Failure by underestimating financial requirements
Do you know how much capital you need to start your business? Do you know the market, did you calculate your cost, did you project your sales, do you know the number of clients you need? Do you know how long it will take before you get your first benefits or before you will run out of money?
Your assignment Invest the time to work on ALL aspects, especially the major ones, of your business before you start.

Mistake # 8 – Failure to make marketing a priority
Many new entrepreneurs start their business without determining their target, niche and demography first and as a result have failed to attract any clients. Marketing should be one of your top priorities. Devising a marketing plan will help you determine how to promote your products or services and create a system that will generate more clients for your business.
Your assignment Dedicate a good portion of your time and energy to working on and implementing your marketing plan. Set up a meeting with yourself once a week to work on your marketing plan and whatever happens never cancel this meeting; it is essential for your business.

Mistake # 9 Failure by under-budgeting the marketing costs
Today the world is overcrowded with businesses and probably a number of those in your market perform essentially the same functions as you do. This means that you have to differentiate yourself from them by making your business stand out. Publicity is essential to your livelihood; otherwise you will not attract any customers.
Your assignment Make sure you have a strategy that puts the word out there. Provide adequate publicity, business cards and marketing materials that project a professional image. Dont try to save money on these; they are reflecting your business. A cheap business card or flyer will not make a professional impact.

Mistake # 10 – Failure to focus on the business
Many new entrepreneurs are energetic and enthusiastic people (which is essential to success), but they can also be overly optimistic and pursue too many targets and directions at once. This typically results in mediocre results. Define your business mission as succinctly and narrowly as possible. When you move in too many directions at once, especially in the early days of your business, you are likely to fail to execute anything correctly; so you end up working on the business instead of in the business. In other words, you will spend all your time operating each task on your own. You wont have the time to sit back, and decide on the best way to develop your own marketing plan, create new products, or improve your services.
Your assignment Know you goals. Put them in writing. Make sure they are realistic, specific and measurable and that you set yourself a deadline to achieve them.

Mistake # 11 – Failure by over-marketing
Once you have developed your product or service and have perfected your offering, you may think that your offering is the best in your marketplace. But unfortunately, to be efficient you cant sell to everyone. You need to select a specific target market and stick to it. By doing this you will have a more efficient message and will more likely achieve success much sooner.
Your assignment Carefully determine your niche, your demography, your ideal clients, where they go, what they read, what their hobbies are, etc. Once you have a full understanding of your clients profile you will then have a full understanding of how and where to find more of them.

Mistake # 12 – Failure to follow-up with clients
Many new entrepreneurs are often so desperate to constantly find new clients that they neglect the clients they already have and in fact end up losing business. Statistics show that it takes seven more interactions to secure a new client than to sell more to a repeated client. So develop and maintain a useful and organized follow-up system to offer new services to your clients and dont let them slip away.
Your assignment Constantly and consistently communicate with your current clients.
Start a newsletter, offer special sales, create new products to upsell, join affiliate programs if you dont have your own products. People who have already bought from you will appreciate it when you recommend other products. Statistics show that up to one out of three clients will take advantage of this new offer. It is essential to build a very, very special relationship with your clients. They are your best audience.

If you have a business idea, but are unsure how to get started, or already own a business, but have not yet achieved the results or success you were hoping for, check out my book: “Start Your Dream Business Today! The Proven 11 Steps to Start and Grow Your Own Business”, a simple yet informative and easy to follow step-by-step guide to everything a new entrepreneur should know when starting a business.
Get it today by going to www.StartYourDreamBusinessToday.com. Youll also get lot of other ideas and resources to help YOU Start Your Dream Business and I will save you time and lot of money, as I did for my clients.

2006 Biba F. Pdron

Every day, the 25 million U.S. small-business owners juggle countless tasks including purchasing supplies, leading meetings, interacting with customers and handling finances. Business owners are often so preoccupied with daily operations, they lose sight of the bigger picture and neglect planning and investing.

Although filing a tax return may rank as one of the biggest causes of stress for a business owner, a subsequent refund check is an opportunity to reinvest in the company. Instead of simply using the money for operating expenses, small-business owners should direct the money into long-term purchases benefiting the company.

How to invest? Often, small businesses struggle to seem as credible and professional as larger competitors. A great investment is a key technology tool allowing the business, its people and the work to shine throughout the years.

Project an image of professionalism. For example, a digital projector promises a smooth, impactful presentation to clients and partners each and every time. Weighing a little over five pounds, products such as InFocus’ Work Big IN24 and IN26 are flexible projectors giving anyone who needs to demonstrate expertise in a persuasive presentation a tool to engage the audience. These long-lasting and dependable products fill a wall or screen with bright, vivid and crisp images, capturing every detail in a sales presentation, a pitch to win new business or a video montage to provoke interactive brainstorming sessions.

Get financially organized. Another great investment is small- business software to streamline tasks and reduce the hours spent on work not central to the business. The timesavings gained mean more energy can be directed elsewhere in the business. For example, software such as Microsoft Money Small Business has features to help manage business finances and better plan investments. It’s easy to create invoices, track spending and manage payroll with the intuitive tools in Microsoft Money.

Don’t wait to update! Beginning with tax refunds, business owners should commit to updating technology regularly. A few small investments can make employees more productive and enthusiastic. And the InFocus projector and Microsoft software are deductible expenses, qualifying for a discount of up to 35 percent.

Mail Forwarding Service: Great for Small Business Owners Working from Home

Mail Forwarding Service: Great for Small Business Owners Working from Home

Each day there are multiple individuals who think about developing their own small business. A small business can include selling merchandise or offering personal services. With a goal and a great business plan it is possible to develop a small business, but due to financial reasons may business owners make the decision to work from home. Owing and operating a small business from home has its advantages, but there are disadvantages as well.

One of the biggest disadvantages to developing a small business from home is how it looks to other people. It is hard to explain why, but there are some people in the world who have a difficult time understanding that it is possible to work from home. A common myth associated with home workers is that they dont always work when they should be. Of course this myth is untrue, but it could have a negative impact on your business.

There are many cases where a customer will not be able to tell whether or not a small business is being operated out of a home. If items are being mailed to and from a small business then the mailing address might give the business location away. Before going any farther it is important to note that not all people have a problem doing business with a company that is home operated, but there are some who do. To prevent your home business address from becoming a problem you could use a mail forwarding service.

A mail forwarding service is a service that is typically offered by an individual or company that specializes in promoting a healthy link between businesses and clients. Each mail forwarding service is likely to differ; however, many mail forwarding services are able to give a home based small business owner a new business address. This address will likely to be an address for a large city, which is something that may appeal to many clients. Having an address in a large city may allow you shed the working from home image.

Providing a new address is not the only aspect of a mail forwarding service. Since you are using an address that you are not located at you may wonder how your mail will get to you. This is where the forwarding part comes in. The individual or company running the mail forwarding service will forward your mail to your real address where you will be able to receive it with only a day few days delay. The exact amount of delay it will take for you to get your mail will all depend on how far away you are located from the mail forwarding service.

As a small business owner you must take the appropriate steps to protect your business and its assets. That is why it is important to considering using a mail forwarding service, especially if you are a small business owner who works from home.

If your small business is growing rapidly, you might consider incorporating the business to help it reach its full potential. To incorporate business is not difficult, but there is a process to follow. This step-by-step guide will help you get on the right track.

Prepare for Incorporation

To prepare for incorporation, first choose your primary business location. If your business operates in only one state, you will need to incorporate in that state. If your business operates in multiple states, then you have the option to choose which state to incorporate in, usually the state that’s more business friendly when it comes to taxes and laws pertaining to business.

Next, select a name for your corporation. Check with your Secretary of State to make sure the name you choose is not already taken by another company. Also, do research online to be sure the name is not taken by another business and doesn’t have a patent by another company or individual. Once you’re sure the name is free to use, you can register your company name. The name will likely need to be registered as “Doing Business As” or “DBA.”

Choose a Filing Agent

The next step is to decide who will register your corporation, receive forms for incorporation, and file your paperwork. The least expensive route is to do all paperwork yourself, but if you’re completely new to incorporation, you’ll benefit tremendously by hiring an agent. The agent must live in the state where you will incorporate the business. The agent may be an attorney who provides incorporation services or the agent can be a service that specializes in incorporation. Hiring a service is usually far less expensive than hiring an attorney.

Develop a Corporate Structure

Whether you’re the only member or shareholder of your company or you already have multiple shareholders, you should determine a corporate structure before registering the corporation. To structure the company means to determine how the stock will be spread among shareholders along with other rights such as voting rights and finances. Be sure everyone is in agreement with the structure and put everything in writing before filing your paperwork to incorporate the company.

Next, put together your corporate by-laws, or a set of rules that determine how board members will be elected, their duties, how and when board meetings are to be held, and other important details of how the corporation will be operated.

Ready to File
Now you’re ready to obtain an Employee Identification Number (EIN) and select a board of directors for your company. Once these two tasks are accomplished, check to be sure you have all necessary paperwork and check the company name availability once again to be on the safe side. Now, you’re ready to file your corporate paperwork for registration.

Forming an LLC – Know the Difference

Keep in mind that forming a corporation differs from forming an LLC (Limited-Liability Company). When you form an LLC, your business will be treated as a sole proprietorship or partnership under federal and state tax laws. You will be required to report profits and losses, income, credits, and deductions on your individual tax return.

Corporations, on the other hand, pay taxes on the company’s profits. The shareholders are treated as individual employees, and each receive their own salaries and file their personal tax returns separately. LLC formation requires less paperwork and has fewer legal issues than a corporation.

If you’re pressed for time and want to get things moving quickly with your company’s incorporation, there are websites available to help you incorporate online. These sites provide printable paperwork, state-by-state instructions, and other helpful items to make it easier than ever to incorporate your business.

Sounds easy, well it is. First, get to know who your investors are going to be. If you are looking for a small business loan you are most probably going to borrow the money from a bank. A bank will look at you and your business and ascertain if it is a sound investment. They examine your risk potential and make a verdict on whether or not to move forward with approving your loan request.

Being aware of what the bank is looking for is very important. Every lending establishments have their own unique method for determining the terms and conditions of a loan agreement. In most instances you will require a good personal credit score, and a least 2 years in business. You can lower your risk profile as an investment for the bank the longer you have owned your small business, the higher your credit score is and the more positive information you have on your credit report.

When applying for finance you will find some banks accept a lower personal credit score than others. The banks have a choice of three Credit Agencies to purchase your credit statement from. Each Credit Agencies will have a different formula to decide your credit score, so you actually have three different business credit scores.

Most Credit Agencies will look favourably on your Small Business loan request if you are a property owner. However you must be aware that defaulting on loan payments can put your property at risk.

Before speaking to the bank about a loan request produce a business plan, the plan should explains in detail how you intend to spend the loan and what advantages these plans will have on your small business.

http:www.bizseller4u.com

Why Women In Small Business Must Have A Web Site

In recent years we’ve seen a HUGE increase in the number of small businesses owned by women. This growth has been so dramatic that millions of people now think of a woman when they visualize who owns the businesses they buy from.

Women everywhere deserve a big pat on the back for this amazing accomplishment. But as is always the case for small business owners, there is still a lot of work to be done.

The one thing your small business MUST have is a web site. Sure, ten years ago having a site was an option many small businesses could do without. But that is no longer the case. Here’s why:

* These days consumers and business leaders are more likely to use search engines than the Yellow Pages. They’ll type the name of your town and your type of business into Google and start their research from there.

* A web site lets you put as MUCH information as you want in a public forum. You no longer have to pay thousands for a big newspaper ad just to let customers know about your prices, new services, or show photos of what you do. Now you can keep all that information available on your web site 247 at little or no cost.

* You know as well as I do that most customers are a little shy about asking questions. Often they don’t even want you to know they’re interested until AFTER they have learned more about your product, service, or idea. A web site allows that vast number of potential customers to privately and anonymously read all about your business. Then, when they’re ready to buy, they’ll come forward with their questions and orders. This is a MUCH more efficient way to do business, which leads to my next point.

* Web based business operations can be EXTREMELY EFFICIENT. Customers often prefer convenient email over phone or in-person visits. Email encourages customers to organize their ideas, contacting you when they know what they want and are ready to act. You’ll find your web site generates many more customers and the customers you get are better organized.

* Finally, women love to buy from women-owned businesses. Women, as a group, tend to be less compulsive shopper than men. While a large segment of men will buy an item on impulse, the vast majority of women prefer to learn about your product or service, getting all the details they can before placing an order. Web sites are perfect for presenting a lot of information at very little cost.

There is no question that as a small business owner you have persevered and worked hard, dedicating your life to the success of your company. That being said, dont you think a company you put all of your energies into, deserves the chance at having a happy ending? Have you considered the impact your death, disability, retirement, or even divorce could have on your small business ?

If you are the owner of a small business it is time for you to stop thinking of only what is happening now, and start focusing on what could happen in the future. Therefore, you need to put your priorities into perspective by protecting yourself and your business with a succession plan. A business succession plan is what you need to ensure that your business has a happy ending by remaining secure, regardless of what may happen in the future.

In particular, a succession plan allows your business the chance to be able to stand up to any challenges that may occur along the way. For instance, certain setbacks that you might experience may be entirely beyond your control such as divorce, disability, departure and death. But with a business succession plan you have the chance, as a small business owner, to ensure that regardless of what may happen to you, your business will be protected.

The following are a few aspects you should to take into consideration when creating a business succession plan for you small business:

How to Begin the Succession Planning – Since you need to make choices before you can really begin achieving your succession planning goal, you must first think about your long term business objectives and ask yourself important questions such as

Will I sell my small business?
Should I set up a plan that allows me to transfer my business to one of my business associates or a family member?
Does my business have public potential?

Of course, business succession planning begins with much more than simply deciding who you will be giving your business to in the event that you can no longer run your company, or wish to sell it. Additionally, succession planning is about keeping your small business afloat and successful to ensure that your absence will not devastate your company. Therefore, in order to maintain future control of your business, you will need to begin your succession planning by making choices that will concern things such as:

ownership objectives
asset protection planning
taxation and transaction planning
estate planning

You will want to keep in mind, however, that due to the fact that every action you take with succession planning will result in a reaction, you will require the assistance of experienced experts when developing your plan.

Understand the pounds and Sense of Business Succession Planning Like any type of business preparation, your business succession plan needs to be orderly and handled carefully if you dont want to suffer the consequences of financial losses or worse the loss of your small business. That being the case, you need to know exactly what you are dealing with, and how you can achieve the most of your planning.

The one mistake you will not want to make is to overlook your business finances. You can help keep your business secure by properly using the following, and more, in your succession planning before problems occur:

Life insurance
Disability insurance
Annuities

Furthermore, you will find that with an orderly succession plan, you will be avoiding the possibility of your business having to be sold to pay off the estate tax, in the event of yours or (if you have one) your partners death. It is no secret that estate taxes can claim up to 55% of an estate that is taxable, which is no mystery why so many businesses fall into debt, become bankrupt, or are sold due to the death of the owner or partner.

In addition, another aspect that needs to be considered is that clients are most likely to do business with other businesses after the owner or partner is deceased. However with the proper succession plan, your business should be able to maintain any regular clients – or if not – it will be better equipped to survive the possible drop in assets if a slow period should follow.

Know How to Write Your Happy Ending Remember, when all is said and done, the outcome of your succession plan depends entirely on the choices you make regarding the future of your small business. It is imperative that you take the time to make the best choices that will allow you to implement a succession plan, which keeps you in control of the outcome that involves the transfer of your company. By knowing how to ensure the prosperity of your business future with a succession plan, is how you will write your happy ending.

Unsecured Start Up Loans For Small Business Is It A Good Idea?

First-time small business owners usually are chary of unsecured start up loans. This is because the time frame for making a profit is not definite whether or not there is a properly thought out and lucrative business plan in place for the future business.

When profits or revenues do not materialize per plans, as in most cases, there is danger of default on loan repayment. When this happens credit rating of the person involved gets degraded as unsecured loans are granted on the basis of credit and borrowing history of the business owner.

And if there is bad credit history behind, heshe can very well forget that small business loan. Lets discuss some more aspects of unsecured small business start up loans.

Some Facts

If the credit history of to be small business owner is good, unsecured start-up business loans are easier to avail as compared to other business loans. But it is better to go for secured loans against property or equipment affiliated with the business.

Secured loan not only keeps personal credit rating intact but poses lesser risks for the business owners, because they can use the hypothecated equipment to generate a profit for the business. As a result the loan can be paid back on time. Not just that, secured loans are for longer tenure and come with lesser interest rate burden, thereby lowering the cost of loan.

But if you have decided to apply for unsecured small business start-up loans, you should be careful about the requested amount. Remember, the more you owe on the loan (including interest), the more will be the money which you have to repay.

If you are not exactly sure how well the business will do in the first year and want to keep your credit rating good, it is best to request a small amount for your unsecured start-up business loan. This will make sure that repayment installments are small and if you are punctual in repaying, you can always ask for more, which will be gladly given.

Some Advice

Before you apply for an unsecured business start-up loan, there are several things that you should keep in mind.

First of all, you will need to convince the lender that it is a good decision to issue the loan to you. Since unsecured loans are based on your credit and repayment history, you will have to convince lenders that you can handle your personal finances in an organized fashion. Good credit record will put lenders at ease since they will be able to see your repayment history on your credit report.

Since lenders will be looking at your credit report, you should maintain a positive report as far as possible. If you know that you owe certain lenders, you should try to settle these debts or set up a payment plan with your creditors. This will be visible on your report.

Before you make any final decisions about unsecured start-up loans for business, be sure to speak to an accountant or a representative from your local bank. This will make sure that you are applying for the right loans which would help your business to develop quickly and steadily. You must not take a decision unless you are convinced.