Table of Contents Chapter 1: Staring A Small Business From Home: The Facts Chapter 2: Selling On eBay: An Untapped Resource Chapter 3: Etsy Store: Turn Your Creativity Into Profit Chapter 4: Online Bookstore: A Booksellers Paradise Chapter 5: Freelance Writing: Write Your Way Into A Career Chapter 6: Independent Consulting Coach/Advisor/Expert: Sell What You Know Chapter 7: Tips and Tricks for Small Businesses Before You Go
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Chapter 1 Staring A Small Business From Home: The Facts
If you’ve decided to start a small business, you’ve likely come to a few conclusions about what it will be like to be your own boss, set your own hours, and work from home (or anywhere with an Internet connection). The pull to generate income while still dressed in your pajamas may be strong, but it shouldn’t be the only motivation behind a new business venture.
In reality, there are many things to consider when starting up a home-based business. We’ll expand on five unique opportunities that are easy to start from home and don’t require a large startup cost, but first you must decide if you are up to the challenge.
*Ask yourself these questions:
1.What things am I passionate about? What areas am I talented in? 2.How much time can I afford to invest in a new business? 3.What resources do I already have? 4.How much am I willing to invest? 5.What is an approximate, allowable time frame to get a business up and running?
We’ll discuss these questions and more in the following pages, but they are a great place to start when considering an affordable, home-based business venture. Be specific with your answers here, and as you read through the five unique opportunities, ask yourself which one would fit best according to the answers you have given.
Working from home takes self-motivation, understanding of your market, and diligence. It does take hard work and perseverance, but the benefits far outweigh the effort. You will be your own boss, be responsible for your schedule, and have the opportunity to make important business decisions based on what is best for you.
Starting a small business will be the most rewarding thing you can do.
Where to start
After you have thoughtfully gone over the questions from the previous section, take a moment to brainstorm and dream. Use paper or a whiteboard to write out your ideas. Don’t limit yourself to things you've done in the past, but embrace new ideas. Write out all ideas, even if you don’t think they are possible at this point.
Take a half an hour or so to expand upon the first question, “What things am I passionate about? What areas am I talented in?” Be general as well as specific, listing out known jobs that are associated with your passions as well as the things you possess talent in. This is more than creating a resume; it’s compiling a list of things that will add to your energy level on a daily basis.
When you’ve done this, type them up into a document and save them in a folder on your computer. This will be a great resource to keep. Once your business is up and running, this document can be something you refer back to for new ideas and ways to expand.
Why Passion and Talent Go Hand in Hand
In this eBook we’ll discuss selling on eBay, creating an Etsy store, opening an online bookstore, freelance writing, and independent coaching, but these aren’t the only options for starting a home-based business. In some ways, the possibilities are endless. At this stage of the process though, discovering what you are passionate about and what you are talented in is crucial for several reasons.
Passion
Evaluating the areas where you are passionate allows you to understand yourself and your desires better. Doing passionate things comes naturally to us. We allocate our time to them and are less likely to find the tasks boring or uninspiring if they are within the realm of our passions.
One of the main reasons that we feel discouraged or unenergetic at work can be due to the fact that we are operating outside of our passions. When you are required to complete a task at work that uses none of your passions, that task becomes harder and there is less motivation to accomplish it. These actions take more energy from us and create additional stress. No one likes to work in those conditions.
Talent
When completing the brainstorming exercise, take into account the things you already know you excel at. These things are your talents. They don’t all stem from work related things, but they can deal with your past experience and job knowledge.
It’s important to recognize that there may be things that you are passionate about, but are not equally talented in. The result of choosing a job that capitalizes on passions without the preparation of talent creates stress and confusion. You will constantly feel inadequate, underprepared, and self-conscious.
The best job for any individual is one that seamlessly combines their passions and their talents.
During the initial start up phase, you may discover a job idea that isn’t expanded upon here, but the information contained in these pages will still be helpful to you. Much of what we will discuss for each job has far reaching implications to many online businesses.
When you have completed your time of brainstorming, understand the things you are passionate about, and have taken into account your talents, take a step away from thinking about this new business venture. It’s easy to become so excited you obsess over the idea itself instead of the logical process to starting up a business.
For the rest of this eBook we will look at the best ways to start a new business from home that won’t be expensive to begin, but will combine your passions and talents into a money-making endeavor.
Chapter 2 Selling On eBay: An Untapped Resource
The average Internet search will land you millions of possibilities to purchase items from all over the world. We often turn to a company website or Amazon for reliable options, but right there, alongside most search engine results, it’s not uncommon to find an eBay option for an item you’re looking for.
These options tend to represent name brand clothing, electronics, and technology, but did you know that there are categories for purchasing cars, sports equipment, toys, gardening items, and even art and collectables? These, along with many other items you wouldn’t think to find on eBay, are a wealth of untapped resources to the discerning, entrepreneurs’ eye.
Starting a business on eBay is one of the most popular ways to go into business simply because you can be as casual or as serious about it as you like. For someone with high demands on their time, it’s an ideal business venture because a few hours spent researching and posting items starts the ball rolling for the rest of the week.
For the serious eBay seller, there is a higher level of dedication required to truly capitalize on the eBay selling culture. This dedication requires planning, forethought to purchases, and often trips to thrift stores or estate auctions. The commitment to search for popular, saleable items doesn’t come without rewards though. The proper forethought will earn you higher returns for the additional effort. In addition to these things, you will also spend time researching before and after so that your prices can be competitive as well as appropriate.
Let’s take a look at the numerous benefits to starting a small business as an eBay seller.
The Three T’s of Selling From Home on eBay
•Time
There are many things to consider when deciding to start a business from home. Paramount to everything else is the time and effort you will be dedicating to this business. As previously mentioned, eBay is a great option for anyone no matter the amount of time they can spend listing items. However, to be successful enough to replace a full-time job, you will need to be willing to expend time and energy on your eBay business. This time won’t be wasted, but will significantly affect your return.
Consider these elements that will require you time:
Setting up and maintaining an active profile in good standing on eBay: Though not an extensive process, your eBay profile will require maintenance. Initially, it may take upwards of twenty minutes to set up your profile with all of the correct information. Following this initial setup period, much less time will be required, though you will want to maintain good response times for any questions (customer service), leave feedback for all sales and purchases made, and keeping your information up to date as needed.
Finding items to list: Depending on the level of involvement you wish to have with your eBay business, you will need to budget your time accordingly when it comes to finding items to sell. For most, this initially looks like cleaning out closets and going through your garage for saleable items. As time progresses, and your business grows, you will want to adjust your time expectations to include trips to local thrift stores, antique road shows, estate sales, and auctions. This time will also include online research for items that may be listed for upcoming auctions or for something you place on hold at a thrift store. Online research is fascinating, but it will take time.
Listing items: Once you've spent the time collecting your sale items, no matter their origin, you will need to prepare them for listing. This will include taking photos, writing up descriptions, and finding the appropriate price for sale (whether initial auction price or buy now option).
Shipping sold items: After your items have sold, you will then be responsible for packaging them and then shipping them. This isn’t necessarily time consuming, but you will need to factor in your proposed shipping time period (typically 3-5 business days) as well as time spent at the post office. This will vary depending on day of the week and season.
•Type
Before you begin your eBay small business, we recommend you consider what type of eBay seller you will be. Is this a casual business you will attend to on weekends or after work, here and there? Is this a business you are hoping to jump into in full force? Or, is this a business that you will start small with the desire to grow into something larger?
Each of these options is easily accomplished, but it will help for you to have goals in mind. Just as any business assesses their business plan before beginning, you can start your eBay small business with a plan in mind.
*Ask these questions:
1.What are my short-term (6 month) goals? 2.Where do I want my business to be a year from now? 3.What are my long-term goals (3, 5, and 10 years)?
These questions may appear a bit extreme, but if you plan out where you are headed before you begin, it is more likely you will succeed.
•Tasks
The last “T” of selling on eBay is “tasks”. What we mean by this is taking into account the full understanding of tasks involved. We’ll go over this in greater detail in the Step by Step portion below, but you must understand the tasks involved with selling on eBay.
Just as you must account for time to complete these tasks, the tasks themselves are equally important. As previously mentioned, customer service is a very important task for your eBay business. You must have the ability to reply to comments and feedback as quickly as possible in order to establish an excellent rating on eBay as a seller and a purchaser.
The Benefits
Selling on eBay comes with many benefits most jobs will not afford you. As you consider setting up a small business as an eBay seller, think over these benefits to opening your own account.
•Easy and Quick Setup
It is a simple and quick process to become a seller on eBay. It hardly takes any time to create a profile, upload a photo, and fill in basic information. We’ll outline the steps below, but eBay has made it almost too easy to become a seller. For a small business owner, this is a definite plus!
•Work Remotely
Feel like working from Starbucks? Go right ahead. One of the best parts about starting a business selling on eBay is that you can work anywhere that has a strong wireless connection. This opens up myriad possibilities, but will also save you money when considering office space and/or Internet usage. Your office is anywhere you and your computer are. If you decided to take an extended vacation, you only require an Internet connection to check in on your items.
In addition to this, depending on your selling schedule and time frame, you can use your smart phone for everything from listing items to leaving feedback. The only requirement for you is the ability to ship in a timely manner.
•Be your own boss
When most people consider starting their own business, a lot of thought goes into the pros and cons. A pro to working independently is the fact that you can be your own boss. You work on your time schedule, not someone else’s. Those of you who possess qualities of self-starting and motivation, are in a good position to start up an eBay business.
•Sell in your area of expertise
Another noted benefit of having your own eBay business is the fact that you can work in your area of expertise, in your passion. Since eBay is so multifaceted, you can capitalize on selling in areas where you have a marked interest or expanded knowledge. For example, if you possess knowledge about antique baseball paraphernalia, you can choose to hone your eBay profile to that area, branching out when you have the time and resources to sell additional items.
The Drawbacks
Though there are many benefits to starting up a business on eBay, there are a few downsides. Most of these drawbacks come into play when considering eBay as a full-time endeavor. Though they are notable, you must consider if they are significant enough to affect you at the start-up stages of your business.
•Demanding Customers
The portion of eBay that is made up of independent sellers is heavily reliant on customer feedback. The importance of service ratings on eBay elevate customer service to an extremely high position within the perspective of the sellers account itself. Customers are more likely to purchase from you if you have higher ratings and positive feedback.
Unfortunately, there is no control over someone’s feedback. The response that is given will be based on the item you’ve supplied, accuracy in description, the purchaser’s interactions with you, and their overall satisfaction. You cannot control someone’s experience with you, though you can go above and beyond to supply him or her with excellent customer service.
As with any business, the customer must have an elevated status in your mind as the business owner. This can be difficult when you deal with demanding customers, but is a natural part of running a business.
•No Absolutes on Prices
You may have done excellent research and feel confident in the price of the product you are putting forward, but the buyer may not always agree. This may look like lower bids or a lack of buyers should your prices be too high. This will not be a problem in some cases due to the fact that, by slightly lowering the price, you can sell the item. This becomes increasingly problematic when a price threatens to dip below the amount you purchased it for or the item itself does not sell as you’d hoped.
There are no guarantees when selling on eBay. You must be diligent to research the market you will be selling in, price your items competitively, and be willing to lower some prices in order to move your inventory (unless you can afford the time and space to let the item sit until it is once again in demand).
•Fees
Likely the most apparent drawback to selling on eBay is the many fees involved with selling through their platform. These fees will differ depending on the items you sell. There can be fees associated with listing items, fees on your total sale amount, fees associated with the payment system you use (PayPal is one such vehicle) and other additional fees outlined on the eBay website. Unfortunately, these fees change often and will take a cut from your overall sale. There is no way around them.
The best advice to dealing with the drawback of fees is to take into account the price of the item you purchased, the price you wish to sell it for, and then subtract the fee from that price. If the total reached is not an allowable return on your investment, you should reconsider your listing price.
Step by Step: What it takes to set up a successful eBay store
1.Open your account
Begin your journey to selling on eBay by opening an account, filling out the profile items, and uploading a photo.
2.Decide on a listing
Choose what you will sell, whether that’s a name brand item you’ve grown tired of or an item from a thrift store that will sell for a higher price than what you purchased it for. Then you will need to fill in these things:
Item and description
Most of the time you will be able to find an item that is similar to what you are selling. Use that item and its description to make the listing process go faster. Include a bit of personality in your description and possibly a personal recommendation should it apply.
*Make sure you change all of the details to accurately match your listed item.
Photos
You will then need to upload photos of the item. It is best to take as many images as possible that show off every feature of the item you are selling.
*Make sure the quality is as good as possible. If listing a name brand item, capture the tag up close. If there is a defect, be sure to take a picture of it as well as note this in your description.
Price
There are two options for pricing on eBay: fixed and auction. For fixed pricing, you choose the price that the item will sell at and then list the item. For auction pricing, you list the initial bid, and then allow the price to be driven up by bidding. You can also add an option for your customers to buy the item immediately but be careful of this. They may offer you a good price, but the question remains: is it the best price? Allow your listing to go almost the full length of time before accepting these offers if you believe the bidding may take the price above what was suggested.
*Most of the time the best option for selling popular items is through auction.
Duration of the sale and schedule
You have the option of making the sale the length of 3, 5, 7, or 10 days long depending on your preference. You can then choose when the item will go live based on the scheduling option.
*Most sales are best left at a week's time.
Shipping
Last, you will give the option of shipping details. You can choose a flat rate option, which makes the shipping the same no matter where the buyer is located; a calculated option that will depend on the customer’s location; or a local pickup, which would include no shipping.
*It is recommended to list shipping as free as often as possible to draw potential customers. However, you may need to build this into your price.
After you’ve taken care of these items, you are ready to sell. Wasn’t that easy?
3.Customer Service
The next part of your eBay business setup involves customer service. This is incredibly important and can, in some cases, make or break the sale. Often, customers will have questions about an item and will email you through eBay’s messaging system. They may ask for clarification if your description left them with questions, measurements of something, or possibly about the shipping time frame should it be something they want quickly.
Answer these and any questions with understanding, patience, and an eye toward making the customer’s experience the best possible. Your ratings will be your reward!
4.Ship it out
When the time runs out and your item is sold, your next step is to ship it out. The shipping options you provided will guide you in the best way to ship your items. For many items, labels can be generated directly from eBay itself. This is a handy and timesaving feature that eBay offers. The funds for the shipping will come directly from the sale itself and, as long as you have the proper shipping containers, you will be able to get the item in the mail without hassle.
*USPS offers many Priority Mail, flat-rate boxes and envelopes to be shipped to you for free. Visit their website to sign up to receive them.
5.Leave Feedback
After your items have been shipped you will have the option of detailing your experience with the customer. Always leave accurate, helpful feedback as quickly as possible.
6.Get Your Paycheck
Once the items are marked as delivered to your customer, eBay will then release your funds to then be transferred into your account (typically PayPal) minus any fees incurred.
*Due to the uncertain nature of the mail system at times, make sure to update your tracking number as proof of mailing and to cover all of your bases should something go “missing” during the shipping process.
What you need
We’ve compiled a simple list of suggested items that you will need in order to set up your small business as an eBay seller.
•Computer •Email address •Phone number •PayPal Account (free) •Camera (a phone will do) •Items to sell
Spend Less
Ways to save money while starting your eBay business:
•Use your phone’s camera to take listing photos •List items you have on hand •Use free promotion like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to attract potential buyers to your sale page •Vista print offers inexpensive business cards in large number that can easily be customized.
Spend More
These ideas may cost a little more and may be best put into effect later in your eBay-selling journey.
•A good quality camera and dedicated area to photo your items (a plain background with good light is recommended). Many online photo stores have lighting equipment at reasonable prices, including reflectors and scrims for controlling light, and if you call them, they will be happy to advise you as to what to buy. •A customized cover photo and headshot image of high quality that highlights your business name and potentially features a theme in line with what you sell. •High quality, customized cards and/or notes for your customers. These little notes can direct your clients back to your eBay store through colorful and creative images and a description of what you typically list.
Chapter 3 Etsy Store: Turn Creativity Into Profit
Etsy is like a gold mine for those who are gifted with creative talent or have an affinity for art, design, crafts, or antiques. If you are talented and passionate in any of these areas, Etsy may just be the perfect place for you to begin your small business journey.
When considering an Etsy shop, there are many avenues you could take.
•Art •Home Décor •Handmade Jewelry •Women and Men’s clothing (modern and vintage) •Children’s clothing •Handmade crafts •Craft supplies •Wedding accessories •Graphic Designed elements (print and digital) •Vintage items (classified as being over 20 years old) •Consulting services
Some of these areas overlap which means there are nearly endless possibilities for creating an Etsy shop that is unique to you and your passions.
Now is the perfect time to consult your previous brainstorming list. Look through all of the passions as well as the talents that you have to decide on a focus for your shop. If you have the ability to craft, knit, or sew, you may consider starting up a handmade shop full of small, easily made items. Maybe your talents lie in graphic design? If so, you could create templates, cards, and logos for clients.
The possibilities are endless, but a word of advice here: When deciding on what to offer in your shop, consider your overall branding (we will also take a look at this under “Tips and Tricks for Small Businesses”). Shops that do the best and sell most consistently generally have an overall, established brand to their shop. This doesn’t mean that you avoid including multiple selling items and options, but it does mean you should take time to decide what you will capitalize on.
Example: If you are fond of the country style, you may decide to give your shop a country flair. This could look like a gingham pattern for your cover banner area and themed items that relate to your love of “all things country”. This will be seen in the type of items you list, such as décor that has a shabby-chic feel to it.
This idea may seem slightly limiting, but consider this from a marketing standpoint. When your customers know what to expect from you, they are more likely to turn to your products because they can trust them. You will also have the ability to build a returning clientele based on the fact that they know what to expect from you. Consistency in product and in branding is essential to a successful business.
The Benefits
Selling on Etsy has many benefits. Some are similar to eBay but some differ as well.
•Freedom
The same freedom you will feel with eBay can be seen as an Etsy seller. It is, however, a different type of freedom. You are your own boss, able to establish you own hours as well as your own products, but there is the added constraint of creating the saleable product during a sufficient time period.
In some cases, the items you are selling are “made to order”. In this case, you must be able to quickly produce the item (or note that there is an extended production time in the listing).
•Creativity
Unlike eBay, Etsy is all about your creativity. You are the designer and the businessperson and therefore in control of all aspects of your product. This is a liberating feeling and one that can make an Etsy career extremely rewarding for those who are creative.
•Broad Reach
The idea of Etsy is similar to that of an arts and crafts fair hosted online. The benefit to this is the fact that you do not need to pack up your items and travel. You also have the added bonus of a much-extended reach. Your Etsy shop is a virtual store that can be open 24/7 around the globe should you want it to be. Your limitation is only on your ability to market your shop and to create products that sell.
The Drawbacks
•The business end
Etsy is geared toward those who have creative talent. Though it doesn’t require that talent to open a store, it will be crucial you can provide that talent in order to sustain the store. Though this is not a rule, often people who are more gifted in creativity can struggle with the business end of owning and running a shop. This will only be a problem should you notice your own inabilities to a) sustain your creativity and your shop, b) find yourself failing at the business decisions and responsibilities needed to run the store, or c) feel overwhelmed running both aspects.
In the case of any of these options, you should seek out help from someone who has more knowledge of business. This is a great time to trade talents. Seek out someone willing to help you with things like accounting or marketing in exchange for a product you provide or your own creative perspective. If you can’t find that type of deal, there is always the option to hire out. Likely, by the time you begin to feel the strain between business and creativity, you will be making sufficient funds to cover contracted help.
•Turnaround Time
As mentioned before, the turnaround time of supplying an item to a customer could become an issue. It is wise in this case to know exactly how long it will take you to create every item you list in your shop (should you decided not to keep them stocked). For some who are creative and rely on a “creative mood” to produce their product, this could prove to be a problem.
It is best to only list items in your shop that can be created, personalized, and shipped within a reasonable timeframe.
•Fees
Fees are almost always a concern when starting up an online business. Etsy includes a small fee for every item that is listed. They also have a transaction fee for each item that sells. As you would on eBay, take the time to map out the sale price minus the cost of production and fees to ensure you have accurately priced your item for the time, materials, and work that has gone into it.
Step by Step: What it takes to have a creative and successful shop on Etsy
Setting up shop on Etsy is as easy as 1—2—3!
1.Set up your shop
Pick a Username
This name is not the same as the shop name but is instead a name you will be identified with as the user on Etsy. You will not be able to change this name once you set it up.
Shop Name
This is the name of your shop. Again, put thought into what name you will use. This is a great time to consider the future plans of your business. Don’t pick something that will limit you in the future. This name can be changed, but you don’t want to confuse your potential clients either. Instead, pick a name that you can grow with.
Shop Policies
This part is very important. It is highly recommended that you write up your shop policies going over all of the main areas of commerce on Etsy including receiving payments, shipping charges, returns, exchanges, and refunds. Set this up in advance and be thorough so you will be covered should anything happen in the future.
Choose Payment Method
Set this portion up to give options for how you will receive payment.
Add Items
In your dashboard area there will be a “listings manager” that will be the area where you will list your items. Use this to list the items you wish to have displayed when you open your shop.
2.Open your Shop
And just like that, you’re shop is ready to go! Choose to open your shop and start spreading the word. Marketing and sharing on social media will be a great way to draw attention to your shop. Use the widget option to add your shop to an existing blog (or if you start one) and be sure to share the good news with friends and family. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to draw customers.
3.Start selling
As you draw attention thorough your marketing efforts, you will start selling items. Make sure you are quick to ship the items out (finalizing them as quickly as possible) and answering any questions that may arise.
As with any business, customer service must be your top priority. Be a responsive and helpful shop owner, answering questions quickly and shipping items within your stated timeframe. You also can choose the option to offer “customized” items should you be ready and available to do so.
What you need
These items are recommended when starting your Etsy business:
•Computer •Email address •Phone number •Shop name •PayPal Account (free) •Camera •Supplies list of items you will create
Spend Less
To open your Etsy store quickly and for the least amount of startup cost consider these things:
•Use free photo programs to create a simple shop banner •Decide on products (we recommend up to 5 different products) that can be quickly and easily made for a low cost. •Start with smaller items. The cost in production and shipping will be lower. •Don’t create a lot of stock to begin with – this could end up as “wasted” money spent if that particular item does not sell. •Consider soon-approaching holidays and decide what you can provide that fits in with that theme. •Use Pinterest to pin items you sell. •Start a blog (for free) and chronicle your processes to creating certain items in your shop
Spend More
To spend more on your shop, or as ideas of things to incorporate later in your shop, we recommend:
•Hire a graphic designer to create a customized shop banner that represents your specified theme. We would recommend using the same designer to make sure the images and style match on your social media sites as well as your blog template. •Do market research on what items are selling well (based on your niche) and create products that rival these items but are uniquely yours. This may mean using higher quality materials and raising your prices. •Purchase a good camera (or hire a local photographer) to take stunning product images. The quality of these images will make the difference in your shop. Again, this is where a good studio area with a table, a background, and decent lighting would be in order. The equipment can be purchased online fairly reasonably, and the sellers would be happy to assist you in choosing what you need. •Diversify the products that you supply to reach a greater audience. •Pay for advertising. (We recommend you keep track of how much you pay and what the direct results for this advertising are. You must evaluate if the ads are actually worth it.)
Chapter 4 Online Bookstore: A Booksellers Paradise
If you have a love for books and are considering starting up an online, small business, why not combine these two? An online bookstore can be the perfect outlet for someone interested in online business. There are many options for this, including varying degrees of startup costs and saleable stock. Below, we’ll take a look at two very different approaches you can take to starting your own online bookstore, but first let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks.
The Benefits
•Hobby to Business
If you are someone who loves reading and has a personal library already, then this is a great way to turn a hobby into a business. Opening an online bookstore can turn your love of books into a money-making venture.
•Online
Opening a brick and mortar bookstore may seem impossible at this point in your business journey, but an online store provides a lot of the same possibilities without the huge startup costs of a store.
•Financially Beneficial
What may potentially surprise you is that many first and second edition books and other, early titles are worth quite a bit of money. Should you have the time and resources to collect appropriate titles, you could potentially turn the sale of those items into a large payday.
•Global Reach
The love for books spans the globe. When opening an online bookstore, there is the possibility to have customers from all over the world (the only downside to this is international shipping).
The Drawbacks
•Dedication and Research
To open an online bookstore, you need to be willing to do your research. Whether you are pricing first edition novels or reselling college textbooks, you will need to ensure that your prices are competitive but also accurate in order to create a profit.
•Storage
Books take up a lot of room. We recommend that you have a dedicated space (either a room or garage space) to store your books. You must also consider the atmosphere of this space to ensure it is conducive to storing books (especially if they are rare and require special care).
•Shipping
Starting an online bookstore that deals with the sale of books means that frequent trips to the post office will be on your regular to-do list.
What you need
When considering an online bookstore, it is recommended you have these items to begin:
•Computer •Online presence (a website) •Bookselling platform: If not on your website, then via Amazon or other selling sites •Books
Two Types of Online Bookstores
The first thing you’ll need to do before taking any steps is deciding on what type of online bookstore you will be and what capital you can afford to put into the startup of your store.
Book Enthusiast: Used Books
If you are content starting as a smaller, hobby-type store, you will want to start by collecting your first sale items from books you already have on hand. You may also find these at garage sales, antique shops, and estate sales on the occasional weekend shopping trip.
This type of shop is a great way to begin a small business. You would do well to start your business as a shop on Amazon that’s dedicated to books. You can create social media accounts for this shop and use it as your storefront.
Book Aficionado: Used and New Books
If you are ready to plunge into online bookstore ownership with both feet, it’s important you consider the ability to have many copies of books on hand. You can sell both used and new books, but if you choose to sell new, you will need to search for book suppliers with good prices that can afford you a sufficient markup. The challenge here is comparing your prices with popular online stores like Amazon. If you can’t beat Amazon’s prices, you’ll have a hard time selling your books.
This selling opportunity also opens you up for a more serious approach to selling rare and used books in great condition. This type of used book selling will require a lot of research to accurately price rare books as well as to correctly describe them and make them as discoverable online as possible in order to attract customers who will pay your prices.
This type of store may require more research before starting, but is the perfect opportunity for someone who enjoys rare books and research involving books.
When considering opening an online bookstore, ask yourself what type of store you want to open and what your platform will be. Some options to specify are:
•Offering only rare books •Genre specific stores •New releases only •Local books •Little known authors
You don’t necessarily have to narrow it down, but it can help you create a specific draw to your store. If you hone your focus (and maybe that’s only at the beginning) you can become a type of “authority” on the specific line of books you sell, making your store that much more valuable.
Step by Step: What you’ll need to sell books online
These steps may vary depending on the type of store you wish to start, but they hold principles that are true for both kinds of stores.
1.Collect your books and do your research
After you’ve decided what type of store you will open, set up your storage space (with consideration to temperature and humidity of the space) and start collecting books. This time will also be important to do research for any rare books you will want to sell. The more effort you put into organization before hand, the less you will have to worry about after your store opens.
2.Open for business
When you have completed your research and collected stock for your store, set up your online storefront. Whether that’s on Amazon or a website that allows you to sell items, make your space as inviting and understandable as possible. Make sure you keep things updated in a timely manner with an eye toward establishing a strong online presence with excellent customer service.
3.Spread the word
Marketing will play a large role in this portion of your business setup. Let your friends, family, and extended network know that you’ve opened a store. It is a good idea to share with local reading groups, online groups (think of finding groups on Goodreads), and even seeking out associations you can join to further the spread of your stores name.
4.Be on the lookout
Once you’ve completed these steps and opened for business, it will then be part of your job description to always be on the lookout. You may spend weekends at antique or estate sales or you may go garage sale hunting on a regular basis, but you will always want to be adding stock to your store.
If you are selling new books, find great printer and/or publishers to strike up deals with in order to sell their books. This will mean that you need to keep an eye toward the trends in the market and new releases coming out.
Spend Less
To spend less when starting up your online bookstore, the furthest you have to go is to your own bookshelves.
•Start up a used bookstore on Amazon with books you have on hand •Sell when it is convenient (and when you have stock) •Only purchase (and sell) used books •Find “free book” tables at bookstores or at library events to find free books that you can resell •Branch out and include other media items like used CDs or DVDs
Spend More
If you have a larger budget to work with, we recommend:
•Purchase rare used books to resell (these will cost more, and you must be able to guarantee that you will get a good return on your investment) •Establish a good relationship with a publisher and purchase regularly from them in order to provide consistent, new titles to your customers •Purchase a brick and mortar store: Should your online store do extremely well, why not open an actual store?
Chapter 5 Freelance Writing: Write Your Way to A Career
Do you have the gift of words? Do English rules, grammar, and the Chicago Manual of Style send tingles up your arms? If so, a job as a freelance writer is the perfect job for you!
The Benefits
•Simple Setup
There are almost no costs associated with becoming a freelance writer. Once you have a computer and Internet connection to work from, you can begin writing for a client within days.
•Flexible Hours
Freelancers have flexible hours. These hours are determined by the project of the client you are working for and their personal due date. You can have the luxury of working in the mornings or the evenings; the key is getting your work done well and on time.
•Many Areas of Need
The beauty of starting a freelance writing career is the fact that there are many areas of need for content, editing, and creation. You can focus on one area of writing or take on multiple tasks, depending on your available time and abilities.
The Drawbacks
•Establish Credibility
When considering a small business as a freelancer you are limited by your own knowledge. Having a solid grasp of English and rules of grammar is essential, though a degree is not always necessary.
•Time
Freelancing does take up time. This will depend on the project, but you are most limited by the number of words you can type per minute and the research required for any writing you may do. Also, many projects will be time-based, and you will need to accomplish them quickly and accurately.
•Payment
This drawback is slightly conditional. Many freelance writers will find that they must begin their business at a lower rate of return for the work that they do in order to find clients. For beginning freelancers, you can expect to receive below .01 cents per word. As your reputation and experience grows, you will be able to raise your prices and have the freedom to choose your clients. This is a drawback due to the fact that, in order to build your portfolio, you will likely have to work for less than you may deserve at first.
•Fees
If you use an online platform to help kick start your business, you will find that these platforms take a fee from the payment you receive. It is best to include these fees in your prices whenever possible.
What you need
•A computer •Internet Connection •Inspiration
*This may be the shortest list of “needs” we’ve created, but it’s true. There isn’t much more you will need.
Step by Step: What it takes to become a freelance writer
1.Make a Decision
The first step to becoming a freelance writer is to make a decision about what type of freelance writing you will pursue. There are many types and areas where you can explore freelance writing.
•Content and Copywriting •Article writing •Blogging •Product descriptions •Product reviews •Editing (posts, articles, books) •eBook writing (fiction and non-fiction) •Manuscript or idea critique •Plot outlining •Professional and Academic writing •Ghost writing
In some cases you may combine many of these into a package to offer clients or to diversify in order to have a full client list.
2.Create a portfolio
The next step to starting your freelance business is to compile (or create) a portfolio to showcase your writing ability. In some cases this may require that you create examples of your work, in other cases you may be able to use things you’ve already written. Either way, we recommend you create PDF copies of examples of what you will offer your clients.
This will also be a good time to compile reviews from anyone you’ve worked with before and previous publications of your work. A list of credentials will also be helpful to list in order to create the most credible profile possible.
3.Get Online
There are many ways to start a freelance business online. We’ll take a look at two here:
•Personal Website
First, you can start your own personal website (or even a blog with a customized domain name) where you offer your services. The difficulty of this is approach is gaining a steady flow of clients. This option may be best left for later in your career when you are established as a freelance writer with experience behind you.
•Online Platform
There are many online platforms (like Elance, oDesk, Freelancer, and Fiverr to name a few) that offer a great way to start up a freelance business. The downside to these sites are the fees they charge, but when you are starting your business, you will find that they are very helpful platforms to facilitate writer/client interaction.
4.Write away
After you have established yourself on an online platform or personal webpage, you will find opportunities to work for clients. In some cases you will need to send proposals outlining your previous experience (which is where #1 and #2 will come in handy) and at times clients will come to you. Keep an eye toward detail, work quality, customer service, and a quick turnaround time.
Spend Less
With regards to starting up a freelancing career you don’t need to spend much money. Some freelance sites may require a monthly fee for you to join, but many are free. The only money spent is the initial cost of a computer to begin your freelance business.
Spend More
Should you come to a point in your freelance career where you are willing to invest more money, one area of investment is additional education. There may be an area of writing that you’d like to move into. This is a great opportunity to invest in classes and online certifications that will land you higher paying clients in the future. You can also spend additional funds on marketing your skills and creating a top-notch website.
Chapter 6 Independent Consulting Coach/Advisor/Expert: Sell What You Know
In the market of small business today, there is a growing need for knowledge. As you were brainstorming, you came up with things you were passionate about, ideas you have, and talents that go alongside these things. Now it’s time to take out those dreams and put feet to them.
What can you do, or teach others to do, that you can market?
It may seem like a strange concept, but there is a high price for knowledge on the market and, with the proper setup and marketing strategy, you could find yourself coaching, advising, or giving input for a living. Often, we immediately think of financial or tax consultants, but we can broaden this idea to leadership coaching, social media and marketing consultants, graphic design consultants, and business advisors. There are so many more positions available though. You are only limited in the amount of time, resources, and energy you can give toward this position.
The Benefits
•You're the boss
Being a consultant can take many different forms, but the fact of the matter is: you’re the boss. You will be in charge of your marketing plan (even if you hire this out to someone else) and you will create your workspace – whether that is at a coffee shop down the street from your home or in Paris, France for the week. All you need is an Internet connection.
•Specialize
Another benefit to being an independent consultant is that you can choose the area you will specialize in. This will play to your strengths and will mean that you are working in your highest capacity at all times.
•Endless Possibilities
There really are endless possibilities for independent coaching and advising. You will be able to decide what you can offer based on your talents and what you have built a reputation for.
The Drawbacks
•Certificates
For some positions, especially in the financial sector, you will be required to have certificates. This isn’t necessarily a drawback, but it could put your dream job on hold until you can get the certificates in place.
•Credibility
People consult with someone for coaching and expert advice because they are that, an expert. You must be able to prove that you have the credentials to provide the service you say you will. If you offer financial advice, you will likely need to have proof of previous work experience, just as you would need experience in marketing, writing, or graphic design. Treat this just as you would any other job and create a type of “resume” for potential clients to see.
It is good to note that a strong, online presence will do wonders for your consulting business. Spend your time wisely by building up a fan base that comes to you for your knowledge so that, when you offer your services, people are willing to pay for your expert advice.
Step by Step: What it takes to be a consultant
The steps to independent consulting will look differently depending on the industry you choose. If it is part of the business realm, you will want to have established credentials and any certificates you will need. If you are planning on working in a more creative type of coaching, then you will need a portfolio to show your clients. Even fitness coaching is a lucrative idea that can easily be started at home.
In some cases this may mean working for free or minimal payment until you have sufficiently built up your portfolio. It may seem like wasted time, but it isn’t. It is the best way to establish credibility while in the beginning stages of your business.
We recommend these steps:
1.Establish your idea
This is the most crucial step. Just as it’s important to establish your brand when beginning any business, you must establish your idea and brand before you do anything else.
This should include:
•Your main idea and purpose statement •Your business plan with short-term and long-term goals •The services you will provide and their prices •Marketing strategy •A potential clientele list you could essentially “cold call”
*When starting up a business it’s a great idea to offer your services at a reduced rate to attract clients. Only work for free in the startup phase. When it’s time to charge for your services, offer a friend and family discount. This lets your clients know that they won’t always be able to take advantage of your services at such a reduced rate.
2.Setup your website
This is the second most important part of your setup process. Your website will be your hub for all things business-related. Choose a platform that allows you to setup a commerce section to accept payments as well as one that has all of the functionality that you need. In line with this, purchase your domain name as well. This will ensure you can attract traffic to your site easily. It also will give a professional appearance to your business.
Don’t forget:
•Professional Marketing Materials: Including a logo, business cards, printed materials, and graphics (these can be purchased at reduced rates without completely sacrificing quality). •Professional headshots: Do not use a selfie or low-quality photo. This will undermine your professional appearance. •Online payment system: Think PayPal or Square. It must be something that will allow you to take payments easily. (You will want to anticipate their fees and incorporate them in your overall price).
3.Market Assessment
Take an opportunity to do an assessment of your market. Who are you competing with? What do they offer their clients? What are their clients saying about their services? This is not to copy what they do, but to assess what you are offering. If you have packages that offer service fees significantly higher than your competition, you may not receive as much business as if you were to lower them (for a time).
Take regular assessments of your current market and always be on the lookout for ways to engage those from other areas.
4.Get Reviews
Word of mouth is one of the absolute best ways to attract customers. If you have decided to offer your services at a reduced rate to friends and family, ask them for reviews (make sure to ask for permission to post them). The more reviews you get the better word of your services will travel.
*Use these reviews on your marketing material and in your social media posting.
5.Keep going
This last point is obvious, but often times overlooked. When starting a small business it is common to be blinded by excitement. When reality hits and you haven’t attracted as many clients as you’d initially hoped for, it is easy to despair. Don't!
Tenacity will win out in the end. The best advice we can give you is to keep going. This means consistent posting on your blog and social media, reaching out to new areas and markets, asking more friends for reviews in exchange for services, or even asking professionals in similar markets for advice. Either way, it often can take up to three years for you to start to feel truly successful. This isn’t always the case, but we encourage you to be prepared to put in hard work in order to receive those amazing benefits.
What You Need
This is a list of things it will be helpful to have to start an independent consulting venture:
•Computer •Certifications and/or past client experience •Website and blog •Marketing materials (business cards, mailers, brochures) •Online advertisements
Spend Less
When beginning an independent consulting small business, there are many areas you could spend money. Here are some ideas on how to save:
•Use an amateur photographer for your headshots (A note of caution here, look at his or her work beforehand to make sure they will provide a level of quality that is acceptable). •Trade your services for products or advice you may need to get your business up and running. •Network among your own friends. It’s always best to start by sharing what you’re doing as something you are passionate about, not necessarily for a sale. You never know what connections you could make. •Share, share, and share on social media! Build your audience even before you start offering your services. •Work part-time. This may cut into your dedicated time, but if you are struggling to make it solely on a new consulting business, you may need to supplement until you can afford to devote all of your time to your new business.
Spend More
Should you have additional capital to spend on your consulting venture, we recommend spending in these areas:
•Effective, targeted marketing: This may mean hiring someone to help you or spending money on certain ads, either way be sure to track your success/loss with every advertisement. •High quality materials. Never underestimate the power of a great quality business card. •Consider shooting a video. Options for video can range in price, but they are a great way for your potential clients to hear from you before they even decided to hire you. •Purchase (better) tools of the trade (this will depend on what type of consulting you venture into). •Raise your prices. While this doesn’t fit the “spend more” category exactly, it does fall in line with a decision you will make when business is better. When you notice your time is becoming overly full, weed out some of the lower paying clients by raising your prices to work on fewer projects but for the same (or increased) rate.
Chapter 7 Tips and Tricks for Small Businesses
Running a small business is a rewarding and exciting venture. You will likely face difficulties, but you will also reap rewards and benefits. We’ve compiled a list of additional things to consider when starting a small business.
Branding
We’ve mentioned branding a few times throughout the pages of this book, but it’s worth another mention. Branding for your business is very important, no matter what business you decide to start. The extent you go to in order to brand yourself may look different depending on your budget, but these are some initial questions to ask:
•What is the main idea of my business? This is your vision statement and should affect every decision you make with reference to your business. •What makes me different than others in this business? This is your selling point. Why would someone choose you or your business over someone else that is doing/selling the same thing? •Who am I selling to? This is your audience and you must know who they are, what they like, and what is important to them.
Start with these questions and, as your business grows, reevaluate them as needed.
Marketing
A large part of home-based business success is dependent on your discoverability as an individual or company. The ideas put forth in this eBook won’t be difficult to implement and will have you up and running almost immediately, but the long-term perspective must also be part of the startup stages of your business.
Remember:
•Take time to build a responsive audience through social media. •Spend money to market yourself only when you can see direct results to that marketing. •Use your vision and speak directly to your audience through all forms of marketing.
Sellers Community
No matter what small business venture you head into, you will automatically find yourself in a seller’s community. Some of these communities are stronger or more vibrant than others. Etsy is a good example of a very strong selling community.
We recommend that you discover what that community is and take part in joining it. This may also look like areas where community members congregate, like forums, online chat rooms, or even email chains. Discover what the community looks like for your small business.
Goals
We have discussed short-term and long-term goals, but here is where they are put into practice. Once you’ve decided on the type of business you are going to start, and you’ve created your business plan, it’s time to put your goals into affect. You may need to hone the goals into accomplishable sections (don’t take on too much at once) and then work toward each goal, one at a time.
After the first six months of being in business, sit down and reevaluate your goals. Do this again at the first-year mark. After that, you may be able to stretch out your goal sessions to once a year, but always be pushing yourself forward. Think of new ways to improve your business, expand your reach, and increase your sales. If necessary, ask for help.
Staying in Business
As time progresses, you may find yourself facing the question of whether or not you should stay in business. The main thing when making this assessment is passion.
Are you still passionate about what you are doing?
Remember that brainstorming exercise we did? Now is the time to remember what you were passionate about in the beginning. When you start up your business, base your decision on your passion in line with your talents and know that hard work will be a requirement, but it will also be a labor of love. Doing what you are passionate about will make that hard work worth it in the end.
If at any point in your business the hard work becomes overwhelming, it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate. Go back and ask yourself the questions about why you wanted to start a small business in the first place. Talk to others (either in person or via email) who are in your line of work and gain inspiration from them. Lastly, remember your passion. Your small business with thrive when it is based on that passion and you must always keep that before you.