Fear ofmaking a loss

                                                 

There is an element of risk in business. So play it safe at first. Go forsmall gains and in case you suffer losses these will be small. Anotheradvantage of starting small is that there is less pressure on you and you startlearning the tricks of the trade.

 

Start Part Time

 

 Work at your job part time and atyour home business. People especially your boss should know about yourbusiness. If it is a business that competes with your employer's than wellummmm.

 

Raising Funds

 

Raising funds is a difficult matter even if you have savings, it may be agood idea to garner outside funds. Then if you have to expand, you can do sorapidly, injecting in your own funds.

 

Live Like a Church Mouse

 

A penny saved is a penny earned. You have to take the family intoconfidence. You were the one who hogged the newspaper. Can you do without anewspaper?  People have done it. When yougo shopping for food items look at the bargains. Make a list of costs fromenergy including gasoline to bread and look hard.

 

Wheedle a Small Advance Payment

 

People have promised you business, get advance payment of $100 on a orderthat is for $5000. It ties the company to you and when you do ask for it, mostcompanies would think it mean to deny you such a paltry sum. It will do wondersfor your confidence.

 

Credit Card Squeeze

 

A lot of people including the credit card companies will tell you that itoffers you one of the best deals. Be very careful. There is a lot of riskinvolved, it may be good for short term fund shortages.

 

Don't Bank on Business Plans

 

Avoid taking loans against the house.  Try business funded loans instead. People willcome bounding up to you telling you that a good business plan is what will dothe trick.  The principle of bank fundsto a home business is they look at your past record usually in terms of thecash flow and not projections, size you as a person and only need a very roughbusiness plan more in terms of what the hell are you doing. (They ask you for apolished plan as a formality.)

 

Grab a Sleeping Partner

 

Once you start the home business you can look around for someone who willcome in as a fund provider and a profit sharer. You can even advertise. Ifthere is someone who trusts you this can be done right at the outset.

 

Involve your family

 

Your immediate family should be involved. Sometimes they can help in tasks.Further when you decide not to order out but eat sandwiches and salad they willbe more understanding. The stress begins before you start and then tapers offafter you start. It again restarts once thing get rough, so immediate family isyour cushion. Even a 6 year old can be explained things in a simple way.

 

The other point is taking a loan from extended family or friends. Avoid itif you can unless they see it as a business proposition. In that case work out  a profit sharing model not  a interest based one.

 

Prepare for Failure

 

When Hershey was 19 he started a confectionery business. Six years later itcollapsed. He became an apprentice at a chocolate factory and the rest ishistory. American business history is replete with examples of people who havefailed tried again and then succeeded. Probably the greatest example of thisnever say die spirit is Abraham Lincoln. So learn from your failures, successawaits you.

 

Finally the most important dictum for home businesses is start small thinkbig.