Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am going to be a little bit negative here.

Anyone who ask "I need ideas to start a business" is not ready to start a business. You need to have ideas first, then pursue it as a business.

Why? Because if you have to get ideas from other people, you are simply not going to be competitive. Whatever business you enter into, you are no better than the next person going into the same business. It probably doesn`t require special skills (administrative background is not a special skill), so anyone can get in. Most likely, you will end up competing on price and work long hours to make the end`s meat. That`s not the way to create a successful business (or even a successful self-employment job).

This is simply how free market works. When a product or service can be offered by anyone, it is a commodity, and it always end up being a low margin thing.

You have to dig deeper to find something right for you. "Administrative background" is just a start. You have to find something which differentiate yourself more.

Let me give you an example - if you have been doing administrative work for a particular industry, that will be a great asset and not everyone can do it. Let me be even more concrete - if you have done import/export administrative work, you can easily do an import and export consulting business, because that is foreign to most people.

That was just an example. You need to think about your past experience and think hard about what make youself different. A lot of things may be so natural to you that you don`t even see it, but may be very valuable to others.

prosperngrow -

There are tons of places on the internet to get training and also get jobs.

The bigger preparation begins in your home/office. Do you have an organized area? Do you have all the office equipment that you will need? Do you have software that is going to be required by your clients? Do you know how to use a lot of various software? Do you have a landline phone? Unlimited long distance? Etc.

Currently, I use a VA for getting our membership site (www.BusinessOwnersOnline.com) up and off the ground. She writes articles, makes calls, works with my other designers, etc so that I don`t have to do any of that and am able to do other stuff that is more worthy of my time. She is the most amazing lady ever and worth every single penny. Her personality and great attitude make her an absolute breeze to work with, plus she is willing to try new things and also learn (a huge plus for any VA).

We have gotten into more of a friendship because of our working relationship. We aren`t able to pay her top dollar, but we do other things for her that make up for it. For instance, for her 30th birthday just recently, we sent her a nice assortment of wines from one of our clients that she was working with. Wine is one thing........but it was extra special to her because this was locally made and someone who she worked with on a project.

Why does she do what she does? She used to be like a paralegal in a law firm working 60-80 hours a week on salary, taking work home, getting calls at all hours of the night, etc. One day her 7 year old daughter said....."Mommy, why are you never home?" Then it hit her and it was time for a change.

Now she picks up enough work to fill the 6-8 hours a day her daughter is at school plus a bit more if needed. Either way, she is home all the time and has the flexibility to do whatever she wants. She is heavily involved in 2-3 different organizations plus also very active with the PTO at her daughter`s school. We have her get all of our projects done and usually give her 15-20 hours a week or two depending on the workload.

So that just tells you some of the things about our VA, what you need to be ready for, etc.

Let me know if you have any other questions.


Aaron



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thanks for your reply smallbizcoach. I was wondering if you could ask your VA how she started out to get her customers? I guess that is what is holding me back like a wide range of people can use a VA, so where do you begin.?

A startup business, home based is on 74% of the American work force`s mind.  The problem with wanting and actually doing it is the start up capital needed.  Most don`t like their current position in life with the type of work they are doing and don`t feel qualified for doing anything else but what they have fallen into.  A comfort zone of zombie affliction I`ll call it.  Do the same thing each day, dreading it but enduring it because of necessity.

Having the common sense approach to investigate what you might like to do with the rest of your life will probably be plagued with the not so common sense approach of doing it for little or no cost or free.  Also an expectation to make big dollars fast.  I need it and want it now!

Another desire would be to do something that nobody else is doing or thought of so there would be no competition.  Don`t forget that whatever you end up doing it has to have little cost but be very profitable with it`s perceived value.  In other words buy or manufacture something that costs you .10 cents or less and sell it for 50, 60, 70, 80 cents or more.

Then comes the marketing of the business you`ve chosen.  Do I have a budget for it, what would be the like-ability of the product or service that referral`s would be created as a high percentage of new business.

Well, I hope I didn`t sound too much like a soothsayer or palm reader in fantasy wishful thinking.  We are human and it is very natural to dream about such a business and with all that was said above, this business would have to be fun, rewarding, not boring but creative and with ongoing future possibilities to grow both offline and online.

Oh if only there was a special start up business that had those qualities.  Other than the `free` or small cost (whatever that means to you) I have such a business that is available.  It meets all the fantasy requirements mentioned for $4900.00.  It does not have the fantasy of a `hands off` business and it magically grows itself.  No, that you have to do.  Play with the business.  Notice I didn`t say `work` the business.  If you play with this business, you will be very successful.

www.businesscardnotecards.com features the product business I`m referring to.  Email bafolk@optonline.com with the request to send the free report that will explain this business in great detail.

My business is helping others find their own home based business.
Brooke Folk
www.thehomebusinessdepot.com



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Brooke Folk, a home based business advocate who tirelessly searches for unique non franchised and non mlm home based business offerings. Researched findings after approval are noted at www.thehomebusinessdepot.com and promoted on The Home Business Depot Radio Show at www.talkshoe.com, talkcast ID 6356

Getting started in your own online business can be very intimidating. Working as a VA could be difficult due to the need to establish yourself in the market. For a quick start, I suggest James Brausch`s internetbusinessbox.com. This has everything you need to get your own business started. Where you go from there is totally up to you. The possibilities are endless. I wish you the best of luck!

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Jackie Riley

Home Staging Expert and author of Home Staging Success.

www.HomeStagingSuccess.com

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Andre Costa DaCosta Chocolates, LLC www.DaCostaChocolates.com