HOMEBASED BUSINESS IS BIG BUSINESS

     Homebased business continue to take the nation by storm and women are at the forefront of those starting home businesses.  There are now over 20 million Americans operating  homebased businesses, and that number is showing no signs of slowing down.
     Homebased businesses are particularly appealing to women who so often serve as caretaker for children, spouses and elderly parents.  Homebased businesses can be operated either full or part time. So it's very convenient to add to or provide the family income while taking care of the family's needs.
     Many major corporations were started in someone's home.  Examples of companies started in home range from weight loss to mail order to software development to day care centers.  The list goes on and on.
     Large corporations of the past are giving way to small, efficient companies that operate more quickly and cost-effectively.  Due to advances in technology, a very sophisticated, modern home office can be equipped for a relatively small amount of money.  With a personal computer, printer telephone answering machine, fax machine and modem. a home business can operate much like a Fortune 500 company.  The small company can communicate with anyone in the world, sending, receiving and accessing information, and storing tremendous amounts of information.
     What kind of small businesses are people operating from their homes?  Short of heavy manufacturing, for virtually every conceivable business being operated outside of a home. someone is doing the same thing from their house, apartment, condominium or basement.  They're probably saving a lot of money, too, because of the low overhead and federal tax deductions associated with operating from a home.

GETTING IDEAS
     So where can you go to get ideas for a business you can start?  First of all, start by analyzing your own strengths and talents and think about the types of things you like to do and do well, then, talk to as many people and read as much as you can to get ideas that match your background to a product or service that you could offer in the marketplace.
     Some of the best material you can read to get ideas and learn how to run your business include Entrepreneur Magazine, Home Office Computing Magazine, and a variety of books written by Paul and Sarah Edwards and Barbara Brabec.

GETTING FUNDING TO START
     Obtaining start-up funding is never easy, but it is even more difficult for homebased businesses.  Bankers are not often willing to lend money to homebased entrepreneurs who generally have to rely on their own resources including: personal savings, credit cards, personal lines of credit, home equity loans.  In addition, they often barter with other entrepreneurs for needed products and services.  Family and friends should not be overlooked as a means of obtaining resources.  Having to look a little harder for start-up capital may seem like an obstacle, but it is actually a benefit.  Homebased businesses operate more efficiently because they have lower overhead (including less debt) which generally makes homebased businesses more competitive.
     Homebased businesses are truly becoming a more important part of the American economy each day, and for homebased entrepreneurs, the sky is the only limit.