Home-Based Businesses: Redefining Success

cbjen | Jan 07, 2008 | Comments 0

If you are a self-starter, working at home can present the opportunity of a lifetime. With the rise of the Internet, the number and types of businesses one can start from home have increased dramatically. More than 20 million people work from home in the United States alone, and nearly one third are self employed.[1]

For some, working from home is a ticket out of the corporate environment. “I didn’t like the corporate infrastructure, inside politics and just being a number,” says Julie Northrop, work at home mom and founder of freebirthdaytreats.com. “I didn’t want to be limited to just doing one type of job. I enjoy the variety of work that comes with a work at home business and the flexibility of being here for my family.”

Starting a home business is not without challenges, however. Maintaining a balance between work and home life is challenging for everyone, but those who work at home face a constant struggle between getting enough work done and keeping up with household tasks. Working at home can also be isolating for those used to a busy office environment.

Don’t expect success to come right away, either. Building a business, whether at home or in an office park, requires a lot of faith and motivation. Success is what you make of it. “My business became successful when I got my first email…from someone who took the time to let me know how much they appreciated [my work]” says Northrop. “There are long hours and success generally doesn’t happen overnight. You need to be a self-starter, willing to work hard, be organized and patient.”

If you think you are cut out for a home-based business, consider carefully:

Do I want to start from scratch, or work for an existing company?
What kind of investments will I need to make, in products, equipment, or training?
How much time do I really have, between family/household commitments, and does my proposed business fit in?
Can I budget my time, or do I work best in a more structured environment?
Can my family survive if my business does not take off right away?