With high unemployment and people losing their jobs almost daily many people have decided to take their destiny and financial success into their own hands and start a home based business. Anyone who decides to starts a home based business knows the great adventure they are about to embark on. Before beginning any adventure, it’s important to ensure that you have packed the necessary tools you will need to succeed. I have come up with a few necessary tools that you will need to stock up on before you begin your journey:
Computer: This seems obvious right? Well I did say start a home based business so this should be a no brainer. Believe it or not all home based businesses specifically involve using a computer. SHOCKER! Imagine a hairstylist who decides to cut and color hair from his/her home. These people will not necessarily need to have a computer right? WRONG Again. While you obviously do not need a computer to add color to someone’s hair, a computer will provide efficiency and professionalism. Instead of listing your appointments into some outdated book you can quickly add all of your customer’s appointments to a database on your hard drive. You can also store important events in your clients lives such as birthdays and anniversaries to remind you so that you can acknowledge these special days. This way you are providing extra special customer service for your clients. A computer is a great tool in marketing that you can use to build your clientele, for example via Facebook, twitter or other social media sites. And the list goes on.
Scanner/Printer: I would have added a fax machine but really does anyone still use a fax machine? This is an important tool that some people often try to avoid. This is actually very important. Although many things are done online now, having a printer and scanner can come in handy when you have items that’s not online that you may need a copy of immediate or have hard copy signatures of items that you need to send to someone immediately.
Private Home Office: When you start a home based business, that’s exactly where you are at home. However your clients don’t need to know that do they? There is nothing more unprofessional than listening to dogs barking or screaming kids in the background while talking about business. While to you it may seem endearing and adds to your “personal/homely” persona, a client doesn’t care about our dog or your crying child all he/she cares about is how you will solve their problem, or deliver their service.
Use these simple tips to help provide the professionalism and quality you need to make your company seem larger than life.