As a woman there are more reasons for you than most men to start your own home-based business. A combination of corporate prejudice and the demands of raising a family are all key factors in most women’s decision to call it a day in the corporate rat race and try their entrepreneurial hand at working from home.And because women are that bit more creative than guys you’ll find that you’re also far more suited to a wider variety of home based businesses than most men.So what we’re going to take a look at here is a mix of both traditional home-based jobs and also the best home based businesses for women. At least that way you’re getting a balanced look at all the options that are available to you and will also help if you’re a tiny bit technophobic! And ideally at the end you’ll have made a choice from our selection of the best home based businesses for women.1. Life CoachingWith such low overheads the option of Life Coaching is a great choice for women who are drawn to helping others improve their lives. There are many accredited coaching courses available and most are online distance learning courses with only limited face time required. The challenge, like most businesses is to find regular clients to keep the practice going strong which is why most coaches soon realise that marketing is a huge aspect to running a successful practice.2. Home BakingOK this might sound a little bit 1950s for your “taste”, but there’s a huge demand for home-baked cookies, cakes and muffins and I personally know women who have built a full-time business from just baking muffins from home. The reality is home baked cookies always; always taste better than the store bought ones. If you’re ever-so-handy in the kitchen then this is one might be worth considering.3. Dog Walking or Dog SittingAgain because most people are either busy going to or coming from work dogs aren’t getting walked nearly as often as they should be. And you have dog owners who hate the idea of their pooches being stuck at home on their own all day. A dog sitter can charge $80 or more to make house visits to a client’s dog or if you’re dog sitting at home around $25 per day is about average. You get 4 dogs per day that’s $500 per week – that’s better than no cash right?4. Adult Novelty Toy PartiesOk, before you get all hot and flustered, or perhaps a little offended it’s worth mentioning this option because there is a booming trade in house parties where adult novelty toys and costumes are sold. The idea here is that you create a party atmosphere by playing harmless games to set the stage for selling more risqué items later on. I won’t go into any more detail here – but I’m sure you get the idea.5. CafePressNow here’s one that most people have never considered. Have you got some cute or funny pet pictures that your friends love? Or how about some holiday snaps that people admire? Or are you just a natural for coming up with funny phrases? In that case you can take your skills and create a free CaféPress store and upload your digital images or funny catch phrases and have them printed onto t-shirts, mugs, beer coasters etc. that are then drop shipped to customers who like your designs and you get paid a share of the sale price!6. Etsy.comAre you an arty crafty type of person? Can you draw, sculpt, paint, stitch, sew, crochet, dye or make knitted goods or handmade jewelry? If you’re even remotely artistic then Etsy.com is the perfect place to sell your wares. Think of them like the EBay of arts and crafts and there are plenty of stay-at-home moms who are making a full time living from selling their arts and craft goods on Etsy.com7. MLMThe multi-level marketing model has been around a long time and there are many companies to choose from that sell every product you can think of. It really comes down to choosing a company that has great integrity, loads of support and training and leadership that can help you and mentor you as you grow your business. People don’t buy product, they buy people so don’t fall for the line ‘our products are the best and sell them selves’ line. This is simply not true. When considering an MLM company look past the products and look for the quality and longevity of people involved in the opportunity and make your mind up from there.8. Affiliate MarketingAnd last, but by no means least, we have affiliate marketing. This is often referred to as the ideal business model for women if you want to start your own home based internet business and work from home because of the limitless earning potential and the fact that once the business is set up it can be set to autopilot after several months of work. Unlike mlm most affiliate marketing products are all sold online so you don’t need to stock product or have an inventory at all. This makes for a very ‘light’ business and extremely portable and can be highly profitable.If you’re not familiar with affiliate marketing it’s a business opportunity where you sell goods for other companies through your blog or website and earn a commission for doing that. You never have to handle any goods or customer support calls so it’s proven to be very popular with thousands of women and who are having incredible success online while working from home or anywhere with just a phone and a laptop.So it’s time for you to grab a cup of tea or coffee and a pen and paper and plan out how to start your own home-based business selling a product or service that you’re passionate about – we’ve given you some of the best home-based business opportunities for women you’ll find.
The Advantages of Obtaining Small Business Start Up Loans
Setting a business is a Herculean task. Small businesses have to bear huge expenses. They have to build the infrastructure, recruit the employees and manage other business activities. However, these businesses do not get always get financial assistance from the popular banks. A popular bank is the first organization that the businesses approach for monetary support. However the loans are often rejected by several banks or other financial organizations. Only few businesses fulfill the pre-requisites for procuring these loans and become successful to obtain them at the right time.The last resort for the small businesses is to procure a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA). This US agency, has introduced small business start up loans to help the businesses who are unable to get loans from banks. They have the noble mission to allow the start-up businesses get established. In this way, they aim to contribute to the economic advancement of the nation. Here are a few benefits of procuring these loans for your business.Act as guarantors The Small Business Administration does not provide these loans to the businesses directly. They act as guarantors for numerous banks and other lenders who follow the guidelines of SBA to offer the loans to small businesses. It monitors as well as regulates the functioning of these private lenders through which they offer loans to the businesses.Fulfill basic criteriaIn order to qualify for a loan, a start up business has to meet certain criteria. Size requirement, financial standing and other factors are considered. Such loan is not offered to a business if it has access to other financial sources.Easy repayment The banks and other lending organizations follow strict guidelines about debt repayment. If you fail to repay the loan within the scheduled time, then you may have to face severe penalties. Unlike conventional loans, SBA follows longer repayment guidelines for the benefits of the start-up businesses. Prolonged repayment time means steady flow of cash in your hand. Debt repayment is less problematic.Get loans fastAnother benefit of small business start up loans is that the businesses can procure them quickly. Once you apply for the loan, you can acquire it within a short period of time. The quick processing makes the loan beneficial option for the owners who are fully dependent on these loans for running their business successfully.Procure loans with poor credit history You can obtain these loans even if you have bad credit histories such as insolvency, arrears, bankruptcy and others. Banks reject loan applications of the businesses that have poor credit history and other financial discrepancies. By getting these SBA loans, you have the opportunity to change as well as improve the credit records.Get Loans without a mortgage Do you have any property that can be used for mortgage purpose? Even if you do not possess such property, you will not find difficult to get a loan. The SBA acts as a guarantor that helps you to obtain loan for start-up business. It is helpful for the owners who do not have adequate capital and properties.
Five Questions You Have to Ask Your Acupuncturist!
Acupuncture works! But your experience with acupuncture will depend largely on the acupuncture provider that you choose.
You want to find an acupuncturist that best suits your needs. If you like and trust your practitioner, your encounter with acupuncture will be more positive.
You will also want to know about the acupuncturists training and experience and what to expect from the acupuncture treatment. The clearer you are about who it is that is treating you and exactly what the treatment entails, the more you will be able to relax during the acupuncture session and benefit from this ancient form of health care.
Determine your goals
Do you have a specific injury or complaint or do you want to try acupuncture to balance body, mind and spirit? Are you looking for a primary health care practitioner, or someone to work in conjunction with your current physician?
Here are some questions that you should ask when choosing an acupuncturist.
Where was he or she trained to practice Oriental Medicine?
How long was the training?
How long has he or she been in practice as an acupuncturist?
What experience does he or she have in treating your specific ailment?
Is he or she licensed?
What Qualifications to look for when Choosing an Acupuncturist
Today acupuncture is an acknowledged and respected field of medicine. In most States, provinces and countries formal training and certification is required in order to practice.
The United States has set rigorous training standards for acupuncturists. Most states require a 3-5 year Masters degree in Oriental Medicine from an accredited acupuncture school and issue a written and practical state board exam before an acupuncturist can become licensed.
In the states that do not require licensing, choose an acupuncturist certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists. Its members have a degree in Oriental Medicine from an accredited school-or have worked as an apprentice acupuncturist for at least four years – and have passed both a written and practical exam. Acupuncturists who have passed this exam are entitled to add Dipl. Ac. (Diplomate of Acupuncture) or Dipl. O.M.. (Diplomate of Oriental Medicine) after their name.
Acupuncture requirements for Western doctors are generally more lenient than for non-MD’s. Choose a physician who also a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.). If there are none near you be sure that the M.D. or D.O. is a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture; it requires a minimum of 200 hours of training for membership.
Veterinary acupuncture is considered a surgical procedure that, legally, may ONLY be performed by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine.
Ask About Treatment Styles
Acupuncture and Herbology encompass several distinctive styles. Korean acupuncture, for example, primarily uses points on the hand, while Japanese acupuncture calls for fewer and finer needles inserted at shallower depths.
There is no evidence that one particular style is more effective than another, but you should know what you are getting into.
Discuss Length of Treatment
Decide in advance what your expectations are and discuss them with your acupuncturist. A chronic illness may need several months of acupuncture treatment to have a noticeable effect. If you are not happy with your progress, think about changing acupuncturists or check with your western doctor for advice about other options.