Get Paid Up-Front as a Freelance Writer

If you want to get paid to work at home, but don't necessarily want to start your own company, learn to write!

Freelance writers are becoming more and more in demand, as websites want to offer more online content to optimize their sites, and they just don't have the time to write all the content themselves. A organization called Content Current will pay you up front to write for them. They are like a "content database" online, to which you can contribute as a writer.

This freelance opportunity gives you the freedom to work for yourself, yet at the same time, you enjoy the freedom of not having to run an entire business.

You can apply to be a writer here

Making Business Purchases Without Cash

Any time you cut business expenses, you have the opportunity to increase your returns. This "formula" can apply when you're first launching your start-up, or in your company's day-to-day business operations. Most smart businesses are on constant lookout for ways they can run their businesses more efficiently, which often comes down to cutting costs.

In today's struggling and unpredictable economic market, it makes even more sense to watch one's pocketbook. This is probably why bartering is becoming so popular. In fact, lots of barter exchange websites like BizXchange have popped up to assist "barterers" find the products or services they need, and then easily transact the exchange.

See More About How You Can Barter

How to Start a Senior Travel Business

Even if travel isn't on your agenda, baby boomers are making senior travel a booming business. And this doesn't just mean cruises.

If you want to start your own senior travel business, first decide on a "niche" of senior travel that interests you and specialize in that, rather than trying to provide an all-in-one solution. You will have less competition and have an easier time attracting clientele. You will also have a better chance of building a repeat customer base with customers who enjoy a specific type of vacation.

Learn about specific market niches and Start a Senior Travel Business

Who Starts a Business in a Recession?

Over 50% of Fortune 500 companies say they started during a bear market or during a recession. Should this tell us something? See how people are doing it

Get All the Referrals You Can Handle

Do you DESPISE selling?

I can't stand selling, but I don't like spending lots of money on ads either.

I know word-of-mouth marketing is one of the best ways to build any business, and it's basically free. However, I'm not a fan of asking people face-to-face for a referral, and I used to not be very good it either. What's a girl to do?

There is a "right" way to get referrals, and it's actually easy and painless. (Now that's my style of marketing.) I'll tell you what I mean in a minute. See, David Frey is one of my favorite small business marketing experts. He's always finding creative ways to grow a small business, and usually his tactics are free and really simple.

He never ceases to amaze me, so much that I'm glued to his video newsletter every single month. He has put all of his referral-getting strategies in a package, waiting for you. It's awesome, and you can see his free video about it here >> Instant Referral System.

You'll never have to "sell" again! =)

How to Start a Bookkeeping Business

Looking for some home-based work that you can start pretty quickly? You can start a bookkeeping business right from your home. You also don't need to invest a lot of money in equipment or supplies when you start your bookkeeping business.

Computers have made keeping books so much easier and faster. Documents and other financial data can also be kept online for easier access to both bookkeepers and accountants who share the information. This makes for a very convenient and efficient home-based business.

Have a computer? Pick up some bookkeeping software, get certified and you can be off and running. Find out more >> Start a Bookkeeping Business

How to Register a Company Name

One of the first things you need to do when you launch your company is to register your business name. However, most of us don't know how or where to register. Here's the answer:


How to Register a Company Name

Housing Saviors?

I just finished reading this article, which makes an interesting point about the future of the real estate market.

There are more buyers coming.

That's right, the 75 million Americans born between 1979 and 1995 will be looking for homes. This "built in" household growth could probably be just what the housing market ordered.

Not a concept to be taken lightly, as it will affect the entire economy in some way, especially if you're thinking about a real-estate related business idea.

How Teens are "Making Their Own Work" in Today's Economy

This is a great article about kids getting creative and making their own "jobs" - essentially starting their own businesses by working for themselves.

The different scenarios get me thinking about how starting a simple business is really not that hard, and often we over-analyze the phrase "Start a Business", and make it more difficult than it really is... and the business never gets started.

Take - for example - errand running, babysitting, lawn care services or a dog walking or pet care business. No specialized skills are needed, and you can start with almost no money. Work a little or a lot - weekends, holidays, evenings. It's a great way to make some extra cash even if you're already working full-time. I've even had friends who have made good money doing stuff they love as a "side job" - detailing cars or buying items at garage sales for pennies and turning around to sell them on eBay for 100x more!

Finding customers? You may be surprised at how many people need that extra help (and are willing to pay for it), but don't know where to get it. In addition, you may be able to actually save people money on services they are already using - getting customers may be easier than you think. Read the article, you may get some ideas....

7 Upcoming Fields of Opportunity....

I just read an article on Yahoo Hot Jobs about 7 lucrative jobs resulting from Obama's Stimulus Plan. Sounds like a great opportunity to start a business in these growing fields. Don't you think?
(1) Solar Panel Installer was one that I kindof expected, but (2) Insulation Installer and (3) Civil Engineer were't as obvious - and of course fit closely into similar areas. And (4) Cost Estimators will also be needed to figure out the costs of all of these upcoming projects. Makes sense.

(5) Physical Therapy Assistants was also mentioned - due to the extension of meedical benefits to those laid off in the recent economic downturn. (6) Computer Security Specialists is the highest paying job market out of the seven, and there's an increase in this field due to the digitizing of medical records.

The most interesting job growth market I saw was (7) Loan Officers. What? Are you kidding? No! Federal incentives are being provided to banks who re-negotiate loans with borrowers, so more people can stay in their homes. With the huge amount of refi's expected - loan officers are needed.

There are smart entrepreneurs who will profit from these opportunity fields. Are you one of them?

Free "How to Survive the Recession" video series online now

Why just survive the recession when you can beat it and come out ahead? I'm serious. People are already proving you can do it. This video series is ideal for those who are ready to take that step beyond the average struggling lifestyle of 2009 and start building a profitable future NOW.

Contradicting what most people think, but what experts agree on is that now is a great time to start a business. With less competition, you have a greater chance of success, and when you can give people people what they want - they will give you money.

Watch the Free "How to Beat the Recession" online video series to see how.

Articles of Incorporation: How to Do Them FREE

You have a few different options when incorporating your business. You can hire an attorney to help you incorporate your business, use a lower-cost online incorporation service to help direct you through the set-up steps, or you can contact your state directly and complete the process yourself.

In any case, you can save yourself money on forms by using downloadable generic templates online that you can then customize to fit your business. This way, you don't have to write them yourself. You can find FREE sample articles of incorporation online which you can download to view or use for your own corporation. You can see an "Articles of Incorporation" template here. If you want to find article of incorporation forms for your particular state, use the State Guide.

Another way you can get help, but still save money, is by using the services of volunteer lawyers to assist you in writing your articles of incorporation.

More information on Articles of Incorporation.

Webinar Software "How-To"....

I go nuts over tools that make life and business easier and more efficient. As you have probably noticed, web conferencing software programs are becoming widely used, and it's no surprise.

In today's changing business environment, people are happier and accomplish more when they are in a more casual and convenient environment. Webinar software creates this ideal environment by most times solving the traditional (1) time and (2) location problems.

With just a few clicks, you can easily organize on-the-fly or scheduled meetings, perform live demonstrations and collaborate on documents in real time. It's almost like you're in the office with your clients and colleagues - but you're saving so much time and money it's... well, crazy.