| Times are hard. It becomes increasingly difficult to | | | | the idea. There is merit in this choice. By choosing |
| find a daycare or babysitter you feel totally | | | | something you are familiar with, not only do you |
| comfortable leaving your children with. But, for | | | | reduce the learning curve, but have built-in |
| most couples, living on one income is not as | | | | credibility. This might be the best choice for you, if |
| option. So, they end up having to both work and | | | | you are not sick of your present job. There is no |
| leave the children. Would you like to stop working | | | | point in starting your own business if you are |
| now? | | | | going to feel as frustrated and upset as you are |
| Let's explore together some of your options. | | | | in your present situation! |
| If your ultimate goal is to be home with your | | | | Now, if you are looking for a real alternative which |
| kids, then starting a traditional brick and mortar | | | | offers unlimited potential for growth, then |
| business is not really an alternative. The time and | | | | becoming a true entrepreneur is something you |
| money it takes to establish such a business will | | | | might want to look into. The internet offers |
| keep you from achieving that goal for years. | | | | unlimited access to hundreds of opportunities for |
| Most businesses of this type take several years | | | | beginning your own business from home. While |
| to become truly profitable. Finding investment | | | | there is a lot of, well, garbage out there, there |
| capital for startup can also be difficult. And, in the | | | | are also many real and exciting opportunities. The |
| end, you will need to spend so much time at the | | | | learning curve is probably going to be steeper |
| business that your family will have less of your | | | | than you might at first imagine, but the rewards |
| time, not more. Then come overhead expenses, | | | | can also be a lot greater. Having an online business |
| salaries to be paid, supplies and advertising, etc., | | | | leverages the field so big businesses have as |
| etc., etc. The list of costs seems unending, and it | | | | much of an opportunity to reach customers as |
| is definitely daunting! So, while starting one such | | | | the little, start up business. Not only that, but the |
| business might be a great goal to have, it | | | | nature of the internet is such that most people |
| probably isn't the best alternative if your goal is to | | | | find they can set their own hours and have their |
| have more time for your family now! | | | | businesses fit their lives, and not the other way |
| That leads us to looking for a business you can | | | | around. On the down side, competition for online |
| run out of your home. Home businesses offer the | | | | attention is fierce. Depending on the actual |
| great benefit of lower your overhead and | | | | business and niche you choose, it might take you |
| recurring costs. Most home businesses only | | | | a bit of time to get seen. But, compared to the |
| require a phone line with fax and a computer with | | | | time it takes to establish a traditional business, |
| and internet connection to get started. So, costs | | | | even a year is a relatively short amount of time. |
| of equipment are also significantly reduced. Start | | | | Is it possible for mom and/or dad to stop |
| up costs vary depending on the type of business | | | | working now, and stay home with the kids? The |
| you choose. | | | | answer is, definitely! It takes a bit of research, |
| Most people tend to gravitate towards a home | | | | determination, and perseverance, but regardless |
| business which is a natural transition or an | | | | of which road you choose, you can't lose unless |
| extension of their regular job. For example, | | | | you quit. Keep in mind why you want to do this in |
| teachers tend start daycare centers and | | | | the first place. If your "why" is big enough, |
| preschools. Some might consider a tutoring | | | | everything else will fall into place. Go to it! Find a |
| service or standardized test preparation | | | | business you can be proud of and give it your all! |
| workshops. Accountants might start a tax | | | | Your kids will thank you for it! |
| preparation service or an auditing firm. You get | | | | |