A home office is your home not away from home.
With all of the advantages of working from home, it’s easy to see why many people would enjoy a home business in Massachusetts. Some people start home businesses to give them more time at home with their family, while others do it to start their business on a budget, and still others are just looking for a way to save money on commuting to and from work. Whatever your reasons for wanting a home-based business, you’ll need to be prepared to work hard, market yourself and stay motivated even without having a boss breathing down your neck.
Instructions
1. Decide what services your home business will provide. Many people have skills which translate easily into service-based businesses such as writing, graphic design, web design, programming, marketing, data entry or administrative work.
2. Write a business plan. Most home business owners skip this step and just figure it out as they go, but having a well thought-out business plan helps you organize your business ideas from the start and can be used to find investors if you need additional start-up or operating capital. Spend as much time as possible on the marketing section of your business plan, since a home business can only be successful if you are successful in marketing your products or services.
3. Decide on your business name and structure. Some states allow sole proprietors to operate under their own legal name without filing any special paperwork, but in Massachusetts, if you want to operate as a sole proprietor, limited liability company or corporation, you must register the business.
4. Obtain permits or licenses if required by Massachusetts. The type of business determines whether you need a license.
5. Check zoning laws for your home in Massachusetts. In most residential areas, the zoning laws will allow a small, home-based business that does not contribute to pollution, and provided the business activities will not affect the neighbors negatively. Read the local ordinances from your city or county clerk's office to find out what laws are in place for your location as they differ from one city to the next. If your business requires large numbers of visitors, for instance, you may run afoul of local zoning laws.
6. Advertise your business and find customers. No matter what services or products your business offers, you’ll find that your primary activity will always be marketing for customers. Try one of the many state newspapers (see Resources), place an ad on Craigslist for your city, and place fliers around town in other businesses that serve similar customers.
Related posts
Your better half brags about the quality of the finished household projects on your "Honey-do" lists. The guy next door thinks you walk on water after seeing your kitchen renovations. Th...
Experienced construction workers can take their careers to the next level as independent home improvement contractors.Home improvement businesses serve homeowners and real estate investors by prov...
Turn your love of makeup into a successful house party franchise.Starting a home-based house party franchise can be a real adventure. Home business house party franchises are a hot commodity these...
Delicious party trays begin with high-quality ingredients.Party trays are snack trays served at events such as receptions, art gallery openings, and business meetings, where attendees are not expe...
Start a Home Improvement Referral BusinessA home improvement referral business benefits clients by eliminating the time involved to search for reputable contractors to perform home improvement pro...
