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Running a Profitable Home Business: What You Need To Know

Michael Laleye

August 25, 2006

Running a business from your home is no joke. There are a lot of details that you will need to keep track of if you aspire to be successful. Keep in mind that a home business is in essence not much different from traditional ones. The aim of your business is to make money, remember that. It has to be as efficient and as profitable as you can make it.

Here are the cardinal rules of running your own home business.

Know yourself.

You have to have at least a passing knowledge of yourself to be successful in any endeavor. Its cliché, but you have to understand yourself. By examining yourself, you should be able to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. You’ll want to capitalize on the former and minimize the effects of the latter. For example, if you are a people person, you might want to handle the service section of your home business. If you are the more analytical type, you might consider becoming your own financial planner and leave the service section to someone else. Again, focus on what you can do well, and apply that skill to your business.

Know your business.

Know your trade inside and out, and exhaust all efforts to be up-to-date with all the advances in your realm of business. Read up on what you have to on a regular basis. Newspapers, trade magazines, and business books might be a good place to start. Remember that it is ideas that make real money. Exercise some creativity, call up a few original ideas, and you will have an edge over the competition. Alternatively, you can also combine pre-existing ideas and apply them to your business. By creating or synthesizing ideas, you might be able to create a niche for yourself, which should be the goal of every business.

Know your customers.

There is a saying in America, and it goes something like this: The customer is always right. However, consider this saying from Japan: The customer is God. No matter which saying you believe to be more accurate, you must treat your customers like they are the most valuable persons in your life. After all, it is they that make it possible for you to make a living; it is only proper that you treasure them and that you look out for them, within reason. Study your customers. Try to put yourself in their shoes, anticipate their concerns, and provide for what they want and need.

Under-commit, but over-perform.

Amaze people with the level of service you offer, or the quality of the goods that you sell. Exert all reasonable efforts to exceed their expectations. If they want something done by tomorrow, have it done by this afternoon. If they expect a bill of a hundred dollars, give them one for just ninety-five dollars. By doing things a little better than everyone else, your customers will come to associate you with excellence. And who doesn’t want to do business with someone excellent?

Running a home business is fraught with risk, but it can also be a vehicle for huge rewards. However, by studying yourself and your business, and by offering excellent service, you will have a recipe for success. Ignore your fears and take the plunge you’ll be glad you did.

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