Title: How To Start A Home Business Word Count: 526 Summary: Thinking about working from home? Looking for the freedom and lifestyle you believe will follow? Not to mention the money. Here are some tips on how to start a home business. There are many factors to consider before you start a home business. First, you need to assess your skills and personality. Determine what your strengths are, what you're good at, and try to find a way to monetize those strengths. You also need to think about whether your personality is suitable... Keywords: how to start a home business Article Body: Thinking about working from home? Looking for the freedom and lifestyle you believe will follow? Not to mention the money. Here are some tips on how to start a home business. There are many factors to consider before you start a home business. First, you need to assess your skills and personality. Determine what your strengths are, what you're good at, and try to find a way to monetize those strengths. You also need to think about whether your personality is suitable to the variability that comes with owning a home business. There are times, especially at first, when you may not be bringing in a regular paycheck or be able to pay for the health benefits or other perks you are accustomed to. Next, you need to decide what kind of business you want to start. Will you provide a service? Will you sell a product? Will you run a strictly Internet based business? Will you buy a franchise? These are only a few of the ways you can make money working from home. Some of the more common new ways to work from home include doing free surveys, mystery shopping, or “typing at home." As you know, many of these can be scams, and you need to be careful before getting started. Third, you need to decide what type of structure your business will take. Most home businesses began as sole proprietorships, meaning your business is not a separate legal entity, and you pay taxes on your business income along with your personal income. Some professional service businesses will establish themselves as a partnership, but this is not necessary if you are the only employee. Organizing as an LLC can have tax benefits as can corporate organization, but you should check with your accountant and/or lawyer before making this decision. Fourth, you should have a business plan. This does not need to be a complicated document but you should lay out the basics such as a vision for your company long-term and short-term strategic goals and steps to take to reach those goals. Have a simple financial plan, including assets and liabilities, income projections, and expense projections. It is vital to keep a close eye on your cash flow, as that is the blood of your business. The fifth, take action. Whatever business you have decided to begin, throw yourself into it with passion and zeal. Following your business plan, take daily steps towards reaching your goals. Only by taking "massive" action can you hope to be successful. The best business plan in the world is no good if it just sits on your desk, shelf or computer and does not guide you in your daily actions. The rewards of running a home business can be many. If you are successful, you can have the lifestyle, money, and free time you've always wanted. However, it takes hard work, often years worth of hard work, to learn how to start a home business and reach your goals. If you believe in yourself and your business, you'll have the motivation to continue working even when times get hard, and you will eventually reach your goal.