Frequently Asked Questions 1-2-3
How do I start a business?
First you want to decide which type of business
you are going to start. We have information on start-up instructions - specific to the type of business
you start. Choose a Business. You can also see
our general start-up business checklist,
which explain the basics. Keep in mind that all steps do not necessarily apply to all businesses.
Do I need a business license? How do I get one?
Most likely you'll need a business license, even if you operate from home, The license(s) required for your
business will depend on the type of business you operate and where the business is located (city/county/state),
as different cities and states have different requirements.
You'll need to apply for your business license through your local government office. Use the Business.gov
website to find the location and contact information for the government office in your area. Sometimes you can
apply directly online.
The website will also give you information on additional permits that may be required, obtaining a tax ID
and zoning restrictions that may affect your business. More information: How to Get a Business License
How do I register a business name? How much does it cost?
Procedures, requirements and fees for filing a business name vary by state. And some states require that you
file at the state level, while others at the city or county level, while others don't require filing of a
fictitious business name at all. For this reason, you want to check with your local city or county clerk to see
what is required for your location. Get more information here: How to Register Your Business Name
How can I get a government grant?
Are you interested in finding a grant for your business? Grants can be hard to come by, and there are many
"government grant" scams out there, so be careful. According to the Small Business Administration, the Federal
government does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business.
Yes, state and local groups do offer grants, as well as non-profits and other organizations, but this is
generally not "free money". Keep in mind that a small business grant may need to be combined with other
financing or funds matched.
SBA.gov has a small business grant/loan/financing search tool on their website that you can use for free to
help you find money to help finance your business. See also: Small Business Grants.
If you need to find a grant writer, Allied Grant Writers is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Company that offers business
grant writing, non profit grant writing and federal grant writing services. They also write mini grant
proposals and offer several other grant related services.
How can I make money online?
There are many ways, but if you are want to start a home business that doesn't require you to have
specialized skills (like a website designer, for example), here are a few ideas.
Many home-based entrepreneurs are interested in starting an internet store or selling on eBay. These types
of businesses are fairly easy to start and don't require a lot of money to get started.
Do you enjoy retailing? You can make money selling items on eBay - new or used -
including opening an eBay store. You can even work with dropshippers, so that you don't have to purchase
inventory up front
Market Health offers an turn-key online business for
people interested in natural health and beauty products. They supply the products, website and customer
service. You are responsible for promoting the products online.
Do you like learning about global news, following financial trends and working with charts and graphs?
You can work independently from home trading foreign currency. There is higher risk involved in this type
of business, so training is advised - which you can get for free. Make Money Trading Forex
Start your own home business offering business support services to other companies as a virtual assistant. This
field is becoming more and more popular as companies are outsourcing their work to cut costs. You can even
become a Social Media Specialist with very
little training.
Do you like writing? Find out how to write, publish and sell your own eBook online with step-by-step
instructions. With easy-to-use, low cost software and a wide variety of selling platforms, this can be a fun
business for those who have solutions or information to share.
What are the best products to sell on eBay?
eBay Pulse (http://pulse.ebay.com) is a resource on the eBay website
that shows you which products are selling the most. It is updated daily, so it is a good place to find out
the types of products that people are buying right now. Another helpful tool is the World Wide Brands
newsletter (http://www.worldwidebrands.com/wwb/rc_newsletter.asp). It
is free at their website, and you can get lots of success tips about selling on eBay as well.
In addition - it's more about how you sell, rather than what you sell. The goal is to stand out from the
other eBay sellers.
1. Sell the most popular eBay products at deeply discounted prices or offer higher value "package
deals".
By offering a lower price, you will attract more buyers and can easily start a bidding war. The excitement
and interest that a bidding war creates will generally give you a selling price that is higher than it would be
if you had originally listed the product for sale at a high price. Once people have started bidding, they do
not want to stop. Your goal is to get them started.
With a package deal, you stand out because you are delivering more value and added convenience to your
buyers. They can make one purchase instead of several.
2. Sell unique or hard-to-find products that cannot be found at your local store.
With hard-to-find products, you can demand more money simply because you will have less sellers to compete
against - maybe none.
Where can I find wholesale products to sell?
You can use a free
wholesale search engine like GoWholesale to find wholesale
companies and dropshippers online. If you want to minimize your workload and work with multiple
dropshippers who will ship products directly to your customers without you having to purchase and
stock inventory, you can use a dropping network like Doba.
How can I get more customers?
This will depend on the type of business you operate, where you are located and your clientele. Start by
thinking about your typical customers. Do they spend lots of time on the internet? What are their interests?
What type of work do they do? What is the general lifestyle? This can give you a good idea of whether or not to
advertise online, in magazines, at local events, in community newspapers, within certain interest groups or
organizations, etc..
In addition, some types of businesses can gain new clients simply by referrals. You can ask current
customers directly for referrals, or offer incentives or rewards for referring new customers. If you can, give
out free samples. Let customers try before they buy. This strategy can work well - especially if you don't like
selling!
To get some ideas, you can find 32 different low-cost "do-it-yourself" strategies on this page: Small Business Marketing Tips
I need help! Can I get someone to help me start my business?
Yes! We've
partnered with well-known Business Coaches who have helped thousands of entrepreneurs successfully
launch their own businesses. You can get personal assistance and expert instruction starting your
business or launching a product idea from top, experienced professionals for a fraction of what you would
pay to hire a mentor. Visit this page: Small
Business Help & Coaching
How do I find a work from home job?
We don't offer jobs at our website. We specialize in small and home-based businesses. We do, however, have a
web page dedicated to job-related resources that may be of help to you. You can find it here: http://www.homebusinesscenter.com/jobs.html
Can I advertise on HomeBusinessCenter.com?
Yes. Here are links to the details:
