Working at home is one of the best options for people who would like to have more control over their time. Unlike when you are working in the office where you need to abide by the regular working hours set by the company, working at home on your own business will allow you some flexibility in your time. However, although working at home has many advantages, you should be prepared to put in considerable amount of efforts to get things started. An internet business start up could be very challenging so make sure that you are prepared for all the consequences of your decision to get up your own business.

The first thing that you will need to do during your internet business start up stage is to get a reliable computer with good internet connection. Since you will spend a lot of time online, you will need to get the best internet connections. Furthermore, your computer will be your virtual office, so make sure that you get a very reliable computer. You must always bear in mind that one of the keys to succeed especially when you are doing internet business start up is to have a fast internet connection and computer which can accommodate large files.

After you have your computer with internet connection, set up a small work space in a corner of your home. If you have kids in the house, choose a place where there will be minimal disturbances. If you cannot afford to get a spare room, which you can use as your office space, you can simply put a table and a filing cabinet in one corner and declare it as your office space. Let everyone know that this corner of the house is your work place so that nobody will disturb you when you sit in your corner.

Now, although the people in your house already know that you have workplace in your house, this may not stop your kids from rummaging through your table for something that they can play with. If you do not want to end up losing some important things, it would be a good idea to clear your desk and put all your things inside your filing cabinet and lock it. Do not leave any important things lying on your table if you do not want to lose them.

Once you have your workplace set up, you can now starting working on your online business. To be sure that you will not be disturbed while you are working, you can start working as soon as the kids are already in their rooms sleeping. If your kids go to bed early, you will have more time to work on your online business so make it a habit to put your kids to bed early.

Working at home is one of the best options for people who would like to have more control over their time. Unlike when you are working in the office where you need to abide by the regular working hours set by the company, working at home on your own business will allow you some flexibility in your time. However, although working at home has many advantages, you should be prepared to put in considerable amount of efforts to get things started. An internet business start up could be very challenging so make sure that you are prepared for all the consequences of your decision to get up your own business.

The first thing that you will need to do during your internet business start up stage is to get a reliable computer with good internet connection. Since you will spend a lot of time online, you will need to get the best internet connections. Furthermore, your computer will be your virtual office, so make sure that you get a very reliable computer. You must always bear in mind that one of the keys to succeed especially when you are doing internet business start up is to have a fast internet connection and computer which can accommodate large files.

After you have your computer with internet connection, set up a small work space in a corner of your home. If you have kids in the house, choose a place where there will be minimal disturbances. If you cannot afford to get a spare room, which you can use as your office space, you can simply put a table and a filing cabinet in one corner and declare it as your office space. Let everyone know that this corner of the house is your work place so that nobody will disturb you when you sit in your corner.

Now, although the people in your house already know that you have workplace in your house, this may not stop your kids from rummaging through your table for something that they can play with. If you do not want to end up losing some important things, it would be a good idea to clear your desk and put all your things inside your filing cabinet and lock it. Do not leave any important things lying on your table if you do not want to lose them.

Once you have your workplace set up, you can now starting working on your online business. To be sure that you will not be disturbed while you are working, you can start working as soon as the kids are already in their rooms sleeping. If your kids go to bed early, you will have more time to work on your online business so make it a habit to put your kids to bed early.

In the world of selling and relationships with clients there are many logical steps, strategies and processes to increase your bottom line.

However, I bet I have one that you have NEVER heard of.

As someone who considers herself a gourmet chef (OK....an amateur gourmet chef!) I absolutely lovvvvvvvvvvvvve cooking for people.

In my spare moments - you'll find me with my nose buried in an ancient and musty Joy of Cooking recipe book or one of the latest from the bookstore. (I am a HUGE fan of Nigella Lawson!)

There is something about whipping eggs, chopping carrots and creating a masterpiece that relaxes me (or is it the red wine?) Ha.

I take great pride in having a table set that is a feast for your eyes as well as your palate.

So What Does Cooking Have To Do With Selling - Ms. Martha Diva?

Well I have a personal rule when I accept a client.

In my mind they have to pass a very important FILTER before I will work with them.

What is it?

Whether I invite them or not - in my mind they have to be worthy of a...

"Meal Prepared By Kim"

Now I have hundreds of clients so it isn't physically possible to invite everyone! However, I still run them through my "Mental Guest List" to see if they would be Pavlova worthy.

The 6 Qualities Of A Perfect Diva Dinner Guest:

1. Fakes Need Not Apply. I am a BAN the PLASTIC MARGARINE and go for the BUTTER kind of girl! So if someone comes across as a fake to me - then sorry. You're not invited.

2. Lots of ZEST. I lovvvvve lemon and when a potential client has loads of zest and passion for their business then consider yourself a firm candidate for a potential Diva Dinner.

3. No McShortcuts. If a potential client wants the MAGIC PILL without doing the work then I know they won't pass the Mental Guest List!

4. Fresh Ideas Abound. I love working with people who are excited about their business and all of the aspects that are involved. Stale bread doesn't interest me unless it's a breadcrumb.

5. Loves Trying New Things. Oh boy - this is a BIG ONE. As I am an experimental "chef" in sales and in life - you had better be prepared for trying new things. If that scares you then stick with Kraft Dinner.

6. Appreciation. Just as a the best guest is someone who comes with an appetite, loves to eat really good food and moans with joy through-out the meal - I only work with clients who absolutely savor the experience with me and who want more!

I Diva Dare you to use these filters for your own "Mental Guest List" .

You will be pleasantly surprised how quickly you will know if someone is "Meal Worthy" or not.

It works. Trust the Galloping Gourmet Sales Diva.

If you want to start a successful home business, keep in mind that it is not unlike any other business. In order to become successful YOU will need a system and ultimately YOU will be required to follow it!

There are so many opportunities to consider, and it can be tempting to take a look at a number of other systems because you think that it may be easier or faster than what you are already doing. But don’t, you could be making a big mistake! The last thing that you want to do is become distracted. You want to find a system that works and then once your income is secure you can then perhaps start to experiment. But even then you may find that you are slowing down your progress.

The success of your home business starts in the mind. The one key point to remember, if nothing else, is to have a positive attitude. If YOU BELIEVE, then you will be well on your way to starting a successful home business. However, if you have any doubts what so ever, they may slowly sabotage your success. If the people who you associate with do not understand or support what it is that you are doing, your lack of success may be amplified.

For this reason, many networking companies have meetings and fast track sessions, so that you are associating with like minded individuals who are goal-oriented and positive, and so that their beliefs and knowledge will rub off on you. If you have a business or company that is Internet based, by communicating through conference calls, chatrooms and forums, people remain focused and motivated.

Recommended promotional techniques and information about your product can be discussed, but the most beneficial aspect of these virtual or real life meetings, is that they are available to lend support in keeping your attitude about business and life positive.

Some good network marketing companies will provide you with a list of positive and motivational books, which come highly recommended. These books are geared to helping you build your belief in yourself and in your business.

Your own mind is your largest barrier when it comes to your success in business, not excluding the influence others may have over it. The key to any networking system is the development of great communication with the people on your team or in your upline. You can pass out business cards, distribute flyers and put up notices, but if you choose not to connect with the people in your business, not to adopt a positive attitude, your business is likely to stagnate.

However, if you are working hard to improve your attitude, and use the above suggestions to eliminate any doubts that you may have, you will find that you will be able to start a successful home business that will grow by leaps and bounds. As they say, “It’s all in the mind!” You just need to BELIEVE!

With housing skyrocketing, Gas prices bouncing around like a rubber ball, and the cost of living out of reach for many of us, a second income is almost a way of life or should I say a way to live. I was a Trucker for over 25 years and it took a lot of time away from my family.

I was hurt on the job a few years back and couldn’t return to the work I loved and enjoyed. I raised a family and supported my wife on it and lived very comfortable the years after our children left home. Now I am back to starting over again . At my age it isn’t easy. I had a long passion with computers and the internet the same time as my driving years. To do something with both of them would be a dream come true. Now here is where my second life begins.

Like many others, I looked on the internet for opportunities. Let me tell you there are many scammers, snake oil salespersons (pc), and so-called Gurus. You can lose a lot of money chasing these GET RICH schemes. Please don’t do it. Anyone promising you to make a million dollars over night is not looking out for you. A business has to be built from the ground up. You need to have the knowledge to do it the right way. I have found a business that gives you the training, resources, websites, online services, and basically everything you need to build a business for the rest of your life. Think of a business from the comfort of with your home, vacationing, beaches, RVing, and anywhere you want to live. The best part of this is it’s FREE.

Now like everything else, you get out of life what you put into it.. If you take your business seriously and work it, you will be successful in whatever success means to you. If you don’t work at it, you won’t be successful. All I ask is for you to take an honest and hard look at this chance to change your life. Go through what is called the PATH training. If nothing else, it will help you with any online business you might start. I wish you a long an healthy personal and business life.

In a recent New York Times/CBS survey, access to affordable health care was identified as the primary issue on the public's domestic agenda. According to the Times, a majority of respondents favor a federal guarantee of health insurance for every American, and they voiced a willingness to pay as much as $500 in additional taxes a year and forgo future tax cuts to accomplish this. The Times added that "Americans remain divided, largely along party lines, over whether the government should require everyone to participate in a national health care plan, and over whether the government would do a better job than the private insurance industry in providing coverage."

Clearly, something needs to be done to streamline or overhaul health insurance coverage nationwide. The most current federal data notes that 44.8 million Americans are without health insurance. This is nothing short of a crisis, says Andy Stern, international president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU). SEIU is partnering with AARP and the Business Roundtable in a campaign called "Divided We Fail," which is pushing for fundamental change in the health care system using the influence of their combined 50 million members.

While the "Divided We Fail" partnership seeks bipartisan solutions to the health care debate, others see solutions emerging outside the political arena. In late March, Richard Berner, chief U.S. economist for Morgan Stanley, wrote in The Wall Street Journal that he believes the solution is to "get health-care financing out of the workplace and require coverage, more personal responsibility and market incentives." Berner believes that a consumer-driven health care model with universal mandated basic coverage would provide "a safety net for the disadvantaged."

We recently surveyed some of our Best Bosses to get their perspectives on this complicated issue. Of the 16 leaders we surveyed – encompassing a wide range of industries, with IT and telecommunications being most prevalent – 63 percent feel that employees are most responsible for ensuring that they receive adequate medical coverage. Thirty-eight percent feel this responsibility falls on the shoulders of the federal government, and 25 percent say it is up to insurance providers.

The bosses' comments related to this issue appear split between wanting the government and insurance providers to take responsibility and provide real solutions. The president and CEO of a hosted VoIP phone system provider on the East Coast says he would "make transparent the crappy service of insurance providers." Meanwhile, the president of a New England-based custom publishing and creative services company says that "If the insurance and health care providers cannot solve the problem, then I do think it is the responsibility of government to do so on behalf of employers and employees alike."

Despite the fact that rising health care costs have hit small businesses especially hard, these leaders are doing what they can to offset costs and keep their health care benefits attractive enough to retain employees. Sixty-three percent of the bosses provide a PPO benefit for their employees, 21 percent provide an HMO benefit and 8 percent allow employees to choose between the two benefits.

To minimize health insurance rate increases, 63 percent of the leaders we surveyed have increased employee co-pays in the last two years. Twenty-four percent have created health savings accounts (HSAs) for this purpose. One leader who put HSAs in place at his Midwest-based staffing agency also increased deductibles. This has helped manage costs while mitigating out-of-pocket expenses for his 12 full-time and 300 part-time employees.

One link in the chain of providing health care coverage that bridges federal government- and insurer-provided solutions is state-mandated health insurance benefits. According to recent data by the Council for Affordable Health Insurance, the number of state-mandated benefits grew by 3 percent in the last year. There are now over 1,900 such benefits nationwide. While Initiatives in Illinois, Massachusetts and California have been most visible, these benefits are quietly influencing how insurance companies cover specific health care providers and patient populations in every state.

Yet, without universal oversight and communication, many business leaders are left wondering how their employees are affected by their state's mandates. Sixty percent of the Best Bosses said they were unsure as to the impact of state-mandated benefits on their business. One leader, the co-owner of a computer and peripheral sales firm in Vermont, says that "with greater enrollments better economies of scale would help with efficiencies overall." However, he admits that state-sponsored health care is "not the ideal solution ... since the burden of paying for this would in essence be a regressive tax on businesses." The leader of the staffing firm previously mentioned, on the other hand, says he has "zero confidence" in his state's ability to manage health insurance, since they have bankrupted their own unemployment insurance program.

One thing is clear: If state governments are unable to step up their efforts on the health care front, and if the federal government does not put forth universal direction, then the onus for providing adequate coverage for employees falls fist on employers, then on workers themselves. And considering that small organizations account for 99.7 percent of all employer firms (according to the latest Small Business Administration estimates), even if they remain partially responsible, it is an unduly large burden to carry.

I had spent several weeks working with my client getting their books in order and we were now finally able to review a pretty decent Balance Sheet. By that I mean one that was accurate, not necessarily pleasant to look at with tons of money lounging around in the asset area. I spent a few minutes reviewing with my client what each of the areas were representing, liabilities, assets, equity, etc., when I saw a confused look on the business owner's face. "What's the matter?" I asked. "Well", he said, "I don't understand why the Balance Sheet shows that I am making pretty good money, but I don't seem to be taking any of it home."

So we printed a copy of his Profit & Loss Statement for the year and began to review it as well. Again, this document was an eye opener for my client, a document that was not available prior to this time because of all of the inaccuracies in their book keeping system.

As we began to go over the details I commented to him that one of the biggest culprits causing money to disappear was not controlling expenses. "But we don't spend money on things we don't need." he said. "As you can see, we buy equipment for resale, pay our employees, buy needed office supplies, pay our accountant, attorney, and of course you, but we don't spend money on unnecessary things. So why don't I have more in the bank?"

"Are you sure that you only spend money on necessary things?" I replied. "Have you filed your taxes for the year yet?" "Not yet." he said, "We had to file an extension because we were not ready." "Oh" I said, "An unnecessary expense because your books were shabby, and how about your payroll taxes? Looks like those were paid a little late last year as well." "Yes" he said sheepishly, "Another unnecessary expense, I guess."

I went on to explain to my client that controlling expense means more than just the obvious areas of the business, because it is the hidden, extra expenses, that erode your profits. Keeping your books in order is essential to controlling these types of costs.

Running a business is not easy, if it were, everyone would be doing it successfully.

When I was going through basic training in the military (A while back!) we were made to polish our soap after each shower. I thought it was pretty stupid at the time, but in retrospect, I understand the symbolism of that task. Don't allow the things you use daily (financials, client records, invoices, etc.) to become unattractive and in disarray. Showering with a clean bar of soap will not only make you feel better but will demonstrate that you are a stickler for details, an essential ingredient for success.

Millions of website owners select low cost or free hosting options that may not be appropriate for commercial or small business websites. Based on one recent experience with a custom website client, I feel site owners need to understand that free ad supported website hosting is not for everyone.

The ads exchanged for free hosting offered from one major hosting company are described as done by inserting "advertising on a small portion of the site". In fact this "small ad" is a top banner that covers the width of the screen with a height of 1.2 inches (30.4mm), and displays 3 separate ads. The choice of ads placed in the banner advertising is fed based on page content, so your site might feature an advertisement from your competition. This is fine for non-commercial personal sites, or a website monetized for advertising revenue only. It is senseless to advertise for your competition.

Website hosting is inexpensive. The decision to use free ad supported hosting should be considered carefully.

The cost for paid hosting ranges from modest to outrageous, so many business owners fall victim to overpriced hosting services because of inexperience. Some pay $1000's USD per year for their domain, hosting, and maintenance when in fact their site is static and nothing is ever added. A monthly fee based on the contingency that something might need to be changed in the future is a waste of money if your website is launched and just gathers dust. If it is dynamic adding content frequently and you receive value for money, monthly fees are practical.

Tip: You do NOT have to include the copyright date on your web pages. Using the copyright symbol and the year means you have an obsolete website a year later. The cost to change the date each January hardly justifies paying thousands annually in monthly fees. Published material is covered locally and internationally by copyright law without specifying the year or including a copyright statement. The fact that content is published on your website means you own it. My advice is avoiding dated material and simply state "Copyright Material - All Rights Reserved".

Another client told of a service where they paid $179 a month for a similar package which included a logo design and website graphics. Although their agreement also included high quality artwork of their logo for printed marketing materials, the service provider refused to make it available when requested. The website version was 3-color low resolution and looked fine online. Creating a 4-color CMYK high resolution version appropriate for professional printing should have been easy. Instead, the website owner was compelled to shop around and pay extra to have printed marketing materials designed.

When you remove "maintenance" as a service in the example above, your small business website can be online for less than $150 USD annual cost instead of $2148.00. The amount this customer saved was enough to pay for a custom site design, and then future savings of $2000 a year after the first year. You need a www domain and hosting, plus a site design. Dependable service companies are out there at less than $10 a year for your domain, and less than $5 a month for hosting. Why pay more? Choose carefully when you select someone to design your small business website, and their advice may save you more than the design.

Next, the technical implications of free ad supported website hosting may escape the notice of most site owners. In the recent incident, the XHTML code to create this site was deprecated by the free service when they automatically inserted code to generate the advertising banner. Instead of a website with zero code errors, 10 XHTML errors were added to each page because of the extra inserted code. Currently proper HTML or XHTML code is not mandatory for favorable search engine ranking, yet if you have a perfect design, there is the risk that deprecated code could affect ranking in the future if search algorithms change.

Small business owners are usually too busy running their day to day operations to learn about the best options for getting and keeping a website online. Free ad supported website hosting is available, but the downside needs to be understood before you opt for free hosting. If you select a web developer to design your website and they do not offer monthly fee based services, they will most likely offer advice for your best hosting options.

In conclusion, designers who offer value added services are viable choices for small business owners who choose to have fresh content added to their site frequently. Just make sure to communicate your needs for online and in print to maximize your results and avoid disappointment. I am opposed to free ad supported website hosting for small business websites because anything displayed on your site needs to promote your product or service. Advertising, especially competitive ads, detract from the positive first impression that is critical for the success of your small business website.

I know what you’re thinking. Who would get involved with someone like that? Well, running a business always has some twists and turns. As your business grows and you get busier, your time to plan and market your business slowly diminishes. And as a small business owner your resources are usually very limited. How do you find the right person to help, how do you pay for them? Your decision making becomes clouded, because you just want to get this great idea happening.

We often turn to friends or people suggested by friends who may be willing to ‘give it a go’ for less money than a qualified person.

In our business, we had decided to stretch out a little and try an in-store radio service, the kind you hear when shopping. We had the technical know how and we were very capable of creating a programme. What we needed, was a salesman. We needed someone who could cold call and get a lead. Then follow that lead and turn it in to dollars! We did not have a enough budget to hire a real salesman, (save that story for another issue) so we opted for someone who would work on the basis of getting a cut of the business.

Now this is nothing new. Many people start and operate businesses in this way. Of course the major factor is, get to know whom you are dealing with.

We got to know this guy through a series of meetings. His appearance was good, he spoke well, and he was quick to understand the concept. He had even worked in community radio for some time. It all seemed OK. We worked out a business plan and a target list for him to attack. Everything seemed to be moving along.

However, one thing that did make us a little uneasy was that he carried a brief case that was empty. Well not completely empty. It usually had only one piece of blank paper in it. And maybe his lunch. We over looked this because he seemed to remember where we were up to with things.

Once we had arrived at the stage of starting to make those cold calls, everything started to change. He did not deliver. We had found his flaw. Of course from there, it just disintegrated until he left.

So what had we lost? What was our flaw? Time. Now we had this ‘other business’ that had gone from nowhere to nowhere. We had spent a lot of time on researching the technicalities of producing the product, producing small demonstrations to be played at meetings, had some basic stationery made. But it was time working our normal business that we lost most.

While our heads were in that new exciting space, we neglected the very business that was putting money in our pockets each week.

It is so easy to lose focus on your business. Let’s face it; once you have something working well, the challenge is not as big as it used to be. A new business gets you right back at that blank page and a new challenge is set. But don’t let it interfere with your current business. But not letting it interfere is a tall order for small business owners.

The real challenge is to keep your business profitable and growing. But sometimes we need to make new products, try different ideas as a way of growing your business. You really need to plan. Spend plenty of time making a genuine attainable plan, which includes a realistic budget. Don’t spend three months taking your eye off the ball for nothing.

Remember that any new business is bound to require as much attention, if not more, as your current business. Sometimes it’s better to look in your own ‘backyard’ to see if you can get more sales and thereby increase your profits rather than taking a punt on a new venture.

And I guess you’re wondering how you find those good people? Well, if you have the money, you’ll find them. If you don’t, you may just have to be a little smarter about how you get your new idea off the ground. If you do bring someone in who will own part of the new business there a few things to make sure you do.

Firstly. Make sure they can have no part of your current business. You’ve worked hard, so don’t give it away.

Secondly. Make them financially accountable. If they want 50%, then they have to put in 50% of the capital. Don’t accept any other answer.

Third. Make some sort of escape plan. The business may not work, you may end up fighting. Have an agreement up front. Once you’re fighting, the possibility of a good outcome is severely reduced.

And lastly, dealing with a partner can be difficult. Make sure your jobs are clearly defined so in the event of a dispute, you can show that you held up your end of the bargain.

We never did get that idea rolling again, which is a common outcome. Never did see that man with the empty brief case again either.

Mistake 2 of 7: Producing a Brochure

A brochure seems to be one of the first things any health practitioner thinks of when thinking marketing. Depending on the financial situation, a $1,000 high gloss brochure is produced, or a do-it- yourself which is copied on coloured paper.

Both approaches are big mistakes and cost you time, money and clients.

The cheap home-made brochure is actively damaging your business. You are a professional with trained skills. Do not devalue them with below standard marketing material. Today, professional graphic designers and printing has become cheap enough to warrant the expense. Just compare it to the investment you have made into your education.

What is Marketing?
The first thing to get clear is that marketing is about building relationships with your clients and starts long before any advertising is done.

Your target market, their problem and your solution are the basis. The better defined these are, the more quickly will you get to know your target market, and the better you know your target market, the more quickly will you be able to define these elements.

There is no better way to getting to know your target market than through networking (see mistake 4).

The Critical Elements in Marketing
The headline (or title) is said to account for 70-80% of the success of a marketing tool. Treat it like that and spend sufficient time to get it right. Write multiple headlines over a few days and test the best ones with friends or even some of your clients to find what is most successful. The better it resonates with your target market's problem, the better it works.

Rather than listing features, show the benefits. Features are what you do, benefits are the positive outcomes for your clients.

Testimonials are stories which add credibility by others telling them for you. It is best to interview your clients (or just take note of what they say), write it into a suitable form and ask for their permission to use it.

Give a great guarantee to reduce the risk for your clients. Services cannot be tested before buying. A guarantee substitutes that. And if you ever get someone taking you up on it, use that as a learning opportunity to improve your service. There are very few free-loaders who just do something to get the money back.

Offers have to be in line with the value of your service. Think carefully (and test) what your market really values. It is the perceived value that draws people, not the monetary value. So use this to show your appreciation. And think of ideas, other than discounting.

Always finish all of your marketing materials with a clear call to action. This does not have to be the purchase. Instead it could be the next step in building a trusting relationship.

Include your contact details!

The Most Effective Tools
A business card that includes the above elements is your most important marketing tool. People want to be treated by people they trust. After meeting you personally or through a referral, the business card can act as a reminder to act on the good personal impression.

Vouchers that are linked in with a business partner, so that you ride on the trust that exists between the business and their clients.

A website is cheap to produce and flexible to test different approaches.

In any case, it is essential to plan what marketing tools you will use over the course of 12 months and plan your budget accordingly.

The most effective marketing is through building the relationship with existing clients and referrals. So your marketing tools should support those efforts first, before trying to reach total strangers.

Best regards
Alexander Kohl

Already posted:
Mistake 1: Being a Jack of All Trades

Still to come:
Mistake 3: Neglecting Your Current Clients
Mistake 4: Hiding at Home
Mistake 5: Failing to Plan
Mistake 6: Working Without Financial Stability
Mistake 7: Doing it Alone

Many successful business owners have one thing in common - most of them utilize mentors. Having a mentor holds many benefits, including giving you the extra push you need to grow your business. However, finding a mentor who is willing to volunteer their time to provide guidance and advice is often difficult to do. Some mentors often charge outrageous consultation fees which many small business owners cannot afford. Fortunately, there are some ways to find mentors that won't cost anything but your time.

Clubs and Organizations
There are many local clubs and organizations that you can find by doing a little research. Most of these types of clubs are free to join. You are surrounded by like-minded individuals who are all interested in the same topic. While this doesn't provide one-on-one mentoring, you are still able to bounce ideas off of people, share experiences, and learn new things pertaining to your business.

Utilize SCORE
SCORE is an organization made up of retired business professionals in all types of industries who volunteer their expertise to small business owners. You can contact a SCORE counselor who specializes in your industry and they will provide mentoring at no cost to you. You can even meet up with a counselor if the service is provided in your area. This is a wonderful service that new small business owners should take advantage of. You can learn more by visiting their web site at www.score.org.

Take a Class
There are often free classes provided by community colleges, high schools, or adult learning programs. These types of classes range from learning how to run a business to learning how to use popular software programs. Enrolling in such free classes not only benefits education wise, but allows you to interact with others who may be knowledgeable in areas of business that you are seeking help in.

The above methods are not only beneficial because they are free and educational, but they also provide great networking opportunities to promote your services. You may even be able to find a great mentor or two in the process.

Learn more about online mentoring programs and other free resources by visiting Business Mentors for Small Business.