The most important tax break for home-based business owners is the home-office deduction. This deduction allows you to write off the costs of operating and maintaining the part of your home that you use for your business. You could, for example, write off a portion of your rent or mortgage, utilities, trash collection, and security system. To qualify for the home-office deduction, however, you must use that part of your home designated for business regularly and exclusively for your trade or business. Not only that, but the business part of your home must
be either your principal place of business, a place where you meet or deal with customers in the normal course of your trade or business, or a separate structure (not attached to your home) that you use in connection with your trade or business.
In addition to the home-office deduction, you're also allowed to write off the normal costs of doing business, just as any other kind of business can. Depending on the nature of your business, this could include such things as computers, office supplies, retirement plans, business travel, auto expenses, and much more. Read more about these in Ordinary and Necessary Business Expenses. Consult with an accountant or tax advisor to learn more about how these tax advantages could apply to you and to your business.
-Jennifer
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Work From Home - Freelancing
Freelancing is a broad term given to those who sell a service or skill on the internet, or off for that matter. A freelancer is self-employed and takes on clients. He or she performs her skill or service for current customers and then moves on to new clients, occasionally repeating the service for existing patrons.
To become a freelancer, you must first identify a service or skill you can market online. Perhaps you know a bit about a particular topic and can write well. You can market yourself as a freelance writer on your topic. Perhaps you spend a great deal of time on forums or blogs and like to participate in discussions. You can sell your posting skills.
The more experience and expertise you have in a given field the more desirable you will be and the more income you can generate. Technical fields such as programming and search engine optimization are always in demand, and more graphic fields such as design are sought out as well.
Even taking a class or two in a certain programming language or graphic design may give you the skills you need to launch a freelance career. It is possible to make a freelance career out of almost any field of work imaginable. It simply takes skill and a bit of marketing.
Marketing Yourself as a Freelancer:The most challenging aspect of freelancing is finding a market for your particular skill. Marketing presents little problem for those who specialize in public relations and are selling their marketing skills, but for the rest of us, the ability to effectively market our wares separates those who are successful from those who are not.
To successfully market yourself and your offering, you must go where there is a need. If you are specializing in design, find those who are building websites who need your help. By the same token, if you are a freelance writer, it is not enough to simply maintain a blog demonstrating your skill. You must find readers and eventually clients who find themselves in need of your service.
Establishing a Successful Freelance Career:Finding your skill set and then finding a customer base are the fundamentals of establishing a freelance career. To make that career successful there are many other aspects to consider:
You must research and benchmark your service and those of similar professionals. Could you be doing more or offering additional services? What is the competition doing?
Find the ideal rate that brings you the maximum amount of profit with a reasonable amount of work. Are you slaving away for pennies or have your price so high you’re putting off clients? Does your rate adequately reflect your level of expertise?
Maintain professionalism at all times. Being a freelancer does not entitle you to act unprofessionally. Yes, you set the rules, but those rules also reflect you and your service. Act like a professional and your clients will think of you as one.
Stay current. The world is constantly changing, and you must stay current. Read the latest material and constantly network. Understand the changes to your industry and stay with or ahead of the times.
To become a freelancer, you must first identify a service or skill you can market online. Perhaps you know a bit about a particular topic and can write well. You can market yourself as a freelance writer on your topic. Perhaps you spend a great deal of time on forums or blogs and like to participate in discussions. You can sell your posting skills.
The more experience and expertise you have in a given field the more desirable you will be and the more income you can generate. Technical fields such as programming and search engine optimization are always in demand, and more graphic fields such as design are sought out as well.
Even taking a class or two in a certain programming language or graphic design may give you the skills you need to launch a freelance career. It is possible to make a freelance career out of almost any field of work imaginable. It simply takes skill and a bit of marketing.
Marketing Yourself as a Freelancer:The most challenging aspect of freelancing is finding a market for your particular skill. Marketing presents little problem for those who specialize in public relations and are selling their marketing skills, but for the rest of us, the ability to effectively market our wares separates those who are successful from those who are not.
To successfully market yourself and your offering, you must go where there is a need. If you are specializing in design, find those who are building websites who need your help. By the same token, if you are a freelance writer, it is not enough to simply maintain a blog demonstrating your skill. You must find readers and eventually clients who find themselves in need of your service.
Establishing a Successful Freelance Career:Finding your skill set and then finding a customer base are the fundamentals of establishing a freelance career. To make that career successful there are many other aspects to consider:
You must research and benchmark your service and those of similar professionals. Could you be doing more or offering additional services? What is the competition doing?
Find the ideal rate that brings you the maximum amount of profit with a reasonable amount of work. Are you slaving away for pennies or have your price so high you’re putting off clients? Does your rate adequately reflect your level of expertise?
Maintain professionalism at all times. Being a freelancer does not entitle you to act unprofessionally. Yes, you set the rules, but those rules also reflect you and your service. Act like a professional and your clients will think of you as one.
Stay current. The world is constantly changing, and you must stay current. Read the latest material and constantly network. Understand the changes to your industry and stay with or ahead of the times.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Work From Home - Free Credit Report
I have been searching for the REAL site that lets you check your credit report for free. Most sites say that it's free, but then ask for your credit card and require that you sign up for some program they offer.
The other day I finally stumbled across it. www.annualcreditreport.com/ You can only use it once a year and you won't get your actual score, but it will give you your full credit reports for the three major agencies. I used it and it worked perfectly.
-Jennifer
The other day I finally stumbled across it. www.annualcreditreport.com/ You can only use it once a year and you won't get your actual score, but it will give you your full credit reports for the three major agencies. I used it and it worked perfectly.
-Jennifer
Work From Home - Mystery Shopping Revealed
Do you love to shop? If so, you may be tempted by unsolicited emails or newspaper ads that claim you can earn a living as a secret or mystery shopper by dining at elegant restaurants, shopping at pricey stores, or checking into luxurious hotels. But, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, marketers who promise lucrative jobs as mystery shoppers often do not deliver bona fide opportunities. What is Mystery Shopping?Some retailers hire marketing research companies to evaluate the quality of service in their stores; these companies use mystery shoppers to get the information anonymously. They assign a mystery shopper to make a particular purchase in a store or restaurant, for example, and then report on the experience. Typically, the shopper is reimbursed, and can keep the product or service.
Many professionals in the field consider mystery shopping a part-time activity, at best. And, they add, opportunities generally are posted online by marketing research or merchandising companies. Nevertheless, fraudulent mystery shopping promoters are using newspaper ads and emails to create the impression that they’re a gateway to lucrative mystery shopper jobs with reputable companies. These solicitations usually promote a website where consumers can “register” to become mystery shoppers — after they pay a fee for information about a certification program, a directory of mystery shopping companies, or a guarantee of a mystery shopping job.
The truth is that it is unnecessary to pay money to anyone to get into the mystery shopper business. The shopping certification offered in advertising or unsolicited email is almost always worthless. A list of companies that hire mystery shoppers is available for free; and legitimate mystery shopper jobs are on the Internet for free. Consumers who try to get a refund from promoters of mystery shopping jobs usually are out of luck. Either the business doesn’t return the phone calls, or if it does, it’s to try another pitch. The Facts of Mystery ShoppingBecoming a legitimate mystery shopper for a legitimate company doesn’t cost anything.
Here’s how to do it: Search the Internet for mystery shopping companies that are accepting applications. Legitimate companies don’t charge an application fee. Many accept applications online. Do some homework about mystery shopping. Check libraries or bookstores for tips on how to find companies hiring mystery shoppers, as well as how to do the job effectively.
Visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website at http://www.mysteryshop.org/ for information on how to register to be a mystery shopper with a MSPA-member company, a database of available jobs, and additional information on the industry in general. In the meantime, the FTC says consumers should be skeptical of mystery shopping promoters who: Advertise for mystery shoppers in a newspaper’s ‘help wanted’ section or by email. While it may appear as if these companies are hiring mystery shoppers, it’s much more likely that they’re pitching unnecessary — and possibly bogus — mystery shopping “services.” Sell “certification.” Companies that use mystery shoppers generally do not require certification. Guarantee a job as a mystery shopper. Charge a fee for access to mystery shopping opportunities. Sell directories of companies that provide mystery shoppers.
If you think you have encountered a mystery shopping scam, file a complaint with your local consumer protection agency, the Better Business Bureau, your State Attorney General, or the FTC (ftc.gov). The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov/ or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Many professionals in the field consider mystery shopping a part-time activity, at best. And, they add, opportunities generally are posted online by marketing research or merchandising companies. Nevertheless, fraudulent mystery shopping promoters are using newspaper ads and emails to create the impression that they’re a gateway to lucrative mystery shopper jobs with reputable companies. These solicitations usually promote a website where consumers can “register” to become mystery shoppers — after they pay a fee for information about a certification program, a directory of mystery shopping companies, or a guarantee of a mystery shopping job.
The truth is that it is unnecessary to pay money to anyone to get into the mystery shopper business. The shopping certification offered in advertising or unsolicited email is almost always worthless. A list of companies that hire mystery shoppers is available for free; and legitimate mystery shopper jobs are on the Internet for free. Consumers who try to get a refund from promoters of mystery shopping jobs usually are out of luck. Either the business doesn’t return the phone calls, or if it does, it’s to try another pitch. The Facts of Mystery ShoppingBecoming a legitimate mystery shopper for a legitimate company doesn’t cost anything.
Here’s how to do it: Search the Internet for mystery shopping companies that are accepting applications. Legitimate companies don’t charge an application fee. Many accept applications online. Do some homework about mystery shopping. Check libraries or bookstores for tips on how to find companies hiring mystery shoppers, as well as how to do the job effectively.
Visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website at http://www.mysteryshop.org/ for information on how to register to be a mystery shopper with a MSPA-member company, a database of available jobs, and additional information on the industry in general. In the meantime, the FTC says consumers should be skeptical of mystery shopping promoters who: Advertise for mystery shoppers in a newspaper’s ‘help wanted’ section or by email. While it may appear as if these companies are hiring mystery shoppers, it’s much more likely that they’re pitching unnecessary — and possibly bogus — mystery shopping “services.” Sell “certification.” Companies that use mystery shoppers generally do not require certification. Guarantee a job as a mystery shopper. Charge a fee for access to mystery shopping opportunities. Sell directories of companies that provide mystery shoppers.
If you think you have encountered a mystery shopping scam, file a complaint with your local consumer protection agency, the Better Business Bureau, your State Attorney General, or the FTC (ftc.gov). The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov/ or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Work From Home - Alpine Access
I learned about this company through money magazine and it is very reputable seems to have a very streamlined application process. Alpine Access Homepage
Alpine Access is the premier provider of customer service solutions using home-based employees. Alpine Access’ clients are organizations that value their customers and are passionate about their brand. Our Alpine Customer Experience (ACE™) solutions mean access to quality employees, compelling operational efficiency and economic success.
Partnering with Alpine Access means gaining a competitive advantage and realizing the greatest ROI from your customer service operations. Advantage, yours.
-Jennifer
Alpine Access is the premier provider of customer service solutions using home-based employees. Alpine Access’ clients are organizations that value their customers and are passionate about their brand. Our Alpine Customer Experience (ACE™) solutions mean access to quality employees, compelling operational efficiency and economic success.
Partnering with Alpine Access means gaining a competitive advantage and realizing the greatest ROI from your customer service operations. Advantage, yours.
-Jennifer
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Work From Home - Arise
Hi Guys. I located this company that is curently hiring people to work from their home in most areas of the country (not NY unfortunately).
Arise Virtual Solutions, Inc. was founded as Willow CSN Incorporated in 1997, the home-based sales, customer service and technical support concepts have become some of the fastest-growing business segments in America.
Please visit here for more info. ARISE COMPANY
-Jennifer
Arise Virtual Solutions, Inc. was founded as Willow CSN Incorporated in 1997, the home-based sales, customer service and technical support concepts have become some of the fastest-growing business segments in America.
Please visit here for more info. ARISE COMPANY
-Jennifer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
