Need Advice on Self Employment

I have started a company with three other moms and we are always looking for good people to help us check out daycare center. It would work around your schedule and you could take your son along, if needed.

Take a look at www.MomCheck.com and if interested, submit your application at this link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=evJffWBLOW94fWATidy...
If you have any questions, email me.

Good luck on finding your passion and building up your business. Another aspect of cleaning (green is a good idea) is cleaner and organizer. If you are good at organizing, you could offer those services along with cleaning services.

Also, don't count yourself out of financial positions. Your experience does count. There will always be companies out there that will hire for experience. Good luck.

S.

Hello E.,
I started my own businesses about 7 years ago and went through a lot of learning getting clear about what I really wanted to do and have my business look like. I would suggest that you first do some real soul searching as to what you are passionate about and what drives you. Writing cathartically, making lists of what you get excited about, what you would jump out of bed every morning for. Then looking at each one of those things and figuring out if and how they could be a profitable business for you. I say all this because I have moved through several businesses and found the purpose for my life, aside from being a mom, and that would have been a much quicker and easer way for me to do it! If you love what you are doing, and feel you are really giving back to the world, you will undoubtedly be successful. As it turns out I am a life coach now, something I was doing with friends and family and other organizations, but it took me a minute to figure out that was what made me jump out of bed everyday! Now I get to do it, support people in having their dreams come true and make money at it! I hope this helps a little.
Best of luck in your search!
J.

I recently started my own business also. I thing I learned from watching "The Big Idea" show is to do one thing per day to get your business going. I followed this rule and was impressed by how smoothly my start-up went.

I second the suggestion of vistaprint.com. I have been very happy with the products I have ordered from them. Also, I suggest finding a Small Business Development Center near you. They have counselors you can talk to, and free classes. There are lots of great places to advertise for free, or next to free on the internet so I suggest going that route instead of investing a lot of start up money.

God Bless in your new adventure.

Hi Evenlyn! I commend you on "going for it"! Good luck to you!! Just a "thought" if you do decide to clean houses, you might want to add a little - clean green. Use cleaners that work great but that are safe and "the best of science and nature". It's very easy to do...it's just a matter of where you shop. You'll actually save money and it'll be safer and healthier for you too!

Good luck!!!
T.

Hi Evenlyn,
A couple of people have mentioned going green with your cleaning products. That is a good idea, not just for marketing, but for your own health!
Shaklee has a "Get Clean" line that is safe and very cost effective. Last year, Oprah featured these products four times on her show, including her "Favorite things."
Anyone, like myself, who currently uses these types of products would love to find a housekeeper who knows how to use them.
You can check them out at http://www.shaklee.net/healthforlife.
If you decide to use these products, I can help you get connected to people who might want to use your cleaning services.
Very best of luck to you!
Victoria C

Hi E.,
You ask great questions. Another lady and myself are putting together a "Reinventing Yourself Workshop: Tips and Tools on How to Thrive Outside-the-Box of Traditional Employment." There are many out there who are looking to"Reinvent" themselves in this financial economy (or at least have a plan B in place).

I would like to speak with you more to find out where your passions lie before giving general advice. But unless you really ENJOY cleaning houses, you may not be giving yourself enough credit for not going after your DREAM job instead.

I would also like some input from you on what key information you seek, to make sure we cover it in our workshop.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

J.
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Hi E.,

I like the idea of going green as much as possible. I use Melaluca products myself (I don't sell them, just use them). They work VERY well, smell nice, and are non-toxic. If you go "green", I would use that as a way to differentiate yourself from the competition. If you have friends that would benefit from the service, maybe give them a "Start-up Special" price or something - just to get them onboard as supporters so they can refer you to others. Also, if you have a real estate person that you have a relationship with, perhaps you can do "pre-open house" cleanings for people who are selling and want to spruce up before people come, or the "move-out" clean, etc. Vistaprint.com does nice business cards, etc for very good prices and you can use their design tools to make up something nice. You can even get shirts with your logo from them (I did :) for my child shuttle service.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

Hi,

I just read your post and was wondering how this went? Did you get a cleaning business started? I was looking at doing something like that also and wanted to know if it was difficult or went rather well?

Thanks,
C.

Hi E.!

You can start your own Wine business for $99!! You choose the days that you want to work...well, I guess you call it work...In-Home Wine Tastings!! It's a FUN way to earn some extra money and/or build a business!!

S.