The Vision: You want to escape the rat race and spend more time with your family, a hobby. Running your own business online you can stop the commute, and even help cut pollution..
Reality: Initially you need to be prepared to spend more time with your new business than you may have spent on your job. A new business is like a new child. It will need your nurturing and effort for success. If your immediate goal is to replace a full time income you should have a nest egg prepared for the startup phase.
The Vision: You can work part time building your new home business online until
you see it taking off. You aren't giving up your bill paying regular
job to jump in without any income.
Reality: The fact is that this one is pretty exact. Again, be prepared to sacrifice some of that personal time while building the business.
The Vision: A online can be started with very little investment. Web hosting is cheaper than a storefront and you already own a computer.
Reality: While you do not have the cost of a storefront you still have many business related cost. Advertising, insurance, taxes, and the cost of doing business are all considerations for any business. A quality website created nd marketed by a company such as the author listed below is a good start.
The Vision: You can choose your own hours. If you have an appointment to keep in the morning, start your online work in the afternoon. No one can tell you that you can't take off.
Reality: You are the boss. You can choose your own hours and vacation. That is as long as someone can do everything you can do while you are gone. You will need to be prepared to make the decisions on how much to work and how much business to pass up for that time off.
The Vision: If you work harder you will make more money. Your
salary isn't fixed by someone else's view of what you're worth.
Reality: This one is true. One suggestion I will make is to put pen and paper to what you will need to make to replace your job. Do the math. If you are working 40 hours a week for $30,000 with two weeks off you are making $15 an hour. To equal that salary working 20 hours a week you will need your business to net $30 an hour.
The Vision: A website works 24 hours a day without complaining. Even if you're on holiday your online business website can be working online for you bringing in money.
Reality: This one is true providing that your online business can complete all orders without your help.
The Vision: Your online business can be as far reaching as you want, it can
offer something for your local community. It can sell to
people around the world as easily as next door.
Reality: This is true for within the United States and much of the world. For International Markets you will need to be aware of what can be exported, exchange rates, and fraud protection when dealing with overseas vendors. In other words do your homework when looking at global markets.
The Vision: Starting a home business online means you have a continuously
growing market as more and more people come online everyday.
Reality: This is true. Also keep in mind that more and more competitors are coming online everyday. You will need to stay on top of your website and work with an experienced webmaster to stay on top.
The Vision: It's dress down day everyday. You can work in your jeans and nobody will care.
Reality: 100% true as long as you are 100% online.
Created by Art Sprague of Art Sprague Consulting. A website development and business consulting firm in Kansas.