Businesses

How Much can I Charge Working from Home?

by Work at Home Magazine

How Much Can I Charge Working from Home?

In the wake of a poor economy, working from home has become a popular way to make a little extra money. Starting a home business can be easy depending on the niche you choose. One of the considerations when getting started is how much to charge for your services.

Working from home has its advantages. First of all, there is low overhead. You already pay the bills for utilities, mortgage and food. There are no extra fees as far as the building is concerned unless you install a separate telephone line for business use.

With that in mind, home workers want to set prices that are competitive in the industry, but not so much that they are passed over for the competition. When deciding on prices, avoid setting them too low. You don’t have sufficient overhead, but the goal with any business is to make money. Selling yourself short could put you right out of business.

A good rule of thumb is to examine what is currently being paid to those doing the same job but working for an employer. For example, let’s say that you want to do medical transcription. In an office setting, a doctor may pay his or her transcriptionist $10 per hour. On top of that he pays for medical, dental and benefits for this person. You could charge three or four dollars more per hour for your work and still come in below what he pays for one full time employee.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a higher rate based on your skillset and what the job entails. Anyone working from home is in business for themselves. You work when you want to work and take on as many clients as you wish. Beyond the office setting, your schedule is flexible to the needs of your clients. Performing multiple services for a client even from home warrants a little extra money per hour.

Looking at newspaper ads and online job sites give you some idea of what companies are offering. As a home business owner, your price will be higher to cover your operating costs and the taxes you will pay.

There are jobs that you can bid for on freelance websites. Sites like Elance allow you to bid for jobs with others who want to work from home. Some jobs pay too low to be worth all of the work but there are others that, if you have the skills, can be worth your while. Investigate some of these opportunities to get a feel for the going rate in that industry.

Some common work at home jobs are:

* Secretarial
* Virtual assisting
* Website design
* Marketing managers

When you work from home, you are in a win-win situation. Your overhead costs of doing business are lower and you can ask for a higher rate of pay for your services as an independent business owner and not an employee.

Earn From Home and Earn Online With Avon

by Work at Home Magazine

Avon representatives are from all walks of life, from all corners of the world. They have different reasons for becoming representatives, but with one clear goal: to find personal empowerment and amazing earning potential. You can be your own boss and make your own schedule – with Avon.

WAHM Pet Sitting Business

by Work at Home Magazine

If you have experience working with animals, or are just an animal lover, then starting a work at home pet sitting business may be right for you. Pet sitters offer an important role to pet owners and help keep the one hundred and forty-five million pets in this country healthy and happy. As a pet sitter, you’ll offer a valuable service to busy pet owners who are on vacation or who need someone to take care of their pets during the day.

Getting started as a pet sitter is very simple. To begin with, you’ll need to decide if this really is a business that you want to pursue. First off, ask yourself if you really love animals? If you are considering pet sitting just because you think it will be an easy job, then it is not right for you. You must enjoy spending time with animals and have at least a little experience in being around them. While most pet sitting jobs involve dogs and cats, you may occasionally be asked to care for rabbits, birds or reptiles. Make sure you are comfortable with these pets before accepting assignments involving them.

Start your business by becoming legal. Obtaining a business license doesn’t cost much and will give you a professional edge when getting new clients. You’ll also be able to take advantage of many tax write-offs, including your costs for mileage to and from your customer’s homes and any necessary business supplies.

Speaking of business supplies, all you’ll really need are business cards and an appointment book to keep track of your assignments. Unlike other work at home businesses, the start up necessities for pet sitting are relatively low.

Next, you’ll need to decide on what services you offer and how much you are going to charge. Play detective and find out the going rate for pet sitting services in your area. Try to stay in the same range. Offering lower prices may seem like a way to beat the competition, but it also makes your services appear less valuable to potential clients. You can print your rates on the back of your business cards, or make up a small flyer with prices listed on it.

Getting clients for your pet sitting business may be the most difficult part of running the business. However, with a little effort you can build a client list rather quickly. The best way to get clients and assignments is by word of mouth. Offer to pet sit for neighbors and friends to help build your reputation. Once you’ve done a good job for them, they’ll tell their friends and so on.

You can also use a few free and low cost advertising methods to get the word out about your business. You can distribute your cards at local pet shops, or post a flyer on their bulletin boards. Ask your vet if they would put some of your business cards on their reception desk, or recommend you to other pet owners. A small ad in your local paper can really help get the ball rolling for your business.

Once you have clients calling you for pet sitting appointments, make sure to keep them by treating them with great customer service. Always arrive on time and prepared to watch their pets. Respect their home and their property. If they enjoy your service, they’ll be more likely to call you in the future.