Student Reviews

• Great course! I have also taken a SCORE workshop and found that these two courses complemented each other.
  I am starting two home based businesses. This course has given me great insight and encouragement to succeed at both of them, and maybe more down the road.
• I have been having a blast with this course. Through the years I have wanted to have my own business, doing a lot of research, just never going full steam ahead. Your lessons are so helpful and validate a lot of things that I have been doing on my own, but never sure if they were correct. Thanks again!! It is always rewarding to have such a good instructor and I really enjoyed the course.
• I have researched online and in books on how to go about writing a business plan and this was the most comprehensive and streamlined description of how to and what to include. So far I have been very impressed with the information covered in this class. I have been studying this stuff for months, and this is the most useful info yet. Kudos to you, Helene!
• I learned a lot from this course. It opened my eyes and gave me inspiration to pursue my dreams of being my own boss. Thank you very much!
• I never imagined the depth of information necessary to starting a home based business. Thank you so much for slowing me down enough in taking one step at a time instead of diving in head first and getting stopped before I even got started. Now I know where to begin correctly.
• I thought the course was very insightful and, due to the fact that I could print the material, it will be a most helpful reference tool when I begin setting up my home based business. I felt that the instructor posed very important questions to ask one's self in pursuing a home based business career.
• I was very impressed with the instructor and content of this course. It covered more than I expected.
  This course covered all the topics which I had questions on operating a home based business. I found it very useful.
• This was a very informative class. I will be using everything that I have learned here to make my business successful. I think ANYONE that is going to start a small business should take this course. It definitely opens your eyes.

Class Details

Syllabus | Instructor Bio | Requirements | Student Reviews | Other Classes

Home-Based businesses are the hottest business trend of the decade! Learn how to be your own boss and eliminate the stress of having a job. The benefits of working from home are endless! Earn what you deserve, be independent, have tax deductions, do away with traffic, office politics and more! Learn how to develop the entrepreneurial qualities - motivation, discipline, creativity - that you will need to succeed! This class is a great way to start your own business or enhance the one you already have.

In this first lesson, I'll introduce you to the variety of reasons why most people want to operate their own home-based business. We'll take an honest look at the benefits as well as the challenges of working at home. And then you'll see what it takes to be an entrepreneur—and if this lifestyle will work for you.

What kind of home-based business should I start? Have you asked yourself this question? I sure hope so. Because this is one of the most important issues you need to consider. By thoughtfully exploring your options, you'll spare yourself costly mistakes that come with sinking your time, money, and energy into the wrong business. In this lesson, you'll focus on your talents and abilities so that your home-based business will be a great fit!

Having the right name and look for your home-based business is essential. In this lesson, you'll find out how to create the image that will draw customers to you and bring them back time and again. You'll get creative with names and logos, and then you'll learn how to protect your work with fictitious name statements, trademarks, copyrights, and patents.

Did you know that not all businesses are allowed to operate from a private residence? It's vital that you are familiar with the rules and regulations for the area you live in—before you start! So we'll explore zoning laws, licenses, permits, and insurance issues.

If you want to succeed at your business, you need to write an effective business plan. Your home-based venture is like a road trip; to get where you want to go, you need a map that shows you where you're starting from, where your destination is, and which route you want to take. In this lesson, you will learn how to put together a step-by-step action plan. This requires thorough research into each area of your business, so plan to roll up your sleeves and get to work!

To make your business thrive, you need to market it like a professional. So in this lesson, you'll learn how to create a marketing plan. Simply providing terrific products and services is not enough—you need to know who make up your marketplace, what your objectives are, and what your competition is up to. Remember, a home-based business doesn't have a convenient storefront. You've got to be creative about letting people know what you do.

Today, you'll learn a lot about the fine art of selling your product or service. It's so important to be real, to listen, and to know how to bargain and close the sale. Sound scary? Many people get cold feet when it comes to sales. But you don't need to worry. In this lesson, I'll give you the key to effective selling: Develop relationships based on trust and credibility.

I'll bet you're just dying to learn about banking, record keeping, and taxes, right? No? Well, they're not the most exciting topics, I'll admit, but they are crucial to your business. Today you'll learn about expenses and deductions, maintaining the appropriate records for all your revenue, categorizing your expenses, and keeping track of sales tax. Grab a cup of coffee, and keep your eyes open for this lesson!

Do you know how to set up your office for maximum efficiency? If not, then you've come to the right place. Conducting your business from the kitchen table is really not the ideal situation. So join me and see how to find just the right area in your home that will allow you to work in a sane and productive fashion. Learn how to set boundaries for your office, figure out what size office and setup you need, and make sure your office is ergonomically and aesthetically pleasing. Taking the time to set up your home office today is an investment in your future.

Today, we'll delve into getting organized. To some people, the word organize sounds constricting and limiting—everything has a place and must be in it at all times. Let's toss that idea right out the window! The goal in organizing your business is to give yourself freedom. Whether you're dealing with paperwork or time management, your system of organization should not restrict or confine you in any way. Come and see how organizing will work for you and never against you.

One thing entrepreneurs often overlook is their professional image—how their business looks to the outside world. When your 5-year-old answers the phone and starts playing guessing games with potential customers, or when your computer equipment still runs on DOS, you've got an image problem! The impression you make through your image can bring customers to you or drive them to your competition. So in this lesson, we'll look at what not to do and what to do regarding your personal appearance, attitude, and printed materials.

In all your hard work of building a business, you don't want to forget the most important people: not your customers, but your family. You'll need to clarify expectations, reach compromises that work for everybody, and especially set boundaries. In this last lesson, you'll learn how to protect your work and your relationships and have fun with both. It's all a matter of balance.

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Helene Liatsos.

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).