There’s an App for That

iPhone to the rescue! Actually its the makers Starter Cards App to the rescue. The developers over there have created an application that takes the guesswork out starting a company. The app contains mini deck of 15 slide cards that detail each step in the process. The app is based on a 52 printed card deck that gives more details. The iPhone app is streamlined but offers the the right amount of information would-be entrepreneurs need to help them through this potentially overwhelming process. And it’s priced to move at only .99 cents.

1. Entrepreneurs’ Simple Ideas Can Mean Big Success: Think small, grow big. 
2. Optimistic entrepreneurs offer tips on besting recession:Words of wisdom for surviving a recession from some the country’s top women entrepreneurs.
3. Young entrepreneur opens her second Beauty Loft downtown: At 20 years old the owner of The Beauty Loft, Jessica Lhota , is opening her second retail store. Makes me really regret my mis-spent youth.
4. 10 unordinary tips for entrepreneur women: A great list of tips for every entrepreneur (in my opinion), My favorites: 1,3,6, 7, and10
5. Mint.com Founder Tells Entrepreneurs To Stick To The Basics:When someone can take a company from $0 to $170 million in three years, you should really want to hear what he has to say.
6. Entrepreneur sees future – on his iPhone: I have recommended creating iPhone apps as a good home business before. Its seems like the gentleman featured in this article agrees with me.

 Bonus LoLVideo:

This was the runner up for the Funny Fridays video selected this week. This is YouTube at its best.

1. Tutoring/Coaching: If you are knowledgable about a subject and have the skill to teach others you will find someone willing to pay you.  Services like Crossloop can enable you to get clients off campus as well.
2.  Workout Buddy: Unless you are certified, I would stay away from calling yourself a personal trainer. But you could offer to assist people who need help in the working out area. For a fee of course. 
3. Iphone Apps Developer: If a nine year old can develop an iPhone application so can you. Read this interview for inspiration. 
4. Cleaning / Organizing Service: It is a dirty job but some one got to it. If you have the skills for cleaning and organizing, why not get pay for it.
5. DeeJay: With today’s technology you can be a DJ with an iPod and special portable digital turntables. No more carrying crates and crates of records.  
6. Website Designer: Put all that time you spend on Myspace to use. You can get clients from all over the country without leaving your dorm room. 
7. Ebay: I know everybody with a baseball card collection is on eBay trying to become a millionaire. But if you find the right niche you may be able to crave out enough profit to be worth your while
8.  Affiliate/Information Marketing: This is the latest craze that’s producing a thousand new gurus a day.  Do your research and get some solid information and this can be a decent money maker.  
9. Blogging: This one is my favorite (hmmm, I wonder why?). Blogs are easy to setup and usually require little money to get started. Like eBay,  there are a lot of bloggers but there’s always room for great content. And with great content comes traffic and the opportunity to monetize that traffic. 
10. Geek Services: Upgrades, backups, virus removal, crash recovery all of these things happen to college kids and if you know how to handle these things you can get paid.

There are of course more businesses that can be run out of a dorm room.  I am interested to here what ideas others can come up with. Leave a comment with your idea, let’s see if we can get this list up to 100 businesses!

The review process never ends here at The Home Biz Private-Eye. First, I posted my original review of Xocia which was followed up with the popular, 6 Questions with a Former Xocia Distributor. Today, I bring you another interview with a Xocia distributor who is eager to share her experiences with you. Sherry Cantua made a comment on my interview with a former Xocai distributor and it was clear from her comment that she was actively working with Xocai.  Sherry’s comment also showed she was willing to help out someone try to find a win win solution for themselves. I reached out to Sherry to see if she would be willing to make a greater contribution to the conversation. She graciously accepted. Here is what she has to say about Xocia and working for yourself:

What do you like most about working with Xocai? Least

The great opportunity before me with Xocai is exciting. I’m offered the ability to market a breakthrough product, Healthy Chocolate, backed by a winning business model, with a proven track record, that’s creating millionaires.  Xocai provides me the products that people already need & use..(9 out of 10 people love chocolate).  I don’t have to convince anyone to consume our product, they already do…(A billion people ate chocolate today).  More importantly Xocai offers products of the future, today. Such as their new probiotic healthy chocolate that’s available right now in the U.S.  The beauty of Xocai is they offer to me, as an entrepreneur, the ability to create weekly income by providing these cutting edge products that people need and want, directly to consumers.   Xocai is ahead of the curve.   

The challenge I find, is in the comparing Xocai healthy chocolate to candy.  The cost of Xocai compared to popular chocolate candy you’ll find on the market today can bring objections by a few people.  Candy can be tasty but bad for your health. Xocai is very “Yummy” and great for your health.  You’ll find a comparison of "Xocai Vs CocoaVia –that’s a real knockout", on my Free Report I provide for my owningyourself.com subscribers.

What was your initial investment? How long did it take you to become profitable?

Xocai offers 3 easy ways to get started.  Basic Associate, Business Builder, and Executive Fast Track.   Initially I choose the Business builder option with a total investment of around $700 US.  I was profitable in my first 30 days.

How did you discover your passion {What led you to Xocai}? 

There are many things I could list to provide a detailed answer to this question. Perhaps that should even be it’s own article. Although if I had to boil it down to the core, my discovery came from a recommendation.  First a recommendation to participate in this highly respected business model back in December 1999, followed by a recommendation from one of my top mentors about Xocai via telephone call back in December 2006. 

What skills do you believe someone would need to be successful with this product?  

Be willing to let people in on the secret.  Be willing to share the healthy chocolate solution. Success in Xocai really is about team work.  When I locked in my relationship with my direct team, they helped me, they are were there for me and they worked with me directly. Xocai has tremendous support and training, so take advantage of that. 

How do you maintain your drive/motivation?

I found a part of the process that moves me and get’s under my skin.  For me it’s marketing.  Online marketing especially roots me.  So when those times come, you know the ones that really want to run you over and stop you in your tracks, I turn to my roots and do some form of marketing.  Believe me, there’s nothing that finding 5 new business partners won’t fix. 

What advice would you give others who want to start their own business?

Treat your business like a business.  It’s easy to stay stuck in busy work yet at the end of the day, what’s important is doing the things that keep bringing you income.

What’s a typical day like? If there is such a thing.

That’s what I love best, this business is very versatile.  As I go about my day, I keep the business in my mind and look for ways to

1. talk to people

2. share Xocai business & the healthy chocolate products

3. follow up

4. ask for a decision

5. support and train my Xocai Team Partners.

What steps do you recommend someone who is currently working for a company but wants to start their own business take before leaving their job? 

Great question.  First figure out what type of business do you want to start.  You can select franchising. You can be self employed.  You can link up with a company and promote their products via affiliate marketing or direct sales.  Or you can choose what I’ve chosen, the network marketing business model.  Network marketing is very flexible.  If this is your choice, I recommend keeping your job until you are creating enough income and demand of your time, that working your job is actually starting to cost you, in other words, you can’t afford not to leave your job

What has surprised you the most about working for yourself? What’s the biggest challenge? How did you overcome the challenge?

How much I enjoyed it was my biggest surprise.  You see, I was always one to favor the “employee mentality”.  I loved the ease of clocking in, working hard and then clocking out.  How things have changed. Self limitations was my biggest challenge {Editor’s note: Emphasis mine. This is problem that many us have. Don’t let it stop you}.  This business is more mental than physical.  I tend to think a bit too much and it can cause me to stumble a bit.

What assists me to overcome my stumbles, is simply getting back up and dusting myself off.  It’s a new day, a new minute, a new opportunity to find more business partners and support my team. 

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently to prepare for being an entrepreneur?

Start with a longer term commitment plan 5 to 10 year not just 6 months to 2 years.

Who or what inspires you?

Learning is such an inspiration for me.  What a fantastic word “Library” is.  Spending time investing in my personal library as well visiting my local public

library weekly is great fun. Also I choose to work with real mentors, maintaining my relationship with them.  As well as having instant access via the Internet to fantastic website’s & select forum’s that share the “how to’s” of real success in the home based business arena like yours does Dakim , Thank you for all you do! {your welcome}.  

Sherry Cantua

http://www.owningyourself.com/

What is Medical Billing?

 Medical billing is a complex procedure of billing and collecting professional fees for medical and health care services provided to patients. Doing it right requires a broad range of knowledge and understanding of the medical billing process and health insurance company rules.

This site offers a good overview on the medical billing industry; Medical Billing and Coding.net

This sites offers free courses on how to start your own business: My Own Business.com. Be sure to read this post on eHow.comregarding the steps necessary to start a home based medical billing business.

Click on this link to read an interview posted on Mommymakingmoney.com with Sheila Spieler, who has worked with medical billers for over 11 years. Her answers to some questions put her at odds with what many home based medical billing companies say about how easy it is to get into this field.  

Good Questions That Need Answers

• Are you a quick learner?
• Do you have good common sense?
• Are you self-motivated, organized and willing to work hard?
• Are you a self-confident person?
• Do you feel you can you work with Doctors, and other health care professionals?

There 21 questions in total, read the rest of them here.

EBOOKS

I came across several ebooks on the subject of medical billing.  This book, the 2009 Home Based Medical Billing Start Up Book gives solid information on what it takes to succeed in this industry.  The book contains 108 pages of usable information at a reasonable price. Click Here! To download the book and get instant access.

ABS also has an ebook that’s available on their site. You have give them email address in order to download it. I gave mine so you don’t have give yours.  Here it is. If you have any problems downloading let me know and I’ll send to you directly.  

Original list posted at: Ethiopian News.com

 

11. Remodeling.

This was a tough one. I couldn’t find anything on “Remodeling” as a home business, the nearest I could find was a general contractor or an interior designer if you have the skills.

12. Interior design.

See above.

14. Gift baskets.

 Entrepreneur.com has a great guide to starting a Gift Basket Service. Check out this video demonstrating creating a gift basket (I dare you to try to say ‘GoGoGlueGunFun.com’ 5 times really fast )

15. Wedding planner.

Here are 2 good articles on what it takes to start a wedding planner business: How to Become a Wedding Planner and What education and training is required to become a wedding planner?  And let’s hope none of your weddings come out like these….

16. Personal shopper

Getting paid to shop? A dream come true for some people. Here’s how to get started.

17. Concierge.

Start here: How to become a Concierge 

18. Computer repair.

This is a huge opportunity if you have the know how.  Watch this video for good basics for starting a business:

19. Cleaning service.

Read this article loaded with details on how get started.  Also there are a number of franchises for cleaning services

20. Carpet cleaning service.

See number 19 and narrow your focus to carpets.

You’ve made up your mind.  You’re going start that home business you’ve been dreaming about for years. Congratulations, the easy part is over!  Next step: figuring out exactly what business to start.  Here’s a good list of home based businesses that might work for you. The list is posted on another blog, but I’ve added some additional information to help you along. 

1. Translator.

Check out this squidoo page: www.squidoo.com/internettranslator

2. Tutoring.

Information on becoming a tutor.  Check out this video on how not to tutor. Very funny, though.

 3. Consulting.

Entrepreneur.com has a guide on how to start a consulting business which includes a list of the “Top 20 Consulting Businesses Thriving Today”. 

4. Medical and legal transcription.

Here are 2 really detailed squidoo pages on medical transcription. How to Build a Home Based Transcription Service  and Home Medical Transcription

5. Medical claims billing

This has been a hot industry for a while. There are hundreds of scams regarding medical billing, read this article to learn how to avoid them, Medical Billing From Home: Avoiding The Scams.

6. Accounting.

This site has some good articles and links for starting an accounting business. Accounting Resources: to help you run your own successful Accounting Service.

7. Web design.

You know something is hot when there’s a music video for it….

Word!

8. Desktop publishing.

You gotta love squidoo: A Beginner’s Guide to Desktop Publishing

9. Photography.

Here’s a good how to article: Freelance Photography: How to Begin Your Career

10. Home inspection.

  Great info from American Society of Home Inspectors: Become a home inspector

Businesses 11-20 will be in tomorrow’s post.

Leave a comment and submit your ideas for good home businessess.

Dear Zazzler,

Thank you for your interest in Zazzle.com, and thank you for publishing products on Zazzle.  Unfortunately, it appears that your product, “Kool Aid Drinker”, is in violation of Zazzle’s Copyright policies.  Specifically, your product has violated in the intellectual property rights of Kool-Aid.

We will be removing this product from the Zazzle galleries shortly.

A detailed description of Zazzle’s content policies is available at http://zazzle.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/zazzle.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=143

We are always trying to improve our process.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at content_review@zazzle.com

Best regards,
Content Management Team
Zazzle.com, Inc.

 

Apparently I was a naughty boy!  I guess the makers of Kool-Aid don’t want people walking around advertising that they use their product.  What was I thinking?!?

Asleep at the Wheel

This is a minor thing and I’m not at all upset that I’m losing my 10% commission on a 10 dollar button that I spent minimal effort designing.  The one thing that does bother me however is the fact that I created that button in May and it wasn’t until someone brought it in October that I find out it’s a no-no.  That seems like a really long time for something to sit on Zazzle’s site and no one noticing it.  I think that with all the technological sophistication we have today, there should be way to determine if something isn’t appropriate for the site a lot sooner.  Imagine how whoever brought those 60 buttons feels about not getting something that they ordered off of the site.

Back to the Drawing Board

So the grande latte I was going to splurge on will have to wait but the new items I’m designing for the gallery won’t.  I still stand by my opinion that Zazzle is a good home business to express your inner designer.  You’re likely not to get rich but you might have fun making your imprint on very small part of the universe (mainly the part you, your family, and your friends inhabit).  Just please don’t give companies the chance to advertise for free… learn from my horrible and morally bankrupted mistakes.