Build a Successful and Scalable At-Home Business

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Now more than ever people are flocking to remote jobs. Some may even make it a requirement during their job hunt. And now more and more Americans want to build an at-home business. Not only for convenience but also as a means of pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams. With great flexibility and low overhead costs, it’s appealing to take a first step on the entrepreneurial journey. For approximately 15 million Americans, the potential for financial independence with a home-based venture makes an attractive option.  However, starting a business from home requires careful planning and execution to ensure long-term success and scalability. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Woman facing her computer screen working in her in-home office.

A productive routine at home

It doesn’t matter if you’re a full-time remote professional or you only work on your home-based venture in your spare time. One of the biggest challenges for a successful at-home business is maintaining your productivity. That’s where having a strict routine can make a big difference. Having your set “office hours” as well as scheduled break times will keep you on track. It may be tempting to do chores, watch TV, or shop online. But you have to remember that even though you are at home, you are also still at work.

Furthermore, don’t get caught up in your work. It can be easy to build an at-home business whenever with such a convenience of working from home. But it’s just as important to know when to stop your work day. Your house should still be a place to relax. But if you feel like working from home is turning your sanctuary in to a constant work environment, you may want to consider having your own office space in a spare bedroom or in a granny flat. This will allow you to close the door on your office at the end of the day and put it out of your mind.

Additionally, you want to optimize your tech use. Ensuring you’ve got the right tools and software solutions is only the beginning. You also want to make sure you know how to make the most of your work devices to leverage productivity and manage your time more effectively. 

Money being exchanged between two people for a loan. Cash is in hand.

Funding solutions to build your at-home business

The key to growth is money. You can’t level up your business without enough capital. But capital, as you may have guessed, is not easy to generate yourself. That’s why you want to investigate the best options for your needs: 

  • Pitching to investors. Take your time to research your audience group and niche market. This will help you to present a fully relevant and informed value proposition. Investors seek compelling pitches that highlight the growth potential of each venture. So the more prepared you are, the better!
  • Selecting the right investors or partners. Just because someone is ready to invest in your venture, it doesn’t mean you should embrace all offers. In fact, it is worth researching investors and comparing their GIPS performance to ensure they are trustworthy. 
  • Apply for a loan. Either personal or commercial, depending on your options.
  • Run ads on social media. This route is far less lengthy and expensive. You will still easily be able to fund your growth without breaking the bank or taking out a line of credit.

Keep in mind though that not all businesses require capital! Many successful at-home businesses are formed and run using dropshipping. This allows businesses to start and grow without upfront costs. With easy connections through popular hosting websites like Shopify or WordPress, all you have to do is pick your products, market them, and rake in the money! Your profit margins may be smaller than if you had your own equipment. However, during the beginning phases of your business, you can really focus on what works and what doesn’t. And from there, once you start scaling your at-home business, you can then switch to owning your own equipment.

Build social media account to create a supportive community to grow your at home business

Building a supportive community

Business communities can serve multiple purposes, from providing valuable guidance to building value-generating connections. A strong and supportive community can contribute to long-term success. First and foremost, you need to be on social media. You will want to create social media pages for most social media platforms under your business name. From there, create your brand voice and persona. Is your business more fun and conversational or is it more serious and direct? Who do you want to attract as a potential customer? Direct your posts towards them and you will soon start to see your social media following growing.

But it’s not just about growing your community through social media. Additionally, it is worth reaching out to existing business networks to connect with experts, mentors and potential partners and suppliers. Your community will help your business reach the next step of its growth. Whether it be through fans of your business or other businesses that will help you expand.

Starting an at-home business is an exciting journey that requires careful planning and strategic execution to enable long-term growth. Is it going to be easy? Of course not. But your efforts are more likely to be fruitful once you’ve managed productivity, financing, and audience.

Helpful tips to be more productive with your computer

Helpful Tips To Be More Productive With Your Computer

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Working with a computer today is pretty unavoidable. There are screens everywhere, and your laptop can go everywhere with you. While that makes working easier, you might also want to make your work itself easier too. Here are some helpful tips to be more productive with your computer.

woman frustrated with her computer

Learn How to Use Computer Tools

The easiest way to be more productive with your computer is to learn about your computer. Easy enough right? Your computer has so many useful functions to make your life easy. Learning what shortcuts are available will save you precious time when you need to focus on a project instead of learning how to perform an action on your laptop.  

Here are some helpful tips to know for better workplace results.

  • Record a video – There are multiple reasons why you may need to record something. Maybe you are making a presentation for work or you are creating content for social media. To avoid having your entire computer screen in the video, use the guide from https://setapp.com/how-to/record-a-specific-window to learn how to create a floating window. This will make your content look cleaner, maintain the privacy of your computer, and lend itself to a clean look overall.
  • Learn Keyboard Hacks – While keyboard hacks are not hacks by definition, they are shortcuts or easy versions of performing the same task you can do with your mouse and a drop-down menu.  

If you use your mouse for every action, it may seem strange to set it aside and use your keyboard and trackpad instead. It may take some time to learn all of them but they are beneficial! Keyboard hacks truly are time-saving tools. They allow you to perform your actions quicker because you don’t need to move your hands away from the keyboard to click a mouse.

  • Use Search Engines Wisely – Don’t know something? Google it. Computer problems can be frustrating. But odds are someone else has already experienced the same things you have and already has the answer to solve it.
Helpful Ways To Be More Productive With Your Computer

Clear Your Cache

Cache is software or hardware temporarily stored on your computer and originates from another party. Its primary function is to aid in loading a website’s content faster the next time you visit it.

By clearing your cache, you delete old forms or web pages stored on your computer, thus allowing the new or updated versions to be uploaded quicker. It also frees up space on your computer by removing the stored files. This will definitely help in being more productive with your computer.

Clear Your History

Your computer’s history is a digital log of every website you have visited while using that computer. If your devices and profiles are synced or linked, the history on one device may also show your entire search history from the others.

Taking a few moments to clear your browsing history is a good idea to protect your privacy. After taking this step, address predictions will no longer populate in your search bar until you have searched for an address again. This is a minor inconvenience that is worth the few seconds it will take to perform another search.

dual monitors increase computer productivity

Split Your Screen

Some people have dual monitors in their workspace. And some may plug in a dual monitor for their laptop. But this might not be something you want to do or purchase. You can easily open two windows at the same time to view simultaneously.

All you need to do is open each program and move it to the size you want by hovering your cursor over the edge of the screen. Next, left-click on your trackpad or mouse while moving your finger (on the trackpad) or mouse to the right or left of the screen. Do the opposite for the other program you wish to open. Play with the size of each screen until they are side-by-side, and fill up your screen for easy viewing. You can do the same with one program on top and the other on the bottom if you prefer.

Pay Attention to Your Body

Sitting or standing in front of a computer screen for too long can cause neck and eye strain. Make it a priority to take breaks to move your body throughout the day. If you are prone to get in the zone and forget, set an alarm to remind you to get up and move around. Take a walk around the office, up and down the stairwell, or around the block if you work from the comfort of your home.

blue light filtering glasses help protect your eyes while working with screens

Eye strain and other discomfort that comes from staring at a computer screen for a long time can be frustrating. Mitigate any problems before they occur by taking breaks and being mindful of how your screen is placed before you. Also consider getting blue light filtering glasses to help with eye strain. If you’re a full-time glasses wearer – don’t worry! You can get your normal prescription with blue light filtering too.

Use these helpful tips and keep learning new things. This will make your tasks quick and easy so you can focus on your job. And, who knows? Maybe all the time you have saved means you can take a half day on Friday!