It is bad enough when you are not getting paid but when orders keep coming in and you are not getting any acknowledgement for your collection efforts, you just can’t keep processing orders. These are steps you can take to get paid on those past due invoices and keep new invoices current.

Not the most creative and fun part of having your own home business, but an area you need to know how to handle. There is nothing more annoying than doing what is expected of you and then left… hanging!
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Actually there are quite a few perks to owning your own business. That said, there are a lot of headaches too. That’s why I made an appointment with an accountant when I first began writing full time to see exactly what I could claim and what I couldn’t. It certainly made it a lot easier. Now, I just save every receipt and hand it over to her once a year.

No, I wouldn’t dream of doing my own taxes each year. And what she charges me, I can write off the next year.

I dug up an article for you that gives you an idea of what you can look forward to.

There are plenty of ways your accountant should be able to help you legally reduce your tax bill advises Christopher Raynal

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Related Tags: taxes, businesses, accountant, legally, tax bill

I talk to a lot of folks, mostly via email of course, about starting a home business. Because of my experience in the jewelry making business, this tends to come from people who want to chuck their careers and stay home and make and sell their hand-crafted jewelry. The jewelry business is not easy, and actually, any new business start up can be very challenging. There so much to consider, so much to gain, but also so much to lose.

I’m not the only writer to field questions about starting a home-based business. Here’s some advice from Deb Koen to a reader of The Democrat and Chronical:

“Assess your own style and the various roles that will be required to make your business a success. An individual rarely possesses all of the skills needed to launch and maintain a business. Capitalize on your strengths, then develop the skills or hire to supplement your gaps. If, for example, you’re analytical, you may decide to partner with someone who is action-oriented and strong at implementation.

If you’re intending to use the skills that have made you successful in your career to this point, you’ll have a head start: a proven track record and an established network. You can build on your successes, moving into a consultant or a telecommuter role. You might even ask your current employer about becoming your first customer.

If you’re taking an alternative route and interested in trying something totally different, scan through the multitude of books available on home-based businesses. Use The Work at Home Sourcebook by Lynie Alden as a starting point for ideas.”

Read more: You have a lot to think about before launching a business

Okay, now I’m off on a tangent this week, but it may prove beneficial for people who are looking for a home-based business. Here’s one that I’m familiar with as I’ve been to a few Longaberger basket parties and once knew someone that was a fairly successful consultant for them. Like any of these home party-style businesses though, the tough part is booking the parties and getting the right clientele. But, honestly, from my own experience selling jewelry for many years, that seems to be the issue with any business based on sales - finding the right person for your product.

Here’s some information about becoming a Longaberger Consultant from the company’s website:

“Longaberger is an opportunity of choices. You design your personal career path. You decide how much time you want to commit to it. Part-time or full-time, the choice is yours. It’s as easy as opening your new Business Kit and calling a few of your friends and neighbors to begin. […] As an Independent Longaberger Home Consultant, you’ll receive a 25 percent commission on your total guest sales. You can add to your earning potential by inviting friends and family to become home consultants, too. You aren’t limited to a territory, either: You can literally sell all over the United States.”

According to an article on CNN’s Money website, there will be more perks for working in general in 2006:

“Employers intent on keeping their best people from leaving may loosen the purse strings a bit this year, most experts say, but it seems that many will offer something their top employees value even more than money: Time. According to Salary.com, the single hottest compensation trend for 2006 will be “a commitment by employers to expand their use of work-at-home programs.” The Salary.com report says the reasons range from high gas prices, to concerns about balancing work and family, to the ready availability of technology that makes telecommuting practical.”