I am 22 and a single mother, I want to open up my own home business, what do I need to do to get started?

Question

what do I need to do first? Do I need to get a loan? What all do I need to get started?

I want to open an at home answering service or call center, I want to know what do i need to do to get started.

Answer 1

Interesting, all the people on here just want to know how to make money without working but thats a pretty good idea, an answering service run from your home is a good idea for a single mom.

You don't list enough info to tell me if you need a loan but for an answering service you probably don't need one.

You will need to spend money on marketing to find clients who will use your services unless you are a good salesperson. With multiple clients you will need a way to identify who you are taking a message for unless you are going to answer the phone "ABC Answering Service" and just take messages.

To get started you need a business license, you contact your county offices for that, it might cost $50. You need a Federal ID#, you do that using an SS-4 form you can get one here http://www.comparepayroll.com/free_forms.html . Set yourself up as a Sole-Proprietor and you might not even have to do an SS4. Then you contact a CPA for tax service and you are all set.

Answer 2

Take an SBA course. They will tell you to prepare a five-year business plan (which you would need to present to anyone you're asking for a loan from). Usually people start out a business with cash they've already earned while working for an employer. The plan you prepare will make you think more seriously about what you're doing or planning to do. A business is not a hobby. And if you own a business then where you live would have to be considered a commercially zoned property and not a residential one. Certainly you'd need a business license, contracts, someone to go out and get your client or clients to work for, you'd need dedicated phone lines (it would NOT be a call center as that means several seats and you won't be able to run that from a home). Why not just apply for work with a car dealership and ask if you can do their calling for them from home as either an employee or your own business. then if you need a business license as a sole proprietor then get one. If you do it from home you'd have to notify the phone company.

Answer 3

Here's some inspiration for you in a podcast titled "How To Be a Successful Mompreneur" and a great entrepreneur site in the source links below:

Answer 4

There are only rules that apply to public parking. But under the Fair Housing Act you can request disability accommodations. One of these is a designated disability parking spot. It will not be designated specifically for you, but for a person with a disability. The person who parks there would then have to have a disability parking placard or plate.

Answer 5

Go have a meeting with an agent from the Small Business Development Center. Their advice is free. You can find the local office at:

http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/sbdclocator/SBDC_LOCATOR.html

Answer 6

You can get some great ideas from this site for WAHM meaning Work At Home Moms.

All the best for your success

http://wahm-masters.sitesell.com/breeze.html

Answer 7

I have an opportunity for you if you would like to hear about it. Low investment to earn a residual income.I am a grandmother working from home so you know this is not hard to do.For more info go to http://lynjhn.familiesinfaith.com I would love to tell you all about it.

Answer 8

it really depends on the type of business you want to start, you did not specify one...but in any case, my expertise is on online business.. so to start that kind you do not need a loan, just your computer, you time, and you can start earning like me

Answer 9

I do some appointment setting from home
it pays ok $30.00 per appointment

Answer 10

go to 125aday.com so you can get yourself some ideas
meanwhile i ran across this opportunity site
thesecretpays.com/goldentime
and it's pretty great