Here are a few other resources for people looking to start a home based business.
Small Business Administration – Run by the US Government, the SBA is a great resource for new and potential business owners. They provide information on laws and regulations, advice and strategies on creating business plans, free online training, information on loans and more. Definitely a good place for home based business owners to start.
Score.org – Score.org offers free counseling and advice from hundreds of business mentors with experience in lots of different fields. No matter what sort of business you’re starting or considering, Score.org most likely has a mentor with expertise in that area who will help you as you try and grow.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People – If you’re starting a new business, you’re going to have to handle lots of things that you probably haven’t been responsible for in the past: managing your schedule, creating your own work, and deciding what you need to be working on right now, just to name a few. 7 Habits, written by Steven Covey, is one of the best books out there on the subject of business management and organization. Not only does he help you figure out how to accomplish your to-do list, he helps you decide what needs to be on there in the first place. Highly recommended for anyone starting a business, growing a business, or even anyone simply trying to become more effective at their career.
Getting Things Done – In the same vein as 7 Habits, Getting Things Done, written by David Allen, teaches you to become more organized, streamline your to-do list, empty out your Inbox, and generally get things done. But while Covey takes a big picture approach to the issue, discussing such topics as leadership, management, and “quadrant” activities, David Allen takes a “from the bottom up” approach, saying that the big picture doesn’t matter much if the small details don’t get done. If you are overwhelmed by the number of things you are responsible for each day, then GTD is great place to look for help and insight.
22 Immutable Laws of Marketing – While the first two books are great for business owners trying to streamline and grow their business, if you don’t know how to sell yourself, your business or your product, then not a whole lot else is really going to matter. The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, written by Al Ries and Jack Trout, will show you the important things you need to know about effectively marketing to your customers.