Top Home Based Businesses: Helpful tips for Managing Your Business

Top Home Based Businesses: Helpful tips for Managing Your Business
Download Free Copy Of 30 Day Blueprint For Success
One of the most effective business tools widely used in business all over the world is a simple system called Management by Objectives (MBO). There are many fancy new names for MBO, but the principles are very simple, and are equally relevant to any business from a large corporation to a one person home business.

It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that an extremely effective principle in managing any business is that of setting goals or targets, and measuring progress towards them, within pre-set timeframes. It takes just a little thought to jot down some simple goals for your business.

In the absence of anything like this, it's only too easy to drift on, without any idea of whether you're making progress or not. Eventually credit-card expenses accumulate and you may suddenly become aware that you have spent a considerable sum of money, with little or nothing to show for it.

We've already discussed some ideas about working to a simple budget, as an excellent means of monitoring the progress of your business - and this on its own is an excellent start towards knowing where your business is financially.

A simple MBO exercise would involve doing a little soul-searching first to work out and clarify in your own mind what you're hoping to achieve by starting a home business. Do you want something to occupy your spare time and bring in a little spare cash?

Like many of us, you may be starting out along those lines, but would really like to be able to quit your job and work full-time from home. It's all a matter of personal choice, but what you'd like to achieve eventually will dramatically affect the way in which you run your business.

What we suggest is that you sit quietly and work out in your mind what you want from the business. Give some thought also to the possible time-frames involved. If time is on your side, and you'll be happy to drift along for several years taking events as they come along - then you're at one end of the time and urgency scale.

You may of course, have compelling reasons to get your business self sufficient and providing a full-time income within a certain period. If so - then you're understandably playing a different ball-game! This is why it's essential to clarify your thoughts up front, because this background will determine what you're going to do in getting the business started and on track.

This is not a lengthy or complicated exercise, but it's well worth jotting down the key components up front. It's then time to make a list of about six key goals you want to achieve over an initial period of about two years. Be realistic, of course! There's little point in setting unattainable targets for yourself!

1) What level of income do you need after 12 months as a first step? Will you be happy merely to cover your costs in this time?

2) Given that a good average is two years to get a new business going, what is your income goal after that period?

3) What other goals do you want to achieve as a part of your plan? Do you want to acquire certain skills relative to your business? (Do you need to know a little about HTML?) How long will you allow yourself to achieve this?

A vital aspect of your little MBO plan is to keep it alive. Don't put your list in a drawer and forget about it. Refer to it monthly and keep it up to date. If one of your initial goals drops of the list for some reason - that's fine! Your life and priorities are constantly changing. As you achieve certain of your goals, tick them off and add new ones to keep you focused on going forward.

This simple exercise will undoubtedly assist you in running your business, and ultimately making a success of your own top home based business. Don't let it become another chore - just keep it short and sweet, and you'll see the benefits.

About the Author: Mike Muir writes informative articles aimed at assisting new home business owners. For more useful information please visit his Blog at:

http://www.mikeshomebiz.com/blog

Want more information about genuine online business opportunities?

Please go to http://www.mikeshomebiz.com

Sphere: Related Content