Self Made - The Archive

We live in a time where everyone can be their own boss, literally. It’s an amazing thing that’s possible for millions of people, hugely thanks to technology. People have been freelancing for a long time but the internet changed the landscape and turned tasks as simple as driving, writing, clearing inboxes, walking pets into a side hustle for many people.

It’s no secret that starting a business can be an incredibly stressful experience, because it can seem like that there are hundreds if not thousands of things that you will need to get done at once. No matter how well you plan out every stage of your business, there are going to be a lot of things popping up that you didn’t anticipate.

Home-based businesses are growing in popularity as the economy embraces remote work and people seek more flexibility in their careers. However, starting a home-based business involves more than quitting your job and going freelance. To avoid legal problems and lost money, it's important to follow the proper steps when establishing a home-based business.

Notaries have been widely used since the Roman Empire. They were well respected and often advised emperors and other rulers. That respect continues today in many European and Mediterranean countries like Greece and Italy. Notaries are also important in the United States, although perhaps somewhat less because of our common law legal system. Notary services are vital to almost every business, individual, and government agency, especially those in banking, finance, law, healthcare, and real estate. John Coolidge, the father of former President Calvin Coolidge, was a notary. As a notary, he was able to administer the oath of office to his son. Notaries have an interesting history, including how important they are to so many facets of society. Become a notary and join this ancient and noble profession because almost everyone will eventually need a notary!

With e-commerce thriving, there have never been more sales opportunities available to small business owners with a killer product. To fully take advantage of the global marketplace, business owners need to make sure their products have authentic identification numbers, which are then encoded into a UPC (Universal Product Code) barcode.

As Autumn is underway, it's as good a time as any for new resolve about your business. Everybody talks about work-life balance, right? But what does it really involve? Master these six components and you’ve got it made.

Marketing is complex and often confusing. People who specialize in it take years to really understand how it all works and learn how to create effective marketing strategies. Furthermore, as a marketing expert myself, I always have to keep up with current trends in order to stay relevant and help small business owners reach their marketing goals.

Being a general contractor is a potentially lucrative business for those with the right know-how and industry experience in construction. Operating a small business as a general contractor affords individuals the ability to manage their own workflow, scheduling, and income based on the projects they take on in either residential or commercial markets. However, general contractors have some of the most dangerous jobs among small business owners because of the nature of construction sites large or small. To ensure you are staying as safe as possible as a licensed general contractor, here are the top ten safety tips to follow.

When running a business, you need to understand how to run and track your money well before your business can commence, which areas of your business you can automate or outsource, and which experts you should consult for the guidance you need to help you do well.

We are living in a gig economy According to a study conducted by Intuit, roughly 40 percent of the United States workforce will be made up by independent contractors by 2020. With full-time jobs increasingly hard to find in many fields—and with freelance work accessible thanks to the internet, the cloud, and innovative startups such as Uber—the idea of what constitutes a “job” is swiftly changing. These days, it is possible to make a living without ever going to an office, meeting your boss face to face, or even leaving the comfort of your house. If you are thinking about diving into the freelance world, though, it’s essential to lay sufficient groundwork and do your due diligence, just like you would for any full-time job. Here are five steps to take before you apply for a new freelance gig.

​Many professionals who want to keep their independence choose the path of the self-employed. While it requires you to keep track of a number of legal and administrative details, it’s also a rewarding way to earn a living.

Today, more and more people are relying on mobile technology - cell phones, tablets, and laptops - for everyday life than ever before, and this trend is only growing. Almost everyone has a cell phone, and many people rely on theirs to socialize with friends and family, and to keep life organized. Professionally, the use of mobile technology is expanding as more jobs require travel or are simply worked from home (or wherever the employee happens to be). This provides countless opportunities for the tech-savvy entrepreneur to reach out and introduce themselves to potential clients. Mobile marketing is the biggest major trend in advertising. Here’s how to use it to your advantage.

Juggling your professional and personal life can be a little complicated at the beginning of the year. You want to get off to a good start with your business and new clients, but you don’t want to put in so many work hours that you’re burned out by March. When you’re kicking off a new year, it’s easy to feel like you have too many balls in the air and not enough hands to catch them, but with a few important changes, you can find work-life balance and set yourself up for a fruitful year.

If you are wondering how to improve your social landing pages, you are already on the right track. Many businesses — even large, well-established companies — make the mistake of using the same landing pages for all entry points. Social landing pages are funneling customers toward conversion exclusively from your social media networks. Here is how to increase conversions among this specific — and valuable — group.

If you want to work on construction, repair, maintenance or other similar projects, yet remain independent, then becoming an independent contractor is the right thing for you. But to become an independent contractor in most states, you will need to get a contractor license.

The complicated process of filing taxes is often not clearly understood until a person goes through their first tax season. For a person using only a W-2, the experience may have been limited to “painstaking”. For someone who freelances or owns their own business, the process could have easily become mentally painful. If you’re looking for a way to improve the way you do tax season, here are some steps you should be taking.

Small business is entrenched into America. Starting a company from scratch and building it into something formidable is the embodiment of the American dream. There has been a substantial amount of speculation since the 2008 economic recession that this dream is largely dead, however, hard data proves otherwise. Small businesses built from the ground up have generated over 65 percent of the net new jobs since 1995. These same businesses continue to produce upwards of 50 percent of the private non-farm GDP.

Part of the thrill of owning a business or working as a freelancer is the control it seems to offer. You don’t answer to anyone but yourself; the growth of your capital depends on your hard work, and you’re the one who reaps the satisfaction and the financial rewards of a job well done. Unfortunately, many self-employed folks find themselves subject to another boss: their work. They find that they and their families have become slaves to the unbelievable effort it takes to maintain a business. Sure, they have the ability to excel in their field, but they’re drowning in their own business.

Did you know that 90% of startups fail within the first five years? 45% will close their doors in the first six months. 62% of startups fail because of conflicts between co-founders. Clearly, the numbers are not in your favor. ​That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

Another year, another tax season, more unjust taxes on the small business community. Despite stepping out of the unemployment line and into a new, job creating small business on Main Street, small business owners could be hit with another unfair tax this year when they file their returns.