How to turn your skills into a business

In this day and age, small and big business owners alike, compete against each other to cut a niche in the marketing world. Aggressive advertising is one way companies put forth their business image to build awareness of their company's name to their target market.

The companies hand out products to their established and potential customers to boost their sales. These promotional materials come in various useful items, such as calendars, pens, coffee mugs, t-shirts, caps, and even mouse pads; all with the company's name and contact information printed on them. Every time a customer uses that product what do you suppose they'll see? The name and contact information of the company, of course.

So, where do the companies purchase these promotional products? Well, they can get them from the huge dealerships or possibly printing companies, but they would have to do all the footwork in the ordering process. That's where you could come in. You can offer a more personalized approach; be more like a middleman who organizes the whole process for them, so all they have to worry about is explaining what they want and paying for it. You do the rest.

There are a couple of options for you, but the least costly one is signing up with a distributorship. You would have to pay a membership fee, but you're provided with training, and all the resources needed to the best suppliers of these promotional materials.

What supplies are needed to start this type of business?

The only items you need for this business, besides the resources for the suppliers, are a computer with an internet connection, phone and a website. Sometimes you are even provided with a website that you can personalize. You should also have a few Promotional materials of your own to give away to get your business name out there.

The most important skills you should have are to be comfortable with sales and marketing activities, exceptional organizational ability and good people skills as you'll be working closely with the businesses and the suppliers to make sure the orders are done as they were intended and they're received on time.

Representing a promotional products line can be a great way to build an independent business from home

Pretty much everyone has items within their home, garage or storage shed that they don't want or need anymore. We all would like to get rid of the "stuff" we've accumulated over the years, but we would also like to make some money from it in the process.

Have you considered this as a home business? A person could sell unwanted items on eBay -- the most popular internet auction website. Some clever entrepreneurs have even started a business selling other people's items on eBay.

How does one start a business selling their stuff on eBay?

Set up an account with eBay. The site will help you step-by-step with how to do this. Then, begin by selling some small items you have lying around. Each time you buy or sell on eBay, you build your ranking within the eBay community and you become more trustworthy to potential buyers.

Once you get the hang of selling on eBay, you can research which items are popular and how much they're going for - and build from that.

Does it cost a lot to startup a business like this?

No. Besides the items to sell, you only need access to a computer with an internet connection and a digital camera to take pictures of the items you are selling. If you already have access to these things, it won't cost you anything.

When selling your items on eBay, you incorporate the shipping costs into the selling price, so even that won't come out of your pocket.

Do you need a lot of skills to do this?

Auction sellers who take the time to write good product descriptions and take many photographs sell more products than those who do not. You'll also develop research skills as you learn your way around eBay and dig into other auctions to find ideas for items that sell well and command a good price. Beyond that, it's pretty simple to get going.

Once you have gotten some experience selling your stuff on eBay, you could start checking out garage sales, flea markets, etc. Some items could be picked up cheaply and sold on eBay for a nice little profit.

And finally, you can look into wholesale sources for items to sell or delve into the arena of drop shipping.

Embroidered designs are seen on everything from T-shirts to bath towels. There's plenty of need for embroidered products; you just have to find your niche within the market. People like the personalized designs of embroidery to show off on themselves or their pets. You could target your services to pet stores, sporting goods stores, or maybe even your local golf courses. Another option might be to target local businesses to see if they want a variety of items to use as promotional products.

What skills and tools are needed to start a Home Embroidery Business?

To get started, you need a good embroidery machine. There are low end machines intended for personal use but you'll probably be disappointed in them in the long run. It is worth the extra expense to go for a professional model. You can choose between a single head and multi head units. Many home based embroiders find a way to lease the equipment (at least initially) to reduce front end costs (or to limit the size of start-up loans).

Don't worry too much about knowing how to use the machines. Most companies that sell these machines provide you with the training and are just a phone call away in case you have questions or problems.

Some selling experience would be helpful in this business. You may wish to sell your items at local craft shows to start getting your business known in your community.

You'll need a dedicated area of your home to do your work, as the equipment and supplies will take up more space than you might imagine. Find a sturdy table and storage units for your products and supplies.

Choose a few sources for good quality clothing and apparel to embroider your designs on. Develop a relationship with those suppliers -- each company has its own rules for wholesale purchasing and many require that you have a business license or tax ID number to prove that you are running a business.

Another aspect to this business is digitizing images - this is another skill set that you can develop on your own, or you can outsource this work to others and focus on traditional embroidery in your business.

Embroidery businesses are a good way to make money and a fun way to show off your creativity.

If you're interested in starting a business that you could run from your own home, selling products, you might want to look into a Direct Sales business opportunity. You may have heard of Tupperware, Avon, Pampered Chef or Home and Garden. They are just a few of many business opportunities available that a person could join to begin a product-focused business.

Direct Sales products vary from books to educational toys to food. The hardest part may be deciding which product you want to sell and finding the company that is a perfect fit for you.

What skills and tools are needed to be successful in a Direct Sales Business?

Most business opportunities require you to pay a startup fee, so decide ahead of time how much you're willing to spend to begin your selling adventure. When you find products you like, learn everything you can about the company behind the products. Check out their websites, and find out if they're a web friendly company and provide websites to their representatives. Learn about their internet marketing rules as some companies are restrictive to the point of really making it difficult for you to grow beyond your own community. (Some companies will not let you do any internet advertising at all, so, if you plan to grow your business online, ask the hard questions in advance to avoid frustration later.)

To start your own Direct Sales business you will need good selling skills and the passion to succeed because, despite popular opinion, products do not sell themselves. You will be working with people a lot, and building relationships, so good customer service skills are a must. It would be a good idea to learn some light book keeping skills as you will be keeping track of orders and payments etc.

The tools you will need for a business like this will depend on the type of business you choose. Some basic tools are a computer with internet connection, telephone and a starter pack of items that the company usually provides you in your starter kit. A website is also needed to promote the goods you're selling - even if the company does give you a rep site, you will be smart to develop your own personal online presence for marketing.

A Direct Sales Business can be a fun and easy way to earn some income while enjoying time with people and filling your home with products you love. It's simple to get started and doesn't usually cost much to get a business like this off the ground compared to many other home business projects.

A Coach mentors others who have goals they want to achieve, by helping them decide the steps needed and supporting them throughout the entire process. A life coach might help someone change careers, get a promotion or just develop personal relationships.

Deciding who to target your services to, will depend on the areas of life you want to specialize in. Some life specialties you could coach about are: weight management, job promotions, starting a business, and time management. Some of the people who might need coaching in those areas are college graduates, business executives, retirees and parents who want to work from home. This type of business is flexible enough that you can specialize in more than one area, if you choose.

The areas you choose to specialize in should be ones you are very skilled at. If you have schooling in a particular subject, like business management, then it only makes sense to specialize in that area. Maybe you've battled weight problems before, so weight management would be your expertise. Whatever you have a good knowledge of, there's a life specialty that you could coach.

What skills and tools are needed to become a Coach?

There are some online courses about life coaching found throughout the internet, but they're not necessarily required courses to be a life coach. It's your life experience and personal expertise that will mean more to clients.

The basic tools you will need for a life coaching business are: a good computer with internet connection, an email program and a telephone. Another important tool you should have is a website.

Your website needs to explain your specialty, express why you're qualified to coach on this topic, develop trust in your readers, and state what your rates are. It would also be a good idea to provide articles clients could read, relating to your specialty. It shows your knowledge in that subject. Most importantly, let your personality shine through as you'll attract people who resonate with your unique style.

If you have good mentoring skills and have an expertise in some area of life, then starting a coaching business could be an excellent choice for you. It builds well as a part time venture and makes a great transition career.

The internet has become a big money making business. Small business owners can reach people across the country and around the world to let them know what they have to offer. The link they have to these prospective customers is their website.

From small businesses to big corporations, websites are a key to marketing any business. The website must be user friendly as well as professional-looking to catch the eye of potential customers. These businesses will look to a skilled web designer to help them accomplish this, and they're oftentimes willing to pay big bucks to get it.

What skills and tools are needed to become a Web Designer?

To become a Web designer, you should consider getting some training for web design, whether it's from an online course or from your local college. The courses cover everything you need to know about designing websites, such as html codes, site scripts and shopping carts. There are many self taught designers who make a great living but if you hope to attract high-end clients, they'll expect you to have an understanding of design that really only comes through a complete education.

Once you have taken a web design course, you could volunteer to design a few sites for your family/friends, local businesses and churches and anyone you know in the community. It will help you gain some experience and learn from any mistakes before taking on your first client. Not to mention, it will build your professional portfolio.

A good Web designer has patience and good customer relation skills. You will be working closely with your clients to develop their ideal websites. Creating dreams can be challenging, at times, and communication is essential to having happy customers.

To start your own web design business, you will need to have a good computer with high speed internet and design software. Your professional website is also of obvious importance. It will showcase your skill and sense of style to your clients. If they like what they see from your site, they will be more willing to hire you to design theirs.

Web design is the perfect combination of business and creativity for many. If you enjoy the process and like to work with others to see their vision come to reality, pursue it!

Are you a good listener? Can you type well? Can you follow directions? Are you looking for a business to run from your own home? If you answered yes to all these questions, then you should consider starting your own General Transcription Business.

General Transcription is simply typing information that you hear from an audio file into a document format, according to the client's specifications. You turn audio into text.

Companies are getting more advanced with the use of the internet. Audio technologies are being utilized more and more, therefore increasing the need for typed copies of projects.

Companies that are in need of general transcription are ones that regularly record teleseminars and focus group projects. Other types of audio that need transcribing are: videos, podcasts, web conferences and tutorials.

What skills and tools are needed to become a Transcriptionist?

There is no special training or certification for this type of business. A good ear and typing skills are enough to get you started. It is also important that you are able to follow directions well, as a client will specify exactly how they want the file transcribed. They might want you to exclude certain words or phrases, or they may have a preferred format for the text that you will create as you go.

An important tool that you will need is a website to market your services. Potential clients need to know that you are there to help them and a good website is a way to bring them to you.

The equipment needed for transcription includes: computer with high speed internet, word processing software, good pair of head phones, and software that will enable you to play the audio slowly. You might also want to consider a good comfortable computer chair and a foot pedal to aid in using the keyboard commands for play, stop, rewind and fast forward. A foot pedal isn't necessary, but it can make your transcribing faster when you don't have to stop typing to run the controls from your keyboard.

If you like to type, and you do it well, a general transcription business would be a good fit for you. Your schedule could be flexible depending on the turnaround time the client needs. Also, the low startup fees to this type of business make it a very attractive business to start from home.


A Virtual Assistant is an administrative professional who works from a remote location, usually without ever stepping foot into the client's office.

Virtual assistants, or VA's as they are called for short, perform a variety of duties ranging from answering phone calls to updating websites. Some read and respond to emails, type up transcripts, write articles and do light bookkeeping. The services provided are determined based on the client's needs and the virtual assistant's expertise.

Virtual Assistants are sought after by numerous small business owners, particularly those with online businesses. Many clients are looking to free up their workload so they can concentrate on the money-making activities of their business rather than on administrative tasks.

Virtual assistants are also a popular option over hiring a regular employee because they're considered Independent Contractors who have their own office equipment and pay their own taxes, therefore saving potential clients a lot of money in overhead costs.

What skills and tools are needed to become a VA?

Basic office skills and organizational skills are a must. You will be keeping track of several clients at one time. The basic tools you will need are: a computer with high speed internet access, email programs, office programs software, phone, printer, scanner or fax machine and a website to promote your services. Other things to consider are: a desk, comfortable chair and a quiet space to work in.

If you've done administrative work in previous jobs, starting a VA business could be right up your alley. Once you have a home office set up, start marketing your website to obtain clients to work for. It's a great idea to offer special grand opening rates to attract first time clients. Never hesitate to ask for client referrals as well - there always seems to be someone looking for a reliable VA.

There are many valuable resources available online for those who are just getting started in this business. Look for tutorials and newsletters that are being published by more experienced virtual assistants and you'll learn a great deal from their example. You may even want to hire a coach to give you personalized feedback.

Ghostwriting is a freelance writing business opportunity. You provide a service for other people - writing for them, but you do not retain any rights for the work. This means you can not put your name on the work or take credit for it. Even though your writing will not be published as your own, you can still make an excellent living through Ghostwriting. A great way to start is by targeting internet business owners to find your first clients.

Most website owners want to make money from their sites, but in order to do that they need to attract traffic. One of the best ways to get people to come to their sites is to offer high quality content. Not everyone is a writer nor do they always have the time to write. That's where you would come in. The website owner (or publisher) pays you to write content for them and will usually be a source of repeat business as the demand for content is constant. You may be asked to write small pieces, such as blog posts, or larger pieces, like an entire ebook.

What skills are needed to become a Ghostwriter?

To be a ghostwriter, you'll need to be a good writer on various topics and have excellent researching skills. Some other skills you'll need are: proofreading, a good vocabulary, grammar skills and the ability to meet the deadlines.

There aren't many tools you will need to get started in a business like this. A good computer with a word-processing software, a comfortable computer chair, an internet connection and of course, a trusty dictionary and thesaurus.

Make it easy for potential clients to find you. You'll need a good website that explains your services and how to contact you. Develop a marketing plan to get your business in front of your target market. There are internet marketing resources you can find online that you can tap for ideas.

As the internet grows and the demand for quality content grows with it, ghostwriters remain in high demand. This type of business offers a good flexible schedule and the ability to work from the comfort of your own home.

Many would-be novelists and freelancers work on the side as ghostwriters. The ability to take on as little or as much work as your schedule allows makes ghostwriting a great moonlighting business for many who are trying to transition from full time employment to full time entrepreneur or writer.