Would you like to start a home business, but don’t know where to begin? This post features seven steps you’ll want to work through to really kill it!
This is a sponsored post.
As a working mom building her own business during moonlight hours, I have a great perspective on why moms make great entrepreneurs – because I am one!
Whether it’s dictating blog posts or multi-tasking while listening to a podcast, I have to get creative so I can make progress on my goals with limited resources.
I am recharged during the time I spend away from my children, as it allows them space to develop and both of us can return home, excited to see each other and share all that has happened during our day.
I love feeling a sense of accomplishment that I have contributed towards something, whether it be completing a great project at work, mastering that skill that I never thought I would ever learn, or saving a client’s day.
If you would like to work from home or start a home business, here are seven things you need for your home business:
1. Organizational Tools
My favorite organizational tools are a filing system, to do lists, timer, apps, and a planning kit.
2. Home Office
In my post Home Office Ideas Will Make You Want to Work, I share my ideas for equipment, lighting, location, layout, comfort, and personalization.
3. Organized Desk
You can increase productivity by assessing what’s getting in your way, the supplies you really need, and what to get rid of. How to Get Your Desk More Organized Immediately
4. Business Bank Account
If you have gone into business for yourself, you need to separate your business and personal finances. There are many options available for business bank accounts and this post will tell you about seven things you need to look for. 7 Things to Look for in a Business Bank Account
5. Accounting Software
When you spend less time balancing your books, you have more time for working on your business and spending time with your family. And when you have 24/7 access to the health of your business all in one place, you can manage your business effectively and confidently. That’s accounting for mompreneurs.
6. Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a freemium web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google Analytics is now the most widely used web analytics service on the Internet. Get started here. You can also check your website speed on Bitcatcha.co.id.
7. Visitor Insight
When visitors come to your website, wouldn’t it be awesome to see exactly how they use your website, what they are looking for, where they get confused, and where there are problems in your funnel.
Introducing Inspectlet.
You can get insight into your visitors’ experience using website heatmaps, session recording, and form analytics.
Inspectlet is an online program that helps track your users’ activity on your site so that you can better optimize your site.
So many mompreneurs need this software to track their site and tell them HOW users will use their site so that they can better equip their sites for customers/readers.
You can sign up for the free plan. For your website, you can record it for one month. Receive up to 100 sessions and 1,000 pageviews from the service. Playback session recording, heatmaps, mobile device support, and email support.
Because my friends over at Nakturnal have helped me get excited about web optimization, we are giving away an Amazon Echo
How to Win an Amazon Echo
The Amazon Echo
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This promotion is open until June 5, 2017 at 11:59 pm EST and is limited to US residents, 18 years or older. The winner will be chosen randomly. Winner must respond to email within 24 hours or prize may be forfeited. Promotional content and prize for this promotion is provided by and shipped by sponsor and/or its representatives. The prize may be sent via FedEx or UPS. No P.O. Boxes please.
Before you leave, check out other Current Giveaways:
Good Lighting is a must have for a home business
Space for materials is a must. (Sorry if I commented as a reply, I couldn’t figure it out.)
Also, desk space is important.
This Echo would be a great birthday present today thanks
good office space and storage for files
Good wifi, space for storage and comfortable chair.
Desk, chair, storage, fax, phone
A high-speed internet connection, a business plan, and a detail-oriented temperament. And a coffee maker.
Need a good printer.
A good comfortable chair.
For me it’s a TV because I like listening to daytime while I work.
a good printer
A must have is a quiet space which is hard for me to find sometimes.
I’d be lost without a fax machine or means to make copies.
Fax Machine and a land line.
a good chair and maybe one of those standing deskstops
Good control of your time, and of course snacks for those times you’re slacking and need a refresh =)
Such a great article!
Another must have is a good strong wifi set up.
A wireless printer/scanner combo.
Reliable technology and a lawyer.
A latop and good WiFi would be musts for me.
A comfy chair and computer
Comfortable chair and an organized workspace
Company credit card seems like it’s a must for everything now!
Hard drives to back up data. A shredder!
A dedicated space for working and a good chair
Comfortable chair is essential
One must have a desktop and laptop computers
A reliable Internet connection, preferably backed up by a cellular hot-spot.
Nothing like losing the connection at a critical time.
Fast, reliable wifi is an absolute must. A comfortable chair is right up there, too as a must have. Maybe not a “must have” but a good hands-free speaker phone or ear phone is handy, too.
A computer, printer and good internet speed and connection is a must have for a home business.
a scanner is important
A good printer
printer!!
A really good computer system, and you always need a great calculator! Additionally motivation 😉
My must have is a great computer. Thanks for the chance.
Good office space!
Laser printer
Excellent wifi connection, and nice office space.
Fax/scanner/printer combination!
a webcam, printer and fax machine
A door to keep out distractions.
A quiet place to work and dependable Wifi.
webcam and fax machine
You need to have a quick computer, wireless internet, a good phone/fax and lots of supplies.
High speed internet is a must have for a home business.
Wi-fi and A comfortable work space
Some office musts are noise cancelling head phones, a comfy chair, and really good pens.
A good printer and laptop/computer!
I agree with having an organized office. I like to have a system for my files, usually color coded. I also like to keep a notebook for meetings and notes that I might need.
Must backup data and good wifi.
a good wifi connection is a must have
Strong internet connection. Enough space.
Fax, Printer, computer, swivel chair, speaker phone, file cabinet, calender.
Strong broadband & good distance from home day to day activities.
A printer, office supplies and storage space are a must for an office!
good chair and wifi and printer and desk
You need strong wi-fi signal and a comfortable work station.
I like a comfortable chair.
Another must have for a home business is a computer.
You have to have a good chair and a good desk to actually be able to work.
A quiet organized office with a comfy chair.
A great space and good organization tools! A neat and organized desk makes a huge difference!
I like a comfy chair and a portable air conditioner.
a good internet service
A good home business also needs a dedicated office space with good wifi!
White noise machine
plenty of notebooks to jot things down
A comfortable chair, good wi-fi, and good lighting are necessities
I have worked from home since I was 26. The most important thing is great internet and a good tv.
A computer that runs well and has a big screen.
I must have a good scanner, and postal scale.
good lighting in the work space is essential! without good lighting, i would just fall asleep!
You need a comfortable chair and a 3-in-1 printer/fax/scanner
A quiet place away from where the kids are playing
A quiet, well-lit space with a computer with some RAM!
Organization is important
a must have for my office is a filing cabinet with allmy paper invoices and bills in one place. i also recommend having a filing system for credit card billing as well in the filing cabinet.
Computer and a high quality printer are must haves in my home office.
One of my favorite must haves for a great home office is a coffee maker!
I must have a file cabinet and cross-cut shredder.
I really think that a good chair, a quality keyboard, and a quality mouse are all important. The chair, especially, can make a difference at the end of a long day.
A good computer is definitely needed for a home business. Thanks for the giveaway. I hope that I win.
A dedicated phone line would be a good investment. You want to be able to answer your phone as the business name, and you also don’t want your kids to answer when a potential client is calling.
A printer
Need a good printer.
Number one things for me is to have a good comfy chair to sit in and helps your back. Number 2 would be maybe a “foot mat” especially if your sitting all day good to have for your feet
You also need Motivation! working from home can get difficult.
Definitely a good scanner (or app that does it) and great wifi – don’t want to be BEGGING the internet to work, that’s for sure!
I think that Excel is a must have for a home office.
A good desk and ergonomic chair, a computer that can function well, high-speed internet, multi-functional printer and plenty of ink/toner, business speaker phone and a shredder.
Organizational baskets to keep things neat and easy to find.
A nice desk and comfy chair.
I would say you would need high-speed internet, a good computer, phone service, storage, and time!
I think a strong, fast wifi would be super important in order to work from home!
you need a laptop and wifi
Great internet connection and a door in your office so no one can bug you!
Other must haves high speed Internet, Computer and definitely organization. I have heard great things about the echo and I am very excited about your giveaway. Thank you so much for the chance to win this would be a great addition
A good printer/copier/fax machine combo is a must-have!
A great ergonomic chair!
A couple of other things that I needed for my at home business was anot appointment book, calendar, and super comfortable chair! It is so important to be comfortable when sitting at a desk for long periods.
I would need a great internet connection and an organizing desk.
Computer and printer
Separate phone line.
A great wifi connection! So many small companies I’ve worked for have had horrible internet. It really interrupts work! I think the worst was when I worked at an optometry office. Trying to schedule an appointment over the phone is impossible when the schedule won’t load! Haha
Good wifi! Also a sit to stand desk is great.
Need to have quick computer and internet!
An office area in the house tucked away from any area in the house that I relax in so when I’m done work is completely off my mind.
Gotta have your computer! 🙂
The single most important thing is fast WiFi and a good laptop
A good filing system and good organization is a must have in a home office.
A good shredder and a dog!
A great chair and something to organize all your paperwork so everything does not get cluttered everywhere
A quiet space.
You need to have space away from all the distractions of being at your house.
Organization!
An all in one printer and a shredder
A must have for me is a wireless printer.
An office must have is ton of storage and a copy-scanner-printer.
A fax machine/scanner/copier, good computer, Great internet!
Fast WiFi, a comfortable desk chair and a reliable printer!
Ergonomic mousepad and keyboard, definitely.
A door!! There are definitely times when quiet is needed. 🙂
must have a dry erase board
A good coffee pot is a must!
All those office supplies! Pens, paper clips, stapler, tape, scissors, files, etc.
A good computer/laptop and internet connection are must haves.
You would need good computer and printing equipment.
a good printer
a good laptop
Pens,pencils,erasers,a good computer,etc.,
A filing cabinet, a business/company credit card.
printer
I need an all-in-one printer.
Must-haves are good wifi and a great ergonomic chair.
High speed and secure WIFI. Also good strong coffee.
A thermal label printer, standing desk and good WiFi are very important for a home business.
lots of post it notes
WiFi is a must, a good signal too. Also a sitter in house if you have kids.
Desk Space, organization.
Good computer and reliable WiFi
Fast Internet connection.
A good computer, great wifi, comfortable chair, and a good phone, plus good customer service skills.
You also need some good friends to support you.
Comfortable chair good internet/wifi and and all in one printer
i need a great internet service and phone service.
You need a nice comfortable chair that you can work in! 🙂
An office with a locking door! The video of the guy doing a skype interview where his kids came into the room live on tv…I was DYING! So funny!!
The most important is a comfortable work space.
A uiet space so you can focus on the work at hand
quiet space
A high speed and reliable internet connection
A fast internet connection and a good, strong wifi signal is important. You’ll need a reliable modem and router to make sure you’re internet and wifi works great at all times.
The echo is brilliant for on the go moms. Add a single mother to a toddler I don’t have any have that are free most of the time. Either I’m cooking and cleaning. Working or entertaining my kid. The echo would be great. It’s hands free and voice activated. I have watched the videos and commercials for it a lot. If I had the money I’d bought it already.
A laptop, and printer
A quiet place. Away from the dogs and children.
Can’t live without the lap top and fax machine and printer!
A nice 3-4 panel screen so that you have a backdrop in case your office is in a room that is also lived in (my home office is in my bedroom).
wifi is a must!
Need space away from the kids & other noise
I like to have some music playing. Classical music on a low volume helps me stay focused.
I would need some decorative storage containers and a nice tall bookcase for books and pictures.
The must have for my home office is a laminator. It comes in handy for all types of things. I love it.
A good printer, a computer with lots of memory, and a comfy chair! 🙂
A desk and a laptop are my must haves for a home business.
A good comfortable chair.
A printer and a chair that doesn’t make your tail fall asleep
A schedule or written planner is a must to get things done in order.
Reliable wi-fi and a good coffee maker are required for my home office!
i would say a laptop and fax machine.
A scanner is an absolute must!
GOOD CHAIR AND A LASER PRINTER.
Gotta have a good desk.
A very supportive chair!
A quiet and comfortable place to work is a must.
I think a home office space would need the basics such as sticky notes, pens or pencils, paper, a computer or tablet of some sort, an uninterrupted work space. In addition printers, storage, snacks, lights, ect
A quiet space that the kids do not use is a must!!
Organized space and an ergonomic chair!
A comfortable office chair.
Quiet office space
Must haves for me are the printer and shredder 🙂
Thank You
Computer with good wifi, printer with fax, cellphone, patience, time, and quiet.
Organizers, file folders and labels are must haves for a home business! I also think a dry erase wall calendar is a must have for myself.
A good filing and organizing system is a must.
Definitely a comfortable seat and great wi-fi or internet connection. Optimally, a sunny space is very encouraging to work in.
A decent space and a comfy size chair
A quiet space
Good internet service and printer.
A good working computer and a printer!
Organization
You need to understand accounting and taxes.
Mini- fridge! Hate having to go all the way the the kitchen for a beverage!
Desk, chair phone, files
LAPTOP, PRINTER AND GOOD CHAIR
Need a good fax machine and headset
I have to say great office space plus a great chair that will support the back well
You must have self-discipline as you need to not get distracted and do your work. Also a work phone is great so personal and work calls are separated.
A supportive desk chair!
A sense of humor and an emergency fund
A comfortable chair and plenty of storage space to keep everything organized
Definitely a good printer and a comfy chair.
I need a phone, computer and a fax machine
A dictaphone and a stenographer
I think a good desk.
High speed internet & a good computer
Another couple of must haves are a good wifi connection, a nice comfy desk chair, and a good laptop.
Peace and quiet are a must
A quiet space with room to work. A good system and computer. Filing, organization, clean or I cannot think. We’re just starting our agency from home so I’m excited!
Super fast wifi, good organization
I require a great office chair!
Reliable high speed internet service
You’ve definitely got to have fast internet speed!
a scanner and a fax are key!
Did you forget coffee? 🙂
I think a quiet location is important in a home office.
I can’t think of anything else, I think you pretty much covered it all 🙂
I would say a good computer, phone and printer
A good ergonomic chair.
Thanks for the contest.
A good computer, printer, high speed cable
All in one printer/scanner/fax is def a must have.
A quiet area to work and gather thoughts, desk and the usual essentials, a fax , and a good secretary.
A really great computer and a printer because you never know when you’ll need to print something out.
A nice lock on the door.
Good Wi-fi
printer
a fax machine and printer
Great lighting has always been a big issue for me
Screaming internet service and a smartphone
a desk a chair
Filing cabinets/ space to store paperwork, good lighting and a nice chair.
An ergonomic chair, uncluttered environment and a smart phone!
I need lots of printer paper and pens because they always seem to disappear
a designated working area clear of clutter – so organization bins or file cabinets are a necessity!
You need great storage, and a comfy desk
I think being organized and having update equipment.
A good laptop
You also need a PC and a website for your home business.
A high end printer.
What I need is a functional desk! The one I have now is a nightmare lol
Organization is a must. I hate working in a cluttered mess.
a separate phone line or number
A strong and dependable internet provider is a must
A quiet home office which is off limits to the kids.
a really good chair with lumbar support. I sit at a desk all day and its murder on your back!
For me it is wifi with a good internet connection, a reliable printer and a dedicated room no matter how small it may be.
A profitable business idea, a $4000 desk, lighting, and 1 sexy beast of a secretary
A good scanner
Fax Mac hine, printer
High speed internet, a comfortable chair and a good printer
a private room that I can go in and close the door with a nice desk and lots of file cabinets
Space to work in and of course wifi.
A desk, chair, filing cabinet, printer and wifi.
a nice Desk and comfy chair!! Printer and computer!
Comfortable chair, nice desk, lots of storage and a wall color that’s not going to drive me bonkers, good lighting.
I needed a good bookkeeper to be free to concentrate on the business itself.
A really good home computer.
Super speed wifi & a great printer
Good wifi! Its a must!
I think a reliable scanner/fax machine is extremely important. I also think some cute inspirational design piece is nice to have to always remind yourself why you started.
printer
Having the space for your office supplies and needs is a must, so is a quiet area!
patience…. lots of patience and space and time
A good computer, printer and wifi connection are important too
Fast reliable high speed internet, comfortable desk and chair, Google business acct and use Google drive for storing large files that you need to transfer, google phone number, a reliable computer and LAPTOP for when you need to be portable. I love the Google suite at my work!! I can access files without needed MS office software. Also a reliable high quality headphone with microphone when it gets a little noisy at home.
A babysitter is a must!!!!
My must have for my home based business is an uninterrupted power system.
A must is large desk, good phone system, lighting and printer.
A good printer! 🙂
An all in one printer!
a decent copier/ scanner and computer
An all in one bluetooth printer
A quality computer is a definite must!
Gotta have a good printer and lots of ink!