SELF MADE

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.

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.

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.

In the next few months, thousands of small business will file their tax returns across Delaware. But this year, on top of the myriad complex tax liabilities and unequal deductions forced onto small business owners, they now face another unfair tax by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS): a penalty for offering health care support to their employees.

We all know that branding for your business is important… However, have you created an actual "voice" for your company that reflects its branded style? ​It’s a fact. Branding is a very important marketing tool that every business or organization should think about. Why? Well, simply put – it’s the personality that identifies a product, service, or company. In addition, it's been proven time and time again that proper branding can result in higher sales (OK, now we’re talking)! But, what’s even more interesting? Truly successful branding is obtained when someone can remember a brand without being exposed to the company name, but rather through visual or audible signifiers.

Every savvy business owner loves a great deal, and we’ve got one for you. As we approach the holiday season, I want to share with you about an amazing event that NASE is proud to be a part of. The Abounding Business Conference is a day of empowerment for small business owners, coming to 10 cities across the US in 2016 and we are excited to be a part of it. I would like to invite you to come out and hear our President & CEO, Keith Hall, along with several other business leaders.

Worker classification is front-page news these days as companies like Uber, FedEx, and Lowe’s face misclassification lawsuits. If you engage with freelancers, consultants, or any type of independent contractor, proper classification is critical. Unfortunately, the rules around classification are not easy to interpret. The NASE’s President & CEO Keith Hall is joining an expert panel for a free webinar where listeners will learn information to help protect their business from massive fines, unnecessary hassles, and lawsuits like the ones you've heard about in the news.

It is no longer just a good idea for small business owners to create and maintain a presence across several social media platforms; it is a necessity. Thanks to the internet and social media, it has never been easier to start a dialogue with your customers. This is especially beneficial to small businesses with miniscule marketing budgets.

Business credit cards are a popular and valuable resource which, when used responsibly, can help you make purchases and organize your spending, all while getting some perks on the side. Most issuers offer credit cards for small businesses and freelancers in addition to their regular cards, and there are 3 important things you need to know about them.

The best apps are the ones that give business owners and entrepreneurs flexibility. Whether they sell services or merchandise, rely on employees or work alone, an owner's talents and energies should be concentrated on the things that count. The best apps are the ones that use automation to free up an entrepreneur's already limited time. Here are six apps that help business owners manage their money, their merchandise, their marketing and more.

You most likely have used Uber to get you where you want, or NoWait to snag a reservation at a hot, new restaurant, or bought gifts through the online marketplace Etsy. These services, and many more like it, are part of a growing and on-demand business demographic called the "freelance economy." From sharing rides to purchasing items online and even providing accommodation on sites such as AirBnB, individuals can set up their own small business and operate from their driver's seat or couch.

Bill is responsible for sales at his company and considers himself a tenacious worker. Whenever he discovers a new prospect, he enters him or her into the system. From there, he will attempt to contact that person by phone, through email and even via office visit if possible. However, after a number of failed attempts, Bill is likely to toss the person into the sea of dead prospects.

It’s August, which I guess means that we are in the dog days of summer; lots of hot weather but also lots of swimming pools and cold glasses of lemonade. The good news for me is that despite the season there are still lots of questions from NASE members that we get to answer every day. One NASE member posted a question regarding income earned during a speaking engagement overseas, actually in London, England. Her question made me realize all over again just how pervasive the influence of small business continues to be.

Posted by Katie Vlietstra-- By now, we've all heard about the challenges and the ups-and-downs of the new health care law. From cancelled plans to delayed programs and technical glitches in online applications, the Affordable Care Act has had its share of problems. However, in the end, the Affordable Care Act -- or ACA -- has turned out to help millions of Americans young and old. Far from perfect, the Department of Health and Human Services declared success with over eight million people enrolled, and over 30 percent being young Americans aged 18-34.

It could be your local cupcake shop, neighborhood deli or even your friendly accountant -- all local entrepreneurs fueling not only their local economies, but our national economy as well. One of the things they all have in common is that they are part of a growing movement in America called the small business community. With every dollar you invest in a local, small business, the true entrepreneurial spirit of America continues to thrive. According to the Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

Posted by Katie Vlietstra-- The Small Business Administration (SBA) is our nation's direct link between the administration and America's small business community. The agency provides benefits such as advocacy and support, loans and access to capital and entrepreneurial development to ensure the small business community continues to move our economy forward.

Another holiday season has come and gone and hopefully all of your best wishes came true. Most of us are now focused on the New Year with high expectations and new commitments for success. And in many cases that includes those high minded New Year’s resolutions that probably include losing a few pounds or maybe just striving to get in shape. Committing to better health is a great way to start the year whether that includes a better diet, a daily walk or short jog, or maybe even just one less dessert each week. The key is to just pick something and then stick to it long enough to build a habit that leads to the result you want.

As you may have noticed, Facebook rolled out their star rating system onto business pages last month. In reality, the star rating system has been in place on Facebook's mobile app for places for quite some time. However, November is when they officially rolled it out for business pages on the standard browser version of Facebook.