Janelle Johnson refuses to get dressed for work.

“I take a shower the night before and then get up and work in sweatpants and socks. It’s more comfortable and besides, I don’t have to worry about impressing anyone,” she says.

Johnson, a legal customer service representative from Perry, Ia., is one of an increasing number of workers who spend at least part of their workweek from the comfort of their own home. In fact, one-in-five workers spend at least part of workweek working from home according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2003 “American Time Use Survey.” Johnson takes calls from a spare bedroom turned office two days each week, and the personal benefits are endless.

As fuel costs continue to punish daily commuters and more home buyers move to suburban areas to capitalize on low interest rates and affordable housing, telecommuting has emerged as an attractive alternative to the nine-to-five office grind. And as technology continues to flourish, what once was limited to the artistic and sales communities is quickly becoming an integral part of any workplace.

Johnson, who works for Des Monies, Ia.-based Arag North America, was able to download her company’s software to her home computer, which shows incoming calls on her screen.

“My phone doesn’t ring when a call comes in, it just pops up on my screen. So I have to watch my computer all day long,” she says.

Employment experts agree that at-home work has infiltrated nearly every industry and has created new opportunities – and challenges – for the modern employee. Getting your company keen on the idea might be the only obstacle, says Bill Redford, general manager of the Niagra Falls, N.Y.-based Independent Homeworkers’ Alliance.

“Some companies seem to be fighting it, but the truth is that employees are more satisfied,” says Redford, whose company helps at-home workers find jobs and learn how to run a successful business from home. Finding a manager who embraces the idea is an important first step, he says. “Make a written proposal outlining the times you’ll be working, what you’ll be doing, where and how you can be reached and your flexibility to come in for meetings,” he says.

Flexibility is what many telecommuters cherish about their jobs, but that doesn’t give you absolute freedom. Paul Edwards, co-author of “Working From Home” (Tarcher, 1999), says that creating your own hours is a benefit, but you need to create a functioning work environment that includes consistent hours and a dedicated space to work – or you’ll soon find your work life taking over your home life.

“When I came downstairs this morning, I left the newspaper and my breakfast upstairs,” he says. “If you have kids, I suggest making a rule: unless there’s blood it has to wait until you come out of your office.” Edwards stresses that not all people are comfortable being segregators of their work and home lives. In fact, a study he did for his book found that 55 percent of telecommuters were integrators and preferred blending the two.

“Whatever way is right for you is fine, but it’s still important to keep an organized office, have specific parts of the home that are your work area and try to keep some regular hours,” says Edwards.

Redford says that what time you work isn’t the major factor. “I’ve met people who work best between 9pm and 3am in their pajamas, and if that works for you, that’s what it’s all about,” he says. Redford says that to be an effective worker you must have an office where you can close the door and eschew personal obligations. “If the phone rings and it’s a personal call, call them back or let the answering machine pick it up.”

Before her legal call commence, Janelle Johnson takes the kids to daycare, turns off the television and puts all of her personal distractions away in order to create a respectable work environment for the customer on the other end of the phone. Paul Edwards says that eliminating these distractions is an important way to make working at home work for both you and the company.

Another important aspect in Edwards’s eyes is to understand why working at home is good for your company. Studies show telecommuting is cheaper for businesses and creates happier employees, but you’ve got to find out what your company needs.

“When people work two days at home, that frees their work computer and desk to share with another employee, which reduces general administration costs,” he says. Edwards also says that many people are more comfortable when they don’t have to deal with office politics, a major nuisance for most workers.

Many telecommuters treat their at-home workdays like any other, including getting showered and dressed.

Communication is key for telecommuters because there will be no hourly updates around the water cooler. Redford suggests remaining in constant contact via e-mail and Instant Messaging.

Both Edwards and Redford agree that many employees suffer from feelings of isolation when cut-off from the office scene. Janelle Johnson is not immune. “Sometimes I feel lonely, but you also have the perks of recent technology, e-mail and Instant Messenger, that can keep you in the office loop,” she says.

“Find a way to break up the solitude and have human contact. Talk on the phone, or if you’re close, scoot in for lunch to keep in touch and get the daily scoop,” says Redford.

About the Author:
Matthew M. F. Miller, author of “Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story” (HCI, 2008), is a syndicated fatherhood blogger.

- Courtesy CTW Features

As 50-plus job seekers struggle to find employment and their need for income continues, many are interested in starting their own business.

Their challenge is where to look for information to help them determine the right business for their interests, needs and investment capital. Starting your own business can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Planning for success is one of the best ways to ensure your efforts will be profitable. Make sure you do the research at the beginning.

Boomers, seniors and retirees struggling to find employment are fast considering entrepreneurship as a way to develop a critical and satisfying income source. But they’re also struggling with something else – how to determine the right business for their interests, needs and the capital they have to invest.

“There are all kinds of ways to start a business, but some are more appropriate than others, especially if you are 50-plus,” said Art Koff, founder of www.RetiredBrains.com. “Whether you choose to buy an existing business, start one from scratch, freelance or do direct selling with a company like Avon, Mary Kay, Silpada or The Papered Chef, all require a different approach and should be researched carefully. Success tomorrow means starting right today.”

“Starting your own business can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Planning for success is one of the best ways to ensure your efforts will be profitable. Make sure you do the research at the beginning,” he continued.

That’s why resources like Koff’s web site – a job and information source for boomers, retirees and people planning their retirement – can be invaluable.

“We have researched a great deal of information devoted to making the selection process easier, while at the same time including a list of do’s and don’ts to help people avoid the pitfalls and scams often associated with investing in a new business,” Koff said. “This is particularly important for those who have never worked in their own business.”

With their inherent guidance and support, franchise opportunities are often a popular option for many seniors, retirees and boomers looking to start their own business. But not all franchises are a good fit for retired seniors and boomers, Koff said.
RetiredBrains.com offers a “Start Your Own Business” section that lists franchises appropriate for retirees, boomers and seniors, along with important advice, like the reminder that while it’s great to be your own boss, it’s a risky endeavor that often requires long hours.

According to Tom Sagehorn, president of a franchise brokerage and consulting service, “it is necessary that people interested in franchises find the right match for their talents, abilities, interests and resources.”

Enter the phrase “franchise opportunity” into Google, and you’ll get more than a million results, making it extremely difficult for anyone to find the “right” franchise without help from experts like Sagehorn. And, there is no charge for their services because they’re paid by the franchisors, consultants can prove to be an effective and affordable resource for seniors, boomers and retirees trying to decide which franchises is best for them.

RetiredBrains.com is a valuable source of information and help for older Americans looking to start their own business as it addresses topics as diverse as:

• Research guidance
• Direct sales information
• Advice about opening an office in your home, condo or apartment
• Choosing the “right” franchise

For more information, visit http://www.retiredbrains.com.

There’s good news for small construction or supply companies that require a completion bond-also known as a surety bond-to bid on a project.

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) can temporarily guarantee bonds on contracts of up to $5 million for small businesses that might not otherwise be able to obtain such bonds.

A surety bond guarantees a company will fulfill an obligation to another party-such as work to be done or goods to be delivered under a contract. In the event the company does not fulfill the contract, the bond is supposed to cover the other party’s losses.

For more than 30 years, the SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee program has helped small and emerging contractors who have the knowledge and skills necessary for success but lack the combination of experience and financial strength to obtain bonds through regular commercial channels.

The SBA guarantees bid, performance, ancillary and payment bonds issued by surety companies to small and emerging contractors and reimburses the surety a percentage of loss if the contractor defaults.

The agency does not directly bond a contractor. Instead, the contractor chooses a bonding agent, and the SBA reimburses the bond writer between 70 percent and 90 percent of the costs incurred if a contractor defaults.

This government guarantee allows sureties to write bonds for contractors who would not otherwise meet their minimum standards-thus providing small and underserved contractors with contracting opportunities for which they would not otherwise qualify.

In addition to meeting the bonding company’s qualifications, a business must qualify as a small business. This means a company must meet the SBA’s definition of a small business.

The SBA has also implemented another provision of the Recovery Act that would allow it, in some cases, to guarantee bonds in contracts of up to $10 million.

For more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/financialassistance/borrowers/surety/index.htm or call (800) U-ASK-SBA.

It seems the U.S. economic recovery may be largely driven by small businesses.

The companies represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms in the U.S. and employ just over half of private-sector workers, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). But analysts say the key to these firms’ success will be their ability to find funding during the coming months.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs typically need loans to finance new equipment, personnel, marketing and other matters. Such was the case for entrepreneur Dr. Justin Kim, whose eye care center was sorely in need of working capital to increase marketing efforts. Like many other small-business owners, Dr. Kim took advantage of new loan provisions set forth by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They eliminate some borrower fees on SBA’s largest loan program-the 7(a) program-and increase guarantees up to 90 percent.

Analysts say the fee elimination means more capital will be available to businesses at lower costs, while increasing guarantee levels will help provide banks with the greater confidence they need to extend credit during the economic crisis.

Before the recovery act, a typical 7(a) loan of $300,000 carried a guarantee fee of between 2 and 3 percent. That same loan today, with the new 90 percent guarantee and the temporary fee elimination, would save a borrower about $8,100. In total, the new provisions are expected to support approximately $8.7 billion worth of 7(a) loans.

Finding Financial Support
Generally, SBA-backed loans provide a key source of financing for viable small businesses that have real potential but cannot qualify for loans from traditional sources. The loans are provided and funded by participating banks and other lenders.

To borrow, a business must be established for profit and must also meet SBA’s size standards for a small business, among other requirements. To qualify for an SBA 7(a) guarantee, a small business must also meet the lender’s criteria and the 7(a) program requirements. In addition, the lender must certify that it could not provide a loan under the proposed terms and conditions without the 7(a) guarantee.

Help Where It’s Needed
Many of the loans that SBA backs go to underserved markets. In fact, the administration’s loans are more likely to go to a business that might be minority owned, woman owned or located in an area with lower income and higher unemployment than conventional bank loans.

June Gold is one of the many female business owners who qualified for financing under the new provisions. The president of a software and program development firm, she was originally turned down for a $500,000 loan by a bank after her husband and company founder, Steve, suddenly died. The funding was denied despite contracts between Gold’s firms and two large pharmaceutical companies, leaving her in need of money to hire skilled staff and continue marketing her products.

Her luck changed when she chanced upon a workshop that directed her to a bank in the area that handles SBA loans.

“They found a way to make it happen,” says Gold. With her $400,000 7(a) loan, she hired a seasoned salesperson and is expanding operations. Last year, her company posted $1.2 million in sales.

To learn more, for a list of approved lenders or tips on starting a business, visit the Web site http://www.sba.gov.

When the economy is uncertain, many folks start businesses to bring in a little side money.

Before you hang up that shingle, there are a few important steps to consider when forming your new venture.

First, you’ll want to consider protecting your personal assets by forming a limited liability company (LLC) (1). Any misadventures created by your new venture would only cost you the assets of the company and not all of your personal property (your house, car, cash…).

Secondly, you might want to consider forming your new company as a type of corporation. This article will outline some of the advantages (and disadvantages) of organizing your new venture as an S corporation.

Self-Employment Tax
Whenever you earn money not as an employee, you owe self-employment tax in addition to income tax. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve formally incorporated, filed as an LLC, or are just going door-to-door peddling homemade soap; it’s income, and you need to pay Uncle Sam his share. The self-employment tax is 15.3% of income (revenue less expenses), which is a hefty bite. Unlike income tax, the self-employment tax rate is fixed — not progressive. The smallest street vendor pays the same rate as a high-end attorney.

Self-employment tax pays for Social Security (12.4% — up to the first $106,800 (2009)) and Medicare (2.9% — no income limit). If you are an employee, you and your employer each pay half of this amount; as a self-employed person, you get to pay it all.

The Advantage of an S corporation: Pay Less Self-Employment Tax
To reduce your self-employment tax bill, you can create an S corporation and hire yourself as an employee. You pay the employee (you) a reasonable wage for the work done. If there is profit left over at the end of the year, the partners (that’s you again) split the earnings. Self-employment tax is only paid on wages — not on the company profit.

An example: Pat and Alex run similar web-design businesses. Pat organized his business as a sole proprietor, and Alex organized his as an S corporation. At the end of the year, they each made $50,000, after expenses. As a sole proprietor, Pat will pay 15.3% of the entire $50,000, or $7,650 in self-employment tax. Alex researched other web-design firms and found that it was reasonable to assess a $40,000 wage for the work that he did that year. Alex will pay 15.3% on $40,000, or $6120, saving himself $1,530.

So far, sounds good. What’s the hitch?

The Disadvantages of an S Corporation
You have to decide what is a “reasonable wage.” The IRS doesn’t define it any further than that. Obviously, you don’t want to pay yourself only $1. Uncle would call that tax evasion — not avoidance. You need to do a little research to back up the value used for your assessment. If you can document it, you should be able to pass an audit.

You are now an employee. Hopefully you’ll get along with the boss.

You are now an employer. You must now file taxes for your employee, and you must withhold employee earnings for taxes and submit these to the proper revenue authorities. You must now pay federal unemployment tax (FUTA) (6.2% of the first $7,000 in earnings), which you do not have to pay as a sole proprietor. The FUTA tax reduces Alex’s tax advantage from $1,530 to $1,096. Depending on state regulations, you may also be required to pay state unemployment and disability insurance, too. You must generate a W-2 for your employee, too. The additional paperwork is sufficient hassle that some folks end up hiring a payroll contractor, similar to ADP or Paychex, or more likely, your local small-business accountant. If you’re the DIY type, QuickBooks can help you track payroll transactions.

You must form a corporation. The paperwork is a bit more complicated than for an LLC. It varies by state, but the Articles of Incorporation can be sufficiently complex that you’ll need to see an attorney to understand if you’re really doing the right thing. The Articles of Incorporation for an LLC are usually quite straightforward.

You may have to deal with other state requirements. For example, Massachusetts now requires all employers to provide health insurance to employees. Many self-employed persons rely on their spouse’s health insurance. So even if you’re covered by your spouse’s policy (fulfilling the requirements for the Massachusetts Form 1 Schedule HC), you may need to file additional paperwork with the state to demonstrate that all of your employees have health care coverage.

How to Create an S Corporation
You create an S corporation by first creating a corporation (technically, a C corporation). You then notify the IRS that you want to have your corporation taxed under the S corporation rules by filing Form 2553: Election by a Small-Business Corporation. This form must be filed by March 15th; otherwise, you have to wait until the next year.

How to File Taxes as an S Corporation
S corporations, like partnerships, are separate entities and require their own tax return. (Sole-proprietorships are pass-throughs, and the income is reported on the owner’s 1040 Schedule C or C-EZ). The tax form is 1120S: US Income Tax for an S Corporation, and it is due on March 15th (A month earlier than our usual deadline — just to keep you on your toes). On your 1040, your wages are reported on line 7, and the business income is reported on line 17.

The bottom line: Is an S corporation right for me?

Answer: It depends. Your business situation is unique. You should seek advice from your accountant, attorney, or other financial professional. The S corporation option is preferred (relative to a sole proprietorship) when the business is relatively large — the greater the income, the more you’ll save by forming an S corporation; therefore, the more likely it’s worth the additional paperwork.

About the Author:
Helen Maynard, Ph.D., is the founder of Affine Financial Services, a Limited Liability Company registered in Massachusetts. Her mission is to help clients develop and execute financial plans that meet their lifetime goals while minimizing cost and stress. For more information, please visit the website of Affine Financial Services.

References:
(1) http://www.affinefinancial.com/2009/05/13/why-do-i-need-to-create-an-llc/

When you first entered the workforce, you probably didn’t anticipate the economy turning so sour.

In fact, you’ve spent many years diligently promoting yourself up the career ladder and establishing a nice set of skills – only to find out your company can’t afford to keep you around any longer.

So what do you do now?

Now you can take those skills you’ve refined over the years and re-evaluate where you are in life.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, competition is expected to remain keen in the consulting industry through the year 2012.

Here are some ideas to consider for your future:

Search For a New Job
While it may seem like everyone is unemployed, there are, in fact, job positions being posted. You just need to find them. Ask yourself these questions first: Where else can you reasonably consider relocating – across town or across the country? What salary do you really need to earn? What are you looking for at this point – something similar, which may or may not exist anymore, or venturing into a new field?

Next, determine if you or your resume needs a makeover. Would working with a career coach help you think through what you want to do with your career and professional life? A career coach can also help you discover how your options match your values, lifestyle, priorities and long term goals.

Finally, with clearer vision now in place, start looking everywhere. Online resources, newspapers, placement agencies, professional contacts – you have many resources at your fingertips. Plan on this taking a lot of effort – the more work you put into finding a job, the better opportunities you’ll discover during your search.

Put Your Skills to Use
Many people who hire career coaches quickly discover this is a potential career that allows them to produce fulfilling results in both their personal and professional lives. A certified professional coach helps individuals and businesses in a variety of ways, including creating a clear vision and goal achievement strategy; becoming more aware of what beliefs, skills, attitude, behaviors and resources are needed to succeed; streamlining decision making and ensuring it matches goals and priorities; forming a detailed, specific plan that lays out key milestones and progress; and, holding clients accountable to what they want to do and who they want to be.

Certified Professional Coaches are earning the reputation as catalysts for change and partners for success.

Many people who hire life coaches are already successful, but are interested in achieving more. Senior executives, for example, often want the unbiased feedback a coach will give them through executive coaching.

Clients seek coaches to assist them in achieving a more rewarding career, better relationships, more free time, or to improve some other life area. They may have difficulty setting goals or finding the courage to do what they want instead of what others expect of them.

As a professional coach you may decide to assist anyone who wants coaching, or choose to specialize in coaching people in a specific area, such as:

• Business
• Careers
• Environmental impact
• Family
• Health & Wellness
• Leadership
• Relationships
• Retirement
• Spirituality
• Self-Improvement
• Time management

Within each of these areas, there are many opportunities for life coaches. For example, as a relationship coach, you might work with married couples, gay couples, singles who are seeking a partner, or anyone else who wants the guidance a coach can give to improve relationships.

Likewise, successful companies (such as Kodak, IBM and Marriott) hire corporate coaches to help employees achieve greater success in a variety of areas. In addition to executive coaching, many corporate coaches get paid thousands of dollars a day for leading training programs to help employees reduce burnout, improve customer service, get along with co-workers, and maximize performance.

To learn more about becoming a coach and the training involved, visit the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) at http://www.ipeccoaching.com. Reasons to become a coach are: the challenge of thinking outside of the box, helping others, self improvement, personal financial growth (experienced certified professional coaches earn between $77,000 and $134,000 per year) and a growing field needing more coaches (part or full time).

For those who are looking to jumpstart their career in coaching, this 297-page guide can save you many hours of research, help you avoid costly mistakes, and give you information you need to become a life coach. The author has interviewed numerous experts in preparing this guide — including psychology professors at various universities, instructors at coach training schools, and administrators at the International Coach Federation.

Go Back to School
This is a very popular route for many laid-off workers to take for obvious reasons. It allows you to change your career path, updates you with the latest information available, and strengthens your resume with a higher degree of education. The educational options are wide open – from online to specialized courses to full four-year degrees, with many opportunities for scholarships and grants available.

Network
The easiest way to network in your community is to get out and volunteer. And organizations are desperately looking for volunteers to help because of higher demands and less available money. See if you can find an organization that will appreciate your skills, because this will be another great addition to your resume.

You may discover that receiving a pink slip wasn’t the worst thing that could happen, because it gave you the opportunity to take a good look at yourself and discover if you were going in the right direction. Now you just need to take advantage of the opportunity and find what’s best for your future.

Flexibility could be helpful in weathering a stormy economy.

That’s the news from a new study by the Families and Work Institute (FWI), The Impact of the Recession on Employers, showing that 81 percent of U.S. employers are maintaining and 13 percent are increasing the flexibility they offer during the recession.

A Guide For Work
The study is cited in a new book called the 2009 Guide to Bold New Ideas for Making Work Work, also from FWI. The annual guide features 260 employers selected for the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility. It sorts the featured employers by geography and by innovative practice, allowing readers to search for organizations in the area or find examples of best practices from around the nation.

Among the examples featured are a semiconductor company that avoided layoffs by scheduling a temporary factory shutdown, a customer contact center that offered an emergency relief fund for employees facing financial catastrophe, and an international accounting and consulting firm that covered 100 percent of requested emergency and sick leave time by enabling employees to donate their unused time to one another.

Ellen Galinsky, president of the institute-and principal editor of the guide-says that leading employers are being open with employees about the financial state of their organizations and asking for their suggestions about cost containment.

“In many ways, the guide has helped increasing numbers of companies and organizations to improve their workplaces so that they work for the employer and the employees,” she says. The guide highlights unique workplace programs such as sabbaticals, leaves of absence, compressed workweeks, flextime, volunteerism and strategies to monitor overwork.

To view a searchable online edition of the guide and to find other FWI studies and practical tips for managing work and family life, visit http://www.familiesandwork.org or call (212) 465-2044.

If you’ve ever heard, “I make sure I write at least 1000 words (or other amount) each day” or the statement, “I write from 8 to noon (or some specified time) each day” – and wondered if this is good advice, consider this:

There is no absolute. This is a matter of style (as well as being conditional on a number of other factors). With that being said, there is wisdom in specifying the time you will write or the number of words you will write. One is not better than the other, but having a specific goal is important. Note that I said, “specific goal.”

It is more attainable (because it is more tangible) to work toward a particular number of words or to write for a particular amount of time than it is to have as a goal, “I will have this section of my article (dissertation, precis) written today. That’s too ‘fuzzy.’

Now, what about getting distracted when you write? Has that every come into play for you? Maybe you have found (or believe) that you can write for 15 minutes (maybe) before you have to switch focus.

It is possible that you have noticed that email is the usual way you switch focus! It’s possible that you tell yourself, “Yikes. This is not good to be doing. Maybe I need to find a new way to switch focus, even for a couple minutes, and then get back to writing. Maybe I should be getting up and walking around for a few minutes…or what about switching my focus to another writing project? Or wait, I know, maybe I should just move away from the keyboard, take pencil and paper, and write down ideas?”

Believe me, not only have I heard these conversations from others, I have had them in my own head. Here are four tips to assist you:

• Turn off your email altogether. Email has made all of us highly distractible and we have to be diligent about avoiding that self-distraction.

• If necessary, log out and/or disconnect from internet access. For example, think about the times when you have taken your laptop somewhere that doesn’t have internet access or it’s too much of a pain to hook it up – and so you know how uncomfortable (and sometimes panicked) we feel. This gives you a sense of the need to break our addiction to distracting ourselves with email (and believe me, I am HIGHLY familiar with this one personally).

• Begin to work up from 15 minutes of uninterrupted writing time to 20 minutes over the period of a week. Then the next week, go to 25 minutes, and so on until you can work uninterrupted for, say, 45 or 50 minutes (which is long enough. After that, most people need to – and should – get up, stretch, go to the bathroom, and get a drink of water). To help facilitate your increase in focused time, use a timer that is set for 15 minutes one day then 16 the next and so on. Just make it a little game and sure enough…you can do it!

• Break your writing down into smaller pieces – e.g., writing 5 tips for ____ and then working just on explain one of the tips at one sitting – is another way to get your writing moving forward even though you are doing it in 15, 20, or 25 minute spurts.

You’re smart. You’re educated. You’re committed to reaching your goals. I know you can set goals for writing and keep yourself focused long enough to reach them. Prove me right!

About the Author:
Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., is “The Ph.D. of Productivity”(tm). Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do via seminars, workshops, writing, coaching, & consulting. If you want additional ideas for keeping your writing moving forward, be sure to consult the Life of E’s blog: http://meggin.com/lifeofes/wordpress/.

Topics ranging from writing to productivity to speaking to teaching to coaching to business set-up and more are featured there. And, to make sure you are productive in your personal and professional life, you’ll want to access the resources at http://www.TopTenProductivityTips.com.

Imagine owning a fun and profitable business providing grooming services for dogs, cats, or other pets.

If you are looking for opportunities in a booming market, you may want to consider your own pet spa.

When you start a pet spa business (also known as a luxury pet grooming business or pet grooming salon), you will have a career that is fun, interesting, and rewarding. You will meet and care for many pets, and feel needed and appreciated by pets and pet owners alike.

In addition to the rewards of working with animals, starting a pet spa offers you almost unlimited income potential. If you want to earn more money, you can expand your facility and add employees to increase your income, or offer specialized or luxury pet grooming services.

According to the U.S. government, which has identified pet care as a growth industry:

“Pet owners’ … demand for luxury animal services and willingness to spend greater amounts of money on their pet will continue to grow. – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Your own pet spa can be anything you want it to be. You can start a mobile pet spa business, work from your own home, or set up a pet spa in a retail space, offering luxury features or services that owners and pets will love.

As long as you have the desire, you can become a pet spa owner and start your own pet grooming salon. No special education or experience is necessary to break into this career and succeed.

If you would like to start your own business and be paid to provide luxury grooming services for pets, the Guide to Become a Pet Spa Owner is for you. In this e-book you will discover how you can get started and succeed in the exciting pet spa business.

The author of this 97-page guide is Jennifer James, a leading writer and editor of career guides, who has cared for many dogs, cats, and other pets. In the pet spa guide she shares insider tips and expert advice from successful luxury pet grooming business owners to help you achieve success with your own pet spa business.

Pet Sitting Business

Imagine having a business that lets you get paid to play with and care for pets. You can when you start your own pet sitting business.

There are few careers that offer so many benefits. When you start a pet sitting business, you will have a job that is fun, interesting, and rewarding. You will feel needed and appreciated by pets and pet owners alike.

“This is a fantastic industry to work in. Two days are never the same, and you have the freedom to set your own schedule, be your own boss, and be playing with pets. What could be more fun?” – Paul Mann, Founder, Fetch! Pet Care

Pet sitters are hired to care for pets while their owners are on vacation, traveling for work, or away from home for any other reason.

Pet sitters care for people’s pets in the pets’ own homes, offering pet owners total convenience as well as peace of mind, knowing that their pets and homes are being cared for while they are away. The happy pets get to enjoy a pleasant stay at home, instead of a stressful trip to a boarding facility or kennel.

When you start your own pet sitting business you will enjoy the freedom of being your own boss. You can start your business from home, scheduling work around your family life or other commitments. You can start part-time or full time and pet sit on your own, or hire a staff of pet sitters who you can schedule as appointments come in.

Your own pet sitting business can offer lots of flexibility. For example, you can choose to work with all types of pets or you can specialize in particular types of animals (e.g. dogs, cats, fish, ferrets, horses, etc.).

You can also choose what types of pet sitting or pet care services to offer. In addition to standard pet sitting services (feeding, playing, caring for), your pet sitting business might offer overnight pet sitting, companionship by the hour, or house sitting.

In addition to the rewards of working with animals, starting a pet sitting business has low start-up costs and offers almost unlimited income potential. This 77-page guide has loads of helpful information to get you started.

Dog Walking Business

Imagine having a fun and profitable business that lets you spend time outdoors, playing with and walking dogs. You can when you start your own dog walking business.

Professional dog walkers take clients’ dogs out for a daily walk, either one dog at a time or a few dogs together. You can walk dogs on your favorite scenic excursion or take dogs to an off-leash area for some playtime before bringing them home, tired and happy.

There are few careers that offer so many benefits. When you start a dog walking business, you will have a job that is fun, interesting, and financially rewarding. You will get to be outside every day, enjoying the companionship of your favorite animals.

In addition to the rewards of working with wonderful, lovable dogs every day, starting a dog walking business has very low start-up costs, and offers almost unlimited income potential.

You can start your dog walking business part-time or full time and walk dogs yourself, or you might decide to manage a staff of dog walkers so you can earn more money through your dog walking business.

As the owner of a dog walking business you will enjoy the freedom of being your own boss. You can start your business from home, scheduling work around your family life or other commitments. This 73-page guide has all the details to help you get started.

Your own dog walking business can be anything you want it to be.

When it comes to health reform, the self-employed say cost containment is key. They also oppose mandating coverage unless there is substantial financial assistance to help pay for it.

Those are just two key findings in a new survey of self-employed individuals conducted by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE).

The majority of the self-employed who responded to the survey are opposed to a public health insurance program run by the federal government and prefer health reform that builds on the current system of private insurance and implements a number of market reforms.

“Business owners,” said Kristie Arslan, executive director of the NASE’s legislative offices, “are comfortable with the government as a regulator, not a provider, of health insurance.”

When asked about various market reforms, self-employed individuals were most supportive of these choices:

• Create an exchange or marketplace to facilitate the purchase of quality health coverage by allowing small businesses and individuals to easily compare and purchase the health care plans of their choice;

• Require health insurance carriers to provide health insurance to all those who apply–regardless of their health status; and

• Create nonprofit insurance cooperatives that are organized by the government but owned by cooperative members. Small businesses and individuals would be able to purchase health coverage from such a cooperative.

The top-two health tax proposals favored by self-employed respondents are providing tax credits to businesses and individuals to offset health care costs and ensuring that everyone receives a tax deduction for health insurance, regardless of how coverage is purchased.

The Association provides smallbusiness owners news and resources, legislative advocacy and membership benefits, such as affordable health insurance.

To learn more, call (800)649-6273 or visit the Web site at http://www.NASE.org.