Small Office-Home Office Tips #1



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Proudly presents:
The Windows 98 Tip of the Day

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*1.   THE TROUBLE WITH SPEAKERPHONES 

A speakerphone can be a great convenience when you're trying to 
do two things at once. Unfortunately, that's exactly the message 
you may be sending your client if you rustle papers or click a 
coffee cup in the middle of a conversation. When you're using a 
speakerphone, remember that it will amplify the sounds in the 
room and can be distracting to the person on the other end. Also 
consider that some people just hate being put on speakerphone, 
which makes it a good idea to ask the caller if he or she minds 
before you press the button. 

2.   MARRIED TO YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER? 

Can you and your spouse work together in a home-based business? 
Azriela Jaffe, author of Honey, I Want to Start My Own Business, 
A Planning Guide for Couples, has developed a questionnaire to 
help couples decide if working together is for them and to help 
them become aware of some of the obstacles they may face. The 
How a Home Office Will Suit Your Home and Family questionnaire 
is an excerpt from Jaffe's book and is available online through 
the Let's Talk Business Network at 

http://www.ltbn.com/Articles/art15.html 


*3.   SECTION 179 DEDUCTIONS 

Rather than depreciating the cost of a computer you bought for 
your home office in 1998, you can claim a Section 179 
deduction--as long as you use the computer only in your home 
office. That means that you may be able to deduct the entire 
purchase price on your 1998 taxes. You can't claim more than 
$18,000 in Section 179 deductions, and your home office must 
fit the requirements of the IRS. You'll need to complete Part I 
of Form 4562 to claim the Section 179 deduction. For more 
information, check out IRS Publication 587 at 

http://www.irs.gov/prod/forms_pubs/pubs/p58707.htm 


*4.   THE BUSINESS OF CRAFTS 

Crafts Report magazine makes selected articles available on its 
Web site, The Crafts Report Online, at 

http://www.craftsreport.com 

In the January issue, for example, you can read articles such 
as "Make the Internet Work for You" and "Trends: Color and 
Lifestyle Predictions." (To read the entire issue, however, 
you'll need to buy the magazine at the newsstand for $5.) You 
can also search issues going back to 1995. In addition, the site 
provides links to state agencies that support crafts, craft 
newsgroups, and a listing of upcoming craft festivals by region. 


*5.   TARGETING THE MEDIA 

Press releases can be a great low-cost way to publicize your 
company and its products or services. However, many press 
releases are ignored because they are sent to a media outlet 
that's too big to take notice. Consider adding smaller media, 
such as topically related cable television shows, newsletters, 
or online forums, to your press list. Companies with smaller 
newsgathering staffs are more likely to use a press release as 
the basis for an article. You can also increase your chances of 
being interviewed as an expert by teaching an adult or 
continuing education class in your field. 


*6.   SPEED ON A COPPER WIRE 

An Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) can provide 
high-speed access to the Internet--as much as 50 times faster 
than a conventional 28.8-kbps connection and ten times faster 
than an ISDN line--and the technology works on existing copper 
phone lines. The connection is faster for downloading Web pages 
and other information to your PC (up to 1.5 mbps) than it is for 
sending information from your PC (about 256 kbps). Unfortunately,
ADSL technology isn't available in all areas, and it will cost 
more than a conventional connection (about $50 to $60 per month 
for BellSouth customers, for example). For more information on 
availability and cost, check with your local phone 
service provider. 


*7.   LOANS FOR SERVICE BUSINESSES 

Banks and other agencies make loans to service businesses in 
much the same way as they do to other businesses. One factor 
that often differs between service businesses (such as public 
relations agencies) and other types of businesses (such as 
manufacturing) is that the service businesses don't have as much
collateral to secure the loan. In these cases, the business 
owner may need to use personal collateral to obtain the loan. 


*8.   PACKAGE RATES 

If you're looking for the best deal on shipping, check out 
SmartShip's Web site at 

http://www.smartship.com 

The Find the Best Rate box asks you to enter your Zip code as 
well as the receiver's Zip code, select the weight range, and 
choose the priority of service (overnight, two-day, and so on.).
You can also click a radio button if your package is oversized 
or irregular in shape. Then just click the Get Rates button to 
see what the major carriers would charge to ship your package. 
Another search box lets you track packages you've already 
shipped by their tracking numbers. 


*9.   FAMILY BUSINESS QUIZ 

IBM's Small Business Solutions Center at 

http://www.businesscenter.ibm.com/smb/smbusapub.nsf/ 

offers The Family Business Challenge, a quiz that can help 
owners of family businesses think about the challenges they'll 
face in the coming years. The quiz consists of ten questions; 
each question presents a brief scenario with a choice of 
answers to best describe your approach to the situation. At 
the end of the quiz, you'll see an interpretation of your 
results. Of course, the quiz can't really predict the future of 
your family business, but it does offer food for thought. 
To take the quiz, go to 

http://204.146.168.60/communit/fambiz/index.htm 


*10.   RENTING OFFICE SPACE 

Your home office may some day need to move to larger quarters, 
especially if you hire employees who need to work together. A 
common rule of thumb for deciding how much office space you'll 
need is to allow 200 square feet per employee. But before you 
sign a lease, make a floor plan to see if all of your leased 
space is usable--after all, you can't expect someone to work in 
a 4-foot-by-50-foot space, even if it matches the 
theoretical criteria.

