Cheap computers: The used computer market is a good source for inexpensive equipment, particularly if you don’t need the latest state-of-the-art wizardry. Leasing is also an option to reduce your cash outlay.
Fax without a fax: If you have a modem and if a document exists as a file on your computer, you can send it to someone’s fax through an option available on such online services as MCI Mail and CompuServe.
Copier features: You may want a copier that can handle legal-size as well as letter-size paper. Also, note that copiers are rated based on how many pages the manufacturer thinks they can handle monthly.
Laser-printer savings: Leaving your laser printer on all day will make a mark on your electric bill. Consider saving the documents you need to have printed in a computer directory, and print them out several projects at a time.
Shocked by all the income tax you pay? Then think about entering the wonderful world of self-employment, full time or in addition to your regular job. If you can use part of your home for your self-employed activities – which must have a reasonable expectation of profit, but more about that later – you should be able to deduct part of the expenses of running your home.
Here’s his checklist for people who are asking themselves, “Should I really?”
Do a self-assessment – and be painfully honest in evaluating your strengths and weaknesses. Do you have the entrepreneurial traits – independence, self-confidence, persistence, flexibility and resourcefulness – to be your own boss?
One of the consumer buzz words will be green, as in environmentally sound products and services. Here are some ideas to help you get in on the business of improving our environment, and marketing the product successfully to green-minded consumers:
RESEARCH — Do your homework. Establish market potential for the product and the best means of market entry. Check to see if product modifications are necessary to meet Japanese technical standards such as metric system conversions.
Here are 10 suggestions for home business:
There are definite, concrete steps business leaders can take to establish and maintain a high standard of ethical practice corporations. Formulate an explicit statement of corporate values to which everyone can refer when issues arise. This will not provide clear cut answers in many cases, but it will serve to focus management attention on the principles involved in the decision. . Develop a code of business practice to cover those areas, such as purchasing, advertising and investment, where ethical pitfalls and traps are commonplace. The code should reflect guidelines and policies rather than consist of lists of rules. Make sure that senior managers review this code annually. . Develop a training program that is based on the actual ethics issues and problems that managers and employees could experience in the company. Nothing is more effective in this context than dealing with situations that have actually occurred within the organization. . Identify the responsibility for conducting business in an ethical manner in employee job descriptions and performance reviews. . Give the responsibility for auditing ethical business practices to the internal audit function so that it becomes as accepted a part of business as financial auditing. . Establish a fear-proof and confidential appeal system which any employee can use when he or she believes that a manager or executive is engaging in unethical behavior. There must be a direct pipeline to a senior executive who can handle such problems confidentially, providing anonymity for the person raising the issue, while respecting the rights of the person who is accused. . Reinforce the corporate expectation for ethical behavior through speeches, articles in internal publications, reports etc.