© Sergej Khackimullin - Fotolia.com

Catering is a $7 million industry. Business owners can operate in a variety of specialized areas and there is plenty of room for business growth. While starting a catering business is less expensive than opening a restaurant, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Not only will you need a passion for cooking, you will also need a strong business sense.

Business Needs

Detail-Oriented Personality with Strong Managerial Skills

Local Licensing, Inspections and Insurance – Do not go into the catering industry under the impression you can simply use your existing home kitchen equipment. In many states this is illegal. Contact your Department of Health for local regulations on food preparation, necessary licensing and minimum insurance needs.

Commercial Kitchen Equipment can be rented if the price is out of reach initially. Depending on your catering niche, you may need to decide if you will buy or rent table settings, glassware, linens, etc. If your business brings food to your client, you will likely need to invest in portable food storage.

A separate Business Entity is a must. Food prep can be a risky business. You don’t want your family’s assets and future put at risk in the event of a customer complaint. Consult an attorney and/or tax professional for advice on the recommended business structure for your new catering business.

Marketing Your Catering Business

Get Your Niche. Cooks can cater to a wide variety of customers. You may choose to specialize in weddings, small parties, bag lunches to businesses, professional luncheons, household meal delivery, or another area entirely. Once you choose your niche, your preferred methods of marketing will be a lot easier to nail down. A few avenues to be utilized regardless of your niche:

• Customer Referrals
• Business Referrals
• Social Media
• Local Listings
• Professional Organizations like NACE

Words of Wisdom

Get Some Experience by working with another local caterer or taking a few culinary courses at your local community college.

Start Small with three to seven menu items. This allows you to get accustomed to your new business and streamlines the ordering process for your customers. Sometimes having too many options is not a good thing.

Catering can be an extremely lucrative career. Just don’t underestimate the work involved. You will need to keep up with the physical and mental demands of this busy business.

Do you or someone you know own a catering business? Do you have any advice or personal insight into this career choice?

© Anton Maltsev - Fotolia.com

eBook publishing is a hot topic right now. And, that is really no surprise. It is something most tech-savvy people can handle. There can be little to no monetary investment involved. It can provide a long-term, residual income. Something most of use are striving for these days. Therefore, this week’s blog post round up is devoted to all things eBook.

5 Things Beginners Need to Know About eBook Publishing – Jane Friedman is someone that I found only recently. She has a lot of great information on her blog about writing and publishing online.

Publishing on Kindle for Increased Profits – This is an Expert Briefs session from Nicole Dean. I think I have linked to it before. Regardless, it is a great post full of tips from eBook authors.

PressBooks - This is a cool free tool that WordPress users will love. You can create your eBook and export it in multiple formats. You can even add multiple authors.

How to Write a Free eBook in 7 Days – This article from Men With Pens is a great start for those new to writing eBooks. This talks from the “free report” point of view, but double or triple your word count and you will have a paid info product in no time.

Where are you gathering information on eBook publishing? I would for you to share your resources in the comments. 

Starting a cleaning business is such a great option for many people looking to break into entrepreneurship. There are very few startup costs. Most people – myself excluded – are born with the necessary skills. You can potentially make a really good hourly wage. Once you have one or two raving clients, you may find yourself with more work than you can handle. So, what’s the skinny?

How to Start a Cleaning Business

Skills and Mindset – I mentioned that you need a few skills to be successful in this line of work. You need the physical capabilities to clean a large area in a reasonable amount of time. You need good customer service skills, in some instances you client may be home while you are working. You need to be an honest person. Finally, you need some basic business sense. Oh! And you kind of have to like to clean. This is the skill that puts me out of the running.

Pick Your Niche – You may opt to provide general household cleaning services, or you may choose to get more specialized. New Construction Cleanup or commercial cleaning would be an example of specialized niches. You can also offer add-on services such as carpet steaming or window cleaning or an additional and separate charge.

Expenses – With the exception of a few picky clients, you will likely need to supply the cleaning supplies and materials. You are likely looking at needing a vacuum, mop, broom, dust rags, cleaning agents, etc. You also need to be licensed, bonded and insured. This may sound a bit scary, but depending on your location you may not need to invest much. Your total investment may be under $600, which averages out to $50 per month. You can earn that back in just a few hours of work. Contact your local SCORE office for local regulations and referrals.

Getting Paid – Contracts. Contracts. Contracts. You should be writing out a proposal for each potential client that outlines the scope of work, estimate and payment terms. Get that signature before you begin working. This will ensure there are no “misunderstandings” when it comes to collecting your pay. When it comes to accepting payment you have a few options; cash, checks and credit cards being the three most popular forms of payment right now. Credit card payments are easy and inexpensive to process these days. This can be done through PayPal, QuickBooks invoices or even QuickBooks Point of Service app that you can get for your smart phone.

Setting Your Rates – Now that you know your expenses – don’t forget vehicle wear-and-tear and gas – you can set your rates. Make a few calls to research the going rate in your community. You may opt to charge by the hour or by the room. Don’t under-price yourself. It is easier to sell value upfront than it is to raise rates with existing clients.

Where to Market a New Cleaning Business

Retirement Communities

Upscale Housing Developments and Apartment Complexes – You are looking for those with the disposable income to afford your services.

Realtors – This relationship can be double the referrals. They may send people getting ready to list their homes for sale. They may also refer new homebuyers your way.

Welcome Wagon – Many communities have a “welcome wagon” organization. This group introduces new homebuyers to a community. To find out if your community has a designated group, try contacting your Chamber of Commerce or a local real estate agent.

Craigslist – List your business in the Services section.

Referrals – As is the case in any business, happy customers are your best advertising. If you have existing clients, ask them for referrals. You can throw in a discount for a new signed client if needed. Another referral source can be other local service providers. Child care service providers, personal shoppers and laundry services are just a few potential partners that come to mind.

Website – Many cleaning business owners claim that the majority of their new clients come via their website. Women are at work and they are worrying about who is going to clean their home before the in-laws arrive this weekend. What do they do? They hit the search engines. Invest in a domain and hosting and make sure you use those location indicators (Ex. Omaha cleaning services, house cleaning Omaha).

Have you owned this type of service business? What advice would you give to those starting a cleaning business?

I have been trying to hunt down some different options for how to make money from home. We hear a lot about content writers, virtual assistants, social media experts, web designers, but there are so many work at home career choices available. Sometimes you feel the need to “zig” while everyone else “zags.” Today’s featured home-based business idea is freelance resume writer.

What Is a Freelance Resume Writer?

The title does not leave much for guessing here. The task at hand is writing resumes, CVs and cover letters. Many professional resume writers offer add-on services such as resume distribution, LinkedIn profiles, interview coaching and more.

How Much Can I Earn?

Many of the services out there have starting rates of $100+ per resume. Packages can quickly rise into the $300 and up range. If you are targeting high-end clients and charging accordingly, this can be a highly lucrative career.

What Type of Training Is Necessary?

That depends. People are seeking out resume writers because there is a certain sales aspect involved, you need to be up-to-date on what today’s human resources are expecting, you may need to get creative with sticky situations in your client’s work history. I personally would not feel comfortable marketing myself this afternoon to a high level executive in need of a resume.

There are a number of resources available for educating yourself however:

AWAI Resume Writer Program

Articles on Becoming a Successful Resume Writer

Resume Resources

Is There a Market for Resume Writers?

I wondered this myself. After taking a peek at Google Keyword Tool, my not-so-educated guess is “yes.”

How Would I Advertise?

Classifieds – Where do people look for jobs? Newspapers and online classifieds. This may be one area in particular where paying for advertising pays off.

Bulletin Boards – Many job seekers can be found at your nearest free Wi-Fi location. Put up flyers in your local coffee shop, Laundromat, etc.

Colleges – Seek out a few connections at your local college. These newcomers need jobs and need them quickly.

Professional Organizations – If you are targeting those high-end clients, look for industry-specific networking events in your community. Meetup is always a great resource here.

Online – I would most certainly recommend getting online. You need somewhere to send those seeing your ads.

Subcontracting – I did find some resume writer jobs available. Most required experience and certification.

 Do you offer resume writing services? What would you add to this post?

Trivia Time: Craigslist was started by Craig Newman in 1995. It initially started out as an email distribution service for local events in San Francisco. In 1996, Craigslist went online. In 2000, the whole thing started blowing up into what we know it as today – worldwide classifieds.

Craigslist serves 570 cities around the world. Many of us have a city nearby, if not our city, that is currently served by Craigslist. This provides an opportunity for many of us to make money with Craigslist in a number of ways.

Find a Job on Craigslist. You can find legitimate local and telecommute positions on Craigslist. As listings are free, many will turn to Craigslist rather than purchasing a classified ad in the local newspaper. Do be aware that the option of staying anonymous when posting does make it easier to post scams. Due diligence is necessary when looking for work online. Research the company. Ask questions. Be cautious with giving out your personal information or money.

Offer Your Services on Craigslist to make money. Rather than looking for work, let those interested come to you. Whether you offer dog walking or design services, create a few ads for posting online. Many people hit this website each morning just as they would the newspaper.

Offer Your Space for rent. There are classified sections on the site devoted to short-term and long-term housing, offices, parking, storage space and more for rent. If you have space that you are not using, consider offering it up as a rental. This can be a great side income.

Sell Stuff. Clean out your garage or attic, and offer up the good stuff on Craigslist. Advertise a garage sale. Promote your direct sales or handmade goods on the site. If you have something you want to get rid of for a price, get it listed here.

Find Stuff to Repurpose and Resell. If you have a creative eye and a crafty hand, consider using the site in another way to make a profit. You can often find items in the Free section that can be repurposed in another way or simply restored to a better condition. You can then offer these items for sale on the site.

There are a number of ways to make money with Craigslist. As with any job opportunity or business venture, assess your skills and spend some time on the site. You may find a profitable little niche in your local classified ads.

How do you make money on Craigslist? 

One of my readers has a friend that makes homemade breads, yogurts and more, and she has encouraged her to seek out sales opportunities for these goods. My reader asked me to find more information on how to sell homemade food. Ask and you shall receive.

Can I Sell Homemade Food?

The opportunity to sell homemade food products is largely dictated by location. State regulations for food sales on a small scale are often found under laws called “cottage food laws” or “baker’s bills.” These bills are constructed to allow for small business owners to start a food crafting business without some of the big financial barriers, such as owning a commercial kitchen. As of now, 32 states allow citizens to prepare food products in their homes that will later be sold for profit. Here are some things typically outlined in these bills:

Licensing is required in some states with a cottage food law. This typically costs around $10 to $100 annually. Some states require a home kitchen inspection prior to licensing, others simply reserve this right in the event of a complaint or suspected unsafe food handling.

Sanitation standards are a must. Many organizations offer food safety training, in some cases for free. Contact your local Small Business Association for possible references.

Income of food crafters is capped in many locations. In Texas for example, a food crafter can earn no more than $50,000 per year. In New Hampshire the limit is $10,000. Once that threshold is met, the business is required to follow the same regulations as a commercial food preparer.

Type of food may also be the “deal-breaker” for potential small business owners in some locations. Some states only allow for the sale of “non-hazardous food products.” This category typically includes food items such as jams, jellies, granola, nut mixes, dry goods, roasted coffee and other items that have small potential of carrying food-borne diseases and do not require refrigeration.

Labeling is strictly regulated in most states with cottage food laws. Food crafters are usually required to list ingredients, name of the producer, address, and known food allergens. Some states also require labels to include a phone number and expiration date.

How to Sell Homemade Food

If your state allows for this type of business, you can sell your products in a number of ways:

• Direct to Consumer
• Farmer’s Markets
• Local Stores or Restaurants

Homemade food items can only be sold in the state in which they are produced. The federal government controls interstate commerce, and they currently have no cottage food laws in place. Therefore, you cannot simply hop online and start selling your award-winning jams nationwide. You must keep your sales local.

What If My State Does Not Have a Cottage Food Law?

If your state does not have a cottage food law that does not mean you are out of luck. You will simply need to follow the same rules and regulations required of the “big guys.” If this is too cost prohibitive, you can likely still participate in “food swaps.” These events bring together local food crafters to exchange homemade goods. For example, trade your family’s bread for honey. Though you cannot make money with this option, you can save money by participating in this barter system.

You can find out more information about your location’s law by contacting your local Small Business Association. These offices can provide guidance at no charge. Please note that homemade food products and backyard produce fall under different regulations in most states.

Making money from eBay is still one of the top home-based business ideas. eBay was founded in 1995 and in 2010 was the platform for over $2,000 worth of ideas being sold every second. The eBay business model has a very small learning curve, and depending on your purchasing habits, it can have a low startup cost. Here are a few tips for getting started selling on eBay from my Sunday paper.

1. Use the site as a buyer first. This will give you the opportunity to become familiar with the site, the purchasing options and the payment and shipping process.

2. Create your seller account. If you do not already have a PayPal account, you will need to create an account there as well. This will allow you to accept credit card payments, and receive your auction earnings through PayPal’s options.

3. Start small. In addition to learning what to sell to make money on eBay, you are also going to need to learn about shipping. You may want to start with items like books and video games. These items move fast, are easy to ship, and you may even have them around the house now. Also watch eBay Pulse. This will show you what items are trending among buyers.

4. Name your price. You will see what buyers are willing to pay by taking a quick look around the site before pricing your item. eBay will allow you to search by Completed Listings, which can come in handy. Common items tend to sell better when sold as a Buy Now sale. For less common items like antiques or collectibles, you may do better with a standard auction.

5. Write your copy. Be as descriptive as possible and include photos. Include imperfections in the description and make sure those are shown clearly in photos.

6. Post your auction…on Sunday. Sundays are hopping on eBay and most listings last one week. Make sure your listing goes up at the prime time.

What are your eBay selling tips?

There are numerous ways to make money writing. You can work as a freelance writer for personal clients, you can write and sell eBooks, you can sell PLR. Today we are talking about writing for money without personal clients. You can write for yourself and you do not necessarily need to be a blogger. With the model discussed in this post, you are submitting content to other sites.

The sites we are talking about today are often referred to as “revenue sharing sites.” As the name implies, the site shares its revenue with content contributors. There is a mutual benefit to both parties. You provide them with content for their site. They provide you with an easy publishing platform. This type of relationship does have both advantages and drawbacks.

Pros

You are in control of the content and editorial process.

You retain the copyright to your work.

These sites can provide a creative outlet for short-attention-span topics.

You may be able to monetize with avenues that you don’t have available on your own.

Cons

You do not control the site or how it is viewed by search engines. As we saw with Panda, how favorably Google is viewing these sites on any given day can have a huge impact on your earnings – and that means you take the bad along with the good. You should not depend on these sites as your sole income source.

These sites also do not provide an easy escape from learning SEO and the commercial intent of keywords. Your income is still largely dependent upon traffic and sales.

This not a short-term plan. Even if you are making money immediately, you will likely still be waiting the 30 to 60 days for payment that you would be with your own property.

What to Submit to Revenue Sharing Sites

• Backlinks
• Short-Term Interests

I am still going to recommend that you invest in your own online property. Buy a domain name and hosting and start a blog. Use revenue sharing sites for building backlinks to your website and for subjects that you are not necessarily “bat crap crazy” about. If you could write 10+ articles about a topic, it should go on your own domain. If it is a fleeting intellectual affair, slap it on a rev share site. (Need a domain? Go Daddy Deal of the Week: Get 30% off your order. Offer good through 3/27/12.)

Revenue Sharing Sites I Recommend and How to Make Money Writing

HubPages – 60/40 revenue share (60% to you, 40% to HubPages)

• AdSense
• HubPages Ad Program
• Amazon
• eBay
• Referrals – 10% of referrals’ impressions

Wizzley – 50/50 revenue share initially

• AdSense
• Chitika
• Amazon
• Zazzle
• AllPosters
• eBay
• VigLink
• Referrals – 10% of referrals’ impressions

Squidoo – 50/50 revenue share

• AdSense
• Amazon
• CafePress
• eBay
• Zazzle
• Referrals – Earn $5 when your referral earns their first $15.

Unlike HubPages and Wizzley, you will not earn under your affiliate accounts on Squidoo. All affiliate sales are made under Squidoo’s account and then distributed to lensmasters. This makes Squidoo the perfect opportunity for passive income writers in Amazon-restricted areas. In the instances of CafePress, eBay and Zazzle, you can promote your personal stores.

Though many revenue sharing sites took a huge hit with Google’s Panda Update, those mentioned in this post have shown significant improvement for me and others recently. As I mentioned above, you must be willing to ride the potential income roller coaster long-term to be successful.

Do you submit content to revenue sharing sites?