Paul Clitheroe in his book The Road to Wealth explains the dichotomy of human endeavour by first listing results from a survey asking "What people wanted" and then matching that with "What people spent most of their time chasing".

10 Things People Want

1. Love
2. Connection
3. Fun
4. Peace
5. Freedom
6. Security
7. Growth
8. Self-expression
9. Adventure
10. Able to contribute

Now compare this list with the things we chase after...

The Things We Spend Most Of Our Time Chasing

1. Money
2. Fame
3. Sex
4. Recognition
5. Power
6. Responsibility
7. Achievement
8. Big House
9. New Car
10. Swimming Pool

Not surprisingly Yahoo! Finance wrote a piece on Making the most of the money we have that was followed up by a poll on Lifehacker gauging reader's views one defining "Affluence". Lifehacker posed these three scenarios;

• Lots of money, but not necessarily a lot of time
• Lots of time, but not necessarily a lot of money
• In a perfect world, I'd like to be a happy medium between the two

of which the third option was by far the most desired while almost 4 times as many respondents wanted more time than money.

So, that being the case why do we still chase after the things that don't help us enjoy a healthy lifestyle?

Greed. Bad Priorities. Inability to retain focus on what's important.

Society continually perpetuates the notion that we should be dissatisified with what we have and yearn for more. Why do we need a new OS for our PC's? That new car we bought 4 years ago has now been superseded by a new shape and more gadgets. And, it's no longer good enough to have an MP3 player - it has to be an iPod.

It's no surprise that Laura Rowley's article cites;

The group who most desired time rather than the money? Men age 45 to 54, with 61 percent reporting they would make the tradeoff.

Why this age group? Because they've settled for every materialistic whim since they began their careers and have now realised they were trying to grasp the wind with greasy hands.

Can a healthy lifestyle be attained by chasing the things we listed as the top things we wanted?

Sure. Provided we tune out to societies continual lust for more and allow ourselves to be ourselves...

Posted by Stuart at 5:57 AM | Permalink

Often, when we're trying to set goals to move our lives forward we're told by the resident personal development gurus that we need to reward ourselves when the goal is accomplished.

So what are the things that 'turn us on' and help drive us toward that unbelievable goal? Chocolates? An expensive bottle of wine? Clothing? A weekend away?

What does it take?

For me, it's usually a book or a new tool. I could buy it now if I wanted but I restrain myself to go after a goal and accomplish something before I can get it. Then, the taste of success seems so much sweeter.

Your turn now. How do you reward yourself?

Posted by Stuart at 6:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If this is your first day here you might want to check out the introductory page and also [1-10], [11-20] , [21-30], [31-40], [41-50], [51-60], [61-70], [71-80] and [81-90].

Even though the Edwards book has as it's tagline "Profiles of 95 Top Businesses" there are only 92 that have been mentioned. Small sticking point, I know! So, I shall finish this series with their last two and add three that I think that will be winners of this recent decade and beyond.

91. Directory Publisher
A Directory Publisher is someone who organises data so that users will be able to source useful information with the least amount of effort.

Relevancy in the Noughties
Directories are important sources of information retrieval. However, publishing a directory can only be profitable if it is useful to the target audience intended to source it. There are many opportunities opening up for directory publishers (especially online) and these will continue to grow but need to be considered well.

Having said that, here's an example of an online blog directory that I started yesterday. It's extremely useful for garden bloggers more than any other blogger because gardener's are limited by their environments. And, in the ever increasing blogosphere finding one that discusses subjects that may be pertinent to your gardening climate is almost impossible.

This is the beauty of directory publishing: Finding a niche and then matching that niche to your users requirements.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

92. Manual Developer
A manual developer writes user-specific information for software publishers. These manuals can be accessed, either online or via some other multimedia medium or even in written form.

Relevancy in the Noughties
This is a growing home based business opportunity as many software developers need to get their products into the market as quickly as possible. Most of these publishers are unable to put their software into "normal" forms of communication, so finding people that can is a great option.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely

93. Virtual Office Assistant
A Virtual Office Assistant is just a glorified way of saying a 'Secretary'. Although, this secretary isn't just employed by one firm but contracts themselves out to many and works mainly online in their own homes.

Relevancy in the Noughties
This is a personal favourite business idea of mine as it allows many secretaries to become their own bosses plus they can enjoy some lifestyle without always heading for the city. This home business idea will continue to gain momentum.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

94. Babysitting Services
A babysitting service coordinates babysitters who are well scrutinized to mind children. Parents are able to arrange for a babysitter with minimal fuss and in the knowledge that their children are taken care of.

Relevancy in the Noughties
A demanding business service this is only good if you are a great organiser. Submitting to government regulations, demanding parents and casual workers can be extremely difficult. However, this is a growing industry and should continue for a long term.

Check out one babysitting service that's already doing well.

Expected Lifespan
Indefintely.

95. Personal Life Coach
I've mentioned business mentors and the like before but a personal life coach looks at the individual's whole life, not just their career.The personal life coach will keep their client focussed on areas such as career, family, recreation, diet, time management, spirituality and personal development.

Relevancy in the Noughties
These coaches are becoming more in demand as people strive to keep their lives in balance. A personal life coach may support many clients and can either work of their own home or visit them at work, at their home or in other neutral locations. This home business will continue to surge forward well throughout the noughties.

Expected Lifespan
Indefintely.

That concludes this series. I hope you found it helpful and also gave you a few ideas for home business ideas that may continue past your working lifetime.

Posted by Stuart at 7:07 AM | Permalink

There are two things you never want to marry together: divorce and credit card debt.

It is not that it's too hard to circumvent these days but the continual hassle from financial creditors can literally drive you insane. All they want is their money and if there's a whisper of divorce on a client's lips they psychomorph from helpful Dr Jekyll to insidious Mr Hyde.

Even the most painful divorce can be alleviated with a court settlement. This should see the credit card debt cleared or at least the responsibility of payment to one or both of the partners. But until that point of clarity occurs many credit card institutions will hound you, and your ex-spouse, seeking payment gratification.

The hard thing about a divorce is that it can become a three-way struggle over the debt. You claim it's not your responsibility and therefore don't make any payments, your ex-spouse claims it's not his problem and likewise refuses to pay and then the card provider threatens to sue both of you.

Everybody becomes anxious about their obligations and responsibilities and it becomes harder to deal with than holding a snake soaked in massage oil.

So, how do you divorce and get rid of the credit card debt?

1. If at all possible don't get a divorce. Go and see a counsellor. Compromise your position. Buy her flowers - just do whatever it takes.
2. If that doesn't work... try and resolve your divorce with an amicable solution as quickly as possible. The quicker the settlement the faster you can get back on with your life
3. Communicate your resolutions Keep your creditors, including your credit card provider, in the communication loop. Tell them when you expect the payments will be made and stick closely to your promises.
4. Trying selling an asset to offset the debt. In any divorce, the assets accumulated by the couple will always need to be split so trying selling the largest, usually your home, first and offset any debts with the proceeds.
5. Separate the debt If the divorce is amicable, or at least not inhospitable, try dividing the credit card debt between two new cards: one for each partner. If multiple credit cards are involved this may become a little tricky but some financial institutions will work this one out for you in order to get your business.

Divorce is no place for credit card debt to loiter so try and be swift with your decision making and life may get back to normal with less aggravation - certainly from your credit card provider anyway.

Posted by Stuart at 6:06 AM | Permalink

Stand up comedian, Peter Dunn, has just written a no-nonsense, hard-hitting and completely serious guide to traversing the budgeting pitfalls of ordinary life - in a funny kid of way!

"This book is for people who know they need to do something but don't want to be lectured into it. It's painless. It's funny. But it will also make you think -- and hopefully it will help a lot of people."

Peter is the president and founder of Advanced Planning Solutions Inc. and is widely recognised for his financial savvy and effective ways of communicating. This is his first published book but one would expect it's not going to be his last.

The book has many tidbits of advice to help families and couples steer clear of financial woes.

"I'm not out to become a billionaire or help others become billionaires -- I'm out to help people see how a little bit of planning and common sense can enrich their lives, regardless of their income level," Dunn said.

The book is on sale now at Amazon.com or via PetethePlanner.com.

Source: Financial Expert authors humorus book

Posted by Stuart at 6:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Jeff Brown from the Philadelphia Inquirer recently wrote a column explaining one of his reader's strategies for combating credit card debt.

The reader had amassed more than $45,000 in debt and was taking advantage of introductory free interest periods. He would transfer the balance from an existing card to a new card while he invested the amount owing at 8-9%.

So what's wrong with this strategy? These were Jeff's suggestions;

1. To earn an interest rate of 8-9% on cash you need to be investing in some fairly risky ventures. The problem ten becomes enlarged if the investment fails or dips substantially and leaves him with less cash than he first had.

2. Zero-percent credit card deals abound with small print problems. Any default and the rate will increase exponentially.

3. His credit rating will suffer and potentially prevent him from gaining access to future borrowings. Credit rating societies are able to track these dealings diligently and will automatically send up a red flag as the amount of debt won't decrease.

I would add another to this;

4. For this strategy to have any effect it requires multiple applications for credit cards. Trying to keep up with the application processes and timing of receiving and transferring debt balances would be tricky at best.

The best strategy when dealing with credit card debt is to pay it off as fast as you can. While it is the most convenient debt instrument it comes at a price and using it as an investment tool is hardly wise.

Posted by Stuart at 6:15 AM | Permalink

If this is your first day here you might want to check out the introductory page and also [1-10], [11-20] , [21-30], [31-40], [41-50], [51-60], [61-70] and [71-80].

81. Sign Maker
Every retail business and also those wanting to have their brand made more prominent in the conscience of the public has signs made up.

Relevancy in the Noughties
While this is an economically driven opportunity (businesses will only add or update their signage while the economy is growing) there will always be demand for a sign maker. Technology has changed a few things about this home based business though as more and more signs are computer generated and printed and less and less are sign-written.

It is foreseeable that many sign makers will lose a lot of their business to those who have the equipment to produce the markets needs but overall this is a definite stayer.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

82. Travel Salesperson
A travel salesperson is someone who can offer a customer ideas and suggestions for planning their vacation and then administer all the logistics necessary to make it happen.

Relevancy in the Noughties
As a home based business this is ideal because most of the work can be done from home. However, its relevancy in the future is becoming more and more limited as people (especially younger generations) become more savvy with the internet and its use and can arrange and book their vacation online.

Expected Lifespan
< 10-15 years

83. Expense Reduction Service
Similar to the Bill Auditing concept but rather than just finding errors on invoices an expense reduction service looks for ways to save a business money via their purchases. While many utilities offer tips and suggestions for saving on their bills this service goes a step further and compares utilities with each other offering the client the best deal.

This is not necessarily restricted to utilities though and can encompass any business' major spending partners such as stationery, printing, maintenance services etc.

Relevancy in the Noughties
This home based business will continue to prosper for the short term as people try and find more efficient alternatives for spending their budget areas. It will be interesting to see how businesses react with their own comparisons in the future.

Expected Lifespan
10 years +

84. Property Tax Reduction Service
This home based business aims at businesses and individuals who are often confronted with property taxes that exceed the rate at which they should be paid. Property tax is usually related to property values and therefore the amount determined by a council on the value of a property will result in the amount charged.

The Property Tax reduction Service aids clients in appealing these taxes.

Relevancy in the Noughties
This will be a growing industry as economies continue to grow and real estate values soar. Many people will find themselves with huge tax bills to pay which may have been erroneously calculated. They won't be equipped enough to handle a successful appeal and will look to others who have some expertise in these matters.

Expected Lifespan
Indefintely.

85. Bill Paying Service
While many businesses employ contractors to look after their book-keeping many are now also turning to those who can offer a Bill Paying Service. This business offers clients the drawing up of a monthly budget and then administer the payment of these bills.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This business will have an indefinite lifespan but the turnover of company contracts will be high. Many businesses as they grow larger will realise that it's far cheaper to employ someone to look after this area and will discard the contracted home business.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

86. Venture Capital Broker
Venture Capital is the investment money needed by startup businesses to help them move ahead. Therefore, a broker in this area would bring together Venture Capitalists and those with a business idea seeking funds.

Relevancy in the Noughties
Like real estate there are many options for this type of deal to be brokered and many opportunities lie on the internet. However, many VC's and entrepreneurs like to have a middle man brokering the deal without having to become too involved themselves.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely

87. Commercial Debt Negotiator
This home based business helps companies in financial trouble negotiate with loan vendors and creditors in a bid to keep the business solvent.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Unfortunately this will always be a viable business opportunity as businesses often struggle for various reasons.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely

88. Shareware Developer
Shareware became the unemployed computer developers next dream. These visionaries create programs that are offered as trial versions and after a limited period stop working until payment is made.

Relevancy in the Naughties
These were really big in the 90's and although they still today are less prominent mainly because the market is far more selective in what they purchase. Most developers are now seeking online opportunities rather than creating PC driven software.

Expected Lifespan
Limited

89. Backup Service
Whereas a Computer Repair service would offer clients assistance with their hardware and software problems a backup service will help customers backup their data as well as retrieving it should it become corrupted.

Relevancy in the Noughties
This is a certain growth industry as people rely more and more on computing technology. Businesses as well as individuals often need a service such as this to help them maintain their data records.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely

90. Exposition Manager
Tradeshows, conferences and expositions are all booming around the world. An exposition manager is someone who helps coordinate and possibly sponsors or facilitates this type of event.

Relevancy in the Noughties
As a home business this is becoming harder to manage and most trade shows and expos will be coordinated by larger organisations. But there still are some niche events that many home business operators could comfortably handle

Expected Lifespan
<5-10 years

Tomorrow we will review the last 5 from [91-95].

If you want more specific knowledge of setup costs, educational prerequisites and experience required then try reading the book - The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century

Posted by Stuart at 5:18 AM | Permalink

In the same way a condom can save you from an unplanned lifestyle adjuster, Sheila Walkington's credit-card sleeve is aimed at preventing a spur of the minute decision that will end in regret.

The sleeve, nicknamed the 'credit card condom', fits over your card and reminds you of the goals you set to curb your spontaneous spending. An ingenious "Why-didn't-I-think-of-this-earlier?" product Walkington's device helps those who find it hard to keep the card in their pockets.

I'm looking forward to seeing what some major manufacturer will do with these.

Posted by Stuart at 4:59 AM | Permalink

If this is your first day here you might want to check out the introductory page and also [1-10], [11-20] , [21-30], [31-40], [41-50], [51-60] and [61-70].

71. Mediator
Mediators can be employed in many situations from dealing with employee/ employer disputes, marital disagreements and even quarrels between neighbours or business partners. A mediator is able to help facilitate conflict between warring parties and hopefully divert the ensuing journey into the legal system.

Relevancy in the Naughties
The courts are becoming more and more bogged down with cases such as these so a mediating service for many people becomes a much cheaper and less intrusive option. This home based business, which can easily be accommodated within your home, is definitely growing.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely and growing.

72. Mystery Shopping
Mystery shoppers are contracted by retail chains covering every type of sales area - hardware, fast food, clothing, grocery and departmental stores. Their purpose is to aid these businesses in assessing the shopper's experience and providing feedback on areas such as customer service, store layout, convenience etc.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Mystery shopping will continue to be a viable business as more shoppers become less communicative with these stores and vote with their feet rather than express feedback.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

73. Pet-Sitting
Pet-sitting for people who take holidays without their pets is fast becoming a growing home based business opportunity. Customers would rather have their pets cared for in a home environment rather than impound them in a kennel for a few weeks.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Lifestyle objectives are on the rise so more people are wanting to get away for weekends now that at any time in history. Thus, it leaves the problem of what to do with the cat, the dog or the goldfish. This is where the Pet-sitting home based business comes in and will continue to grow at least for the next decade or two.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinite and fast-growing.

74. Plant Care-giver
Plant care-givers are really troubleshooters for gardens. They can easily remedy a problem plant giving suggestions and advice to those who want to keep their gardens flourishing.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This is a very viable business from the perspective of opportunities. However, very few people are willing to pay much for this type of service especially if they only paid $6.99 for that Fuschia at the local nursery. The target market for this type of business is in an area where mature gardens abound or at least people have planted some exotic plants that are worth keeping healthy.

Expected Lifespan
Indefintely.

75. Proposal and Grant Writer
A Grant Writer is able to offer their services to businesses or non-profit organisations to help them source funds from other bodies which often require a grant proposal to underpin the project.

Relevancy in the Naughties
The area of sourcing funds from government or philanthropic organisations is becoming very competitive. Therefore, many businesses are searching out people with skills in compiling formal applications to increase their chances for success.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

76. Referral Service
Many people hunt out referrals from others for the best doctor, best restaurant, and even the best bookstore. While most of this is done via word-of-mouth from trusted sources people will also phone services looking for referrals.

Relevancy in the Noughties
With the advent of online sites such as Central Referral and others this service may not be viable in the future. However, there may be some online opportunities that could be beckoning someone wanting to start an internet based service which could earn revenue from advertising and subscriptions.

Expected Lifespan
Limited.

77. Repair Service
This home based business offers customers a service to repair their goods to a current working status. From electronic equipment, to machines such as mowers, gardening tools and vacuum cleaners this business can help those who have very little idea how to fix a problem gadget.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This is an interesting one as often the cost to repair an item can sometimes outstrip the price of buying a new one. One common example is fixing TV and DVD remotes. The repair cost becomes so inhibiting that is better to buy a universal remote or buy a brand new one from the manufacturer.

The viability of making money in this venture depends on the items being repaired. It is actually more economical for retailers to offer a repair service specific to the object needing repair than it is for a generic repair service to fix them.

Expected Lifespan
Unkown but expected to be limited.

78. Restoration Services
This home business offers customers the option to restore items whether they are of antique or sentimental value. Often upholstery on antique cars or furniture are warranted by the general public so too are repairing knick-knacks that have nostalgic value.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This type of business will be required indefinitely as people will always want some older items to be kept in good condition.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

79. Reunion Planner
A reunion planner can organise many types of reunions whether they be family-based, graduating classes or even organisational reunions.

Relevancy in the Naughties
People like to catch up and rekindle old memories but the thought of being the one to organise a reunion can be quite daunting. The reunion planner can easily create an event from Whoa! to Go! and with the rise in reunions is an excellent home based business.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely and growing at least for the next decade.

80. Rubber Stamp Business
Producing rubber stamps for individuals as well as businesses has been a need ever since rubber became available. Born out of the wax and seal era, rubber stamps surpassed this technology and has been used effectively throughout our society.

Relevancy in the Noughties
However, the rubber stamp business is fast becoming an unnecessary piece of stationery. During the nineties there was a rise in stamps that no longer required inking but even these will be short-lived. The advent of photocopiers that can stamp a page which has been duplicated with notices such as "Confidential", "Faxed" and "Copy" are fast becoming common place. Also many document softwares such as Adobe's Acrobat can stamp digital documents.

Expected Lifespan
<5-10 years

Tomorrow we will review the next ten from [81-90].

If you want more specific knowledge of setup costs, educational prerequisites and experience required then try reading the book - The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century

Posted by Stuart at 5:52 AM | Permalink

Sarah Dinkins of the American Chronicle would have us believe, from her Jan 12 2007 article, that voice recognition credit cards have only just hit the technology frontline. But her article, based on information taken from New Scientist's initial uncovering, doesn't offer any new discoveries to the data NS reported back in 2004.

So, while we're all hearing this information regurgitated ad nauseum my question is "Will this card ever eventuate?"

Beepcard, the pioneers of this technology haven't been heard from in the three years that NS broke the story. In fact, they were quoted in this article as saying,

Los Angeles-based Beepcard, which makes the hardware-driven type, expects a major U.S. credit-card association to roll it out by the first quarter of 2006, says CEO Moshe Cohen.

If the technology is ready to go and banks are quoted as stating that;

Over-the-phone fraud already affects 12% of all banks offering e-payment services, according to the American Bankers Assn.

why has a credit-card association not picked this up and run with it yet?

12 months after Beepcard's prediction there is no visible sign on the financial horizon of this credit card. Has Beepcard not perfected the technology yet? Or, are we to believe that credit-card institutions are making more money than they need and 12% fraudulent activity is an acceptable level?

Posted by Stuart at 5:17 AM | Permalink

If this is your first day here you might want to check out the introductory page and also [1-10], [11-20] , [21-30], [31-40], [41-50] and [51-60].

61. Calendar Service
A calendar service keeps an updated diary of events that is distributed either to the public or just for business networks. Businesses pay either a subscription fee to include their events over the year or just per item.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Prior to the community side of the internet becoming so exploited this was a viable business however there are many online options that now offer these services for free. One great example is Simone's Event Calendar powered by Google's calendar service.

Expected Lifespan
Defunct.

62. Computer Bulletin Board Service
A bulletin board service, commonly referred to as forums, are a great business to allow users to interact with each other, ask questions and get answers to their queries.

Relevancy in the Naughties
There are very few forums that can successfully charge money for subscribers these days as forums and their associated software are appearing ad nauseum. However, there are still a few niches that can continue to make money from this service such as WebmasterWorld but they are not the norm. To make this business successful in the Noughties you would need to have found a niche that hasn't been exploited and users would be willing to pay to use.

Expected Lifespan
As a concept: Indefinitely. Making money from it: very hard.

63. Disc Jockey Service
A DJ is often employed at proms, parties and weddings providing entertainment playing canned music. The DJ will have all their own music and also their own equipment and be mobile enough to move around.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Even with the leaps in music technology it is still surprising how many DJ's are still making money from this service. However, now that mp3 players are becoming the norm and they can be shuffled through literally thousands of songs, most party organisers are providing their own.

Expected Lifespan
Very limited.

64. Duplicating Service
A duplicating service is one where CD's and DVD's are copied in bulk amounts.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This service has been fairly resilient to technological change having transitioned from audio tapes, video, Super 8 reels etc but I would assume with the digital era upon us it won't be able to transition through the stage of digital media. Most software producers are opting for online downloads and it won't be long before this is how we will also source our video entertainment. Music has already gone this way with the success of iTunes and other online mp3 stores.

Expected Lifespan
<2-3 years.

65. Fitness Trainer
A fitness trainer can either offer a personal service to individuals or offer classes for a group of people. Offering training in body toning, weight loss, exercise regimes and dietary intake the fitness trainer helps people get in good physical shape.

Relevancy in the Naughties
People are becoming more and more health conscious in the Noughties and acknowledge their own lack of discipline. So many turn to fitness trainers to give them the advice they need and provide accountability to staying fit. This business will continue to boom no matter how many infomercials we see with new body sculpting apparatus'.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

66. Hauling Service
Often people need things removed from their workspace or homes such as old refrigerators, lounge suites etc. This is where a hauling service comes in handy and this home business can earn an income from charging the customer to haul the item but also from on-selling it.

Relevancy in the Naughties
I can't see this type of business disappearing in the short term but it is certainly threatened by Ebay and Craigslist where people can offload items they no longer want and earn their own money for it plus the hauling lies with the buyer.

Expected Lifespan
Limited.

67. Home Tutoring
Students who are unable to grasp the intricacies of calculus or who may just be struggling to keep up with the rest of the class often turn to help from home tutors.

Relevancy in the Naughties
There is little concern that this home business won't be required in the Noughties and beyond. While software companies try their best to emulate the home tutor they still fail on the personal help and accountability that many students require to move on and succeed.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

68. In-Home Health Care
Many patients who become bed-ridden or unable to care for themselves opt for in-home care rather than sit in a hospital bed. A carer is able to come into their home and monitor them or help with basic necessities such as feeding, bathing and taking their medications.

Relevancy in the Naughties
More people who are sick prefer to have this type of care rather than suffer in a sterile hospital environment so the ongoing need for in-home health carers will continue to grow.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely and growing.

69. Interior Designer/ Decorator
An interior designer decorator is able to offer clients advice and suggestions at either the start of construction or throughout a refurbishment.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This home based business is often employed predominantly by the upper echelons of society who are able to afford the prices charged by an interior designer. However, this business is very hard to crack into and requires a very high word-of-mouth reputation. Technology is not replacing this as yet - not for the people who would usually employ someone of this ilk anyway. In fact, technology is offering these professionals more tools to better aid in offering the client a better proposal.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

70. Leak Detection Service
A leak detector offers customers an analysis of their property highlighting any areas that may be of concern where leakage can occur. Gas, water and sewerage leaks can cost a property owner $1,000's if not detected early.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Their are many tools that the DIYer can employ to detect their leaks but most people recognise that they are unqualified to find many leaks that can occur. Therefore they are more willing to choose a detection service above doing it themselves.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

Tomorrow we will review the next ten from [71-80].

If you want more specific knowledge of setup costs, educational prerequisites and experience required then try reading the book - The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century

Posted by Stuart at 5:58 AM | Permalink

For those who met Christmas' challenge by using money they had: continue the New Year without fear and trepidation. For the rest of us who placed it all on the plastic: it won't be long before the credit Grim Reaper arrives in your letterbox.

And, that Grim Reaper may be telling a story that may be a little different to what we expected to hear.

"You'll overspend on your credit cards because it's not cash going out, so you don't realize it and you get that credit card bill and you go, ‘I spent $7,000 on Christmas!'"

This statement by a frugal Christmas shopper is too true and can be the source of anxiety for many consumers as they start the New Year already fighting a financial battle.

So, with so many advisors warning shoppers of the credit card trap, why is that we still find ourselves hocking our Christmas' to the hilt? Maybe we've given up or maybe expectations have just gone a tad over the top.

Whatever the reason, isn't it time we started using money we have and leaving the credit cards for those who can use them wisely?

Link

Posted by Stuart at 5:42 AM | Permalink

If this is your first day here you might want to check out the introductory page and also [1-10], [11-20] , [21-30], [31-40] and [41-50].

51. Scopist
Court hansards record notes word-for-word during court proceedings and produce transcripts for future records. A scopist then takes these notes and turns them into legible and grammatically correct notes that allow lawyers and judges to read.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Computer software is being used to perform some of this translation but it's early generation programming and still makes mistakes. However, it won't be long before this software can correctly interpret and collate these transcripts into legible reports and therefore usurp the need for human intervention.

Expected Lifespan
<5 years.

52. Security Consultant
Security consultants can be hired for many different reasons. They may be employed for advising a company on how to secure their premises adequately or even how to ensure that confidential information is not leaked through their processes and systems. A security consultant may even be hired by events managers needing to be consulted on their event security obligations.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Security is a growing industry that can only increase as populations grow and as things fear becomes more prevalent. Crime continues to grow thus requiring security to become a bigger issue. I can only see more and more opportunities opening up for this home based business.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

53. Specialty Consultant
Consulting is one of the biggest fields available to people wanting to work from home. While the world will continue to require management and computer consultants there are many niche opportunities to people wanting to consult on a range of specialty items.

For instance, here in Western Australia, the government has opted to go with an Outcomes Based Education (OBE) which has confused many people employed in the education industry. Opportunities are available for those that are willing to get a handle on specific items and therefore consult on them.

Relevancy in the Naughties
The more complex society becomes and the more diversified and regulated we are will allow the creation of many opportunities in specialty areas. These areas may not always be ongoing and may have a limited lifespan but others will replace them.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely but dynamic.

54. Tax Preparation Service
Tax preparation doesn't require you to be an accountant or a CPA. It doesn't even demand that you have a bachelor degree in accounting. Tax preparation can quite literally be performed by almost anyone with knowledge in tax areas. However, it usually pays to know what you are doing and so learning how to prepare tax returns makes sound advice.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Taxes will always confuse the majority of the population and while many software programs have been written and will continue to do so they won't alleviate the fear that many people have of either preparing them incorrectly or missing out on a tax refund.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

55. Technical Writer
A technical writer is someone who is able to able to write technical editorial particularly about evolving technologies or new products. These articles are either used in trade magazines, for company brochures or websites and even as press releases.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Technical writers are still in short supply and most probably will continue you to be considering the skills that are required. However, the remuneration for a technical writer can be quite high and opportunities will continue to abound.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

56. Temporary-Help Agency
This home based business has many opportunities available ranging from offering temporary workstaff for business situations to starting an agency for temporary home relief.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Even though this area seems like it may be saturated by larger players there are many niche opportunities available especially where employers are looking for specialised staff. Home business operators can develop quite profitable niches but competing with an already overcatered for area may be a waste of time.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

57. Transcript-Digesting Service
Lawyers receive many depositions, statements and reports that relate to individual cases. However, this paperwork may run into the hundreds of pages and lawyers aren't prepared to read them all. Therefore a transcript-digesting service is employed to summarise the content into a mere few pages.

Relevancy in the Naughties
While this may be another home business that will fall foul of technological advances it is highly likely that technology will not be able to produce what is required within the short term. Reports will come to the lawyers in many different formats and most are hard copy. Until OCR techology becomes fool-proof lawyers won't trust these advances and will rely predominantly on digesting services.

Expected Lifespan
>10 Years.

58. Wedding Consultant
If you've seen 'Father of the Bride' or the 'Wedding Planners' then you have a fair idea how this home based business works.

Relevancy in the Naughties
The only down-side to this area continuing to grow will people's perceptions whether marriage is relevant. Many people are foregoing nuptial bliss or opting for much smaller gatherings if they do go ahead for weddings. However, I would predict that this is still a viable home based business but it may be a moderately shrinking market.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely but limited.

59. Wedding Make-Up Artist
As the name suggests, a Wedding Make-Up Artist offers clients a service to have their faces plastered with assorted cosmetic goodies. This home business can work well for people who are willing to work weekends and can be supplemented by other income in the wedding off-season.

Relevancy in the Naughties
As above.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely but limited.

60. Word-Processing and Office-Support Service
Many offices are run on skeleton staff or with limited space available to house more staff. Therefore opportunities exist for what is commonly referred to as a Virtual Office Assistant. A VOA can easily work from home and contract out to more than one business at a time.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Technology has actually aided this home based business making it much easier to work from home. It is also unlikely to replace the VOA because their activities are fairly sporadic and dynamic changing from situation to situation. This would most likely be the biggest are for home business success.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

Tomorrow we will review the next ten from [61-70].

If you want more specific knowledge of setup costs, educational prerequisites and experience required then try reading the book - The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century

Posted by Stuart at 6:17 AM | Permalink

Online Collective Action is the phrase associated with community collaboration on the internet. Sites that require people to introduce, edit, review and rate are all part of this picture. They include sites like Wikipedia, Digg and Yahoo Answers. They're all great sites and a new one appears on the scene with increasing regularity.

So how can businesses use them?

Don Tapscott's latest book Wikinomics looks at how these collective actions are affecting business and vice versa.

And in true wiki style it asks for readers to add their own experiences of either creating collective action programs or their reviews of them.

Link

Posted by Stuart at 5:59 AM | Permalink

If this is your first day here you might want to check out the introductory page and also [1-10], [11-20] , [21-30] and [31-40].

41. Medical Transcription Service
Many medical specialists record their patient notes on dictation equipment. This dictation then needs to be transcribed into written notes for access by insurance companies, government agencies and the medical centre or hospital. Medical Transcriptionists can access the digital dictation recordings via phone lines and then type them up at home.

Relevancy in the Naughties
While this home business has a very high demand and technology is making it much easier to become involved with, I think that technology will also be its downfall. Voice Recognition software is gaining momentum as a successful option to outsourcing this work and will possibly take this home business completely of the radar within the next 5 years.

Expected Lifespan
<5 years.

42. Meeting Planner
A meeting planner is hired by many businesses to organise and facilitate their meetings. Conferences, events, conventions etc are all created and overseen by the meeting planner.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Demand is growing for this business entrepreneur who can make light work of any event. Businesses are realising the expense of having unexperienced staff run their events and are more likely to outsource than waste precious resources.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

43. Multimedia Production
This home based business allows a person with interests in digital media to create, publish and even retail their multimedia productions. Children's CD learning activities and online multimedia experiences are some of the ways this business can be operated.

Relevancy in the Naughties
The demand for high quality multimedia productions continues to grow and will do so indefinitely. There are probably more ideas than there are people able to publish them so this home business will steadily grow.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

44. Newsletter Publisher
A newsletter publisher may either contract to a range of businesses designing and publishing their business newsletters or they may create their own offering advertising to generate a revenue stream.

Relevancy in the Naughties
While most newsletters in the 90's were printed on paper the Noughties has seen, and will continue to see, email newsletters become a greater vehicle for success. And, even as software becomes easier to use and more prevalent businesses will require people to compile and even distribute these newsletters well into the future.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

45. Private Investigator
Private investigators are being sourced for many types of investigative work these days including tracking missing persons, performing pre-marital checks, pre-employment screening and chasing white collar fraud. Much of this type of work can be performed via a home office.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Society is becoming less and less trusting of each other so the growth rate and requirement of this home based business should continue to grow.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

46. Professional Organiser
A professional organiser is someone who can step into our lives and de-clutter them from our diaries and appointments, to the way we operate within our own homes and workspaces. They can even help sort out schedules and find spaces in our schedules to incorporate some of our hobbies, more family time and physical exercise.

Relevancy in the Naughties
While our lifestyles continue to speed up and we feel like we are constantly struggling with projects that get never get started (let alone finished!) this home business professional will become more and more necessary to help us balance our lives.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

47. Professional Practice Consultant
A Practice Consultant is someone who can consult professionals such as lawyers, dentists, doctors and chiropractors on their business side of their practice. This then frees the professional to specialise in their area of expertise knowing that the business end can work properly and they are up to date with their management techniques.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Many professionals are realising that they can't do both things well. They need consultants to offer advice and see changes implemented within their practices so they can get on and do what they do best. This is a growing need for professional people.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

48. Public Relations Specialist
A PR specialists helps companies build their brand by actively engaging the business through newspaper and magazine ediorials, TV interviews, PR community campaigns and radio spots. They produce press releases and news kits that will elevate the company's profile.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This area should continue to grow throughout the Noughties but the increase may not be staggering. Those PR specialists with great networks and the ability to perform well will do well but most businesses are not willing to just hire specialists without results - which can be hard to achieve in a very competitive market.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

49. Real Estate Appraiser
This home business professional is able to give clients an appraisal on the value of their real estate for insurance, increased borrowings on equity and damage assessment purposes.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This is not really a booming area but it does have its cyclical ups and downs depending on the shape of the economy. However, it does offer good business security as people will always need to know the value of their homes etc. It will interesting to see what changes technologies such as online local valuation reports and such do to this home based business.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

50. Resume Writing Service
A resume writer can design and write resumes for anybody but particularly focusing on the more professional category of employee.

Relevancy in the Naughties
People offering this service grew astronomically when PC's and design software became prevalent in the late 80's and early 90's. While this software and printing options becomes cheaper the need for this business is reducing as many people are willing to design their own and do a fairly reasonable job at it.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely but shrinking.

Tomorrow we will review the next ten from [51-60].

If you want more specific knowledge of setup costs, educational prerequisites and experience required then try reading the book - The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century

Posted by Stuart at 7:03 AM | Permalink

If a fire ravaged through our home, completely destroying it, would I have enough cover to rebuild? This is the question that challenged my mind as I read a recent letter from our bank.

Their standard correspondence reminded me that while my mortgage was still held by them that I would need to keep my home insurance current and at its 'fair value'.

Now, understand that the fair value of our property has increased more than 300% over the past 3 years. Most of this increase has come from soaring land prices while 2/5 of the price would be the cost of rebuilding an equivalent home.

Yet our insurance company doesn't want to insure us just for the house. They want to know the total value of the property and then charge their premiums based on that amount.

Which beckons the question, "Why am I paying insurance on a piece of land?" Unless a nuclear bomb lands directly on my home and the area can never be rebuilt there are few reasons why the land will not retain its full value even after the house has been destroyed.

I have yet to phone my insurance company about raising the 'fair value' of our home but after raising this one with them before I know I'm not going to come out with much of a win.

Posted by Stuart at 5:54 AM | Permalink

If this is your first day here you might want to check out the introductory page and also [1-10], [11-20] and [21-30].

31. Image Consultant
An image consultant is a someone who helps people achieve their image desires by advising them on wardrobe items, hairstyles, accessorising etc. This home business offers clients a range of skills that will cosmetically and aesthetically improve their image for reasons such as preparing for job interviews, corporate disposition and those that rely on their image to convey a pre-determined message.

Relevancy in the Naughties
If there was ever a business that carried over from the 90's into the Naughties and do well, this one is it. People are becoming more and more image conscious and with the availability of cosmetic surgery coming in line with more people's pockets customers are wanting to look good from the time they're teenagers until they're put in a box.

Image consultancy is growing and I think that more niches will even begin to open up for those venturing into this field.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinite until people realise that image is shallow (and that's never going to happen).

32. Indoor Environmental Tester
An indoor environmental tester analyses common pollutants found in clients homes and advises methods to reverse or remove them.

Relevancy in the Naughties
Health issues are always going to be high on people's mind so this home based business will continue to be in high demand.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

33. Information Broker
An Information Broker is a fancy name for a researcher. This broker is usually contracted by businesses wanting to research information on a particular topic to help them better understand how they might pursue or deal with it.

Relevancy in the Naughties
On the surface, this home business seems like it will be superseded due to the ease of which to get information. However, the information overload of this generation is the reason why these brokers are required. As the amount of data becomes more and more accessible, brokers will be needed to disseminate and find helpful information.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

34. Mailing List Service
This home based business is by far one of the easiest to set up and run, although it is probably more highly disregarded than politicians. Sourcing, compiling, managing and brokering are all parts of list distribution and in some cases this service may even be required to post the bulk mail for businesses.

Relevancy in the Naughties
The direct mail of the 90's is dying a slow death and at the very list is becoming less and less successful. However, businesses are still seeking mailing lists in which to target a specific audience. So, while the form of this home business may change over the next decade or two it will still be required and the demand will steadily increase.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely and growing slowly.

35. Mail-Order Business
A mail-order business works by placing classified adverts in publications or by producing your own catalogue to sell items. These have been highly successful during the 90's with seemingly 'every man and his dog' having a mail-order business.

Relevancy in the Naughties
The advent and success of Ebay and Craigslist has sure dampened this home based business but opened quite a few more opportunities. Large department stores like IKEA and Myer still successfully manage mail-order catalogues and these should continue for some time until the mass population shops online.

Expected Lifespan
The next 5-10 years only.

36. Management Consultant
Similar in some ways to the Information Broker this service is employed by businesses needing information and expertise that will help move them forward. The difference though is that a management consultant is usually someone who already has the knowledge and experience needed rather than having to find that information.

Relevancy in the Naughties
This home business will continue to be sought after as businesses continue to keep on the cutting edge of their industry. Most small to medium sized businesses can't afford the overhead of keeping a full-time management on board so they contract this out for short periods and at times needed.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

37. Marketing Consultant
A marketing consultant does not just offer advertising ideas. This home business opportunity is for people who can help businesses manage their marketing needs from brand positioning, public relations, packaging and below-the-line advertising.

Relevancy in the Naughties
The same situation as the management consultant, a marketing consultant is more likely to find work this way than try and be employed by a single company. There is an increasing need for businesses to market themselves and many are realising that advertising alone is not enough.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely.

38. Manufacturer's Agent
A manufacturers agent is similar to an Export Agent although it is more localised. This home business allows the agent to find businesses willing to buy products from manufacturers and in effect, becomes the middle man.

Relevancy in the Naughties
While localised manufacturing remains high this business will continue to be a successful opportunity. However, as more and more products are manufactured overseas it becomes less possible for these agents to keep a niche from an export agent who has more scope.

Expected Lifespan
Indefinitely provided localised manufacturing continues.

39. Medical Billing Service
This home based business is growing at a great rate of knots. A medical billing service offers specialist practitioners a service to subm