You want something for yourself. You support your spouse who signed up to work for Uncle Sam, but in the process, you find that you don’t necessarily have the opportunity to work outside the home. Perhaps it’s because you have young children, your spouse’s schedule is unpredictable, you’re finalizing a degree, or you can’t always find work with each and every move.
But you still want something for yourself, so you launch your own business. You are a photographer, a baker, a writer, or a crafty Etsy genius.
We support your ingenuity and love to see milspouses succeed. Here are some tips to support the health of your small business.
5 Tips To Get You Started
- Write a business plan. You have a skill and a passion. Once you determine what you want to do and why you want to do it, write up an official plan. Lay out your goals for the business, and a timeline. Determine your start-up costs and base asking prices on your experience, the local industry, and your costs to determine a profit margin. Make your goals measurable, and set objectives to achieve those goals.
- Brand yourself. Establish a creative name that is effective, related to your work, and is memorable. Design a logo, create a website or online store, and have clear and effective language for items including your bio, services and policies. Consider making social media accounts just for your business to include Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- Start small. Although you may have big dreams, you have to begin somewhere. Start-up costs can be high depending on your business, so factor in how much it will take to begin. Keep in mind, that it may take a period of months to break even and begin profiting. Don’t over commit and take on more clients or customers than you can handle. You want to provide your best possible work so that you will get repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals. The more you know, the more your business will grow.
- Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to promote your business. Take quality photos of you and your products (if applicable), and be sure to add a personal touch to your communications. Hand out business cards, network, and let others know what you offer. Once your customers are satisfied, ask them to provide feedback by way of a survey and ask that they refer you to friends. Sometimes just asking is the hardest part, but the worst they can say is “no.” Don’t let that stop you, it will get easier every time.
- Use the right tools. In order to keep your business organized and professional, having proper software for emails, form letters, spreadsheets, flyers, and client management is essential. The Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 Home Use Program is now available to members of the military, civilians and contractors for just $9.95.
Military Get Microsoft Office At A Discount
We love a good military discount. The Microsoft Office Home Use Program is a Software Assurance benefit available for just $9.95. Your new Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 Suite includes:
- Word
- Excel
- Power Point
- Outlook
- OneNote
- Access
- Publisher
- Skype for Business
Take advantage of this incredible deal to help organize and further your small business. Please click here for more.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Microsoft. All thoughts and opinions expressed are our own.
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Jackie Toops
A self-described “Jackie of All Trades,” former Army wife Jackie Toops enjoys exploring the various facets of her personality by chronicling military life, world travels, family, her love of the arts and more. Her academic background is in the fields of Interdisciplinary Humanities, Museum Studies and Nonprofit Management, and she has overseen public relations for museums, galleries and universities. Jackie’s articles have been featured on Army Wife 101, Wall Street International Magazine, SoFluential, HomeAway, Military Biz Connection and FamiliesGo. While stationed in Germany, she regularly discussed her articles on-air with the Armed Forces Network in Wiesbaden. A mother of two, Jackie enjoys coffee, freelance writing, languages and discovering new ways to express herself. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
A self-described “Jackie of All Trades,” former Army wife Jackie Toops enjoys exploring the various facets of her personality by chronicling military life, world travels, family, her love of the arts and more. Her academic background is in the fields of Interdisciplinary Humanities, Museum Studies and Nonprofit Management, and she has overseen public relations for museums, galleries and universities. Jackie’s articles have been featured on Army Wife 101, Wall Street International Magazine, SoFluential, HomeAway, Military Biz Connection and FamiliesGo. While stationed in Germany, she regularly discussed her articles on-air with the Armed Forces Network in Wiesbaden. A mother of two, Jackie enjoys coffee, freelance writing, languages and discovering new ways to express herself. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.