agile – THE CEO DRIVEHER

How to Start a Home-Based Business With No Money or Space

So you want to start a home-based business in 2022 but you don’t have any money or space? Well, I’m here to tell you that it can be done, it’s simple yet hard, but can be done! This short guide on how to start a home-based business will provide you with tips on how to get started even if you don’t have the funds or space to get your project off the ground right away. Keep reading and learn how to start a home-based business in 2022 without spending any money at all! As I say “use what’s in your hands”.

Photo by SHVETS production on Pexels.com

Now, to start does not mean PROFITABLE. Let me say that again, too start a home-based business does NOT mean one bit it will be PROFITABLE off the rip. We are focusing on the “starting” and concept/organizing in hopes it can metamorphosis into a phenomenal business that is profitable in the future.

Why a home-based business?

If you already have your own home/living space etc., starting a home-based business is an excellent way to put what you’ve got (your space and resources) to work for you. Home businesses can be very organized, systematic and simple in their layout when set up correctly. In addition, home-based businesses are often less expensive than traditional brick-and-mortar operations because they don’t require any additional real estate or office equipment costs, over-head is already built in. It’s also important to note that many people prefer working from home; it offers freedom from long commutes and office politics while still allowing them to make money! As of today fuel costs is averaging over $6 bucks a gallon and may get as high as a giraffes butt, to $10 bucks!

Today’s mix of inflation (which will be here for some years), crude oil steadily rising, vehicle maintenance, commutes from hell because people these days seem like they don’t know how to drive, who wouldn’t stay at home and keep more of their earnings.

What tools will you need?

Before you even begin to think about how to start a home-based business, you should figure out what tools and resources you need. You need somewhere quiet, organized and uncluttered in order to get any real work done—and if your home office is crammed with toys, books and laundry baskets that makes for an inefficient working environment. If you don’t have a dedicated space set up yet, use our pointers on how to organize your home office so you can find everything you need when it comes time to work. If all else fails, remember that there are always coffee shops where WiFi is free!

Determine type of business. Are you building or constructing things? If so you need dedicated area that is open and safe to work in. Are you digitally based, but need quietness to speak with clients or do ZOOM calls? Make sure you can outfit a space to limit external noise.
Transform a closet, attic, basement, garage, patio, extra bedroom, often times people they don’t have the space when in fact they do. The issue is they don’t want to inconvenience their current setup or clean up an area that will grant them space.
Do some market research and find out from others in your home-base space what they have in their home-base setup. Youtube is great for this! Many people share their tools even grant links to the resources they use.
Communication! Do you need a headset with noise cancellation? Do you need a laser printer? Do you need shipping labels, scale, etc.?
See what digital elements you already have in your home that you can optimize i.e. cellphone, laptop, desktop, old iPads, t.v. w/internet connection, professional camera, old cellphone with great camera, GoPro, recording devices, etc.

Remember your home serves as not only a living quarters, but tool! Maximize every inch of it!

Where will you do it?

If you’re thinking about opening up your own home-based business, you probably don’t have much money and little space in your home. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done though. Organized, systematic and simple, these are three words that are extremely important when starting off with a new endeavor at home. Let me show you how easy it is to get started with no money or space at all. First, we will look at different ways to start small. For example, if you want to sell items online, there are services like Etsy that allow you to set up an online store for free. There are also sites like eBay where people buy and sell items on their site for a fee (usually around 10%). Then you have Facebook Marketplace (not a fan but it’ll do) and SAMCART for digital products. Also working offsite from your home does not mean you’re not home-based. You can still work in the field and use free tools out in the field for you to conduct business operations! I strongly suggest maximizing your operation, by finding and using these spaces/tools, be-it cafe’s, library, meet-ups, parks, etc. In fact this is how I started CEO DriveHER in the field using cafes to do my work and meet up with my clients. So many spots and staffers new me I constantly got free food, coffee, made new friends, grew to love my community more, network, and so much more.

What kind of product do you want to sell?

One of the first steps in that process is to figure out what kind of product you want to sell. Do you want to sell physical products, like food, merchandise, or clothing? Or maybe you want something digital, like ebooks, stock photos, consulting services, etc. It doesn’t matter what you’re selling, because by following these tips, anybody can start a small home-based business in 2022 with little money and little space in their home.

Decide what products/services does not require any investing or startup costs like reselling, brokering, affiliates, etc.
Find what is the easiest/simplest that can yield a small reasonable profit over time.
See what products does not require for you to hold inventory if possible or find vendors that offer NET 60 NET 90 accounts which allows for you to obtain the product and sell it at a profit, but pay at a later date for the inventory.

Putting your plan into action

Creating a business plan is an important step in starting any business. The process of formalizing your plans and writing them down can help you see potential problems before they arise, and it’s vital in helping you develop your company strategy. It doesn’t need to be complicated—and if you are just starting out with no money, chances are it won’t be—but as with anything, planning will make everything much simpler down the road. Keep things systematic and simple, and don’t worry about making it perfect. Get something on paper that you can refer back to when needed, then start putting your plan into action!

I cannot stress the importance of using even the simplest template for business planning to help outline the various components of your business. It must be written down constructively and concise. Here are a few comments your business plan/template should have.

Business structure type i.e. LLC, Scorp, Ccorp, Partnership, etc. DBA’s
Location and Region. Are you serving the local community, international, digital e-commerce (but where).
Marketing and social media type.
Value Proposition. What’s the value of your product/service?
What problem does your product solve?
Will your business be scalable and sailable in one to 5 years?
Demographic and psychographic of customer. Identify who they are, where they’re at, and what they think, what’s their general mindset.
Media kit.
Business communication like business email, business address, business phone line, etc.
Target audience via free media platforms.
Budget and operational excellence.
What type of free or low costing project management services can you use for email marketing, planning, structuring etc.

Finding success!

Having no money and no space does not mean you can’t start your own business. Indeed, it makes it even more important to think systematically and act simply if you want to get ahead. I started all my companies on pennies! Now, I don’t suggest that’s always the move nor is that the case for most startups, but if planned right and executed what little money invested can go a long ways and teach how to manage more with less.

Start your home-based business today! Checkout my tools and resources on my website, click here to access them: https://linktr.ee/ceodriveher

THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS PLANNING

See as a planner I’m good about mapping, and drawing things out, where I lacked was in the area of parking tasks and timing, I sucked at it totally often running behind schedule looking at my well laid plan asking myself why.

“Without a plan, even the most brilliant business can get lost. You meed to have goals, create milestones, and have a strategy in place to set yourself up for success.” – Yogi Berra

I’ve falling in love with the planning process all over again! I must admit I’d been feeling a bit overwhelmed because I just couldn’t seem to find the best planning software nor format for my business and life needs.

As a serial entrepreneur this is majorly difficult, trying to weave seamlessly my life and businesses components. The other day I was out with my daddy have our weekly daddy daughter date and he said something so profound, he said “NuNu (my nickname) one thing about you is you’re a planner and that’s awesome.” He was so proud and amazed of me, he was able to calculate things I’d said even years ago and repeat to me how I’d then made plans. In fact I’ve been like that my entire life, but not without many detours, hiccups, and lost!

My daddy was so proud, but internally I was cringing because I felt everything, but that. See my father has been able to hear my plans, and now see the manifestation of my plans, but I on the other-hand knew of my dirty little secret. That secret being though I can draft some of the best laid planes, I can be bad at executing with precision. I am a planner, buuuuuuuut a lazy executioner, so bad that often times I’m livid at my poor execution because I know the outcome could’ve been a million times better, with less stress, ugh!

Now, for those looking from the outside in you’d NEVER know, but I know, and I carried some shame from it. I’d try so many different things, timers, softwares, planners, outlines, you name it, but it just wasn’t cutting it, that is until one of my clients who is a master at planning and business development, Phyliss of Hulbert Custom Designs, put me on to a new project management software by the name of CLICK UP (https://clickup.com/?fp_ref=kimberly31)!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

I have tried everything from Trello, to Asana, looked into Dubsado, used HoneyBook, Keap, and other CRM and project management tools. Though they all have their place, hands down from costs, to integration, to format, to ease, to structure and unlimited use…. CLICK UP is the best! See as a planner I’m good about mapping, and drawing things out, where I lacked was in the area of parking tasks and timing, I sucked at it totally often running behind schedule looking at my well laid plan asking myself why. Now, having use CLICK UP the answer punched me right in the face!

I kid you not it seems as thought my production time has dropped immensely allowing for my execution time and volume to skyrocketed! This by default has raised my drive, momentum, and confidence! I am so on it dog gon it! I’m feeling unstoppable! Their system is so awesome I’ve parked all my companies in that one platform, creating various “spaces” and managing everything from there. I love see the planning process, the sub-categories, and the ability to map my time and progress chart from by a simple click of a button. This software is a massive game-changer, so much so I am making it a required tool in my business courses and business development coaching services.

One thing about me, I know something when it can help reshape a business for the better. There’s no way you cannot be profitable using this software, not manage staff/freelancers/contractors, or fail to execute. Success from the planning process rises up off the page and for me forced me to work even harder and execute more tasks.

I went ahead and purchased an annual subscription for the business tier after using the software for 30 minutes! I knew where CLICK UP could take me and my businesses so I dived in head first and I am loving it! If you are a one man band business to a large start-up this is the greatest project management tool! I already cancelled my Asana and I am using my Trello for personal/home use. FYI, I was able to integrate my calendars, emails, and others components. Please be sure to checkout https://clickup.com/?fp_ref=kimberly31 CLICK UP, you will NOT be disappointed!

THE BUSINESS GOLD STANDARD AGAINST COPYCATS

Knowing the realities of business is not always fun, but don’t stress over it, it’s business, not personal; that is until someone violates. Remember, true gold cannot be duplicated!

SET YOURSELF APART BY DOING YOUR PART AUTHENTICALLY”
CEO DriveHer

The other day I wrote a post explaining the importance of not giving too much thought about copycats internet thieves. As a business consultant this comes up often and I’ve found many of my clients suffering from execution paralysis, all because they’re trying to find the perfect safeguard for their business.

Now, I am all about protecting your intellectual properties and even creating safeguards, but if you allow yourself to be held hostage from actually putting yourself or products/service on the market, the would-be copycats have already stole from you. This type of worry brings about anxiety with the production paralysis. You do realize major brands everyday are copied? What is key is when wrongful parties are caught the consequences can be great. Nike, Beyonce, Burberry, Gucci, Chanel No.5, even the U.S. Federal government don’t allow copycats to stop them. Fraud is just part of the nature of the game, just make sure you find ways to rightly protect yourself byway of business insurance, disclaimers, copyright, and contractual agreements.

The copycats and fakesters will always be a few steps behind you when you have an authentic and unique way of doing business. They can’t make a new move until you do! Remember that! This is why I believe personality, strategies, and unique formulas/style matters. People fail to properly brand themselves and create a “deep” digital footprint, hence making it easy for others to duplicate them. My brand is heavily predicated on ME, my life, my experiences, my flow, my style, even to how I communicate. Sure people can and have stolen parts of my business, but bay bay they fail miserably in trying to execute like me. What’s sad is they don’t get the results I do, why? Because I am heavily involved in the process of my procedures products, etc. What I do in business is always changing, some things even by the day, week, or month. This grants me a huge advantage, because I must remain very knowledgeable in my space and grant alternative info if need be. Most copycats will NOT keep up with the craft or info.

So, how what does this have to do with being part of the business gold standard? Everything! Authenticity in business is a gold standard, one the is actually very lacking. Even when it comes to make big name producers, companies, celebrities, you’ll be surprised how un-authentic they are and how they themselves have played copycat. They are always “re-inventing” themselves because often times they never were the real thing. We see this with many fake gurus on theses internet streets, their hand is in everything, they’re an expert on everything, etc., why? Because they’re shooting darks in the dark, hoping to land on target.

So, my little bit of advice is:

Be authentic, but to be authentic you must identify who you truly are, and what are YOUR strong attributes in business that can minimize duplication.
If you need help with business safeguards, get some consulting or a researcher that can help you identify some weak points of entry that may leave you vulnerable to copycats.
Be unique and have a signature process of doing things.
If you catch someone stealing, duplicating, or being a copycat; go after them and have ZERO mercy! Set the tone and prosecute to the fullest extent! Make an example out of them.
Stop living in fear. Understand when you’re authentic you have a deep well of ideas, strategies, and creativity. They don’t!
Always be clear in your contractual agreements, website disclaimer, legalities listed in/on digital products. I do not shy away from making my position clear.
Do a SWOT analysis of your business, and market research to see common points of entries where’s people tend to copy.

Hopefully this blog can ease your anxiety and get you out of production paralysis and you can take that great chance of going into the marketplace with full confidence. Knowing the realities of business is not always fun, but don’t stress over it, it’s business, not personal; that is until someone violates. Remember, true gold cannot be duplicated!

MINDING MY BUSINESS MONDAY

Look y’all if there was ever a time to cancel out the white noise and put your nose so far up in your own affairs, that time is now!

So, for the past week and for the rest of the month I have decided to take a different approach in my business and personal affairs. From the time I have started my changes have yielded me quite the dividends that as a business owner is priceless.

I literally decided to swamp myself in all things that pertains to me, my business, my students, my clients, and NOT the world. I’d be the first to say that I’ve become swayed with all the daily events and simply had an epiphany of how pointless most of it is. The fact of the matter is we’re surrounded by lawlessness, corruption, and sadness, but it is also fact that we must focus on our own matters taking matters into our own hands to ensure our future. Sitting around talking, complaining, pointing, and literally frustrated by the madness just isn’t worth it. I have come to learn that if something is constantly affecting your peace, leaves you feeling empty, confused, or frustrated then most likely that thing is not worth your time. Sorry, but not sorry. From wars to rumors of wars, constant up and downs in this fake pumped up economy, media’s propaganda, and worst the moronic behavior, and mindset of many in our nation, I have had to tap out and say I am done! I can only fix me and that which is within my reach, I’m finally okay with that. Kimberly is not here to save the world, but to be influential to those within my direct reach.

Another thing that made me take a different approach to things were my constant emotionally charged rants, and sways because of all the external images, data, news, comments, etc. I found myself reviewing. My emotions were all over the place and it impeded on my ability to work efficiently and be level-minded. So, what did I do?

Got off social media.
Shutdown my social media IG that had the most impact on me and my rants which was IG. I plan on keeping that page disable for at least a month.
Started a new professional business page where the only thing I focus on is my brand and rebuilding my digital footprint.
By default was kicked off Youtube which helped with a much needed break for me to reflect and see some changes needed.
Changed the setting in my cellphone to having ZERO notifications, no buzz, no pings, no popups when screen is locked. (This is in my top favs.)
Got back to listening to better vibration of music i.e. classical and lo-fi.

What has this canceling of white noise has yielded me?

PEACEEEEE!
Mental clarity in my business messaging.
Broader and grander ideas.
Completing and finishing tasks, not starting something all to stop and jump to something else.
Catch up on emails and respond.
Spend more time with my students and clients.
MAKE MORE MONEY! Mannnnnn if you only knew! It is as if my business knew I was giving her more attention.
The ability to be less emotional and snappy.
Win back time that was idle because of social media.

See in the line of work I do social media can disguise itself as “work” that being because I pull a number to elements of the social media world into my business. So, what I’ve done is redirected that energy and focus in various spaces of my life and business. I’m a bit embarrassed that I allowed myself to stray so offshore. Whelp at least I’ve taken corrective action and if need be in your life I suggest you do the same. If you find yourself thinking or feeling as though you need more time to fulfill your business tasks, may I suggest you take careful audit of your “white noise” in your life. Now, white noise come in an array of types, mine was hidden within social media, but is yours video games, idle conversations on the phone, tasks that serves as a form of escapism, or whatever, only you can have that “come to Jesus” conversation with yourself and identify your white noise.

So, what do you say? Are you going to mind yo business? I promise you that if so you minding your business will yield you greatness and mo-money that’s for sure! Let me know have you ever had to recalibrate like this before? Have you ever got so caught up unintentionally that you got lost in the sauce of life, world events, and worry? Be sure to comment below and share I’d like to hear and how you found solutions that got you back up on the saddle to MINDING YOUR BUSINESS.

Kimberly CEO DriveHer,

MARCH MADNESS OR MARCH MAESTRO

March is a pivotal month for many of us on the western side of the world. It is where winter chills begin to turn into springtime filled with blooming hills. The color green by some unspoken rule has championed as its mascot signifying new life, nature, rebirthing, wealth, generosity, and of course good fortune. Saying that is the common belief of many why on earth in this rebirthing time of the year would we speak “madness” over it?

The other day I found myself saying over and over here come March Madness and for the first time I felt extremely convicted of speaking such words especially in the current time we are living in. On this day and this very morning chaos and war continues in Ukraine with Russia, across America crime is running rampant, inflation is racing to a 40 year high, our government and elected officials are useless, and literally it is as if the world, my city, our country has gone MAD. So I immediately shifted my tune and decided to speak life and not death as we close out of Q1 and enter into Q2 of 2022, and the spring equinox is officially March 20th of this year.

After many reviews of positive words that begin with the “M” maestro stuck out at once. I do not know if it is because I am literally writing this blog while listening classical music, Beethoven – Symphony No. 8, but it seemed very fitting for us home-based entrepreneurs! What is a maestro you say? A maestro is a conductor of classical music, a great and distinguished individual, and that is what I want for us CEO’s to aspire to be in the month of March 2022.

The weight of the world and these times are a bit much, we must chose to operate, build, and dream to a higher tune of success in the midst of it all. So I commission you to mind your words, let us not create more madness by the words which we speak, but rather create harmony in our businesses. Be the maestro of your domain, symphony tunes of consistency, productivity, profitability, and creativity. More than any time in our lives it is imperative we keep plow to ground, steady chopping at wood until the job is done, do NOT let up my fellow home-based business crew.

I believe March will be what we make of it by minding what we speak, what we allow ourselves to see, watch, hear, even as deep to the environments we’re in. Remember this month is a close to our time of incubation (figuratively speaking), we must move with intentionality having a well-charted course and plan of action in our personal lives and business.

In closing with death and madness all around us we shall bloom and be the last ones standing working towards our prophetic destiny. Here are some things I’ve chosen to do to help put myself in a higher gear of concentration and momentum:

Powdered down my most destructive social media platform which serves more as a personal account than business. I temporarily disabled it so that I stay out of the constant news updates.
Currently have changed my selection of music to invoke deeper brain power, concentration, and focus. It really really works. Having been a fan of classical music my entire life and lo-fi instrumentals I wanted to get back into that musical selection a bit more.
Restarting my high-fat keto meals and laying off the comfort meals.
Upping my running and walking.
Creating a full March Maestro plan of action for ALL my companies and seeking 30% increase of operations minimum.

Photo by Alexander Suhorucov on Pexels.com

As we “March” forward into this time of transition of economics, business, mindsets, climate, and so much more remember of all times, years, this is really the greatest time to be alive, to witness the coming shift. Have faith and build your businesses, many generations with thank you in years to come because you chose to persevere!

Happy Marching!