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OT: At Home Business
Okay, a while ago I asked some of you guys for info on home-based business because, well........ with the economy the way it is and recession over our heads, I was getting worried. Not to mention our funds seem to becoming less and less as we spend more $$$ on food and gas.
ANYWAY--- I finally did it! I invtested in starting my own business. I am so excited and thrilled. I'll be making jewelry and selling it on etsy and probably ebay.
I need to register my business name and get a few other things, then I'll be busy making things! 1). It'll be a creative outlet for me, 2). I'll have something that is MINE (other than "mommy" and "wife"), 3). Little extra $ to hopefully pay off credit cards and put in savings.
If anyone has their own business at home, would really love some advice on how you do your paperwork. I've started Excel worksheets but I'm so new to all of this that I don't really know what I'm doing in that respect!
ANYWAY--- I finally did it! I invtested in starting my own business. I am so excited and thrilled. I'll be making jewelry and selling it on etsy and probably ebay.
I need to register my business name and get a few other things, then I'll be busy making things! 1). It'll be a creative outlet for me, 2). I'll have something that is MINE (other than "mommy" and "wife"), 3). Little extra $ to hopefully pay off credit cards and put in savings.
If anyone has their own business at home, would really love some advice on how you do your paperwork. I've started Excel worksheets but I'm so new to all of this that I don't really know what I'm doing in that respect!
Do you have a Staples near you...business supply store...I thought I saw quickbooks really cheap on sale there..some kind of rebate...check it out!
I'll check out ebay because it is $200 for the QuickBook I'd need (the most basic one since I don't have employees or a corporation, etc.). Otherwise I'll just have to figure out a system that works for me. It's just way too much money! Ebay here I come.....!
I agree that quickbooks would be a MUCH simpler way of keeping track of accounting costs etc. We use QB at my work and it is actually VERY user friendly and easy to learn. You can probably find a copy on ebay, new, for much cheaper than in the store.
Thanks, Martika! I've already purchased everything I need to start. I'm sooooooo excited and can't wait for it all to get here so I can start banging together some art!!!
Joy, if you need info on starting a business like using the excel spreadsheets stuff like that.
Then go ahead and email my mom if you still have the email addy. if not it's tksawyer @ roadrunner.com (no spaces)
Before my stepdad died, he had his own computer business, and my mom is the one who actually made it into a business and legit. She took care of Taxes, billing, receipts and all that. Including advertising!
She's great with the excel program and things like that. her name is Karen if you don't remember but I figure she could help.
BY the way, if you emailed her... the businesses she has have little or NO startup costs! (of course they're already established companies, but you make your own hours and all that and some pay GREAT..)
Then go ahead and email my mom if you still have the email addy. if not it's tksawyer @ roadrunner.com (no spaces)
Before my stepdad died, he had his own computer business, and my mom is the one who actually made it into a business and legit. She took care of Taxes, billing, receipts and all that. Including advertising!
She's great with the excel program and things like that. her name is Karen if you don't remember but I figure she could help.
BY the way, if you emailed her... the businesses she has have little or NO startup costs! (of course they're already established companies, but you make your own hours and all that and some pay GREAT..)
Thanks, Houston!!!
I lied about start-up costs. More like miscalculated than lied... It's more like almost $400. Ugh. I forgot I had to buy packing material!!!
I lied about start-up costs. More like miscalculated than lied... It's more like almost $400. Ugh. I forgot I had to buy packing material!!!
Hi Joy,
My dh designed an excel program for my BeautiControl business so I can see how much I have and how much I sell and who buys certain products the most....blah blah blah. Well, I hate it. I have a sales book and I save all my clients purchases on the website the business provides. I hate excel...maybe I'm old fashioned, but like you, I like things to be pretty so I have this cute red leather bag I keep all my files in and I never have a problem keeping stuff straight. You gotta do what works best for you! Good luck with your business!
My dh designed an excel program for my BeautiControl business so I can see how much I have and how much I sell and who buys certain products the most....blah blah blah. Well, I hate it. I have a sales book and I save all my clients purchases on the website the business provides. I hate excel...maybe I'm old fashioned, but like you, I like things to be pretty so I have this cute red leather bag I keep all my files in and I never have a problem keeping stuff straight. You gotta do what works best for you! Good luck with your business!
Yeah...excel *****!!!! I've taken two classes and I can barely use it! And if you buy quickbooks, it can be a business write off =) I can't wait to see your creations! You are such a creative soul I am sure you are going to do AWESOME!
LauraB, you're right about Excel. There's a bunch of "codes" you can use in the cells but I don't even know what they are. Plus, it just doesn't look very organized and pretty (I'm all about things being pretty).
msgorgeous, the business name is Creations by Chara.
Chara is Greek for JOY!
I pronounce it shar-ray.
Chara is Greek for JOY!
I pronounce it shar-ray.
Wow, you guys gave me a lot of helpful information! Stuff I didn't even think about. I'm so caught up in the ordering of supplies and thinking about what I'm going to make! I'm not business savvy but my SIL is so I know I can ask her.
I'll look into QuickBooks! I've heard of it before so I trust it's good. I just need to know how much at this point (LOL)! To answer your question, kjbutcher, I've spent close to $300 so far in start-up costs.
I really like the idea of putting a spreadsheet on a manilla envelope for my receipts!!!
LauraB, I'll definintely pick up some invoices! Thanks for that info, too!!! I'll let you know when I get the business started. My HOPEFUL "grand opening" will be Sept. 1st. But that depends on if I get all the materials on-time and get samples created. Most of the samples I'm making are going to be gifts for family and for myself, so I don't feel like I'm losing money on that end! I LOVE giving gifts.
kjbutcher, you can totally do this. I just dove in. We need extra money bad and this will also help me get out of this SAHM-fog that I find myself in. I get bored very easily if I don't have something to do! I love that I can create and there's no limit to what I can do.
I'll look into QuickBooks! I've heard of it before so I trust it's good. I just need to know how much at this point (LOL)! To answer your question, kjbutcher, I've spent close to $300 so far in start-up costs.
I really like the idea of putting a spreadsheet on a manilla envelope for my receipts!!!
LauraB, I'll definintely pick up some invoices! Thanks for that info, too!!! I'll let you know when I get the business started. My HOPEFUL "grand opening" will be Sept. 1st. But that depends on if I get all the materials on-time and get samples created. Most of the samples I'm making are going to be gifts for family and for myself, so I don't feel like I'm losing money on that end! I LOVE giving gifts.
kjbutcher, you can totally do this. I just dove in. We need extra money bad and this will also help me get out of this SAHM-fog that I find myself in. I get bored very easily if I don't have something to do! I love that I can create and there's no limit to what I can do.
sorry to take up so many posts (you may not even be looking for this kind of info)...Something that was really helpful to me was to get document sized mailing envelopes (8.5x11 or whatever) and tape your spread sheet to it because you will have to keep all of your receipts and monthly bills AND keep them organized for tax time. It is so much easier to do it through the year than at the end.
I just looked at the email. It is a "business use of home document" that tells you what you can claim from you house. As I said before I have been unable to open it (husband "working" on computer so excel is erased right now), but it sounds like it may help. I used this lady for my daycare taxes and have always found her documents useful. It sould be a federal document not state, but if you plan to do your own taxes, you may want to just make sure.
Do you have someone who does your taxes? If not, call some accountants and tell them that you are doing a home based business. They usually have excel spread sheets all made up and some other worksheets for yearly things like the sq ft of your home and the amount of hours you work. All of this goes into your taxes and you should get money back for your mortgage interest, mortgage taxes, pmi, electric, cell phone, interenet costs, ebay costs, GAS, postage... It is probably much more than you have even thought of at this point. If you want to send me your email address I can send you the mileage chart and a "what qualifies as a home business" sheet that my accountant just sent me last week. I have not been able to open it so I dont know how useful it is, but you can check it out if you want. Also, how much did you have to invest to start this (If you dont mind sharing)? Is it through a company or something you came up with yourself? It sounds really cool and like something I can do in my spare time.
Once you have all your materials, I would recommend starting an inventory file on excel. Keep in mind you will have to have some jewelry that will just be for "display" Those can written off as start-up expenses, Once you start receiving orders, you will have an invoice for that customer. I would recommend going to an office supply store and buying numerical invoices. You can hand write the invoices, once the jewelry is ready for delivery for the customer, you can take that invoice, enter the invoice in excel (although, I HATE excel, I would recommend Quickbooks, especially for this type of business..) and make sure the invoice #'s number coorespond..(paper and what you enter into excel) Then, you can look at your handwriting and figure out what to deduct out of inventory file, and the mark-up to generate your invoice. I hope this makes sense, and it's just what I think I would do. Let me know when you get your website up! I LOVE your blog page (VERY well done, and I am willing to bet your website will be kicka$$)
Also, please get quickbooks, its much better for business.. You can also turn "quotes" into invoices. I have meltdowns when I try and use excel and I think it is a.) cumbersome and b.) not conducive for business purposes..
Good luck!
Also, please get quickbooks, its much better for business.. You can also turn "quotes" into invoices. I have meltdowns when I try and use excel and I think it is a.) cumbersome and b.) not conducive for business purposes..
Good luck!
This is great Joy! I hope you are successful =) You might want to try going to yahoo answers and asking this question...they'll probably have someone who owns their own business that can give you good advice...Sorry I don't know the answer =)
how very exciting joy joy thats great news :) whats the biz name :) im not sure how to do the paper work sorry or how to go about it. my aunt makes her own jewelry too. i love homemade jewelry well not really homemade but im not sure how to word it but you know what i mean i think lol she has her own website for her jewelry too! its something i know you will really enjoy. i have a few ideas for you too. you could have like a class that you could charge ppl to make something like a braclet kneclace etc.....my aunt did a few birthday parties to :) what i like about your biz is that you can be soo creative and expand in so many ways.you dont have to limit yourself as to what you can do :) im sooo excited for you joy joy YaY!! you ever need ideas ill give you tons well when i have a great idea ill just give it to you lol oh my gosh oh one more thing you could have say a sample braclet and ppl can pick and choose what they want. etc.... well ive taken up enough of your time for now :) one more thing i swear ..my aunt makes her own glass beads soo she subscribes to magazines for ideas but making glass beads etc is expensive if you dont got the extra money but you know once you get the hang of things and such you can learn new things. if youd like i can get her website for you for ideas and things like that well good luck :)
To be more clear on my question:
I have an Excel worksheet devoted to my Start Up costs. I basically listed what I had to buy to get started (tools, metals, jewels, etc.) and the price. The other worksheet I have is my Cost list. I put down the item, the wholesale price, and then I'm going to calculate the retail price for each item.
I guess what I really want to know is how do you file your paperwork when you start making things and getting orders in?
I have an Excel worksheet devoted to my Start Up costs. I basically listed what I had to buy to get started (tools, metals, jewels, etc.) and the price. The other worksheet I have is my Cost list. I put down the item, the wholesale price, and then I'm going to calculate the retail price for each item.
I guess what I really want to know is how do you file your paperwork when you start making things and getting orders in?
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