Article Small Business : How To Make Money From Home

By: Elias Georgi

Government statistics have been quoted many times by politicians indicating that small business is really the engine of the economy and small business owners who operate out of their homes form a large proportion of this part of the economy. Many entrepreneurs as well as people who are just trying to make a living have started successful business out of their homes, growing them into medium and large businesses.

Every year the growth in the number of small businesses continues and these people must know something that the rest of us do not who work for companies. While some people may be forced into starting a business as a result of being let go from a larger firm, many will start a home business from their homes for reasons of independence and the flexibility that it brings. These people have learned that if they have an excellent product that customers need and are willing to pay for they can create a niche for themselves that will make their business successful.

Many people get stated simply by selling something they produce out of their homes. As they become more successful, they add employees or subcontractors to help them deal with all of the activities that are required as their business grows. Quite often the business owner finds themselves working twelve and fifteen hour days to keep up with the demand, before they realize that they really need to get some help.

Depending on the products or services that are offered, small business owners need to evaluate which areas they can relinquish some direct control over to employees to allow them to focus on other areas. These areas include, sales, production, manufacturing, customer service, and even financial management and accounting. Often small business owners have one or two skills that they are experts at, while other areas they may be generalists or have very little knowledge. It is important to understand your strengths and weaknesses. It is also important to hire people with the skills you need to fill these weak areas allowing the owner to focus on the areas were there strength lies.

Of course you cannot relinquish total control. For example if you decide to hire an accountant to manage your books, cash flow, wages and tax payments, most owners would be well advised to review the books on a regular basis to ensure that they are comfortable with the decisions that are being made. Establishing the appropriate controls and approvals is necessary to ensure that there are no surprises.

Select the areas that you will focus on and then hire the appropriate talent that your business requires to continue your growth cycle. Very soon you will find that you will be able to enjoy the flexibility and freedom that running a small business provides.

Small Business Opportunities - Make Money Fast in Costa Rica!

by Sacha Tarkovsky

If you have a sense of adventure and want to run a business with low costs, bigger profits, less taxation (with government encouragement!) and enjoy sun, sea, sand, surf and rainforest – then you should consider a small business in Costa Rica.

There are several ways to take advantage of this opportunity, with a service industry to the growing US population, or one that simply takes advantage of lower costs and taxation.

Let's look at the opportunities open to you.

More For Your Money

With this small business opportunity you can reduce costs straight away by swapping your current real estate for real estate in Costa Rica, which costs up to 70% less than real state in the southern US states.

You can then cut the cost of utility bills and daily living expenses by 70 - 80%. ( a three bedroom house can be purchased for just $60,000 ) and consider this you can live comfortably on around $2,000 a month.

What type of business?

With a growing foreign population, obvious opportunities are open in service, leisure and entertainment and the population you will be servicing has cash to spend.

A Trained workforce

You can of course, with Costa Rica's excellent communications and trained work force (Costa invests 6.5 percent of its GDP to an educational system, which includes over 50 universities. English is taught in the schools as a second language. ) run any type of business at dramatically reduced costs. Real estate is cheap and so tp are office rentals.

The opportunities in running a small business in Costa Rica are endless and you can deal in the country or export your services offshore.

Large companies such as Microsoft, Intel and Proctor and Gamble have re located to Costa Rica and other small businesses are moving in to service them and their employees.

Tax Incentives

As an incentive to investment, the Costa Rican government provides foreign companies with several tax incentives.

For service companies (i.e software development, computer services, costumer care call centers and back office/shared service centers) the incentives include a 100 percent income tax exemption for the first 8 years of doing business in the country and an additional four years at a 50 percent rate.

Legal restrictions

The country is friendly in terms of labor regulations and there are no restrictions on foreign corporations owning property (and consider this property has risen on average by 300% in the last 10 years) so you can make money on real estate to increase your asset values.

A growing economy

Whenever you have a growing economy with an influx of new residents with a different culture there will be significant opportunities for profit.

Get in early, get established and you will find that you can get a lead over any competition.

Costa Rica is just three hours from the US and while many come to get more for their money, enjoy the beautiful scenery – they still want the comforts of home.

As the numbers increase ( 1,000,000 Americans are expected to be living in Costa Rica by 1,010 ) and you have an opportunity to service them.

From restaurants, to water sports to computer service companies – the same opportunities that exist back home are available in Costa Rica but you can get a head start:

Cheap real estate, office space, low costs, lower taxation and the chance to be in a less competive market place and last but not least – you can enjoy a lifestyle of sun, sand sea, volcanoes, rainforest, great entertainment and nightlife and much more.

For the adventurous small business owner, Costa Rica offers a fantastic opportunity and a different lifestyle but one that many will find rewarding, from both a personal and profit point of view.

Setting up your new business is easy

Foreign businesses are encouraged by the government, getting residency and getting a corporation off the ground is straightforward.

If you have a sense of adventure then you should consider the advantages a small business in Costa Rica has to offer.