Jeannette Gonzalez and Tammy Kerce it seems LOST their case against Liveops. They filed in December 2007. Lawsuit Filing To me they were basically stating they were MORE employees than they were independent contractors. From what I have heard they also sued other places like West at Home for similiar issues.

The Plaintiffs allege that they and other similarly situated Home Agents (1) were improperly classified as "independent contractors" by LiveOps, Inc., (2) that LiveOps, Inc. controlled most, if not all, major aspects of the Home Agent's job, (3) that they were not paid for any training time associated with the job at LiveOps, Inc., (4) that they worked many hours without receiving the equivalent of the federal minimum wage, and, (5) that LiveOps does not pay federally required overtime pay for any hours worked in excess of 40 hours. The Plaintiffs allege that by not paying them correctly, LiveOps, Inc. violated the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1939, 29 U.S.C. §216(b).

To me it sounds like a Victory for Liveops. The case was dismissed, and its rumored that the plainiffs are going to be asked to pay for the legal fees! How they got to their conclusions I will never know. Hope it was worth it!

Congratulations to Liveops! Check out post on Liveops so you can work at home as well - as an 'independent contractor' - its YOUR own business! Lets do the Victory DANCE! Read more...

I have seen some people that want to reinvent the wheel when it comes to their new business, but is it the right business? If your idea is REALLY new and not well understood by most people you will find it very expensive to educate everyone before they consider buying anything from you!

You want to have customer's searching for YOU, and not your business searching for CUSTOMERS! Most successful new businesses are those that find a better way to provide the goods and services. Don't assume just because YOU like to do something one way that means a large number of people will pay you to do that for them! Go out and ASK them!

LOOK FOR PROBLEMS IN YOUR MARKET!

Marketing research can be relatively easy to do among potential customers. As you talk to people that might be interested in your business SEARCH for those needs they don't feel are satisfied! National surveys indicated the majority of Americans are very unhappy about the quality of products, and lack of service that are being offered. These dissatisfaction's are a perfect chance for you to create a better way to satisfy these needs.

EXPLORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES!

Consider your interests, skills and experience you will discover that you are not equally well prepared to pursue all potential business opportunities that might come from unmet needs in the marketplace. At this point you must stimulate your creatively by imagining all the ways you could provide satisfaction of each unmet need you find. List them on a sheet of paper. You need to start questioning yourself at this point by asking, "Do I know how to do this? Well people pay for this? Do have people I know and trust that I could farm this out to? Will it be truly profitable?"

DETERMINE WHAT RESOURCES YOU WILL NEED!

While many new business owners have experience in the business they start, it is NOT always required that they be well skilled in every operation in order to take advantage of an opportunity within their marketplace. Give yourself enough time to research the requirements of almost any business, and figure out a way to learn or even practice the skills you will need. Some people consider a partner, and others find vendors to work with them for that portion.

I remember a friend of mine that had customers that wanted CALLIGRAPHY done on some fancy invitations they printed, and they a person that would do that for them! Another person I knew did promotional products, but one of customers only needed 75 and NOT 500! They were willing to pay the price for a local work at home mom with a button machine do this job for them. He also wasn't so good at artwork, and found a local graphic artist to work with him for his customers. He slowly learned graphic work, but it was more basic. He then just gave the difficult items to the graphic artist later on.

DETERMINE THE FINANCIAL RETURN

I would guess most people have this emotional need to be in business, but the truth is if you don't make a profit those emotional needs and dreams...not to mention GOALS will not be met! Its a MUST that you learn to educate yourself in how to work with financial numbers. You have to master that in order to answer the following questions: How much money must I invest? How much profit can I expect? How soon can I expect a profit? Don't be unrealistic with yourself! Depending on your business making money will come later. You have to place the effort into things to get your return! Those get rich deals? Its about as possible as the lottery! I'm not saying you can't use an accountant for certain items, but you need to have some financial know how if you are to truly know what you are doing!

EVALUATE!

Not all potential business opportunities are equally attractive once you look at the time and money investment. Some you may find will not allow you to reach your goals. Compare your ideas, and opportunities by assessing the investment required and the anticipated return. You need to seriously look to see if you are being honest with yourself! What do I enjoy doing? What am I truly good at? How well does this idea match my interest and abilities?

Narrow those choices and again...and get started!

Write down the requirements that are important to your and your idea for your business. Note the number of hours you will put in per week. See the length of time it will take before you could see a profit. Score them one at a time maybe using a 1-10 scale. Total the score for each idea you had, and you have a pretty good idea of how well the idea fits your personal needs. Read more...

Let's face it. You go into business to make a profit, that's essential if you are going to stay in business. But how can you tell whether or not you will make a profit? You need to seriously research the costs so you get a good picture of things!

There are many things that have to be taken into account in order to arrive at a fairly accurate estimate of the annual costs of running a business. When starting a new business, you will need to spend some time researching the likely costs, so that you can estimate your weekly or monthly "break-even" point.

You can use the following list of costs to help prepare your estimate. Not all costs will be applicable to every business, and depending on your particular business, there may be additional items which need to be considered. Only YOU after you research will figure out most of the costs you are looking at! Make sure you realize that you may need some wiggle room as well, because there will be things you didn't count on!

If you are planning something OUT of the home:

Establishment costs

fit out
sign writing
phone & fax
power, water & gas
equipment && furniture
rent / lease in advance
security deposit
stock / raw materials
advertising & promotion
licences & permits

Premises (Your place of business if out of your home)

rent
rates & taxes
mortgage interest
repairs & maintenance
security services
insurance, buildings, public liability, professional indemnity
cleaning


Employees (if that is what you plan on)

wages, salaries, bonuses, overtime
holiday pay
sick leave pay
long service leave provision
fringe benefits
workers compensation insurance
staff training
clothing, uniforms, personal protective equipment, etc
staff amenities
superannuation

Trading

stock & raw materials (could be wholesale items, or materials for your crafts that you plan to sell)
bank fees & interest (business accounts are a bit different that personal!)
leasing or hire purchase (if you plan to do this see which is better for you in the long run. At times your accountant can help you figure this in)
maintenance of plant, machinery, vehicles, etc (if you need this)
motor vehicle, registration & insurance, running costs, etc (Depending on HOW you set your business up these can be write offs)
depreciation
advertising & promotions (where are you going to advertise? What promotions do you plan?)
market research
provision for bad debts (Its GOING to happen!)

Administration

phone & fax
postage
stationery & printing
office supplies
insurances
office equipment, maintenance, service, depreciation
accountancy fees
Directors' fees (for companies)
solicitors fees & legal expenses
selling commissions & retainers
packaging
delivery & freight costs
contractors & sub-contractors
equipment hire
licences & permits
inspection fees
workshop tools, parts, etc
professional memberships & subscriptions (remember these are available online as well! They are useful tool, and if you do any business offline - check out your local Chamber of Commerce!)
payroll tax
Website costs

Keep in mind not all of these items may exist in what you are planning, but there are some that everyone uses! Try to estimate your costs so you know what you are looking at! Read more...

You have to learn to set goals for yourself not only in personal life, but in you business life as well! You must have a final destination in mind before you can figure out how to get there! Goal setting helps bring your final destination into better focus!

Keep in mind goals require discipline! Your discipline will make all the difference in the world! You will need to write these goals down, and remember the three criteria!

THEY ARE SPECIFIC!

Since this is Holiday Time, and some of us will want to EAT our hearts out how soon so:

Lose 20 pounds

YOU MUST HAVE A TIME LINE

Okay! I want to lose my 20 pounds by Christmas day!

BREAK IT INTO STEPS

To lose my 20 pounds by Christmas:
1) Eat one good meal everyday.
2) Need to Exercise at least 3 times a week
3) Cut out the junk food, and drink more water

Once you write that goal down on paper it will seem MORE real to you! We all have talent. Our challege is turning out talent into ability, and that is where our discipline makes all the difference in the world. It will be your talent in business that allows you to reach those goals.

Its no good starting a business you aren't going to enjoy. To help assure yourself that you are a good fit, and have the proper personality to met the demands of your choosen business you need to truly explore your beliefs, needs and interests.

Keep in mind your first year in business is going to feel like you have no time for anything! Please be careful NOT to ignore your personal and family needs, and let me tell you people do this all the time. You are looking for trouble when you go down that road.

Balance is KEY! Balance can be hard if you don't plan well. One of the best ways to allocate your time between personal and business needs is to examine your personal goals FIRST, and then see how they relate to the demands and opportunities that are going to be presented by your business.

Personal Goal Setting Worksheet

Next Three Months - Write your description

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Action Steps:

1)________________________________________

2)________________________________________

3)________________________________________

Next six months goal - Write your Description

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Action Steps:

1)________________________________________

2)________________________________________

3)________________________________________

Next 12 Months - Write out your description

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

Action Steps:

1)________________________________________

2)________________________________________

3)________________________________________



Make sure you give yourself specific description of your goal. You need to have at LEAST 3-4 steps for your action plan that you need to do to achieve them.

Once you have completed your personal goal setting worksheet start to examine how your business goals relate to your personal ones. You may decide to change a business goal because of a personal goal, and visa versa!

Get this completed, and your on your way to learn to set goals! Read more...

There are right and wrong reasons for wanting to start a business or attempt self employement! You need to make sure you are wanting to DO THIS for the right reasons FIRST! Remember being angry at your boss, wanting to get rich quick, or pursueing an idea that you have only read about briefly aren't the best way to start! How about you check for yourself to see HOW motivated you really are! If you don't know the answers to these questions check to see how motivated you are in answering them!

1) How long have you been thinking of starting your business, or being self employed?

2) Do you know anyone that is self employed? Have you discussed your ideas with them? What have they told you about being self employed?

3) Do you have a definate business idea at this time?

4) Have you done research (on the web, library, business centers, etc) regarding your idea for your business in the following areas:

How much does it cost to start?

How many others competitors are just like my business out there?

Who would be my target audience, or typical customer?

How much income do owners of this type of business typically make?

5) How long do you think it will take to open for business?

6) How much income do you have to take out of the business in the first year?

How much are you willing to invest?

7) Do you have experience in this type of work?

8) What are you willing to give up temporarily in order to get the business started? Keep in mind YOU will have to give certain things up because the amount of time, resources, and money!

9) Write down something difficult that you get stuck with until it was completed.

10) Will your family work in your business? If yes, who? What much are they going to do, and what are they going to do?

Keep in mind that starting any business can be disruptive to family life. When you work from home you need to be concerned with the physical challenge of satisfying your family AND your customers at the same time!

Take your business SERIOUS! You need to work a regular schedule, and you need to ask your family to respect this! Please that doesn't mean you cut off play time with your family, but don't let your friends talk you into running errands with them during the day if you have scheduled time to work either! REMEMBER there is money on the line here!

Try to find a place within your home to do your work. Don't spread this business all over the house! Set yourself up an office space, and make sure its separate from your family activities room!

Set and stick to your business hours! You do have some flexibility for family of course, but at the same time once your business if off the ground your customers can't be guessing when you will be there for them.

When I started a business I had children at home. There were days that they needed to play at another house, or a got a teenager to come and watch them while I worked. Make sure you realize this will be a business expense, and its to be budgeted! Its just as important as your telephone or internet! That's doesn't always have to be fulltime, but you will need some time to concentrate!


I know this sounds funny, but you will understand later! If you are planning to use just one phone line both for personal and business teach your children HOW to answer the phone, and when to STAY away from it! To be honest you will want a second line at some point. Make sure it has a hold button on it in case you need to take care of AHEM 'domestic disturbances' without sounding unprofessional! Keep your answering machine on at all times. If its a homeline - turn the ringer off at night if you need to!

Remember seek support from a home business support organizations. My local college has a business community center. It can be very helpful!

SO are you motivated yet? Remember you need to know the answers to those questions while you plan your own home business. It will take a while, but it will help you in the end! I started this series with the article about, "I don't have the cash!" if that is first hurdle! I have alot more to say about the business knowledged that I have learned over the last 14 years! Check back or subscribe to the site on top! Read more...