Business

A fascinating opportunity in home-based business is quickly emerging: manufacturing small items in moderate quantities at home, using robotics. So far, this has been a phenomenon mostly restricted to geeky hobbyists (a device called the MakerBot leads  the market), but changes are happening that I believe will transform this into a viable home-based business opportunity.

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Last week Yahoo Inc. CEO Marissa Mayer had her HR department issue a ban on working from home. This provoked a lot of commentary in the media, much of which was negative. Issues of work-life balance and young parents were raised, along with the many studies showing that telecommuting can be productive. So why the decision?

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We all have moments when we wonder about our jobs, “why am I doing this?” Usually the thought doesn’t last long, but sometimes it progresses to, “I think I should move on, find something better.” Should you?

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In what seems like just a few short years, email has changed from being a blessing for quick communications to a productivity sapping monster. Why has this happened, and what can we do about it? I have found an approach that works for me. It might help you.

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For many new entrepreneurs on a tight budget, setting up a business at home is the only option. Fortunately, this can work quite well for some businesses such as Internet-based distributors, accounting firms, or technology-based companies that simply require a fixed address in order to receive mail. Working from home can have many benefits, but it isn’t always a feasible option, nor the best atmosphere for creative juices to flow. This is where shared workspaces come in: office spaces that encourage entrepreneurs and freelancers to interact with one another and get their work done in a social environment, while sharing the costs of office space.

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Every day new businesses open up shop for the first time. The owners of these businesses are often driven by the dream of being their own boss.

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Are you looking to go into business for yourself but having difficulty choosing the type of business to open? Have you previously worked as a writer, editor, storyteller, or are you a history buff? Do you love talking with new people? Opening a personal history business may be perfect for you! In fact, even if you haven't worked as a personal historian before, you may already have the transferable skills to run a successful business in this rapidly expanding industry. For example, excellent communication skills and being adaptable to new situations are qualities that will help you as a personal historian.

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The British Columbia Registry Services have made some changes to how proprietorships and partnerships are registered. Form 2 and Form 3 of the Partnership Regulation have had the words "residential or registered address" removed and the address for a proprietor or partner is now defined to be a residential address only if the partner or proprietor is an individual.

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Franchises are everywhere. Across Canada, franchises such as Tim Hortons and Subway exist in even the smallest hamlets. Many of these businesses do quite well for one simple reason: residents and tourists recognize the brands and choose them based on price and a consistent product; they know what to expect every time they visit a franchised business.

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Critical to the success of many businesses is hiring and retaining the right employees.

It’s true that managers are busy, but when it comes to the overall success of a business, it is the job of the manager to make sure that he or she not only hire the right individuals, but also make the employees feel they belong in the organization. According to Lin Grensing-Pophal in her book Motivating Today’s Employees, arranging a warm, informative welcome will allow new employees to start off on the right foot.

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