Author Archives: Beth Sawyer

About Beth Sawyer

My name is Beth Sawyer and I live in Washington State. I’m a mother of brilliant and active son. My husband and I have been married for almost two decades, and we’re going strong. For many years, I worked for a variety of corporations, training individuals in management skills and writing training programs. When my son was born, I stopped working and stayed at home. In the last three years I’ve been building my own home business as a freelance writer. I work with a variety of companies, writing web content, articles, and profiles. My home business gives me the flexibility I need to spend time with my son, volunteer at his school, and just have fun, while balancing my work schedule.

Home Business Scams – Avoid Getting Taken

Your goal is honorable. You want to start a business that lets you stay at home, spend time with your family, provide care for your children, and help with your financial responsibilities. So, why do you have to negotiate through so much garbage to find a true business opportunity? Blame it on the Internet. The Internet made it possible to find new ways to do business (that’s the good news), and the Internet made it possible for more unscrupulous businesses to reach more people than ever before (that’s the really bad news.) If you are trying to research a home … Continue reading →

Separating the Scams from the Real Opportunities

We all know that there’s lots of home business scams out there. The thing that’s probably the most frustrating though is how legitimate some of these scams sound. In this blog, I’ll look at a couple of the most common scams I’ve seen and the reality of how they really work. Let’s take a look. Home Assembly and Stuffing Envelopes Sounds legitimate, right? We all know there’s lots of junk mail out there, and someone has to put that stuff in the envelopes. Here’s what happens: you spend $25 to $50 as a fee to get set up with these … Continue reading →

Pick a Business Type – Then Explore Your Options

When I was thinking about working from home, I really struggled with finding a business that worked for me. In fact, I had a few false starts along the way. Much like when I was in college, everything sounded good to me. One day I could envision myself working as a virtual assistant, the next day as a dog groomer, a few days later I’d consider selling my jewelry online, a week later, I’d think about taking classes to learn how to become a web designer. I knew I wanted to do something different than my former profession, but I … Continue reading →

Defining Your Entrepreneurial Type

In a previous blog entitled “Pick a Business Type – Then Explore Your Options”, I discussed my search to find a business that interested me and would work well for me. I definitely went down some wrong paths in my search. Long after I settled on a freelance writing business, I found a great resource. I stumbled across a book at my local bookseller – boy, do I wish I’d found it earlier. The book is titled “What Business Should I Start: 7 Steps to Discovering the Ideal Business for You” by Rhonda Abrams. Abrams is a nationally syndicated small … Continue reading →

Want to Start a Home Business – Do You Have What It Takes?

Four years ago I was contemplating starting a home business. I knew I wanted a business that would work around my family’s needs, but would be challenging to me, and hopefully, add a little money to the depleted family budget. What I didn’t know was how I was going to start, or even if I could really do it. I was used to working for someone else – did I have the skills to run my own business? During the decision-making process, I had to take a long, hard look at myself and my abilities. I took a personal inventory … Continue reading →

Five Reasons to Start Your Home Business

How long have you been contemplating starting a home business? Most of us have had the thought of a home business rattling around in our brains, but we just haven’t taken the next step. Before you decide to embark on a home business, take some time to explore the concept fully. It’s important to have realistic expectations and goals, and even more important to understand why you want to start a home based business. Take a look at some of the common reasons for starting a home business and see if any match your list. Flexibility – If you’ve worked … Continue reading →

Starting A Home Business – Fact Finding Missions

Making the decision to start a home business is an exciting process. It’s also a time filled with uncertainty and confusion. It’s not uncommon to have some questions or concerns – • What kind of home business should you pursue? • How long does it take to be successful? • Can you be financially independent with a home business? • How much time will you have to devote to the business? • How will you balance your business with your family needs? • Do you have to spend a lot of money to start a home business? These questions (and … Continue reading →