There are pros and cons for attending conferences as a home business owner. The challenge is to figure out if the cost of attending the conference pays off in terms of knowledge, exposure, and networking. I’m not talking about businesses where you do the bulk of your sales through conferences and expos—but the type of professional conferences that are geared toward specific fields and trades. Is it worth it to attend, and if so, how many conferences should a person attend in a year?
Conferences can be expensive. You have to factor in your tuition, the price of hotel rooms and meals, and any transportation to and from the conference site. You might be able to attend more economically if you stay with friends, or find someone to share a room with. Other ways to cut back on the expense includes participating in the conference as a presenter or volunteer. Some conferences will offer free attendance or rooms, or even a per diem to those who teach workshops or present at the conference (or those who volunteer to help with registration or other important tasks.)
It is important to really be ruthless in considering what your business gets from your attendance at a conference. While personal inspiration and energizing is important, it’s not always enough to justify attending a conference. You need to really think over who else will be in attendance, what the networking and public relations opportunities will be, and how your attendance at the conference will benefit your business’ bottom line. It can be tough to predict, but try looking objectively at what the conference has to offer.
Your family situation is not to be overlooked either in considering how many conferences to attend. Some home business owners have become pros at incorporating a family vacation with a necessary professional conference—this can be a great way to get in some vacation time with the family and still be working on your business. BUT, it can also be a stressful way to do things too. While the family is off having a great time at the water slide, you may be stuck in a conference workshop all day making sure you get your money’s worth. Leaving the family behind may afford you more focus, but there might be added expense and worry over getting someone else to look after the children and the household (depending on whether or not you have a partner and their job schedule.) All of these factors need to be taken into consideration when evaluating whether a professional conference is a good thing for business and family, or whether it should be passed over.
In the end, it comes down to a personal decision and a bit of a leap of faith. However, doing your homework and working through the pros and cons and realities can help you make the best possible decision for your situation—both business and family.
See Also: Becoming a Children’s Writer and Managing Risk in a Home Business