Home-Based Business In Saskatchewan

Summary

Tips on Starting a Home-Based Business

• Pick a home business idea that interests you, for which you have a talent or expertise, for which there is a need, and which you can afford to finance.

• Do your market research.  In a home business, as in any business, getting as much information as possible on your customers, competition, suppliers, and market area before you start is essential.

• Do a complete business plan, including financial planning, before beginning.

• Check on and obtain all necessary licenses, permits, and registrations for your line of business.  This includes checking with your city/town/R.M. to see if it's legal to operate your business from home.

• Have business cards, stationery, brochures, etc., printed by professionals.  A polished, professional look is particularly important for home-operated businesses.

• Advertise.  Scan and target T.V. and radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and newsletters geared to your market.  Use public and special libraries to access this information.  Canadian Advertising Rates and Data (CARD) lists Canadian publications, T.V. and radio stations, and their advertising rates.

• Self-market.  Go to stores, companies, etc., to market your service or product in person.  Be sure to spend some time finding out about your potential customers before you try to 'sell' them.

• Designate and design a work area that is separate from the mainstream of your home activities.  Install a separate business phone, fax, and Internet connections.

• Check on any extra insurance needs.  Shop around for policies, but make sure that you're adequately covered.

• Make use of free publicity.  Send out news releases, present your product or service to a newspaper editor, radio or T.V. producer if applicable.

• Don't overlook management/bookkeeping.  Lack of managerial expertise is one of the single highest causes of business failure.  Take courses, seek expert advice or hire help, but do learn basic management skills before you start.

• Talk to owners of similar businesses outside your market area to get an idea of the potential and status of that line of business.

• Join trade associations, business community associations, (i.e. chambers of commerce), business networks, or clubs to help establish contacts.

• Check both federal and provincial taxation requirements with Canada Revenue Agency and Saskatchewan Finance.  Find out about allowable deductions for automobile expenses, business meals and entertainment, and home offices expenses for self-employed persons.

Home-Based Business Ideas

It's important to note that some of the businesses below may be subject to the approval of local authorities (i.e. health, zoning, etc.)

ARTS-RELATED BUSINESSES:

BUSINESS SERVICES:

PERSONAL SERVICES:

RETAIL BUSINESSES:

MANUFACTURING/DESIGN/REPAIR:

TRADES:

Pros and Cons of Working at Home

• Pros :
  • Lower costs: office/store rental, commuting, tax deductions, child care.
  • Time saved: work when most productive, combine work and home chores, commuting time.
  • Own boss:  set own priorities, direct financial benefit when doing well.
  • Can be home with family.

• Cons :
  • Work space:  may be hard to set up a permanent, separate work space.  If you must see clients/customers in your home it can involve costly renovations or you may have problems creating a professional image.
  • Time:  can be difficult to find quiet time to work or, conversely, work may cut into your family/personal life; it may be hard to "get started".
  • Travel:  if you visit clients in their office/store it may require a lot of time and will involve higher costs.
  • Isolation

RESOURCES

Samples of Books Available Regarding Home-Based Business

Dollars on Your Doorstep - Gregory Kishel and Patricia Kishel
Home Business Opportunities, A Treasury of - Russ Von Hoeschler
Home Business: The New Reality - Barbara Orser
Homemade Money - Edna Sheedy
Women Working Home: The Home-Based Business Guide and Directory - Marion Behr and Wendy Lazar

Samples of Books on Specific Businesses

ARTS-RELATED:
How to Make Money in the Antiques and Collectibles Business - Elyse Sommer
How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist - Caroll Michels
Promoting and Selling Your Art - Carol Katchen
Sell Your Photographs - Natalie Canavor
Selling Your Handcrafts - William Garrison
Start and Run a Profitable Craft Business - William Hynes

BUSINESS SERVICES:
Successful Conference and Convention Planning - Robert Drain and Neil Oakley
Words for Sale - Eve Drobot and Hal Tennant, editors
Starting and Building Your Own Accounting Business - Jack Fox
Start and Run a Profitable Consulting Business - Douglas Gray
Complete Guide to a Successful Small Client Tax Practice - Ralph Guyette
Making Money with Your Microcomputer - Robert Traister and Rich Ingram

MISCELLANEOUS:
Get Rich Through Multi-Level Selling - Gini Graham Scott
Marketing Your Product - Douglas Gray
Successful Catering - Bernard Splaver
Marketing Your Service - Jean Withers and Carol Vipperman

RETAIL:
Successful Direct Selling - Ronald Bernstein
How You Too Can Make at Least $1 Million in the Mail-Order Business - Gerardo Joffe
Sell it by Mail:  Making Your Product the One They Buy - James Lumley
$36,000 a Year in Your Own Home Merchandising Business - Barry Masser

For additional information visit the Regina Public Library online at http://rpl.regina.sk.ca or the Saskatoon Public Library online at http://www.saskatoonlibrary.ca or visit your local library.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS  LINKS  and RELATED WEB SITES

Starting a Home-Based Business  
This document is a guide prepared by the  Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre  and is intended to provide you with general information and suggested resources to assist you.  Also available on the Canada - Saskatchewan Business Service Centre Web site is information on a wide variety of topics as well as information on current federal and provincial programs and services.

Saskatchewan Home-Based Business Association
The objective of the Association is to promote opportunities for successful home-based businesses in Saskatchewan.  Membership may be an option for those home-based businesses that wish to belong to an association.  To obtain a free copy of their newsletter or find about more about the benefits of becoming a member, visit their Web site.

Business Know-how
This site includes information on how to succeed in your home-based business. 

Small and Home-Based Business Links
This site provides business links to franchises, opportunities, financing, marketing, references, services, news, and more. Biz Office

starting a home-based business - a manual for success
This document has been developed for the Internet by the Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise, Province of British Columbia and Western Economic Diversification Canada, Federal Government of Canada.
http://www.cse.gov.bc.ca/reportspublications/publications/hbb2000.pdf

Prepared by: Saskatchewan Regional Economic and Co-operative Development