Welcome to the NEW weekly e-zine Business Consultant Weekly

Business Consultant Weekly is a FREE newsletter brought to you by NetChecks of Quartz Hill, CA <http://netcheckspayroll.com> helping small and home businesses succeed.

The goal of this newsletter is to bring insight into the challenges you face whether you're going it alone or working in a group to carve out a niche in the business world. Increase your cash flow and productivity with informative articles on time management, marketing, daily operations, and read messages from well-known motivational speakers that will encourage you to persevere toward your goal.

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In this issue:

1) Tip of the Week

2) FEATURE ARTICLE: Run An Efficient Home Office By Terry Thomas

3) Classifieds

4) FREE Resources

5) MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGE: What Listening Can Do By William N Hodges

"Tip of the Week"

Record Retention:

Records that should be kept permanently include cash books, general ledgers, journals, financial statements, audit reports and income tax returns.

Records that should be kept for seven years include accounts payable and receivable records, canceled checks, inventory records, payroll records, sales receipts and invoices.

Records that should be kept for four years are those that pertain to payroll taxes.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Run An Efficient Home Office By Terry Thomas

Those of us who work out of our homes realize it's a double edged sword. Yes, we enjoy the freedom of a home-office Ñ no commuting and a totally flexible schedule Ñ but it also means that we must budget our time, work efficiently, and commit.

First of all, "home-business" does not necessarily mean "small" business in terms of revenue. Many home-businesses are multi-million dollar corporations. I run one from my home, IMC, Inc. It's an import/ export company which grosses over one million dollars in sales per year! Sure, I have a separate warehouse, but the business is RUN from my home!

Operating from home isn't always easy, but the benefits easily outweigh the negatives. I've learned to work effectively from home and will share the things I feel will enable you to get the most out of your home-based business or office.

Create a separate room or area to be used exclusively for business Ñ If you don't have a basement, garage, or spare room, partition an area of one room. Designate this as your "office", and treat it as such. Don't use it for anything but work! More importantly, don't go in there unless you are going to "work". Why? Because if you treat the office area as a separate entity, you will be more productive. Make sure your family members know it's an "office" and is off limits! The more separate you can make your office area, the better off you will be, and the more professionally you can run.

Have a separate phone line installed Ñ This makes it easier for customers to reach you and projects a professional image. A fax machine is certainly a must for many businesses. You don't need a separate phone line. Use a telephone sharing device which automatically routes calls to a phone, fax, or modem. These are readily available and eliminate the need for costly phone lines. Of course, if you receive a high volume of phone calls or faxes, you'll need more lines. You might even want to lease a multi-line phone system from the telephone company.

A personal computer is a must Ñ If not a necessity, it is a time and money-saver to own and use a computer. Invest in the best one you can afford that meets your needs. Prices are dropping every day and systems are running for under $1,000. You'll also need a printer capable of printing legible correspondence especially if you want to create your own brochures, ads, or high quality correspondence.

Arrange your furniture Ñ Make sure you have a desk that is large enough to handle your needs, and a file cabinet or two for files. Most importantly, get a good, comfortable chair. This can be your most important office tool! Fatigue and many back and neck problems are caused by cheaply made chairs.

Purchase or lease an office copier Ñ For many this may be out of the question due to the numerous copy places in every community. But, if copying is repetitive and halts work, consider if the time and money saved offsets this expense. Get one that handles everyday copy needs. Any larger jobs can still be done at your local print or copyshop.

Set up a regular work schedule Ñ All of us know we work our home businesses all hours of the day and night. Still, set up some "business hours". If you're going to have hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, then stick to that schedule. Take normal breaks, including lunch. But, it is important that you establish a regular habit of being "in the office" on a set schedule that your customers are aware of. For the times you must leave the office to make sales calls, run errands, or for other reasons, make sure there is an answering machine or service to answer any incoming calls, and that you return the calls as soon as you return. Be certain that family and friends are aware of your regular "business" hours. Ask them to respect that time. They should not expect you to be "free" just because you are at home.

When you get up in the morning, act as if you are going to work! Shower, get dressed and go to your office. Dressing like you are going to work makes you will feel more like working and if you have customers or vendors visiting, looks more professional.

Outfit your office as best you can within your budget. Treat it as a business, and work regular hours. Your business or office may be at home, but it is still an "office"! Treat it with the respect it deserves!

Terry Thomas is the President of TJT Publications and International Marketing Connection, Inc. He has owned his own businesses since 1987 and publishes the innovative and provocative newsletter, Mail-Order Marketing News. This newsletter provides a continuing education in mail order, along with success tips, marketing strategies, and money-making opportunities. For a FREE sample issue and mail order catalog, send 3 loose First Class Stamps, or $1.00 to: TJT Publications, P.O. Box 55685, Valencia, CA 91385. Originally Published at http://www.homebusinessmag.com/

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FREE Resources

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MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGE

WHAT LISTENING CAN DO Copyright 1996 William N Hodges, used by permission. September 1997

Listening is one of the most important communication skills available to mankind. It's a shame we spend so little time cultivating this very powerful skill. I've written before, and if you read much of what I write, you will probably see me write again, that listening should be a required course from elementary school through college. Some portion of every day should be specifically designated as a time to develop our ability to listen. Here are some very valuable rewards we can reap, both for ourselves and for others, if we put our time into learning to listen.

1. Listening can enhance friendships. When we really listen to the feelings of those who are close to us, it opens doors to a deepening of the relationship. Too many times, when speaking with a loved one, we do not pay full attention. Although they are telling us their hopes and dreams, we are busy thinking about what we're going to do tomorrow. Take a few minutes to concentrate on what the people closest to you are saying. You'll be surprised how much you will learn and how much they will appreciate it. 2. Listening is a great problem solving technique. It may not solve your problems, but by simply giving another person your ear, you may well solve theirs. I have noticed that in many instances when people ask me for advice, they really don't want advice. What they want is someone to listen as they explain the problem out loud. In many instances, they come up with their own solutions, and I get credit for helping because I was willing to listen. 3. Listening facilitates communication. In order to be complete, communication requires a process and that process includes a speaker, a listener, and then feedback from the listener to the speaker. If there is no listener, there is no communication. Be sure you are spending your fair share of time in the role of listener. 4. Listening is a tool to reduce tension. One of the first things I teach the students in my customer relations seminar is to say little and listen a lot. If you smile and nod as you listen carefully to someone who has a complaint, it is amazing what a calming effect it will have upon the complainant. Most of us just want to blow off steam, especially if we feel we have been harmed. Give the other person the opportunity and you will disarm them, eliminating a great deal of stress and tension. 5. Listening is an easy way to become a good conversationalist. Dale Carnegie, in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, suggests listening is an excellent way to become a good conversationalist. He said all most people really want in a conversation is an interested listener. The next time you are in a conversation, remember the five W's and use them liberally-Who? What? Why? When? Where? 6. Listening expands the mind. Begin with the belief that everyone has a story and that each person has a secret to tell you that will make you more productive, happier, and healthier. It may be a very small secret, and you may have to blow away a great deal of chaff before the grain is found. If you begin with this premise, you will be amazed at how much you can learn from everyone you meet.

Most of us can hear. Will you be one of the few who will listen? It's up to you.

Bill Hodges is nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and columnist. If you enjoyed this article, you will enjoy his book Within Your Reach which contains 60 such articles on positive thinking. If ordering from your local bookstore, reference ISBN #0-9622717-0-5, or you may order directly by sending your check for $4.95 USCurrency plus ($1.30 USA $3.00 Other) for shipping to Hodges Seminars International, P O Box 22 Fairborn OH 45324. Or order by Visa or Mastercharge at his Web site http://www.BillHodges.com

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