This June, Entrepreneur Philippines Magazine features home-based businesses that worked.
[See things to consider when running a home-based business here]
These business ideas included web development, event coordination, baby accessories, online dessert store, laundry shop and shoe retail.
[Read six hot business ideas now here]
Husband and wife team Mark and Gail Villanueva of Sheero Media, a home-based Web development company, candidly shared their experiences as entrepreneurs working in their home/office. They related an incident when their office dogs (two shih tzus) started barking when a client called.
[Read how to ride the tech boom here]
Meanwhile, interior designers Bie Magalong and Cookie Bombais of Scintilla Events, a home-based event coordinating company, said they started their business because friends and families were already asking them both to coordinate.
These and more home-based businesses are featured in the June 2010 edition.
As a bonus, it also gave six steps to set up a business at home.
Besides making money from home, Entrepreneur Philippines also takes you to Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines, and the thriving business in this city of more than 300,000 population.
[See Baguio City as one of the bargain places to source your raw materials from here]
The City of Pines' unique vibe has nurtured several businesses that capitalized on the fact that Baguio is a major tourist draw. The cool climate, the interesting mix of urban and laidback lifestyles made Baguio a location for "hot businesses" and let enterprising Pinoys set up shop.
Also, find out 10 easy on the pocket business concepts as well as smart business ideas.
[Read 10 surefire business concepts to learn in 2010 here]
These stories, tips and more are inside the pages of the June issue. Grab a copy now from your favorite newsstands and bookstores.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Going freelance
Every once in a while, you come across people who owe their allegiance to no single employer and observe no strict office hours. They work at their own pace and don’t get regular compensation. Yet they flourish, operating outside the safety nets granted to career professionals. These individuals are known as freelancers, and you can be one, too, if you have the discipline and the drive to navigate this way of life.
Understand the industry
“Freelancer” is derived from “free-lance,” a term coined by Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott to describe a mercenary warrior. They swore their lances or weapons to no single lord, and as such, they could serve whomever they wished. Most businesses use the more formal term “independent contractors” when identifying freelancers in legal paperwork.
Freelancing means you’ll be taking on several jobs. Maybe not all at once, and very likely not according to regular office hours, but you’ll need to invest a sizable amount of time and energy in a variety of tasks. Depending on the scope of your expertise and self-management abilities, you’ll probably work on projects that have similar or different requirements.
Since you work on a per-project basis, you should expect to go through a lot of beginnings and endings. Freelancing isn’t the kind of thing you do if you want a quiet, regular pace. The only thing predictable and constant about it is the amount of juggling you’ll have to do all the time.
Decide on your field
As with any profession, you can’t work unless you actually decide on what it is you want to do. If you are a regular employee, it usually means your job description is relatively static and determined by your employer. If you’re a freelancer, your job description relies entirely on what you want to do, and how you go about it.
Freelancing usually falls into two broad categories: creative development and direct service. The former is where writers, artists, designers and musicians belong, while the latter includes lawyers, plumbers, planners and other procedural professions. People who provide direct service can be further divided into white-collar and blue-collar freelancers. Taken all together, there’s as much potential variety in freelancing as there is in the rest of the business landscape
Understand the industry
“Freelancer” is derived from “free-lance,” a term coined by Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott to describe a mercenary warrior. They swore their lances or weapons to no single lord, and as such, they could serve whomever they wished. Most businesses use the more formal term “independent contractors” when identifying freelancers in legal paperwork.
Freelancing means you’ll be taking on several jobs. Maybe not all at once, and very likely not according to regular office hours, but you’ll need to invest a sizable amount of time and energy in a variety of tasks. Depending on the scope of your expertise and self-management abilities, you’ll probably work on projects that have similar or different requirements.
Since you work on a per-project basis, you should expect to go through a lot of beginnings and endings. Freelancing isn’t the kind of thing you do if you want a quiet, regular pace. The only thing predictable and constant about it is the amount of juggling you’ll have to do all the time.
Decide on your field
As with any profession, you can’t work unless you actually decide on what it is you want to do. If you are a regular employee, it usually means your job description is relatively static and determined by your employer. If you’re a freelancer, your job description relies entirely on what you want to do, and how you go about it.
Freelancing usually falls into two broad categories: creative development and direct service. The former is where writers, artists, designers and musicians belong, while the latter includes lawyers, plumbers, planners and other procedural professions. People who provide direct service can be further divided into white-collar and blue-collar freelancers. Taken all together, there’s as much potential variety in freelancing as there is in the rest of the business landscape
Starting a farm in your own backyard
Can’t put up your own farm yet? You can have a ‘micro-farm’ experience and contribute to greening the earth by starting your own herb garden in your patch of the concrete jungle.
Laurel Bangaoet, who started Tomay Farms in Benguet in December 2004 after her retirement, now has an extensive collection of culinary and medicinal herbs—many of them from all over the world.
“It started as a challenge for me, that if my friends could grow herbs in their backyards, I could too.” She is now working on a book on plants and herbs.
Bangaoet enumerates the following factors one should consider before starting your herb garden:
1. Objective. Why do you want to start one? What herbs will you be using often? You don’t need a working knowledge of all herbs before you start. Experience and experimentation will help a lot. Bangaoet says she initially “could not recognize which was which, I could not recognize one from the other.”
2. Space. Do you have a verandah or just a windowsill to work with? You should know how many herbs you need and intend to use, so you can distribute these in the available space. Can you grow your chosen herbs just in pots or do you need to plant them in the ground?
3. Plants. What herbs do you want to grow? Will you use them just for the kitchen? Is it cheaper to grow it or buy it? Different herbs “like” different locations—shady, full sun, or partial sun. Take this into consideration.
To care for your herbs, Bangaoet says you need to be mindful of three things:
Watering. Seedlings should always be moist, but when they are grown, it depends on the kind of herb, whether it should be watered often or not.
Fertilizing. Use natural, organic fertilizers for these herbs that you will be feeding your family later on. Bangaoet uses vermicast or vermicompost for hers. She cautions, however, against using too much fertilizer.
Pruning. If you use your herbs often, then you effectively are pruning them regularly. Remove dead leaves and flowers. Be mindful of each herb’s “life span.” Most are annual, but some are perennial.
A good selection of herbs, Bangaoet says, would consist of basil, chives, dill, fennel, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, and mint. These herbs, except for mint, need full sun. Mint must be grown in partial shade.
Laurel Bangaoet, who started Tomay Farms in Benguet in December 2004 after her retirement, now has an extensive collection of culinary and medicinal herbs—many of them from all over the world.
“It started as a challenge for me, that if my friends could grow herbs in their backyards, I could too.” She is now working on a book on plants and herbs.
Bangaoet enumerates the following factors one should consider before starting your herb garden:
1. Objective. Why do you want to start one? What herbs will you be using often? You don’t need a working knowledge of all herbs before you start. Experience and experimentation will help a lot. Bangaoet says she initially “could not recognize which was which, I could not recognize one from the other.”
2. Space. Do you have a verandah or just a windowsill to work with? You should know how many herbs you need and intend to use, so you can distribute these in the available space. Can you grow your chosen herbs just in pots or do you need to plant them in the ground?
3. Plants. What herbs do you want to grow? Will you use them just for the kitchen? Is it cheaper to grow it or buy it? Different herbs “like” different locations—shady, full sun, or partial sun. Take this into consideration.
To care for your herbs, Bangaoet says you need to be mindful of three things:
Watering. Seedlings should always be moist, but when they are grown, it depends on the kind of herb, whether it should be watered often or not.
Fertilizing. Use natural, organic fertilizers for these herbs that you will be feeding your family later on. Bangaoet uses vermicast or vermicompost for hers. She cautions, however, against using too much fertilizer.
Pruning. If you use your herbs often, then you effectively are pruning them regularly. Remove dead leaves and flowers. Be mindful of each herb’s “life span.” Most are annual, but some are perennial.
A good selection of herbs, Bangaoet says, would consist of basil, chives, dill, fennel, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, and mint. These herbs, except for mint, need full sun. Mint must be grown in partial shade.
Ideas & Opportunities
Starting a business can be pretty daunting for a lot of people, especially when the topic is already about getting the capital to fund it. Risking a few hundred thousand or a million pesos is no joke, after all.
Whether as a sideline or a home-based business, Entrepreneur.com.ph listed down 10 ideas that can start your entrepreneurial career without spending a lot.
1. Desktop publishing
Not everyone can make a decent flyer or brochure armed only with desktop publishing software and templates readily available from store shelves. So if you have the required talent, skill and creativity—and a high-quality printer—you can make brochures and other marketing collaterals for individual or corporate clients.
2. Virtual assistant
Virtual assistants provide administrative and business support to businesses that do not need in-house employees for tasks like taking and returning telephone calls, sifting through e-mail, and other administrative tasks related to customer service. This is basically a remote receptionist service customized according to the client’s needs.
3. Internet research
This consists of doing Internet research for corporations, law firms and other companies. This is not simply googling—the Internet researcher must have library research skills and be knowledgeable about how to access databases and other information sources on the Web.
4. Tutoring
This is great for work-at-home moms and college students who need to earn money on the side. Potential clients are foreigners who want to hone their command of the English language, and grade school and even high school students who need help with their schoolwork.
5. Arts & Crafts
Create your own unique product lines and sell them online. Aside from creativity and the skill for crafts, the online craft maker and seller must possess sales and e-commerce savvy.
6. Making gift baskets
Aside from selling goods online, how about packaging them in attractive gift baskets? Organizations are always looking for corporate giveaways, so it is important to put the word out there about your business.
7. Image consultant
If you have a strong sense of style and possess knowledge of personalities and communication, try image consulting as a home-based business. The image consultant must sincerely want to help others achieve their goals through a positive self-image.
8. Party planner
Dreaming of becoming an event planner? You can start small by being a children’s party planner. The primary requirement for this job is love for children and planning. Develop themes for party favors, décor, costumes and menu, in order to offer varied choices to your potential clients.
9. Herb farming
With more people turning to organic food, small-time herb farming may just be your ticket to breaking into the food market. Start with growing herbs—basil, oregano, tarragon and others—at home. Herbs can be grown all year round, in sunny rooms or greenhouses. There is a healthy demand both for fresh and dried herbs.
10. Stock photography business
Who says only big agencies can undertake this business? If you can take decent photos, are Internet savvy and have a modicum of marketing skills, this business has great potential returns for you. Many media companies are looking for affordable and unique stock photos that they can use for their publications.
The tale of 2 home-based entrepreneurs
Home-based Internet businesses have been growing in the Philippines because of the easy access and convenience they provide to part-time entrepreneurs.
Among these entrepreneurs is Joel Christopher Remandaban of the Internet marketing company masterlistbuilder.com, who believes that the Philippines is in a great position to become a global Internet services hub.
“The Philippines is blessed to have such an educated population base, and this is our advantage over other countries,” he says. “The Web is a great equalizer because it allows you to serve people on the other side of the world while you are sitting in the comfort of your own home. And as knowledge workers become more in demand, we in the Philippines will reap the benefits.”
He says that people need not worry about the global economic crunch because it is also a good opportunity to cash in on the business opportunities offered by the Web.
“Right now, people all over the world are looking for value,” he explains. “So, the race is going to be in reaching the most people at the least amount of time, in presenting a unique product proposition, and in making the sale. There’s no limit to the amount of money you can make on the Web; it’s like creating money out of thin air.”
Remandaban started his online marketing services firm in 1999 in the basement of his home in San Antonio, Texas. It remains a home-based business today although it has grown into a million-dollar enterprise serving clients the world over.
“I get up in the morning and, still in my pajamas and T-shirt, go to work on my computer,” he says. “This lifestyle really suits me because I control my time and manage my teams from home. I believe that others can do this, too, as long as they are dedicated to their craft and keep on persevering.”
To measure the country’s interest in Web-based content, one needs only to look at the popularity of the major Internet social networking sites. Indeed, social networking providers like Friendster and Multiply even use the Philippines as a test bed for their new service offerings.
Remandaban says the popularity of social networking is a boon to people who want to earn extra money off the Web. Selling merchandise, opening a blog, doing freelance work, and direct selling are just some of the moneymaking ventures one can get into on the Internet.
He explains: “There are many revenue streams on the Internet that are open even to amateur Web entrepreneurs. I started my business in 2000 with no knowledge about the Internet, and until now, I still struggle with some of the Web features available to me. So, if someone like me who is a non-‘geek’ can do it, so can anybody.”
One other example of a home-based enterprise on the Web is that of May Salvador, a single mother of one. She runs a virtual shop on the social networking site Multiply.com and the retail site Auction.ph. She says her income had been significant enough for her to be able to quit her job and just focus on selling merchandise online.
“I sell native fare like bags, delicacies, and accessories,” she says. “At the start, it was just a way to supplement my income from my day job. As time went by, however, more and more orders came, so I had no choice but to make it a full-time occupation. But since I work right in my own home, I have more time to take care of my child and have more time to spend with him,” she says.
Remandaban says that Web-based businesses can basically run themselves—meaning they continue to make money even while the entrepreneur is asleep or working in a regular job.
“Automation and systemizing the online business is a great way of making it generate a steady revenue stream,” he says. “As soon as you discover your niche, you can basically program the business to run itself. At the end of the month, you’ll be surprised how much you’ve made even if you spend barely an hour or two on the Web each day.”
Among these entrepreneurs is Joel Christopher Remandaban of the Internet marketing company masterlistbuilder.com, who believes that the Philippines is in a great position to become a global Internet services hub.
“The Philippines is blessed to have such an educated population base, and this is our advantage over other countries,” he says. “The Web is a great equalizer because it allows you to serve people on the other side of the world while you are sitting in the comfort of your own home. And as knowledge workers become more in demand, we in the Philippines will reap the benefits.”
He says that people need not worry about the global economic crunch because it is also a good opportunity to cash in on the business opportunities offered by the Web.
“Right now, people all over the world are looking for value,” he explains. “So, the race is going to be in reaching the most people at the least amount of time, in presenting a unique product proposition, and in making the sale. There’s no limit to the amount of money you can make on the Web; it’s like creating money out of thin air.”
Remandaban started his online marketing services firm in 1999 in the basement of his home in San Antonio, Texas. It remains a home-based business today although it has grown into a million-dollar enterprise serving clients the world over.
“I get up in the morning and, still in my pajamas and T-shirt, go to work on my computer,” he says. “This lifestyle really suits me because I control my time and manage my teams from home. I believe that others can do this, too, as long as they are dedicated to their craft and keep on persevering.”
To measure the country’s interest in Web-based content, one needs only to look at the popularity of the major Internet social networking sites. Indeed, social networking providers like Friendster and Multiply even use the Philippines as a test bed for their new service offerings.
Remandaban says the popularity of social networking is a boon to people who want to earn extra money off the Web. Selling merchandise, opening a blog, doing freelance work, and direct selling are just some of the moneymaking ventures one can get into on the Internet.
He explains: “There are many revenue streams on the Internet that are open even to amateur Web entrepreneurs. I started my business in 2000 with no knowledge about the Internet, and until now, I still struggle with some of the Web features available to me. So, if someone like me who is a non-‘geek’ can do it, so can anybody.”
One other example of a home-based enterprise on the Web is that of May Salvador, a single mother of one. She runs a virtual shop on the social networking site Multiply.com and the retail site Auction.ph. She says her income had been significant enough for her to be able to quit her job and just focus on selling merchandise online.
“I sell native fare like bags, delicacies, and accessories,” she says. “At the start, it was just a way to supplement my income from my day job. As time went by, however, more and more orders came, so I had no choice but to make it a full-time occupation. But since I work right in my own home, I have more time to take care of my child and have more time to spend with him,” she says.
Remandaban says that Web-based businesses can basically run themselves—meaning they continue to make money even while the entrepreneur is asleep or working in a regular job.
“Automation and systemizing the online business is a great way of making it generate a steady revenue stream,” he says. “As soon as you discover your niche, you can basically program the business to run itself. At the end of the month, you’ll be surprised how much you’ve made even if you spend barely an hour or two on the Web each day.”
5 money-making ideas using a printer
When you bought a desktop computer there was a printer included in the package, but aside from the one or two pages that you print once in a while, your printer is just there, sitting idly and gathering dust.
Why haven't you used it as a tool for business? It can be a money-making opportunity that you can start in the comfort of your own home or as a profitable sideline business. While your printing business may start small - with a personal laserjet or inkjet printer - its potential to grow into a flourishing business is possible.
The printing business can vary from printing a document or two to printing customized products, to even the large scale billboard printing.
Click on the gallery below to see the latest printers from technology giant, Hewlett-Packard, and what business you can start with them.
Ideas & Opportunities
5 money-making ideas using a printer
Sep 21, 2011
When you bought a desktop computer there was a printer included in the package, but aside from the one or two pages that you print once in a while, your printer is just there, sitting idly and gathering dust.
Why haven't you used it as a tool for business? It can be a money-making opportunity that you can start in the comfort of your own home or as a profitable sideline business. While your printing business may start small - with a personal laserjet or inkjet printer - its potential to grow into a flourishing business is possible.
The printing business can vary from printing a document or two to printing customized products, to even the large scale billboard printing.
Click on the gallery below to see the latest printers from technology giant, Hewlett-Packard, and what business you can start with them.
For orders and inquiries, call (02) 867.3557.
1
1 / 5Printer for internet cafes and business centers
People value convenience so there will always be a demand for printing services in internet cafes and business centers.
The HP Deskjet Ink Advantage K110a offers users with outstanding print quality that’s ideal for everyday printing needs.
A compact and easy-to-use device, this device lets users print, scan and copy in one sleek device. It features print resolutions of up to 4800 x 1200 dpi for clearer documents and images.
Copy center
Do you live near schools and offices? Then opening a small copy center where you can offer services for bulk copying and printing is a good idea.
The HP Officejet Advantage 4500 All-in-One is an affordable flatbed all-in-one printer also features up to 28 pages per minute (ppm) for black documents and 22 ppm for color prints for quick print results, and lets users enjoy fast fax speeds of 3 seconds per page with up to 33.6kbps connection
Party and events invitation maker
Birthdays, parties and other events will always need invitations and posters that are professionally made.
The HP LaserJet M1536dnf Multifunction Printer is a useful alternative to meet an array of business needs and budget requirements with its print, scan, copy and fax capabilities. Equipped with HP ePrint technology, users can email print jobs for convenient printing anywhere business takes them. It also offers two-sided printing with a 35-page automatic document feeder for 50 percent less paper consumption.
Outdoor signage
Have a knack for text and design? Then you can cater to local businesses looking for affordable signage options for advertising.
HP Designjet L25500 produces outdoor signage with durability comparable to eco-solvent inks. Achieve high-quality results—that meet clients’ branding requirements—for all your indoor signage applications, from exhibition graphics to interior decorations.
Personalized giveaways
People love giving and receiving personalized gifts for various occasions. Stand out from the crowd this holiday season by offering unique and customized gifts for giveaways.
HP SCITEX LX800 is a great printer for customized POP displays, light boxes, soft signage, customized wall paper and other interior decorations, and vehicle wraps.
Why haven't you used it as a tool for business? It can be a money-making opportunity that you can start in the comfort of your own home or as a profitable sideline business. While your printing business may start small - with a personal laserjet or inkjet printer - its potential to grow into a flourishing business is possible.
The printing business can vary from printing a document or two to printing customized products, to even the large scale billboard printing.
Click on the gallery below to see the latest printers from technology giant, Hewlett-Packard, and what business you can start with them.
Ideas & Opportunities
5 money-making ideas using a printer
Sep 21, 2011
When you bought a desktop computer there was a printer included in the package, but aside from the one or two pages that you print once in a while, your printer is just there, sitting idly and gathering dust.
Why haven't you used it as a tool for business? It can be a money-making opportunity that you can start in the comfort of your own home or as a profitable sideline business. While your printing business may start small - with a personal laserjet or inkjet printer - its potential to grow into a flourishing business is possible.
The printing business can vary from printing a document or two to printing customized products, to even the large scale billboard printing.
Click on the gallery below to see the latest printers from technology giant, Hewlett-Packard, and what business you can start with them.
For orders and inquiries, call (02) 867.3557.
1
1 / 5Printer for internet cafes and business centers
People value convenience so there will always be a demand for printing services in internet cafes and business centers.
The HP Deskjet Ink Advantage K110a offers users with outstanding print quality that’s ideal for everyday printing needs.
A compact and easy-to-use device, this device lets users print, scan and copy in one sleek device. It features print resolutions of up to 4800 x 1200 dpi for clearer documents and images.
Copy center
Do you live near schools and offices? Then opening a small copy center where you can offer services for bulk copying and printing is a good idea.
The HP Officejet Advantage 4500 All-in-One is an affordable flatbed all-in-one printer also features up to 28 pages per minute (ppm) for black documents and 22 ppm for color prints for quick print results, and lets users enjoy fast fax speeds of 3 seconds per page with up to 33.6kbps connection
Party and events invitation maker
Birthdays, parties and other events will always need invitations and posters that are professionally made.
The HP LaserJet M1536dnf Multifunction Printer is a useful alternative to meet an array of business needs and budget requirements with its print, scan, copy and fax capabilities. Equipped with HP ePrint technology, users can email print jobs for convenient printing anywhere business takes them. It also offers two-sided printing with a 35-page automatic document feeder for 50 percent less paper consumption.
Outdoor signage
Have a knack for text and design? Then you can cater to local businesses looking for affordable signage options for advertising.
HP Designjet L25500 produces outdoor signage with durability comparable to eco-solvent inks. Achieve high-quality results—that meet clients’ branding requirements—for all your indoor signage applications, from exhibition graphics to interior decorations.
Personalized giveaways
People love giving and receiving personalized gifts for various occasions. Stand out from the crowd this holiday season by offering unique and customized gifts for giveaways.
HP SCITEX LX800 is a great printer for customized POP displays, light boxes, soft signage, customized wall paper and other interior decorations, and vehicle wraps.
Learn how to make money from home with Entrepreneur Philippines' June 2011 issue
In starting a business, the most difficult part of the task is actually taking the first step--and that is what the June 2011 issue of Entrepreneur Philippines aims to address.
The June issue gives a step-by-step guide for aspiring entrepreneurs on how they can start becoming their own boss even from the comfort of their own home. Entrepreneur Philippines will guide you through the tedious process of getting permits, converting a portion of a house into a business space, managing time between taking care of the house and being an entrepreneur. After all, working at home does not mean there will be no more distinction between working and living.
To further entice you into starting your own business, the June 2011 issue of Entrepreneur Philippines has over 40 business ideas and more than 20 franchise opportunities that you can choose from.
In June, Entrepreneur Philippines also takes you to closer to entrepreneurs from Cebu City, a prime business center in the Visayas. Learn from and be inspired by the men and women behind the likes of the Abaca Botique Resort, Laguna Café, and Suarez Brothers’ Metal Arts Inc.
Here's one more thing you can look forward to when you grab our June 2011 issue: 10 tips in boosting your online presence. So, what are you waiting for? Grab the latest issue of Entrepreneur Philippines at your favorite bookstores and newsstands.
Here's a sneak peek at this month's cover. Check out the stories we have prepared for you!
The June issue gives a step-by-step guide for aspiring entrepreneurs on how they can start becoming their own boss even from the comfort of their own home. Entrepreneur Philippines will guide you through the tedious process of getting permits, converting a portion of a house into a business space, managing time between taking care of the house and being an entrepreneur. After all, working at home does not mean there will be no more distinction between working and living.
To further entice you into starting your own business, the June 2011 issue of Entrepreneur Philippines has over 40 business ideas and more than 20 franchise opportunities that you can choose from.
In June, Entrepreneur Philippines also takes you to closer to entrepreneurs from Cebu City, a prime business center in the Visayas. Learn from and be inspired by the men and women behind the likes of the Abaca Botique Resort, Laguna Café, and Suarez Brothers’ Metal Arts Inc.
Here's one more thing you can look forward to when you grab our June 2011 issue: 10 tips in boosting your online presence. So, what are you waiting for? Grab the latest issue of Entrepreneur Philippines at your favorite bookstores and newsstands.
Here's a sneak peek at this month's cover. Check out the stories we have prepared for you!
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