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Chapter 1: Next Stop ”Home
Did you know that nearly 60 million people work from a home office at least one day a week? There's a buzz out there, and it's making its way across the country ”work from home, pursue your passion, and take hold of your life. Find out who started at their kitchen table and are enjoying amazing success today. Take our quiz and learn if working from home is for you. Discover why those who work from a home office have no plans to commute ever again.
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Chapter 2: Creating Space for Your 60-Second Commute
Creating space for your home office is an essential first step. Whether your home is a cottage, apartment, boat, or a house, you will need to create a space to work. In this chapter, we discuss how to set up your work space in a way that works best for you.
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Chapter 3: Technology: 60-Second Commute Essentials
All home office professionals need equipment. This chapter covers it all, from computers to fax machines, and provides reader-friendly descriptions of such topics as DSL lines, cable modems, and ISDN. If you're not sure what you need in your home office or how to set it all up, this chapter will answer your questions.
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Chapter 4: The 24/7 Lifestyle: Time Management in the Home Office
Time, the one thing we all seem to need more of but aren't sure how to get it. This chapter describes how to maximize your time, avoid interruptions, and improve your overall productivity.
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Chapter 5: Organization: How to Get Your Act Together
Nothing can foul up a dream faster than disorganization. The chapter starts off with confessions of two disorganized women and describes some of the pitiful mistakes Erica and Kathy have made along the way. It's followed by a quiz to see how organized you really are. Next you'll find a step-by-step guide for getting organized, as well as tips for managing the invasions of those little people in your home.
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Chapter 6: Professionalism in the Home Office
This chapter will help you to put your best professional face on while working from a home office. Whether you are telecommuter or a small business owner, you don't want to lose credibility by appearing less than professional. This chapter covers stationary and business cards, brochures , telephone systems, and constructing eye-catching websites .
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Chapter 7: Get the Ball Rolling: Business & Budget Plans
Once you make the decision to start a home business, it is time to roll up your sleeves and tend to the business of planning and becoming legitimate . This chapter provides a detailed description of legal structures and business plans. We will discuss how to name and register your business name , incorporate your business, register a website, and determine your start-up costs. There is a detailed checklist and worksheet designed to get you on your way to success.
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Chapter 8: Taxes: Don't Get Caught Asleep at the Wheel
We take the fear out of taxes by providing a step-by-step guide of what you need to know about taxes, from how to pick your accountant to the latest in software programs. This chapter covers accounting methods , home office deductions, quarterly taxes, and how you can fly below the IRS's radar and stay clear of trouble.
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Chapter 9: Legal Eagles: Understanding Your Business and the Law
Beginning a business from home is exciting and for many, a life long dream. Learn how to establish your business correctly from the start so that you can reap the rewards later on. This chapter covers how to hire a lawyer, apply for licenses and permits , apply for patents and copyrights, and protect your trade secrets.
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Chapter 10: Insurance in the Home Office
If you are starting your own business, you may want health insurance and life insurance. This chapter describes your health insurance options, COBRA, as well as other insurance options. Learn how to make wise insurance decisions and where to go for more information.
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Chapter 11: Pink Slip Blues
You had a hunch that it could happen to you ”and then it did. Being handed your pink slip and losing your job can be a frightening and unsettling experience. Learn what steps to take before you lose your job and what to do if you are laid off. Find out how to start over, avoid scams, and pursue what you really want to do.
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Chapter 12: Child Care: Life on the High Wire
Child care is an essential part of the home office pie. In this chapter, we discuss the many choices available, from babysitters to au pairs, and how to pick the right person to look after your children.
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Chapter 13: Strategies for Hanging in When the Going Gets Tough
Business, as in life, has its highs and lows. There are days, even months, when nothing seems to be going well. In this chapter, we discuss how to recharge your batteries when you're feeling rundown and beat those occasional feelings of isolation. Find out about the top-ten things you can do when your business is in danger of failing and how you can turn it around.
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Chapter 14: Telecommuting Proposals: Getting into the Home Office
More and more companies are offering telecommuting programs to their employees . Often the decision of who gets to work from home is left up to managers. If you would like your boss to give you a 60-second commute, turn to this chapter to find out how to write a telecommuter proposal.
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Chapter 15: Marketing Yourself and Your Small Business
Whether you are a telecommuter who needs to network your contacts or a business owner who needs to get off the ground, you'll need to market yourself. This chapter is full of networking and marketing ideas that teach you how to seize opportunities, think outside the box, and go outside your comfort zone.
