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One of the things that many home business owners overlook is the need for business insurance. Many with a home business mistakenly believe that their homeowners insurance will suffice. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as many policies are not designed to protect the home business. You might be unpleasantly surprised should something happen.

Home Biz Notes points out that you should consider these types of business insurance for your home business, depending on your needs and the size and scope of your operation:

* Property coverage.
* Liability coverage.
* Business interruption.

You might want to consult with a professional about what you should do to make sure that your home business is adequately protected.

On this Veterans' Day, it is appropriate to a take few minutes and consider the great things the men and women of the Armed Forces have done for us. Veterans have protected us and our freedoms, and all too often they do not get proper recognition and thanks. This can be especially true for disabled veterans.

Franchise business opportunity for veterans

One of the great programs that has been brought to my attention recently is franchise program offered by Little Caesar's Pizza. The program is designed to help veterans -- especially disabled veterans -- start their own businesses. The Department of Labor reports that only 82 percent of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan with disabilities are seeking jobs or have jobs. This is compared with the 91 percent of veterans without a disability.

In this time of economic trouble, it is good to know that there are programs that can help veterans get back on their feet and make the often-difficult transition to civilian life. Here is what a press release says about the program:

The Little Caesars Veterans Program was created by Mike [Ilitch] to thank military men and women for their patriotism and the sacrifices they and their families have made for our country. The program offers qualified honorably discharged, service-disabled veterans a substantial benefit of up to $68,000 and a $10,000 benefit for all honorably discharged non-service-disabled veterans towards the start-up costs of opening their own franchises.

So, thank a veteran this Veterans' Day. And consider doing what you can to help those that have given so much to help us.

Now that Barack Obama has been elected the 44th president of the United States, the analysis has begun: What will change and what will stay the same? For my one-person freelance writing home business, not much is going to change. I don't make the $250,000 needed to initiate new taxes, and since I don't have employees, I won't be getting a very generous tax credit for insuring them.

But small business is a huge part of our economy, though, and I know that there will probably be some changes for many people. And of those things may be a small business rescue package Obama proposed in October, reports CNN Money:

Obama's new plan calls for the SBA's loan guarantee programs to temporarily eliminate the fees they charge lenders, and for the agency to increase the guarantees it offers to banks that lend to qualifying small companies. Additionally, he wants the SBA to expand its facility for directly lending money to small companies through its Disaster Loan Program.

This plan has largely been glossed over, but it does look like, for some with small business concerns, there is a measure of relief to look forward to.

When first starting out with a home business, it can be difficult to find everything that you need at an affordable price. One way you can expand your resources, suggests Kelly McCausey at WAHM 2.0, is to offer to barter.

That's right: You can exchange a product, service or knowledge for something that you need. McCausey points out that right now, common skills in demand include:

* Blog design.
* Wordpress customization.
* Writing.
* Graphic design.
* SEO

If you have these skills, you might be able to barter for something that you need, such as marketing help, or advertising space. A word of caution from McCausey, though:

Your level of skill and experience will correspond directly with the value of the resources you’re able to swap for.  When you’re new and inexperienced, you have to make your barter offer especially attractive.  This may mean that you give more than you get.

So think about what you can offer -- and then see if you can work a deal.

With social media and social networking finding an increasing place of prominence in the world of home business, people are starting to redefine their relationships. I mean, thanks to Facebook, I'm "friends" with people I've never met.

If you are looking to grow your home business network, though, it can help to know the difference between contacts and connections. Here is a definition of both from a posting on Sparkplug CEO:

She said that contacts are those people who you may have talked to or met once and you know each other but not well. A connection is a person who you have a mutual solid relationship (more so as a friendship) with and a person you can count on as a resource.

I like these definitions. They set up some relationship boundaries, and provide workable definitions that can help you in your social networking efforts. The goal is to turn contacts into connections who can be used as resources. And, of course, in the reciprocal world of social media, you are expected to act as a good connection as well.

When it comes to marketing your business, social networking is rapidly becoming a must. And one of the common tools used now is Twitter. But sometimes things get a little heavy-handed on Twitter. In such cases of social media, blogging and marketing, ProBlogger almost always has relevant words of wisdom. Such is the case when it comes to affiliate marketing on Twitter. Here are 8 tips offered by Darren Rowse:

1. Be relevant.
2. Personalize.
3. Genuine recommendations.
4. Be conversational.
5. Indirectly link to affiliate products.
6. Be moderate.
7. Listen to followers.
8. Be useful.

I think #1 and #8 are especially applicable, as is moderation (#6) and being genuine (#3). If you are just trying to sell something, eventually (or not so eventually) people will figure it out and you will likely be shunned. And that does no one any good.

One of the most difficult things for those of us working from home is knowing when to quit. Most of us do not have traditional working hours. We just sort of do things when we can. And sometimes we get caught up and forget to stop working.

This is one of the curses of working from home: You can get just one more article done or put together just one more cute handbag to ship out from an order at your eBay store. In fact, there's always something to be done, and the fact that your work is also at your home means that it can be tempting to just do it.

But, like a more traditional job, sometimes it is important to just step back and assign yourself a "quitting time." Just because you work at home doesn't mean that you always have to be working.

"We're trying to develop this community that can get stuff done," Barry Krusch tells me. "It's real world business practice that can also advance the economy." Krusch is one of the founders of the Intelligent Community Initiative. The idea is to connect business people -- and small and home business people could benefit from this a great deal -- with others who can help them find the resources they need.

I really like the idea behind this initiative. It seems like a good way to get things moving right now, as well as provide valubable resources to people who otherwise would not have access to a certain level of expertise in a variety of areas. The Initiative could help you with market research, press releases, software analysis and more.

In an email, Krusch fleshes out some of the benefits of the Intelligent Community Initiative:

Through its Business Incubation and Facilitation Division, the ICI will provide
a network for businesses that are integral to (and support) the community. A
not insignificant benefit to this approach is that more tightly linked businesses
and individuals beholden to their bonds in the community require much less governmental
intervention. The ICI plan radically reduces the need for government regulations
that limit efficiency.

This is a fundamentally different approach to what we have today, enormous banks
using the government taxpayers’ funds at a time when the economy is already depressed.
If we stay married to this paradigm of screwup and bailout, we will become more
dependent on the government instead of more self-sufficient.

Krusch admits that the iniative isn't quite there yet: "We've got this blueprint, and there are people who are contributing and working to build it up."

But, if it's not there yet, I hope it will be. It certainly looks worthwhile.

What do you think? Is this something that would be useful to you?

If you have a home business, you know how important it is to have a printer. And an all-in-one printer that can scan and fax as well is a definite bonus.

Over at Biz Chicks Rule, there is a contest for a brand new Epson all-in-one printer. Actually, there are two printers up for grabs. You have until Monday to head on over there and enter the contest.

When engaging in home business blogging, it is important to have a plan for what sort of voice and style you will have. Additionally, you want to be able to exude a sense of authority with regard to your subject area, coming across as an expert. I really like some of the thoughts and tips on writing offered by Lenin over at Cute Writing:

* Develop a writing style.
* Know your audience.
* Do adequate research.
* Write what you know.
* Be diligent in your efforts.

I think these are essential items if you are looking to improve the quality of your home business blogging. Can you think of some other tips that can help improve your writing?

Today, in an unprecedented move of global economic cooperation, several central banks cut their interest rates by 50 basis points. The U.S. Federal Reserve was involved in the move, bringing the rate here in the U.S. down to 1.5%

If you have been looking for credit for your home business, this might help. Between the move by the Fed to buy commercial paper and offer short term loans to businesses, plus this rate cut, there are hopes that the credit freeze will thaw a little bit.

And that may mean that you can get the funding you need in the near future.

If you have a home business, you have probably noticed that things are getting tight. Not only is the economy slowing (and your income slowing as a result of customers spending less), but the financial crisis is causing a liquidity problem that makes it difficult to get more credit. And $700 billion bailout isn't doing much to ease the credit crisis.

The credit freeze is causing a huge problem for many small and home businesses. Here is what Jamila White points out in an interview with Sparkplug CEO:

The current financial crisis is already affecting small business owners’ access to capital. A few months ago, the US Small Business Administration put a freeze on backing SOHO loans (”Small Office Home Office”) — loans aimed at the smallest of the small businesses, which usually are less than $20,000.

When you look at the big picture, the hypocrisy is unbelievable. Here you have small businesses, which are *creating* jobs in this bad ecomony when big businesses are not, getting shut down on access to capital, and then you have the SBA essentially out of money to back loans for small businesses.

Right now, Americans are increasingly worried about their finances. And this is especially true when it comes to those who have small businesses or run a home business. I know that I've been worried about losing gigs as companies tighten their belts.

But many of us in the work at home sector are also worried about where the money is going. Retirement account contributions are heading down, and emergency funds are not growing as fast as they have been. Instead, with inflation, the money that would be used to prepare for the future is being spent to pay the bills.

So, for many home business owners, now is the time to re-do the budget and consider which things can be lived without.

Are you doing something different with your money at this time?

Back in "the day" when my husband and I both jobs outside the home, it was easy to save money on heating bills in the winter: Keep the heat turned down while we were at work.

Now, though, things are more complicated. I work at home, we have a son who is at home half the day and my husband comes home to study some days. So we need a new plan. Happily, over at My Two Dollars, there are some great tips on how to save money on heating bills in the winter:

1. Programmable thermostat, so you don't have to remember to keep resetting it. We have our heat turned down at night.

2. Install storm windows and doors. Do it in stages, instead of all at once.

3. Open the curtains and blinds during the day to let the sun in to warm things up.

4. Make sure your furnace is serviced and in proper working order.

5. Insulation for ducts exposed to the cold.

6. Seal your attic door temporarily.

7. Close the ducts in rooms that don't need heat. We do this in the guest room, and then open them up the day before guests arrive.

8. Make sure the temperature on your water heater is reasonable.

9. Seal an unused fireplace.

10. Fans on low speed can move warm air through the house.

Do you have tips for saving money on heating bills?

It is important to understand what net profits are in your home business. After all, just because you are bringing in an income, it does not mean that you are making a profit. In fact, it may take a few years before your home business is profitable.

Home Biz Notes offers this insight into net profits:

Today our word or term is net profits (net income).  This refers to the amount of money left after you’ve deducted all your expenses, at least your operating expenses.  The fact that you take in a specific amount of money doesn’t mean you have that amount to live on or are even making a profit in your business.

It is important to consider the costs of running your home business, and to subtract them from what you bring in. Only then can you get a reasonably clear picture of your true earnings.

One of the side effects of the current financial crisis (even with the planned $700 billion bailout), is that credit is bound to get tighter. All sorts of credit.

Including business credit.

If you are planning on applying for credit for your home business, you may have to think again. The current climate means that getting any credit is going to be difficult. Whether it is convincing the bank to give you a loan or applying for a business credit card, you may find your limits lower than you like -- or even that you are being rejected.

One of the things that you have to be careful of is work from home scams. I can't tell you how many times I've clicked on a listing for a "work at home opportunity" or a "home job", only to find that the listing is really nothing more than a scam.

Here are some things to keep in mind if you want to try to avoid becoming a victim of a work from home scam:

* If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
* Do not pay money for the opportunity to work. Paying money for training or a start-up fee -- or if you are required to buy all sorts of materials -- could be a red flag.
* Be wary of opportunities that require your bank account number or your credit card number.

WAHM.com offers a great list of resources that can help you check the company for fraud.

Telecommuting is becoming increasingly popular -- and not just for people who own their own home business. Around the world, more companies are allowing their workers to stay at home for a portion -- sometimes all -- of the work week. Indeed, nearly half of employers (4 out of 10) in the U.S. offer the option to telecommute, according to a World at Work survey.

And this work from home trend is only expected to intensify, I think, with all the economic troubles. Just paying for the gas needed to get to work is taking a toll on many household budgets. Management Issues reports on the savings from gasoline alone:

Similarly, a survey by the public-private teleworking partnership Telework Exchange in June argued that allowing employees to work from home just two days a week could save the U.S economy more than $38bn a year in reduced gas bills.

On top of this, employees are more likely to be happy when working at home, since it allows more time with the family (rather than commuting) and can help with the work-life balance.

Do you telecommute? Would you like to telecommute?

One of the great things about the Internet and technology is that you can do all sorts of things. And one of the things I did recently was create my own business cards at Moo.com.

Moo.com is a company based in London. It's very basic -- offering simple templates for business cards, greeting cards and even not-traditional placards. However, it is limited.

But if your needs are simple, and you only want a small batch of cards at a reasonable price, Moo.com can be a great decision. I know I'm happy with my business cards.

The Street offers an in-depth review of business cards by Moo.com.

Around my neighborhood, there is a plethora of home day care and home preschool businesses. At last count, on my way out of the subdivision, I think I saw four. At any rate, this is a very popular home business idea. The idea of home day care is very appealing to many. And if you can handle it, it can be very rewarding.

Over at Home Biz Notes, there is a great series on getting started with home day care as your business. Here is one interesting caution about running a home day care business:

Running a home daycare is much like working outside your home. Just because you are home does not mean you will be able to do laundry or clean your bathroom. You have children to care for and their needs come first.

So, this is an important consideration. If you still think a home day care is the right home business for you, head on over to Home Biz Notes and read the rest of the articles in the series.

Many people wonder what sorts of jobs they can get if they want to work from home. One of the more interesting jobs is tutoring. With school starting again, many parents (and students themselves) are concerned about how to better in school. If you have particular skill in a subject, you can make money by tutoring.

While you can tutor from your home, and tutor clients in person, it is also possible to become involved in online tutoring. This is a bit of a long-distance thing, but it is possible. And there are plenty of online tutoring Web sites that can help you match with clients that could use your expertise in a specific area.

Yesterday, I mentioned that there are some ways that you can learn to market your home business on Twitter. But what about other social networking? There are plenty of social media sites out there, and you can build a profile and connect. Interestingly, The Wall Street Journal offers some insights on four social networking mistakes that can be made:

1. Basic, bare profile. Make it interesting, and add background information.

2. Little personality. It is important to be yourself, and present yourself as a person. Facts about your home business are dry and boring.

3. Too much hype. While social networking can be a good marketing tool for your home business, you can't be overly promotional. People get annoyed if all you do is sell, sell, sell without actually engaging.

4. Scarcity in terms of fresh content. Regular updates are important, or your profile will go stale.

I also think that it is important to add that too many social networking profiles can be a problem. Identify the communities to which you want to belong, and focus on three or four profiles that you have time to develop.

Do you have any social networking tips?

There are many different opportunities -- especially with social media -- to promote your home business online. And one of those ways is through Twitter.

If you are looking for some help with how to market your home business using Twitter, there is help in the form of a free ebook from Geekpreneur. There are plenty of good, practical tips you can use to help you leverage this social media phenomenon for your home business.

Hat tip: Home Biz Notes.

One of the things I did last year, as the taxes for my home business become more complicated, was finally hire an accountant to take care of tax preparation. Perhaps the most useful home business tax tip is to have someone else figure your taxes. Chris Bibey at the Tax Center offers this regarding your taxes:

As a new small business owner you may feel pressured to wear many hats. Of course, there are some things that you will do well and others that you will need help with. One area in which you may need help is with taxes. Do yourself a favor and hire a certified public accountant to assist you from day one.

I found that it is much easier to keep track of my income and expenses, and then have someone else take care of the taxes. The headaches, the time spent deciphering forms and trying to make sure I've got all the deductions and credits I'm entitled to just isn't worth it any more.

Yes, it costs $473 for the accountant to take care of the home business tax stuff. But the $350 it cost for the business tax return can be deducted on next year's taxes -- and I can use the time I would have spent to make more than what I pay the accountant.

When it comes to promoting your home business, there are so many ideas. But are you overlooking some of the tried and true methods that have been around for a little bit longer? Sparkplugging offers these 4 ideas you might be overlooking as you promote your home business:

1. Button and banner ads. This is old hat on the Internet, but it may not be a bad idea to give it another glance.

2. Social networking. Consider the "big boys" -- Facebook, MySpace and Twitter -- but realize there are other social networking opportunities out there as well (Squidoo is one).

3. Local articles. You can get offline and check out whether local publications accept submissions. A great way to establish yourself locally as an expert.

4. Local networking. Again, you can get offline to meet other home business folks in your area. But the Internet can help with this: Meetup.com is a great resource for finding local people to meet with in person.

Do you have any favorite ideas for promoting your home business?