Anyone who has ever been bitten with the entrepreneurial bug has probably considered the idea of opening a franchise business. If you’ve ever been in a franchise and knew of a location where you know it would do well, you might have even looked into the idea. Franchise businesses are attractive opportunities for entrepreneurs because they typically offer a fairly successful business model as well as leveraged marketing capability through the national or regional franchisor support. While franchise businesses can be a great opportunity for some, those entrepreneurs who truly want the freedom and flexibility of being a business owner should certainly explore other options, including what we recommend, a legitimate business from home.

When you choose a franchise business, there are typically extensive investment requirements involved in getting the business off the ground. Franchise fees can range from $25,000 – $150,000 on average, and most franchisors have strict requirements about the land and building you must operate from, which can add as much as $250,000 to the price of your operation. Online business opportunities exist that require a much smaller investment, take little to no overhead to operate, and offer nearly unlimited opportunity for you as an entrepreneur.

Building a successful online business requires a lot of effort, dedication, and passionate commitment. You have to be willing to work as hard for your own success as you’ve always been willing to work for those who have employed you. However, opening your own online business doesn’t necessarily require you to immediately quit your day job or invest thousands of dollars to get started. Because of the freedom and flexibility offered by online business, it offers those interested in being more financially independent a wealth of options that can make it easier to move beyond those cubicle walls! 

Online business opportunities almost always provide these benefits: you can work your own hours, you can work from virtually anywhere, you can work around the other things going on in your life, and you can maintain control of how much time and money you invest in the success of the business. You have to start somewhere, and when your ultimate goal is to escape the cubicle and become your own boss, taking control of your financial future, an online business is a great place to start!

The face of Internet marketing has changed considerably in the last two years, and in many ways, your Internet marketing strategy and approach can mean the difference between minor success and a viral explosion of your business. It’s not enough these days just to put up a website and pay for an expensive Google pay per click campaign. In fact, if you have a limited marketing budget, there are a lot of other marketing options you should consider before PPC.

One of the most important concepts in Internet marketing is branding. Branding comes from being an easily identifiable and recognizable resource, and in order to become instantly recognizable, everything you do needs to be cohesively designed. You will be trying to reach your target from a number of different places, but the one thing that should be consistent throughout all of your Internet marketing efforts, whether you’re focusing on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube or a landing page and sponsored advertising is your image. Your logo, image, tagline, and message should be consistent throughout your Internet marketing. A cohesive and comprehensive Internet marketing strategy is your first step toward viral success.

Think about the last time you went on a road trip. You made hotel reservations, packed your suitcase, made sure you had some cash for the tolls, and off you went. You knew where you were heading, and you probably had a good idea how to get there – but I’ll bet you printed out a map or turned on your car’s GPS all the same. Developing a business strategy for your online business is a lot like taking a well-planned trip. If you don’t use a map or a GPS, you might still get there, but by following a map, you waste a lot less time and don’t end up lost or on a ten-mile detour.

In the case of your online business, the business strategies you develop – the map that you follow – can make a difference in the level of your success, the rapidity with which you will achieve the level of success you desire, and your ability to get there before you waste too much time and money to be able to see it through. Business strategies are not dusty plans drawn up and stored away; they are living, evolving partners in your success. Lehman Hailey believes business strategies you develop can help you manage your budget, your marketing, your team, and your time.