Having trouble finding a job? Why not create one?
That was one of the ideas behind of the Mississippi University for Women Center for Entrepreneurship”s round-table discussion on home-based businesses Thursday.
Nine small business owners met with close to 60 entrepreneurs who are either considering opening a business or looking for ideas to improve existing businesses.
“We”re trying to offer people who might need additional income who had lost their jobs a way they might improve their financial situation,” said Judy Betcher, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “People think of a home-based business as just something some mother might want to do. But there”s huge, ever-increasing numbers of people who work from their homes in every position and in every type of field.”
The all-woman panel of experts included proprietors of home-based cooking, printing and jewelry businesses, among others.
The women offered advice on managing a home workspace, time-management between work and family, setting goals and using the Internet.
“I thought it was a really nice discussion. I thought it was honest and truthful about the benefits of having a home-based business and I thought we also addressed some of the challenges,” said Julie Kennedy, program coordinator for the Center for Entrepreneurship. “I think it”s important for everybody to realize that it is work.”
Kennedy says the Center for Entrepreneurship does group programs like Thursday”s event in addition to classes on Web management and one-on-one consultations.
Jennifer Virgil, owner of the Pampered Chef consulting, was in the audience. She says she”ll use some of the advice dispensed Thursday to help expand her home-based business.
“To obtain your goals you have to be very realistic and set out a plan,” said Virgil. “I hope to expand my business and have other consultants underneath me in the area.”
Setting goals and objectives were recurring themes at Thursday”s meeting. Other topics of discussion included business licensing, avoiding scams, taxes and promotion.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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