How Can I Help My Son Who Was Just Released from Prison?

May 29, 2015

Dear Cathy:

My son was just released from prison for a non-violent crime after 10 years and he can’t find a job and in some cases can’t get a business license for some businesses.  What kind of business do you recommend for him?  Helping Son Move Forward, Alabama

Dear Helping Son Move Forward:

The system is not set up to really help anyone when they get out of jail.  There are several non-profits out there that say they help prisoners get acquainted with society again but they are overwhelmed and unorganized and many don’t follow their own mission statements.

The only way for many of these prisoners to move forward after prison is to start businesses with or work for a relative so former prisoners will have to be progressive in pursuing potential job and business opportunities. 

The minute former prisoners put down on a job application that they are a felon, many companies will not hire them.  With all these odds against them, many former prisoners commit crimes just to go back to prison because they don’t have anywhere to go, no jobs or no food to eat, so your son is lucky to have you.

Some prisons, not all of them, allow books to be sent into prisons, so you should have been sending your son books on business so he could have been learning how business works while he was in prison. 

It’s extremely important for prisoners to start conducting research while they are still incarcerated.  They need to take a look at their own skills and background and even some of the skills that they learned in prison.

Two business books recommended are "The New CEO: 185 Easy-To-Set Up Businesses for Youth and Adult Entrepreneurs" and "How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business" -- both available as an e-book or paperback and can be read by 12 year olds and above.

Business Owners Biggest Website Mistake

May 28, 2015

Dear Cathy:

What is the biggest mistake with most business websites?  Going Online, California

Dear Going Online:

Taking your business online means that it can be viewed day and night by a local, national and international audience.  If you do not have a website it will eat away at your creditability and run potential clients, customers and even investors away.

So the biggest mistake is not having a website.  Over 60% of businesses in business networks will not have a website.  Also many businesses with storefronts will not have an online presence.

Your website needs to have a good and clear explanation of the products and services you are trying to provide.  A good rule of thumb is if you make your website easy to maneuver through with good information, then chances are people will come back again. 

Remember the function of a business website is to: 1) Attract as many qualified prospects as possible; 2) Build a target list of people who want you to market to them; 3) Convert prospects to clients and paying customers; and 4) Convert clients to repeat clients.

To learn more about how business works read "How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business" -- available as an e-book and paperback.

Son Seeking Employment

May 27, 2015

Dear Cathy:

After high school my son had a job that lasted for 2 years but was let go because of his seniority.  He has looked for a new job everywhere but can’t find anything so he has given up all hope of finding a job.  He thinks he might want to start a business since he can’t find suitable employment.  What are your suggestions?  Seeking Employment, Georgia

Dear Seeking Employment:

When your son try to get back into the workplace, knowing someone on the inside is often the key to gaining employment again.  He needs to use word-of-mouth advertising to let people know that he is actively seeking employment.

Ask family, friends, and neighbors to inform others that he is seeking employment and what type of job he is seeking – so he should never stop networking. 

Young people are resourceful so he should use this extra time to go back to school to learn a trade either at a community college or technical school.  Some of these schools will even help him find employment or he can use his new skills to start a business.

Since he has all this time on his hand, there are business leagues, networks, incubators or resource centers in many cities which will provide him with plenty of information on how to get started in business.  Just make sure that he doesn’t become isolated and start hanging out with friends who have taken up bad habits. 

You can read more on how business works in the book “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business” – available as an e-book and paperback.

How Can I Keep Potential Investors from Stealing My Business Idea?

May 26, 2015

Dear Cathy:

I decided to use potential investors to fund my business but how can I protect my business idea?  Future Business Owner, Texas

Dear Future Business Owner:

Closely related misconceptions include the one that says you must keep your business idea secret for fear of "copycats."  That leads new entrepreneurs to be overly protective.  These new or potential business owners don’t want to write down their ideas because they’re afraid somebody will steal it.  It takes a complicated operations plan to make a product into a stream of revenue, and that takes a long time. 

Remember business owners are “risk-takers” but you need to be an intelligent risk-taker.  If you are that afraid that an investor, or someone else, is going to steal your business idea - then patent it, get a trademark or copyright it before you present it to investors. 

You can do this yourself over the internet by copyrighting it or get a trademark or patent attorney.  Sometimes investors will want you to give them part of your company, but don’t be so paranoid that you run potential investors away.

To view a list of 30 potential ways to fund your business read “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business” – available as an e-book and paperback.

Do I Need A Storefront for My Business?

May 25, 2015

Dear Cathy:

If I open a business out of my house, what do I have to watch out for? What advice would you give me to stay balanced in my family life? Moving Toward Business Ownership, Sacramento

Dear Moving Toward Business Ownership:

First of all after applying for a business license and other requirements for your particular business, you need to check zoning laws to see if you can operate that type of business out of your home.  Not all businesses can be ran out of your home but many can and remember that most businesses need to start off on a part-time basic.

As a matter of fact, one of the biggest mistakes that business owners make is to go out and get a storefront or building, when they could have actually set their businesses up at home.  Also many times the biggest fees in a business will be the business rent so having a business at home just makes sense.

You need to understand upfront that there are five (5) toxic things in your house, condo or apartment that can keep you from being productive as a business owner: 1) your bed, 2) alcohol, 3) radio, 4) TV, and 5) your children -- so balance is the key and don't forget to invest in a comfortable chair.   If you feel there will be too many distractions or if you feel you are not balanced enough to start your business off at home, look for small or large business incubators where you can share the utilities with other businesses.  

Whether you have your own office or operate on the kitchen table, it’s important to stay balanced by involving the entire family in your business by making them a part of your business.  Kids can mop and sweep the floors, xerox, and answer the phone.

Remember running a family business should include the entire family which will create true generational wealth.  Also stay balanced by planning family outings and during that time don’t talk about your business.

To learn more about business ownership read "How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business" (Series 2) - available as an e-book and paperback.

Graduate Student in Constant Pain

May 20, 2015

Dear Cathy:

I am a young graduate student.  Over the past 2 years, I have been in and out of hospitals and the doctors can’t find anything wrong with me even though I am in constant pain.  I have been to 13 doctors who cannot figure out what is wrong with me but they have put me on several medications.  What can you tell me about holistic and natural healing?  Seeking Answers, Georgia

Dear Seeking Answers:

It doesn't matter if you are young or old, pain is definitely a sign that something is going wrong with your body so no one, including senior citizens, should ever be in any type of pain.  Therefore, it should be your goal to get to the root of your pain.  Medications will only mask the pain or cause your organs to give out.  Just look around your community and you will see pain clinics located all over the place so having pain is a major issue in this country. 

Living a natural and holistic lifestyle will be the only way for you to fully recover from your ordeal.  Holistic and natural healing means getting back to the basics.  It's means eating only organic foods in as natural forms as possible and using only natural products inside your home and especially on your body.

What you need to understand is that doctors knows very little about health and nutrition.  They only exist to keep everyone on medications so if you are constantly seeing doctors outside of your regular yearly visits, then you are definitely moving toward living a diseased and sickly life.

You need to investigate how to live a natural and holistic lifestyle by reading the book “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Becoming Healthier Over the Next 30 Days” –- available as an e-book and paperback.

Should I Start a Sole Proprietorship or Limited Liability Company (LLC) for My Business?

May 19, 2015

Dear Cathy:

I am not sure which business structure I need to set up for my business.  What is the benefit of opening a Sole Proprietorship versus a Limited Liability Company (LLC)?  Ready to Go in Birmingham

Dear Ready To Go:

You really should sit down with a business attorney and let him or her explain each legal structure to you but a few things that you need to know include is -- over 80% of all businesses are Sole Proprietorships, especially many youth businesses, but these businesses linger below the radar because they don’t conduct the proper research to build and grow successful businesses. 

They tend to continue to be a one person business where you are self-employed or a micro business where you have a few employees. The Small Business Administration don’t even recognize your business unless you have a significant number of employees. 

Remember businesses are designed to create jobs.  If you have a business that does not hire people, then you might have a hobby not a business. Opening a Limited Liability Company (LLC) will give you more legal protection for your business in case you are sued and will make the business more attractive to investors. 

Also having an LLC versus a Sole Proprietorship will lessen your chance of being audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).   For a list of steps to take to launch a successful business read Chapter 2 in the book “How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business” available as an e-book and paperback.