Congratulations on your desire to start your own home based business. You are going to have a lot to learn, but your effort will be worth it. Growing a successful business, living the flexible lifestyle, and the possibility of financial freedom are great reasons to start your own home based business. This article will give you some great tips on getting your home based business started.

First, set up a special working space in your home. This can be a small bedroom, your kitchen table, part of your garage, or the corner of the living room. This is where you are going to build your home based business.

Next, gather all the materials that you need to run your business. You want to have easy access to all the tools, materials, and resources that you need to run your business. Keep everything close at hand. This will prevent you from wasting time, having to search for what you need.

Decide what hours and days that you will work, when you will market, when you will provide your services or products to clients.

Plan, plan, plan. Planning is one of the greatest keys to success in your business. Set measurable goals with specific time frames. Think of all the steps that you need to take to make these goals a reality and get working towards them. Even a small step is a step in the right direction.

Network like crazy. One of the fastest ways to grow any business is to make connections with other people. Be sure to share your passion and enthusiasm with others at every opportunity. Let people know who you are and what you offer. Remember, people can't buy if they don't know you're selling.

Present a professional image. If you want to be treated professionally, present a professional image. Set up a separate bank account for your business. Install a separate phone and fax line. Create professional marketing materials. Be courteous and pleasant in all your customer facing interactions. Basically, be someone people want to do business with.

Automate your business as much as possible. Granted, you are just one person (right now) and might have a lot of extra time to take care of all the details. This might work for now, but won't work into the future as you get busier and busier. It's best to set up automatic systems and processes right from the start to free up your time to concentrate on the most profitable activities.

The key is to be persistent. Don