Starting and Managing a Business From Your Home

Others Have Succeeded - Why Not You?

I taught languages in high school for seven years. Whenever I needed a little extra money, or during summer vacations, I tutored individual students. As my reputation grew, people began to ask me if I could recommend tutors in other subjects.

As my enthusiasm for teaching in public schools waned, I began to research the possibility of a tutoring business. I started one summer by turning my second bedroom into an office and having stationery printed. Summer is a peak time because parents hire tutors to help their kids catch up on subjects. By the end of that summer I was managing 48 tutors in 23 different subjects or grade levels all over the metropolitan area. I hired a part-time assistant who worked at the kitchen table. We added other services, such as classes to help high-school students prepare for national exams. Operating from home was perfect for me since I needed to keep my overhead low and keep a good cash flow to be able to pay my tutors.

A computer programmer tells his story:

I longed to get enough work doing computer programming so that I could avoid the long commute to work and be closer to my two young boys as they grew up. I started working in an office I built in the basement doing small jobs and working for friends in the business who were up against tight deadlines. When I got my first big contract, I took the leap and gave notice. Now, two years later I've established a good track record with clients and have hired two others who work at terminals in my recreation room. I like being able to work late at night after the family is asleep. And I enjoy being around when the kids get home from school. I don't need a fancy downtown office. If I meet with a client. I make sure it's at his office, not mine.