Category: Thrifty Business Tips

It takes less than 10 seconds for people to form an opinion of you. Can you afford to make a less-than-stellar impression in the place where you need it most – at work?

As a mother, working from home is probably your ideal situation. But if you count yourself among the almost 74 million moms that work outside the home, you know how important personal presentation is.

Here’s the big question – can you keep up with your kids and still stay stylish? Once you read our guide to office attire, your answer will be YES!

Suit Up

If there’s one thing every woman needs in her closet, it’s one great suit. The ensemble – a blazer and either suit pants or a skirt – seems easy enough, but there are ways to do it wrong.

First, splurge a little and make sure it’s good quality. You’ll pay a high price now but high-quality outfits last a long time.

Second, make sure it fits perfectly. You don’t want pants that are too long or a blazer that bunches in weird places. Getting it tailored makes a big difference.

The Perfect Ratio

You most likely will work for a place that has a “business casual” office attire policy. This allows you a bit more flexibility in your look.

With more formal offices, you will be stuck with stuffy button-downs and blouses. With business casual, you have more options.

Having more options, though, might make you feel overwhelmed. Don’t fret – there’s a formula for keeping your wardrobe in check.

Have a small set number of neutral bottoms and double that number for your tops. So if you have five pants and skirts, you’ll need 10 tops.

That way you can easily mix and match and create multiple outfit possibilities.

Sounds expensive? It doesn’t have to be. Keep this 6PM promo code handy and start building an amazing work wardrobe.

Office Attire Accessories

If you’re stuck in a conservative office, you can let your personality shine through accessories! Here’s a chance to get creative and add some sparkle to the workplace.

Have a certain passion or hobby? Consider a charm necklace with little symbols of what you love dangling off of it. Think how amazing a pair of bright pink heels would look peeking out from the hem of a charcoal suit.

While simple dangling earrings bring a bit of bling to your look, leave the giant hoop earrings for the weekend.

Bonus Tips

Don’t forget one of the working woman’s best friends – a fantastic attache or work bag. It should be neutral to go with all of your outfits and large enough to fit your work essentials.

As a busy mom who also brings home the bacon, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. Your skin will show your exhaustion – take a few minutes to lavish it with some simple TLC.

Love perfume? Not everyone does. You sometimes spend more time with coworkers than you do with family. Don’t overwhelm them with a super strong scent.

Do you have a surefire strategy for showing your best side at the office? We want to hear it! Leave a reply and start a conversation!

Are you looking to become a freelance medical writer?

Breaking into the medical niche is a bit challenging, but not impossible. It requires some level of experience and expertise, but also hard work and discipline.

The medical field is a broad one, so you’ll need to decide on a niche first. For example, you can write about new medical discoveries, studies, health care or cover medical news. Another option is to specialize as a dental writer and write for a specific set of clients.

Besides the experience, you should also have excellent grammar and language skills.

Keep reading to discover how you can become a medical writer and find your first client.

Get Some Experience

To become a freelance medical writer, you need to gain some experience in the field.

For example, if you’ve worked in the medical field or went to medical school, you’re already familiar with the industry terminology.

Next, find successful medical writers. Study their articles to see how they write and where they’re published.

Do not copy another writer’s style. To be in demand, you have to develop your own style and be unique.

Write Guest Posts

As a beginner freelance medical writer, you need a portfolio to display your writing to potential clients.

You can do this by writing a few samples and publishing them on your own website. Another way is to write guest posts for medical journals, publications or blogs.

This is a great way to gain exposure and have your article read by a lot of people.

Pitch Clients

After you’ve published a few guest posts, it’s time to find your first paid client.

You can do this by signing up for freelancing platforms or contacting the clients directly.

For example, if you’re a dental writer, go online and search for dental offices in your area or state.

Let’s say you land on the website verdepointedentalassociates.com. Find their contact form and send them a message. State your expertise and offer them your writing services. If you don’t get a reply within a few days, feel free to follow up.

Start a Blog

Any writer needs to improve their writing on a daily basis. The best way to do so is to start your own blog.

You can write medical articles, opinions, news, reviews or client-directed pieces. The content you publish must be of great quality if you want to gain a big audience and land good clients.

Remember to optimize your content for the search engines and use quality images.

Learn Every Day

No matter what medical niche you chose, you should strive to learn new things every day.

Find ways to improve your writing. Read as much as you can, and if necessary, take a few writing courses.

The industry is changing every day and if you want to have a steady flow of clients, you need to stay on top of the trends.

Now You Know How to Become a Freelance Medical Writer

You can earn a decent living as a professional medical writer if you follow our tips.

Need more inspiration for starting a new career? Visit our blog for more business tips and useful articles.

Who wants to live the rest of their life making someone else rich? The only way out of this conundrum is to go into business for yourself.

And what better way to do so than by starting a home cleaning business? If you have experience as a housekeeper, maid or are really great at cleaning your own home, then this could be for you.

What’s great about this industry is that it’s very lucrative. After all, people will always need their homes cleaned and most lack the time to do it themselves. Plus, landlords require your services when tenants move out.

So there’s definitely a market for it.

Back in 2010, there were over 824,000 cleaning workers. The 50 largest cleaning companies made up about 30% of the revenue. Yet only 7% of cleaning workers were self-employed. So that means less competition for you in the small business sector.

Now, let’s review what you have to do to jump-start your home cleaning business.

Do Your Own Assessment of the Industry

There are many factors that play a part in determining whether starting a cleaning business is a good idea. For instance, the area you live in and your own skill set.

What makes this an attractive option is the low overhead required to start a home cleaning business. All that matters is that you and your employees work hard to maintain a happy customer base.

You’ll need to be in good physical condition, which means having the ability to stand, kneel, reach and bend repetitively. However, if you’re not fit, this doesn’t exclude you from being a business owner.

In this case, you can open up shop and then supervise employees who can handle the cleaning tasks.

What Office Skills Do You Have?

The more office skills you have, the fewer employees you’ll need to hire. For instance, you’ll need to know how to answer phones, schedule appointments, file paperwork and do your bookkeeping.

Then when tax season comes around, you’ll have to file accordingly. It’s also important to be very detailed, so you know exactly what your customers need to provide satisfactory cleaning.

Write Up a Business Plan for Your Home Cleaning Business

Once you’ve assessed the industry and your ability to run a cleaning business, it’s time to start planning. And the best way to do this is with a business plan.

This is mainly for your own use unless you need a loan to get equipment and vehicles to operate your company.

In your plan, go over details about the type of cleaning services you’ll offer, what demographics and locations you’ll target and whether you’ll have a niche. For instance, you can offer a “green” cleaning service for eco-friendly customers.

Next, go over your pricing plans – will you charge by the hour or per sq ft? Research what your competitors are charging and how, so you can gain a competitive edge.

Now, you don’t have to lower your rates to compete. You can offer greater quality or a different range of services to attract customers.

Set Up Your Accounting System

This has to be set up well before you begin operating. It’s important to keep track of all invoices, expenses, sales tax, payroll, and income.

Keep your business finances separate from your personal expenses. This will only muddle things when it comes time to file taxes for your company.

You can use an online software, such as Quickbooks to make things easier. Or you can work with an accountant. Either way, it’s good to keep track of your finances in the physical, so keep a record book on hand.

Apply for Insurance and Bonding

Customers like to work with businesses that are licensed, bonded, and insured. If you advertise this in your promotions, then it’ll help build trust.

There are different types of coverage you can seek. For instance, you’ll need liability insurance (depending on where you live). Options include yearly or quarterly payments, and bonds are readily available at local insurance companies.

Make sure to renew your bond annually. Do note that each employee you hire will hike up your insurance rates. So make sure you’re hiring people who are trustworthy and careful.

It’s also important to know that you can only cover employees under your insurance, not sub-contractors. However, you can check your policy to make sure.

Purchase the Supplies You Need

The products you purchase for your home cleaning business depends on the type of services you offer. For instance, if you boast eco-friendliness, then you need to acquire natural cleaning products.

It’s good to go with brands your customers heard of. This way, they already know and trust the products you have. Otherwise, you’ll have to educate them on why it’s healthy, good and reliable.

Make sure to ask whether the customer has specific cleaning supplies for certain appliances.

Then you’ll have to decide whether you want to use the customer’s vacuum or tote around your own.

Begin Advertising Your Services

Now, it’s time to get the word out about your new home cleaning business. You can easily do this with a mix of online and offline marketing. For instance, you can use social media, pay-per-click ads, fliers and feather flags.

Make sure the business logo, name, numbers, rates, and services are consistent on all your marketing collateral. You can choose to post your rates are only disclose it to prospects who call (to keep competition down).

Get Transportation and Uniforms

Presentation and consistency are everything in business. So you need professional cleaning uniforms and a reliable means of transportation.

You have to determine whether you want employees to use their own vehicles or supply them with one.

Continue Learning About Becoming an Entrepreneur

There’s a lot you can learn when you find the right online resources. At Thrifty Momma Ramblings, you can find tips and advice for running a thrifty business and living frugally.

If you’re looking to start your own home cleaning business, then browse through Thrifty Momma Ramblings blog for more thrifty business tips.

Many of us dream of becoming our own boss. That’s probably why there are 28 million small business owners in the US.

From freelancing to tutoring, there are many opportunities available for the business-savvy woman.

Maybe you want to turn a beloved hobby into a business. Or maybe you’re researching the trendiest small business ideas for women.

Whatever the case, we’re here to provide some inspiration. Here are five small business ideas for women you’re sure to love.

5 Small Business Ideas for Women

1. Online Consignment Shop

If you’re in a position to open a brick-and-mortar store, that’s fantastic. Even if you aren’t, the digital age has enabled anyone to open their own “storefront.”

Vintage clothes are a huge trend right now, and shoppers are always looking for a bargain. Collect clean, gently used consignment items and display them on an attractive website.

A big benefit of running a consignment shop is that you don’t pay for the inventory until it’s sold. This makes it an ideal startup for those with limited funds.

2. College Planning Consultant

Do you love kids? Are you good with numbers? If so, you could become a college planning consultant.

You’ll become an expert in financial aid, college selection, and the application process. You’ll stay up-to-date on the latest scholarships and financial aid packages so you can advise parents.

Once your knowledge base is complete, you can market your services to local high schools, libraries, and universities.

3. Custom Gift Baskets

If you’ve got a decorative flair, custom gift baskets could be your calling.

People order gift baskets for a wide range of events, from holiday parties to baby showers. Creating unique baskets for each occasion requires ingenuity and design skills.

Tap into your creative side by designing beautiful gift baskets with attractive packaging. Photograph them and advertise your services on a website or through printed brochures. You could also sell your baskets in local shops and corporate offices.

4. Mobile Spa

Do you have a background in hair, nails, massage, or body treatments? If so, why not bring that spa experience to your clients’ homes or offices?

Since there’s no storefront to maintain, setting up a mobile spa requires little startup capital. Market your services to working professionals, elderly ones, or others who may be housebound.

Increase your revenue by offering spa accessories like herbal neck wraps or skin care products. If you want to keep up with the latest trends, you could become a leafbuyer and offer hemp-based health products. (Make sure it’s legal in your state!)

5. Pet Adoption Service

If you’re an animal lover, you could start your own pet adoption service. You may choose to foster pets yourself, or you could create a website or app to connect pets with people.

Users can enter information about their ideal pet, and you can make recommendations based on available animals in your area. Then you can set up a meet-and-greet to see if it’s a good match.

Of course, you’ll want to screen and approve all users beforehand to ensure the animals are going to a good home.

Final Thoughts on Small Business

These are just a few of endless small business ideas for women.

Now that you have an idea in mind, it’s time to turn that idea into reality. The first thing you’ll need for your new business is a custom logo.

Click here to learn how to create a free, professional-looking logo.

Hosting a live conference call with your team?

Unsure if you’re fully prepared?

Hosting a conference call is an excellent way to connect with your team and discuss important topics. However, it can take a little practice to get the most out of your meetings.

If you’re preparing to host a live conference call, these 5 crucial tips will help you make sure you’re ready for a successful and productive meeting.

1. Know the Tech

It’s important to prepare for the technical side of your live conference call. You should also know what features are offered by your conference call service.

Be sure to find a service provider you can rely on for your business conference calls. A service provider such as VoiceOnyx will offer reliability while also providing excellent customer service and any support that you may need.

If possible, you should also perform a practice run with the software to test out any features you’ll be using before you go live.

2. Set an Agenda

Having an agenda and set schedule for the conference call is important, but it’s just as important to stick to it. Be sure to start the conference call on time and to stay on task.

15 minutes is an ideal meeting length which can help you to stay on task without testing the limits of your team’s attention spans.

Make sure to only discuss pertinent information during a meeting, and you’ll be sure to stay on track, increase engagement, and have a more productive business in the long run.

3. Encourage Engagement

The truth is, few people give their full attention during a conference call. It’s important to emphasize the importance of your team’s attention to foster engagement.

At the beginning of the call, remind your team to limit distractions and participate fully. Encourage participation by asking your team questions during the call.

Instead of an audio only conference call, consider using visual aids. You will need a reliable internet connection and a computer with web conferencing abilities.

4. Give Your Full Attention

It’s important to give the conference call your undivided attention as well.

Some bosses have their conference calls while in a busy airport, a crowded bar, or while walking down the street. This may send the wrong message to your team and encourage similar behavior from them during future calls.

Make sure you’re in a quiet space during your conference call and avoid working on other tasks, like monitoring your email.

5. Record the Live Conference Call

It is an excellent idea to record your conference call if you have the capability.

An archived recording of the call can allow you and your team members to go back in and review important information that was discussed.

Final Thoughts

Used correctly, a live conference call can be an excellent and comfortable way to communicate with your team. Just make sure to follow the steps above and you’ll be sure that you’re getting everything you can out of the call.

Did you enjoy the article? Contact me if you have any questions about Thrifty Momma Ramblings or have suggestions for future business tips.