Many individuals throughout the world have begun to start working from home and making real money doing so. People choose to start home based businesses for any number of reasons including being able to be home for their family, as a way to earn a second income, so that they do not have to have a boss hanging over them, or even just so they can make their own schedule. There is no bad reason to decide to start a home based business in fact a home based business offers many benefits. It does take a certain kind of person though to be able to have the self discipline that working from home requires and time management skills are a necessity as well.If you have these qualities and are a self motivator then maybe you should think about starting your own home based business but first you have to decide what type of home based business will work for you. Whatever you choose it should be something that you will enjoy doing if you really want to be successful as people are always more successful if they enjoy their work. Here are just a few different types of home based businesses that you can choose from. There are many more businesses out there but this will get you thinking about what is available so that you can make a sound decision.One of the more popular home based businesses is selling cosmetics. While Avon used to be the cosmetic company of the day there are others now that sell their products through representatives that work from home as well, such as Mary Kay. Start-up costs are usually fairly low and generally include products for demonstration. Representatives used to go door-to-door to sell their products but these days it is much simpler than that. Most commonly representatives will leave books in various establishments and wait for pone calls or will sell their products through word of mouth. You should call a local representative of the company you wish to have information on to find out exactly what you have to do to get your home based business going.Another common home based business is selling home products through company catalogs. There are a number of companies out there that sell products such as home décor, linens, kitchen items, candles, gifts, and toys through representatives that work from their own homes. What is great about these types of businesses is that rather than carrying around demonstration products you just present potential customers with catalogs and then order the items for them. For this reason start up costs are from minimal to nothing so you can get going as soon as you choose a company that you want to work for.There are many, many more home based business options out there but these are by far two of the most common. If representing a company such as one of these is not for you then you should do a little research to see if you can find something that is. Working from home allows freedom that other jobs do not so don’t give up on your search until you find a home based business that works for you.

I want you to think about the term “Fundraising Auction”.

A “Fundraising Auction” is an event where items of value are gathered, and then sold in a competitive bidding situation, either in a Silent Auction format, or in a Live Auction format by a Live Auctioneer. And since typically the best items are saved for the Live Auction, arguably it is the Live Auction that should generate a significant portion of the proceeds in any Fundraising Auction.

So why do so many non-profit groups consider the Fundraising Auctioneer to be the least valuable component in a Fundraising Auction?

The Hosting Facility gets paid.
The Printer gets paid.
The Caterer gets paid.
The Liquor Store gets paid.
The DJ gets paid.
The Florist gets paid.
But the Auctioneer … the individual who is expected to raise the lion’s share of the event’s proceeds… is expected to work for Free. And is usually under-appreciated for the professional services he/she provides.

I’m not trying to underscore the value of the invitations & programs, food, booze, music, and decorations. All are important in their own way. But each of these are “Expenses”. It is the Auctioneer who is going to bring “Revenue”… and thus, the “Profits”… into any event. Which is the ultimate objective of any Fundraising Auction.

Here is a real-life example of how under-appreciated the Auctioneer can be. In two comparable events we worked last year, during the dinner portion of the event one non-profit group sat the Auctioneer (me) at a table with the DJ, the Interns, the Volunteer Staff, and other event “Help”. The 2nd non-profit group sat the Auctioneer (me) directly next to the CEO of their organization, where we chatted about how important the pending revenue would be to their organization. Which group do you think valued the services of the Fundraising Auctioneer more?

Don’t ever under-estimate the value that a professional Fundraising Auctioneer can bring to your event. The Auctioneer adds value as a pre-event consultant. And the Auctioneer can change an event from a moderate to a huge success.

A Case Study Once I was scheduled to call an Auction for a major local non-profit group. They represented a very good cause and they had a strong and dedicated following. Their event was sold out, quality Live & Silent Auction items had been solicited, and the Special Pledge Appeal had been choreographed and was ready to go. The facility was first class, the appropriate caterer was booked, and the food was ready to cook.

But quite unexpectedly, some unseasonably inclement weather forced the event’s cancellation. Despite all of the committee’s hard work, cancelling the event was the proper decision considering the circumstances.

So the Event Committee scrambled to re-schedule the event for the following weekend.

They confirmed with the Hosting Facility.
They confirmed with the Caterer.
They confirmed with the Liquor Store.
They confirmed with the DJ.
They confirmed with the Florist.
Since they already had the Mailing List of those scheduled to attend, no new invitations had to be printed as all were contacted by email or telephone. So with everything in place, the group went ahead and re-scheduled the event for the following weekend.

But guess who they failed to confirm? You got it… the Professional Auctioneer. They thought so little of the Auctioneer’s contribution that they “assumed” that the Auctioneer would be available and at their beck and call.

But the Auctioneer already had another Fundraising Auction booked for that date with another non-profit group. It was only hour away from the re-scheduled event, and things could have been easily worked out. All Group #1 had to do was start their event one hour earlier, or one hour later, than the Group #2, and the Auctioneer could have helped both groups on the same day.

But because Group #1 failed to anticipate a possible Auctioneer conflict, because they failed to confirm with the Auctioneer before re-scheduling their event, their preferred Auctioneer had to bow out and they had to scramble to locate substitute “Volunteer” Auctioneer only days before their event.

And it cost them.

Learning Points

The Live Auction is usually where the profits are made at any Fundraising Auction.
A Professional Fundraising Auctioneer can be vital to the success of any Fundraising Auction.
The better Fundraising Auctioneers usually get booked quickly.
You need to recognize the important contributions that a good Auctioneer can make to your event.
Michael Ivankovich is a Bucks County Fundraising Auctioneer based in Doylestown PA, and serves the Great Philadelphia PA area. He has been a professionally licensed and bonded Auctioneer in Pennsylvania for nearly 20 years, has been named Pennsylvania’s Auctioneer of the Year, and has considerable experience in conducting Fundraising Auctions. Michael loves helping groups raise needed funds for good causes and one of his specialties is the “Special Pledge Appeal” or “Fund-A-Cause Appeal” which usually enables clients to double their revenue in a single evening.

Introduction

Home based businesses are the fastest growing segment of business in the United States. They are popping up every day and numerous others will start a home based business within the next year. Home based businesses are becoming the norm with unlimited income opportunities. They are cheaper than founding a huge corporation, but often there is a small capital investment involved. Home based businesses are the fastest growing business segment today.

The Internet

Internet home based businesses have become very popular all over the world. Internet Home Business Disadvantages; the main disadvantage of running an internet home business is disciplining yourself to get work done, you must not procrastinate. Everyday there are more and more people all over the globe gaining access to the Internet. With the internet constantly growing at a rapid pace, any business owner can find their place and generate a substantial cash flow in the global consumer market.

A lot of people have already made their fortunes by simply realizing the huge demand for informational online products and e-books. This is a great way for the average person to cut their overhead cost by offering digital information that can be instantly downloaded. Many of these e-books cover specific topics on how to do something more effectively in a home based internet business.

The Services

Self employment, including home-based business opportunities, offer flexibility and adaptability to the rural economy and adds diversity not only to employment choices but to the mix of services and products available.

A home business is a great way for individuals to take part in a business that sells both goods and services to consumers. There are a variety of needs that home business marketing services can meet. There are many different goods and services that can be used with a home business.

Marketing

Marketing and advertising are essential to the success of any home based business. Marketing is most often cited as the area home-based business people need information about. For the ones that do make and live a Millionaires lifestyle, one of their secrets is being part of a great online opportunity.

Opportunities

In addition, the change from an industrial based economy to an information and service based economy, and new communication technologies have dramatically increased work-at-home opportunities. Home based businesses can provide many great opportunities for individuals who are interested in becoming their own boss & working from home. With so many Internet business opportunities available you want to be sure you choose a legitimate home based online business opportunity.

There is a wide range of business opportunities to consider, including Internet based businesses, retail sales, import/export, eBay stores, freelancing, affiliate programs, paid surveys, selling your own products, etc.

My Conclusion

The standards for home based businesses are intended to seek a balance between supporting a quiet, safe, and aesthetic residential environment while supporting the aspirations of home based entrepreneurs.

Now small and home based businesses are entering the marketplace. No wonder internet home based businesses are becoming so prevalent. Internet home based businesses are extremely popular job ventures this day in time. The best home based businesses are those that are well-planned right from the start & will allow you the flexibility of a lifestyle without the normal stress of a big business.