With unemployment rates on the rise there are thousands of well trained individuals looking for work. If you find yourself in this situation then maybe you should consider starting your own business. Most professional and/or service oriented businesses these days can be started right from your home. Maybe you are trained as an inventory control specialist, an auditor, bookkeeping, graphics design, marketing, or maybe even copywriting. Are you trained as an IT specialist that can install new hardware or software into personal computers. If you can do research and write an article well there are companies that will pay someone to write articles like this one. Even a business like landscaping can be started from home. Whatever you have been trained to do for others now you can do it for yourself.

I know, you are thinking "how do I get started?" "I’m not a business owner." Well many people do find that, for them, working for someone else is better. But a lot of people find that being self-employed is a very rewarding job and is not as difficult as they first thought. Current business owners still need services for their business even though their revenues are down. This is the time they are looking to save some money on those services. Competition is a good thing and being a small operation means you have an excellent opportunity to establish yourself with these businesses and help them save money at the same time. This is what is called a "Win-Win" situation. They win because they receive your high quality services while saving money and you win because you get paid.

How much do I charge? This is another good question and unfortunately is not one that can be answered here. But, when setting a rate schedule for your services you should consider what you want to make per hour, add any overhead cost, then included benefits, taxes, license, and fees. Gathering this information will help you determine what you need to charge for your services in order to make your desired profit.

Before you officially open your new business you should consult with a lawyer to determine the best business structure for your new business, and then you should talk with a CPA to learn what expenses are allowed business deductions and which ones are not.

Being your own boss is one of the hardest jobs you will ever have. Everything is ultimately your responsibility, and that is difficult for some folks, but if you succeed and build your business it can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do in your life. So, what are you waiting for?