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The Double Sundog
The Double Sundog offers solutions to the question, 'Is It Safe?'
Candida Online
Winning The War on Candida: The Invisible Epidemic

Hello, I'm C. R. Ellsworth, I've been 'dabbling' with On-line businesses since 2000, but only recently have been able to devote the energy and time to something I enjoy. It's nice to be your own Boss.

    A Little History, A bit of Planning

    I've been in the corporate world for 25 years, a techy even before that and the Military. I would estimate that I've had 25 different 'jobs' since I was 14 years old and learned something from each. I probably learned the most from being 'In Service'. I'm a sailor still, but have trouble tying knots these days.

Growing up in a factory town, all the boys knew they would go into the 'Industry'. This was Detroit when all cars had fins. Everyone says 'Things Change'. Looking back, could anyone have known how much or how fast? Most of my middle school and high school training got me ready to be (believe it or not) a Draftsman. That's not a guy that walks behind a Draft Horse. I can still see whole floors of skyscrapers filled with very large angled tables with many types of lights, pencils, and drafting tools. Multiple floors of multiple acres of tables. If I was still in that business I would be doing 200 people's jobs on one or two computers hooked into a network. Of course, if I'd lived in Detroit all my life, my life would be shorter. No offense Detroit, but I remember one job interview when I got out of my car, walked to the guarded gate, began coughing, turned around and left. That would have been over $6 hour, a fortune then.

Why go through the all the BS while someone else keeps most of the revenue created by your work. I decided that I'd rather work very hard and keep all the profits the government will let me keep. Note the term 'will let'. Oh Well, 'it's always something'. There are many legal strategies available to let us minimize our tax burden. Too many Tax Drones just file and accept whatever happens, but most people who don't itemize are leaving money on the table that they could keep without getting their hands slapped. These tax situations seem to change daily, almost in swirling fashion. Someone once said 'Tax Evasion is illegal, but Tax avoidance is our Duty.'

When you realize that you are an on-line business person, it will be a hind sight thing. You have to begin accounting for cash flow that came straight to you without any interference. Somewhere in this time period you will need to plan. Plan big. If you reach a goal too easily, you probably didn't set your goal high enough.

If you really want to be ahead of the game write up an
official 'Business Plan'. Software Programs are available for this, I use a program by Palo-Alto. This will be necessary later to secure business loans. Remember those goals, not just lofty goals but a real 'Business Plan' with attainable goals that build steps to further goals, you may want to show some possible investor or Bank the proof that you can make their money pay for itself. Then my advice would be sit down with a 'For Fee' Certified Financial Planner and discuss your first plan and what changes are needed to reach a 'Specific' goal. The reason I specify a 'For Fee' CFP is that they won't feel the need to sell you a product that they have, but you don't need. Have some ideas about your tax status and expectations ready to discuss. Once you aren't an 'Employee' for someone else, 'Credit' can be difficult to obtain, so an evolving Business Plan will show that you are serious. One Note here, It's 'Credit when they want you to take it. It's Debt when you want it and once you get it'. Don't take on debt unless you have a plan to 'leverage' that debt for improvement and /or investment with a return.

Plan is what I mean. You need to plan what type of business you want to do on-line. There are many different types of business to be done. The most important concept to understand early is, 'If you know how you want to do business, you will know what you need and WHAT YOU DON'T NEED.'

In starting any business, expenses can get out of control because you have no previous expenses to compare with. You can find yourself the proud owner of 'Hundreds if not Thousands of dollars' of tools, software, auto-ship products, subscriptions and other 'Monthly Bills' that you soon realize might be useful if you had decided to do business 'That Way'. But you had soon realized that your natural talents and experience have led you into a learning situation enabling you to 'cross off the list', certain modes of operation. Well, you still have those responsibilities to address and other expenses that you do need to handle.

So Plan as much as you can first. Go methodically through this learning experience. This market isn't going away anytime soon. The idea is to have positive cash flow as early as possible in your 'New Business'. You're the Owner, it's your responsibility. How many times in the previous paragraphs did I say 'realize' or some variation? I know this isn't what is expected in an 'About Us' page. I'll try to do better next time.