America's Home
April 1, 2001
In this issue:
1. A note from the editor
2. In The Spotlight: Write A Book Tutorial Excerpt
3. What's New At 2Work-At-Home.com?
4. Featured Article- The Webmaster Guilt Syndrome by Sharon
Davis
5. Featured Article- Home Business Tax Advantage and
Legalities by David Billing
6. Great Homebased Business Idea
7. Like This Ezine?
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1. A note from the editor
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Welcome to all of our new subscribers! Last month, we hit
another milestone....5000 subscribers. Were already over 6000
this month, and growing by leaps and bounds. Thanks for
subscribing!
This month, we are featuring an excerpt from Steve Mannings free
online-course "How To Write A Book On Anything in 14 Days... or
Less". Im really enjoying this course, and I know its going to
help me immensely when I write my book (did I say that out
loud?). I know youll enjoy his refreshing, whimsical style.
Steves course is packed with tips and techniques for writing
your book faster than you ever thought possible!
Those of you who own web-businesses will nod knowingly when you
read "The Webmaster Guilt Syndrome". For those of you
contemplating an e-business, youll want to be ready for this
peculiar web-related condition.
And just in time for those of you who havent yet done your
taxes....David Billing gives us an A to Z look at home business
taxes and legalities.
Enjoy!
Sharon Davis
Editor, 2Work-At-Home.com
sharon@2work-at-home.com
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2. In The Spotlight
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Write-A-Book Tutorial Excerpt - The Basis of Speedwriting
by Steve Manning
Welcome to your first lesson on how to get your book written
faster than you ever thought possible.
My name is Steve Manning. I'm the creator of the run-away
best-selling, writing success program, "How To Write A Book On
Anything in 14 Days or Less... Guaranteed!"
I envy you. You're about to write a book. And although I've
already written several myself, I know the thrill that comes
with starting a new one. I see it every time I give my lecture
to professionals all over the world. These are folks who are
just like you. Folks who have an overwhelming desire to write
that very special book (fiction or non-fiction). And if you've
already made the decision to write your book, I don't need to
tell you all the benefits that can come your way.
Many of my clients are professionals. Folks like doctors,
lawyers, consultants, speakers, engineers, professors and so on.
Hundreds of them. From all over the world! They know exactly
what a published book means to them. It means greater notoriety,
more success, credibility, status, revenue, lead generation, and
much more. In fact, there are as many different reasons for
writing a non-fiction book as there are people who want to write
them. And I've helped my students do it all.
If you're thinking about fiction maybe you see yourself as the
next Grisham, or the next Creighton; the next Danielle Steele or
the next Anne Rice. You've got a story to tell and you want to
tell it... as wonderfully as possible.
Let me tell you that I'm here to help make it happen for you. My
passion (call it a magnificent obsession) is to help as many
people write as many books as they want to write--and get them
published!
That's why I personally answer more than 100 emails a day, field
dozens of calls and personally edit my student's work. People
are always amazed when they call to order my success program and
they get me personally. They're amazed when they call me at
10:00 at night to ask a question (I invite my students to do
that) and they get me!
Now, there's no way I can cram all the information, details and
strategies of my success program into a series of emails. My
hope is that you'll take the information I give you here and
realize the value of the total program, then go back to my
website
(http://www.writeabooknow.com/welcome/write27now) and order it.
If you do, you'll have all the information you could possibly
need to write as many books as you could want to. And, you'll
have me at your beck and call, too, just as hundreds of my
students do!
If you don't order the program, well, at least I've done
everything I possibly can to make it happen for you, in the
brief time we've got together.
Let's get started.
The first piece of information I want to give you is so profound
that most people simply don't get it. It is the very basis of
speedwriting. Someone once asked Isaac Asimov why he was so
prolific. His answer was unbelievably simple, complex and
informative.
"I guess I'm prolific because I have a simple and
straight-forward style!"
So powerful are these words that they should be engraved in
stone and placed on the desk of every writer who has ever
thought about producing a book.
"I guess I'm prolific because I have a simple and
straightforward style."
Ironically, Asimov could just as easily have said, "I guess I
have a simple and straightforward style because I'm prolific."
The two statements are co-dependent.
If you want to be prolific, you must have a simple and
straightforward style. But the only way you can have a simple
and straightforward style… is to be prolific.
I'll explain…
Do you know ANYONE who does something well? If they do it well,
chances are very good they also do it very quickly. Now, this
does not mean in order to do something well, you should do it
quickly. It means only that those who do something very well
almost always do it quickly.
They have mastered the details, they have mastered the
techniques, and they have mastered the process and the
challenges. With this mastery comes proficiency. And proficiency
will always be accompanied by speed.
Now my next point of explanation…
In order to write well, you should write the way you talk. If
you write the way you talk, your writing will always be very
understandable to the reader.
There will be no convoluted sentences. No $25 words, where a
50-cent offering will suffice. There will be no
misunderstanding. No misinterpretation. When you talk to
friends, you don't 'put on airs' in your speech. You speak to be
understood, and (with the exception of politicians) you usually
are.
And just about every writing instructor, agent, editor,
publisher and reader will tell you that if you write the way you
talk, your manuscript will be infinitely more readable,
publishable and sellable.
You've already mastered the art of talking. You've been doing it
ever since you were a few months old, and you've been honing,
practicing and developing your talking skills just about every
day of your life!
You have mastered the details, you have mastered the
techniques, and you have mastered the process and the
challenges. With this mastery comes proficiency. And proficiency
will always be accompanied by speed.
Does that last paragraph sound familiar? I used it to describe a
person who has mastered a skill previously.
You talk relatively quickly because you know how to talk. You
know what you want to say and how you want to say it.
Those who know how to do something well, usually do it quickly.
You know how to talk, so you talk quickly (by that I mean you
don't labor over every word). If you want to write well, write
the way you talk…
The logic is inescapable. If you want to write well, write
quickly. If you write quickly, you will always write the way you
talk (you won't have time to develop the awkward sentence).
If you want to write well… write fast!
If you want to be prolific, write quickly.
If you want to write well, write quickly.
The faster you write, the better you write!
------
You can receive future installments of Steve's free Write-A-Book
tutorial by signing up at his website. Installments arrive at
daily intervals.
Click here to go to Steve's site:
http://www.writeabooknow.com/welcome/write27now
------
Steve Manning is author of "How to Write A Book On Anything In
14 Days Or Less ... Guaranteed! -- An Expert's Step-by-Step
Guide". http://www.writeabooknow.com/welcome/write27now
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3. What's New?
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Havent done your taxes? Dont panic! Head to the Tax Center.
Weve teamed up with H&R Block, PrepTax and Kiplinger to bring
you the most comprehensive tax information and resources-- all
in one place.
Youll also find our Weekly Tax Tips there with tips and tricks
to help you same time, money and headaches.
Visit
The Tax Center
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You may have noticed that we have a new Freelance Partner. Weve
teamed up with e-Lance to bring you better features, a more
user-friendly system and most importantly...more freelance jobs
like these:
-->Website Redesign- We have a site and a series of newsletters
that has grown and lost its way graphically. Need a common theme
that will flow through everything.
-->Data Entry- Need reliable person interested in data entry to
telecommute for this job. Interested candidates must have own pc
and internet access.
Get on over there and start your bidding!
Freelance
Marketplace
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Have you been to the Free Stuff Section lately?
Get a free magazine that has OVER 80 PAGES of timely information
that will put you in control of your financial future and help
you write your own pay-check!
Grab
Your Free Copy Now
Were also proud to offer our new Browser Toolbar customized for
you, and its free! You can check your email, search the web,
fill out any form in one click and more. Its our gift to
you!
And for the parents, you dont want to miss out on our free
e-book, Baby Tips For Parents. This 40-page book, has been
compiled by the webmasters behind some of the Internet's
foremost parenting sites. Includes articles, parenting
resources, coupons and freebies for parents...and its free! I
wish I had this one when I had my first baby!
Get it here!
........................................................
We realize that you need more than one job site to conduct an
effective job search. Weve done the research and have put
together our recommendations for the best sites along with the
Job Site of the Day- our pick for the best of the best.
Take a look at the New Job Sites Page
........................................................
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4. Featured Article
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The Webmaster Guilt Syndrome
By Sharon Davis
People don't like to talk about it, but it's time somebody did.
Chances are, you or someone you care about suffers from it.
It's Webmaster Guilt Syndrome, or WGS.
Why is it that so many webmasters feel guilty when they work?
This is not true for “traditional” business owners. The shop
owner who hangs out his shingle doesn't feel guilty when he
works day and night for a year or more before turning a profit.
In fact, it seems admirable.
But yet, when a webmaster has to peck away at the keyboard until
all hours of the night, it's somehow different, shameful. It's
peculiar, this web-guilt phenomena.
WGS manifests itself in many ways. Some of the more common
symptoms include:
-Working between the hours of 11pm and 3am when other, normal
people are sleeping.
-Overcompensating in other areas; refusing to use daycare for
their children, frowning upon any type of convenience foods,
frantic bursts of housekeeping in any spare moment.
-Rationalizing to your spouse or others (I'm sorry I've been at
this so long, it's just that I'm installing this script…).
-An inability to succinctly describe what you do (I'm the Owner,
Writer, Editor, Programmer, Web Designer, Advertising Manager
for an online Telecommute and Home Business Website).
Not surprisingly, many online entrepreneurs also suffer from the
“SuperMom/Dad Syndrome”.
I imagine it often stems from the fact that many virtual
business owners are drawn to web business out of a desire to be
at home with their families. And therein lies the dilemma.
Isn't the whole point of working from home to be able to spend
quality time with the family? So when reality sets in, that is
that starting and running a web business is just as demanding on
your time and resources as many other businesses, we feel guilty.
So, what's a Webmaster to do? Well, being that the numbers of
online business owners are growing as we speak, there's no
shortage of peers to commiserate with. I have found great
comfort, support and validation from my fellow webmasters.
The good news is that there is a cure. Symptoms almost
completely disappear with the receipt of a paycheck.
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© Copyright 2001 Sharon Davis. Sharon Davis is the Mother of two
girls, the owner of 2Work-At-Home.Com and the Editor of the
site's monthly ezine, America's Home. In her spare time she
reminisces about what it was like to have spare time. Subscribe
to her free ezine, by sending a blank email to
mailto:americashome@sendfree.com
This article may be reproduced providing it is published in it's
entirety, including the author's bio. For a text version via
autoresponder, send a blank email to mailto:guilty@sendfree.com
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5. Featured Article
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Home Business Tax Advantage and Legalities
by David Billing
Every year, thousands of people develop an interest in starting
their own business. Many of these have an idea, product, or
service they hope to develop into an income producing business
that can be operated from their own homes. If you are one of
these people, here is some practical advice to consider before
hanging out your "Open for Business" sign.
Consider your city's zoning laws. Working from your home in an
area zoned "Residential Only" could place your business contrary
to zoning restrictions. Some cities rule out home businesses
involving the coming and going of more than a handful of
customers, clients, or employees. Many businesses that sell or
store any item for sale on the premises also fall into this
category. Be sure to check with your local zoning office to find
out how the ordinances in your area may affect your business
plans. You may need a special permit to operate your business
from your home. You could find that making small changes in your
plan will help you meet zoning standards.
Obtaining zoning approval for your business can be as simple as
filling out an application, or it could involve a public
hearing. Zoning officials will primarily consider how your
business will affect the neighborhood. Will it noticeably
increase the traffic on your street? Will there be a substantial
increase in noise? How will your neighbors feel with your
business opening near their homes? Will property values be
affected, thereby decreasing tax revenue?
Many communities grant home occupation permits for businesses
that involve typing, sewing, and teaching, but deny exemptions
to photographers, interior decorators, and home improvement
operations seeking a zoning abatement to run their businesses
from home. Often, even if you are permitted to use your home for
a given business, there will be restrictions that you may need
to take into consideration. You must work closely with your city
or county zoning commission in order to save yourself time,
trouble, and dollars.
Occasionally permission will be granted for a home business to
operate providing specific conditions are met. Such requirements
might include the providing of off street parking for your
customers, or a prohibition against posting signs in your
residential area. If you plan to begin a child care, home
school, or tutoring service, there is generally a limit on the
number of students you may have at any one time. Child care
services, catering, or operations involving food handling or
preparation often require health permits from the city or county
Health Department.
If you are selling something from your home, you may need a
vendor's license. You will also be required to collect sales tax
on sales made within your state. Collection of taxes will
require careful record keeping on your part. Check with your
state comptroller's office for more information.
If your business requires any licenses, you will have to file
one or more forms with the agencies under whose jurisdiction you
fall. Licensing can be a simple process, or depending upon the
type of business, it may involve the inspection of your home to
determine if it meets local health, building, and fire codes.
Should this be the case, you will need to insure that your
facilities meet the local standards. This could involve some
simple repairs or adjustments that you can either do personally
or hire out to a handyman at a nominal cost.
Insurance costs must be figured into the operating expenses of
your business. Will your homeowner's insurance cover the
property and liability involved in your new business? If a
customer injures himself while on your property, will you have
enough insurance to cover any claims against you? This must be
determined before you begin operation, so be sure to talk it
over with your insurance agent.
Tax deductions, once one of the advantages of engaging in a home
business, are not as attractive as they once were. To be
eligible for business related deductions today, the Internal
Revenue Service requires that you use the part of your home
claimed as a deduction "exclusively and regularly" as either the
principal location of your business or the place reserved to
meet patients, clients, or customers. Thus, if you work out of
the corner of the den, but the family also uses the room for
watching television, you cannot deduct the space as a business
expense. for anything other than business calls, is not a
legitimate deduction. Carefully review the tax laws before
filing for any home business deductions.
There are a couple of exceptions to note within the "exclusive
use" tax rule. One is the storage of inventory in your home. If
you use your home as headquarters for a trade or business in
which you sell retail or wholesale products, the IRS declares
that storage space can be deducted if the storage space is used
on a regular basis and is a separately identifiable space. If
this condition is met, you may legitimately deduct use of the
area.
The deductible use of your home as a daycare facility providing
care for children, the elderly, or the physically or mentally
disabled must also meet several requirements. While not
restricted by "exclusive use" regulations, use of the home can
only be considered deductible if you comply with all state laws
and regulations for the licensing of such institutions. Because
these standards are numerous, strict, and often difficult to
meet in a typical residential home, you probably will not be
able to claim this deduction.
In general, to be eligible for business deductions you must be
engaged in an activity with the intent of making a profit. It's
presumed you meet this requirement if your business shows a
profit in any two years of a five year period. Once you are this
far along, you can deduct business expenses such as supplies,
subscriptions to professional journals, and an allowance for the
business use of your car or truck. You can also claim deductions
for related business expenses such as utilities, and in some
cases, even a new paint job for your home.
The IRS is going to treat the part of your home you use for
business as though it were a separate piece of property. This
means that you'll have to keep good records and take care not to
mix business and personal matters. No specific method of record
keeping is required, but your records must clearly justify any
deductions you claim. You can begin by calculating what
percentage of the house is used for business, either by number
of rooms or by square footage. Thus, if you use one of five
rooms for your business, the business portion is 20 percent. If
you run your business out of a room that's 10 by 12 feet and the
total area of your home is 1,200 square feet, the business space
factor is 10 percent. An extra computation is required if your
business is a home daycare facility. Check with your tax
preparer and the IRS for an exact determination. If you're a
renter, you can deduct the portion of your rent which is
attributable to the business share of your house or apartment.
Homeowners can take a deduction based on the depreciation of the
business portion of their house.
There is a limit to the amount of business expense you can
deduct from your federal income tax. This is equal to the amount
of gross income generated by the business minus those home
expenses you could deduct even if you weren't operating a
business. For example, real estate taxes and mortgage interest
are deductible regardless of any business activity in your home,
so you must subtract from your business' gross income the
percentage that's allowable to the business portion of your
home. You thus arrive at the maximum amount for home related
business deductions.
If you are self-employed, you will claim your business
deductions on Schedule C, Profit (or Loss) for Business or
Profession in your annual income tax return. The IRS emphasizes
that claiming home business deductions does not automatically
trigger an audit of your tax return. Even so, it is always wise
to keep meticulously within the proper guidelines and maintain
detailed records if you claim business related expense. You
should discuss this aspect of your operation with your tax
preparer or with a person qualified in the field of small
business taxes.
If your business earnings aren't subject to withholding tax and
your estimated federal taxes are $100 or more, you'll probably
be filing a Declaration of Estimated Tax, Form 1040ES. To
complete this form, you will have to estimate your income for
the coming year and also make a computation of the income tax
and self-employment tax you will owe. Self-employment taxes pay
for Social Security coverage. If you have a salaried job covered
by Social Security, the self-employment tax applies only to the
amount of your home business income that when added to your
salary reaches the current ceiling. When filing this form, you
must make the first of four equal installment payments on your
estimated tax bill.
The total amount of your taxes due can also be decreased if you
contribute to a Keogh or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA
). A husband and wife can deduct up to $2000 each from their
total gross income if the amount is deposited into such a
retirement account. The money will continue to accrue with
interest tax deferred until it is withdrawn. Check with your
bank, accountant, or broker for further details.
Written by
David Billing
Consultant
BusinessPipeline.com
< http://www.businesspipeline.com >
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6. Great Homebased Business Idea
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Become a Real Estate Title Abstractor.
A Title Abstractor goes to the courthouse and searches the land
records on a particular parcel of property, and compiles a
chronological list of each owner for the last 50 to 75 years
using the grantor and grantee indexes. Each owners name is
searched to find any liens or judgments that may still be
outstanding against the property. A report showing the current
owners of record and all outstanding liens, judgments,
mortgages, water bills, taxes, etc., that are currently
affecting the property is then provided to the title company or
closing attorney. Virtually every mortgage and refinance
requires a title search.
==========>For more information:
How to Become A Real Estate Title Extractor
http://www.2work-at-home.com/title.htm
Title Examiner (Career Exam Ser C 809)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0837308097/americashomebas
e
For 100's more great ideas, visit the Ideas pages. We've added
lots of new ideas! http://www.2work-at-home.com/ideas.shtml
For more Business Opportunity ideas, visit the Business Opps
section http://www.2work-at-home.com/opps.shtml
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