Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home—especially when that’s where you operate your business. Say good-bye to commute time, overhead costs are lower, and work time is flexible. With all these advantages, it’s no wonder that half of small businesses are home based. If you’re one of the many home-based business owners (or want to be), here are ten quick articles from Sparklight Business that can help grow your enterprise.

Tech – The Latest Gadgets for Your Home Business

Heard about the hottest new gadget that will make your work easier? It’s easy to get caught up in the hype about the latest, shiny doohickey. But which ones are really worth the money for your home business? Get the skinny on six new gadgets—noise canceling headphones, wellness lamps, power-charger banks, ring lights, task/desk organizers, and card readers. Judge for yourself whether to add it to your must-have list (and what to look for if you do).

The (Selling) Power of Customer Referrals

If you’re not asking for referrals, you’re missing out on the best (and least expensive) source of new customers. There’s no better advertising than a satisfied customer who tells others about your business. And there are so many ways to get them. Learn more about the power of referrals and how to start getting more using a referral reward program.

Personality Fit – Do You Have What It Takes to Run a Home Business?

Think you’d like to start your own home-based business? Find out if you have the right stuff by looking at four basic traits—determination, passion, vision, discipline. You don’t need all of them but the stronger you are, the better your chances of success. Even if you already have your own business, this can help you identify your strengths along with areas you might want to develop further.

Marketing 101 – 5 Easy Ways to Promote Your Home Business

Having a great product and providing stellar service won’t do you any good if no one knows about them. That’s why marketing is so important to your success. Here are five, low-cost ways to spread the word about your awesome home business. (Hint: It’s all about website, social media and networking.)

How to Keep Customers Happy So They’ll Keep Choosing You

Happy customer, happy business. It may sound simple but what are you doing to ensure your customers are satisfied? After all, it’s cheaper to get sales from an existing customer than to find a new one. Check out this list of six action items to see if you’re doing all you can to nurture the relationship you worked so hard to achieve. 

How to Turn Your Home into an Efficient Work Space

Does your dining room table double as a desk, shipping area, and customer service center? It’s tough finding space for everything when you run a home-based business. Use these six ideas to better use limited space (and still have a place for the family to have supper together). It’s all about following some simple guidelines to get organized.

Learn to Separate Home from Work – Or Your Business Will Suffer

It’s hard to keep things straight when you work, raise a family, and maintain a household all in the same place. But your ability to balance all these demands will determine how successful you are in each area. Here are five things you can do now to draw a line between work and home—before a conflict arises and does damage to either one. Here’s one: ditch the pajama urge.

Starting Your Home Business: The First 9 Things You Should Do

Here’s an article you wish you could have read before you started your business. But use it now to see what you might have missed. There’s still time to get it done. This list of nine important tasks helps to ensure you have all your ducks in row. That way you can focus on growing your business, instead of catching up. 

Home Businesses: 10 Ideas That Work Great For Small Towns and Rural Areas

You don’t have to live in the big city to start a viable home business. Costs can be lower, competition is less, and with high-speed internet you can be instantly connected to any one, any where. Here are ten different businesses that are ideally suited for smaller towns. See if one makes sense for your area.

Why Take 10 Minutes To Get An EIN For Your Business?

I’m a sole proprietor so I don’t need an Employee Identification Number (EIN), right? Not so fast. Besides possible tax reasons, there are advantages to having one—even if it’s just you in a home-based business. Here are three reasons why it might be worth your while to get one. Learn how (it takes only 10 minutes).