European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 17, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Going into business at Home by Sandra l. Lat1mer United press internationals ally us sing was fed up with the corporate world. Belty Willis wanted to enjoy her own paycheck. Felt he could do a belter Job than of Boas so these three people did what Many worker Only dream about they started businesses1 and became their own Bosses. Ubbing who had been an office manager opened a financial services business in her Home and Haa moved into a Small storefront Ohice. Willis began a technical assistance Consul Ian i service and now helps court reporters find jobs. She began in an office building and works out of her Home. Bennett left in electronics business to set up his own shop where he Sells installs and services two Way radios and Mobile telephones Lor businesses. Although Many people try to Start their own businesses Only a few succeed said Sherman Timmins a professor of management Al the University of Toledo where he also Heads the Small business Institute. For every 100 Start ups Yoou 90 other Small businesses close their doors Timmins Lound while doing research for a Booklet he recently put together on How to Start a Small business. The kinds of businesses that can be done Al Home vary but services and professions dominate. Among the most popular businesses Are Legal medical account Liq catering tailoring typing especially near universities repair photography free Lance writing and Haird Essing. One big problem is knowing How to go about it. Friends gave us six months said Jean Bennett co owner with her husband Dick of Gennaco communications. Thai vat in 1974. Now 12 years later she said if they had it to do Over again they would still do it Only this time we d get some business education when we started we lacked business tactics said Jean a former nurse whose husband decided that i could do a belter Job than my Boss was so they struck out on their own. They met and married when they were in he Navy but the Navy did t Leach us How to work with people she said. We did t know about business she said. We just did what we thought had to be local Laws Are another problem that budding entrepreneurs should know about. The Bennetts who then had two Small children wanted to open their shop in their Home. We could t do thai because he neighbourhood was t zoned or business Jean said. Ubbing and Willis also found some problems with zoning for their Home businesses. They could not put signs up to let people know they worked Al Home they said ubbing worked with an accountant to get clients for the business she started in her bedroom then moved to the Amity room. I led the garage door open tar clients to walk m. And the Gas Bill shot up she said. So we put in a private Erma Bombeck Willis who held a variety of jobs for 25 years Drew from her wealth of contacts when she began her own business m 1982. Her reputation in the Field of technical assistance waa a plus for the business. My first contract was supplying he people to clean up the Ohio state she said noting that she rounded up More than 100 Young people to do litter duty during the t7-Day fair. The stale accepted her plan but As news of her activities spread to Job seekers she ran into another problem i found i was Able to Supply something that was t in demand she said referring to the Young unskilled workers. So i took a look Al what was in demand and decided to Supply now she scouts for open positions and Ihen searches Tor people qualified to till them. Jim Rinehart a Counselor Tor the service corps of retired executives said beginners Don t have any idea of what costs Ore involved to create a business. The Bennetts readily agreed at first we undersold ourselves said Bennett. His wife explained that they did not know How to charge for labor even if it was heir own. At times the manufacturers suggested retail Price was t enough said mrs. Bennett. Sometimes we had More month than Money the Columbus technical Institute which hosts seminars for the Small business administration advises not to spend much initially. The Institute said entrepreneurs should not invest a lot of Lima or Money on fancy financial programs or machinery a Cigar Box can suffice Lor the Cash Register in the beginning. For advertising the Institute suggested Small business cards that can be passed to friends and acquaintances and Fen at restaurant and health club counters As an inexpensive alternative to Large publicity campaigns. Just about anyone can set up a businesses said Jerry Carman who leaches a course for the Federal Small business administration on betting started. It May a a professional just starting til practice someone re entering the Jab Market someone whose Plant is closing or a woman who wants to work around her children Carman said. The Bennett had two Young sons when they opened their business in a Small building a couple of Miles Down from their Home. The kids came Here after school said mrs. Bennett pointing to a room just off the office. They had a counter in there where they did their school work and a cot that they fell asleep on. I had a stove refrigerator and table in the Back room and that s where we ate supper Many nights Dick would solicit business during the Day and i d run the office and we d do the installations at the two boys now both in College did a lot of work Tor their parents mrs. Bennett said. Many saturdays they sorted mils and bolts and washed windows when their friends were playing their Mother said. But we knew where our kids were and they knew what their parents did for a ubbing s three children school when i got led up with the corporate world and just went out and did she said of starting her business my Gal Sal live years ago. I started when All three Ware in private schools she recalled. They freaked out and a had. Wist we going to do for Monet we never had a prob Hwi. All three Are through College and one won works Tkv her today working with a spouse does not present As Many. Problem As some people seem to think. different temperaments blend she Laid. I m Spunky he s Laid together has taught us to be surf soft she said. We Are Tough people. There were times when we thought we would t make it but the a tour morning we put one toot in front of the ubbing who said it takes a determined and dedicated person to work at Home worked in Herb office As if she were working away from Home t included dressing for the business world. I m an advocate of professionalism she mid dress the part. When a client sees you in jeans or sweatshirt he thinks you Don t look like you Kriwow you re and the would spend her entire work Day in f Home office. If i d target to get something out of the f we want to fast food for supper she said. When you work at Home you tend to work t a week ubbing said. You re really married Toji Job when it s in the Home. You have to be sell motivated to work it t have to have a will and a want or you just won t a vary disciplined person to work at Home. Yogi goals and when you attain Ham you set higher Willis who operates Willis reporting service s found her hours increased. At first. I was working f 2 to 1-4 hours a Day the i said it waa feast or famine. But for the first time in my life my i mine and i could do crazy things with it. My child in j had their College educations and that paycheck a a business in the Home is becoming More acceptable. Ubbing said. Years ago the Public thought if your office waa by Home they would t do business with you she said. Some would t want their work done from a but times have changed. Working Al Home is becoming More acceptable to the Public everyday she said. Men in sales often have their offices at Home a lot of women who work out of their Homes do Craft and Hobby oriented Jot and service jobs like not everyone is As successful As the Bennetts stay 1 ubbing or Betty Willis. Those who do not succeed usually turn Back to the labor Force for a Fob. They should t be condemned for the failures said Chris Timon. A Public affairs official at Borden inc. To Columbus Ohio which does not discourage unsuccessful entrepreneurs irom applying for jobs. Each Job has a description and we evaluate j applicants on the same basis she said. We took for ? experience background and education according tothe Job just because some try to strike out on their own and fail is no reason to have it held against them she said. On the other hand she said Theof Tenhove some Good what Are the Odds of your being invited to dinner at the while House about the Samo As Tom Selleck appearing at your Tupperware party in search of a Malon keeper. A Magazine had a Story about it recently that was both enlightening and discouraging. First you need a sponsor someone to recommend you and to assure the White House that you Are an intriguing and an inspiring guest who will no laugh with collage cheese in your Mouth. Most of the quest list is done by formula. After the government Staples come those who get priority treatment. This includes children of Lormer Hollywood celebrities and personalities who have gone on record for kicking the drug habit. Then come party stalwarts Jet setters foreign nobility and a smattering of Academy award and emmy winners heavy Campaign hitters scientists leaders in fashion and academics and personal friends. Page 16 the stars and stripes even with the unpredictable being predictable guests Are always mystified As to what they Are doing there and Why they were chosen. This is especially True when Gloria Vanderbill is seated next to president Suharto of Indonesia and George Shutlz next to Brooke Shields. Those of us in the private sector could learn a few tricks from White House parties where shop talk takes a Back Seal to an evening of socializing flirting and gossiping when putting together my guest list i go Tor All the gusto i can get. I always invite someone who has read a Book recently. Cerebral is always i Lika an oddity or two. Usually someone who does t own a to set and has never heard of wheel of i try to gel someone who does not consider food the most important element of entertaining i especially like grandmothers who do not carry portfolios of their grandchildren. A priority wih to is someone who has just kicked the cigarette habit. Saturday january 17,1987 the sealing is crucial. Short people Carmot bit unfolding chairs or they look like trolls. Dieters taking diuretics should have easy Access to the powder room. Never seat a lawyer who extols the virtue of Wutoh up trusts for your children next to a Tallef of Tew Agam ,. Who has not spoken to then in three months. Seriously consider the Wisdom of putting a plastic surgeon next to a woman whose chins Are ailing in her soup like the White House dinner guests mine too Are mystified Aslo what they Are doing there end Why they were chosen. Usually it is some Small thing like my recipe for anything. I never forget thai. The Competition Lor White Home dinners it at Date dinners. According Low after Alt the official bases Are covered there Are Only about 30slots open for outsider my parties Sra even More exclusive. I Only have 12 places that match. Sweat it out. I turn or North i
