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Starting A Business In The 21st Century Is Easier Than You May Think

2/21/2023

Last Updated: February 21, 2023

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These days, becoming a business owner is easier than ever. Due to technological advancements, many businesses can be run from the comfort of your own home. The hardest part might be starting, but Andreas Philip Gross Enterprises LLC can help you find your footing.

Choose Your Industry

The first step is choosing an industry. Assess your current skill set and resources. For example, if you have a computer with current photography software (and have a knack for and enjoy using it), graphic design or digital marketing might be an appropriate fit. Other business ideas include pet sitting, freelance writing, event planning, and handyman services – to name a few examples from a long list of almost endless possibilities.

Perform Market Research

Once you’ve chosen an avenue you think you’d like to explore further, undertaking market research can be the most daunting task, but there are methods to streamline it. The sooner you finish your research, the sooner you can move to the next step. First, identify the target of your research. It can be determining your target audience and figuring out what products or services they need. Then create your client persona, including personal and career details. Multiple research methods are available, but the most successful strategies tend to utilize more than one.

Write Your Business Plan

Creating a business plan is more important than many first-timers to the business world may think, but it definitely doesn’t have to be stressful. Online templates simplify the process. You can choose anything from the tried-and-true traditional format to a more modern, leaner start-up template, or any number of modified versions of these. You could even write your own from scratch without a template. It’s your business and it’s up to you. Whatever format you choose, the plan is meant to be flexible based on your unique business needs. The traditional format is often best if you’re planning to meet with investors, and typically includes the following main sections:

Executive summary:
Provides basic information about your business’s leadership team and describes how your company will be successful.

Company description:
Explains your company’s competitive advantages and what problems it can solve.

Organization and management:
Describes the legal structure of your company while introducing its leaders and their unique qualifications as major assets in your organization.

Appendix:
A place for any supporting documents, such as permits, licenses, product images, patents, and resumes.

These are a few of the sections available in a traditionally-formatted business plan, but use the sections relevant to your business. You can always expand your plan as your business grows.

Benefits of an LLC

There are a handful of entity types, but most companies are either corporations or limited liability companies (LLCs). The former requires complicated paperwork, a board of directors, and shareholders. An LLC is more flexible because it involves less paperwork while you benefit from the tax advantages. Your personal assets are protected in case of legal liability, and in many jurisdictions these days you can be a single-member LLC. As a single-member LLC, you still retain your freedom to function like the sole proprietorship solopreneur establishment you dreamed of creating, but with more legal protections surrounding your business. Check the rules in your state since each has different regulations regarding LLC formation. Or better yet, check ratings and reviews to find a cheap LLC online formation service that can get you set up in minutes (note: there are many out there - do your homework on what will work best for YOU and your unique situation).

The Right Invoicing System

Every business requires the right invoicing process to ensure prompt payment and track your cash flow. Select one that lets you set clear payment terms and due dates, provide prompt invoices, and accept multiple payment methods. Include your logo and brand on an invoice template to create professional-looking invoices customized to your brand. Choose among many premade templates, then customize your invoice by adding your logo, name, brand colors, and any other important details.

Your Next Steps to Success

Starting a new business can be challenging, but if you take advantage of the resources available to you and the ease of access to them in our modern 21st Century world you’ll be set for success.

Andreas Philip Gross Enterprises LLC focuses on two major concepts: attracting success in life and making money. Reach out today to get started!

__________________________
Article by guest writer Julia Mitchell from Outspiration (www.outspiration.net).
Julia Mitchell has always been driven with a goal and passion. It has made her reach her dream job in a financial services firm, and working with multiple side-income entrepreneurial ventures. She aspires to bring impact to others and inspire them to passionately pursue their dreams as well. She is one of the people behind outspiration.net.

Better life, better business, better you,

-Andreas

Andreas Philip Gross Enterprises LLC
Ideas, Inspiration, Opportunity

Washington State Certified K-8 Educator, K-12 International Education Consultant, Professional Coach, Proofreader/Editor, Affiliate Marketer, Popsicle Stick Crafter, Print-on-Demand Products Designer, and Webmaster

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www.cityofpullmanportal.com,
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What Is Money?

2/13/2023

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Last Updated: February 13, 2023

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

Hi Ladies and Gents and The Rest Of Us,

Welcome to another Monday on the Andreas Philip Gross Enterprises LLC blog! Today's post is proof positive that a blog post doesn't have to be long to be good, ha, ha! February's theme here on the blog is "Money", and with that, I've collected some of my favorite links from around the web about the history of money and some interesting milestones in the history of notable currency collapses.

Remember, dear readers, money is, essentially, an agreed upon system of measuring value. Let's start off with the basics...

What Is Money? Definition, History, Types, and Creation
Investopedia article, last updated November 30, 2022 (last checked February 13, 2023)

Back to Basics: What Is Money?
International Monetary Fund article from their FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT publication, September 2012, Vol. 49, No. 3 (last checked February 13, 2023)

A History of Money - from ancient times to the present day
By Glyn Davies, University of Wales Cardiff Press, (C) 2002

No, this isn't an article you are going to breeze through in 3 minutes. Yes, do bookmark this for later. Yes, this is it - THE legendary and definitive book on the history of money by the famed and acclaimed Glyn Davies from 2002, all 741 pages of it, free, online. This opens as a PDF file.

Fiat Money
Encyclopedia Britannica article, Last Updated: Jan 19, 2023 (last checked February 13, 2023)

Hyperinflation: The Story of 9 Failed Currencies
Written by Jason Lankow, published on the MintLife Blog (mint.intuit.com/blog), last modified Feb 16, 2022 (last checked February 13, 2023)

A Short History of Major Fiat Currency Collapses and What Triggered Them
Written by Tanzeel Akhtar, published on Bitcoin.com News on Feb 1, 2019 (last checked February 13, 2023)

That's all for today, folks! Next week we've got another guest article from the ever-popular Julia Mitchell of Outspiration.net on the ease of starting a business in our 21st Century world.

Better life, better business, better you,

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5 Essential Tips for Turning Your Homestead Into a Lucrative Side Hustle

2/6/2023

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Last Updated: February 6, 2023

Boom!
There goes another spy balloon!

Howdy Ladies and Gents and everyone else out there!

Welcome to another Monday on the Andreas Philip Gross Enterprises LLC blog! And I will admit, that really was a TERRIBLE and insensitive joke to kick things off with today - I admit it. But hey, we need to interject some humor even into the darkest and tensest things going on around us in life, otherwise we will all really crack up and go insane. Of course, what you see in the picture is nothing other than a firework! Yesterday marked the 15th day of Chinese New Year - the final day. Similar to the old Christian tradition of "12 days of Christmas," Chinese New Year (called "Spring Festival" in China) is, in its entirety, a 15-day-long celebration. Day 15, the final day, is called the Lantern Festival. Traditionally, people would send paper lanterns - lit with a candle to generate hot air - up into the sky to symbolize letting go of their past selves and rising to meet their "new" selves who would then go on to achieve their wishes, hopes, and dreams in the new year that lies ahead.

You rarely see many lanterns go up into the sky anymore on Lantern Festival around the heavily populated urban centers of Eastern China because of fire safety laws; similarly, you see less and less fireworks in many urban centers in Eastern China these days, too. There are strict laws against both of these things in place now in many local jurisdictions for the sake of fire safety and pollution. Where I live - Huaqiao Town, City of Kunshan, Jiangsu Province - is one of the last hold out urban areas where you can still do fireworks, although sending up paper lanterns is prohibited (for fire safety reasons - there's less certainty where a paper lantern will come down!). I've included some more pictures of our celebrations at the bottom of this post.

With the idea in mind of achieving our wishes, hopes, and dreams in 2023, let's jump into the main feature of today's post. This February's theme on the blog is "Making Money", and today we have a guest post from Cheryl Conklin of Wellness Central (www.wellnesscentral.info) with 5 tips for us to think about when considering the possibilities of turning our homestead into a lucrative money-making endeavor. Wellness, balance, and sustainability go a long way in making and growing physical, spiritual, AND FINIANICIAL wealth and happiness. Let your Wish Lantern rise and may all your wishes come true!

With that, I give you.....

5 Essential Tips for Turning Your Homestead Into a Lucrative Side Hustle

By Cheryl Conklin

Image via Pexels

While the general idea behind having a homestead is attaining self-sufficiency, starting and maintaining a home-based operation is time-consuming and expensive. Ultimately, it would be an ideal outcome if you could turn your hobby farming endeavors into a profitable business. Thankfully, contemporary lifestyle trends combined with modern communication technology allow you the opportunity to potentially make your dreams come true.

Just like planting a garden, there are some important steps to take before you’ll begin to reap the rewards of monetizing your homestead. Here, Andreas Philip Gross Enterprises shows you how.

1. Establish a Business Structure

As the sole proprietor of your hobby homestead, you make all the decisions, but you also assume all the risks. Especially if you offer goods or services, you may be personally liable for financial or legal issues pertaining to your business. By forming an S corp, you can earn tax breaks and protect your personal assets. The National Park Service explains that each state has its own process for establishing a homestead and/or a legal business, so be sure to do your own research before moving forward. Filing your paperwork as a S corp using a formation service is simple and saves you money on attorney fees.

2. Build a Recognizable Brand

You may have a beautiful property, and your homesteading operation may be a well-oiled machine that turns out incredible products, however, you won’t be able to garner much public interest without an effective promotion plan. Today’s marketing strategy is all about brand building. You’ll need an eye-catching, memorable logo that tells potential lifelong customers about your company values.

You may also choose to sell items directly from your property, which makes your home, land, and everything on it, potentially part of your brand. Use it to your advantage by sharing videos and updates through social media. You can also order appealing metal letters for signs to add to your fence or gate so that it is clear that this is your homestead. This way, if people come to visit or do business with you, such as pick up eggs, produce, or other items, they will see consistent branding and have no question regarding where to find you. These signs can be made from various metals to reflect your brand and to give your business a professional feel.

3. Organize Documents

When it comes to keeping your homestead business running smoothly, organization is key. Whether you're tracking orders, handling distribution, or managing inventory, you need to have a system that makes it easy to stay on top of everything. One effective way to organize your documents is by using PDFs. These portable document files are ideal for storing and sharing all kinds of information, from invoices and receipts to product catalogs and instructions manuals. If you want to combine PDF pages to limit how many files you have, you can use a PDF tool to add an additional page.

4. Teach Courses

As a homesteader in your region, you have unique knowledge and experience that others who aspire to live more independently would love to learn. While sharing tips and tricks on your YouTube channel can be a great way to grow your audience, you may find yourself weeding through hundreds of emails from viewers with deeper questions. Why not take these inquiries and use them to build valuable courses for your followers in the following subjects:

Canning and food preservation
Beekeeping
Composting or worm farming for beginners
Urban or container growing
Greenhouse farming
Raising livestock

You can offer these classes as pre-recorded packaged deals at a reasonable price on your company website for a bit of passive income to support your operations throughout the year, or you could actually teach physical in-person classes - it's up to you. Of course, these are just some examples. Depending on your specific operation and expertise, there are numerous different types of classes you could potentially offer and through a number of different mediums and venues.

5. Maximize Your Social Media Presence

While homesteading isn’t for everyone, Allied Market Research reports that the social movement toward sustainability has many people interested in feasible eco-friendly home practices. As an established homesteader with lots of great ideas, you can reach a broader audience by posting photos on Instagram, vlogging your chores on YouTube, sharing recipes on TikTok, or starting a podcast where you discuss opportunities and challenges in modern homesteading.

You should also take advantage of SEO with all of your digital marketing. If you’re not sure how to use search engine optimization strategies, you may want to work with a marketer or web designer who does. It will help you to get more organic hits on your content. And as you grow your audience, you may even begin to earn profits through advertising, affiliate marketing, or sponsorships.

Start Building Your Homestead Brand

There are many ways to monetize your homestead beyond just selling your surplus at the local farmers' market each week. Once you have established your business and chosen a business structure, begin developing your brand and teaching courses that will gather attention across social media platforms. Through some strategic planning, you can turn your hobby farm into a desirable lifestyle brand for others, which in turn can become a lucrative livelihood for you and your family. Plus, you'll likely have tons of fun doing it!

________________________
Guest post by Cheryl Conklin of Wellness Central (www.wellnesscentral.info).

Thanks for the tips, Cheryl! From how to organize and brand our farm business, to how to bring in multiple streams of income from it, you've given us a lot of good information to think through today. As an educator and coach, my eyes perked right up when I read the part about offering courses :).

Now, before signing off entirely, as promised, here are some more pictures of my family and I doing fireworks here in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, P.R.C., for the Lantern Festival.