Tell us a little about your business.
Quality Web page design for small and growing businesses at prices you can afford . We enjoy working with "newbies" and love what we do!

Why did you decide to start your own business?
I wanted the opportunity to work from home and control of the number of hours that I worked.

How did you get started?
I developed a business plan, submitted it to a local "Job Start" program,and fortunately obtained approval for a startup loan.

What makes your company unique?
We are a woman owned business (mother/daughter) each of us working from our homes and we communicate mostly by computer. We really enjoy working with small and growing businesses and the opportunity to work with them as they learn more about the internet and computers.

Were any special skills/training required?
Yes Where did you get this training/experience? I took some classes at various times, and from then on I have been self- taught with the help of some fine mentors.

What were the approximate start-up costs?
$7,000.00 .

Did it require any special purchases (equipment, inventory)?
Yes, scanner, computers,printers and software.

What difficulties did you encounter starting out?
Retuning the business plan and finding the best way to market our services.

How many hours do you work in a typical week?
Sixty plus! )So much for controlling the hours!)

What are some ways you market your business?
I advertise in a monthly computer newspaper. I also have joined two business organizations and I do free workshops to promote my business.

What method has worked best for you?
To date, satisfied customers and referrals are still the best method I have found.

What has been most rewarding about working for yourself?
I love the satisfaction that omes from delivering a good product to a client and knowing that they are happy with the work we have done for them.

What has been most frustrating?
Not having a regular dependable income. The feast or famine of owning my own business has forced me to learn to be cautious in spending.

How do you separate work from home?
It is physically separate (separate room). It is often difficult to separate, but I try to be clear that "the office is closed now".

How do you handle working at home with children?
Not usually a problem for me, but my daughter and I share care of her 5-year-old child depending on which of us has the heavier workload at that time. I am also responsible for "pick up" from day care. This works for us, as I need her to complete certain tasks and she needs the support with child care.

What advice do you have for others starting their own business?
Plan and persist!

--
Practical web solutions for small and growing businesses at prices you can afford. http://www.pwsolutions.com/paperwork/ Growing Vermont from within: One business at a time