It is no wonder that more and more people want to work at home. Jobs no longer provide much in the way of security or career satisfaction. Companies merge and take over, pension plans are not honored, more is demanded of workers with less return for the time and loyalty they have to put out. It is easy to understand why an online automated business is so appealing. Read more

"There is so much work for VAs…the field is thriving, actually booming," says Diana Ennen, co-author of "Virtual Assistant – The Series" in an article entitled "Lend Assistance" in the Best Business and Finance section of Readers Digest Online at www.rd.com.

Virtual Assistants are professionals who work from their homes, offering business services such as administrative support, transcription, bookkeeping, public relations and website design, as independent contractors. Read more

Bank statements, business machine receipts, credit card statements for your small business – you're filing them away every month, year after year.  Your filing boxes are filled to the gills, but is it really necessary to hang on to some of these items for years?  How do you know when it's safe to shred it?  Cybertary.com offers these guidelines:

Toss Every Month:

ATM and deposit/withdrawal receipts after recorded in your check register.

Credit card receipts after you've checked them against your statement.

Sales receipts for minor purchases with no warranty attached. Read more

Do you love to work with people, but hate to work with numbers? Are you a meticulous financial planner, but shrink at the idea of talking yourself up to customers?

The Small Business Informer, a website offering advice for owners, recommends a hard assessment of of your personal skills before . Read more

There are many great reasons to become an entrepreneur. The most often cited reasons are being your own boss, working from home, and spending more time with your family.

But whether you're or becoming a , launching a sucessful, lucrative venture is not for the faint of heart.

While nothing gets your adrenaline pumping like the prospect of an exciting business all your own, The Small Business Association suggests doing a little soul-searching before you take the plunge. Read more

According to the article "Top Reasons Of Business Failure" on The Blog, the Small Business Administration reports that 2/3 of businesses survive their first 2 years, but only 44% reach their 4th anniversary.

The most often cited reason for business failure is not developing a business plan, and failing to consider the financial and managerial aspects of running a business. This is reported by 78% of failed business owners.

The next most common reason is an inability to follow the business plan set forth for the business. Other reasons include poor management skills pertaining to people and financial resources and lack of work experience.

Read the article at http://www.sme-blog.com/

The Small Business Administration is offering a free online course to entrepreneurs entitled "How To On A Shoestring Budget."

The course is offered in conjunction with Trump University, an online education site founded by Donald Trump which provides courses on topics such as real estate investing, developing business plans, and creating wealth designed by a faculty of experts in various business fields. Read more

Thinking of giving up the 9-to-5 to ? While the life of a solopreneur can give you the independent lifestyle you've been dreaming of, it can also be a financial roller coaster many are unprepared for.

"No job is 100% secure and there is a good argument that being in control of your income via your own is more secure than a job (you're not at the risk of downsizing etc), however it doesn’t feel like that, especially when you start out," says Yaro Starak, on his blog www.entrepreneurs-journey.com. Read more