| Don't let falling market shares, bank bailouts, and a | | | | unwanted at the end of the day can be donated to |
| gloomy economy put a damper on your new business | | | | charity. |
| start-up. Instead, save money by steering clear of | | | | 5. Two words: Free Gas! |
| financially-draining investments, thinking outside the box | | | | Hotels offering gas cards as a bonus for booking are |
| when purchasing office equipment and supplies, and | | | | all the rage. Look for this valuable bonus at chains such |
| researching diligently. | | | | as Marriott, Sheraton and Best Western, as well as |
| 1. Don't plan (too far) ahead. | | | | many independent hotels. Armed with a free gas card, |
| Procrastination can actually be helpful when it comes | | | | you can easily travel to distant locations to purchase |
| to starting up a business in tough economic times. | | | | your home office supplies at big discount warehouses. |
| When the flow of money slows, inventory piles up, and | | | | Check out for countrywide gas bargains. |
| competition for your dollars becomes fierce. Now is | | | | 6. Hire not your own attorney. |
| the time to shop around for bargains on office | | | | Save time and money on forming your DBA, LLC, |
| furniture, computers, fax machines, and other large line | | | | incorporating, or getting your EIN and trademark though |
| items. | | | | Created by top attorneys, LegalZoom helps you |
| 2. Go to estate and garage sales. | | | | create reliable legal documents from your home or |
| Unfortunately, many people right now are having | | | | office. Simply answer a few questions online, and your |
| trouble paying their mortgages and need to get out | | | | documents will be prepared within 48 hours for about |
| from under piles of debt quickly. You can save money | | | | half the cost of hiring an attorney. |
| while helping out those who need to liquidate items for | | | | 7. Consider Costco for your Merchant Account. |
| cash by buying many things for your home office at | | | | If you're a home-business owner, you need a way to |
| estate and garage sales. Look for bookcases, filing | | | | accept credit cards over the Internet. At Costco, you |
| cabinets, desks, lamps, paper cutters, staplers, paper, | | | | can take advantage of their great low rates and fees |
| desk pads, and other home office items. | | | | by setting up a merchant account to accept |
| 3. Be card smart. | | | | MasterCard or Visa through your Internet business, |
| With banks being bought up and changing hands, be | | | | mail, phone, or retail. Plus, if you're already a Costco |
| aware of varying charges and transaction fees when | | | | Executive Member, your application fee and monthly |
| you use ATM and credit cards. With banks in flux, now | | | | statement fee will be waived. |
| is the time to shop aggressively for the best deals in | | | | 8. Get a professional logo for $45. |
| business checking, savings, and high-yield money | | | | Why pay hundreds of dollars for a logo design when |
| market accounts. Look for the best business debit and | | | | will do it for you for $45? This company will design a |
| credit card deals, too. Some companies are offering | | | | professional, customized logo for you if you have a |
| cards with no transaction fees. | | | | pretty good idea of what you'd like it to look like. Turn |
| See for a comparison of cards and their fees for | | | | around is fast. They'll have your logo samples to you |
| ATM withdrawals, credit card purchases and cash | | | | within 24 hours. |
| advances. | | | | Don't let falling market shares, bank bailouts, and a |
| 4. Organize an office swap meet. | | | | gloomy economy put a damper on your new business |
| Business start-up is sure to be both economical and | | | | start-up. Instead, get creative. Look for ways to start |
| fun using this brand new concept. During an office | | | | up your business outside the traditional way of doing |
| swap meet, people from different offices come | | | | things. By utilizing these eight tips, you can start up your |
| together to trade their unwanted or surplus office | | | | business in tough economic times and be |
| items for items they need. The atmosphere is | | | | well-positioned and ready to go when the economy |
| congenial, there's plenty to choose from, and anything | | | | improves. |