Creating Your Own Employment Security

Many people just look for another job, find one and get back into the rat-race, all the while anxiously monitoring the financial performance of their new employer, hoping they won't get laid off again. For many, this is just the way the world works. And it always will be as long as they continue to work for someone else. Do you really want to live like this? Well, you don't have to. The solution, albeit not for everyone, is self-employment.

In this article, we look at how to determine whether self-employment could be for you and how to turn that dream into reality.

The 12 Biggest Job Hunting Mistakes

Question:

I'm entering a difficult, overcrowded job market, and I'd like to avoid the worst mistakes job hunters make. What are they?

Answer:

Here are 12 mistakes that really stall a job search:

Tips for Female Entrepreneurs: How to Fund a New Business

The toughest part of starting any new business is coming up with start-up funds. It does not matter if you are starting a home-based business or opening a retail location, you are still going to need money to get started. One good general rule of thumb is that you want to try to raise as much cash as you can on your own so that you only borrow as much money as you absolutely need. There is nothing wrong with borrowing money to get your...

Tax Deductions for the Home-Based Sole Proprietor

Tax time is here again! What do you need to know about tax deductions when doing business as a home-based sole proprietor? You may be thinking, "I'll hire an accountant or go to one of those tax preparation kiosks in the mall," or "I'll just use one of those computerized tax software programs."

Whatever your decision, you are ultimately responsible for knowing what you can and cannot deduct as business expenses. Why? YOU are accountable to the IRS for your deductions, not the tax preparer.

But the most compelling reason: Getting the greatest benefit from your deductions. If you pay someone to do your taxes you still need to know what you can deduct so that you can gather all relevant paperwork!

Let's start with the basics: