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Take time to name your business, plan it out, use a website like NameBoy.com or http://www.rhymer.com/naming.html to come up with some creative ideas.

Your business name should have high impact and represent yourbusiness well.

The name of your business is part of your marketing strategy. Preferably, your business name and website domain name should be the same.

After you decide on a business name and domain name, you should perform a search at the UnitedStates Patent and Trademark Office website located: http://www.uspto.gov/web/trademarks/workflow/start.htm to make sure no other businesses are using the same or similar business name.

*Just because the domain name is unregistered, the company name may be taken.

Registering a domain name of a company who owns the trademark could result in litigation against you. You could be forced to give up your domain name as well as pay fines.

Here are some quick tips to remember:

• Make it memorable
• It should be easy to remember
• Make it unique
• Keep it short
• Easy to pronounce
• Easy to spell
• Consider your target market
• Consider your business image
• Don’t limit yourself
• Choose a name that will grow as your business grows
• Make sure it speaks well, writes well and looks good as a domain name.
• Have a brainstorming session to come up with a list of words associated with yourbusiness.
• See what names are working for your competitors

For the per project clients, those you bill a flat fee for a project like webdesign or graphic work you should still time your work as this will help you when determining your rates for future projects.

For the hourly or retainer clients, using time tracking software is an essential part of the billing process. You should be tracking everything you do for every client on a daily basis.

There are many time tracking software options on the market, many are free and simple to use, and others are more complex and costly.

TimeStamp by Syntap (http://www.syntap.com) is free and very simple to use.

You can save as many project files as needed. It’s a good idea to create a folder for each client and start a new project file each month, or at the beginning of each billing cycle for each client. If you email your time report to your client each month with their invoice, you might want to save the timestamp report in pdf format. It looks clean and emails well.

Online Project Management tools such as myclientspot.com offer built in timers that work quite well and integrate with invoicing systems like Freshbooks.com. Freshbooks.com also offers a built in timer.

Whichever system you use, stick with it and be consistent. Your monthly billing will go much more smoothly and your clients will appreciate your attention to detail.

• For online backup of all computer data – Carbonite – http://www.carbonite.com or www.box.net are good options. Backup your computer at the very least on a monthly basis. You can also use a service like box.net to store individual files. You might also consider an external drive for your computer, if you choose this option be sure to keep the back up off premises in a safe location, like a safety deposit box at your bank. Make sure to include a sheet with all pertinent information in regards to your safety deposit box in your Office Policy manual.

• Create a spreadsheet with all vital information – password protect this file – update this file often and make sure it’s uploaded to your back up storage area. This file should include all usernames and passwords to anything requiring them. Keep the password and file location of this spreadsheet in your Office Policies Manual.Make a list of all your office equipment that you will need to take with you if you evacuate to keep you business running smoothly. Keep this list in your Office Policies Manual.

• Keep your current client files organized and in a handy place if you need to grab them and run. It’s a good idea to keep some portable plastic file buckets (with handle) that you can store files in and carry with you. If you don’t have file cabinets, you can keep your client files in these handy little buckets all the time and if you need to dash out of the office in an emergency you can grab them and go.

• Keep your Office Policies manual up to date and in a convenient location if you need to grab it and go. Also, if something happens to you it should be easy for someone else to find. Make sure a family member, spouse, or trusted friend knows the location of your Office Policies manual so they can find it if you are in a situation where you are unable to.

This article is going to provide you with easy-to-follow tips to do just that, but first, if you still don’t know what type of service business to start, here are a few popular suggestions:

Ghostwriting for the Internet: Write articles, reports and other information for online business owners.

Transcription Business: Create written records of audio recordings, meetings and more.

Virtual Assistant Business: Provide administrative support, secretarial services and more for other companies.

It doesn’t matter what type of service business you start, there will be some challenges along the way. Here are some tips help you as you go along:

1. First and foremost, set your working hours and ensure everyone in your household is aware of them and respects them. If you happen to be a mother or have other interruptions during the day, there’s nothing wrong with setting aside smaller chunks of time where you’ll be working. This isn’t the “real world” work setting anymore – it’s better. You work at home and you can decide when you work.

2. As a service business, you have two very important roles. One of those roles is to provide service for your clients. The other is to FIND those clients and the time involved in this is something many service-providers don’t take into account. Ensure you have enough time for providing services and the marketing tasks for your business – or hire some help to make the most efficient use of your time.

3. Charge a fair and rewarding rate. Even if you charge your clients for each hour you work for them, there are many tasks (administrative, marketing, etc.) that you don’t get paid for. To set a rate that is worthwhile to you, you need to decide what type of overall income you desire and figure out how many hours total (all business activities) you want to be working. If you find you can’t charge a rate that is worthwhile, consider another business idea or target a specific type clientele that is willing to pay the rates you charge.

4. Be choosy about your clients. It can be tempting to simply take on any clients because you may need the cash. Unfortunately, bad clients can drain your time, suck up your energy and end up being more work than they’re worth. Resist the temptation to just take any clients because your business will be more fruitful in the long run if you work with easy-to-manage, low-maintenance clients.

5. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you find yourself taking on more clients than you can handle to earn more money, revisit tip #3 above. You may be concerned about giving your clients a good deal, but they actually suffer when you can’t provide the quality service they deserve. Instead aim for fewer clients, charge more and give them stellar service.

If you keep these things in mind, your transition to a work-at-home service provider will go much more smoothly. It’s not always easy and when you’re first starting out, it can be tough to find that balance and a schedule that you can work with. But stick with it and keep refining your process and you’ll find yourself owning a very rewarding business that you absolutely love.

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• Google Calendar – Google Calendar is a popular online calendar that you can access with your Google account. You can create private or public calendars, merge calendars, and create reminders. If you are using Gmail as your email account, you can open Google Calendar from the link above your Gmail inbox. Quite convenient.
• Remember The Milk– A popular to-do list manager that you can use to set list and share your tasks and set reminders. It integrates well with Google Calendar.
• Jotlet – Jotlet provides calendar functionality for your business requirements complete with reporting tools and appointment booking.
• BusinesITOnline – BusinessITOnline provides tools for small business including file sharing, invoicing tools, contacts management, and an online calendar. There is a free and premium version of the calendar service.
• Officezilla – A free web based office suite with calendars, contact managers, message forums, email reader, link sharing, chat, to-do list manager, and more.
• ZohoPlanner – Zoho offers a wide array of online office type programs that you really can’t find any where else for such low cost (mostly free). With the Zoho Planner You can create your to do lists and set reminders for your appointments. You can share with your team members and colleagues. For something a bit more robust, and to manage projects, try ZohoProject.
• Twittercal – Use this to add events to your Google Calendar from your Twitter account.
• Todoist – Todoist is an online task manager with an inbuilt calendar

There are a few rules of thought in regards to the significance of writing a business plan. Many say you should not even consider starting a business without one, and others say that a business plan is not needed. Most agree that it is important to map out a general direction for your business and if you will be applying for funding, a formal business plan is a good idea.

A business plan accurately defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your company’s resume. The basic components include a current and pro forma balance sheet, an income statement, and a cash flow analysis. It helps you distribute resources properly, handle unforeseen complications, and make good business decisions. Because it provides specific and organized information about your company and how you will repay borrowed money, a good business plan is a crucial part of any loan application.

Despite the critical importance of a business plan, many entrepreneurs drag their feet when it comes to preparing a written document. They argue that their marketplace changes too fast for a business plan to be useful or that they just don’t have enough time. But just as a builder won’t begin construction without a blueprint, eager business owners shouldn’t rush into new ventures without a business plan.

What is a Business Plan Used For?

A business plan is a tool with three basic purposes: communication, management, and planning.

Communication – the business plan is used to attract investment capital, secure loans, convince workers to hire on, and assist in attracting strategic business partners. The development of a comprehensive business plan shows whether or not a business has the potential to make a profit. It requires a realistic look at almost every phase of business and allows you to show that you have worked out all the problems and decided on potential alternatives before actually launching your business.

Management - the business plan helps you track, monitor and evaluate your progress. The business plan is a living document that you will modify as you gain knowledge and experience. By using your business plan to establish timelines and milestones, you can gauge your progress and compare your projections to actual accomplishments.

Planning – the business plan guides you through the various phases of your business. A thoughtful plan will help identify roadblocks and obstacles so that you can avoid them and establish alternatives. Many business owners share their business plans with their employees to foster a broader understanding of where the business is going.

Before you begin writing your business plan, consider these questions:

1. What service does your business provide and what needs does it fill?
2. Who are the potential clients for your service and why will they purchase it from you?
3. How will you reach your potential clients?
4. Where will you get the financial resources to start your business?

Are you working full-time, want to start your Virtual Assistant business but just don’t seem to find enough hours in the day to focus on it?

This may also apply to you if you are working part-time or have a growing family. A good chunk of your day may be swallowed up by the daily commute, the demands of your boss, cooking dinner, looking after the kids, keeping the house clean… by the time you’ve finished all that, how are you going to get focused? How are you going to find the time to start or build your business?

If you don’t have a solid strategy or plan to get to where you want to be, then somehow your days will drag into weeks, then months and you’ll still be no nearer your goal of working from home. It’s so easy to let the daily ‘noise’ of life distract us from our ultimate goals. Nodding your head vigorously?

Then read on for the following four tips to cut through the jungle and realize your dream:

1. Be disciplined Discipline is not just about doing things to start your business. It’s also about ensuring your day isn’t spent doing everything else! It means saying ‘no’ every once in a while to those tasks that are not going to bring you closer to your goal. Just think, if you spent two hours less a week on housework or got home one hour earlier a couple of days a week – that’s an extra eight hours a month you’d have to work on your project.

2. Be realistic If you’re still working your day job, schedule that from the time you get up in the morning until you get home from work. Don’t forget to include time for commuting. Then, plan out your evening accordingly. Don’t schedule a four hour task to be completed in one hour. It won’t happen. Break tasks up as much as possible into small steps and schedule them into your time. This will give you a feeling of accomplishment and you’ll get a lot more done in the long run.

3. Be specific Your daily plans and goals need to be very specific. I really want to emphasise again how important it is to break everything down into steps. It won’t do you any good to write something like, ‘work on marketing’. What does that mean? How exactly do you ‘work on marketing?’ Your plan needs to include a definite task and finishing point, such as ‘write an ad for the local newspaper’. Do you see the difference? You can ‘work on’ a project for weeks and never reach a point where you feel you’ve achieved something. By contrast, when you ‘write an ad’ you know you’re finished as soon as you’ve typed the final word.

4. Be flexible You should also be a little flexible in your scheduling. You’re going to have interruptions that you couldn’t possibly have planned for. When working from home, the chance of distraction goes up exponentially. You’ll be working on your project, only to have the toilet overflow or the kids play up. There will be things that happen that you can’t plan for. That’s why your schedule needs to include a little cushion. Sometimes, no matter how well you plan, you just won’t finish what you schedule. It happens to everyone. That’s when you simply revise your schedule for the next day to include the tasks you didn’t get done. Don’t stress about an item or two not getting done as planned. Just take it in stride and keep on moving forward. If you find yourself routinely missing your deadlines, you’ll need to reevaluate your scheduling. Are you being realistic in your planning? Probably not. Adjust accordingly.

If you keep these four tips in mind when tackling your Virtual Assistant business projects you’ll stay sane and get much more done. With a little discipline, planning and effort, you can schedule your dreams into your ‘full-time life’ much more effectively and ultimately earn a full-time income from home.

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Lisa Taliga is a Virtual Assistant and author of ‘Freelance from Home! The 5 Key Steps to Your Successful Virtual Assistant Business‘ and ‘The 7 Things You Must Know Before Starting Your Successful Virtual Assistant Business’(pdf will download).