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Home » Family Articles » Dont Let A Home Business Cost You Your Family

Don't Let a Home Business Cost You Your Family

Does the title of this article sound funny to you? To some, it may not only seem funny but downright silly. To others, it may be offensive also. On the surface, it does sound like a funny topic for an article. When we look deeper, it can be a very serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Now I'm sure that most of us have either heard, or even personally known a family that has been damaged because the husband/father pours all of his time and efforts into a job or career. His wife never sees him. His children don't know him. He may try to make up for it with all kinds of "worldly" gifts, when all the while what is really needed is him to be there.

I know what you are thinking. This couldn't, or shouldn't, happen with a home based business. I am here to tell you that it not only can, but also it does. It doesn't matter if the husband/father is devoting all his time to his career away from the home or tucked away in his cozy office at home. The outcome is going to be the same.

The question that needs to asked is "How can a father/husband run a home based business, at times while still working full-time outside the home, without causing irreparable damage to his marriage and family?" Hopefully, the following things will help him keep his priorities in line and not be "sucked in" to the "succeed at all costs" mentality that is so prevalent in this day and age.

1) The most important recommendation I can offer, the reason it is at the top of my list, is to trust in God to provide. If we learn to trust HIM rather than feeling that is all up to us, the better off we will be (I used to struggle with this BIG time).

2) If you are building a home business while working outside the home, you MUST understand that your family needs you. I'm not talking about being able to purchase the newest home video center to keep everyone busy either. Set aside some time to spend with the family. Make your wife feel special (surprise her with a rose) and remember that you kids are only kids FOR A SHORT WHILE.

3) Set your goals according to the items listed in #2 above. Don't let your goals run your life. Goals are important, but they are worthless if you lose your family in the pursuit of them.

4) Try to get your wife and/or children involved in your business. The home should be a place of commerce. Children are a blessing, not a curse. Let them bless your business. Our oldest daughter has designed her own line of jewelry that we sell on our website. It started as a hobby, and then naturally progressed into a small business. Let your children do things for you, even if it is just filing papers or searching a topic on the Internet that you may need. Make them feel like they are a part of the business and it will go a long way to keeping your family together.

There are many other things that can be done to keep your home business from adversely affecting your marriage and family life. Some of them are OBVIOUS while others are not. A good rule of thumb is to remember that your family should be the most important thing in your life next to your relationship with God. If you keep this in mind, and work your business with this as your primary "goal", not only will you not cause damage, but I truly believe you will be blessed in whatever endeavor you are undertaking.

Copyright 2006 Craig Binkley

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Small Business Lenders

Small Business Lenders are certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide guaranteed funding to small business owners. Due to the diversity of applicants and the different business types, the SBA partners with their lending partners to make it easier for small businesses to obtain funding for new start-ups. Their involvement has allowed small business owners to obtain loans for a longer term and thus reduce the monthly repayments incurred. This provides businesses with a longer period of time to mature and stabilize without having to bear the heavy burden of a large loan repayment amount.

With this, the SBA has appointed a list of a few thousand lending partners in every state to extend this facility to the general public. Of course, borrowers are still required to submit full-fledge loan application proposals to the lender with the difference being that the SBA is the guarantor for such loans. This typically means that if the borrower defaults than the risk of non-repayment will fall upon the SBA, as they will then be responsible for repaying the loan.

Additionally, the criteria set forth for small business loans make 90% of all businesses qualified applicants for these loans. Apart from that, businesses are not burdened with balloon payments and high interest rates, which would otherwise be offered by any other commercial lender. Furthermore, fixed rate loans and variable loans are available to business owners. Therefore, business owners have more options in deciding the type of loan that would be suited for their business.

The purposes of acquiring a small business loan are varied according to the situation of the business. Small business owners may obtain loans to purchase real estate for business expansion purposes, to provide cash flow to support a large project, to lease machinery to operate a business, to utilize as working capital or to purchase inventory. Whatever the reason may be, business loans are evaluated an approved by these micro lenders after thorough evaluation of the business background, viability and purpose. The only difference is that through the support of the SBA, they are more willing to give out loans, as their risk is minimal with repayments guaranteed by a government agency.