Week provides pat on back for home operators

On Monday, home business operators will begin celebrating their courage, determination and entrepreneurial spirit in New Zealand's third annual National Home Business Week.

For many self-employed people working from home, the biggest challenge is the sense of isolation and invisibility that comes with running a home business, followed by a lack of credibility.

Often, not even their neighbour knows about their business - and if they do, they may not take it seriously.

National Home Business Week (October 12-19) raises the profile of home businesses and awareness about the importance of this business sector, as well as some of the issues and challenges home businesses face.

Home business makes up the largest business sector in New Zealand. More than 230,000 home business operators operate throughout the country. In fact, a study by Unitec's Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship found that 67 per cent of entrepreneurs surveyed in New Zealand were home-based.

"Home businesses contribute significantly to the New Zealand economy in two ways," says managing director of Home Business New Zealand, Heather Douglas.

"First, many of them are providing employment for themselves when no other employment options are available, and second, some represent the beginnings of much larger businesses," she said.

"A close look at New Zealand's high-profile businesses will highlight a large percentage that had their roots in the garage or spare bedroom. A surprising number also provide employment."

Increasingly, businesses do not need to be big or have a physical presence to run substantial and even international operations. The internet and new technology coupled with a Kiwi desire for a good lifestyle make a home-based enterprise an attractive option.

For many home business operators, a desire to spend time with their families, be their own boss or avoid the traffic are significant factors influencing their decision to goit alone. Many also see self-employment as more secure than working for an employer.

Running a home business is not easy though, and home business owners cite isolation, invisibility, difficulty maintaining a work-life balance, erratic income, credibility issues, lack of skills, compliance difficulties and not enough support as their biggest challenges.

Although some of these are common to all businesses, facing them alone is what home business operators find the hardest.

Home Business New Zealand is a privately owned (home-based) business established in 2000 to meet the needs of home business operators.

Through its HomebizBuzz web site, it provides information, resources and tools to help make running a home business fun, easy and successful.

Voted Best Small Business Web Site in last year's NetGuide Awards by its users, HomebizBuzz has been relaunched to coincide with National Home Business Week.

The site has a fresh new look, more interactivity and a bigger focus on providing tools and resources. It still offers free information on everything from starting a business, finance and marketing to technology and networking, a directory of home business operators and a popular monthly email newsletter.

During National Home Business Week, HomebizBuzz will be running an on-site draw giving away a web site for a year, worth nearly $1000, to a home business.

HomebizBuzz