My Successful Home-Based Business - with some Help from EBAY!

by Channing Thomson
(San Francisco, CA USA)

I have a home-based business that centers around the retail, mail-order, internet-based sale of original vintage movie posters. These are the posters that you still see in the lobby of movie theatres advertising the current and upcoming films. The ones I sell tend to be from the past and were once hung in theatres going back to the silent era of the 1910s.

I started my business in the 1990s because I was tired of working for someone in a similar line of work and wanted to branch out on my own. I did not want to have a brick and mortar store front for two reasons: cost and the need to be present during specific business hours. Working from home, I was able to write off part of my expenses for a home office and a home office allowed me to set very flexible hours that suited my others interest and schedule demands.

In the late 1990s, EBAY appeared on the scene and gave me a much larger platform and audience for my product. I set up an online, retail store on EBAY (CHANNINGPOSTERS) and have found the relationship to be worthwhile.

Overall, I'm fairly happy running a home business. The costs are quite low and my time is my own. I only report to myself so I either sink or swim on my own merits. One thing I would definitely suggest is that you segregate a specific part of your home to the business and keep the rest of your living space for your personal use. It's really best to be able to close the door on the business when you want to and go about your regular life. I would also add that setting some somewhat regular hours will keep you from turning into a home business workaholic. That's no fun, believe me!

If there is any down side to a home business it is that you can become somewhat isolated if you are working alone. I've found that having good friends I do things with regularly helps with this very much. I also have a gym membership where I've been able to meet people and socialize outside of the home. All of this is good for your home-based business mental health. . .

Stuart's comment: Thank you Channing, some great tips. I know that ebay works well for some home based businesses though I haven't tried it myself. Your points about isolation and possible overwork also are well made.

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