Tag Archives: business owners

Pitfalls to Avoid When Running a Home-Based Business

When you finally decide to start your own business, you want everything to go the right way. However, startup costs can be staggering, so many people are opting to run their businesses from home. A home-based business comes with many benefits, including that you’ll not need to worry about costs like rent. 

Before starting the business, you need to research to understand the realities around the industry. The fact is that your neighborhood could factor in determining different parameters for the business, including the parking situation, when you’re open, and the things you can deal in. Here are things to keep in mind. 

Not Having a Business Plan 

  • Starting any business without a plan is a big mistake. You need a business plan to guide you in your decision-making, as this is a document that defines your direction. 
  • Put in the effort to plan your business and state the intended objectives. 
  • If you’re unsure where to begin, look at free business plan templates, which cover different sections, including company description, marketing plan, and product and services. 
  • In addition to writing a good business plan, you also need to register an LLC, which offers you tax benefits and ensures you have limited liability. 

Not Choosing a Neighborhood Zoned for Business 

  • The neighborhood you choose to host your business can dictate business atmosphere, foot traffic, and long-term success for the business. 
  • Finding the ideal location means considering the right qualities to consider. In some places, you’re not allowed to run a business from a residential property. 

Lack of Enough Business Capital 

  • One of the challenges you must overcome when starting a small business is access to capital
    • If you don’t have capital, the business will not attract potential financiers or investors. 
    • You need to demonstrate you can pay back the loan or give the potential for your investors to get a good return. 
    • Low capital will affect ongoing business operations and can jeopardize your ability to cover day-to-day operations. 
  • To get business capital, first, determine the amount you’ll need, seek venture capital, or apply for a small business loan. 

Not Doing Market Research 

  • While the business idea may work anyway, if you want the business to succeed, you should invest some time in market research
  • The factor to focus on is market demand for the product or service you want to offer, so determine current demand and future potential for your services or products. 

Not Taking Time Off 

  • As a home-based business owner, you might be tempted to work all the time. This mistake can mean you don’t have a proper professional space that compels you to respect professional routines. 
  • It’s important to get the support of your family and ensure they understand the idea of working from home. 
  • While it sounds odd, this is a real problem, which could affect your productivity. Plan your day with office hours in mind to avoid fatigue due to overworking. 

Conclusion 

Starting a home-based business takes a different process because of the environment in which you run the business. Avoid these common pitfalls that could make it more difficult to achieve your goals when running your business from home. Learn about the market and don’t interfere with your professional schedule. 

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

Orange County Chamber of Commerce – June Business of the Month: Dogwood Village

 Dogwood Village was presented with the Chamber’s June Business of the Month award on Thursday, May 27th.

Dogwood Village has accomplished an amazing task since March of 2020 as residents have remained COVID-19 free throughout the pandemic. As you can imagine, this was not an easy task while the county positivity rate climbed higher and higher and healthcare facilities were reporting new cases daily near the facility. As we were facing many challenges with obtaining PPE, hand sanitizer, and cleaning products we knew that we could not fall victim to this horrible disease. We quickly found ways to get what we needed and educated staff on protecting themselves and the residents. Screening, testing, and travel restrictions were initiated, and staff worked diligently to keep the residents safe.
 

As the information was shared about COVID-19 restrictions in long-term care and assisted living facilities, the community began offering support to both residents and staff. We were blessed with many generous contributions of food, face masks, cards, letters and hand sanitizer. Family members, residents and staff were made aware of CMS, CDC and VDH recommendations as everyone worked together to keep the facility COVID-19 free. Residents were reassured as they were able to communicate with family and friends with window visits, facetime as well as visitation booths despite the restrictions.

Throughout the pandemic, staff and residents were provided education on appropriate infection control practices to include social distancing, appropriate PPE and hand sanitizing as well as the importance of daily screening. Testing for COVID-19 was instrumental in identifying any individual who could have possibly been exposed to the virus. Weekly meetings were held to collaborate on matters as changes were made in the protocol for healthcare facilities. All departments worked together to assure that residents were not only safe but that their physical and emotional needs were a priority. Compassionate care visits were offered for those residents who were nearing the end of life as well as those who were struggling with emotional distress related to the lack of family support and recent losses.
   

The teamwork has been truly amazing as well as the dedication by staff to stay well in order to care for the residents. We are blessed to have leadership who went the extra mile to obtain needed resources needed to combat this disease. Thankfully, visitation has been reinstated allowing family and friends to visit residents both indoors and outside. The vaccine has also given us hope for normalcy once again. We all pray that our residents and staff stay well as we remain diligent with our efforts to keep our residents COVID-19 free.
    

Dogwood Village Health and Rehabilitation was selected as one of America’s best nursing homes for 2021 by Newsweek and global data research firm Statista. The rankings identified the top 400 facilities across 20 states. Dogwood was ranked in the top 10 facilities for Virginia and is one of the 7 percent of the facilities in the state where residents remain COVID-19 free.120 Dogwood Lane,Orange, VA 22960(540) 672-2611
https://www.dogwoodvillageocva.org/

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Northern Virginia, or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com

Have You Visited the New Local Bookstore: Bound2Please Books in Orange, Virginia?

Small Business Spotlight brought to you by: Virginia SBDC Central Virginia

Kathy Judge and Gerilee Hundt both love books and have spent their lives reading, editing, cataloging and dealing with books – so opening their own bookstore seemed like the next logical step. Bound2please Books opened in February 2019 in Orange, VA. The shop is 500 square feet filled with nearly 3,000 general interest titles and has a primary mission: to offer a place to gather, to share thoughts and stories and to keep conversation percolating in this electronic age. 

Most of the inventory consists of gently used titles in very good condition – which customers have appreciated – along with the store’s prices and variety. In the first six months, the store has already hosted several author visits – with the next, on Fri, Aug 23 at 5:30, featuring Lynn Coffey, author of the Backwoods series. B2plz Books has also made the space available for book clubs (Science Fiction gathering monthly), knitting (Tuesdays at 6:30), open mic poetry, game nights, and the occasional string band rehearsal! According to Judge, “The ship is sailing relatively smoothly so far, and we’re blessed with some wind in our sails.”

The grand opening.
Grand Opening

Bound2please Books began its relationship withSBDCby attending a digital marketing workshop, and later opted for one-on-one counseling, again focusing primarily on marketing. The staff is now working to increase its customer count through digital marketing and can be found via Google, Facebook and Instagram. Select titles from the store are available through their B2plz eBay store.


Gerilee (Lithgow) Hundt!
Owner, Kathy JudgeVintage poetry on consignment

Owner, Kathy Judge

Judge and Hundt’s love of books shows through, they have worked hard and had fun thinking of genres to curate – from science and philosophy to fables and fairy tales. “Bound2please Books is the kind of bookshop I’ve always wanted to spend time in, browsing the shelves, finding a comfortable place to sit and leaf through volumes that catch my eye,” comments Hundt.

VINTAGE POETRY on consignment
VINTAGE POETRY on consignment

Visit the Bound2please Books website!

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.

To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

Welcome to Orange County Virginia with Janice & Lori!





Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.

Janice visits Divine Nails & Spa in Locust Grove VA

Janice Johnston REALTOR visits local business: Divine Nails & Spa here in Locust Grove Virginia where many local Lake of the Woods residents go for nails and spa services! Watch the videos below to see what all they have to offer their current and future clients.

Divine Nails & Salon’s VERY First Customers

Janice Johnston interviews Thu of Divine Nails & Salon

Janice Johnston enjoying her spa day at Divine Nails & Salon

Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your professionals for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia, we are your proven Real Estate professionals. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, that’s the #1 question asked by home sellers. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. The Question is how much is it worth? Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.