Home based and rural businesses are uniquely prepared and positioned for tough economic times.
Many rural businesses start in their home - and stay in their home. For specialty or web & mail order businesses there is often no reason to move out. Lower overhead expenses are helpful to a business whether they are starting out or trying to keep costs down. And if they’re home based, those overhead expenses don’t get higher. The seasonal nature of many rural businesses often imposes a limit on expansion of operations and leased space. Because the purpose of their existence is to serve the traveling public visiting to enjoy the seasonal differences. The same ‘prime real estate’ that supports a flourishing tourist location during Summer may be a ghost town by Winter, and seasonal businesses know that a high-dollar year round rent in such a location would an albatross around a rural business’s proverbial neck.
It is a fallacy to believe that a home based business must move out if it is to grow and survive - especially in 2009. Home based businesses can allow a quality of life and a multi-tasking environment that integrates family. If the pace of daily business is different or slower at times, a home based rural business owner can make progress in other parts of their life.
While non-home based businesses are trying to pare down their overhead expenses to prevent them from dragging down their bottom line, rural businesses are already ‘lean and mean’ and geared up to face the difficult economic challenges of 2009. Home based and rural businesses are uniquely prepared and positioned for tough economic times.
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We have found that working from home is a boon to our business. Low overhead and small craft shows keep us in business! We are finding that people are more willing to spend locally, too, rather than drive into the city to buy something made in a factory and waste gas in the process! Handmade and homemade are making a comeback!
I agree! Handmade and homemade are certainly in vogue when we all begin to think about what matters and what is really worth our financial support.