Self-employment thrives as economy stabilizes

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http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

Self-employment thrives as economy stabilizes

By Ebony Horton Published: April 21, 2010

http://www2.dothaneagle.com/

Perryion Griffin Jr. knew as a kid that he wanted to be self-sufficient.

Five years after opening up his own barber shop in Daleville, 31-year-old Griffin is still among those calling their own shots after one of the worst economic crises the nation has seen.
“It’s been tough, like any business, but instead of worrying about losing a job or making big people millions by me making chump change, I might as well put the change in my own pocket and work for myself. People will always need haircuts, so I’m meeting a demand,“ said Griffin, who owns Fadez 4 Dayz barber shop in Daleville.

Residents throughout the country have invested in their own businesses since the economy appeared to turn for the worst two years ago.

Some of those businesses in the Wiregrass remain secure, and more self-owned businesses in fields like healthcare, farming, sales and service are expected to rise even more in the state through year 2014, according to the state Department of Industrial Relations.
Earl Eutsey, who owns The Crab Shack in Ozark, said he opened up shop last year as an opportunity to do better for himself.

“When you know how it feels to lose a job and then you find something where you can do better for yourself, it’s good. Times have been hard sometimes, as with anything, but this has been my dream,“ Eutsey said.

Phil Holland is the founder of http://www.myownbusiness.org, a resource for entrepreneurs seeking to start their own businesses.

Holland said traffic to the Web site over the last two years has increased monthly to as many as 400,000 visitors, some of which may have had no other option but to start their own career.
“This country hit a time for some of these people where there was not the alternative of a job. They had to find something, whether it was a business from home in addition to their career,“ said Holland, who founded multiple businesses in California.

Holland said some key basics to starting a business would be to start small with a minimum investment and build over time, as well as establishing some kind of web traffic to market the business.

“The basics of business are spelled out pretty clearly. You don’t make mistakes. Our Web site has 16 different sessions that show you mistakes in any one of those can blow up a business. But if educated, you can have an understanding of where the pitfalls are,“ he said.

Some other opportunities for self-employment include participating in larger corporations.
Alfred Alexander, a retired Army command sergeant major and a business owner who sells products and services for Fortune Hi Tech Marketing, said he became a part of Fortune because of its income potential.

“This is a business model that an individual can do without regard of education, experience or current financial situation and can help them reach their financial goals,“ he said.
Alexander’s business partner, Marilyn Jinks, agreed.

“Fortune’s compensation plan afforded me the opportunity to build residual income over time and the ability to make a substantial income while the residual income is building. This has been my sole focus for a year,“ she said.