Christian Home Based Business: Shared Beliefs, Morals and Ethics or Marketing Ploy?

If you are contemplating starting your own Christian home based business, there is much to consider. Where do you start? Like many, you may have searched the Internet only to walk away with “information overload”.

Which site do you click on? Do you have the time or energy to read through all the websites that shout “Home Based Business Opportunities!”?

The answer is probably a resounding “No”.

You may have noticed “Christian home based business” opportunities in your Internet search results as well. At that point, if you were already sporting a slight headache, it may have developed into a pounding migraine!

A New Type of Home Based Business?

How is a Christian business opportunity different from other types of businesses?

Essentially, there was no “Eureka” moment. Christian home business opportunities do not boast a new revolutionary way to sell, package, and market consumer goods and services.

The one defining characteristic is the business is purportedly run on Christian principals. Virtues, such as honesty, ethical conduct and moral uprightness are the foundation on which they conduct their business.

Cornering the Market?

I believe that the label “Christian” is placed on businesses to attract a certain target market. After all, Christianity is one of the largest religious group.

So what better way to raise trust, than playing towards this fellowship?

In reality, every successful home based business needs to be based on ethical principals. Otherwise it cannot survive long-term.

What are important ethical business principals?

You’ve heard me say it again and again: trusting relationships are key for me.

When new prospects hear about our business, they are usually either disinterested or interested and distrustful.

Good marketing should weed out the disinterested.

To win the trust of interested prospects, I give them a taste of what I’ve got to offer. In a way, this website is also a taste of my knowledge and personality.

The next step is to over-deliver on their expectations. Not always easy, if you are not certain what their expectations are.

That is where being active in the relationship comes in. I actively continue the dialogue with my prospects. That is one reason why a few large clients are easier to maintain than many small clients. With many small clients, the communication gets more generic (e.g. auto-responders and mail-outs).

Christian principals

Maybe I digressed a bit. Back to the Christian home based business.

It could be a long debate as to what Christian principals are. Honesty is definitely one of them. Maybe the most important with regards to business.

When purchasing a business opportunity, it may be a good starting point to know that a business is run on Christian principals. However, it would be unwise to jump in with both feet before:

• Assessing a fit with the person that is selling the opportunity to you.
• Making a list of various home based business opportunities. Is the business conducive to your skills and talents? You should also be excited about the offered product or service.
• Taking the time to compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of each business opportunity.
• Evaluating the amount of time it would take to set up your home based business.
• Calculating the estimated time it would take to start accruing profits.
• Noting the amount of support provided by the parent company.

Conclusion

In today’s competitive business world, it is imperative to build strong, mutually satisfying working relationships. This is true whether it is with those who buy your goods or services or the company you are affiliated with.

Having common beliefs, morals and ethical standards can enhance and strengthen these relationships.

Before starting a home based business, it is still important to do your homework. You need to be passionate about the product or service as well as informed about the advantages and disadvantages of a particular business opportunity.

These are determining factors in the success of both - your home based business or Christian home based business.