On-line business is an efficient, thrifty and orderly system of producing, distributing and consuming valuables, products,
services and wealth.

 E-lancers are freelance professionals that know this and are already there.  They do what freelancers do; only they work
exclusively on-line.

Many of us are delighted with the fact that we use email to attach and send a document to the office to meet a deadline from
home or to send various formats of photos to relatives and friends, saving postage.  But do you know, with these skills and
more resources, it’s possible to create a total office on-line?

                           Imagine your very own Virtual Office supplying you with:
 
 

• Project teams
• Marketing while you sleep
• Requests for Proposals (RFPs), bids, auctions, competition for contracts
• Performance Ratings
• Customer-service tools such as administrative support
• Mailing lists
• Support group features
• Networking
• On-line communication and contact

•  Human Resources
•  Service Firms (Mailing List Service Provider, Book Publishing, Medical Billing)
•  Consulting (Computer, Management, Strategic Marketing, Public Relations)
•  Graphic Design (Desktop Video Publisher)
•  Sales (Clothing, Cosmetics, Candles, Soap, Distributor)
•  Technical and Administrative Support (Temporary help provider)
•  Repair Services (Computers, Appliances)
•  Arts (Export Agent)

More Tips:
1.  Likely tools for your physical home office are a desktop or laptop computer, fax machine, web site, printer, software and two
     dedicated phone lines.
2.    It may be helpful and necessary to learn more about sales and marketing and write a business plan.
3.    Use telecommunications, creative marketing and technology to diminish potential size discrimination.
4.    Organizations that offer gateways to insurance for the self-employed are: National Organization for Self-Employed (800/232-6273),
       Quotesmith (800/556-9393), National Association for Female Executives (800/927-6233) and Small Business Service Bureau
        (800/222-5678).

These sites can get you started in your new Virtual Office:
 

• www.elance.com (your marketing tool: online employment agency)
• http://www.talentmarket.monster.com/ (create your talent profile here)
• www.freeagent.com (services)
• www.guru.com (services)
• www.ework.com (contractors)
• www.iniku.com (contractors)
• www.akens.com (free agent who provides writing, composing, creating, analysis)
• http://www.emeraldhillsstrategy.com/ (free agent management consultant)
• http://www.lagrow.com/ (free agent strategic advisor)

Bibliography

www.fastcompany.com/online/29/rftf.html
Cheney, Karen. “Working At Home.” Money March 1996: 74-87.
Conroy, Cathryn. “Being Bigger Than You Are.” Compuserve Magazine January 1995: 35-36.
Csatari, Jeff. “Build a Home Office for Success.” Parade Magazine 28 November 1999: 12-13.

(January)