So here are five simple steps you can use to get your first domain name.

1. Find a Place to Purchase the Domain. You’ll find many places to buy domains on the web. Do a simple search in your web browser for “domain names” and you’ll get more hits than you could ever use. Find the one the is least expensive or meets other criteria for you. You can purchase the domain for a single year or in terms of multiple years. Domain registration is relatively inexpensive, with prices at under $10 per year.
2. Search for a Name.Once you get to the domain purchase site, do a search to find an available domain name. Use these tips on naming your site:
   • Go with .com. If at all possible, select a .com name as most people will automatically think of .com when they type in your name. You can use a .net or other ending after you become established online.
   • Spell things correctly. Getting too fancy with your domain name can cost your web visitors. If a person can’t find you because you used a clever spelling that only can remember, they will probably give up looking for you. Try to use the most common and correct spelling possible when selecting your domain name.
3. Buy the Name: When you find an available domain that you like, buy it. Try to purchase the name when you search for it. Sometimes, you might log out of the domain buying site only to go back and find that your domain was taken by another source. Search for domains when you’re really ready to buy to avoid this disappointment.
4. Get a Public or Private Registration. You can register a domain as public or private. Public registrations will be visible in the whois.com directory. The whois directory allows people to type in a website and view the owner’s personal identity. If you do not want your personal information shown, choose private registration (this will cost a little bit extra). By the way, most people just buy the domain without getting the private registration.
5. Select length of registration. After you have selected the term of your registration (such as 1, 2 or more years) and decided if you want public or private registration, you only need to enter your billing info and complete your purchase. You now own your domain and can have it transferred to your web host to put on your public website.

Start-up capital can come from a variety of sources. Expect some of the money to come out of your pocket. This is your personal collateral in the business. If you still need more money you could look in other places for another source of financing, such as a bank or the Small Business Administration for a business loan.

For instance, to get $15,000 to start-up your business, you might put in $5,000 of your own money into the business, and then ask the bank to give you a loan for $10,000. That will be the start-up loan you get to have the capital you need to invest in starting your business.

Knowing how much capital you need to start your business will be a deciding factor on what type of business you might start and how you get started. Some women don’t want to take out loans or get money from other sources such as relatives or credit cards to start their business. But if what you want to do is large enough, this might be necessary.

Before going into debt, take a moment to pray about the decision. It might be something you have to do in order to start the business you are supposed to start. Do your planning ahead of time in order to know how to make this important decision and get support and advice from professionals in the field to help you decide how to move ahead.

1. Act on Your Calling
Acting on a great business idea is the number one reason that most women start their business from home. The kind of ideas that are good for a home business are ones that can be started quickly with little expense.

2. Express Your Creativity.
Getting paid to do what you love is a dream come true. And a home based business doesn’t have to interfere with another source of employment. You can work it “on the side” or develop into your full-time income.

3. Be Your Own Boss.
You can’t get laid off from your own business, although you have to run it properly to make it profitable. When you are your own boss, there’s no more working your fingers to the bone for someone else. You will be the boss and you will reap the rewards.

4. Live a More Balanced Life
A home based business could be the way for you to finally get a balance in your life. You can arrange your schedule to be at home when your family needs you. No more missing out on weekends, family occasions, or holidays. You will be home for every special moment or able to leave on that trip when you want.

5. Save Time and Money Commuting.
With the high price of gas and the average commute to work being thirty miles one way just think of the time and money you will save when you work from home. There could be days when you don’t even have to get the car out of the garage.

These five reasons alone are good enough to say “I am ready to start my own home business.” In up coming issues you will get plenty of ideas and information on how to make that happen.