Saturday, September 3, 2011

I'm officially open for business

Not like that you naughty people! LOL
I opened a business account recently. I am officially a commodity. I had enough checks (in different names) to make it reasonable to open a business for my measly earnings.

First, I sell my books and get a check now and then from a publisher.
I recently put a couple of oldies but goodies up on Amazon under another pen name.
Third, I make jewelry and sell it on commission at a friend's store.
Fourth, I sometime buy things at wholesale and sell them there as well. For some damn reason she can't remember my married name (it's not that hard) and continues to write checks to me under my former name. Luckily they're hyphenated, so no one has given me a hard time about cashing the checks.

And then there's the name I use for whatever I sell on my website (under the blog called Store (really original.) I call that business Imagination Unlimited.

So, the bank had quite a challenge as to what they'd call my account. Fortunately, I wound up with a woman who liked a challenge. She managed to fit the most important info on one line, so I can collect all my earnings in one spot and write checks for business related stuff. Promos, conferences, books, supplies, whatever.

Now, what? I guess I need to think about making money more seriously than I have in the past. My husband is looking for a new job and knows he might have to take a pay cut while he's the new guy. I know a lot of people have been in that position, so if you have any advice for me, I'd really appreciate hearing it!

Does anyone out there have any money-making secrets they can share?


7 comments:

Callie Croix said...

That's a lot to juggle! I get both of my "selves" here in cyberspace mixed up all the time.

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

I'm glad to know it's not just me!

Unknown said...

I wish I knew of a money making idea that would help Ash. Sounds like your doing everything already.
Best wishes on you DH finding a job with good enough pay you don't have to go without or heaven forbid move or something.
We have feared the same thing happening to Jeff, we couldn't make it on anything less. So he's been worrying for 3 yrs now. :( Hopefully the economy turns around so we'll get a bonus or two again and maybe a long over due raise! The prices of everything is sooo High. It's just feels like this terrible economy will never recover completely. I so hope I'm wrong.
You seem to have a way with making money. Maybe I need to take tips from you. lol :)

Jina Bacarr said...

Ash, best of luck to your DH in finding a new job. Networking is so important in getting work these days.

Networking is also important in selling on line. It's difficult to say what will work re: earning money. Self-pubbing seems like a good place to start--you have control. And ain't that cool?

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

I hear you about the control thing, Jina. For me, that was the hardest thing about jumping into traditional publishing from epublishing. Very little control.

You'd think I'd be all over self-publishing, but I'm not. I still want an editor and I'm too cheap to pay for one. LOL. I've read a few self-pubbed books that would have benefited tremendously from an editor's eye!

Wynter said...

Sorry about your hubby's job:-( I'll let you in on a little secret. I do focus groups and occasionally some mystery shopping. But the focus groups pay the best. Unfortunately, it's not very regular. Sometimes I qualify for studies, sometimes I'm the wrong demographic for what they are looking for. But it's worth finding a company in your area that does focus groups. I've made $150-$200 for a few hours of (hardly) work.

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

Thanks Wynter!

I did a focus group once...in Orlando. It was fun. I'll have to see if they have any up here.