3 Easy Steps to an Expert-Based Business

by Cheryl Garrison

So you want to start a business but you’re not sure what type of business to start and how to get it started. You’re not alone. I get tons of inquiries from women, especially those over 50, who are ready to assert their independence and become their own boss but can’t seem to find the business they want to start. They dabble in and out of network marketing or direct sales and find that they don’t truly have a passion to build a team or host parties! The idea of having a business becomes more and more frustrating and they are at the point of giving up on this long-held dream. Does this sound like you?

Good news. More and more women are finding that the business they’ve been wanting to start is literally inside of them. It’s their talent, knowledge, and passion – the thing they love to do and can do with ease. It’s called starting an expert-based business.

According to market trends, over 33% of businesses started are businesses that evolve from prior experience. This includes businesses like freelancing, independent contracting, consulting, and virtual assistance. Many of these businesses are started at home and are more likely to succeed. Personally, I ran a successful consultant business from home for over 15 years. It was based on my work experience and passion as a corporate and technical writer. I was able to raise my three children (now adults) and earn a significantly high five-figure income annually.

How did I do it and how can you take your expertise and passion and turn it into a viable and successful home-based business? Below I share three steps you can take to get your expert-based business started and get you on the road to success from home.

Step 1: Be clear on the type of business you wish to start

Many people are knowledgeable about something. In fact, most of us have multiple talents and passions and it is sometimes hard to narrow them down and know your true expertise. Do a quick expertise inventory. Simply get a sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle, and on one side write all the experience that you have. It can be from current or past corporate jobs, hobbies, volunteering, and education – just brainstorm all of your experience. On the opposite side, write all the things you are passionate about, the things you LOVE to do. You might be very knowledgeable about accounting but truly love teaching. This might lead you to create an online class on how to keep accurate accounting records in a small business. This exercise has led many people to start lasting businesses.

Step 2: Position yourself as the expert

As I said earlier, most of us are experts at something. But, until someone knows our expertise, our unique and special gifts remain unknown. How do you get people to know that you are knowledgeable in a certain area? You tell them. You tell them online, offline, every chance you get. Some of the most notable ways people are establishing themselves as authorities or experts in their field include:

• Writing a Book – Writing a book about your field of expertise is instant credibility. Luckily, in today’s digital world, it has gotten easier to get your book on the market through self-publishing, vanity press, and ebooks. Decide on the book you want to write and then get busy writing it. ‘
• Hosting an online podcast/FB LIVE – Establish your expertise by hosting weekly or monthly podcasts/FB LIVEs where you can share “how-to” tips. This is merely a way to keep your message in front of your audience and allow them to see you in the position as an expert.
• Obtaining speaking engagements – Get on the stage as much as possible to establish your credibility. Your local chamber of commerce has opportunities as well as women’s groups and conferences in your community.

Step 3: Share your Story

The final step is to create a platform for sharing your knowledge with a pre-defined audience. How will you deliver the message? You might decide to create an online course, do live webinars, or conduct one-on-one coaching.

How will you reach them? You might decide to create a social media strategy for Facebook and Instagram. Your offline strategy could be attending networking events.

The three steps referenced here are a quick overview of ways to get your expert-based business started. Remember, starting any business requires clarity, planning, and a no-excuse attitude. Follow these steps and you will be well on your way to being your own boss. To your Success!

Cheryl Garrison is a business coach, speaker, author, and champion for women over 50. Her desire is to help women re-invent themselves through business ownership. She encourages women over 50 to take their decades of skills and expertise and turn them into thriving businesses. For more than 30 years, Cheryl has been an entrepreneur and has earned well over a million dollars from her various ventures. As a business owner, she was awarded numerous Business Excellence awards.

She has been a featured speaker at several women’s conferences and networking events. She is the author of two books: Re-Invent Yourself and From Expert to Entrepreneur. Most recently, Cheryl published her first magazine for women over 50, 50Something Lifestyle Magazine.

As a coach, Cheryl works one-on-one with her clients in addition to group training and masterminds.’

Cheryl created 50Something LIfestyle to help women deal with the “now what”.  Just because we are 50Something, it doesn’t mean that we are ready to be done. We are strong, vibrant women ready to create the lifestyle of our dreams.