While reviewing a friends’ Internet Business I discovered many areas where he was not set up for success and with some simple changes he could expect to make quite dramatic changes to his finances over the long term.

With the ever increasing cost of living, there is no better way for the average person to supplement, and eventually replace their regular income, than building a business online.

Unfortunately most people don’t understand the meaning of the word business and immediately think they will make a million in a month.

This can be expected to some extent, because of the hype that is often associated with internet marketers promising riches.

This article is focused more towards the basics that will ensure you aren’t doomed to failure before you start.

The first step I advised my client to take was to prepare a budget.

This applies to anyone in any business.

Without a budget, you won’t know how much you’re spending, how much you can save, or how much your online efforts are bringing in.

Basically, without a budget - you’re lost.

Create a budget (using Excel or Open Office) and list ALL income and expenses.

This is usually a very eye-opening experience for most people.

Most people spend more than they are aware of and all the small additional increments build up like that ‘one extra burger’ does on the body.

The next step is to get organized with the tool you will be using the most - The Computer.

There will be a lot of files and folders needed to run a successful online business and it is very easy to get in a muddle very fast.

Mess causes stress and wastes valuable time looking for the things you need.

This will also make the essential task of backing up all your files easier.

You do backup regularly don’t you?

Once you get your computer in order, you’re almost ready to start… But not quite!

You need a plan and there is no better place to set out your plan than on a white board.

Make sure it’s a big white board with big writing on it so you can see those six essential tasks that you MUST finish for the day.

Yes, you only need six. Any more on the list and you will be setting yourself up for failure.

Your plan needs to drive you to the outcome you want to achieve.

For many people that will be to eliminate the stress that the increased cost of living has created.

Determine how much money you need to eliminate one debt, or clear bills.

Maybe all you need is another $300 per month to cover costs.

That’s only $10 a day, so focus on earning that rather than thousands and you will be more likely to get up the first rung of the ladder.

Finish projects that haven’t been completed and get them earning money before moving on to the next one.

Start those tasks that will bring in long term income, such as article marketing with a good squeeze page and offer.

One good site like this could comfortably bring in $300 per month.

Value your time.

If it takes 2 hours to create something and you get paid $15 per hour at your day job, then that ’something’ just cost you $30.

Understand the value of time.

There are two things EVERYONE needs, to make money online…

Time and/or Money.

There is no getting away from that for anyone.

If you can buy something cheaper, than the time it would take you to create it, then that is what you must do HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean you should waste the time you have saved.

That time should be spent doing proactive tasks to get you to the next step.

What most people don’t realize is the ladder gets a lot easier to climb the higher you go, to the stage where you can be happily raking in the money with very little effort at all.

Think Simple and You CAN Make Money Online - http://www.GeoffShawMarketing.com

My simple marketing methods will work as well for you as they have for me over the last 10 years of successful marketing online by doing simple, fast and effective steps that simply work. http://www.GeoffShawMarketing.com

Would you like to know why I have been successful when most others fail? Find out today and also take advantage of my special deals and unique products. Don’t miss the chance to make and save money starting today.