Last week Emma Jones predicted the 'start of an enterprise renaissance' for home-based businesses at the New Business Live event in Nottingham, denying that there is any "gloom for business owners". She bases those forecasts on the increasing number of home business being set-up by entrepreneurs that prefer to save commuting time, overheads and combine family with work.

Emma herself started her home business adventure in '99, when set up a company called Techlocate from her home office in Manchester. After selling that company she found herself "unemployable", having been her own boss for so long and longing for a new business venture. So she turned her own situation into a business, setting up Enterprise Nation, a website and free resource for home based businesses.

She has recently described her experiences in a book called 'Spare Room Start Up - how to start a business from home', but was kind enough to share them with thenextwomen as well.

Can you introduce yourself?

I am Emma Jones, I run a website called Enterprise Nation; a free resource for anyone wanting to start a home business. I am here at this New Business Live event to offer advice to anyone wanting to start or grow a business.

Why did you set it up Enterprise Nation?

I have had a personal experience with setting up a home business. I set up my first business from my bedroom in Manchester. Then when I sold that business I had a lock-in close, to stay with the company for eighteen months, which gave me plenty of time to think about my next business, which was enterprise nation.

What is Enterprise Nation?

The site offers information about setting up a home business. There are lots of home guides

From an informational point of view there are tips, reports, we offer awards and there are lots of how to guides; how to market your business, how to use technology in your business. And then to give people confidence, we also profile successful home businesses. There shows the range of businesses we deal with, anything from lingerie for teens to communication classes for children.

How is it funded?
Enterprise Nation is funded by revenue from consultancy work and corporate
advertising

How is setting up a business from home different from setting up a business from an office?

The difference lies in the benefits; starting a business from home is at lower cost, with overheads low. You save time, we worked out that if you cut your commute of 60 minutes each way every day, you can earn one extra day a week. You can use it for your business, or for personal development, to spend that time on your family, to travel. And it is good for the environment. But I don't think people are doing it for that.

What is the key to a successful home business?

It is important to have a dedicated space in your home where you work. And it is important to learn how to combine your private and your professional life.

Something that lots of business owners sympathise with is how your dining room becomes the board meeting table and kitchen table the strategy planning space.

What is the one mistake home business owners always make?

I don't know, maybe not being proud of it.

Are there any people that are not made to be in home business?

On the main, But there is a lovely sense of discipline among almost all home business owners.

I have only ever heard of one person, a journalist who said she hated it.

Most people I speak to say that once they have gone to home business ownership they cant go back.

Is it more women than men that set up home businesses?

No it is quite balanced. But the demographic of our readers is 55% men and 45 % women.

You will talk today about getting an idea for a business, how does that work?
Many people come to me saying they want to set up a business; they want to be their own boss but can't find an idea. I believe everyone has an idea in the back of their head.

But, the three things I say to people who don't are:

First, identify a gap in the market, Take the example of Sue who was shopping for underwear for her teenage daughter but could not find any and decide to set up a business for it herself.  She had no experience with it, she was a civil servant in Whitehall but she did it.

Second, I encourage people to set up a business around their interests, hobbies. Do you like music, do you like pets? The businesses that are doing best right now are niche businesses.

Thirdly, if you think you can do something better than someone else. A lot of people work for someone or somewhere and then think I can do this better.

Then if you are still out of ideas, there are a lot of franchises that allow you to buy into someone else's idea. It means you invest into someone else's idea and business model. The way it work is usually that you become a consultant for them.

If food is your thing, My Secret Kitchen could be for you.. Enjoy travel, have a look at Travel Counsellors . Prefer being out in the garden? Then there is Girlie Gardening.

These mean you are your own boss, but you still have some security and you are still a part of a team.

Are home businesses taken less serious by investors?

No, not at all, because they are keeping costs low, they are very attractive. Financiers like that. But, they don't have that much demand, because home businesses don't need much money to get started. We show that you can start a business under 500 pounds, which means people usually don't need to go outside their circle of friends and family to find funding.

And at the moment that's great because you don't want to be at the mercy of the banks.

What are your predictions for home businesses in the current economic situation?

Out top prediction is that home businesses will grow.  We are estimating that in 2009 there will be eight million people earning some form of income from home. Economic predictions are that home businesses will rise.

What are the financial breaks or advantages of working form home?

Working from home you can claim certain expenses, your can claim your travel expenses for when you travel for business.  There is a tax reduction for expenses of working from home, ie gas, heating. The other benefit is, and we did some research for this about 6 months ago, we found that having a home office adds 10 to 25.000 pounds to the value of your house.

And a home office may just be a shed, or a room in the house.

Are you ready for your next business yet?

No, at this point I can't possibly think about that. I mean that in a good way though. Enterprise Nation is incredibly exciting, adventurous right now.