Are you ready to start your own business?

A business on the RV road is a viable option for RVers. Daily Internet access is possible for Web-based businesses. Or you can sell products, services or ads as you travel. Depending on how much you need or want to make, take a look at yourself first. Are you ready, willing and able to operate a small business on the road?

The first step is self-assesment: do you have what it takes? Many people think about the tax deductions, but you have to have income in order to deduct anything! Take a few minutes to look at the Small Business Administration's "Small Business Readiness Assessment Tool." It asks some hard questions about what is involved. Fortunately, if you can't answer yes to key questions, SBA has a number of online courses to help. Also, many community colleges have an SBA office where you can get help or take courses.

Ideally, start your business as a sideline before beginning your travel so it is producing income from the start. However, if you are not counting on making a living from it right away, anytime is a good time to start a business on the RV road. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

See the chapter on running your own business on the road in Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com