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Microsoft. McDonalds. Starbucks. MacIntosh. All of these names carry with them a specific image. Each has succeeded in their own area of business, and those who work for these companies, carry the company's reputation on their sleeve. Others judge employees based on the reputation of their employer. Home businesses have the unique opportunity to create a reputation from the ground up. So how do they do that?

Home business owners learn early on to only make the promises they can keep. If they cannot keep the promise, they should not make it. For example, let's say that a small home business owner contracts to complete a job by a given date. If he suddenly has an influx of business and cannot keep that due date, the day after that due date he immediately sacrifices his reputation. People are smart. They have the potential to become the home business owner's best and worst advertisers.

Great home business owners also realize the importance of standing behind their products. They follow up with their clients and ask specifically about how the product works. Great home business owners do not avoid confrontation, because they genuinely care about their clients. They care more about how the product has helped the client than if they make a dollar, because they realize that when they care about their clients, they also boost their reputation and sales potential. Great home business owners will contact their clients on a regular basis and say hello to them in casual settings. If the product is not satisfactory, the business owner seeks a way to make it acceptable and to treat his or her clients fairly with appropriate refunds or financial compensation.

Finally, a great home business owner treats all clients fairly. Recently Glenn Beck, a nationally known radio host, visited a watch shop to have his watch repaired. He arrived in non-descript clothing with no great entourage following him. The watch shop owner had no idea who he was, but he gave Glenn Beck the same, personal service he gave all of his customers. Beck was so impressed with the man's demeanor that he gave him a call when broadcasting his next show and visited with him. The man's business phone started ringing off the hook because Beck endorsed. And Beck endorsed him because the business owner had treated him fairly. The same principle applies with the home business owner. Those who learn to treat everyone fairly will succeed at business.

Home business owners have only their reputations to help them succeed. They do not have the luxury of toting around a company logo that everyone recognizes immediately. However, they also have the luxury of not having to deal with the headaches created by an executive across the country. They determine their business's reputation, and they do so with these three simple methods.