How to Create a Home Business With Your CD or DVD Burner

Start an at-home business using your computer, CD or DVD burner

The computer makes starting a home business even easier these days. Many computers come with built-in CD or DVD burners that make creating music or video products a snap. Here's how to create a home business with your CD or DVD burner.

Instructions

1. Decide which products to create. There are many options including music CD's, audio courses or video tutorials. Create content yourself, download content from public domain websites or obtain permission from the creator of specific content you want to sell. It is unlawful to copy and sell materials protected under copyright law unless you have the creator's permission.

2. Create a business plan. Describe in detail your CD and DVD products and how these products will be different from other products. Describe the types of customers most interested in purchasing your products (business people, self-help consumers, business owners) and how you plan to market to your products. Include details about start up and overhead costs.

3. Set up your business. Choose a business name not already in use by another business in your state or online. Obtain the necessary permits or licenses from your city or county. If you want to use protected materials on your CD/DVDs, obtain permission or buy a license. Apply for a sales tax permit (if you live in a state that collects sales tax). Register your business (e.g. sole proprietorship or LLC) with state and local government agencies.

4. Purchase the necessary tools and equipment. If you do not have a CD/DVD burner on your computer, you will have to purchase one. Internal and external CD/DVD burners are reasonably inexpensive. Purchase a burner with Lightscribe or buy CD/DVD labels and jewel case inserts to label your items. Obtain any necessary software to record, process and/or edit your audio or video materials. Also purchase CD or DVD cases.

5. Set up your distribution. If selling products over eBay or other online storefronts, set up your website. Most storefronts and web hosts provide assistance in setting up shopping carts and payment processing. Other options for selling your CD/DVDs include mail-order, trade shows, associations or selling directly to businesses.

6. Market your CD/DVDs. Create marketing materials with your target market in mind and place ads where your market will see them.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider digital downloads of your products. If selling online, send your CD/DVD materials over the Internet instead of on a disk through the mail.

• Protect your creations by copyrighting them. You can use the basic (c) symbol for copyright, but if you ever need to sue anyone for stealing your work, you'll need to register the work at the U.S. Copyright office.

References

• Small Business Administration: Start Your Business
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Trademark Search
• U.S. Copyright Office