I can also tell you that I would have made way more money in my first year as a home stager if I had the benefit of knowing everything I figured out the hard way after 24 months in the business. Since I candidly share what I learned with all my students, they have a distinct advantage over others who haven’t taken my training and have to figure out these things the hard way. For example, stuff like:

how to properly price your staging services
how to never have to run around doing free estimates
how to make sure you get paid immediately for your services and upfront for any shopping you’ll do
how to market your business successfully, etc.

Now to your point about a rural setting. You’re right it’s unlikely that you’ll make the same amount as someone in a major urban area. But you don’t have to!

Your cost of living also isn’t as high. I live in a city where non-luxury condos can sell for $700 a square foot and where an average 3 bedroom house of 1500 square feet can cost $600,000 (and many of those need a new kitchen and new wiring). It costs $3 to take the bus, or $10 an hour to park your car downtown, and if I wasn’t self employed, half my income would go to the government to pay income tax. I could go on and on, but I hope I’ve made the point that it’s important to consider how much you need to make to live happily and comfortably wherever it is that you are.

If it will take you months to recover from an investment of about $1000 to start a new business, then I’d suggest that there are other issues at work then just a fear of not replacing your teacher’s salary. You really have to take a cold hard look at your situation and if you’re not happy with it, how it will change if you just keep doing what you’ve been doing up until now. Anyone contemplating starting a business can think of hundreds of reasons why it won’t work. Just as anyone rationally considering whether to have children would have to conclude that it’s completely impractical. After all it costs over $100,00 to raise a child not to mention the incredible inconvenience. Yet we still joyfully have children and millions of people joyfully pursue their passions and open their own businesses.

I think you’ll find these FREE resources helpful:

Ask Staging Diva: Can I grow a home staging business in a depressed economy?

If you want to be a home stager, luck won’t make it happen (be sure to also read the comments attached to this article)

How to tell if home staging will work in your small town – Part 1

How to tell if home staging will work in your small town – Part 2

Good luck Michelle, you are the captain of your ship and it’s up to you to decide where you want to take it!

Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack the thread, just saying keep it fresh and you should be ok