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Entrepreneurs Laud Network

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By LAURA FRAZIER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2007

BRANDON - Some sell retail products, and others offer professional services. A few work part time, and many have full-time careers, but they all enjoy the flexibility and low overhead of running a home-based business.

Connected in cyberspace, they also share the opportunity to gather once a month to network with like-minded entrepreneurs.

Laura Maranto formed the Brandon Work-At-Home Meetup Group in June through Meetup.com, a networking Web site for people who want to meet face-to-face with others who live nearby and have similar interests.

The group meets monthly at Chili's Grill and Bar on Brandon Boulevard to talk about business news and strategies. Members discuss upcoming business events and expos, compare notes about effective advertising and marketing methods, brainstorm for ideas to grow their businesses - and socialize.

"You meet all different kinds of people, and you make friends. It's really cool," Maranto said.
Running a business from home is one of more than 3,000 interest topics nationwide supported by Meetup.com, according to the site. Group organizers pay a hosting fee of about $20 that enables them to post general information and contacts. There is no charge for other members to join the group.

Maranto, who operates a prepaid legal services business from her home, said the work-at-home group is gathering steam.

"It started out with just me and two people, but more are hearing about it. There are about 35 signed up now, and we had about a dozen at our last meeting. We'd love to see more people turn out," she said.
Membership ranks include a personal chef, photographers and a graphic artist.

Carol Stead, a sales agent, recently merged a group she formed in Riverview with the Brandon club. She tried a variety of networking and leads groups, but she said Meetup.com's structure is the most affordable and useful to home-based business owners.

"A lot of the networking groups, if you can't make the meeting, you have to send someone in your place, or you have to pay whether or not you attend," Stead said. "Many of us who work at home chose to do so in order to be more flexible. Meetup is nice because it lets you do that."

Jeff Easlick, who aspires to be a professional life coach, joined to get a feel for the local business climate and to gain networking skills.

"Watching other people shape their businesses has been an inspiration," Easlick said.

"If you're in a slump with your business, these meetings are encouraging," Stead said. "It gives you that next little push. It helps you keep looking forward."

For information, go to www.workathome.meetup.com and enter "Brandon" in the city search box.

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523 or lfrazier@tampatrib.com.

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