Legitimate Home Based Businesses?!
A new subscriber of mine asked this question: How do I find a “real” opportunity with so many false ideas based on greed?
Boy, do I know how you feel? It’s funny he asked that question because I have been wondering the same thing this week. As I seek out real home based business opportunities to share with you I come across so many scams or greedy people. It’s no wonder so many people are leery. It’s hard to find legitimate people! If someone is promising you a “get rich quick opportunity” then it’s probably not legitimate. If someone tells you that you can start a home based business for free, then it’s probably not legitimate or they are in it for the money! There are ways to start a business for low cost, but I’ve never come across one that is free.
I wish I could tell you that starting and managing a business is easy, but I can’t. There will always be some sort of learning curve and responsibilities. Some businesses will be easier to start and run than others. That’s why it’s important that you do what you enjoy. It’s also important to have a strong “WHY”….why are you doing this, what are your goals you are trying to reach. If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there? Your “WHY” will keep you going in the tough times.
Here are a few ideas when trying to find a legitimate home business opportunity that will be right for you:
-Let your experience be your guide. Start with what you know. Consider how you can take your skills or hobby’s and turn them into a business.
-Do what you love and enjoy what you do. If you start a business to get rich, that’s not for the right reason. If you find a business that will make you rich, but you hate it….well, let’s just say you will be miserable, but have a lot of money. If you don’t enjoy what you do, the business will become a chore, not a joy.
-Don’t reinvent the wheel, just make it better. You don’t have to come up with a new business idea to be successful. Take a look around you and see where there might be a void that needs filling or a business concept that needs improvement.
-Focus on a niche. You can’t be all things to all people. Try to identify a niche that you would enjoy working in and think about starting a business in that niche.
-A franchise could be an option. Franchises, although expensive, are a good way to jumpstart the process because they have already done much of the hard work for you. Thoroughly investigate the franchisor and the opportunity, use your own attorney to do the deal, and read the fine print in the franchise agreement.
-It’s hard to swim in a crowded pool. If your niche is crowded, then you will have to do something to stand out in the crowd. If you can’t quickly differentiate yourself from a large group of competitors, you’re better off choosing another business.
-And above all take your time. Research the business opportunity. Take the time required to make an informed decision. You could start part time while you still have your current job to fall back on. Talk to friends and associates who use the product or service you will provide to see if they would consider becoming paying customers.
On my website I will only list legitimate home businesses. You can also go to the library and find books on home based businesses. There are tons of ideas in those. Go get an entrepreneurial magazine and see if there’s anything in there that will strike your fancy. There are a lot of legitimate businesses and people out there, you just have to sort and sift through the junk.
One of the reasons I started this business is to help people find legitimate opportunities.
A legitimate home based business does not work within an unrealistic time frame. Stay away from people who suggest that you will get rich within a quick scheme. Be realistic about your game plan.
Finding the legitimate home based business will give you a real and well-founded way to make a solid income from home.