Buyer Beware In The Home Business Market

Remember the old Rocky and Bullwinkle show where every episode had two titles? The title for this article might well be "Buyer Beware or Investigate Before You Invest." (I know, there is supposed to be a pun, but . . . )

We have all heard both phrases so often we go yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever, and then blow them off and ignore what they are trying to tell us. That's often a big mistake on our part. If we do even the simplest of investigations, we could save ourselves a lot of grief, embarrassment, and heartache, not to mention money.

Let me give you a case in point. I won't give you the name of the business advertised because I don't want to give this guy any more publicity. But I will tell you some of what he did and how you could have discovered it for yourselves.

This guy came up with an idea, built a simple (but long) wordy pitch page on which you are made to feel like you have to act RIGHT NOW or lose out forever, registered his domain on the internet, and put up a website. That act RIGHT NOW or lose out forever approach is a big red flag in and of itself. If it won't be around tomorrow or won't be a good deal tomorrow, you should be v-e-r-y wary of it today.

But back to our guy. So far so good. Then he signed up with Clickbank, and is still selling his product as I write this, using affiliates to do the legwork, splitting the profits. That's also OK.

So what's the big deal?

Remember the old TV show The Munsters? Their fictional address was

1313 Mockingbird Lane
Mockingbird Heights, USA

As things would have it, the address this guy gave when he registered his website was . . . . .

1313 Mockingbird Lane
Beverly Hills CA 90210

That address does not even exist!

Why, oh why, oh why would anybody plunk down their hard-earned money, in this case month after month after month because he strings you along with a monthly subscription, to anybody that gives that kind of bogus information when they register a web site? It's like he is making fun of you for being so stupid! Do you REALLY want to do business with somebody who thinks that of you?

So how do you go about checking out such obvious attempts to avoid being located?

To check on where a business is located - or claims to be located, enter the domain name here: http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp . You can see if the web site was registered years ago, meaning they business has been around for awhile, or only registered last week. You can also see if it was registered for several years, meaning they intend to be around awhile, or only for one year which MIGHT mean they intend to take the money and run.

Don't be too quick to make snap judgments on this information. This guy has been around awhile. That doesn't necessarily mean he's honest and legit. It could mean he's just a chameleon, always changing his colors and sales pitch. Also, realize that moms doing business from home might not want to put their family at risk by posting their home address on the internet. The web site may list a post office box as the business address. Play that one by ear. Also, the web site may be registered for a short period of time rather than ten years because the business is just starting out and money is tight. Play that situation by ear as well. A mom starting a home business is going to be totally different than a guy full of hot air trying to make you believe he is a Madison Avenue big shot.

To see if the given business address even exists, go to the USPS web site and attempt to look up the ZIP Code: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp .

Type the address into Google and use the map feature. This is a great way to tell if the address is the mansion the webmaster wants you to believe it is, a private mailbox place in a suburban strip mall, or if is a dilapidated dump on the wrong side of the tracks.

Is there a phone number? Does it match up with the address? Again, use Google or Whitepages.com.

We all want to be able to make life a bit easier by having a bit more money. Don’t let that desire overtake your common sense. God gave you a brain and He expects you to use it.

"Buyer Beware or Investigate Before You Invest."

Seven Steps To Starting Your Own Home Business

1) Know yourself. What are your skills and interests? You will neither do well nor enjoy a business that involves something you don’t like or something about which you know little or nothing. You must also have the skills to go along with your interest. You may love the piano and know a lot about piano music, but if you can’t play the piano, don’t start a business giving piano lessons. You get the idea.

2) Decide if you are going to market a product or a service. A product could be a craft that you make and sell. It could also be something that you buy and resell on eBay or elsewhere. I know people who sell tickets, sports trading cards, fabrics, books, antiques and collectibles from yard sales, and home made crafts. They all do well, but only because they work hard and are knowledgeable about what they sell.

A service could be in-home daycare, a cleaning business, mobile or in-home pet grooming or sitting, or teaching or tutoring a subject about which you have knowledge. It would also include totally internet based services such as transcription or being a virtual assistant, or perhaps freelancing writing skills or web designing skills.

3) Is there a market for that? Can you create a market for that? Can you meet a need that is not now being met? Is there a niche market or segment within that community whose needs you can meet? Don’t start a business that does not offer something that nobody wants or does not solve somebody’s problem or meet somebody’s need. Note: people may not necessary think they need or even want what you have to offer. That does not mean you don’t have a marketable product or service. It just means they don’t yet realize they need or want what you have to offer! Think disposable diapers, paper towels, TV Dinners, or even pet rocks!

4) Have or be able to get the necessary equipment. This could include whatever you need to make your crafts or provide your service, a scale to weigh things you need to ship, and of course a good computer with all the necessary bells and whistles. Think your way through this baby step by baby step so you don’t forget anything.

5) Have or be able to get office space, storage space, or work space. Sometimes the garage, a corner of the extra bedroom or even the dining room table works, but you really need an area set aside dedicated to your business. This prevents personal stuff from getting mixed up with business stuff, keeps your business separate and organized and is essential for tax purposes.

6) You will need at least some start-up capital. Some types of businesses require more than others. Check into what you will need and make sure you have enough in reserve to last until your business is profitable.

7) Enlist support from friends and family. Listen to them and bluntly evaluate what they say, but don‘t let them discourage you. That will require some serious discernment on your part in order to differentiate between the Negative Nellie Nay-Sayers and those who truly want you to succeed but see some serious problems you need to fix before you start.

For a selection of Home Business Ideas carefully chosen for moms who want to make money working from home, visit:

123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me

MLM - The Good, The Bad And The Really Ugly

MLM stands for Multi-Level Marketing. It is a long standing tried and true business model based on the pyramid structure. Now before you run off screaming, “ACK - pyramid scheme!” you need to understand that nearly all businesses, governments, and the military are built on the pyramid structure. Businesses have a CEO, a few vice presidents, a few more managers and such on down to all the regular employees. There are decades old BBB-member multi-million dollar companies based on the MLM concept. Countries have a “Fearless Leader” who has advisors or department heads etc. on down to the ordinary citizens. Militaries have a Commander in Chief who is often the “Fearless Leader,” followed by officers of lower and lower ranking and finally enlisted or conscripted personnel at the bottom.

The structure is a sound one. It just means there are fewer units at the top than at the bottom. It is also a stable one UNLESS there is no real product or service and unless it depends ONLY on upper levels bringing in more people under them in order to achieve success and make a profit. Simple math will show you that before long you will run out of people on the planet and the pyramid scheme will collapse.

Any successful business, whether it is mom and pop or huge conglomerate, home based or brick and mortar, MLM or whatever, absolutely must have a marketable product or service. If there is no product or no service, and the only way to make money is to recruit others who pay to get into the opportunity, then you have a classic pyramid scheme. Run away.

-> The Good. So what can be GOOD about a business with a marketable product or service that happens to me MLM? First of all, unless you are the person who started the business, there will be someone in your upline who is supposedly more knowledgeable and experienced than you are, and who can give you guidance, tips and pointers to help you succeed. It is in that person’s best interest to do so, because part of their success depends on your success. Also, as begin to do well, there will be people in your downline whom you can train for success. If you take ownership of your business, believe in your product or service, and are cut out for sales, this could work for you.

-> The Bad. The BAD has a lot in common with the GOOD, and that would be that you have an upline and a downline. Both your upline and your downline can be filled with duds. Your upline may not have a whole lot more experience than you do, so they can’t help you much. They could also be lazy and expect to make money from the work you do without doing anything themselves. Your downline could be a lot like your upline, expecting to make money without having to do any work. These people have been reading too much internet hype. Unless you are willing and able to shoulder the whole load, you might want to find another company or product.

-> The Really Ugly. Some companies have a product that is overpriced and not worth what has to be charged in order for your upline, you, and your downline to make any money. Some companies want to charge you money to buy into the opportunity to sell their product. Some companies put an incredible amount of pressure on new prospects by trying to make them feel they are missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity if they don’t jump at it right now. Some companies make unrealistic demands as to how much product you have to sell, and if you don’t sell that much to others, you have to buy it yourself. Some companies fail, go bankrupt, and start all over again doing the same thing under a different name. Some companies do all of the above.

So, is MLM right for you? Only you can answer that, and it is absolutely necessary that you leave no stone unturned as you do your research before you make your decision.





For a selection of Home Business Ideas carefully chosen for moms who want to make money working from home, visit:

123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me

Just Another Work From Home Scam?

The internet is awash with websites and e-mails offering to show you how you can make money working from home. All too many of these so-called latest and greatest and newest bizopp ideas from supposed millionaire gurus are actually last year’s rehashed and reworked "biz-flops" from people who didn’t make any money on them last year either. Others are never meant to be anything other than just another clever way to separate you from your money, aka "scam" "fraud" or whatever else you want to call it.

Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to tell legitimate home business opportunities from totally dishonest scams. There are a lot a variables and fewer hard and fast rules than you might think. For instance, some have said never to pay for anything in order to work for someone. That is not true on the internet any more than it is true in the brick and mortar world. It is even less true if you plan to start your own home business.

Conventional employers often ask you to pay for your own fingerprinting, background checks, DMV printouts, etc. Online employers may want a background check. You may need to have certain office equipment that you are expected to provide at your own expense. Some freelance sites allow you to view teaser job offers for free, but if you want full access to everything there is a monthly or quarterly fee. This is legitimate.

However, before you pay anything to anyone, do your homework!

Visit the website of the opportunity you are investigating. Copy and paste the website address (url) into the search box on http://whois.domaintools.com/ . Look at when the domain name was registered. If it was very recently and only for a year or two, you might want to look elsewhere. If it has been a year or more and the registration expires several years down the road, that is a good sign. If the server is blacklisted, that is not good. Again unfortunately, these are not hard and fast rules.

Type the website name - probably the same name as the offer you are investigating - into your favorite search engine. Add "+ scam" or "+ fraud" (without the quotes) and see what comes up. Also type any person’s name into the search engine with the same two additions and also "+ legal action" or "+ lawsuit." Keep in mind that you may get a lot of results for a common name and you need to check whether any of the "hits" are really the person you are looking for. Check with the Better Business Bureau and look for unresolved complaints. Legitimate businesses do get complaints because it is impossible to please everybody, but if you see a lot of ignored or unresolved complaints, that could indicate a problem.

Type the business or offer name into the search engines with the above additions. You have to be especially careful here because you might get hits for a lot of forums where people are venting frustrations. They may have tried something legitimate thinking the money was going to flow into their bank accounts without doing any work. When that doesn’t happen, they cry "scam" or "fraud" when it may not be at all. Perhaps they tried to contact the offer and got no response. They cry "scam" or "fraud" when the problem is really with blocked e-mails. Some internet service and e-mail providers are not very good at discerning the difference between spam and legitimate communication.

If you are looking at an ebook that has been written to help get you started in a home business, investigate the reputation of the person who wrote the book as well as the people who are endorsing it on the sales page. Have they been around awhile? Have they been at this business awhile? Who else is their name associated with and what kind of reputation do they have?

As you can tell, starting up a home business is not something to be taken lightly. You need to spend time - a lot of time - doing research. If you are a praying person, spend time in prayer. Once you are confident you have chosen the right home business for you, pour your heart and soul into it. Make it work for you!

For a selection of Home Business Ideas carefully chosen for moms who want to make money working from home, visit:

123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me

Article Writing: Top 5 Skill In Demand By Businesses And Waiting For You

(How To Cash In While The Market Is Still Hot!)

A recent hiring trend report for February, 2009, from Elance.com noted that article writing is one of the top 5 skills businesses are outsourcing to freelancers. This is not surprising information coming from Elance as Elance caters mostly to online businesses. Think about it. The internet consists of images and WORDS. The choice of words and how they are used is crucially important.

Believe me, most Internet marketers have neither the skill nor the time to write. That means a lucrative opportunity for people like you with some writing skills.

In addition to article writing, there are other in-demand skills for online ghostwriting, such as copywriting, blogs, press releases, email marketing, white papers and more. The market is wide open for you! There are many opportunities to specialize and actually charge MORE for your services.

If you’ve been thinking of breaking into ghostwriting and doing it quickly, I recommend this Ghostwriter Starter Kit. It will show you:

- How to market your services without spending on advertising
- Where to find clients with deep pockets
- Why and how to put up a professional website
- Which industries are virtual gold mines for ghostwriters
- How much to charge to actually make profit
- How to set yourself apart from your competition
- How to develop your portfolio especially when you haven’t had a single client yet
…and more!

To have a successful ghostwriting business, you need the right tools and strategies - the same ones successful entrepreneurs use. This Ghostwriter Starter Kit gives you the inspirational stories of two successful ghostwriters who earn a full-time income writing from home and includes some great tips on how they do it!

The best part is, because this guide is written for Moms, the price is just right. In fact, you’ll easily earn back the cost of this guide with your first writing assignment.

Check it out for yourself. Ghostwriter Starter Kit

Also check out the Just Add Sweat Home Business Ideas for Women for more great home businesses!

QUIZ: Are You Ready to Work at Home and Start Your Own Business?

Have you been thinking of starting an online business, but
aren't sure if it's right for you?

This quick quiz that will show you if you're suited for an at home career, what type of business you might set up and additional tips to help you get started.

The quiz only takes a couple of minutes and you can take it by clicking on the title above.

Download FREE Questionnaires For Your Ghostwriting Clients!

Most experienced ghostwriters have had the frustrating experience of writing some articles for a client only to have the client say, "This is not what I wanted at all" or "That's not what I expected."

If you are just a beginning ghostwriter about to take your first client, this is something you want to avoid at all costs. Nobody wants to do all that work only to end up with an unhappy customer.

Ghostwriters all want to serve their clients and serve them well, but that requires good communication by both parties. It's important to gather as much information about your project as possible BEFORE starting.

To help you do this, check out these very handy, fully-customizable ghostwriting client questionnaires.

Now all you have to do is quickly send the appropriate questionnaire to your client and you're well on the way to delivering EXACTLY what your client wants.

The questionnaires come at absolutely no charge, no sign ups or any type of obligation.

Just go to this page to get yours.



FREE Questionnaires For Your Ghostwriting Clients!

Home Based Tutoring Business

I have a casual acquaintance who is no longer able to be in the workforce because of health issues. However, she is still bright, cheerful, articulate, intelligent, and in need if an income to support herself. She decided she would try tutoring in a subject about which she has knowledge.

The other day she mentioned that she had to take her advertising sign off of her car because she had more business than she could handle!

There is a great need out there for tutors. Adults as well as school children and teens often are looking for that little bit of help. What do you know that you could teach others?

Although there is great interest in and demand for tutoring in basic school subjects such as The Three R's, there is also demand for typing, computer use, music, arts, sports, you name it. Do you speak more than one language? You could tutor others in a second language. Do you speak only English? Teaching English as a Second Language is a booming business where there is great demand!

Here are some sources to help you start your Home Based Tutoring Business.

Bizymoms Tutoring Service Home Business Kit

Online Tutoring Step-By-Step

Confessions Of A High Paid Tutor!

Three Pitfalls To Avoid In Your Work From Home Search

I have been working from home now for several years, and I am always amazed by how many people are enticed by internet hype. They think they can just sign up for this or that wonderful program they find advertised online and the money will somehow automatically come pouring in. It's so sad that people can be so desperate for money that their common sense just shuts down. It's even sadder that there are predators out there who are all too happy to prey on the people who are only looking to make their lives a little easier.

Unfortunately, these desperate people set themselves up for disappointment and failure. If they keep trying to make money from these get-rich-quick programs, they set themselves up for repeated disappointments and failures.

The good news is this doesn't have to happen to you!

By the time you finish reading this article, you will have learned three valuable tips that can help you avoid falling victim to brazen internet hype. Begin now to prepare yourself to successfully work from home.

1. Do not confuse "simple" with "easy." No matter what work from home business you select, the concept should be simple, but the application will not be easy. Make sure you understand thoroughly and completely what you are getting into before you start. Make sure you have the skills, resources and temperament to succeed at your chosen profession.

Many of the opportunities and ideas you will come across will present themselves as being really "simple" to do. I absolutely cringe when I read ad copy saying things like, "Simply do this." "Simply do this" is NEVER all there is to it. For instance, the ad copy may say "Simply sell 3 of these widgets a day and you will make $_.__ every month!" The ad copy doesn't tell you HOW to sell 3 widgets every day. If you have no idea how you would convince 3 people a day to buy a widget from you, then this so-called simple bizopp won't be easy for you at all.

2. Be very skeptical of ads that show models standing next to a very expensive car with a mansion in the background. The marketers can't get away with saying that if you buy their product you will live like the people in the ad, but the implication is clearly there. It may be possible to do that well, but it's also possible for any given baby born in the U.S.A. to become president. It just is not very likely, and the odds are probably about the same.

Many of these ads don't really tell you what you would be actually doing should you get involved in the business. You find that out after they have your money and contact information, That should be a very big red flag for you. If they are afraid you would run away if they told you "too much" up front, that's exactly what you should do. Run away!

3). Be wary of bizopps that provide you with a cookie cutter website and tell you that is all you will need. What's a cookie cutter website? It's a website that is identical to thousands of other websites except for your affiliate contact info. You have no control over content or appearance. That means your site would look like everybody else's site that is in the same business you are looking into. Competition would be fierce and you would stand NO chance of ranking well with the search engines.

To be fair, there are a few legitimate bizopps that provide you with such a cookie cutter site, but they tell you up front that you really need to have you own site with your own domain name and total control over the content. They tell you to use your site to attract customers whom you then redirect to the cookie cutter site which is a professionally written sales page from which the customer can place their orders. That's OK. Also OK are the bizopps that provide you with a site as part of the package you buy. You have control over the content and can optimize your site for search engine ranking.

In conclusion, if you avoid the pitfalls I've just outlined, you will save yourself a lot of grief and regret as you search for the perfect work from home opportunity for you.

Find your perfect work from home job or home based business on one of the sites below. Choose from dozens of carefully selected work from home ideas and opportunities.

123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home Based Business Works 4 Me

Work At Home 101 from CWAHM.com

CWAHM.com Announces Work At Home 101 A FREE online 3 week course designed to give moms a work-at-home starting place. If you are one of the many people who has recently lost your job, you have probably given considerable thought to working from home. Most people are curious about working from home. We know others do it, but aren't sure how they do it. CWAHM.com's Work at Home 101 is designed to give you an overview of the choices available that will allow you to work from home. This online course will give you the starting place you've been searching for. No matter what happens to the economy in the upcoming months, you may find working from home so rewarding that you decide to never again enter the workforce again! Best of all - Work at Home 101 is completely free! CLICK HERE! Some of the things covered during Work at Home 101: * Where to Start * Telecommuting * Home-Based Businesses * Avoiding Scams * Entrepreneur Tips *AND MUCH MORE!

A Perfect Work from Home Opportunity: Start a Transcription Business

A transcriptionist is an individual who types verbatim (word-for-word) something that’s been recorded on either a micro-cassette or digitally. If you are looking for a business to start from home, you might consider working as a transcriptionist because it is a legitimate home business that doesn’t require much in terms of office space, equipment or start up costs.

Special transcription software and equipment helps the transcriptionist listen to the recorded material for tape players and digital files. Both generally use a foot-pedal that attaches to the transcriber or the computer and it allows the transcriptionist to start, stop, go back, and slow down the recorded material to keep their hands free for typing. Most transcriptionists also utilize a highly sensitive headset so that the recording is clearer to hear and understand.

As a transcriptionist, you should have a keen sense of hearing and sight, excellent grammar and fast typing skills. You should also be able to work well under tight deadlines, be able to work independently for most of the time and handle the repetition of typing, which can be a strain on the hands and wrists and the back from sitting for long periods of time. A sharp eye for detail is also essential to this job.

If you want to start a home based business doing transcription, here are some ideas to get you started:

· Get training in transcription & typing. It’s important to get the proper training in order to become a skilled transcriptionist. Check out the local colleges, online programs and be sure to pick up your copy of the Transcription Starter Pack.

· Write a business plan. Just like any other business, a business plan outlining how and what services you plan to offer is essential for clarity, setting up your marketing plan and acquiring business capital if it is needed.

· Set up a home office with the proper equipment. Transcriptionists need some specialized equipment. In addition to having a complete home office, you will need to invest in a reliable transcriber, software, and foot pedal.

· Market your services. You can either get work through a large national transcription company or you can find your own clients to work directly with. A good place to start looking is with any business that involves recording of meetings, notes, research studies or educational materials.

Be sure to set up a website where potential clients can learn more about your services, read testimonials and more. Make sure you also have business cards handy as well.

Let others know who you are and what you do. Often, the best clients come from word-of-mouth. Also, always ask your satisfied clients for referrals.

Transcription is in high demand in the US and according to the Department of Labor statistics, transcriptionist jobs are growing at a higher than average rate. Being a transcriptionist is a career that is easily managed in a work from home setting, which makes it a very attractive opportunity.

Recommended Additional Resource:

To find out exactly what it takes to start a transcription business, step-by-step, sign up to receive your Transcription Starter Pack. You’ll find out how to get clients, set your prices and grow your business.

Creative Home Business Ideas - Sewing Arts

"They" say you should find out what you enjoy doing and then figure out how to make a living doing it. That idea sounds great to me so let's explore a few home business ideas that make use of your love of and ability to sew.

1) Clothes for Children. Consider creating your own line of clothing in standard sizes featuring your unique designs or appliqués and quality fabric and work. Small details in quality can make all the difference in the world. Take the little bit of extra time and care to produce quality items and your customers will reward you with repeat business. You could also offer clothes for hard to fit kids such as preemies, or children of any age with special needs that require custom fitted clothing. Definitely follow your heart on this one.

2) Doll Clothes. There are several paths to go down here. You can make standard clothes for the dolls available on the market, but in styles not available off the shelf. OR you can make clothes using ethnic fabrics in classic styles from a variety of homelands. As more and more people move around the globe in search of education or employment, this could tap into a new niche and be very popular. OR you can make matching outfits for little girls and their dolls!

3) Dog Clothes. Even though dogs already have a fur coat, many breeds have such short hair that they still need protection from cold, wind and rain. There is a huge market for dog sweaters and vests made from a variety of fabrics. Knitted items are also popular. Owners of pampered pooches love to dress them up for Christmas, Halloween, and other occasions. You could have a lot of fun with this home business!

4) Drapery and Furniture. If you have taken classes in interior design or interior decorating, this might be a home business for you. Because of the skills, training and equipment needed this home business is not for everyone, but that can work to your advantage as you would have limited competition!

5) Tailoring. We all know that much of the clothing purchased "off the rack" fits OK - sort of - but could fit a little better with a bit of tailored tweaking. Other times tailoring needs arise because the owner changed sizes (either way!) and does not want to discard an otherwise perfectly good garment when some skilled tailoring will extend its life. If you have tailoring skills, this could be a great niche market for a home business.

6) Wedding gowns and bride's maid dresses. After watching a few "bridezillas" on TV I almost hesitate to even mention this one. BUT if you are the right combination of seamstress and psychologist, you could make it work.

Find the Home Based Business or Work At Home Job that's waiting for you! Don't procrastinate any longer! Visit one of the two websites below and get started TODAY!
123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me

Creative Home Business Ideas - Kitchen Arts

"They" say you should find out what you enjoy doing and then figure out how to make a living doing it. Sounds like a good idea so let's explore a few home business ideas that make use of inborn creativity. We will limit this article to kitchen arts.

1) Baking. Baking what? Well, darn near anything.

Try baking and decorating wedding cakes and other wedding treats, birthday cakes, anniversary cakes, or cakes for any special occasion! You could try cookie baskets or huge whole cookie sheet cookies in special shapes for special occasions.

The number of people who are intolerant to certain foods is growing exponentially. I would NOT recommend getting into making treats for these people unless you are VERY familiar with what is involved in their food preparation, but IF you are, special treats for these people would be a Godsend and oh, so appreciated.

Treats for sale at local truck stops or sandwich shops. There are certain legal requirements and permits that need to be passed before selling home baked goodies, but if you are willing and able to navigate through those, this home business could become quite lucrative.

Gourmet treats for dogs and cats. Some people pamper their pets like royalty. If they have the money to do so, they indulge in all sorts of pet finery, including custom made biscuits without dyes, preservatives or other unhealthy ingredients. There will be legal requirements and permits required here, also.

2) Candy Wrapping. Would you believe there is quite the market for candy bars in wrappers created specially for that certain event? Every event you can think of that calls for celebration might also call for specially wrapped candy bars to be handed out. Think birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, new babies. There are several e-books on the market on this topic. Some come with templates for the wrappers as well as for gift tags, gift cards, address labels, etc. Others come with instructions for creating your own unique templates and designs. All come with information on marketing your business.

3) Candy Making. Special events sometimes call for special treats in special shapes or flavors. With pure wholesome natural ingredients and your creativity, your quality product could become a very lucrative business. Chocolates and hard candies can be poured into molds of almost any shape, or you can make them free hand. Colors and flavors are limited only by your imagination! The same legal requirements and permits as before will apply here.

4) You could also combine your candy making business with your candy wrapping business!


For information on these and more Work-At-Home Business Ideas and Opportunities, visit

123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me

How Can I Work From Home?

Finding the Right Home Business

There are two basic ways you can work from home: start a home based business or find a work from home job.

If you want to start your own home business you need to break the concept down further into two basic types: sell a product or service, or become in essence a one man (or one woman) company and market yourself as an independent contractor to people who contract for your skills. The distinction between that and finding a work from home job can be a bit fuzzy, so we will focus on working from home with your own home business.

All of us are interested in something, good at something, passionate about something. Figure out what you are passionate about, and then figure out how to make money from it.

Do you enjoy children? You could start a home daycare, but you certainly are not limited to that. If you are also good at writing, you could start a "Santa Letter" business and market it to parents of kids you know. Those letters are not only from Santa; they can be from any character and the business can be operated all year. If you like to sew, you could create and sell custom made clothing. Market to friends, at craft fairs and swap meets. If you have skills in subjects taught in school, you could tutor. Tutoring can be done in person (your house or theirs) or online. You choose the subjects, location, and times. If you have outstanding skills in music, art, or sports, consider giving private lessons. Depending on your skill and skill level you may be able to make a good income!

Teaching sign language to moms and their babies is really popular. You could also offer your services to daycare facilities (home or professional) and churches who have nursery workers that could benefit from understanding what a baby is telling them. Consider also offering the teaching to pediatricians and their nurses, children's hospital workers, police and firefighters, and anyone else who might come in contact with an infant.

Perhaps you would rather work around adults. There are seemingly countless services that adults somewhere are looking for. Consider starting an errand service, or ironing/laundry. You could start a cleaning business, become a professional organizer, party or event planner, or you could sell almost anything through home parties. Create and sell gift baskets or craft items. Consider focusing on a particular ethnic group, either yours or one with which you are very familiar. Almost everyone is interested in genealogy. Acquire the necessary certification and research family trees for people who have "hit a brick wall."

The possibilities are almost endless.

You can find more Home Business Ideas and Opportunities by visiting

123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me

Work From Home - Earn Money Writing as a Ghostwriter

Got Writing Skills? Get Paid to Write Every Day as a Ghostwriter

If you have ever dreamed about having a career in freelance writing, you might look into the growing opportunity of ghostwriting. Ghostwriting is the practice of writing works (books, articles, etc.) anonymously for a client. In turn, the client gets full rights to place her name on the writing and publish it as her own.

Side Note: If you’ve heard of ghostwriting before and you already know it’s a career path you want to pursue, I recommend you pick up a copy of Just Add Sweat’s “How to Become a Ghostwriter” Guide. It will show you exactly what you need to know to get started.

But if you’re new to the idea of becoming a ghostwriter, let’s continue…

To get into ghostwriting, there are a few skills you should have or work to acquire:

- Excellent Writing Skills: Certainly to be a ghostwriter, you need to be able to write well. Your writing should flow well, cover topics thoroughly and in many cases, your clients will expect you to capture their unique voice in your writing.

- Research Skills: As a ghostwriter, you’ll be responsible for finding and process all of the information that you will need to be able to do your writing on a specific topic.

- Grammar & Spelling: It might seem obvious, but it’s important to note. All of the work that you turn into your clients as a ghostwriter must be free of any grammar and spelling errors.

Many different types of businesses and individuals readily use ghostwriting services. Authors, business executives, celebrities and others may look to ghostwriters to write books for them. Online business owners, blog publishers and other websites hire writers to create articles and other content. Information product sellers look to ghostwriters to publish how-to and other instructional guides. The sky is the limit when you are looking for people who want to hire ghostwriters.

There are many things you can do put yourself ahead in this field (and the How to Become a Ghostwriter Guide covers these and more in depth).

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

- Start building a resume that will get you noticed. Highlight any writing experience and if you don’t have any, you can offer to do a few free small projects to build your resume. Approach a non-profit business or someone that you know that might need writing services.

- Determine which topics you are qualified to write about. Although many ghostwriters are well-rounded and can write on many researchable topics, having a specialty can help you get work. For example, you might have special knowledge of health, finance or parenting topics. Use this to your advantage.

- Have relevant samples readily available to showcase your writing skills. Many clients are more concerned with how well you write, rather than the amount of experience you’ve had.

To get more help, get a copy of Just Add Sweat’s “How to Become a Ghostwriter” Guide. It will help you discover if ghostwriting is indeed the right career for you, how to break into the business, service rates and more. Ghostwriting can be a competitive business, but there is plenty of room for new writers if you’re armed with the right approach and that’s exactly what the guide will give you. Click here for all the details.

How Can I Work From Home

How Can I Work From Home?

Finding the Right Home Business

There are two basic ways you can work from home: start a home based business or find a work from home job.

If you want to start your own home business you need to break the concept down further into two basic types: sell a product or service, or become in essence a one man (or one woman) company and market yourself as an independent contractor to people who contract for your skills. The distinction between that and finding a work from home job can be a bit fuzzy, so we will focus on working from home with your own home business.

All of us are interested in something, good at something, passionate about something. Figure out what you are passionate about, and then figure out how to make money from it.

Do you enjoy children? You could start a home daycare, but you certainly are not limited to that. If you are also good at writing, you could start a "Santa Letter" business and market it to parents of kids you know. Those letters are not only from Santa; they can be from any character and the business can be operated all year. If you like to sew, you could create and sell custom made clothing. Market to friends, at craft fairs and swap meets. If you have skills in subjects taught in school, you could tutor. Tutoring can be done in person (your house or theirs) or online. You choose the subjects, location, and times. If you have outstanding skills in music, art, or sports, consider giving private lessons. Depending on your skill and skill level you may be able to make a good income!

Teaching sign language to moms and their babies is really popular. You could also offer your services to daycare facilities (home or professional) and churches who have nursery workers that could benefit from understanding what a baby is telling them. Consider also offering the teaching to pediatricians and their nurses, children's hospital workers, police and firefighters, and anyone else who might come in contact with an infant.

Perhaps you would rather work around adults. There are seemingly countless services that adults somewhere are looking for. Consider starting an errand service, or ironing/laundry. You could start a cleaning business, become a professional organizer, party or event planner, or you could sell almost anything through home parties. Create and sell gift baskets or craft items. Consider focusing on a particular ethnic group, either yours or one with which you are very familiar. Almost everyone is interested in genealogy. Acquire the necessary certification and research family trees for people who have "hit a brick wall."

The possibilities are almost endless.

You can find more Home Business Ideas and Opportunities by visiting

123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me

Finding A Work From Home Job During A Recession

If you are one of the millions who have been laid off or downsized out of your job, working from home looks really good to you right now! But how do you find a job you can work from home?

Consider freelancing.

When you freelance, you offer your services to those who need to hire your skills for a mutually agreed upon fee. Work is typically done on a per job basis, but can lead to repeat jobs and even permanent part time or full time employment. However, you need to keep in mind that when you bid on a job, there is no expectation of repeat jobs or assignments.
When you look for freelance work, look for jobs that require the skills you used at the job you just left, or skills you have acquired some other way. Some examples might include:

Bookkeeper
Computer Programmer
Consultant - literally subject about which you have knowledge
Desktop publishing
Graphic Designer
Language translator
Proofreading and editing
Transcription - medical or otherwise
Tutoring - literally subject about which you have knowledge
Virtual assistant
Web site design

If you want to work for local people, some of whom might be familiar with you and the quality of what you can do, consider advertising on Craigslist.

If you want to expand your horizons nationally or even globally visit sites like GoFreelance. Keep in mind that GoFreelance and other freelance sites may let you look at jobs for free, but if you want to bid on jobs, especially the quality jobs, there will be a fee. That's how they stay in business.

Don't let the fact that the world economy is currently in a recession keep you from looking for that home based job. Now more than ever employers are looking for just what you have to offer!

For other work at home ideas and home based business ideas, visit

123 I Work From Home 4 Me

123 Home-Based-Business-Works-4-Me

Professional Organizer

Some people are just naturally organized and tidy. I think they are born that way. They just naturally keep their rooms, desks, closets, homes, garages, cars, whatever clean and neat. Either that, or they learned the skill at an early age and realized how much easier life is when you can find things!



Others are not so organized. They never quite seem to get it, or they struggle mightily trying.



A growing trend even in today's economy is for more and more naturally organized people to start home businesses as professional organizers.



Professional organizers have total control over whose stuff they organize and what kind of spaces they organize. They can choose to limit themselves to homes or even certain rooms such as kitchens or garages. They can even limit themselves to closets only! Through networking with others in their area, they can make mutual referrals for others who prefer to organize different areas. Everyone wins!

Professional organizers can set their own rates and can choose to charge by the hour or the job. Depending on the economics of the area, the nature of what is being organized, and the experience and reputation of the organizer, rates can range from around $25 per hour to $200 per hour or even more.

If this sounds good to you, here are a few links you can explore for more information.


Becoming a Professional Organizer


Before & After

Virtual Assistant

There is a lot being said these days about being a Virtual Assistant. The field is growing rapidly because many office professionals have discovered they can cut expenses while maintaining top-notch quality when they contract with a professional Virtual Assistant.

So just what is a Virtual Assistant? In a nutshell, a Virtual Assistant is someone who assists someone else through cyberspace. Almost any type of office work that does not actually require your physical presence in the office can be done as a Virtual Assistant.

This would include phones, appointment setting, document preparation, transcription, proof-reading, etc. The only thing you couldn't do is make the coffee for the boss!

If you have general office and computer skills, this might be the work at home opportunity for you. You decide who you want to work for and when. Schedules are usually quite flexible and you normally do not need to keep regular office hours, as long as the work gets done by the deadline. Just match your skills with their needs

Here are some sources of information to get you started and set up. Yes they come at a cost because the people who put these packages together work at home, too, and are asking for compensation for the effort put into what you get.

Prices vary widely. Some come with just an e-book while others offer support, and web site and more.

GoFreelance is a place to find work. Virtually all freelance sites charge a membership fee for access to all offers - especially the best ones, so don't be put off by that

Have a look around, and enjoy your Virtual Assistant career!

Go Freelance

BizyMoms ExpertVA

Hire My Mom

Virtual Assistant Classroom

Suits 2 Sweats

Just Add Sweat Virtual Assistant Starter Kit

Use your skills - become a tutor!

I have often read of moms who have set aside their careers when their children were born. Instead of putting their kids in daycare or dropping them off at Grandma's, they opted to stay home and invest their time and energy in their kids.

That is the best investment they could ever make.

HOWEVER, conversation with a toddler tends not to be intellectually stimulating. Before the mom invested in her kids, she may very well have invested in a college degree or other business training, and she might miss the challenges of those days.

She might also miss the income she once made!

So how can she put those skills to good use while still being able to spend time with her family?

Become a tutor! I think this is a great way to combine hard-earned marketable skills with being a stay-at-home mom.

Somewhere "out there" are people struggling to learn what she has already mastered. This mom has valuable and marketable skills that others will pay her to teach them! This can be done in the home or online and is a great opportunity for moms and others to earn income from home.

So what subjects could you tutor? How about

• All subjects taught in school
  A foreign language, or English as a second language
  Any type of Sport
  Any type of musical instrument
  Voice lessons
  Reading (Children and Adults)
  College Entrance Exams
  Computers (The senior citizen market is a great area to tap into)
  All types of art
  
  For more information on becoming a tutor, click here.