Home Base Businesses Numbers Continue to Grow

Home based business opportunities are growing daily, along with a new spirit of entrepreneurialism and independence. Today’s technology is making working from home far more common today than just a decade ago. Though the general consensus is that more people are working from their homes than ever, finding solid data to prove this can be difficult.

 

Because things change so quickly, much of the data, collected two to four years ago, may be inaccurate.

The latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor are from 2004, but already show a growing trend for men and women working primarily at home. In that year 20.7 million people worked, at least part-time, from their homes most working for another company. About 7 million of those were self-employed…in other words, they were home-based business owners. The average work week for someone working at home, according to the study, was 25 hours, and most were professionals, such as people who offered consulting services or sales related businesses. Another huge chunk of the at-home pie are those working in the construction industry.

 

Though the general belief may be that women far outnumber men working at home, this is not the case. Men and women were about equally likely to work out of their home, and there are more parents working at home than singles.

And, according the Labor Department, home-based businesses are run by educated folks. People with a bachelor’s degree or higher were more than six times as likely to work out of their home than those without college degrees. This is likely because it is easier for someone with a management background to transition to a work-at-home job.

This trend of working at home is partly due to advances in electronics. Most homes have computers with high-speed internet connections. Most people have the basic computer skills to put together a rudimentary website. And information is so readily available, the resources available to someone wanting to work from home are numerous and inexpensive. Also, there are more and more opportunities for people wanting to work from home.

 

In addition, it’s become a much more accepted way of doing business. With the increase in the number of businesses run from homes, it is much more commonplace.

 

According to the NBBTA.org, the online arm of the

 

National Black Business Trade Association, home based business represents a $427 billion industry (this figure exceeds another figure found on this subject). That exceeds the pharmaceutical, food, and consumer goods industries---combined.

 

Home-based businesses are considered small businesses. The Small Business Administration estimates that 52 percent of all small business are home-based---and small businesses (those with less than 500 employees) represents 99.7 percent of all employer firm. The home-based businesses, according to 2007 SBA report, generate $102 billion in revenue. Home-based businesses owners earned less than their counterparts who work outside the home, $22,569 compared to $38,243, but their earnings were worth more, which evened out the playing field.  “Due to lower expenses, particularly in rent and labor costs, the average home-based sole proprietor consistently gained a higher return on gross revenues at 36 percent, versus 21 percent for the non-home-based,” the report said.

 

Getting accurate reporting on home-based businesses is difficult, but the general consensus is that this is an area of the U.S. economy that will continue to grow, especially during an economic downturn where traditional jobs are more difficult to find.

Making Money with Online Surveys

Online survey jobs can be a fun way to make some extra cash. Corporations are interested in what people think about their products or the products they use and are willing to pay for that information.

 

If you decide filling out on-line surveys is something you could do, you immediately will be faced with many companies all looking for the same thing---people to get paid for filling out surveys. Many sites offer payments, from cash to coupons to free merchandise, for your opinion. Check them out to decide whether you’d want cash or some other payment. Several sites list the best companies to work for and the types of payments made. Some sites require a fee for a “list” of companies and surveys, and others are completely free and require only that you register and fill out a survey about yourself. It’s important to do your homework and try to determine which sites are legitimate business opportunities and which are not.

 

Filling out surveys may sound easy---and it is---but it is time-consuming. Some of the best paying surveys take as long as forty minutes or more to fill out and the payout is $5 or less, but can be higher. As long as you recognize this, you won’t be surprised by the low pay-out. Companies are paying for your opinion so it is important to actually answer the questions the best you can and not randomly check answers. Resist the temptation to have other people in your family fill out the survey for you. It’s your job and your commitment and the survey site is expecting your opinion. Treat it like any other job that you’d get paid for.

 

How much you get paid depends largely on how much time you spend filling out surveys. It’s unlikely you’ll get rich filling them out, but most people who have signed up didn’t do it for the money as much as because they have fun doing it. It’s important to have some sort of commitment. Like anything, if you want to make money, you’ll have to put in the time and effort to do it. You will not have any success if you have people other than yourself answer the surveys or if you answer the questions randomly.

 

Like any other on-line opportunity, be smart about what you sign up for. This is an area that has its share of scams. For example, some sites that require a fee will simply direct you to free survey sites that you can easily find on your own. Some sites don’t offer money for every survey, but simply enter you into a contest for a chance to win money for filling it out. That’s fine as long as you recognize the odds of winning. Don’t sign up with any site that claims you will get rich filling out surveys. You won’t. But you could make some extra money doing something that doesn’t require a lot of effort and can be a lot of fun.

Data Entry Home Computer Online Jobs

Every day, more and more postings for data entry online jobs are being place on classified boards like craigsilst.org and advertised on websites we visit daily. These positions require minimal training, minimal education, and can produce a substantial income for those who choose this type of employment. However, with so many opportunities to choose from, it is sometimes difficult to determine which ones are legitimate and which of those are the most profitable. Since most of the business arrangements are discussed online, it is easier for a less than reputable "employer" to manipulate the terms of a data entry position. To ensure that your well being is preserved when looking into a data entry position, you should consider looking into the following information about a potential online data entry job to find out if it is legitimate.

 

Find out what the job entails and what your responsibilities in the position will be. Since data entry is such an umbrella term for a number of online job opportunities, make sure that you understand what is expected of you in the position, what you are capable of doing, and what training will be required. Avoiding positions that ask you to submit a fee for getting the tools you will need is the number one way to keep yourself from falling into a data entry position that isn't legitimate.

 

Data entry can mean anything from literally entering information into an online database for your employer to typing transcriptions for a company. Consider the hours it will take for you to complete your work in an accurate and efficient manner, and accept work loads with those terms in mind. You do not want to get bogged down or behind in your work if your resources are not available or if you are not able to work as quickly as you originally planned.

 

Online jobs that require minimal training are a good choice because this requires less of an investment on the employer and you. If you are able to complete the work with merely the knowledge of what your task is, what the results should be, and what tools you will need to use to accomplish those results, you can confirm that the position is a suitable fit for your capabilities. This also allows you to get started on your assignments sooner and make an income from the position faster than if you were required to receive training. Obviously, this is a beneficial feature to an online data entry job.

 

Keep in mind when you are committing to an online data entry job that it is not a salaried career. You may not receive a great deal of work at first. You may not see the money you are making immediately, but with any position, it takes time before you work up to your potential and start making the desired income that you anticipated.

 

If you have the time and ability to fulfill the duties of a data entry position or online job, you could find the freedom from working from home and making a sustainable income without the limitations of a typical workplace.

The Work At Home Lifestyle

There are many misunderstandings, misconceptions and myths about working at home.  Understanding the work at home lifestyle is the only way to weed out the rumors and get to the truth about working at home.  The work at home lifestyles about learning how to make working at home work for you.

 

Freedom

 

The work at home lifestyle is highlighted by the freedom you have.  Most work at home jobs are going to be freelance positions or independent contracting positions.  What this means is that you are your own boss.  You do not work with the company but rather contract jobs through the company.

 

You have the ability to refuse work and to set your own schedule.  There are rules that govern just what a company can and can not demand form independent contractors.  However, you have to remember that they do not have to hire you for a job and can let you go at anytime without warning.

 

The bottom line, though, is that you have a lot of freedom. You choose when you work and how much you work.  You may even be able to control how much you earn.  If you choose a job that is right for you then you will find that you are working around your life not shaping your life around work.  That is the ultimate freedom.

 

Control

 

The work at home lifestyle is all about control.  You are in control.  Just as you get freedom from restriction you also get control over your new working status. 

 

You can choose the job you want and you can choose to work or not work.  You can choose a job that lets you be in complete control or you can choose amore structured job. 

 

The beauty of working at home is that you can make it whatever suits you.  You are not stuck with business hours and you are not stuck in some working mold.  The work at home environment is your world to shape as you wish.

 

Making It Your Lifestyle

 

Most people want to work at home for the lifestyle.  It is intriguing.  Before you quit your job, though and jump into working at home you have to get prepared.

 

Most people cannot simply just start working at home.  It takes time to find a job and to get set up to make working at home successful.  You will need to research working at home.  Learn what equipment you need and what challenges you may face.  Get as prepared as possible by learning as much as possible and then you can become a part of the work at home lifestyle.

 

You also have to understand that the work at home lifestyle is a bit different for each person.  It all really depends on your situation and what job you choose, so do not come into working at home with any preconceived notions or you could set yourself up for disappointment.

 

The work at home lifestyle is a great explanation of how working at home is different then working outside the home.  Understanding the work at home lifestyle also helps you to understand the truth about working at home and helps you to disregard the false information that is out there.

 

The Amazon Affiliate Program and Related Internet Businesses

The number of Internet businesses vying for entrepreneurs is surprisingly diverse. Even as at the root of each business venture is the quest for a profitable bottom line, the niches so many of these online stores and service providers cover make the world of online commerce one of the most eagerly anticipated means of increasing income for many a family currently experiencing the economy crunch and wondering how to make ends meet.

 

One of the most sought after Internet businesses is the Amazon affiliate program that is actually one of the few not outsourced to third party clearing houses or portal sites. This has led to the creation of a unique relationship between Amazon and its affiliates which results in higher payouts and also in a much more dedicated group of affiliates taking their responsibility of marketing Amazon’s wares and services a lot more serious.

 

Those starting Internet businesses with the Amazon name behind them rely on the company’s reputation to vouchsafe for the payments. 10% per qualified sale is not unheard of and since this affiliate business opens up the door to a wide variety of products that not only differ in their very nature but also in their price ranges, this is one of the uniquely attractive Internet businesses aspiring online entrepreneurs choose.

 

As a matter of fact, a vast majority of Internet businesses deal with affiliate marketing. In some cases it is the straight forward affiliate program that directly links a would-be online marketer to a business, while at other times it is a multi level marketing (MLM) business that ties a marketer to another marketer instead of the parent company. Even as a lot of oversight is exercised in the administration of MLM businesses, there are distinct ways of finding better payouts and deals that make online dealings uniquely profitable.

 

In many ways Amazon and related online businesses offer guidance and tools with which the individual entrepreneur may make their businesses successful and profitable; yet in addition to the foregoing, these same companies also allow for personal creativity, niche marketing efforts, and of course old fashioned hard work that rewards the entrepreneur who goes above and beyond the call of duty. This mix of guidance and a hands-off approach empowers the online marketer to make the most of the money making opportunities that are presented and in so doing he or she may experience the American dream head on!

 

As Internet savvy, marketing know how, a willingness to spend time to grow the business, and also a search for optimal business conditions meet up with companies that foster this kind of pride in ownership, Internet businesses are perhaps the best thing that every happened to those wanting to become their own bosses. Moreover, even as Internet tax legislation threatens to clamp down on the profitability experienced by many an online entrepreneur, for the time being the online marketplace and its affiliate programs are a means of fiscal survival for many families who simply can no longer live on one income alone.

 

Data Entry Jobs a Scam Artists Dream

Data entry jobs are one of the newest and most prevalent job scams out there, offering dreams of making $20 her hour and more simply typing information into your computer and sending it off. All you have to do is pay a fee, anywhere from $10 to $150 to “join.” Huh? Pay someone to work for them? If the scam alert alarms bells aren’t ringing yet, they should be.

 

Never send money to anyone unless you’ve done your due diligence. For a job like data entry, you should never have to pay for the privilege of working. Never. According to jobsearch.about.com, data entry is one of the biggest scams out there.

 

Here’s how one such scam works. The worker sends a fee for the necessary software and “training.” Then they are sent an e-mail with instructions how to send the same advertisement you responded to out to other people. In other words, the scammer has turned you into a spammer. Though many of these sites offer “money back guarantees” most do not follow up on this guarantee.

 

These data entry jobs have very little to do with typing data, which they all claim to be. Instead, many are affiliate marketers trying to get more money from other people duped into believing they are “applying” for data entry positions.

Here’s what a “typical” data entry site claims. Earn $4,000 a month. Work whenever you want, wherever you want. All you have to do is “join” for your exclusive membership for $57. It even admonishes the applicant, “don’t get scammed.”

Data entry jobs can be legitimate and it is sometimes difficult to know the difference between a real job and one that is only looking someone to market their product.

 

Here are a few things to look for:

 

Is the company looking for money from you? If they are, avoid this ad. They will likely send you worthless information or software. Too many people have sent money to what they thought was their ticket out of the recession, only to find out that none of the e-mails work, the company doesn’t really exist, and they’re left without the job they thought they had.

Are they really just trying to sell you software? Is the company telling you to “invest” a small amount to receive money-making software that will allow you to start up your own data entry company? Any legitimate company would never require you to buy the necessary software so you can conduct your business. Think about it. If you work as a secretary for someone, does your company make you buy the computer or the software that allows you to do your job? Treat your at-home job like any other job and expect the same treatment.

 

Is the company legitimate? Google the company.  Check with the Better Business Bureau. Read scam alert sites (those these cannot always be trusted).

 

Seeing claims of making thousands a month can be intoxicating. These websites are well thought out and made to seduce intelligent people into dreams of easy money.

 

Here’s what the Better Business Bureau says about avoiding scams: “There is no substitute for closely examining any offer which promises or guarantees income from work-at-home programs. Consider it a warning sign if a worker must buy something in order to start the program. Those interested also should take into consideration that, by becoming involved in a work-at-home scheme, they might well be perpetrating a fraud by selling the program to others, and risk investigation by postal authorities.”

Having A Home Based Business With Your Spouse

Working with your spouse can be one of the best things that you have ever done.  Since you are already comfortable with your spouse, hopefully, having a home based business with them may be the best way to go.  Strangers may not may good employees and you may be uncomfortable having them come into your home to work.  However, deciding to have your spouse as your partner in a business venture is a huge step.  You want to be sure that this decision does not interfere with the marriage.

 

The first thing to do is envision yourself working side by side with your spouse.  How does that feel to you?  If the two of you have a good partnership in the marriage it could be a good fit.  However, if things are often tumultuous on the marriage front you may want to rethink the joint work venture.  If you two do not typically get along then working together may not be the best way to go.

 

If you plan on having a spouse run business, the two of you have to decide on what type of business you are going to have.  You cannot expect your spouse to be all about running a business that they have no interest in.  Find an endeavor that both of you enjoy and will be able to take a part in running.

 

Before the two of you get the business going you should set goals.  What is your spouse hoping to get out of the business?  What are you looking for?  Figure out these answers so that you are both on the same page.  Your spouse may be hoping for extra income while you are hoping to quit your job and go with the home based business by itself.  This can work if you are okay with running the brunt of the business while they just help out.

 

Draw up a business plan and get some feedback from a professional.   Are your goals realistic or are your dreaming too much?  Keep things in perspective and you will have a better chance of having success running the business with your spouse.  No matter how strong the marriage is, you want to be sure that everyone is one the same page and that the business plan that you two have is something that is doable.      

 

Figure out what your role will be and what your spouse will be doing.  This is a good way to set clear expectations so that both of your know what is expected.  Of course your roles will have to be flexible because of the unpredictable nature of business.  You just never know what can come up, but for the most part you will need to be able adjust to the changing climate of the business.                    

 

It is essential that the two of you communicate with one another.  Don’t hold back when you have an idea or concern.  Let your spouse know exactly what you have in mind.  This will help to eliminate many of the problems that can come up when spouses run home based businesses together.