What is the Right Home Business for You?

Early in my work-at-home career, I started several home businesses, most of which could have been successful, but they weren’t because they were the wrong home business for me. In my years of helping others find success in working at home, I’ve had people tell me they’ve had the same experience. Some businesses just weren’t for them. While there can be some benefits to trial and error in staring a home business, it also wastes time. It’s much easier to do a little research and evaluation to make sure you’re picking the right home business for you. To do that you need to:

1) Determine if you’re knowledgeable about the product or service. While you don’t have to know every little detail, you should have a cursory knowledge of the business you want to start. How can you expect to market your business and provide quality service if you don’t know what it is you’re selling?

2) Decide if you’re interested in the product or service. Just because you have a knowledge, doesn’t mean you have an interest. You may know about gardening, but if you don’t like gardening, it won’t make a successful business. Some people choose home business options based on what they think will be the easiest and most profitable, but again, if you’re not into the product or service, then it will become a tedious chore to turn it into a business. Starting a home business takes time and work so you might as well choose something that peaks your interest.

3) Research to make sure it’s a viable business option. Is there a market for your product or service and do you know where they hang out so you can market to them? Will the market pay enough to make it worth your while? If no one is buying what you got, you won’t have a business.

4) Be willing to do what it takes. Sometimes people tell me a business isn’t for them, not because the product or service isn’t a match, but because the work required to build the business isn’t a match. Despite what the scammer and schemers say, you can’t sign up and get profits on autopilot. You have to work. You have to learn about building a business and marketing or hire someone who knows about it. You need to work on your business daily, even the stuff that isn’t fun (or hire someone to do the un-fun stuff). You’ll need to learn new things and step out of your comfort zone. So before you get started, evaluate all the tasks that are required to succeed, and determine whether or not you’re willing to follow through on them.

5) Make a commitment for the long haul. It’s unlikely you’ll be making a living let alone a million dollars next month in a business start-up. Most experts say it can take six months to two years to build a profitable business. The results rest almost entirely on you and your commitment to your business. That means not quitting when you get discouraged or hit a bump in the road (which you will). It means being smart about how you invest your time and money. It means treating your business like the asset it is.

Starting a business is one of the fastest and most profitable ways to earn an income from home. But it’s not something you can simply jump into based on ease and income potential. While there are many reasons for home business failure, in my experience it’s often because people choose the wrong business for the wrong reasons, and don’t do what it takes. Before investing time and money in an opportunity that sounds good, research and evaluate whether or not it’s really the best option for you.
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About the Author: Leslie Truex is the author of The Work-At-Home Success Bible (2009 Adams Media). She has been telecommuting and running home businesses for over 15 years and helping others to work at home since 1998. Get work-at-home jobs and other resources with her free newsletter at http://www.WorkAtHomeSuccess.com.