You need to decide which home business would interest you and what type of business would be the most realistic for you given your current financial situation. Before starting a home based business, there some basics you need to consider. A work at home person is no different than someone who works in an office. The great thing about working from home is that you are the boss; you keep all of the profits from your company. Set up a separate working space in your home. It doesn't matter if this is a spare bedroom, a part of the garage, a corner of the living room, or some other area away from the rest of the household activities. The important thing is to have some space that you can designate as your own working area. This will give you the space and room you need to craft your dream.

The Products: This is the foundation of your business and the key to all your income. Is the product real or is it just a concept or gimmick? How long has it been on the market? Does the product provide a benefit to purchasers? Is there a market and demand for the product? Does product do what is claimed? Is it certified by independent third parties with appropriate credentials? Are the products manufactured by the franchisor, or is design and manufacture out of their control? Is product high quality and priced fairly? You should be a user of your own product. If you aren't prepared to invest in your own product, how can you expect your customers to buy from you? Stock your working space with proper materials. This may sound basic but one underlying element of success is that you have easy access to the tools, materials, and other resources you need. Gathering everything close by keeps you from wasting time searching for it, so this step can also be considered a time management strategy as well.

Speaking of time management, your third step is to define the parameters of your home based business. What days and hours will you work? When and where will you market? How will you provide services or products to clients? How will you keep all of this in order? Balance action with planning. One of the most common pitfalls to a successful home based business is getting caught up in action without enough planning. Stated another way, this means that you confuse "being busy" with "working on important projects." The best approach is to plan your next couple of goals and then work backwards to create step-by-step action plans to reach them. Once you have the plan, it is now time to take the action. You can work it 10-15 hours a week and make an extra $1,000-$1,500/ month; enough to make a big difference. The key, however, is that you have got to commit to some scheduled time to a business. You will have to work. Are you motivated? Don't expect to make a million dollars while you sleep. Make sure you understand why you want to get involved in a home-based business and stay focused on your "why".

Network like crazy. One of the fastest ways to grow any home business is to make connections with other people. Be sure to share your passion and enthusiasm with others at every opportunity you get. Let people know who you are and what you offer. Remember, people can't buy if they don't know you're selling. Present a professional image. If you want to be treated professionally, present a professional image at all times. Set up a separate bank account for your home based business. Install a separate telephone and fax line. Create professional marketing materials. Be courteous and pleasant in all your customer interactions. Basically, just be someone people want to do business with.

The Marketing Plan: Your personal value system should be compatible with the business plan and tactics or strategies used to market the product or service. Is this a real business, with a real product, or is it merely a stacked pyramid scheme? Is this a sign-up club? Building your business by recruiting a Team of serious partners is the most efficient way to grow your business. Have you got the temperament to undertake this effort? Do you really understand how you get paid? Can company provide audited accountants statement verifying historic payout schedules to existing dealers?

Automate your business as much as you possibly can. I know you are just one person (right now) and might have a lot of extra time to take care of all the details. This might work for now, but it won't work into the future as your home business gets bigger and much busier. It's best to set up automatic systems and processes right from the start to help free up your valuable time in order to concentrate on the most profitable activities.

Zoning: You need to contact your county zoning department. If your area is zoned for home based business use then you are in the clear. If not, you may have a tough road ahead. You would have to petition to the board of your zoning county to have your area rezoned. This is easier said than done. Not only would you have to prepare an excellent business plan, but you would also have to prove that the increased traffic would not pose a problem to your neighbors.

License: If you are selling products for profit you will need to apply for a seller's permit through your state's department of revenue. There is usually a small fee to apply, and each year or every two years you will be required to pay a renewal fee. Also, you may need other licenses pertaining to what kind of business you are starting. For example, if you are starting a live bait store, you would need a permit from your department of natural resources to have live bait on hand. Check into these license carefully. Checking into a tax id number is also highly recommended and easy to do. You can go right to the IRS web site and apply online.

Wholesalers and Inventory: If you plan to resell products, you will want to consider finding wholesalers within your state. The shipping alone will cut into your profits a great deal if you are shipping from far away places. You can do a google search on your specific product and see what you come up with. If there are no wholesalers within your state, be careful with choosing one online. Be sure to fully investigate them before giving up your money. Small businesses have a hard enough time turning a profit without paying for information that will do your business no good. Also, there are many scam wholesaler lists found on the Internet, these are usually outdated and simply consist of telephone book entries. Never pay for a list. Visit various forums and informational sites to find reputable wholesalers.

Advertising: There are several ways to advertise your new business, setting up a web site, advertising in your local newspapers, contacting your area Chamber Of Commerce are all ways to get your businesses noticed and out there. These are just the basics of starting a home based business. There are so many more important points to get yourself going and noticed. We wish you the best of luck with your adventure. Remember, starting a home based business is the American dream, and is well worth the effort to start it right.