Find and Believe in the Product You Will Be Marketing

First step, you need to find the product and/or service that works for you. There are hundreds of home business opportunities to select from. Finding the right program will take some research and personal assessment.

The Research

We have invested time and money researching and testing different home business opportunities. Our tests include the product, the marketing support, the income opportunity, and other items of interest in order to make a home business assessment.

Our testing parameters:

Level of Income
the amount of income that can potentially be earned

Type of Income
how the income is earned — type of sales

Work Effort
the amount of work required to be successful at this home business

Product
description of the product or service

Type Marketing
type of marketing that you will need to do to be successful at this home business

Sales Support
type of sales support provided by the manufacturer or vendor

Setup Costs
the cost to setup this type of home business

Requirements
other requirements or equipment needed for this home business

Getting Started
steps required to get started in this home business

The Assessment

You should complete a similar assessment before investing any money in a home business. You may find that "cold calling" may not fit your personal ability to be successful with this type of home business.

You should also complete an outside review of the company or home business before investing any money. There are fraudulent scams that take your money and give nothing in return.

Places to check:
Better Business Bureau
Your State of Attorney's office:
click for government directory

Become familiar with Internet fraud and scams:
10 most popular dot-con schemes
protecting yourself from Internet fraud

Be Prepared to Make the Initial Investment

Almost all home businesses that we have reviewed require an initial investment ranging from $500 to $3,000 or more. This fee is for start-up kit and inventory.

There may be additional fees charged by the vendor for stationary, business cards, setting up a web site, call servicing, and other marketing support materials. Make sure you understand the total cost before making a commitment.

Your other needs may require a "virtual home office": computers, telephone lines, fax machines, furniture, etc.:
view our Home Office Setup for information

Avoid "No-Investment" Scams

Avoid those Internet ads that claim fast, "stay-at-home" income without little investment and time. Think about it. If these ads were true, wouldn't everyone jump into the "fast, easy income" game?

Home Business ads that claim fast, easy money with little investment and time are generally online scams and frauds.

Before you invest any money into a business, double check the reliability of the home business and their claim.

Places to check:
Better Business Bureau
Your State of Attorney's office:
click for government directory

Become familiar with Internet fraud and scams:
10 most popular dot-con schemes
protecting yourself from Internet fraud

Where do I Get the Initial Investment?

• Use the equity in your home:
  you can apply for a home equity line of credit to jump start your home business and buy necessary equipment:
  we have more information on using your home equity to start a home business
  
  
  
• Borrow money from your investments:
  if you have investments in stock or mutual funds, you can easily borrow money using your investments as collateral. You do not need to sell or liquidate your investments:
  check out this information on mutual fund financing
  
  
  
• Get a cash advance from your credit card:
  check your credit card for the cash advance feature.
  
  Caution: credit card advances can be expensive. They generally charge a credit advance fee and high interest rates. Make sure you read the fine print before borrowing. View our directory of credit cards for a good cash-advance deal.

Develop Your Personal Commitment and Growth

Becoming a successful business person may require a character change. In other words, you need to be more disciplined physically, educationally, socially, and spiritually.

Let us demonstrate how these 3 Ingredients can help achieve success:

1. Planning:
   learn to develop a planning model for establishing goals and objectives
   
   
2. Discipline:
   develop the character traits that will help achieve your plan with increased motivation and self-esteem
   
   
3. Execution:
   put your plan to action with scheduled timetables and achievement tasks
   
   you can download FREE our 3 Ingredients of Success
   

Self Assessments

You might also consider taking some self-assessment tests to determine your aptitude and character for succeeding at the right home business:

• Take this FREE online Keirsey Temperament Sorter:
  http://www.advisorteam.com/user/ktsintro.asp
  
  More information about the Keirsey Character and Temperament Assessment:
  www.keirsey.com
  
  Briggs-Myer self assessment test:
  www.humanmetrics.com

Develop the Marketing Skills to Succeed

The success of any business strategy requires a keen understanding of market planning, segmentation, and execution.

• Link to our Market Planning Model for a quick review:
  copies of the Marketing Model are available FREE
  
  
• What's needed for a successful marketing plan:
  
1. situation analysis
2. segmentation studies
3. marketing research
4. strategy planning
5. implementing the 4 P's:
   
   • product development
   • distribution (e-commerce)
   • pricing
   • promotion
   
   If your home business plan requires some help, view our network of marketing and operation professionals:
   visit nBuySell Associates business services