In the quest for a home based business, many people have been “burned” by dubious opportunities and have thus developed an intense skepticism that can hinder, rather than help, their goal of working from home.
It’s understandable, of course, but distrusting everything and everyone comes with a very high cost: it means you are unlikely to ever experience a business of your own. With that said, let’s address two of the most common myths surrounding the startup of a home business:
MYTH #1: If it costs money, it’s a scam.
The reality: an opportunity is not a scam based solely on the fact that there is a fee involved. Would you expect to open a store with no costs? Or start a franchise for free?
Of course not. Likewise, there are costs associated with starting home businesses as well. For instance: a home business that’s gaining in popularity is creating personalized candy bar wrappers for special occasions. In a business such as this, you would require (among other things) a computer, a high-quality printer, and some software to help you design the wrappers.
This also applies to doing business on the Internet. Two very basic costs, for example, would be the registration of a domain name and website hosting. It can be far more affordable to start a business on the Internet… but it won’t be free.
Note that the above is in reference to -businesses-, not jobs. The difference? With a job, you work for an employer who pays you to perform a certain set of tasks and responsibilities. With a business, -you’re- the employer (and often times the employee as well!).
MYTH #2: It didn’t work for me or for my friend, so it must be a scam.
The reality: not everyone will succeed at the same things. An animal lover will be a far better dog-walker than someone with a phobia of dogs. A sociable person will be more likely to do well giving home parties than someone who’s shy. A programmer with the technical skills and background necessary to operate a home computer repair business will do better than someone new to computers.
Home businesses are as varied as the people who start them.
A healthy skepticism is useful, even necessary… but don’t be too quick to dismiss an opportunity. As you research new businesses, think about the following:
- Be willing to consider new opportunities. Even if you don’t end up keeping a business, it could very well be a stepping stone for what you truly want to do. You can learn from your experiences, earn money to finance a new business, and even generate ideas of your own.
- Think about creating your own opportunity. There’s no reason why you have to buy into a ‘prepackaged’ home business!
- Know your strengths, weaknesses, skills, and interests. For instance, you wouldn’t want to become a virtual assistant if you are disorganized or if you hate computers.
- Move forward. If you solidly determine that an opportunity isn’t right for you, then don’t continue to dwell on it. Look to something else.
- Put forth the time and effort. Many people continually jump from one business to another. This energy can be better spent learning how and what it takes to build a successful business.
Although there are undoubtedly shady opportunities, there are legitimate ones as well. Keep an open mind and do your research — it’s well worth the effort!
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical, down-to-earth guide to building an Internet business on a beginner’s budget. If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love the book! Visit http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com or request a series of 10 free reports to get you started.
