| One of the big challenges about starting a | | | | Even if the opportunity costs less than $500 |
| home business is getting past all the scams. | | | | it's a good idea to ask how they arrived at |
| There are many wonderful opportunities out | | | | that number. |
| there, but finding them is not easy. And | | | | |
| there are so many opportunities that sound | | | | Ask to talk to other people who have joined |
| wonderful, yet turn out to be scams. | | | | the opportunity. You will have to watch out |
| | | | for shills, but a person who is really |
| What can you do? | | | | working a new opportunity should be able to |
| | | | tell you the good and the bad about it. Try |
| You need to learn how to review home business | | | | to get contact information for several |
| opportunities for yourself. While you can | | | | people, not just one or two. If you can get |
| rely somewhat on what people say about them | | | | in contact with people you can meet in |
| online, many will have a financial interest | | | | person, so much the better. |
| in making the opportunity sound good. This is | | | | |
| not helpful if they're promoting a scam. | | | | Google and other search engines are also good |
| | | | resources. Type in the business name with the |
| There are some sites that can help. You can | | | | word scam, and see what you come up with. You |
| check with the BBB, but that is not always a | | | | will probably want to use quotation marks |
| reliable indicator. The Ripoff Report website | | | | around the name of the business, but have the |
| is a good resource too. | | | | word scam outside the quotes. Try it both |
| | | | ways if you're having trouble getting |
| The challenge is that if an opportunity is | | | | results. |
| new, there won't be any obvious negative | | | | |
| information to be found. How do you cope | | | | Make sure you take your time deciding if you |
| then? | | | | want to join an opportunity. If the |
| | | | opportunity is good, there's no need to rush. |
| The first thing to do is to look at what you | | | | If you're being pressured for a fast |
| are being told up front about the | | | | decision, it may not be the best idea to join |
| opportunity. What does it cost you? What will | | | | the opportunity. Legitimate ones won't have |
| you be doing? How will you earn money? | | | | to worry that you'll find negative |
| | | | information, after all. |
| All of these should be realistic. You should | | | | |
| not be earning primarily from recruiting, for | | | | You should always do your research when it |
| example. Similarly, if earnings claims are | | | | comes to a home business opportunity. You'll |
| made, ask for the backup documentation. If | | | | protect yourself and save yourself a lot of |
| earnings claims are made and the opportunity | | | | frustration. There are great opportunities |
| costs more than $500, the FTC requires the | | | | out there. |
| earnings claim to be backed up in writing. | | | | |