CWAHD.com

Most people understand the word ‘entrepreneur’ to mean ’someone who starts new businesses.’ This is only partially true. If this were the case, according to statistics, 80 % of all of the ‘entrepreneurs’ in the world would be unsuccessful. The dictionary defines the word ‘entrepreneur’ as “someone who organizes a business venture and assumes the risk for it”. When we take a close look at this definition, it gives us a key to attaining the success that we search for when starting a new business or venture.
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Working from home is a great way to supply the extra income a family needs so that one spouse can stay home and raise the children. But many people are scared away from doing so because of the scams that are prevalent today.

Although it can be hard to tell fact from fiction, it is possible. Many excellent work-at-home opportunities are available. And, it’s well worth the time to explore them so you can start your own business and enjoy the many benefits it provides. Following are several tips to avoid work-at-home scams.

When researching companies that hire home-based workers, the best place to start is the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which can provide information on disputes or other problems involving a potential employer.

You’ll want to look for a pattern of “unresolved” or “unanswered” disputes, which will be an indication that there is a problem with the company in question. By the way, complaints can be filed against a company whether it’s a member of the BBB or not.

Next, perform an Internet search on the company you’re checking out to see what others are saying. If you see a pattern of negative comments, often that’s an indication that you may need to explore the company in more detail.

There also are Web sites such as BBBonline.com that will tell you some of the common scams around, including the “work-from-home typing” scam.

Operators of scams often lure job seekers with promotions such as the ability to earn $35,000 a year, or a promise to provide a list of companies that will hire them.

Diana Ennen, author of Virtual Assistant: The Series has been a home-based word processor more than 20 years. Ennen states, “Working at home as a typist is an excellent opportunity that often only requires excellent secretarial skills. However, be cautious of offers guaranteeing a list of companies that will hire you. The truth of the matter is that most of these companies aren’t even aware they are on this list. There’s so much information available online today that there is no need to fall for this scam.”

It’s also important to know the difference between paying for information about working from home and actually investing in a home-based business. Most home-based businesses, such as direct sales companies, are valid ways to make an income. However, because you need to make an initial investment many people are confused and believe these to be scams as well.

Think about home-based businesses in terms of your local fast-food chain. A fast-food restaurant will pay you if it hires you as an employee. However, in order to start your own franchise of that same restaurant, you would need to make a monetary investment.

The same holds true when you begin a home-based business. You must make an investment, but in return you receive the means to begin your own business—generally the paperwork needed, marketing materials, and product for display.

Still, you must do your research when considering a home-based business. It’s important to know things like the history of the company, its reputation, how many representatives are in your area, and what quotas must be met.

Whether considering a telecommuting position or a home-based business, speak to others who have worked with the company you are contemplating. Ask for references of other employees/business owners in your area.

There are many legitimate ways to work from home, but when seeking a work-at-home opportunity, it’s important to take your time and do your research.

Unfortunately, there are people who make it their primary goal to take money from the unsuspecting. If you are thorough in your examination, you will not become one of their victims. Remember the ages-old saying that still holds true today: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com. Hart is also the co-author of the upcoming book, Home Based Blessings, due out in early 2007 for Christian moms who want to work at home. Hart and her husband, Allen of CWAHD.com (Christian Work at Home Dads) reside in Nebraska with their two children.

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At the present time there is an estimated "100,000 home-based phone representatives" employed throughout the United States. According to predictions made by the Gartner Group, it is believed that by the end of 2006 approximately ten percent of all call centers scattered throughout the United States will be relying on the skills and services of work at home call center agents for the widespread success of their businesses.   Read the rest of this entry »

Telecommuters are individuals who spend part, if not all, of their working hours at another location other than the workplace. For most people it is their home. In order to do this one must have a variety of "telecommunication technologies" such as a telephone, Internet, various computer programs and a fax machine at one’s disposal.   Read the rest of this entry »

I
have exciting news if you want to stay home with
your precious babies, but still need a weekly paycheck.
If you think you can’t do both, I’m
here to tell you that you can! The official word
for what I’m talking about it “Telecommuting”,
but it’s also known as a work at home job.

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Scams
are every where online. Just about every where you
go online you will find ads for so-called "easy
and fast money" jobs. Anything that promises
"easy money" or "big bucks part time"
is full of it. Don’t waste your time on something
that promises fast and easy money because it’s not
going to happen.

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Finding
a legit telecommute job can be difficult. Telecommute
jobs are in high demand and hundreds if not thousands
of other people are competing for the same position.

So how do you stand apart from everyone else? Your
résumé.

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Many
people are choosing telecommuting as an option to
bring in an income while being at home. Whatever
the reasons that we choose to work at home, the
one thing we all have in common is the problem of
locating legitimate jobs online. We often come online
with the idea that finding a job online will be
easy.

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When
you first start to look for a work at home job,
it’s easy to get discouraged. Postings for
work at home jobs can be scarce and when they do
come up, competition among applicants is fierce.
What many moms new to telecommuting don’t
realize is that there is another way to land a work
at home job – Networking. Many people get
their work at home jobs either directly from or
as a referral through other people they network
with.

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Freelancing
is a great way to work from home. Freelancers do
anything from writing to graphic design to computer
programming. They are often hired by businesses
(small and large) for a particular project. It’s
a win- win situation. The small business owner gets
his website up and running, or his press release
written without having to create a new position
in his company to get the job done.
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