Starting a home business takes some smart homework first. Every would-be entrepreneur, for example, should be alert to potential scams and ripoffs disguised as work-at-home "opportunities."
People who want to work at home are often targeted by those who market get-rich-quick schemes and "guaranteed" home business money-makers. In fact, according to the National Fraud Information Center, work-at-home scams were the number one type of telemarketing fraud in 1999.
One of the top "opportunities" to watch out for is any business involving envelope-stuffing. It's not a task most legitimate companies pay contractors for. In many cases, the so-called envelope-stuffing business is just an illegal chain letter.
Also watch out for ads selling startup home business kits: you might not get what you paid for. For example, some schemes advertise medical billing kits that promise to get you earning money from area doctors quickly. Unfortunately, these kits often come with outdated software and no training ... making it almost impossible you will be able to run and market an effective billing business.
For more information about work-at-home scams -- and real business opportunities -- check out the National Consumer League (http://www.fraud.org) or the Small Business Administration (http://www.sba.gov).
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