5 Ways to Distinguish Real Work from Home Jobs vs Scams

written by Ruth Cleven

There are a lot of work from home scams saturating the internet and nowadays it is very hard to distinguish the real ones from the fake ones. Unfortunately I have found a lot of people are simply copying websites and trying to pass themselves off as "Experts" when all their really good at is plagiarizing. I have written down below a few key elements to look for when trying to spot a scam vs the real deal.

Rule 1. Make Sure There Is a Valid Way To Contact the Company

Always make sure there is a way for you to contact the company whether it be by phone, email or just a simple contact form. Many times I have almost purchased from a program and then realized they either have no form of contact or I have attempted to send them an email by way of online contact form and it is no longer a valid working form.

Rule 2. Make Sure To Ask Questions About The Program

This is a definite way to know if the company is on the up and up and actually does possess some expertise in his field. Ask specifics about how the program works.

Rule 3. Watch Out For Claims of Wealth or Guarantees of Amount Of Income

No matter how genuine or good the program may be, NO ONE can guarantee any specific amount to be made on these types of online jobs unless your paid by the hour! This is just not possible, as it depends on the person, the amount of time, effort and consistency he or she devotes to the job.

Rule 4. Every Program Should Have an "Earning Disclaimer" Page

This is a disclaimer that is used to protect the company in question in case they were to be accused of "false promises" or guarantees of income as we discussed above. Obviously if a company does not have this page then they do not plan on being around long enough to actually get in trouble.

Rule 5. Check to See How Long The Company Has Been Around

This is a good tell tale sign if the company is just one of those "Fly by Night" sort of programs. Those kinds are usually scams and they don't last. A good standing company should be around at least more then 1 year in order to become established. You can run a search on "Whois" to see how long the website has been up and running.

Sharing home business ideas and legitimate online income opportunities. Successful business owner online now for 8 years. Recommended Work From Home Job - check out "Typist Jobs" owner Ruth Cleven - http://typistjobs.net

Retrieved on 8^th October 2009 from http://entrepreneurship.bestmanagementarticles.com/a-33899-5-ways-to-distinguish-real-work-from-home-jobs-vs-scams.aspx

10 Mistakes to Avoid in the Mobile Office

If you're running your business on the fly, these tips will keep you from crashing.

written by Mark A.R. Mitchell

Small businesses face enough challenges in the pursuit of success, and those that operate a mobile office have it even tougher. Why make avoidable missteps? Here are 10 mistakes to avoid in the virtual and mobile worlds:

Failing to back up your data: This is a sure-fire way to destroy your business. It doesn't seem to matter how often people like me say to back up your files--most people just don't do it. But when you're working in a mobile office setting or by yourself from home, you risk losing everything you've built if you lose your data.

Solution: Back up your data daily, using an external drive or an online service such as one of those discussed here.

Skimping on connectivity: Connectivity with your team and with your customers is your lifeblood. If you cut costs here, you'll cut into your success.

Solution: Get the fastest broadband connection you can get--up and down.

Developing sloppy work habits: The virtual office is an office, even if you're dressed in your bathrobe.

Solution: Keep focused and remember that you are doing real work. If you forget that, so will others.

Isolating yourself: Not having a brick-and-mortar office doesn't mean you don't need to interact with your clients and teammates in a traditional manner--at least occasionally.

Solution: Face time with others is important, not just to stay current with your clients but to keep yourself from going stir crazy. If you're on the road for your company, you need to dock with the mother ship on occasion. It will help you remember why you're doing this together. If you're working from home, you need to get out and go to a professional conference or client meeting. You need to find ways to keep ideas coming in--and interacting with other people remains a powerful way to do that.

Working without an IT plan: In a virtual office, many people may come to the table with their own ideas about what information technologies they want to use. Some folks are Mac champions; others are PC lovers. Some love the BlackBerry; others the Palm Pre or iPhone. All this love, though, can lead to IT chaos.

Solution: If you're the boss, you need an IT plan. Trying to run a virtual office with technologies that don't work well together consumes time you could be devoting to doing real business. So set standards and expectations and be clear about why you've set them.

Micromanaging your virtual employees: One of the reasons people are drawn to a virtual office is flexibility. If you try to micromanage your employees' time, you'll run into difficulties.

Solution: In the mobile or virtual environment, you simply can't keep an eye on what everyone is doing at every moment--so don't even try. Mature mobile office workers--in contrast to immature slackers--will focus on getting the work done. They may do the work at 10 p.m., after a long day on a mountain bike, but they'll get it done. If you expect their attendance at a meeting or on a call, make sure they know that, but don't expect them to be at their desks working just because the clock says it's 10 a.m.

Failing to manage your virtual employees: While micromanagement is a problem, the absence of active management is equally bad. If you set unclear expectations, or none at all, you (and everyone who works for you) are bound to be disappointed.

Solution: Focus your mobile and virtual employees on goals, deliverables and milestones. Encourage them to ask for help if and when they need it, but otherwise leave them alone to do the work you expect them to do. They'll do it in the way that works best for them within the timeframe you've identified.

Insufficiently vetting your employees: You need to know that your virtual employees can get the job done in an environment that may have few, if any, of the traditional reminders that they're at the office. How can you know this when you hire them?

Solution: A track record of working virtually helps, but in the absence of that you'll have to go with your gut when you assess answers to questions like, "Why do you want to work in a nontraditional setting like this?" and "How do you structure your work life?" and "How do you deal with the competing demands of home while you're in the office?" If you don't vet your potential employees with due diligence, it's going to be harder on you and your business in the long run.

Forgetting your boundaries: Traditional offices--even really hip ones with video games and foosball tables--are still bounded spaces. You leave home to go to them. But if you're working from home, that boundary, like everything else, can be virtual.

Solution: You need to find a way to keep a healthy boundary between your work and home life. If you don't, both will suffer. A door you can close at the end of the day is a wonderful thing.

Failing to enjoy the virtual office: Ultimately, a virtual or mobile office can be the office you've always dreamed of, so don't miss the opportunity to enjoy it.

Solution: You have a unique opportunity to choose the tools and technologies you use to get your work done, and to shape and control the environment in which you work. If you don't take advantage of that opportunity and build the world that works best for you, your employees, and your customers, you'll miss out on one of the best aspects of working in the virtual office.

Mark A.R. Mitchell is an avid technology buff and reporter covering small-business products and the Consumer Electronics Show. He holds a master’s degree in English literature from Harvard and has worked with leading technology companies and research universities.

Retrieved on 20^th November 2009 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/technology/newsandtrends/article204026.html

Learn How To Delegate Better

Do an assessment of your weaknesses and find the right people to fill in those gaps.

written by Lesley Spencer Pyle

It's the end of the month and your business is crying out for attention. You have invoices to send, sales calls to make, a blog to update, and you haven't had time to chase down a lower-cost supplier for one of your products. How can one person possibly do it all? The short answer is that you can't. Not well, anyway.

Owning a small business has always been hard work, which you don't mind. You started your company because you have strengths in multiple areas, and you don't mind rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty. But even if you're an extraordinary accountant, that doesn't mean you know beans about marketing. And just because you can sell anything to anybody doesn't mean you know your way around a web page template. To compete, you'll probably need outside help.

Assess your strengths. Freelancers are available in lots of different areas, from software development and blog writing to public relations and tax planning. The type of assistance you need depends on your abilities, your weaknesses and areas you want to strengthen in your business. Freelancers let you focus on what you do best, whether it's selling widgets or writing grants.

Determine Your Needs. What's holding your business back? What are the areas desperate for attention? Is it marketing, accounting or computer glitches? If you have a mentor, ask him to help you either grow in those areas or identify the best places to find freelancers. If you don't have a seasoned businessperson helping you, find one. One resource is SCORE, a nonprofit organization that provides counseling for small businesses.

Take time to clearly define the project's scope and schedule before you look for someone to tackle it.

Begin the Search. Where do you find good help? Huge online outsourcing companies such as guru.com, elance.com and oDesk.com have tens of thousands of freelancers. But navigating your way through what can be complicated systems doesn't make your life easier; it gives you more work to do. For example, some sites require you to set up an escrow account and pay through the site instead of paying the freelancer directly. There can be bidding wars and large numbers of resumes to wade through.

Look for niche companies that screen candidates and require them to invest some time and money into the process. The niche sites have fewer members, so you'll have fewer resumes to review and fewer bidding wars for the freelancers. Would you rather review resumes from 15 applicants who are all possibilities or 200 applicants who may net you the same 15 possibilities?

Finding the right niche website depends on your needs. Start by searching for the type of work you need, plus the word "freelancer." For example, if you are looking for a graphics person, search for "graphic design freelancer."

The biggest mistake employers make is hiring based on price alone. The cheapest gun for hire may have no experience in your field, which isn't a bargain if the work isn't up to par. Review portfolios and samples thoroughly prior to offering anyone a contract. Ask for references and ask questions. Have a phone interview to discuss rates and schedules and to invite the prospect's input.

Move Forward. A good relationship begins with mutual respect. If you want projects with a 24-hour turnaround or decide to expand the scope of the project before it's completed, communicate your expectations clearly and be prepared to pay extra. To protect both of you, especially if your freelancer works remotely, review her work in stages to avoid unpleasant surprises. Once you find the right fit, you'll have more time for what you do best.

Lesley Spencer Pyle is the founder and president ofHomeBasedWorkingMoms.com and HireMyMom.com, and she is the author ofThe Work-at-Home Workbook: Your Step-by-Step Guide on Selecting and Starting the Perfect Home Business for You. Pyle has been working from home for more than 13 years.

Retrieved on 11^th November 2009 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/homebasedbiz/homebasedbizcolumnistlesleyspencerpyle/article203684.html

Top 10 Home Improvement Franchises

Retrieved on 17th November 2009 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/195088.html

Setting The Right Price

written by Rosalind Resnick

How to balance costs and profits when charging for the items you sell

Q: I want to turn my hobby of making gift baskets into a homebased business, but I don't know how much to charge for the items I sell. Should I take the cost of the materials and add a small profit? Can I charge the same price as the gift baskets sold at the mall?

A: Setting prices has always been more art than science. Set your prices too high, and you scare customers away. Set your prices too low, and you lose money on every sale. Amazingly, most business owners still set prices the old-fashioned way--by charging the same as the guy down the street.

Ask yourself the following five questions before you put your products or services on the market:

· Do you know how much it costs to produce your company's products or services? This may seem like an obvious question, but it isn't. Especially in small professional services firms, lawyers, doctors, accountants, architects and other professionals often neglect to factor in the value of their own time when it comes to pricing their services. That's why an accountant who charges fixed fees to prepare tax returns may think that he's making a ton of money during tax season, when he's actually selling his time for a fraction of his hourly rate. His practice might be far more profitable if he hired a junior-level accountant or a bookkeeper to prepare the returns so that he could spend his time on the higher-level tasks of reviewing the returns and dealing with complex tax questions.

· Do you know how much money you make on every sale? Most business owners focus on two metrics--sales and net profits--to gauge their business success. Gross margin, the ratio of gross profit to sales revenue, measures your company's efficiency in turning raw materials into income. Think of it this way: For every $1 of sales that your company takes in, how much do you have left over after paying for labor, materials and the other components involved in making your product or providing your service? If the answer is 50 cents, your gross margin is 50 percent. Remember that this does not include rent, utilities, sales and marketing costs, debt service and other general operating expenses that you need to pay to run your business day to day.

· Do you have administrative or selling costs you need to cover?Just because your company's gross margin is 50 percent or higher doesn't necessarily mean that you're making money. That's why your pricing needs to reflect your total cost of doing business, which, in many cases, can be much higher. As businesses grow, they often fail to factor in the cost of their administrative staff--the receptionist, the office manager, the customer support person, the bookkeeper, sales reps and all the other front and back office employees who keep the organization running. When you set your prices, remember that you need to pay your employees, too.

· Do you need to pay commissions to a third-party broker, reseller or sales force? If you run a restaurant or a retail store, customers walk in the door, and you don't have to worry about paying for sales leads and referrals. But that isn't true of a manufacturing or service business. Many small businesses without their own sales force rely on independent reps or agents to bring them business. Depending on the industry, these reps can charge commissions as high as 20 percent on every sale. That may not be a problem for a company that sells a product with a 50 percent gross margin, but it can be a huge problem for a company with a gross margin of only 10 percent. That's why, if you need to rely on third parties to help sell your product or service, it's important to build in enough margin to give your resellers a cut and still make a profit.

· Do you remember the last time you reviewed your company's pricing? Once a business owner goes through the painful exercise of setting prices, he generally doesn't want to do it again. After all, nobody wants to break the news that prices have gone up and risk losing a customer. That said, it's a good idea to review your pricing every quarter--especially if the price of one of your key components or labor costs have increased.

If you had trouble answering any of these questions, it's probably time for a pricing tune-up. If you've got a good relationship with your customers and a specialized product or service that the market wants and needs, you should be able to raise your prices without losing business--and build a solid financial foundation for your company's future.

Rosalind Resnick is the founder and CEO of Axxess Business Centers Inc., a storefront consulting firm for start-ups and small businesses. She is a former business and computer journalist who built her Internet marketing company,NetCreations Inc., from a two-person homebased start-up to a public company that generated $58 million in annual sales.

Retrieved on 16^th October 2009 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/homebasedbiz/money/article65484.html

How to Sell at Craft Fairs and Shows

written by Rosalind Resnick

Interested in turning your artistic hobby into a business? Find out how you can make money by selling your handicrafts at art shows and craft fairs.

When Terry Speer was a struggling art student in the 60s, he put himself through college by selling his prints and paintings at local art shows. In 1979, after eight years as an art professor, Speer left academia to do the show circuit full time with his wife, Deborah Banyas, a fellow artist and quilt maker.

"I had tenure and benefits," Speer recalls, "but I was miserable. I thought, 'Why am I torturing myself as a professor when I can have more fun doing this and make more money?'"

Speer hasn't looked back once. Today, he and Banyas run a homebased business selling their whimsical mixed-media sculptures at art festivals and craft shows around the country, including the recent Coconut Grove Arts Festival in Miami where they rang up sales of several thousand dollars over the three-day Presidents' Day weekend. Despite an estimated $3,000 in travel and other miscellaneous costs, Speer and Banyas ended up making a tidy profit. Then they packed up their truck and headed home to Oberlin, Ohio, where they stayed for less than a day before traveling to another show in Baltimore.

"This isn't an easy way to make a living," says Banyas, who estimates that the couple exhibits at 12 shows a year. "You've got to be willing to drive a truck and get up at four in the morning."

Still, Speer and Banyas can't see themselves doing anything else. And they're not the only ones who feel that way. Though it's impossible to know how many artists and craftspeople sell their wares full or part time at shows and festivals, their numbers appear to be growing as crowds turn out by the thousands to buy paintings, sculptures, woodwork, metalwork, glasswork and jewelry and to meet the artists and craftsmen who make them. And as Speer and Banyas have discovered, there's real money to be made. Last year, the Coconut Grove festival drew more than 150,000 visitors who purchased approximately $4 million in artwork from more than 330 exhibitors over the course of the three-day show. (Figures for this year's show were not available at press time.)

"I think it's a great opportunity for the public to connect with artists," says Lisa Remeny, a Miami artist whose painting was picked to be the official poster art of this year's Coconut Grove show. "You don't have that in a gallery where people buy from dealers."

For homebased artists and craftsmen, selling at fairs and shows provides an opportunity to ring up sales and find new customers at little cost and no overhead. Typically, shows charge just a few hundred dollars for a booth and allow artists to enjoy big markups on the work they create--profits they don't have to share with a gallery or store owner. But making money at fairs and shows isn't as easy as it seems. It requires research, planning and the ability to keep a smile on your face while standing on your feet for long hours. And that's not for everyone.

"To be successful at shows, you need to have a retail personality and that's not me," says Debra Sachs, who creates fanciful wooden canes with her partner, Marilyn Keating, at their company, The South Jersey Museum of Curiosities LLP in Gloucester City, New Jersey. Even though Sachs says she and Keating made a profit at every show they attended, the shows took them away from doing what they really loved--creating art. "We're doing public art projects now," Sachs says.

Think selling your work at shows and fairs might be for you? Follow these 10 road-tested tips to success:

1. Walk the show. Just because your Mom used to tack up your drawings on the refrigerator doesn't mean your work is professional enough for people who aren't related to you to buy it. First, attend a few shows to see if your stuff is good enough to pass muster. Some shows are juried, which means that judges review your work and select you; others are open to everyone.

It's also important to find the right venue for your work. While an indoor art show may be beyond your grasp, a craft show or Renaissance fair may fit the bill just right. You can find out a lot of information about the shows by talking to artists and craftsmen you meet there. "The best way is to ask other vendors where the best shows are," says Christopher Spelman of Wax Creations in Oceanside, New York. "They'll tell you which fairs to not even bother with."

2. Do your homework. Find out who typically attends the show, what kind of turnout you can expect and how much it will cost to exhibit there. Even though booth space typically costs just $200 to $300--the Coconut Grove festival charges $550--you need to factor in travel costs, shipping costs and the cost of a table, banner and the booth itself. And don't forget the materials costs; for jewelry or sculptures made of precious metals, those costs can add up. And depending on the city or state the show is in, you may also need a license or permit to sell there. It's best to figure out your breakeven point--that is, how many items you need to sell in order to make a profit--before you decide to pack up and go.

3. Start small. Most established artists and craftspeople sell to repeat customers who frequent the same shows every year and often collect their pieces. While you're establishing your reputation and building a following, keep your expenses to a minimum. Speer suggests renting or borrowing a booth from another artist instead of buying your own. Another option is to share a booth with another artist or craftsperson. "Don't invest a lot of money until you're sure it's going to work," he says.

4. Price it right. While cheaper work is easier to sell, you've got to sell a lot more items to cover your costs and make a profit. At the same, an artist selling $10,000 paintings may go home empty-handed. That's why many art show veterans offer a range of price points to potential customers. Biba Schutz, a New York City jewelry artist, sells her work for anywhere from $150 to $900 but offers one-of-a-kind pieces for up to $5,000. "If your material costs you $10 and you double it, you've got a $10 profit," says Schutz, who works in silver, bronze, copper and gold. "If the material costs you $200 and you double that, it's $400. You need to sell less to make those numbers."

5. Bring your credit card machine. Credit cards are the common currency of shows and fairs, and if you don't accept them, you're going to lose sales to vendors who do. You also face the risks of dealing with bounced checks from strangers who may be hard to track down after the show. Especially if you're selling work priced in the hundreds of dollars, credit cards are a must. To find out more about obtaining merchant credit, see our "Resources" section.

6. Don't go it alone. While shows can be exciting and profitable, they can also be physically and emotionally exhausting. That's why it's important to bring along someone to help you work the booth and deal with customers. This will also give you a chance to get up and go to the bathroom and grab a hotdog or something to drink without losing sales. Spelman of Wax Creations works the fairs with his wife. "You need a lot of good friends and family willing to help you," he says.

7. Pack your stuff. Make sure you bring enough work to sell but not so much that you'll have to carry most of it back. Besides your artwork, you'll also need to pack your booth, several chairs, a small table, a calculator, a credit card machine, bags for customers to carry your products home in and any brochures or marketing materials you might have.

8. Put your best foot forward. People like to see a craftsperson creating artwork in his booth, not just selling it. While this isn't always possible, it's a crowd-pleasing idea that works well for jewelry makers, woodworkers, quilters and other craftspeople. At the very least, make sure your display table is clean and attractive and that your products are well displayed with prices clearly marked. Some artists, like jewelry maker Schutz, string lights in their booths and display color photos of their work to spice things up a bit.

9. Build a mailing list. Shows are a great way to develop your customer database. Try putting a fishbowl on your table and offering people a chance to win a piece of artwork in return for giving you their contact information or business cards. Giving away promotional items with your company's name and logo works, too. This way, you can send out postcards inviting prospects to your next show. Don't forget to collect e-mail addresses, too! It's a lot cheaper to send out 100 e-mail messages than it is to pay for paper and postage. "I have some customers who've bought from me every year for 10 years," Schutz says. "These days, I send more e-mails than postcards, and with my wholesale customers, I actually call them."

10. Count your money. Before you move on to the next show, sit down and figure out how much you made on the last one. For example, if you spend $1,000 on this show, did you make $1,000 back? Remember, we're talking about profits, not sales! Don't forget to include the cost of your materials, the booth space, travel, shipping and cleanup. This kind of breakeven analysis will help you figure out if you should exhibit at the same show next year.

Don't be disappointed if you don't make a fortune your first time out--or ever. Except for artists like Speer and Banyas, who sell exclusively through shows and fairs, most artists and craftspeople also sell through galleries, wholesalers, the Internet and other marketing channels. "My best year ever I made $18,000," says Spelman of Wax Creations, who does most of his business at parties and events. "I'd consider making $2,000 in a weekend to be a success. Some people live off these shows; other people use it to market their business."

Helpful Resources

Looking to break into the world of fairs and shows? Check out the web links below to jump-start your business today.

· Festival Network Online. This searchable database of 17,000-plus festivals, arts and crafts shows and other events also offers information on products, services and resources for artists and other vendors. Membership starts at $49 a year. Free demo available.

· Art and Craft Shows. Browse this searchable database of 2,000-plus open-entry craft shows and art festivals by date, city, state and region.

· The Crafts Fair Online. This website offers links to thousands of crafters' websites plus listings of craft shows and information about suppliers, publications, newsgroups, classes, software and more.

· Business Licenses and Permits. This informative article from Entrepreneur.com provides information about permits, state and federal licenses, sales tax licenses and more. Contact your state or local government website for information about local laws and regulations.

· National Craft Association. This trade organization for the crafts industry offers homebased and online craft businesses the ability to accept major credit and debit cards.

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Rosalind Resnick is president and CEO of Axxess Business Centers Inc., a boutique consulting firm for startups and small businesses. She can be reached via her website.

Retrieved on 16^th October 2009 from http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/article76936.html