Should You Take The Bait?

Home business scams are everywhere these days. If you surf the internet, it seems as though everywhere you turn, you are inundated with ads that tell you how to earn more money than you do now, often for doing something that is easy and non-consequential. These ads usually look like this:

“Be part of one of America's Fastest Growing Industries!”

“Earn MILLIONS of dollars a month, from your home, at only fifteen minutes a day!”

“Learn The Big Secret of the Internet Millionaires! Click Here!”

I know you've seen them. These types of ads are not only on the Internet, but in print and broadcast media as well. They pull us in! Who doesn’t want to earn ten thousand dollars a month for fifteen minutes of work a day? But beware! Most of the pie in the sky, get-rich-quick advertising is designed simply to part you from your hard-earned money.

Not all work-at-home opportunities deliver on their promises. What most promoters of home business scams won’t tell you is that you will usually have to work for many hours before you earn a single cent. By now you should know that there is no free lunch! Even if you are operating from a solid home business, you will have to work long and hard if you want to be successful. If anyone tells you otherwise, watch out! Something is probably not quite right.

Ask Questions!

Avoiding the home business scam is strictly a matter of common sense. Since you will be putting your time and money into this venture, you should definitely do some research. You do this by asking intelligent questions.

Some questions you must ask your work-at-home sponsors include the following:

What is the total cost of the program?

Scams will often carry hidden costs with them. Be sure to read the fine print before proceeding. Ask for all the costs involved in the program, and ask them to clarify exactly what you get in return for your money.

What exactly will I have to do?

Your tasks must be clearly outlined, with every step clearly defined. Confusion on this point is often the source of future contention. Again, do not get carried away with promises that you won’t have to work to earn your money. If it sounds too good to be true, it most probably is.

Will I be paid a salary or will my pay be based on commission?

This is another point that can cause trouble. Obviously, the compensation package you receive should be clearly defined and commensurate to the service that you will be rendering.

When will I get my first paycheck?

Beware of programs that will pay for your services much later after you have done the work. I said "beware", not "avoid". Most afilliate programs, although highly profitable, will not deposit cash in your bank account overnight! It sometimes takes months, or even years of consistant marketing to see any money. This might cause you short-term financial difficulties.

In conclusion, there is money to be made at home. By exercising a little bit of common sense and asking intelligent questions, you should be able to avoid the home business scam, and by working hard, possibly even secure the future for yourself and your family.