Work from home opportunities: how to choose the right one?

Browsing through my social network groups, I'm truly amazed to see how many people are seeking opportunities to work from home, both part-time and full-time. There are a lot more people looking for ways to earn extra money than I could ever have imagined. Therefore, it's not surprising that, given the law of supply and demand, there are also plenty of people out there who are offering a wide variety of opportunities to work from home.

So how does one go about choosing the right opportunity?

First, whether you're looking for an online job or aiming to start an online business, it has to be something you enjoy doing or you won't be motivated enough to stay the course. Even when you love what you're doing, you can easily get discouraged if the results you are hoping for take longer than expected to materialize.

Second, it has to be an activity you are already familiar with or at least something that is not too hard to learn, so that you can do it with a certain degree of ease. Information overload can send even the calmest of people into a tizzy. It's easy to get frustrated when you don't understand what you are doing.

Third, if you want to start a business, it shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to get it off the ground. If you have to spend on upfront fees or upgrades before you even know what you're getting yourself into, or if you are required to invest in a series of products from the very start, you need to make sure that this is truly what you want.

Fourth, it has to be an activity that doesn't take up too much of your time. Part of the reason you want to work from home is, of course, to make extra money; but it's also a way to break free from the shackles of a 9 to 5 routine, so that you can spend more time with your family. Working from home should allow you to do things you've never had the time to do before.

Fifth, the company you choose to deal with must have a sterling reputation. Find out how long it has been in business and whether it has a decent BBB rating. Search for trustworthy reviews about the company to see if they give it a favorable rating. Doing your homework is a crucial part of your decision-making process. You don't want to fall into the wrong hands!

Sixth, unless you are already familiar with online business practices, you'll need in-depth training and support. If you put your faith in a specific company, the very least it can do is provide a free training program and 24/7 support. If it doesn't provide the necessary tools for you to learn your trade, how will you earn any money?

Seventh, and probably the most important point of all, the company you choose had better have a darned good compensation plan! You don't want to work like a dog and then realize you've invested more time and money than you should have, with only a few measly dollars to show for all your efforts.

This last point is really important because, like any other business, it does take a while to break even with an online business, and you'll definitely have to invest time, and eventually some money too, if you want to succeed. Just make sure that the time and effort you put into your business is both personally satisfying and financially rewarding.

In sum, when looking for ways to earn extra money from home, find something you enjoy doing or can learn to do fairly easily. Make sure that the company you choose is credible and doesn't require you to pay an upfront 'fee-to-see' what's inside. Make sure it offers free training and 24/7 support, provides a good compensation plan, and has a rock solid reputation. That way, you'll have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Have a great week!

PS If you're curious about what I'm doing these days, feel free to visit my website.

The perks of working from home!

Having an online business has it's perks: you can work from home and keep your own hours; you don't have to dress up since nobody is going to see you anyway, except maybe the mailman or the gardener; and you don't have to sit in traffic for hours on end to commute to and from the office. Instead, you can take all the time you need to plan your day's activities, while you calmly drink your morning coffee.

In addition to the comfort of working from home, the cost to set up and operate any online business is downright negligible: you just need a computer/tablet/smart phone and an internet connection. You don't need to rent office space, pay for permits and employees, and you save tons of money on gas, car maintenance and/or repairs. All the money you earn is for you… and the taxman of course.

The good news is that –at least here in Mexico–, when you work from home, you can deduct a portion of your home expenses, like utility bills and phone bills, some groceries (sugar, coffee, toilet paper, etc.), all of your office supplies and even part of your monthly rent. I don't know about you, but I definitely like this extra perk, given the drawbacks of not having a regular paycheck.

I've worked from home since 1993, first as an independent service provider for clients in the Mexican book publishing industry, and then as a freelance English-Spanish-English translator. It's been great, even though at times I've had to struggle to make ends meet. Nonetheless, I prefer the freedom of being able to work when and where I please, even if it means having to work really long hours sometimes to honor my commitments.

Given my long history of working online, I guess it was only natural for me to gravitate towards another kind of business that I could do from home to further supplement my income. The opportunity came along when I least expected it, but I'm glad I decided to try my hand at SFI (Strong Future International). It's been a really great experience so far.

It's amazing how many people I've met over the internet since I started this new business, and how friendly and generous they all are. It's like an exclusive club of people helping people, who understand exactly where you're coming from and what you are trying to accomplish. Thank goodness I have them, because my friends and family get this really blank look on their faces each time I talk about SFI!

Of course, not everyone is equipped to work independently, either because they need the security of a regular paycheck or because they need a boss to crack the whip once in a while in order to stay focused. But for those who are willing and able to set up an online business or have a few hours a week to spare from their regular J.O.B. (Just Over Broke), this is the best of both worlds!

Like my mom used to say: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket my child. Diversify!"

Have a great week and don't forget to visit my website for more information about SFI!