So you have reached the point where you know you want to start a home-based business. You recognize you want to do something to secure your financial future, and your research tells you that in the new economy, establishing a home-based business is a very good option for the average person to earn some extra money every month. You are excited, nervous, and perhaps a little scared – all natural emotions to feel at this stage of the game.One of the biggest decisions a person considering a home-based business must make is what business to start. It is easy to get swept up in the hype and glamor many home-based business opportunities promote to attract new people to their company, but beware: while there are certainly great companies out there that have many people succeeding, a lot of the hype you will see advertised is merely that – a means of luring people into what amounts to nothing more than a shell game.Now, almost every company out there uses promotions of one kind or another to attract people to buy its products (this is called advertising) or, in the case of relationship marketing organizations, attract people to join its sales force. There is nothing inherently wrong with promotions – they are part of the fun and many of them are indeed very lucrative. But intelligent home-based business seekers will do whatever you can to avoid this costly mistake when starting a home-based business – you will look beyond the hype and find out who the people are working the business.Once you have found the people and actually talked to them, smart home-based entrepreneurs will then ask these important general questions before making their decision to join a team:o Why are you involved with this company?
o How long have you been with this company?
o What is your experience with this company?
o How will you help me succeed?
o Can the average person like me win with this company?
o Can I meet this company’s management team and top field leaders personally?Like any big decision in life, it is so important to ask a lot of questions up front. In the end, doing so creates a win-win situation for everyone: you win because you feel confident about the company you will join and who you are going to work with, and your sponsor, or mentor, wins because she know you have made an educated decision and will be committed to yourself and your goals with the business.Going into business for yourself is indeed an exciting venture, but it can also be overwhelming, especially in the beginning. As a home-based business entrepreneur, you want to be certain you have joined a team who is there to support you and help you as you get your business off the ground. Because of the special dynamics many home-based entrepreneurs face, such as balancing responsibilities for family and perhaps a job with starting a business, you want to make sure you are working with people like you who have walked your path, so to speak, and thus know how to help you according to your circumstances. The last thing any new home-based entrepreneur wants is to discover too late that the person who sponsored them into the organization is never available or incapable of helping you succeed.Avoiding the costly mistake of jumping into something because it promised big results for little effort or because it seemed like a good deal at the time will save you not only money, but heartache as well. Take the time to get to know the team of people you will be working with first. When you find the right people who have your best interests in mind, you will be rewarded handsomely for many years to come.