Work From Home / Home Based Business FAQ Thread - Scam vs LEGIT - if you have a home business, please share!

Edit: this thread is not about Making extra $$ on the side, it is about work from home jobs that make enough to stay at home instead of at an employers office

Looks like previous work from home threads have been archived. As many know from my other posts, I feel its very important to expose SCAMS pulled on unsuspecting people. The "work from home" scams are especially prevalent. Even on legitimate sites such as monster.com there will be ads for "payment processors" and the like, promising a percentage of profits for mailing payments to internaional businesses. THESE ARE SCAMS. They send you fake cashiers checks, you send out real money, and by the time your bank tells you the checks you received are fake, you lose.

Similar scams include "envelope stuffing", most MLM / network marketing programs, just about anything you need to send money for an "information package, etc.

Yahoo just posted a list of 25 LEGITIMATE work at home occupations:

1. Personal trainer. If you are fitness-minded, you can start your own career as a personal trainer. Check out the National Federation of Professional Trainers for information about the certification process.
2. Yoga instructor. Begin sharing your expertise with others by teaching yoga classes. There are a number of online resources, depending on the school of yoga that you practice. The Yoga Alliance Web site provides information on yoga schools, certification, insurance, and so on.
3. Tutoring. You can start a business tutoring students by advertising at schools, the local YMCA, and other places frequented by families. If you have children, talk to their teachers and determine the needs of your school district.
4. Business coaching. Have experience with management or some other specialized business skill? Share it with others by becoming a business coach. The International Coach Federation provides certification and a coach referral service for its members.
5. Consulting. If you are an expert in your industry, such as finance, marketing, or mediation, consider beginning your own consulting business.
6. Medical and legal transcription. If you have transcription skills and the necessary equipment, you can easily work from home for a variety of different companies. Check local community colleges or online for transcription training courses.
7. Medical claims billing. This industry is one of the most popular work-from-home businesses -- so much so that suspect companies have been popping up on the Internet and in classified advertisements. ELearners.com can help you locate transcription training courses online.
8. Accounting. There are many franchises and opportunities available for certified public accountants. If you are interested in getting certified, take a look at the Web site of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for information on specific state requirements.
9. Web design. If you can design quality Web sites, consider turning your skills into a home-based business. Although the software and hardware costs can be steep, good Web designers tend to be well-compensated for their efforts.
10. Desktop publishing. Do you have a creative flair for putting together brochures and newsletters? You can offer your own desktop publishing services to other small businesses. Software can be expensive, so make sure to give applications a trial run or take a course before investing in one.
11. Photography. If you are skilled with a camera, you can open your own photography studio in your home. Keep in mind that you will need space to shoot the pictures as well as a light-free space for a darkroom if you decide to process your film and print your photographs yourself.
12. Home inspection. The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors Web site provides information on becoming certified to inspect homes.
13. Remodeling. If you are a gifted carpenter or contractor, you can turn your passion into your own business. The SBA provides loans to experienced contractors looking to renovate homes or businesses in order to sell them.
14. Interior design. If you have a flair for the creative, consider interior design. The American Society of Interior Designers Web site provides resources for aspiring interior designers, including a list of each state's requirements for licensing.
15. Catering or personal chef. Consider starting your own catering or personal chef business from your own kitchen. You can set yourself apart from competitors by providing specialized services such as low-carb or vegetarian menus.
16. Gift baskets. Gift basket creation is a popular and creative home-based business. Target both individuals and businesses to increase potential sales.
17. Wedding planner. If you are an ace at organizing important events and have a Rolodex full of contacts, consider becoming a wedding planner. There are numerous online certification courses online, including one from Weddings Beautiful.
18. Personal shopper. If you are a great shopper with an eye for people's personal styles, you can offer your services to those less inclined. In addition, consider providing a gift shopping service for those too busy to shop themselves.
19. Concierge. If you have a lot of energy, a love for the mundane, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks, consider providing a personal concierge to busy business people or parents.
20. Custom jewelry creation. Designing your own custom design jewelry can be a lucrative pastime. Make sure to wear your own creations as a way to drum up business.
21. Computer repair. Are you the person everyone calls when they have a computer problem? Turn this into a business and start getting paid for fixing fatal errors. Check out Geeks on Call America and Rescuecom if you are interested in franchise opportunities.
22. Cleaning service. If you are good at cleaning, consider offering your services to others. One way to go is with a franchise. CleanNet-USA and JaniKing are two of the largest franchisers in the cleaning market.
23. Carpet cleaning service. There are many popular franchises that allow you to start your own carpet cleaning business and receive the equipment and training you need. ServiceMaster Clean and ChemDry are two of the bigger ones.
24. A riding school. If you own your own barn, land, and horses, you can open your own riding school. Equisearch.com offers resources, including some useful articles on liability issues.
25. Child-care services. Turn your expertise with children into one of the most popular home-based business opportunities.

This thread is to expose the scams and to list LEGITIMATE work at home businesses. if you work from home, please post and share with readers.

Also see the related thread: What do you guys do on the side for extra $

One idea is to covert your existing job to telecommuting. I done this for a while across the country.

First, the job has to be able to be done via. a VPN connection and require very few face to face meeting or hands-on work.

2nd, you must have good relation with your management. I worked on-site for a few years before I brought up the topic with my boss.

3rd, have a backup plan/offer. I went with 2 other job offers in hand... "I rather be working for you just not in this office... blah blah..."

Cons: Out of sight, out of mind applies. I ended up getting laid off, not sure if being in the office would have made a difference but it's a lot easier to let someone go without that awkward face to face meeting.

If that's not a scam, I don't know what is. They "train" you for a job that is almost impossible to fill. I'm sure they also talk up how easy it is and how much money you can make. Thanks for the info. I will keep telling her to not even bother looking into them.

ultra6160 said: It's not so much that these medical billing courses are scam. It's the reality that very few doctors and medical practices actually need the service. Most busy places can use a large clearing houses that will do the job for cheap. You will have to compete with their prices and reputations. If you have the connection, you may be able to get some smaller offices to give the business to you, but that's few and far between.

10. Desktop publishing. Do you have a creative flair for putting together brochures and newsletters? You can offer your own desktop publishing services to other small businesses. Software can be expensive, so make sure to give applications a trial run or take a course before investing in one.

My regular job involves dealing all the time with real estate agents and loan officers. They're always asking for color flyers and postcards to promote their listings, so I came up with the idea of leasing a color printer. Last week I signed a lease agreement for 3 years where I'm gonna be paying a monthly fee plus a fixed amount per color print/copy; this includes the printer supplies and the maintenance. So I'm going to be charging these guys (or whoever needs color prints) much less than what others places charge and I'm still gonna have a decent margin. On top of this I'm pretty good with graphic design so I'm also gonna be charging for designing all their stuff if they need it.

I've always thought about home inspection but it just seems that the liability would be pretty high. I may have to do a little reading into it though.

pretty much any internet business can be done from home, pron included.

Note: this thread isnt about "what do you do on the side for $$"...this is about viable legit tasks to work from home as an ALTERNATIVE to working in an employers office. So the suggestions should pay enough to REPLACE AN OFFICE JOB.

I would classify Scrapbooking MLM/Home Parties/passion parties/Tupperware etc all as ways to make a small amount of $$ or actually lose money. They are not realistically ways to earn a living from home, considering less than 1% of people earn enough from MLMs to even equal minimum wage.

patrick1853 said: I've always thought about home inspection but it just seems that the liability would be pretty high. I may have to do a little reading into it though.
IIRC, if you miss something major, you can only be sued for the cost of the inspection, not the full repair cost of something that you missed.

While this list might include legitimate occupations, there is so MUCH more than goes into it.

I have done two items on that list on the side for a few years, Web design and Photography. What Yahoo included in their description for photography is very "old school" and doesn't mention something very basic like INSURANCE costs. If one is planning on turning their home into a studio, s/he better have good insurance as there is liability. And sure there are still shooters out there who use film, but many have gravitated towards digital and the "darkroom" has been replaced with a computer and good software. Also, one can still be a pro photographer and *not* have a studio. Many wedding/event photogs don't have studios.

Both photography and Web design involve building up a client base. Nowadays any kid with a computer is a "designer" and many are damn good and less than half my age. Often because they are students they can undercut the working stiff who is trying to provide for a family.

Hmmm...this isn't a thread about getting rich which one won't be by doing any of those jobs. The market is competitive for both, at least in my area, but probably in other parts of the country if you work your butt off and are good, one could make good money.

What about selling on eBay as well as building affiliate/AdSense sites? There are certainly a lot of scams involving both online, however if you really know what you're doing and what to expect you can make some decent money off of either.

macdave said: It is not my entire income, but I get $200 to $400 per month doing surveys and using refferal sites. It costs me nothing but a little time.
Note: there are a lot of survey scams out there, if anyone wants you to pay them for surveys then it is a SCAM.

PineCone Research seems to be one of the legit survey sites; though their payout has decreased from $5 to $2 per 15 or 20 minute survey. What are a few others that you consider legit?

The funny thing is the fear of going solo to start your own business.
If you have a little sales skills or at least are passionate about what you do it's not hard to beat the average 40k-50k salary working for the man.

I worked full time for big companies with people I saw everyday for years that if they disappeared the next day I wouldn't really care, It is such a meaningless way to live.

I was fearful of leaving that job because of the guaranteed paycheck and the benefits.

I always kept my business ideas on the back burner and when a bunch of layoffs happened it couldn't of been at the worst time.
My wife was pregnant with our first and we just got a new house with some pretty good monthly payments.
I took the 3 month severance and started a couple business's

I never looked back and make 3 times what I used to.
I may be lucky but I honestly think anyone can do it if they have the drive.

You seriously can do anything you set your mind to. If you think making 50k a year is what you need then that's where you will be. If you think making 250k a year is where you will be then you will probably get it or close to it.

It's not as hard as people think.

Is anyone a home-based franchisee? I see there are a few out there and I'm especially interested in the DVDnow kiosk franchise. Hard to find any concrete feedback though.

Pet sitting. Just put up a web site with pictures of dogs and wait for the phone calls.

I've been living off of eBay for the last 5 years.

I sell mostly antiques. If you know antiques you can make a good living buying (or sometimes finding for free) what others know nothing about. To me it's simple, but when trying to help others learn antiques, well they just don't get it.

But this has only worked because I've been young (25 years) and single and paid for my house with cash, so my bills are pretty limited. Now that I am about to get engaged, move in with a girl, etc. it's time to prioritize things and get a 'real' job and just do eBay as a fun side project on the weekends.

SUCKISSTAPLES said: Edit: this thread is not about Making extra $$ on the side, it is about work from home jobs that make enough to stay at home instead of at an employers office

Looks like previous work from home threads have been archived. As many know from my other posts, I feel its very important to expose SCAMS pulled on unsuspecting people. The "work from home" scams are especially prevalent. Even on legitimate sites such as monster.com there will be ads for "payment processors" and the like, promising a percentage of profits for mailing payments to internaional businesses. THESE ARE SCAMS. They send you fake cashiers checks, you send out real money, and by the time your bank tells you the checks you received are fake, you lose.

Similar scams include "envelope stuffing", most MLM / network marketing programs, just about anything you need to send money for an "information package, etc.

Yahoo just posted a list of 25 LEGITIMATE work at home occupations:

 


1. Personal trainer. If you are fitness-minded, you can start your own career as a personal trainer. Check out the National Federation of Professional Trainers for information about the certification process.
2. Yoga instructor. Begin sharing your expertise with others by teaching yoga classes. There are a number of online resources, depending on the school of yoga that you practice. The Yoga Alliance Web site provides information on yoga schools, certification, insurance, and so on.
3. Tutoring. You can start a business tutoring students by advertising at schools, the local YMCA, and other places frequented by families. If you have children, talk to their teachers and determine the needs of your school district.
4. Business coaching. Have experience with management or some other specialized business skill? Share it with others by becoming a business coach. The International Coach Federation provides certification and a coach referral service for its members.
5. Consulting. If you are an expert in your industry, such as finance, marketing, or mediation, consider beginning your own consulting business.
6. Medical and legal transcription. If you have transcription skills and the necessary equipment, you can easily work from home for a variety of different companies. Check local community colleges or online for transcription training courses.
7. Medical claims billing. This industry is one of the most popular work-from-home businesses -- so much so that suspect companies have been popping up on the Internet and in classified advertisements. ELearners.com can help you locate transcription training courses online.
8. Accounting. There are many franchises and opportunities available for certified public accountants. If you are interested in getting certified, take a look at the Web site of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for information on specific state requirements.
9. Web design. If you can design quality Web sites, consider turning your skills into a home-based business. Although the software and hardware costs can be steep, good Web designers tend to be well-compensated for their efforts.
10. Desktop publishing. Do you have a creative flair for putting together brochures and newsletters? You can offer your own desktop publishing services to other small businesses. Software can be expensive, so make sure to give applications a trial run or take a course before investing in one.
11. Photography. If you are skilled with a camera, you can open your own photography studio in your home. Keep in mind that you will need space to shoot the pictures as well as a light-free space for a darkroom if you decide to process your film and print your photographs yourself.
12. Home inspection. The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors Web site provides information on becoming certified to inspect homes.
13. Remodeling. If you are a gifted carpenter or contractor, you can turn your passion into your own business. The SBA provides loans to experienced contractors looking to renovate homes or businesses in order to sell them.
14. Interior design. If you have a flair for the creative, consider interior design. The American Society of Interior Designers Web site provides resources for aspiring interior designers, including a list of each state's requirements for licensing.
15. Catering or personal chef. Consider starting your own catering or personal chef business from your own kitchen. You can set yourself apart from competitors by providing specialized services such as low-carb or vegetarian menus.
16. Gift baskets. Gift basket creation is a popular and creative home-based business. Target both individuals and businesses to increase potential sales.
17. Wedding planner. If you are an ace at organizing important events and have a Rolodex full of contacts, consider becoming a wedding planner. There are numerous online certification courses online, including one from Weddings Beautiful.
18. Personal shopper. If you are a great shopper with an eye for people's personal styles, you can offer your services to those less inclined. In addition, consider providing a gift shopping service for those too busy to shop themselves.
19. Concierge. If you have a lot of energy, a love for the mundane, and the ability to juggle multiple tasks, consider providing a personal concierge to busy business people or parents.
20. Custom jewelry creation. Designing your own custom design jewelry can be a lucrative pastime. Make sure to wear your own creations as a way to drum up business.
21. Computer repair. Are you the person everyone calls when they have a computer problem? Turn this into a business and start getting paid for fixing fatal errors. Check out Geeks on Call America and Rescuecom if you are interested in franchise opportunities.
22. Cleaning service. If you are good at cleaning, consider offering your services to others. One way to go is with a franchise. CleanNet-USA and JaniKing are two of the largest franchisers in the cleaning market.
23. Carpet cleaning service. There are many popular franchises that allow you to start your own carpet cleaning business and receive the equipment and training you need. ServiceMaster Clean and ChemDry are two of the bigger ones.
24. A riding school. If you own your own barn, land, and horses, you can open your own riding school. Equisearch.com offers resources, including some useful articles on liability issues.
25. Child-care services. Turn your expertise with children into one of the most popular home-based business opportunities.



This thread is to expose the scams and to list LEGITIMATE work at home businesses. if you work from home, please post and share with readers.

true...I work for a Photography company and we dont have a studio. its a great way to make some extra cash if you know how to take good pictures. i also do photo editing and web design from home.

macdave said: cameron2003 said: Pet sitting. Just put up a web site with pictures of dogs and wait for the phone calls.

Not a bad idea, my parents pay someone $75 per day to come over and feed and walk the dogs when they are away. I suppose it is about the same cost as taking them to a boarding place, but this way they get to stay home.

$75 a day seems high. We have been using petsitters, there is a national organization you join, which is a good thing to do, it adds credibility and exposure. I think we pay $25 per visit, visits can be once or twice a day, but we dont ask for walks. (Our dogs are big and might be too much for our rather petite petsitter). Its much better than boarding, we did that once and our dogs could not get out fast enough!

My wife like the idea of a petsitter rather than a neighborhood kid, she just thinks its more reliable. The FW inside me thinks it would be cheaper to just ask a neighbor, but I don't press this issue!

Has anyone in any of the "do it yourself" Defensive Driving states looked into instructing Defensive Driving courses?

I researched it a while ago, and it seemed like a very mimimal investment for Texas (<$500). You pay $5-8 per student to the course licenser for processing the paperwork that you generate. Income of $15-20 per student seems fairly reasonable. Here in Texas, you can hold class basically anywhere. There are tons of them that reserve the large room at a buffet or restaurant and hold class there on Saturday afternoons. Course materials are DVD's and worksheets that you get from your course licenser.

Has anyone else looked into it as an option? If so, what positives/negatives may I have missed in my research?

mychaluva said: Has anyone in any of the "do it yourself" Defensive Driving states looked into instructing Defensive Driving courses?

I researched it a while ago, and it seemed like a very mimimal investment for Texas (<$500). You pay $5-8 per student to the course licenser for processing the paperwork that you generate. Income of $15-20 per student seems fairly reasonable. Here in Texas, you can hold class basically anywhere. There are tons of them that reserve the large room at a buffet or restaurant and hold class there on Saturday afternoons. Course materials are DVD's and worksheets that you get from your course licenser.

Has anyone else looked into it as an option? If so, what positives/negatives may I have missed in my research?

One negative that I see is that you're using you car for business purposes hence insurance goes way up. With that, having to rent a place to for a presentation to a large group, and having to pay $8/student to course licenser -- how much are you looking at per hour?

kittenmittens said: bassmanben said: i'm surprised pr0n was not #1 on your list sis
I know some home-based pr0nographers, although one couple has grown so much they're looking for a permanent space to hold photo shoots and such. Their talents lie mostly in design, publishing, and writing. I've rarely met anyone in the porn industry with a high level of job satisfaction though - it's publishing (or filming or writing) the same stuff over and over again, having to interact with a markedly lonely and desperate customer base, higher merchant rates and more chargebacks, plus the disapproval of the porn elephant. The happiest people I know actually make porn aimed for women but there's not nearly so much money in that.

If you're ok with nudity but not down with porn there's also modeling for drawing and painting classes but you have to be in good enough shape to hold poses for a while which is harder than it looks. Flexible hours and you could even do it at home if you're comfortable with more informal groups, otherwise just ask around at a local college and stick to classroom settings.

Interestingly enough, a guy that lives in my complex owns a home that he rents out solely for shooting pornography, and apparently it pays for itself monthly. Yes, I also live in the pornography capital of the world....

macdave said: It is not my entire income, but I get $200 to $400 per month doing surveys and using refferal sites. It costs me nothing but a little time.
Note: there are a lot of survey scams out there, if anyone wants you to pay them for surveys then it is a SCAM.

Can you provide a list of survey sites to get someone started?

Thanks,
Fred