Home based business scams appear to be running rampant today. Baby boomers are not alone in their fear of getting “scammed.” Most people are wary of this today. And they should be to an extent. It’s important to look into any opportunity you are considering getting involved in.
It’s a fact that they are a lot of home based business scams out there. Unfortunately, during hard economic times, when people are vulnerable, you see many scams popping up. But you should not avoid the whole home business arena just because of some scams. Remember the term, “don’t throw the baby out with the bath water?”
So, what’s a baby boomer to do? The good news is that there are several precautions you can take to avoid the scams.
First, do not pay for a job. I remember I went through an employment agency to land my first full-time job. I had to pay the agency a fee to find me the job. That was a legitimate fee. It is similar to telecommuting sites that require you pay a membership fee to have access to their job listings. Also a legitimate fee. However, you should avoid any specific company that requires you pay them before they send you work.
Secondly, the old adage of “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” holds true for home based/internet businesses. You should avoid the business ads that tell you that you can earn tons of money for very little work. You know the ones – there are pictures of beaches and luxury cars on them, giving you the impression that you can earn a huge amount of money while sitting on the beach or driving around in your Ferrari.
Work is not a bad thing, and you will need to work to earn money. Not sixteen hours a day, but be prepared to work a good amount of hours consistently. The great thing about running a home based business is that the hours you work are flexible and can usually be scheduled around your other responsibilities.
Another legitimate type of fee is charged to become a distributor when joining a direct sales company. This normally allows you the right to sell their products, as well as gives you some sample products to test out and show to potential customers.
When joining a direct sales or network marketing company, really do your homework. Investigate:
- What the product is and how easily it sells (make sure there IS a product and that it is the focus of the business)
- How you will earn money
- Any monthly/quarterly minimums or quotas to meet
- Any hidden costs – either monthly, annually, etc.
- Do they have a good rating with the Better Business Bureau?
- Talk to other people in the company – current and past (if possible) – ask for positive/negative feedback about the company and product
With careful analysis and doing your research, you CAN avoid the home based business scams and enjoy the flexibility and freedom of owning your own business.
Laurie Neumann
