10 Tips for Avoiding Home Business Scams

by Lesley Spencer, MSc; Founder & President HBWM.com Inc.

Starting a home business has become a wonderful and attractive alternative for parents across the country. With the advent of the Internet, email and cell phones, working at home has been a very viable option. No other alternative allows parents the opportunity to create their own hours and work around their children's schedules while earning an income. But before investing in any home business opportunity, it is wise to take appropriate steps to research the opportunity and the company. Unfortunately, there are deceitful businesses ready to take advantage of parent's deep desire to be at home with their children. These steps will help you to avoid potential problems:

1. Research the company and always check them out with the Better Business Bureau (http://search.bbb.org/search.html) located in their city.

2. Ask for at least three references of people they have worked with. Call each person and ask about his or her experiences with the company.

3. Be cautious of any company that asks for money for a work-at-home job

4. Don't be fooled by ads claiming you can make large amounts of money in short periods of time. And be cautious of companies that require you to sign up immediately. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

5. Avoid those