If you are looking for a home based business or any other way to make money working at home, then you've likely been overwhelmed with the abundance of information. You can't search for "work at home" on the internet without being bombarded by millions of poorly worded ads - all of which claim to be the BEST work at home opportunity.

So how can you find which one is truly best for you without having to try them all? Well, there are a lot of factors, but here are some highlights for you to consider before jumping into a new business venture.

Working at home can be a great lifestyle, but it's not for everyone. Find out if it's right for you by answering the following questions:

- Are you a disciplined person (i.e. can you successfully work without supervision?)

- How much time are you willing to invest in a job/business? - Do you want to work 100% from home or would you like to work outside the home a set number of hours per week?

- How much money are you comfortable with spending to start a business?

- How much money do you expect to make from your business?

- Do you enjoy working with others or do you prefer to work alone?

Once you have the answers to these questions, you are ready to confront the mounds of advertisements for work at home opportunities. The next step is to see how well your needs and wants fit into the businesses available to you.

Before agreeing to any type of business, it's helpful to find someone who is already doing the business and ask them the following questions:

- How hours do you work each week?

- What does your average daily business routine consist of? (This will help you determine if you'd enjoy doing what they're doing.)

- What costs are involved in starting and operating the business?

- What is the product or service you sell?

- How much money can I REALISTICALLY expect to make working the number of hours you'll put in?

Now that you have your answers, you can research home business opportunities and write down the top 3 business opportunities that you think appeal to you the most. Then take your time to think it over thoroughly.

Starting a new business should never be a spontaneous decision - especially if there is a large financial investment. Take some time - at least a couple weeks! - and sincerely think about and compare each opportunity until you feel confident with the one you've chosen.

Finally, I do have a couple of words of warning for you when searching for that "golden" opportunity.

If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Whether it's a business online or a traditional offline business, all businesses require a lot of work. Anything that claims to be easy, or that reportedly doesn't require work should be quickly skipped over.

You should NEVER...I repeat NEVER have to pay someone just to receive information about a job or business opportunity.

If an advertisement seems extremely vague, it's most definitely intentional. A good number of "too good to be true" offers don't give you all the details up front because they know if they do, no one would be interested.

Most importantly, be well informed. Do not give ANYONE your hard-earned money until you have the answers to your questions and are fully confident that you're making a wise financial decision. Running your own home business can be very rewarding if you're willing to put in the necessary research to find what kind of home business fits your and your needs bests.