It seems like, nowadays, everyone is looking for an opportunity to make some extra money and work from home. There are a variety of ways to do this but because home-based businesses can be both lucrative and flexible, more people are looking into starting a home-based business than ever. So, how do you figure out how to distinguish a good, legitimate business from an unscrupulous one? Before you find out the hard way and lose money, here are a couple of tips on how to weed out the bad companies a focus on the good ones:

Be sure to research the company you are interested in on-line. Google the company CEO. Check into any background info you need about the company, when was it started, what products do they offer, etc.
Is this company and their product something you can stand behind? Can you promote this company with no reservations?
What kind of training do they offer? Is it live or is it archived? Will you get a mentor/coach? Will there be a person you can speak with when you have questions or do you just pay for the program and never hear from anyone again? This is important! You want to be sure that there will be sufficient help available to you when you need it.
Check out their compensation plan. Is it confusing? Is it straightforward and understandable? Will there be significant compensation? Will the compensation adequately pay for your time and efforts?
How much time before you can be up and running and making money? How much of a learning curve is there?
Be sure you have the ability to successfully market your business! Many people will fail at their own venture, simply because they don’t have the tools to successfully market and promote their own products.
Go to the various complaint boards on-line. This is where you will find the best information as to which companies are legitimate and which companies you should avoid. These complaints are written first-hand by consumers who have had bad to very bad experiences.
The best common-sense tip I can give you is to run away from ANY business that advertises “get rich quick” or “you could make millions in days” or “get rich with no investment.” Any business making these claims is not going to be legitimate. Remember what your mother used to tell you? “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.” You work hard for the money you have, so protect it and don’t give it away to someone claiming high profits with no risk and little to no effort on your part.There is going to be a cost involved, even with a legitimate home-based business. You will be purchasing a product or program and training. Some work from home businesses have a small initial outlay, and some cost more. Some also have on-going costs associated with them, such as monthly fees, etc. It is important to factor these extra costs in to your bottom line.With these tips in mind, do your research, compile the information you’ve gathered, determine which type of work from home business you want to go with and how much you are willing to spend to get started, and then prepare to be a home-based business owner. Your earning potential is truly in your own hands at this point!