The key to finding the perfect home-based business is to find one that you are going to LOVE working at! Liz Folger shares advice and ideas on how to find the right business.

by Liz Folger

I talk to mothers on a daily basis who all say the same thing. "I'd love to work from home, but I haven't a clue what type of business I want to start." And I'll admit it, that's pretty much how I felt about five years ago. The only thing I did know was that I wanted the chance to raise my kids myself and start some sort of business from home.

With the experience I've gained in the last few years, I've found the key to finding the perfect business for each individual--male or female--is to find one they are going to LOVE working at.

Every person reading this article was born with a special gift that could be used to start a home business. You are all naturally gifted in an area. Once you discover that gift, you will be able to discover the best business for your personality--so that when you wake up in the morning you'll say to yourself, "Yes! I get to work today!" You'll feel like that is what you were born to do. It's a part of you--it's what makes you tick.

Now lets figure out the best home-based biz for you.

What are your interests?

What types of things do you enjoy doing. Yes, you can love your job! Everyone is born with a special talent that sets them apart from others. Your job is to figure out what that talent is and find a way to turn it into a business. One lady I profiled in my book, "The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To Making Money," had always loved horses. When she was younger she didn't have a horse of her own. So she would groom and feed other people's just for the chance to ride. Now that she is an adult she has turned that interest into a pet sitting business. While she takes care of the smaller critters, she has niched herself in the area of horse care.

What are your hobbies?

Is your hobby candle making, painting portraits, herb gardening...? These are all great home businesses just waiting to happen. And you don't necessarily have to produce these items to make money. Maybe you could start a newsletter on the subject of your hobby for others just like you. Or maybe you could start to sell supplies for other hobbyists or businesses. Maybe you could write a book on the subject. Once you start brainstorming, you'll be surprised at all the ideas you will come up with.

You're producing a service or product for your friends and family for free already.

I talk with people all the time who say their family or friends are always coming to them because they are great at creating a resume or they can really put a nice bouquet a flowers together for special events (floral designer). These are all great ideas for a home business.

Go with what you already know a lot about.

Maybe you enjoyed your work outside the home but still want to be home with your kids. Use your previous skills to get your business started. Teachers become tutors, secretaries become word processors, and graphic artists become--graphic artists. The same can go for architects, photographers, and transcriptionists--both legal and medical.

AVOID SCAMS

One way I do not recommend to find a home biz is to send "just $19.95 and I'll show you how you can make hundreds of dollars a week in the comfort of your home." These are all big time scams. Don't even mess with them. If any ad states easy money, no experience necessary, guaranteed success, lots of capitalization and exclamation marks, that is a scam! Or if you are talking with a sales person for a business opportunity and they force you to make a decision on the spot and it's almost like they are making you feel stupid if you say no, tell them to get lost and get out of that situation as fast as you can.

Usually the key to unlocking the mystery of what home business to start is right inside of you. This search is not a quick one, however. Take the time to rediscover your interests and don't be afraid to start a business in the area you really enjoy.

Liz Folger is Work-at-Home Mom Expert and author of, "The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide To Making Money" available at your favorite bookstore or by calling, 800-632-8676. Liz has also created a resource site for work-at-home moms at: https://www.bizymoms.com. Don't forget to sign-up for the free e-newsletter.

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