Don't Tell Me to Sell Avon! ": Discovering Your own Home Based Business Opportunity

A Home Business Article Contributed by Brandi Brown

Creativity and the Home Based Business Opportunity

Jumping into a home based business opportunity could prove disastrous if you choose the wrong venture. Many people are simply uncomfortable with the direct sales monster - Mary Kay, Avon, Tupperware, etc. Not only are many local markets saturated, some home based entrepreneurs have no desire to be the outcast relative or friend because of the constant need to host parties and convince people to buy the products. With a little creativity, however, one can find a home based business that will suit his or her style.

Finding the Home Based Business Opportunity Niche

The first step to creating a personalized home based business opportunity is to discover a business that you will be able to stick with over the long haul. Because the business likely will encompass most of your waking hours, especially in the first few years, it is important to discover your hidden talents. Sit down and be very honest with yourself. What makes you tick? There must be something that quickens your pulse or that you enjoy but rarely allow yourself. Jot down these passions and consider if they could be turned into a business.

For example, if it scares you that your children could ingest dangerous chemicals in your household soap, you could consider starting your own line of non-toxic homemade soaps. If split infinitives and dangling participles force you to seek out the closest red pen, consider a proofreading or word processing service. Both of these ventures would work for a home based business. In this stage, forget about marketing and pricing and the other ins and outs of businesses. Instead, consider only your interests, talents, and passions.

After you have come up with a couple of good ideas, sit on them. The budding entrepreneur or the mom who wants to work at home to be with her children will have a very hard time sitting on the ideas. Remember, though, that the fire you feel about starting your own online bookstore because you love to read may subside after a few days. Give it a week. Consider every home based business opportunity you listed in phase one.

Then, narrow down your choices to the two or three options that are most pleasing after a week. Move on to phase two of discovering your perfect niche in the work at home world.

Basic Research on a Home Based Business Opportunity

Spend some time over the next few days with pen and paper in hand - and Internet connected. Look online for communities of home-based entrepreneurs. Find out what these people have to say about your ideas. Also, spend some time looking for the exact type of business you are proposing. For example, if you went with proofreading and editing as a home based business opportunity, search for these services online to determine how much other people charge and compare your qualifications to theirs

Consider basic business questions. Can you compete? Is the market saturated? Does this still seem like a viable home based business opportunity?

Once you have explored these questions, spend an hour or two with each option still on your list. Begin to create an informal business plan addressing how you would market yourself, what sets you apart, the fees you could reasonably expect to earn, and other factors. Back to our editing example, consider whether there are local, offline sources, such as colleges or job service centers, where you could drum up business.

At the end of the brainstorming session, one home based business opportunity should emerge for you. If not, have a trusted friend or family member look over the list. Determine which plan is most feasible, and then voila! You have discovered your home based business opportunity without having to approach your friends with a catalog or trunk full of products!