Free Startup Home Based Business - or is That Too Good to be True??

With unemployment on the rise and corporate layoffs on the increase, thousands are turning to the internet and network marketing in search of an answer to their financial needs. Many are looking for free startup home based business opportunities or low cost investment opportunities.

Because of all the ads online about free to get started - make millions while you sleep.. opportunities, that turn out to be nothing but scams, many get frustrated and give up in their search before they find the answer they were looking for.

Bottom line is simply that nothing worth having is completely free, especially in the home based business arena. There will always be an investment of some sort. In most cases, you simply have to invest money to make money, regardless if it is in an online business or offline. But in some online business opportunities you may be able to invest your time instead on money.

Let me explain how the internet and network marketing works for the most part, in plain and simple language. =)

Many companies are turning to network marketing as it saves them a tremendous amount of money in advertising expenses. Instead of paying thousands of dollars in advertising they can pay out commissions to people that are working from home and networking for them, moving any kind of products or services. Usually they will pay a commission on what is sold and then they will also pay you for bringing others into the business - as the more people they have marketing their products, the more money they will make as well... It is a win-win situation for both sides.

For instance, a skin care company may pay you anywhere from 3% - 25% on anything you market as a retail sale and then they may pay you anywhere from $30 - $100 for each person that you bring on board as a business partner PLUS you will also make a commission of what they sell... if it is set up as mlm or multi level marketing.

Or if it is a non mlm marketing plan, usually you are able to make a bigger profit off both the retail sales and also business partners... in both marketing plans you will be marketing and advertising your business and / or products and getting paid on your efforts and also the efforts of your business partners.

There is an amazing leverage ability with the internet and network marketing. Unlike a traditional business where you are the one that is putting in all the sweat to get your business up and running and also to get any employees trained to do things the way you want to... with most online home based businesses there is a marketing plan in place that leverages everyone's time and efforts, creating huge success for anyone with motivation and a desire to succeed.

When you come across a free startup home based business, and it is not a scam... (most of them are!)... then what you would be doing is exchanging a lot of time in placing ads online or offline, for a very minimal commission. The lower the investment - the lower the commission or profit margin in most cases.

When we start looking at home business opportunities, we need to put on a 'businessman thinking cap' in a way as in order to make a business income, we need to operate in a business mindset. It is hard for a lot of people to achieve that mindset, especially if they have been an employee for many years. The common statement we hear is that " You should not have to pay for a job..." and you are right - but what exactly are you looking for?

An online 'job' or an online business opportunity where you can be in charge of your finances, and change the course of your financial future. A free work from home opportunity may put gas in your car for a week or put a few bucks in your pocket but it will rarely pay your bills and help you get ahead in life.

There is no silver bullet to success in the home based business industry. It is in fact creating more millionaires today than ever before but it is being done by people that took the risk of investing into a small business of some sort and I dare say, that very few were free startup home based businesses or free working form home opportunities!