1. In the next 1 hour, 327 new home based businesses will start up.

2. Home-based businesses rake in more than $427 billion/yr. That's more than GM, Ford and Chrysler all put together!

3. A home based business is two and a half times more likely to succeed than a regular type of business.(Home-Based Business Institute)

4. 70% of home-based businesses are women owned and operated. This affords many working mothers the advantage of caring for their young children while earning a living.

5. Average income for profitable home based businesses is $63,000 a year. And more than 20,000 home based business owners in the US earn more than a million dollars a year from a home based setting!

But why the popularity of the home based business model? The above income figures are a part of the reason but there is much more behind this search for a legitimate home based business...

The fact is that job satisfaction and employment security are fast disappearing in this competitive world economy. As a result,many turn to working from home.

Many of us watch helplessly as gas prices skyrocket making daily travel to work more and more expensive. Increasing traffic congestion and longer commutes only add to the frustration.

Working two or even three jobs has become the norm these days as inflation eats away at the paycheck of many families. In the struggle to make ends meet, working couples spend less and less time together and with young children at the most critical time in their lives. It is not surprising that a growing number of individuals are searching for a legitimate home based business.

Therefore, a legitimate home based business opportunity promises to give people more control over their life, greater financial stability and a chance for more happiness.

But are there fool-proof ways to select a legitimate home based business? And how can you avoid being scammed?

Perhaps you've already seen some of the hype, unrealistic promises and downright scams just like in any other business. Don't let this discourage you in your search.

Here are 8 practical suggestions that will help you to find a legitimate home based business:

1. Any promise of riches without work is a dead give-away. Run the other way! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

2. Average income in a legitimate home based business can be high and with some opportunities, you may continue to receive recurring payments on the same customer. This residual income allows you to lessen your effort as the business is established.

3. Customers are the life-blood of your business. No customers=no sales=no money! Therefore any legitimate home based business must have a reliable way to drive lots of targeted traffic to your web site or wherever your product is displayed.

4. Some direct marketing companies will encourage you to sell to family and friends and that's fine if they need your products and want to buy. But if that's your only source of customers your business will not last and neither will those friendships.

5. A legitimate home based business is more than just a good product. It's more than just a good marketing plan.

For a home based business opportunity to qualify as legitimate, it must have all the necessary parts functioning together so you can fulfill your financial dreams.

6. Your time and money are precious so avoid waste... Don't reinvent the wheel. Instead find a reputable company with all the pieces already in place and buy into their proven program.

7. To be worth your while, profit margins should be 50%-75% or more. Some programs offer 100% pay-out. Good training and support will eliminate frustration and discouragement.

8. The program should leverage the power of the Internet to bring you sales 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year. But the company should not require you to buy high priced leads from them. Instead they should show you how to generate your own leads at a very low cost, including the use of free advertising methods now widely available on the Internet.

It is therefore clear that you can find a legitimate home based business opportunity that will enable you to solve your financial problems and take control of your life.