Looking for a legitimate work at home business has been compared to looking for a needle in a haystack. Now while I will admit that it can be a little time consuming finding that perfect business opportunity that meets all your personal needs and is indeed genuine, there are in fact many legitimate work at home businesses to choose from. You just have to know what to look for.

First off, what constitutes as a scam? A scam is when you are promised one thing and receive something different or nothing at all. Unfortunately, broken promises do not mean you have been scammed. If they company claims that you can make 500 dollars or more and you dont but they provided you with the tools needed to do the job then they are still considered a legitimate work at home business.

The problem lies with people looking for jobs rather than a business. If its 9-5 security youre looking for then the internet is the last place you should look. The only way working from home can offer security is if youre on someone else payroll.

But the internet is known for easy business set ups and the cold truth is that all businesses are gambles. You have be prepared to invest and you have to be prepared to take some loses.

That said some businesses are less of a gamble than others. These are what work at home agents deem as a legitimate work at home business. These businesses have the following qualities.

1) They layout what the business entails. Legitimate work at home businesses have clearly drawn out instructions of the tasks you will need to perform. Whether its selling a product or service, data entry, or proofing material, the company is clear about what you need to do to make money.

This is to ensure that they attract people who are interested in that type of work. Always find out what you will be doing and if in fact its something youre qualified for or are willing to put the hours in to learn.

2) All credible businesses will provide you with at least 2 forms of contact. Look around for an email address, business address, phone number, anything you can use to get in touch with a real person. Keep in mind however, that while having multiple methods of contact is a good thing, having too many email addresses or phone numbers is a warning sign.

Scam artists will often provide people with false numbers or email address making the prospect have to go one a wild goose chase in order to find them. If the site has more than 3 different email addresses with different hosts continue your search for a legitimate work at home business.

3) Mentoring is another important requirement for a legitimate work at home job. And this is why being able to contact someone is so important. If you cant get in touch with a real person for help, the chances of succeeding are slim. Mentoring and assistance is essential for the success of your business. You need to be able to properly understand the work at home job if you are to be proficient in it. Resources such as forums, books, a personal mentor and email updates are usually provided by legitimate work at home companies.

4) Perhaps one of the best ways to judge if in fact the home based business is a good match for you is by personally researching the company. What are other people saying about it? How long has it been around, and what is its success rate? Generally, a legitimate work at home business has good reviews but dont be taken away by this. Find out the good and the bad. Remember, no company is perfect and you want to find out if the pros outweigh the cons for you.

Finding a legitimate work at home business can seem daunting but they are out there. Look for companies who have the above qualities and be realistic in what you are looking for in a legitimate work at home opportunity.