If the idea of writing up a business plan and going down to the local branch of the big bank has you scared, you are not alone. As a matter of fact, those who want to work from home, business entrepreneurs, and hobbyists who are ready to take their leisure pursuit and turn it into something profitable almost always see the bank and a loan to get started as something that the ?other guys? do. More often than not, the average home based small business gets started with little cash, a lot of sweat equity, personal ingenuity, and the goodwill of friends, family, and neighbors.

When you are ready to work from home ? business ideas that get you started on a shoestring budget are actually quite simple!

* Take for example the fact that any time you work out of your own home you are saving money! That's right, if you have a dedicated space in your home that you utilize exclusively for your business and anything related thereto, you will be able to write off that portion on your income taxes, thus you will be receiving money rather than spending it.

* If you have a hobby that you are translating into a business, do not worry about upgrading your equipment. For example, if you are writer who enjoys writing articles and posting them on a number of sites, you will be able to continue to do so with the same equipment you have been using thus far ? except, when you find a paying market, you will earn money for your submissions. As you expand your writing efforts and sell more of your work, you will be able to use these profits to upgrade your equipment, in this case your computer and also Internet connection. No up front expense is required!

* Advertising is frequently a highly expensive undertaking and anyone who has ever contacted any ad agency to talk about even online marketing knows how many dollar signs suddenly enter the conversation. As you work from home, business consultants know that you will not have the up front funds to engage in big ad campaigns, and thus the suggestions are always to start out small. For example, if you bake dog biscuits you could simply create some fliers with your computer and print them up, then hand them out at the vet's office, groomer's parlor, and other areas where dog lovers congregate. As you get more sales, you will be able to expand your advertising to include professionals ads in papers, the phone book, and online.

* Last but not least, consider the power of the bloggosphere. Blogging is becoming a hugely popular medium for those who like to rant, discuss, and share their thoughts, and there is nothing wrong with blogging about your business, your woes, triumphs, and other experiences, and at the same time go ahead and promote your work from home business!

Resist the urge to have free business cards printed up that carry another logo on the back. Whenever you hand out a business card it needs to be professional and should adequately represent your seriousness to remain in business. If all else fails, make up your own business card on your computer and use card stock to print them.