Industry analysis indicates that the sales of cosmetics and toiletries in the U.S. are expected to sustain a steady increase of 5-6% until at least 2010, when annual sales will top $7.6 billion. That forecast makes for optimal conditions for starting up a cosmetic business that can be run from your home.

At present, just over 50% of cosmetic and toiletry items are sold by major retailers or chains. The rest are divided amongst various beauty product specific companies as well as many independent businesses.

The very size of the market, allows for either concentrating on a particular area, or selecting several target consumers such as make-up for teens, women, those who have specific conditions, products for men, as well as natural beauty products for the health-conscious.

In operating a home business, you will need to first study the market and potential clientele in your area, and whether you want to supplement those sales with an Internet presence. You can find information not only in your local area but also by doing research online. The next choice is whether to run a business entirely on your own, including investing your own funds in stocks and sales tools, or becoming part of an established company of good reputation for their products and how they treat both customers and sales consultants.

Investigate these companies thoroughly and ensure you are happy with the products, requirements, services and have checked out their background. They may have a sales quota requirement that must be met regardless of the time of year, when by its nature, cosmetics tend to be high sellers for major gift-giving occasions so be sure to check those as well.

The cosmetics business is not one that waxes and wanes with trends, although it can be cyclical in nature as to what products, i.e. perfume, soaps, lotions, are the biggest current sellers.