What Is The Difference Between A Home Based Business And A Home Based Job

As a home business entrepreneur who is primarily involved with a program wherein I sponsor Affiliates in a downline, I often find that I am the recipient of emails from new enrollees who are clearly confused on several fronts. Commonly received initial emails consist of questions such as “When do I start my assignment” and “What is my position in your company” Somehow, these individuals are under the mistaken notion that by registering for a home business program, they have been hired by a company and are embarking on some sort of non-existent home based career.

It is apparent that a fairly generalized confusion exists among people desiring to work at home between a work at home job and a work at home business. Further, it seems apparent that individuals are not thoroughly researching an entity’s background, specifications, and compensation PRIOR to enrolling. Therefore, it is the goal of this article to define a home based job, a home based business, and to outline the differences between the two so that those desiring to work at home may make informed choices prior to clicking on enrollment forms online.

Despite the national trend of allowing more and more people to tele-commute rather than spending 40 hours per week at a desk on site at a given company, demand for home based or tele-commuting jobs staggeringly outstrips the supply and landing a home based job with a consistent paycheck as an employee is in reality quite hard to land. Further, tele-commuting or home based jobs rarely allow for working solely at home 100% of the time. Generally, some “on site” time away from home will nearly universally be required. The best way to search for tele-commuting jobs is to directly inquire about tele-commuting opportunities in ones geographic locale. A formal employment application process, interview, and resume will certainly be required to procure a tele-commuting job.

Midway between a tele-commuting position as described above and home business entrepreneurship is freelancing. If one has a highly developed and marketable skill such as typing particularly specialized typing such as medical transcribing, or legal document preparation, bookkeeping, data entry skills, or other highly developed specific knowledge that is in demand, it is possible to match oneself up with companies needing ones skills. One can generally compete with other Freelancers and bid “per piece” or “per project”. A company will generally select the most reasonably priced and highly skilled bidder and pay them per the pre-arranged terms at project completion.

A home based business is by definition ones self creation or in essence “giving birth” to sole ownership and development of ones own entity. Home business entrepreneurship involves designing and developing a new business from scratch where the home business entrepreneur is responsible for their own expenses and supervision and where pay is nearly universally 100 commission based. If one does not have specific skills, education, or a product to sell, home business ownership is still possible and indeed can provide a lucrative income if approached in a strategic and well-researched manner. Well-established companies that are recognized by the Better Business Bureau exist. Programs to seek out would be those offering free sign-up, an array of quality products that are in demand, free training, and access to “live” mentors.

In summary, tele-commuting salaried jobs do exist but the competition is fierce for these positions. Freelancers with highly specific skills can often work from home by bidding and being paid for individual projects. Finally, home business ownership is open to all, regardless of skill level or educational background and no formal application process is required. Home business ownership offers unlimited potential return, yet requires research, strategy, and the willingness to carefully invest some money for promotion in order to develop a solid and ongoing return.