Olympic Home Based Business Association
A World Wide Community Supporting Independence and Success

Avoiding the Sharks

When people think of starting their own business, they are full of hope, and looking to finally break out and become wealthy, or at least independent. This same great motivation also makes them easy prey for the sharks and scam artists.

The business magazines, direct mail and websites are full of these predators, offering you big money for little work. "Get Rich Quick!" they shout. "Big money stuffing envelopes." "Secret details revealed for ...." "Hi, my name is David Rhodes. In September my car was repossessed and..."

Warning signs:

  • They don't tell what the "opportunity" is in the ad.
  • They want you to invest money in order to get into the "program"
  • Their offer seems too good to be true.
  • They say there is no selling involved.
  • You don't know anybody personally who has made money doing this.
  • Anytime you are not sure

What is the solution? Mostly it is being very careful. Almost every business works basically the same, and they all require marketing or selling in some way. Good advice on starting a business is available from many sources - the library, the SBA, your local college, the Olympic Home Based Business Association, or your local home based business association. There are also a number of resources on the World Wide Web, including one of our members Biz$hop. Be sure to ask several other home based business owners and other respected sources (Small Business Association, Chamber of Commerce, etc) what they think of any plan you are considering.

That's the only way we can keep the sharks at bay - through knowledge.

One of the best sources is to ask us! The Olympic Home Based Business Association is dedicated to keeping the sharks from preying on our members, and so we maintain a business lending library, a complete-as-we-can-keep-up scam expose horror file, and offers free advice to members. Before you get into the waters, you ought to join us