If you are like most, at one time or another, you have thought about working from home. It may be in the car on your long commute or while you were seeking daycare for your kids. It may have also just been some thought you had while you working in your office, for someone else. Working from home is great, but there are some things to consider before you decide to stay in your pajamas and run your business.

As an attraction marketing and home business coach, I spend a lot of time each week speaking with others who are looking for work from home opportunities. These home based business opportunities have many incentives, such as an ability to set your own hours, work around school schedules, and of the course the biggest, you get to be your own boss. Owning a home business also has many financial advantages, such as significant tax incentives, low or no overhead, and an ability to earn a substantial income either full or part-time.

As you consider your alternatives, there are two major work from home businesses: 1) a work from home opportunity; and 2) a work from home job. Many are not clear on these two distinctions, and it is important to know that they are very different.

The first is considered home business opportunity, in which you own. Most often, this type of business is a network marketing or MLM opportunity. This is a fantastic business model, and will allow you to have unlimited earning based on your performance. MLM’s can often be started with a minimal investment, and there are many opportunities to be mentored by more senior distributors in the organization. The best part about MLM businesses is that your work from home opportunity has a residual income, meaning you will be paid on reoccurring sales in your organization. You will also be compensated on the efforts of your team, without any of the problems associated with having employees.

Home business opportunities can range in cost from about $35 to a few thousand depending on the company. Before you become a distributor, evaluate the reputation of the company and the quality of the products. While some may make a choice based on the cost, this is not the best measure of the value of the opportunity. Other factors to consider is how much access your will have to team for support, and the monthly requirements of your distributorship. Some opportunities require very large monthly auto orders despite the low initial start-up costs. Some home business opportunities will require their distributors to warehouse and even deliver products to customers. I have heard many horror stories about people who quit opportunities, and have to sell their surplus products at a garage sale. As a coach, I generally advise my clients to really consider these options before making a commitment. There are many factors to consider, and seeking the support of a mentor will help you make a good decision.

Work from home jobs are very different, in that you will be employed to work for another business. While some larger companies have some work from home positions, many work from home jobs are freelance: such as writers, virtual assistants, editors, and even telemarketers. A number of positions will allow you to work your own schedule, and be paid per hour or project. While some of these positions will pay well ($10-50 per hour), you will generally be trading your time for income and if you do not work, you will not be paid. Additionally, as a contract employee you may find yourself without income between projects.

As with any important decision, it is important to treat your work at home business like a business. You must be self-motivated, and organize your schedule to be productive. The home environment can produce many distractions and it is easy to read the mail, watch TV, and even complete household chores instead of working. Finding something to do other than work is easy, and you must hold yourself accountable. Starting a work at home business is like going to college; you can skip classes, and no one is going to care. Like college if you skip out on your work assignments you will fail. However, if you can maintain your personal motivation the rewards are huge, both personally and financially. Do you have what it takes to work from home?

Jeramy Colvin is an Attraction Marketing coach who specializes individuals set up successful MLM businesses. You can read more great tips, insights, and suggestions by visiting his blog site. If you would like to learn how you can brand your business online with his simple system, click here to learn how to Conquer Internet Marketing.