4. Medical Business Opportunities - In classified ads you may see a job listing for Medical Claims / Billing Processing. The marketing materials say that you can earn substantial incomes working either part-time or full-time from your own home. They also claim that you don't need to find clients, their salespeople will do selling for you. This is rarely true. The price for software, training and technical support usually goes up to $8000. The FTC claims that references that are given on start of this business opportunities are "shills" - individuals hired to give great references. So be careful.

"The Federal Trade Commission suggests that consumers follow following steps before buying into any business opportunity:

Get all earnings claims in writing.

Interview references provided by promoter of business opportunity.

Study business opportunity's franchise disclosure document.

Ask Attorney General's office, state or county consumer protection agency and Better Business Bureau in area in which business opportunity promoter is based and where you live whether promoter has a history of unresolved complaints.

If business opportunity involves selling products from well-known companies, call legal department of company whose merchandise is being promoted. Find out whether business opportunity and its promoter are affiliated with company.

Consult an attorney, accountant or other business advisor before you put any money down or sign any papers. " (FTC)

If you have already been entrapped in a scheme and you want to complain to higher authorities, complain to your state's attorney general, local Better Business Bureau, local post office, or a local consumer protection offices. Scams are illegal. You can do your part to save others from being scammed by these scammers.

The most important precautionary measure is -

1.DON'T MAIL MONEY TO ANY EMPLOYER - IT IS MOST LIKELY A SCAM.

2. DON'T SEND A SASE ENVELOPE UNLESS SENDING A RESUME AND PORTFOLIO

Article submitted by http://www.Allfreelancework.com - 1000s of freelance jobs

Health Insurance

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Life Insurance

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Home Owner's Insurance

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Advertising / Marketing

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Licenses

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Office Supplies

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Memberships

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Taxes

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Miscellaneous

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TOTAL EXPENESE

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You are going to need to guess or estimate for business expenses unless you have a full year of freelancing under your belt. Don't worry if your estimate is off, you can always readjust your budget next month. If you have been in business for more than a year, then use previous year's records to estimate this year's expenses.

In order to figure out taxes, first you need to come up with your target monthly income. Lets assume that your monthly target income is $2,500. The government wants about 45% of this money. But, this will depend on what tax bracket that you fall into and what state that you live in. Your taxes each month would be about $1,125. (When you are self-employed, you will need to pay quarterly taxes on April 15, June 15, Sep 15, and Jan 15.)

REQUIRED INCOME

After you have estimated what all of your monthly expenses will be, you need to figure out how much income you need to bring in. It is quite simple to figure this out. All that you need to do is add your target monthly income and your monthly expenses together. The number that you get is your required income. For example: If your target income is $2,500, and your monthly expense is $3,200, then your required income is $5,700.

Once you figure out how much income you are required to make to keep budget, figure out if your target income was too high or too low. Are you going to be able to make this amount of money each month? Review your numbers to assure that they match your goals.

Now you have an idea of what your cash flow should be like this year. As year goes on, you will probably readjust your budget a few times to meet new goals, increase your profit line, and anticipate problems.

Article submitted by http://www.Allfreelancework.com - 1000s of freelance jobs, articles, and resources.