Your primary expense in mail-order business is advertising. Classified advertising tends to be a relatively inexpensive form of advertising with thousands of outlets available to small business owner.

WHOLESALE BUSINESS: Buy low --- sell high. You can acquire high quality, top-of-the-line merchandise for a fraction of retail cost. Starting a wholesale business would require a Wholesale Dealers Directory as your source for merchandise, such as one above or one listed here:

http://www.home-business.com/auction.html

AUCTIONS: Auctions can be an excellent source for buying cheap and selling high. Both government auctions and Internet auctions can lead to some excellent profit opportunities. Auctions are an excellent tool for both acquiring and selling merchandise.

MAKE AND SELL YOUR CRAFTS: Crafts are a hot seller at country fairs, swap meets or anyplace where people gather. Make your own crafts and sell them for a tidy profit!

SELLING INFORMATION: Selling information by mail is another good example of an inexpensive home based business start-up. One can gain resale rights to information for usually about $50 USD. Other costs will include printer cartridges, paper and postage. There are plenty of free classifieds sites on Internet, in which to successfully advertise your information.

WRITE INFORMATIONAL BOOKLETS: Write and publish your own informational booklets; sell them at a high price! All you need is a little know-how, a printer, paper and stamps. This is a GREAT home business idea! You can also sell resale rights to others, for extra profits. In this age of Internet, you may also take advantage of fact that selling information is one of most profitable endeavors one can pursue online.

OFFICE SERVICES: Offer office services for hire in your local paper. You'll be surprised at amount of regular office business that can be gleaned from one little classified ad. Word processing, typing, accounting, data entry, proofreading, transcription, promotional letters and newsletters. All these tasks can be accomplished right from your own home office.

AVON REPRESENTATIVE: Yes, Avon's been around for eternity, hasn't it? Then it's not such a bad prospect as a home based business, is it? I once knew a woman who did so much business as an Avon rep. that she had people calling her and knocking at her door wanting to order products at all hours of day and night! Once you are an established Avon representative, you, too, will turn a good profit.

CONCLUSION: On your search for ideal home based business, try not to get caught up in any scams that will run off with your money. There are thousands of scam artists out there just waiting for next sucker to come along. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Just use your good judgement and invest wisely in proven methods of earning extra income.

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- While you're in initial "What do I want to do?" stage, take MONEY out of equation. Considering money as a factor is fastest way to quash any dreams, passions or aspirations that might rise to surface. I hear this from clients all time. "Well, I have to make money. I have a mortgage to pay, kids to support. I couldn't possibly run off and write novels on beach." Yes, you need to have money. And once you've identified what you want to do, then you can find ways to make it work with your financial needs.

- Be alert for ideas that are quickly followed by "This is crazy!" Or notice yourself telling someone, "I know this sounds crazy, but...." So called "crazy" ideas are often sure signs that you're on right track, that you've uncovered an idea or value or passion that resonates deeply with you.

- Other questions: What does my gut tell me? What do I need to be honest with myself about?

Career changes are often indicators that something deeper within us is attempting to emerge, that we are ready to grow and change. Don't be surprised if a career transition or quest for one heralds changes in other parts of your life or causes you to examine them from a different perspective. For example, you may feel immense gratitude for what you have. Or you may stand up for first time and say "I'm not going to take this anymore!" Since we don't operate in a vacuum, one change will affect next. And that domino effect is often best thing that's ever happened to you.