Buyer, Beware

So you're looking for a way to work at home without investing a large sum of money? You might be attracted to one of the many advertisements offering low-cost work-at-home or money-making opportunities: stuffing envelopes, assembling products, reading books or watching television for pay.

Advertisements tout these opportunities as flexible and easy to start. They claim you can work full time or part time; costs to get into the business are generally quite low; and the work requires minimal training or experience. What's more, advertisements promise alluring financial rewards in minimal time.

Sound too good to be true? It might be. Some opportunities deliver what they promise--but others promise one thing and deliver another. Rather than reap fabulous earnings, purchasers are stuck with products they can't sell, services for which there's no market, or training that doesn't open doors to business contracts. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself.

This article was originally published in the December 1998 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Buyer, Beware.