It's A Trend Blame the technology or whatever, but confidence is running high for homebased business owners.

You'd think that with all their newfound personal andprofessional freedom, homebased entrepreneurs might be moreoptimistic than office dwellers. Not so, according to a recentsurvey on small businesses. Some 65 percent of homebased businessowners were optimistic about the economy vs. 74 percent of theirnonhomebased counterparts, according to the 18th annual Dun &Bradstreet Small-Business Survey. Similarly, some 57 percent and 55percent of homebased business owners anticipated revenue andprofits, respectively, to grow in the future, compared to some 72percent and 67 percent of nonhomebased business owners. The firminterviewed 649 owners and key decision-makers of companies withone to 100 employees in February 1999.

Such results are surprising, says Gloria Donaldson, principaland president of The Reed Organization, a corporate managementpsychology firm based in Oak Park, Illinois. Homebased businessowners are typically a contented and empowered lot, especiallyduring the "honeymoon" period of the first 12 to 24months after launching their enterprise, Donaldson reasons. Oncethey get over the isolation and loss of camaraderie and kinship ofthe traditional workplace, at-home workers--including entrepreneursand teleworkers--often find balance and satisfaction working fromhome. "For the most part, they're very happy," shesays.

Still, Donaldson understands the sense of anxiety. She pointsout that, whereas corporate employees don't have to worry aboutnew business development or other corporate machinations,there's more chances for something to go wrong in a homebasedbusiness, where there's no cushion." But Donaldson stillbelieves at-home entrepreneurs are, by nature, familiar with takingchances--and possess the optimism required to win."They're confident," she says, "that they canand will succeed."