In the grand spirit of rising above the rest, we embark on these quests for the holy grail of existence, the home-based business. Why? For many it is the idea that you can be your own boss, make tons of money and set your own hours. Being your own boss has its perks to be sure but is it really for everyone? Making tons of money? Well, that will depend on a lot of factors, most of which you will have no control over. Set your own hours? Well, at first you will do well to spend all of your available hours on this new venture.

In all the years that I have been involved in home-based businesses I can tell you that being your own boss is way overrated. You see being your own boss means there is no buffer between you and your debtors, customers and most importantly the myriad of legal obligations a business ensues. Consider being your own boss equal to standing alone rather than in a crowd. You make a much easier target in this respect.

Making tons of money sounds wonderful and there are plenty of people out there who will tell you about the vast fortunes that have been made on the internet and how much more there is available to those who would embark on this life of leisure. Unfortunately, the only people who seem to be making these vast fortunes are those who would tell you how to make these vast fortunes, for a fee of course. I have even seen ads from individuals who will tell you how to sell to others on the notion of making vast fortunes, again for a fee. It is at this point that you will want to do some serious research into what constitutes a viable business. Your pursuits will be rewarded for time spent up front making sure you are not chasing rainbows as it were.

Setting your own hours is wonderfully vague and arbitrary. Have you ever head the saying, you get out of something what you put into it? Nothing truer has ever been said regarding the home based business. You will see all kinds of ads promising 2 - 3 hours a day is all you need to spend to acquire vast wealth and have plenty of time to enjoy it. Unfortunately, unless you are acquiring an existing business this may be a slight exaggeration. Setting your own hours will come in time but in order to establish a thriving business I would plan to spend as many hours as you can afford. You will find that meals and sleep are luxuries and not nearly as required as you might believe.

Embarking on the pursuit of a home based business is a noble endeavor indeed. However, in order to have a chance at the riches so promised, do your research and make sure you are not taken in by the empty promises of charlatans, thieves and conmen of all sorts. You will indeed be your own boss since you will be a company of one, you will not make a lot at first to be sure and you will spend more time than you can imagine but the end result can be vastly more rewarding if you proceed with the right amount of fervor, excitement and realism.

No one can tell you what business you will be suited so take the time to set goals, keep records of your achievements and progress and heed the advice of those who have gone before you, both successfully and not so successful. Even the darkest failure can teach you what not to do.