Promises of a big income by working from home, especially when the “opportunity” involves an up-front fee or divulging your credit card information, should make you suspicious. It doesn’t matter if the ad is placed in a trusted newspaper or website—or if the people you talk to on the phone sound legitimate. The situation demands both research and skepticism.

Get it in Writing
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says legitimate work-at-home program sponsors should tell you-in writing-what’s involved in the program they’re selling. Here are some questions to ask:

• What tasks will I have to perform? Ask the program sponsor to list every step of the job.
• Will I be paid a salary or will I be paid on commission?
• What is the basis for your claims about my likely earnings? What evidence can you show me to prove your claims are true before I give you any money?
• Who will pay me?
• When will I get my first paycheck?
• What is the total cost of this work-at-home program, including supplies, equipment and membership fees?
• What will I get for my money?

Scams to Avoid
Here are some examples of work-at-home schemes to avoid:

Envelope Stuffing. For a “small” fee, the ad says, you’ll learn how to earn lots of money stuffing envelopes at home. But once you pay, you find out the promoter never had any work to offer.

Online Searches. The ad on the website says you can earn as much as $7,000 a month running Internet searches on prominent search engines and filling out forms. Unfortunately, scammers are just trying to trick you into handing over your credit or debit card information.

Medical Billing. The ads may lure you with promises of full- or part-time work processing medical claims. However, when you call, you are told that a significant investment is required.

To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit http://www.ftc.gov.

Of course, this room is also in your house, so you want to make sure it looks good in case you have customers stop by, or if friends or relatives stay over.

Setting up your office so that it is functional and looks nice is important, but because you’ll be spending a lot of time in there, you should make it comfortable as well. Here are some tips on how to make your home office functional, yet fun and stylish.

If you have young children at home, designating your office separate from the rest of your house with a closed door, or a standing partition, can help your children learn that you are “at work” and not to be disturbed unless they have an emergency. If you plan to use your office space for family business as well after work hours are over, consider making a sign indicating you are busy working to hang on the door or partition.

Your desk probably will be where you spend the majority of time in your home office, which means you need it to match your style perfectly. Your office chair needs to be comfortable, but you also want it to match the decor as well. You can choose a HON Volt or HON Ignition chair, picking from over 30 different fabrics and colors, allowing you to match your decorating scheme and comfort levels. Visit http://www.officedepot.com/customdesign to see how a HON chair can enhance your home office space.

Decorate your office in colors and materials that will help keep you operating efficiently, but also allow you to enjoy the time you spend working. For example, yellow is considered to be a stimulating color, orange encourages creativity and green provides a calming influence. Depending on the energy level you would like to have in your office, consider using file folders, binders, pictures and wall paint to bring colors into your office that would enhance your professional emotions and behaviors.

Keeping your home office picked up is key, especially if you pace while talking on the phone or while brainstorming a business idea. Make sure all your electronic cords are bundled and tucked away under your desk so you aren’t tripping over them while chatting with a client on the phone.

Get organized with a cubby hole or filing drawer system, which will help keep the paperwork off your home office desk area and also help you find filed information quickly and easily if you were to have a customer catch you by surprise on the phone. These items are available at office supplies store such as Office Depot.

As you get your company up and running in your home office, don’t forget to add little personal touches to make it feel even more comfortable. After all, you might be spending a lot of time in your office, so there’s nothing wrong with having inspirational photos or a desk plant or two to provide you with the pleasant atmosphere you need to get your work done.

There are many ways to get in on this growing opportunity to become an entrepreneur-and a surprising reason.

Doing Well And Doing Good
In some cases, you can not only make money, set your own hours and maintain your independence, you can help others as well. That’s because of another trend in business: the emergence of entrepreneurs taking social responsibility to new levels. These forward-thinking business owners have woven the concept of “giving” into the very fabric of their companies from day one. While it’s generally expected that companies make charitable donations once they have made it big, it takes an entirely different mind-set to create a profitable business model strategically based on the premise of helping others.

For example, one cause-oriented, for-profit business has expanded this concept further by putting giving power in the hands of its customers.

Specializing in the in-home purchase of precious metals, the company donates a minimum of 2.5 percent of all purchases to charitable organizations selected by party hostesses. As a result, in just two years, it’s given more than half a million dollars to thousands of charities across the country.

The expertly trained professional buyers who join Golden Girls are given the latest technology to assess, measure and certify the gold they purchase.

Charities across North America can use gold-buying parties as fundraising opportunities for their members, supporters and other contacts. These organizations can even create a network of parties to maximize their rewards.

Learn More
For more information on how to host a party or train to become a buyer, plus learn about other ways to make money, visit http://www.golddoesgood.com.

The mobile workforce is expected to grow to 1.2 billion people (one-third of the existing global workforce) by 2013, according to IDC Research.

Yet with this increase in acceptance comes a corresponding increase in expectations for these workers. Telecommuters are required to display the same level of professionalism as their office-bound colleagues, particularly in their interactions with co-workers, business partners and customers. However, if they are not using effective technology, this can be a seemingly insurmountable task.

Below are some ideas on how you can be sure you’re presenting a top-notch, professional image by replacing inadequate consumer technologies with affordable tools designed specifically for those working in small or home offices.

Portray a big company image with a virtual phone service that routes calls for you. Whether you’re using a mobile phone, your home phone or a second landline, having calls come directly to your phone makes you appear small and casual. The better choice is a virtual phone service for small business. This type of service, which you can usually find for around $10 per month, offers a number of corporate phone-like features, such as a virtual receptionist that answers calls with a professional greeting, enhanced voicemail, smart call forwarding that allows you to forward calls to any phone you choose (such as your mobile phone) when you’re away from the office, even the ability to establish regular “office hours” by switching to an after-hours greeting when it’s time to shut down.

If you’re running a business that has its own employees or uses contractors on a regular basis, the virtual phone system lets you give customers and prospects one toll-free or local phone number to call, then use extensions to reach anyone in the company, whether they’re inside the building or across the country. Either way, you’ll give the appearance of working in a downtown high rise rather than remotely.

Replace the fax machine with an Internet fax service. Faxes are still a fact of life in many industries. But it’s not efficient for telecommuters to have important faxes tied to a single fax machine. Sending and receiving faxes today is as simple as using a smartphone application. For roughly $10 per month, an Internet fax service sends and receives faxes online anywhere you have an Internet connection. There’s never a busy signal, and instant notifications allow remote workers to know exactly when a fax arrives. If you’re working on a team, faxes can be delivered to multiple email addresses at the same time, or forwarded to multiple recipients.

Documents sent by fax are usually urgent and important. An Internet fax service can help enhance your professional image by staying on top of faxes.

Be present via video. The phrase “out of sight, out of mind” is one many remote workers know. Sure, you can call in to a meeting, but when a lot is happening, or a whiteboard is being used, it can be tough to keep up.

A better way to go is to “call in” via video. With the right video conferencing application, and a coworker willing to point a laptop in the right direction, you can establish more of a presence at the meeting, read facial reactions and body language, and participate more fully in conferences. If you need to share information from your computer, many of these applications can help you do that too.

These applications may not have all the video/audio quality or features of the large corporate systems. But they’re available free or for very little cost. And just the effort makes you look more professional.

Move applications and services online. One of the most frustrating parts of being a mobile worker is the need to become an IT expert. Losing time and having technology crash while you try to troubleshoot hardware or software problems doesn’t do much for your image.

Today you can solve that by using Web services that are managed by someone else. Your office suite, storage, security, phone system, faxes, accounting software and just about anything else are available these days, either free or for a low monthly subscription.

The nice thing about this model is that your entire office can go with you when you’re on the road, eliminating cost and maintenance headaches. As long as you can get an Internet connection you can access files, work on documents, share information and more from any PC or smart phone – just as though you are in the office.

The expectations for the professionalism of mobile workers have been raised. Make sure you’re ready to meet them by using communications tools that provide the level of quality of a large corporation. Without all the downsides of corporate life.

About the Author:
Steve Adams is the vice president of marketing for Protus, a provider of communications tools for small-to-medium-businesses and enterprise organizations, including the MyFax internet fax service; my1voice, a virtual phone service; and Campaigner, an e-mail marketing solution.

Janelle Johnson refuses to get dressed for work.

“I take a shower the night before and then get up and work in sweatpants and socks. It’s more comfortable and besides, I don’t have to worry about impressing anyone,” she says.

Johnson, a legal customer service representative from Perry, Ia., is one of an increasing number of workers who spend at least part of their workweek from the comfort of their own home. In fact, one-in-five workers spend at least part of workweek working from home according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2003 “American Time Use Survey.” Johnson takes calls from a spare bedroom turned office two days each week, and the personal benefits are endless.

As fuel costs continue to punish daily commuters and more home buyers move to suburban areas to capitalize on low interest rates and affordable housing, telecommuting has emerged as an attractive alternative to the nine-to-five office grind. And as technology continues to flourish, what once was limited to the artistic and sales communities is quickly becoming an integral part of any workplace.

Johnson, who works for Des Monies, Ia.-based Arag North America, was able to download her company’s software to her home computer, which shows incoming calls on her screen.

“My phone doesn’t ring when a call comes in, it just pops up on my screen. So I have to watch my computer all day long,” she says.

Employment experts agree that at-home work has infiltrated nearly every industry and has created new opportunities – and challenges – for the modern employee. Getting your company keen on the idea might be the only obstacle, says Bill Redford, general manager of the Niagra Falls, N.Y.-based Independent Homeworkers’ Alliance.

“Some companies seem to be fighting it, but the truth is that employees are more satisfied,” says Redford, whose company helps at-home workers find jobs and learn how to run a successful business from home. Finding a manager who embraces the idea is an important first step, he says. “Make a written proposal outlining the times you’ll be working, what you’ll be doing, where and how you can be reached and your flexibility to come in for meetings,” he says.

Flexibility is what many telecommuters cherish about their jobs, but that doesn’t give you absolute freedom. Paul Edwards, co-author of “Working From Home” (Tarcher, 1999), says that creating your own hours is a benefit, but you need to create a functioning work environment that includes consistent hours and a dedicated space to work – or you’ll soon find your work life taking over your home life.

“When I came downstairs this morning, I left the newspaper and my breakfast upstairs,” he says. “If you have kids, I suggest making a rule: unless there’s blood it has to wait until you come out of your office.” Edwards stresses that not all people are comfortable being segregators of their work and home lives. In fact, a study he did for his book found that 55 percent of telecommuters were integrators and preferred blending the two.

“Whatever way is right for you is fine, but it’s still important to keep an organized office, have specific parts of the home that are your work area and try to keep some regular hours,” says Edwards.

Redford says that what time you work isn’t the major factor. “I’ve met people who work best between 9pm and 3am in their pajamas, and if that works for you, that’s what it’s all about,” he says. Redford says that to be an effective worker you must have an office where you can close the door and eschew personal obligations. “If the phone rings and it’s a personal call, call them back or let the answering machine pick it up.”

Before her legal call commence, Janelle Johnson takes the kids to daycare, turns off the television and puts all of her personal distractions away in order to create a respectable work environment for the customer on the other end of the phone. Paul Edwards says that eliminating these distractions is an important way to make working at home work for both you and the company.

Another important aspect in Edwards’s eyes is to understand why working at home is good for your company. Studies show telecommuting is cheaper for businesses and creates happier employees, but you’ve got to find out what your company needs.

“When people work two days at home, that frees their work computer and desk to share with another employee, which reduces general administration costs,” he says. Edwards also says that many people are more comfortable when they don’t have to deal with office politics, a major nuisance for most workers.

Many telecommuters treat their at-home workdays like any other, including getting showered and dressed.

Communication is key for telecommuters because there will be no hourly updates around the water cooler. Redford suggests remaining in constant contact via e-mail and Instant Messaging.

Both Edwards and Redford agree that many employees suffer from feelings of isolation when cut-off from the office scene. Janelle Johnson is not immune. “Sometimes I feel lonely, but you also have the perks of recent technology, e-mail and Instant Messenger, that can keep you in the office loop,” she says.

“Find a way to break up the solitude and have human contact. Talk on the phone, or if you’re close, scoot in for lunch to keep in touch and get the daily scoop,” says Redford.

About the Author:
Matthew M. F. Miller, author of “Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story” (HCI, 2008), is a syndicated fatherhood blogger.

- Courtesy CTW Features

Arise Virtual Solutions Inc., the world’s leading provider of virtual business services

“Arise is experiencing rapid growth as companies recognize the significant value derived from a self-employed virtual workforce operating within a secure environment,” said Angela Selden, CEO of Arise Virtual Solutions Inc.

“Arise attracts talented people who are passionate about the premium brands they support. Using a results driven approach that significantly improves performance, Arise delivers the best value in terms of quality and reduced costs to clients, and at the same time provides a new way of life for thousands of professionals seeking a better way to make a living.”

Arise pioneered the work-at-home business model in 1997 and developed several industry firsts and key innovations. Today, more than 200,000 people in the U.S. provide virtual customer support from their own homes, also known as “homeshoring” in the outsourcing industry.

“Homeshoring” is like outsourcing, but instead of hiring overseas, companies tap U.S. workers in their homes. Commutes consist of turning on the computer, logging on to secure networks and answering questions via phone, e-mail and chat.

The industry received wide recognition in 2009 when Arise’s CEO joined President Obama at the White House’s “Jobs Summit.” To learn more about becoming an ACP and to establish a Virtual Services Corporation (VSC), please visit http://www.arise.com.

If you’re looking for a job, you may see ads for firms that promise results

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says scammers advertise jobs exactly where legitimate employers do — on popular Web sites, in the classifieds and even on TV. The ads sound promising, whether it’s for hourly work or an executive-level job. But ads placed by scammers come with a twist: You have to pay-and then, there’s no job.

Many con artists are good at what they do. They can sound very convincing, especially when your defenses are down. They may say they have a job waiting for you — or they might guarantee to place you in a job. But you can’t believe the promises-even when you want to. Legitimate companies won’t guarantee you a job.

The FTC urges job seekers to be aware of the red flags that may signal a job scam:

If an employer or employment-service firm wants you to pay-even if it says it’s for certification, training materials or for its expenses placing you with a company-don’t do business with it. Legitimate employers and firms don’t ask you to pay for the promise of a job.

Some listing services and “consultants” write their ads or phone scripts to sound like they have jobs waiting for you. The truth is, they’re only selling information about looking for a job-information that’s generally available for free.

If you’ve been the victim of a job scam and paid someone for a job that didn’t exist, the FTC wants to hear about it. Complain to the FTC at http://www.ftc.gov/complaint. Letting the FTC know about your experience can help put an employment scam out of business. For more information and to watch an educational video, visit http://www.ftc.gov/jobscams.

When it comes to finding a rewarding job, a growing number of people think there’s no place like home.

According to trend watcher Mark Penn, over 4 million Americans now work entirely from home and 20 million work from home part-time.

Some say that tech jobs–such as programming or computer and smartphone repair-are particularly well suited to be part of this trend. For example, a leading provider of online technology services called Support.com recently announced that it is embarking on a campaign to hire more than 100 work-from-home online technology-solution engineers within the next 100 days.

Prospective hires must be bright, self-motivated individuals who are already highly competent at fixing computers as well as syncing printers, smartphones and other consumer tech appliances. They’re also likely to be the person who friends and relatives call when their computer goes on the blink.

Upon an initial screening, Support.com applicants will undergo additional competency testing and, if selected, will be compensated to receive rigorous online training to ensure that they meet the “best in class” standards of technical aptitude and customer service developed by Support.com for its team of personal technology experts.

“Our services are in greater demand than ever as consumers are looking to us to ensure their computers, printers and other critical devices such as digital cameras are operating efficiently,” said Josh Pickus, president and chief executive officer of Support.com. “To meet this demand, we’re seeking to hire individuals with the right tech experience and talent in areas where jobs have been scarce and we can make a positive impact on their recovery.”

Tech-savvy individuals who think they have the right stuff can click or visit http://corp.support.com/node/114/ to review the qualifications for employment and submit a confidential application.

Support.com, Inc. provides what it describes as “instant technology relief” to consumers and microbusinesses. Its expert “solutions engineers” can provide quick, cost-effective and satisfying technology support experience over the Internet and the phone using an advanced technology platform.

If there’s an upside to this recession, it’s that it’s apparently unleashed the entrepreneur in a lot of us. Wait, make that the “homepreneur” in us.

That’s the latest shorthand used to describe small-business owners running “viable enterprises” from their homes. Today that definition easily fits about half of all small businesses in the U.S.–everyone from freelance writers to caterers to online retailers–as compared to just 38 percent as recently as 1997, according to a new study by Emergent Research. Most of that increase has to do with technology having made it simpler to start and run a business from a corner of your bedroom or garage.

So if you think there’s a homepreneur lurking inside you, here are some tips from the experts to make the transition more lucrative:

If you build it right, they will come. Today, a small business can’t reach its full potential without having some kind of a presence on the Web. So your first priority is to either create a site yourself, at little or no cost, using standard templates– Websites-builder-review.com lets you compare the different services–or pay a pro to design a fancier one for you. And when it comes to choosing a domain name, Web expert Murtuza Abbas says to consider this: “If you want to optimize for search engine traffic, then add high-traffic keywords to your name.”

To tweet or not to tweet. Done right, as MarketWatch.com columnist Jennifer Openshaw notes, Twitter can help establish you as “a thought leader in your space and even drive customers to your business.” Done wrong-and this goes for all social networking tools and blogs–you run the risk of alienating existing and potential customers. To avoid lost opportunity, an accountant, say, can use search.twitter.com search.twitter.com to type in a relevant term like “home office deduction” and start monitoring the conversation. Then when someone poses a question, he’ll be alerted and can reply with his expert answer.

Web 2.0. Web applications are a great way for homepreneurs to keep their focus where Pitney Bowes’ Director of Customer Strategy Christine Martin says it should be: “retaining and growing their customer base.” GetSatisfaction.com, for example, provides an online forum where customers can quickly get answers to their questions. And if you’re looking to convert browsers into buyers, click-to-call widgets offered by KarmaCom.com put you directly in touch with those looking for a callback.

One last thing: Even during the Great Depression, fortunes were made by entrepreneurs like Iowa physicians Ralph Falk and Donald Baxter, who seized an opportunity to bring intravenous medical treatments to the masses. Today, Baxter International is a multibillion-dollar company.

That’s the news from a new study by the Families and Work Institute (FWI), The Impact of the Recession on Employers, showing that 81 percent of U.S. employers are maintaining and 13 percent are increasing the flexibility they offer during the recession.

A Guide For Work
The study is cited in a new book called the 2009 Guide to Bold New Ideas for Making Work Work, also from FWI. The annual guide features 260 employers selected for the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility. It sorts the featured employers by geography and by innovative practice, allowing readers to search for organizations in the area or find examples of best practices from around the nation.

Among the examples featured are a semiconductor company that avoided layoffs by scheduling a temporary factory shutdown, a customer contact center that offered an emergency relief fund for employees facing financial catastrophe, and an international accounting and consulting firm that covered 100 percent of requested emergency and sick leave time by enabling employees to donate their unused time to one another.

Ellen Galinsky, president of the institute-and principal editor of the guide-says that leading employers are being open with employees about the financial state of their organizations and asking for their suggestions about cost containment.

“In many ways, the guide has helped increasing numbers of companies and organizations to improve their workplaces so that they work for the employer and the employees,” she says. The guide highlights unique workplace programs such as sabbaticals, leaves of absence, compressed workweeks, flextime, volunteerism and strategies to monitor overwork.

To view a searchable online edition of the guide and to find other FWI studies and practical tips for managing work and family life, visit http://www.familiesandwork.org or call (212) 465-2044.