What are the startup and hidden costs? What are the pitfalls and horror stories if any? I'd like to hear the up/downs of what to expect. Thank you for the help.
128089
State Farm agents are all exclusive to State Farm.  They are independent contractors, yet they have to be selected by State Farm.  Go to statefarm.com if you are interested in learning more about how to become an agent
443692
I found a company that I am very happy with.  I'm with Stayin Home and Lovin It! and they are the support team that is partnered with a wellness company that is 21 years old and a member of the Better Business Buerau.  They have a lot of products that cover all the basic needs of people and are safer for you and the environment and the prices are reasonable too.  I found many of them to be cheaper than what I was buying before joining this company.  You can do the whole in home party thing if you like but it is not necessary in order to build this business (but I am told ones that do do even better).  You do not do any order taking or delivering of products.  All your customers shop direct and you recieve a commission on everything that person you enroll buys and long as they buy.  They give great support and free tips to succeed and there is no big investment or stocking products.  There is no risk involved in trying to see if it is right for you.  There is so much information, if you are interested in learning more go to http://healthybetterme.com/ and fill in the get more information part.   I hope you find what you are looking for.
655682
I know how you feel. I'm in the current process of setting up a website just based on this. So stay tuned.\n\nBasically go around forums asking people. But you will find that there will always be people happy with the service and others not. \n\nIt is hard to know whether or not these people are simply plugging their own company posing as neutral people or not. \n\nSo in the end, asking people at a conference perhaps may be the best way - as you can tell if they are straight out lying.\n\nAlso books can be good too: but I've seen some books recently that plug their own products too - without you knowing!
130079
If you are looking for a work from home opportunity... I work with an Inc 500 Company that has been in business for over 20 years... and has experienced growth in ALL 20 of those years.  They have excellent published credentials... and even send all of those working the business a monthly magazine which tells you exactly what the average income for each representative is.  The compensation plan is very easy to understand... and there is no stocking of products to sell.  It is the first program that I have been involved with that has actually paid me every month AND my upline is very supportive and doesn't charge me for training. The company mission statement is: "Enhancing the lives of those we touch by helping others to reach their goals.  The basic principle is revenue sharing.. the company believes in rewarding those of us who help them to get the word out about their products.  PLUS... they offer a complete money back guarantee on both the products and the business plan.  What I like best about the opportunity is that NO-ONE can possibly get hurt.  If you would like more information about how I suppliment my income from home...contact me through my Yahoo 360 page.  No promises of get rich quick... just accurate information on how, if you actually work the business you can build a legitimate business for yourself from home.  Work for yourself...NOT by yourself.
352006
Good on you for researching properly! Quixtar is part of Alticor, the 25th largest private company in the United States, with a history going back nearly 50 years. There are somewhere close to a million registered peopel with the Quixtar website - they can buy and sell the products and introduce others to do the same and get a percentage. Fortunately and unfortunately, when you become a Quixtar Independent Business Owner, well, you're independent. This means you can pretty much do as you please. Some people do the wrong thing and give the company a bad name, others do the right thing and give it a good name. "Legacy Business Group" is not Quixtar per se, it's a company that helps train and support Quixtar IBOs to build businesses. There are a number of these companies around. It's possible to make a deal of money out of Quixtar, but it takes time and effort (and yes, some money), as would any legitimate business. On the plus side is low risk and virtually anyone with the willingness to learn and work can build a business of virtually any size and any income. Ask virtually anyone who has done it and they'll tell you it was worth the effort. I'm collating testimonials you can read on my site at www.thetruthaboutquixtar.com
328022
Wow, you've asked the right question!\n\nI considered doing it once, and took a job as a counselor at an agency in town to learn a bit about the business.  THE biggest challenge that the company had was dealing with the cash flow issues, and funding the ever-expanding working capital.  Consider how the business typically operates.  They send an employee out on a job.  At the end of the week, the temp agency pays them, and then they bill the client/business.  Typically, the businesses would stretch out as long as they could before they paid.  So, it would often be as much as three months before they got paid.  What this means is that your working capital grows astronomically and sometimes catastrophically.  The faster you grow, the more credit you need to cover.  \n\nAnyway, its an interesting and rewarding business, and if you can recruit well and market your services effectively, I think it should be viable.  But, the financial side of it is far more enormous than I ever imagined.\n\nBack in the day, Entrepreneur Magazine had published a very useful start-up kit for that specific line of business.  It was quite costly back then - something like $250, but I'm told they are more in the $20-30 range today, so I'd strongly suggest looking into it, if they still offer it.  (I'd send you mine if I knew where it was.)\n\nBest of luck to you.
630660
I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.\n\nAssociations may be a good avenue to explore as well. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links. \n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Entrepreneurial Finance: For New and Emerging Businesses by James McNeill Stancill\n* The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide: Seize Your Entrepreneurial Dreams! by Stephanie Chandler\n* How to Really Start Your Own Business, Fourth Edition by David E. Gumpert\n* How to Really Create a Successful Business Plan: Step-by-Step Guide by David E. Gumpert\n* What No One Ever Tells You about Starting Your Own Business: Real-Life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs (What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business) by Jan Norman \n* Business Start-Up Kit by Steven D. Strauss \n* Start Your Own Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up) by Rieva Lesonsky\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
299542
What should you look for in an "ideal" internet business? \n\n- No or minimal start-up fees (Our business start-up is $29.00)\n- A product or service you feel good about  (Consumable products used in every home… safer, more effective, less expensive, things people use and need on a daily basis)\n- A duplicable system (work FOR yourself- NOT BY yourself… we are a TEAM of individuals working to help others… “Enhancing the lives of those we touch by helping others reach their goals from Home!!!”\n- Residual income (Residual Income PLUS bonuses for helping others!!!)\n- Customizable web sites to promote your business  (Free website for ALL Members)\n- Free training and support  (Free Company and TEAM Training… we will work with you to reach YOUR GOALS!!!)\n- Free marketing materials and ideas (Our support team has 70 members who are there to help you every step of the way… Training and support from people who have been there and done that.  Training provided via email, internet, or telephone)\n- Company in business at least 18 months and in good standing with the Better Business Bureau (Inc 500 Company in business for over 20 years with over 700 Million in annual sales. As for the Better Business Bureau: “The Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming division of the Better Business \nBureau recently presented Our Company AND CEO with its 2005 "Hall of Fame" award. This prestigious award honored Our Company for its example of ethics and integrity in \ndealings with customers, employees, and the community. We have received many other Prestigious Awards.)\n\nIf you would like to get all the details... contact me through IM or Yahoo360.  The information is FREE and there is no obligation to join... If it makes sense to you... we can work WITH you to reach your goals from home.  If you deside to give it a try... the $29.00 start-up fee is refundable for up to 120 days.\n\nMy websites: http://learn2.momsmakemore or http://learn2.ownanewbusiness.com
445809
ask what the cost to buy into this is (the start up cost). ask about the  term of the agreement, ask amout what kind of help they are going to give you to help this business get up and running? Good luck
126876
There are tons of scams and huge start up fees!!\n\nThere is also a huge difference between a home business and a home job!! And of course then there are MLM's - think MaryKay!!\n\nI personally sat down and made a list of what was imporant to me. I wanted a company that had a clean slate with the BBB, one that cared about me and my family, one that had a proven track record and was dependable, free training, great support team, no selling or stocking, and no large amount of money to start up!\n\nI am a single mom so anything over 30 dollars is big!!\n\nI have found what it is that I was looking for and they met all of my requirements. That is the best advise I can offer you!
482170
The added cost comes in more forms than just money. If you want a great website that will fulfill your agenda, it's better to pay for one than get a free one that will let you down. Especially if you can get one from dreamhost.com at a huge discount by using FREETRAP as the discount code when you sign up.
216143
You might try the Atlanta Technology Angels (although they do primarily tech deals), or go a bit further afield and talk to Ariel Savannah Angel Partners. Those are both bona fide groups of sophisticated angel investors that actively seek out and invest in plans. A short bit down the food chain is the Gathering of Angels, which is a periodic event that takes place in a number of cities, including Atlanta, at which four entrepreneurs pitch their plans to investors. The problem with this one is that they will charge you $2000 to present.\n\nIf you feel like simply casting your plan out on the waters, so to speak, you could give a try to "Funding Georgia", which is a web page front end where you can post your business plan and hope that some investor sees it (pretty unlikely, but they claim to have 28 investors in Georgia signed up, so who knows?)\n\nFinally, if you want to try farther afield, take a look at the directory of the Angel Capital Association, which lists virtually every legitimate angel investment group in the country. Good luck!
159430
I'm an independent agent with that company. I did not join for them or for the guy who recruited me. I join for myself because I want to build something great for myself, which you normally can't do at a regular job. Anyway, if you join, you will face lots of tough challenges (like failing state exams, not making any money at the beginning, people not wanting to join you, people not wanting to do business with you) and it's going to make you want to quit. There is a $199 fee and the guy trying to recruit you maybe reluctant to tell you because it usually turns people away and they'll miss the opportunity they can have to build a better life for themselves.\n\nI think why most people think Primerica is a scam is because of the $199 fee. What they don't understand is that the guy who tried to recruit him/her also paid $199 and they never ask why that recruiter did it. $199 to start your own business in finance is a joke. It normally cost over $100,000 to a million to start and you need to get licensed, make sure your office is being compliant with state laws, make sure your workers are not doing anything illegal. Luckily at Primerica, all you have to worry about is getting licensed and let the company worry about everything else.\n\nI'm also a client at the company and I think their services is great. Even if I quit, I'll continue to do business with Primerica because they taught me things that no one else has. How great is it that a company that offers to help your finances and that they don't charge any fees to help you?\n\nSo I guess anything bad about Primerica is on the employment side. There's no salary, so commission payout is big (good income for part time). If you don't recruit, your business will never grow. You will face lots of mental challenges and rejections.
64758
I've been there, I decided after many failed attempts to start my own business, which is what I am in the process of doing right now. a Great website I have found is www.businessownersideacafe.com, there is a link called "cybershmooze" and you can post questions there about legitimate, low cost oppotunities. They have a business plan section, a section to help name your business, and a lot more. and since everyone one is a small business owner or is looking to be, you will be in good company. Good Luck
562390
Can you be more specific?  I was just considering that offer and was wondering if I could really make money doing data entry online.  What do the directions tell you to do?  Which parts are you having trouble with?  Did they fail to hook you up with lots of companies that need data entry? Or was the data entry system complicated? \n\nIf they didn't live up to their claims, there are online places to report it so that no one else will get scammed.  Ripoffreport.com is one place I usually check before trying anything; but they don't have any reports on this company.
646329
There is a huge difference between  bankers and venture capitalists. And I'm not just referring to the cost of borrowing so tread cautiously here.\n\nBefore I can provide you with advice I need a little more information. How long have you been in business?  About how many people work there?  Why do you need the money?\n\nJust a quick note " fund some of our operations " might suggest you need money just to keep the business open. If this is not the case it may be better to delete this part of your question.
607527
Sorry, never heard of it. Sounds interesting tough. Will it keep you young? *s*\n\nI've listed the founder's web site. I think maybe if you check out their forum will might just get the info you wanted.....for free. Good luck\nhttp://boards.sethroberts.net/