Home Business Comes of Age

The scruffy haired, unshaven, pajama-clad home business worker is an iconic symbol of the past. Over a decade ago, with the Internet still in its infancy, home businesses based on scams and lowing paying data entry companies; not too many people took home business seriously. Small business magazines and experts featured tips on how you could be more professional by keeping the kids out and the marketplace even had audio recording of office chatter to play while you're on the phone to hide the fact you were at home.

Home business has come of age. According to findings by Emergent Research, Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force:

• There are about 6.6 million home businesses that generate at least 50% of the owner's household income
• Homepreneur businesses employ over 13 million people
• 35% of home businesses generate more than $125,000 in revenue; 8% more than $500,000

The small business landscape has changed dramatically with a host of low cost technologies (gMail, Skype, BaseCamp, etc.) and a wider acceptance of home business. The timing couldn't be more perfect for many recession strapped individuals looking for low cost ways to start and run a business.