Scrapbooking is a favorite hobby of many. It involves displaying one's favorite photographs in a unique and beautiful way. Scrapbooking supply stores have opened in many cities and towns, making it easy to find beautiful embellishments for our memories.

Lots of people love the look of scrapbooks, but some do not have the time or skill required to make their own. Scrapbooking can be somewhat time-consuming, especially to novices. Creating beautiful scrapbooks for others can provide you with a lucrative and fun home business opportunity.

Getting Started with Your Scrapbooking Business

To create scrapbooks, you will need albums, paper, page protectors, adhesives, and decorative accents. Scrapbooking supplies can be found at many craft stores and specialty shops. They are also available online. If you can find them in bulk, you can get a better price on them, lowering the cost of your creations.

You can save money by having your customers purchase their own albums, or by purchasing them as you go. You will recover your costs once the scrapbook is paid for, but when you're getting started buying a lot of albums may not be feasible. Another way to save money in the beginning is to buy only basic supplies at first. You can always buy more embellishments as needed. Another option is to join a Direct Sales company that sells scrapbook supplies or rubber stamps and use those supplies as the foundation for your business.

Promoting Your Business

Promotion of your scrapbooking business can be done in many ways. You could place ads in newspapers and other print publications. Fliers showing pictures of some of your favorite creations can be placed in various locations. You could even set up a portfolio website so that potential customers can browse numerous samples of your previous work.

Craft fairs and festivals provide great opportunities to promote a scrapbooking business. They give you the opportunity to show entire albums that you've done. They also allow you to speak face-to-face with interested parties. You can answer any questions they might have, explain techniques, and show some of the materials you use.

Scrapbooking is a passion for many. If you eat, sleep, and breathe scrapbooking, creating scrapbooks for others and making money doing so could be a dream come true. Many people's busy lives do not allow them much time for hobbies, and they would gladly pay someone to make a beautiful album featuring their treasured pictures. Offering this service can provide you with a steady income while allowing you to spend more time doing something you enjoy.

As someone with very little time and patience, I would definitely hire someone to do my scrapbooking for me — in a heartbeat!

My friend, Dawn, has put together a complete course on Scrapbooking for Profit. So, if you LOVE Scrapbooking, find out how to turn that into cash (or more cash if you're already a Consultant for a Scrap company).

Click here to check it out.

Warmly,

Nicole

Hiring your children in your business can be a great tax savings strategy, as well as a way to teach your children about business and money.

Wages paid to your children (between the ages 7 and 17) are a valid business deduction, as long as they do bona fide work, and they are compensated fairly.

Your children can earn up to the standard deduction amount before they will owe any income tax. Because you are getting a business deduction for the wages paid to your child, this is income that you also will not pay taxes on.

In addition, if your children are under age 18, you don't have to pay payroll taxes on them. This is a huge tax savings since you would have to pay these taxes on any other employee you hired.

Hiring your children does not raise a red flag with the IRS, but you should document your children's salary and services provided to audit-proof your tax return. To do this, keep a time sheet showing the date, hours and services provided by your children, and write them a check for their wages.

In addition, you will need to prepare and file a W-2 for your child at the end of the year. Your child may need to file a tax return as well.

You can learn more about hiring your children in your business by reading IRS Publication 15, Chapter 3, Family Employees.

Click here to learn how hiring your kids can maximize your tax bill.

Dear Nicole,

How do I choose a Home Business? There are so many scams out there, and I've been burned in the past by “opportunities”. How do you know which ones to trust and how can I protect myself in the future?

Thank you for your help, as always.
Izzie

Hey Izzie!

My good friend, Kristie T wrote this article and I think it's a great intro to Scams 101 and How to Avoid them. Rather than telling you my thoughts, she's already gone over such great information, I'll just share her research with you.

Please feel free to share it with a friend if you know someone looking for an oportunity — or post it on message boards. It's free reprint so that's fine.

Warmly,
Nicole 

How to Avoid Scams and Fraud

People who are eager to start a home business are often new to the Internet and filled with hope. Unfortunately, that can make them easy prey for con artists. The lure of easy money can serve as a difficult lesson for those who fall for it. If you are looking at job opportunities online, it’s important to watch out for scams and get-rich-quick schemes. Many scams are cleverly packaged, making it hard to determine the legitimate work opportunities from the fraudulent ones.

“If you are looking at employment or business opportunities online, watch out for scams,” Tamsevicius says. “Many get-rich-quick schemes are cleverly packaged, making it hard to sift legitimate work opportunities from the swindles.” Common cons include Nigerian letter schemes asking for money, pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes, and “work at home” offers that involve stuffing envelopes or assembling crafts.

Here are some tips for sidestepping scams:

1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Any offer that promises to make you rich overnight with a business that works while you sleep is a rip-off. Watch out if a company promises large profits for little or no work, or claims no experience is necessary. If anyone can do it, why should you pay to learn about it?

For that reason, multilevel marketing (MLM) has gotten a bad rap. Granted, there may be some legitimate money-making programs out there, but there are also a large number of overhyped, overpromising, underdelivering scams too.

2. Be especially wary of any company that requires an initial investment to get involved.

3. Be leery of anyone who uses hard-sell tactics or pushes you to sign up right away. Take your time to think about opportunities. If you do find a program that intrigues you, do yourself a favor and check it out first.

4. Double-check the reputation of a company before signing up for its program. Get at least three references from people who are currently involved in the program to get the real story. Find out what strings are attached, how much money it will take to get started, and what the “fine print” says. Also find out how long they have been in business. Ask what their experience has been working with them. How long have they been in business? What kind of training will the company provide? Do they have a good support system for their sales representatives?

5. Read the fine print before you sign anything. If you don't understand an agreement, have a lawyer or an accountant review it before signing.

6. Make sure there is an out. Before you sign ANYTHING, find out what the procedure is to withdraw if you change your mind and what, if anything, it will cost you. If you have to pay startup fees, pay with a credit card rather than cash or check. That way if things go awry you can cancel payment or dispute your credit card charges.

How to check out a scam or potential “business” opportunity:

1) Contact your local Better Business Bureau (BBB). The national BBB web site is www.bbb.org/. There you will find a link to locate the BBB for your area and information on work-at-home scams and how to file a complaint.

2) Check the Scambusters

3) Go to WorldWideScam, offers a funny insight into some of the more outrageous scams in circulation.

4) Visit the MLM Survivor Site. Here you can check out any potential MLM opportunities to see how reputable they are.

5) The United States Postal Inspection Service offers several pages on its web site about scams, including work-at-home schemes, multi-level-marketing schemes, distributorship and franchise fraud, and how to file a mail fraud complaint.
www.usps.com/postalinspectors/

6) The Federal Trade Commission offers information on work-at-home schemes, medical billing, business opportunity schemes, the top 10 Dot Cons, and how to file a complaint.

7) The National Consumer League’s National Fraud Information Center offers information on pyramid schemes, MLM, and how to report a fraud.

HAVE YOU BEEN VICTIMIZED BY SCAM?
If you fall victim to a scam let others know so that you can protect them from falling prey too! Here’s how to report a fraudulent business:

1) Contact the attorney general in your local state.

2) File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau in the fraudulent business’ native state. You can find contact information for that individual state at the BBB web site at .

3) Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Call them at 1-800-876-7060 or visit their web site at www.ftc.gov/ to file a complaint.

4) List them with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www. ifccfbi.gov

5) Take action by reporting any spam emailers to www.Spamcop.net and www.abuse.net

Kristie Tamsevicius, is the author of “I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home”! Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs have used her step-by-step home business system to earn money working from home. Get a free ecourse Home Business Success Secrets at www.webmomz.com/ilovemylife1.htm

So if you have a spare moment to fill out a very quick form, I’d sure appreciate your vote for MommysPlace.net, owned by my friend, Nell. It's a Work at home mom website about telecommuting and home business.

Nell has helped me a ton the last year, and is a great friend, so if you get a minute,
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VOTE for Nell

Thank you so much!
Nik

Unfortunately, there are scams everywhere – some you may have heard of sound too good to be true – and they usually are. Oftentimes, women lose a lot of money before they even find a legitimate opportunity, let alone one that they love.

Below, you’ll find a list of popular work from home options. They all have benefits and drawbacks. What may be great for one woman may not even be of interest to another woman.

And, of course, research thoroughly before signing any contract. Yes, there are bunches of great, legitimate possibilities out there waiting for you, but you might have to say ‘no’ to a few first before you find the perfect home business for you.

Direct Sales (MLM)
Why we love it: Where else can you get a business in a box? Seriously, the products have already been made and tested, all the marketing has been created for you, and you are set up on the road to management if you wish. You can see why Direct Sales can be a great way to make money, especially if you find a product, sponsor and company that you love!

Why it might not be for you: If the thought of sales makes you turn green from nausea, you might want to consider other options.

More information:
mlm & direct sales opportunities

Internet Auctions
Why we love it: It doesn’t get much simpler than online auctions. Sell your worn clothing or used toys. Or, if you’ve got a knack for pricing, you might find some great items at a garage sale that you can turn over for a profit on online auctions.

Why it might not be for you: Is your house already too small for you and your family? If you don’t have room to store inventory, then online auctions might not be the business for you.

Start a Home Business
Why we love it: No matter what your interest is, you can start a business. Sell products or promote a service that makes life easier for other people. Whether you’re considering making crafts or becoming a massage therapist, if you’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit, then go for it!

Why it might not be for you: Starting from scratch can be a lot of work with little pay in the beginning. So, really invest a lot of time and energy into research, if you are considering this option.

More information:
work from home mom business ideas

Internet Marketing:
Why we love it: Low start up cost and a lot of flexibility. Internet marketing (selling products online, promoting other people’s products, or providing an online service) really is a great option for a lot of moms.

Why it might not be for you: Internet marketing has a learning curve, just like any other type of business. Anyone who’s ever had a website knows that “if you build it they will come” is not necessarily true. You have to promote, tweak, test, and learn constantly if you want to become a success in Internet Marketing. It is definitely possible and it is a great option, but don’t go into it thinking you don’t need to invest time and money in yourself and in your business. You do.

More information:
free affiliate programs

Surveys for Cash
Why we love it: Yes, there really are companies that will pay you to take surveys. In all honesty, you aren’t going to get rich taking surveys, and you’ll spend a lot of time for little money in most cases. But, if you enjoy hanging out on the computer and think it would be fun to do some surveys while you’re chatting with your friends on IM, then it isn’t a bad way to make a few extra dollars here and there. Just be sure to sign up with a free email account (like hotmail or yahoo) so you don’t get flooded with SPAM!

Why it might not be for you: If time is short or you need to make a lot of money for your family, then spend your time on something else. Surveys aren’t going to pay your bills. Also, there are some scams that charge you for a list of surveys. Be careful.

More information:
surveys for cash

These are just a few of the many options to make money from home. Follow your heart. Start on the path today to make your dreams come true.

Copyright 2005 – Nicole Dean