A question often asked is “ What kind of business should I start?” No one can answer this question for you. Your choice is a highly personal matter. Businesses of all types are both successful and unsuccessful. A particular business generally succeeds or fails based on the customer market, and the quality of the owner(s) and workers, and the quality of the products or services; not because of the type of business.

Your experience
Past experience in a particular industry may help you better understand your customer market and avoid costly operating mistakes. If you buy a proven franchise, your purchase will include a developed technical support system that makes your previous experience in that business less important.

What you enjoy and are willing to learn
Owning and running your own business will require a lot of your time, especially at the beginning. You are going to be more successful if you choose a business that you enjoy and where you can use your talents. Step 1, in this training series, helped you to identify your talents, or strengths. To find a business you will enjoy, search the internet, and when you find a couple that sound like you will enjoy them, check them out. See what others are doing with that same business, how are they marketing them, are they successful, is there a way you can do things different, better to capture more of the market?

Your marketing ability
Let's face it, you have to have customers to be able to make any money in your business, no matter what type it is. I've personally found that if you choose your primary marketing method and set up your business with that in mind from the beginning, it makes things a lot easier. I've chosen 3 different types of marketing to introduce you to, and a business that you can sell using them.

Marketing 1 - affiliates
The Affiliate Business - This is a business where you market someone else's product or service. You will earn a commission based on the amount of product you sell or the number of customers or potential customers you send their way. This opportunity requires the least time, will let you learn marketing and advertising techniques and costs nothing to begin. This study gives an introduction to an affiliate business, what it is, where to find affiliates, and how to market them.

The basic things you will need to run this type of business is a website and an email address. If you don't already, there are several places to get free ones at hotmail, msn, yahoo etc.

Marketing 2 - Resale or retail
Resale - This is also called retail. You may already have a product to sell, or sell a product that belongs to another business. This opportunity is great for those that love to market and sell. There is no extra time needed to maintain your site, giving you the time to do what you do best - market or resell.

Marketing 3 - Network or email marketing
Network marketing. This marketing method is great for an online business. It involves creating a community or network of your customers and your salesmen. This method puts the personal touch back into computer businesses, and encourages communication, follow-up and interaction. You will be able to track the changing likes and dislikes of your customers, as well as keeping them informed of any changes in your products, and business.

This method is especially good for any 2 tier commission based, or any MLM businesses. It allows you to create a network of salesmen that will be earning commissions for you. Similar to a profit sharing plan that allows you, the manager, to earn a percentage of income your sales staff earns. Your sales network allows you to train, encourage, and assist the growth of your customer base - leading to more income.

This is the method of marketing I have used. I have had many of the emails set up to be sent automatically, including the weekly newsletter, to keep in touch with my customers and co-workers. This constant contact helps to take the impersonality out of working at home, with only a computer screen for company.