Starting up a home-based business may sound easy, but there are plenty of pitfalls. This book should help you steer clear of them. You'll explore a variety of topics such as how to finance your business, whether or not to incorporate, whether to hire help, and even how to obtain business insurance. Much of the advice is specific to USA-based businesses.

The reading is made more enjoyable by an abundance of sidebars scattered throughout, with titles like "Homegrown Tip", "Home Hazard", and "Business Buzzword". And the author's wit will give you an occasional chuckle.

If reading this book enables you to start your business on a solid footing, you'll have more time to and energy for generating sales and profits.

Paul Francis Musgrave, author of Indispensable Marketing Strategies - How to Outwit Your Competition, Attract and Retain Customers, and Multiply Your Profits - Marketing Strategy Secrets for Profitable Small Business Management

Ms. Weltman provides a ton of edifying statistics regarding the current state of the working-from-home crowd: who knew there were so many people doing it these days, and doing it successfully? She gives us some idea of how long it typically takes people to start earning what they need to live on. She provides reminders of what we'll be saving by working from home, as well as the new expenses we have to take into account (such as our own health insurance!).

If you want to work from home but don't yet know what you want to do there, Ms. Weltman also includes plenty of information to help you choose. She tells us all about franchises, buying a pre-existing home-based business, e-commerce, etc. One of the appendixes includes a list of the 100 most popular types of home-based businesses, including the addresses of web sites with further information on them. You might be surprised by some of the possibilities here, such as: sketch artist, bed and breakfast, bridal consultant, personal chef, chimney sweep, nutritionist, event planner, interior decorator, jewelry designer, personal shopper, or speechwriter.

There's plenty of information on organizing your business, such as choosing whether to incorporate. There's also advice on setting up your business, writing a business plan, and obtaining financing from a variety of possible sources. Such issues as the zoning of your home are addressed, as well as legal means to get around any potential snags in this area.

Ms. Weltman goes into the practical issues of setting up your home office: office equipment, computers, and convincing your family and friends to let you get work done! She also delves into what you really need to do to make your business succeed in terms of marketing, networking, insurance, taking care of taxes, and getting the professional help you need when you can't do everything yourself.

I highly recommend this read to anyone who's thinking of starting up their own business from home: it could save you some costly mistakes, and help to ensure your success!