It’s well accepted that small businesses form the backbone of the United States and world economies. In recent years, no part of the small-business sector has grown as dramatically as home-based businesses, which now comprise 52 percent of all small businesses and annually contribute $300 billion to the United States economy.A survey of home businesses conducted in 2008 by the Cleveland-based Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), revealed that 79 percent of the surveyed companies had annual gross revenues in excess of $51,000. A report by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) points out that 25 percent of home-based businesses had an annual gross income of between $100,000 and $500,000, and in 2000 there were 20,000 home businesses grossing more than $1 million.Many successful home businesses have never moved away from their home base, while others, such as Lillian Vernon, Hewlett-Packard, Apple Computer, Google, Bonne Bell, and Xerox began in the founder’s home, garage, or basement and grew into mega-corporations.The COSE survey found that home-based businesses create jobs beyond just employing the owner. Almost one-half had at least one employee, and 17 percent employed three or more workers. The survey revealed that most home-business owners are dedicated people who enjoy the benefits of working from their homes and want to continue to do so, dispelling the myth that running a home-based business is a stopgap measure until one finds a “real” corporate job.Until just a few years ago, there was a stigma attached to home-business owners. The sense was that the businesses were temporary or “play” businesses. But with the proliferation of both virtual employees and home businesses, such biases are seldom heard today.Practically any kind of business can be operated from a home – if the house is big enough or the business is small enough, and providing that local regulations permit it. I have consulted with single practitioners sup-plying consulting services, with photographers with in-home studios, with printers running presses in their basements, with light-bulb distributors whose garages are full of inventory, with a garment manufacturer staffed with almost a dozen people working in her basement, and with companies whose offices are in the owner’s homes but which have plants or warehouses in industrial parks.Whether you are expanding a hobby into a business, starting a consult-ing service, or want to establish a manufacturing or distribution operation, operating your business from home can provide a lifestyle that will be the envy of your friends.For an ambitious young person, an employee weary of punching a time clock, a worker who has lost a job, or a retiree seeking a second career, the lure of entrepreneurship can be mighty tempting. The lowest risk way of starting a business is at home which can often be accomplished with just a small investment. What is required is a marketable idea fueled with passion and nurtured by a dedicated and determined owner exercising good business practices.

If you’ve ever searched for a good property manager before, then you know how difficult it can be to find a good one for your rental property. There are several property managers out there, probably more than what you really need to bring your property into the market.

With so many choices available, you may find it difficult to choose one for your unit. But don’t worry – if you ask the right questions while shopping around for property managers, you’ll get a better idea of who would make the best fit for your property. Ask them these questions when discussing your property to see if they’re the right property manager for you:

1. What type of properties have you managed?

Experience counts for a lot in property management, and it can separate the good ones from the ones you should steer away from. Experience in this field, however, isn’t just about the number of years worked in the field; it’s also about what type of properties they’ve managed. Depending on what type of property you have, you can either go with someone who specialises in managing properties like yours or someone who has more varied experience managing different types of properties.

2. How do you screen potential tenants?

Screening potential tenants is one of the most important steps to property management, so the way they do this often reflects their level of service to your property. Ask them how they’ll match tenants to your property and what their process is like for finding tenants. This will give you a better idea of how they operate and what lengths they’ll go to find the right match for your property.

3. How do you handle late payments by tenants?

Finding tenants is just one phase of property management; the longer phase involves managing the tenancy itself. Asking them this question will show you what their management style is like and how they’ll deal with critical rental issues like these. See if their process aligns with what you expect them to do and how you want your property to be managed.

4. How do you respond to complaints?

Similar to the previous question, this question allows you to gauge how well a potential property manager will handle the landlord-tenant relationship. Remember that a property manager will act as the mediator between you and your tenant, so it’s important that you’re comfortable with their process for dealing with any complaints or issues.

5. How often do you do inspections?

Routine inspections are important to any tenancy agreement, and the number of times it’s done per year will help give you better peace of mind as the landlord or owner. This question will also show you how well the property manager will look after your property even after the start of the tenancy.

6. What’s the right rental price for my property?

If you’ve done your research beforehand, this question will let you assess how well a potential property manager knows the market and what they can offer you. It also allows you to get a better idea of what your property is worth in the current market. Compare their answer with different property managers to see what they offer and to better understand where your property stands in the market.

7. What are the things I can do to improve my listing?

Asking them this question won’t just reveal their expertise in property management, but it’ll also help you put your property in the best position in the market. Note their suggestions, assess how relevant they are, and decide whether or not they can get your property where you want it to be.

8. What are the full costs and fees for managing my property?

Some have small sign-up fees but a variety of hidden fees once you sign on and let them manage your property. Avoid getting surprised by such fees, and ask them to indicate all management and service fees included in their service. The more complicated their fee structure is, the bigger the headache (and expense) it will likely be.

9. What can you do that others can’t?

This is where prospective property managers will try to sell you on what they offer and how well they set themselves apart from the competition. It’s also the part where you assess the intangibles in any working relationship, giving you a better idea of how well they meet your standards. Listen well, take notes, and assess if they provide what you’re looking for.

When you are looking for a legitimate home based business, you may think that you will be looking for a long time in order to find the right one. However, this does not have to be the case. With these easy tips, finding the right business opportunity for you can be much easier than you may have thought.Join Work At Home Forums to Generate IdeasThere are a ton of forums that are available to you in your search for a home based business. These places offer you a great opportunity to talk to others who may have tried what you are thinking about doing. They can offer advice as well as warnings to people who may be looking at businesses that are not going to be good for them.Forums also offer an opportunity to ask questions to business people who may know more. You could be surprised to find out that some jobs actually go to these places to find others to work with them.Do take everything that is said with a grain of salt. Sometimes an experience that was less than favorable will make someone really dislike the company, but there may be nothing really wrong with the business.Talk To Friends who Work At HomeChances are you probably know at least one other person who works from home. If this is the case, you can talk to him or her about the businesses that you are looking at. Your friend may have tried them already and decided that it was not the right choice, and he or she may have other ideas for you.You should keep in mind, however, that not everyone who works from home wants to do the same things. It’s very possible to find someone who has tried something and it failed for them, but it will work for you.It May Take Trial And ErrorSometimes, there is just no way to know what will work for you and what won’t. When you look into a legitimate home based business, it may seem that it will work well and you get excited about it. The fact is that you may decide one or all of what it’s about is not what you really want to do. When this is the case, you just have to chalk it up as a learning experience and move on to something else.If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. You can only push a product or business that you are not happy with for so long before you decide that you don’t want to do it anymore. Why let it get to that?Working at home is something that can be a great experience. The real trick is to find a niche that will be the right fit for you. Take a little time and look at what businesses are out there and what ones are going to match your lifestyle. This will help you to work harder and to be happier than you thought you would be. That is, after all, what made you want to come home and work anyway, isn’t it?