What are some legitimate work from home jobs that aren't scams?

Yes, there are work-at-home programs which are not scams.

Some of the more successful work at home businesses are the ones which the individual has developed on his/her own creativity. There are home based business opportunities offered on the internet which could possibly work for an individual depending upon the criteria/standards which the person has. For example: the time invested on the start-up with no remuneration, actual realistic pay-offs/potential expansion in the future, the "savvy" (understanding) of that particular arena along with all the marketing tech, ...these are some factors to view in making a wise decision on a course of action.

There is no substitute for one's own thorough research and investigation, along with enlightened personal observation and exposure of an endeavor or subject or activity.

I want to repeat that. There is no substitute for one's own thorough quest.

A factor that is often not looked at when a person decides to have a home based business is that it may really involve 60-80 hours a week, with low pay in the beginning, risk and then more risks as one grows, and a whole assortment of headaches. Many people are not willing to actually commit themselves with the time or risk of losing the investment nor willing to continue to confront all the things which really need to be done in order to pull it off. It is not always a stable road.

Assessing what one can do and what one is willing to do is important.

Resources: Your own ideas. There are lots of books with lists of ideas. The internet has many offers. Magazines and trade issues and business journals and forums and chat rooms and websites and seminars and trade shows are some of the places where a person may get ideas. And there is this site. There is looking at products and services and demands and public needs and corporate needs...something as simple as watching what people buy. All these places can give you ideas.

I have been self-employed for more than 20 years...and not on just one endeavor. I have personally tried more than 100 different ventures, business plans, jobs or "hats", endeavors, etc.

Things may not always turn out like one thinks they will. This is something to look at. And it could be unexpected to the plus side or unexpected to the down side. As an example, selling one product may lead in to selling a different line of products and a huge expansion. Or 9/11 and a bad economy could move all the anchor stores out of your shopping center and you get killed with the high rent on your lease. [I know a "store" is not a home-based busines, but believe me -- a home based busines can lead towards opening stores.] My point here is things do not always come about the way we predict them. That is basically the essence of that term called "failure".

So?! How many experiments does a research chemist "fail" on before the right formula is discovered. It may take a lot of failing hypothesis to get an answer to something.

This willing or being able to accept losing at an endeavor comes with the territory.

I have had some very good winners, like helping build an apparel company (buying stock at the onset for 8 cents a share and selling it for a $1 share) or the time I built up a small chain of retail stores. Both these I started at home with less than $1,000 and a vehicle and selling stuff on a street corner...and working 7 days a week with low pay, etc. There were some other good ones too. But there were ventures which didn't go as I had intended them to go or as I had planned. There were "flops". But even with those times I still made okay money and gained some insight. The value of thorough research is one of the things I gained. The lack of knowledge about an activity can adversely affect one.

I recommend going about it this way. Look for ideas everywhere you can. Write them down. Review them from time to time. One idea may lead to another.

Put together the ideal scene of how you would like to see that home based business be. Envision what would ideally be taking place and how things would realistically operate. Work backwards from there on what you would need to do to accomplish that ideal scene.

One thing I often see with people doing their own business starting out is that their realistic projection of sales is filled with a false hope. For example, someone may open a small gift shop with the idea that lots of customers will drive out of their way to come and spend lots of money in their place where the rent is $100 day. The dissappointment comes fast when only 20 people a day come into the store spending an average of $10 per head with a 50% margin. No pay for the owner or staff or taxes or utilities or insurance.... Again, what one doesn't know can adversely affect him. So, avoid "hoping" for good statistics. Rather, have enough certainty in your research to have an idea of what to expect. Knowledge and control and being the source of causing are interrelated. Prediction comes with improving these.

Many people have a strong interest in being their own boss. I am just going to throw out some ideas of some home based businesses, but there is a wealth of resources out there. Day Care in the home. School in the home. Tutoring. Taxi-ing kids before and after school. You can probably get creative because there are more ideas along this subject line. Computers: Repair, sales of any type of hardware or software, tutoring or instructing, troubleshooting, website development, promotion of websites through percentage commissions or sales, etc.,etc. Marketing or advertising: Your own endeavor or sell advertising from your home for a publication or other venue. There are lots of advertising mediums out there and lots of businesses are striving to get more customers "in the door" or to their website. Or just sell a product. It could be over the internet or even door-to-door or by mail order. Build your own "origami boulder" (search the web to see this site...it is great!) Landscaping or mowing lawns. Sell something on the street corner. ......I could go on and on with ideas.

But the thing that will come up with the individual is "I don't know much about ________ nor how to do it." "I really don't know if I want to do this particular venture."

So, it boils down to research and investigate and find out for yourself firsthand. There is really no substitute for it. I'll be glad to help if you have an interest in a certain idea and want to bounce it around...just send $10 to 1234 Lucky Lane in Podunk,TX. Naw....just joking. You can E-mail me really and I'll try to help if I have the time.