Be prepared - and even more important comfortable in your new work from home career!]]> Every home office is going to inherently be different to work from home in.

For example, I am writing this while sitting on a couch with one foot on the floor, another propped up, and my laptop on, well, my lap!

Perhaps you don’t want to be so casual. I don’t really want to either – and I’m hoping to have a nice new home office here soon (I’m moving soon).

You need to determine:

• Taste
• Purpose
• Design
• Space
• Budget

What I can tell you is that at minimum you are going to need:

• Laptop or desktop computer (Windows is still preferred I find, but depends on industry)
• Access to printing, scanning, and faxing (preferably have yourself)
• Cell phone
• High speed internet
• Quiet space (no dogs, children, spouses, or other interruptions)
• Comfortable setting (lighting, seat, desk/table, spacing, and even keyboard and mouse)

Beyond this, your requirements will vary greatly based on your own inventory you conducted above.

Remember that there are great tax advantages to having a home office. Review my article on Work From Home Tax Advantages for more information.

You’ll find this kind of information first on my Work From Home Blog.

Can you and I make money working from home with Elenni?

I find out and explore these questions as part of my series of reviews on work from home companies!]]>

Welcome to my review of the Elenni Work From Home Opportunity. In this review I will answer the question – Is Elenni a Work From Home Scam?

Click Work From Home Reviews to read more of my reviews! New ones will be posted regularly. You should also visit my Work From Home Blog for plenty more information!

Important: This review is part of a series of reviews on home businesses. If this is the first time here  you may want to review the Criteria I use to evaluate all work from home opportunities.

The Basic Facts

• Main Website: http://www.Elenni.com
• Main Products or Services: Fashion Handbags, Accessories, Boutique
• Year Started: 2010 (As Website)
• Better Business Bureau Member / Grade: Not a Member. No Record of Complaints.
• Estimated Initial Direct Investment: Less than $2.00
• Estimated Monthly Overhead: Less than $30.00
• Main Promises / Features Promoted: “Share Moments, Share Elenni”, “One Goal, One Passion” (Breast Cancer)

Report Card: Elenni’s Work From Home Opportunity

• Legitimacy, Professionalism, Reputation and Track Record: 17 out of 20 Points (Grade: B)
• Compensation Plan: 19 out of 20 Points (Grade: A)
• Industry and Company Strength: 13.5 out of 15 Points (Grade: A)
• Support and Training: 9.5 out of 10 Points (Grade: A)
• Community and Culture: 10 out of 10 Points (Grade: A)
• Overall Value: 23 out of 25 Points (Grade: A)

Final Score and Grade: 92 out of 100 Points (Grade: A)

Elenni, LLC is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED based on this review.

My Detailed Review

So far Elenni has been a dream coming true. Yes, I’m saying this about a company whose products I can safely say I’ve never used.

Why did Elenni score to high?

I have found Elenni to be a very special company and not like other work from home business opportunities I’ve come across (and we are talking thousands of them). The reason:

It’s just so simple.

When I was presented with this business opportunity I was immediately turned off. I’m no expert in high fashion – I’m more the pizza and sports kinda guy. However, I am never one to pass up looking over an opportunity. Of course I looked at the money to be made. I did my research on the company and industry. The results were all very positive.

• No inventory
• No buying product
• No shipping and delivering
• No collecting money
• No quotas or minimum orders

I can verify that the products reflect an elegant, classy fashion line that is wide-ranging, tasteful, and simple enough to give for an anniversary, birthday, or any other holiday (trust me – they have them all covered!).

All of this is great but I’ll be honest, while I’m happy for you, my readers, many who love this sort of thing, I personally was happy because I saw money potential.

I’m never going to go around selling this business – but I took the time and effort to learn how to market using the Internet on a shoestring budget. This applies to anything work from home – a job, business, you name it. You can always count on my help and website to teach you these skills!

Why? Because I have always believed that ANYONE who devotes the time to the right business and takes the time and effort to learn simple marketing WILL MAKE MONEY.

Money… now that is something I like to see all of us making!

So what about the money? I mean, we aren’t on a work from home website to talk about handbags, are we now?

That’s simple – and very profitable too. While our economy may be in a downturn, the fashion industry still remains a permanent long-term fixture. Elenni makes it even better after reviewing their compensation plan. I was very excited to find out one simple thing about the commissions I make:

35 Percent

That’s $35 Dollars for every $100 Dollars I sell! Now here is what I was worried about being a veteran of over 10 years doing work from home jobs and home businesses.

What’s the catch?

Most every work from home home business opportunity typically makes you “earn” the highly promoted commission rates.

Elenni actually doesn’t.

Every time a handbag, jewelry, gift collection, skin care crèmes, and the many other available products are sold, 35 percent is handed over to me twice a month!

I found Elenni to have some of the best training and support in the business.

• I can chat with them and ask them questions online through instant messaging, or through a great support ticket system which is a great professional touch
• They also have toll free numbers and phone support
• They provide live and recorded training sessions every week
• They have a comprehensive private training site with marketing tools to share my Elenni business

Special Highly Profitable Alert: I can choose to earn more money with Elenni by sharing the business opportunity with others. Full training, support, and resources are available from Elenni if you wish to pursue this optional second income path.

The bottom line with Elenni – my task is simply put: drive traffic to my “store”.

Yes, you get an online store. There are no crazy add-on packages that I’ve seen other companies require to get one. It contains the entire catalog of products as well as the optional second income path mentioned above. Anyone can order online day or night by a variety of payment methods and shipping options. I did some comparison shopping with other online retailers – and my Elenni prices are usually better!

Elenni also contributes portions of proceeds to charities favoring breast cancer. I feel this is a nice touch to feel my efforts can go directly to something positive. I hope Elenni continues to expand on this program for the benefit of all!

You may be wondering: If Elenni is so great it didn’t receive a perfect score?

Just like a person – no company is perfect.

• Elenni hasn’t been offering their work from home opportunity for decades like some companies. While this can be a great thing – more space for me to expand, I did deduct 3 points
• I deducted the 5 other points for various nitpicky reasons (nothing worthy of a specific bullet). The biggest of these minor issues for me was the economy. While Elenni didn’t cause economic troubles – you do need to always keep economic conditions in mind with any business!

Those were minors things and I found Elenni overall to be a company worthy of Highly Recommended Status.

I have continued to do the business after originally signing up to test it out. If you would like to learn more about Elenni please click on the link below!

Click Here to Learn More or Get Started Today!

Have you had a similar experience? Remember to post your questions, comments, concerns, and experiences regarding Elenni below in our comments!

Learn more about this powerful income source the wealthy tap everyday!]]> For the very first insights and tips blog I asked myself I racked my brain for what I could talk about with you today.

I decided that today I would like to talk about the power of residual income – no matter where your place of employment may be.

What exactly is residual income?

It is simply money you continuously collect for a sale performed once.

For example, If I sell you an insurance policy for $100 per month, and I collect a 20% commission each month for the life of your policy, what does that mean?

It means I get $20.00 (20% of $100) per month in residual income for as long as you have your insurance with me!

Alright, that sounds good – but $20?

Okay, well what if you sold 30 insurance policies per month for 12 months for a total of 360 policies.

Question: Did I make 360 policies x $20.00 = $7,200 for the year?

No! You must factor in the residual income.

Let’s look at this month-by-month:

1. In January you made 30 sales and earned $600 (30 x $20).
2. In February you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $600 in residual income from January for a total of $1,200 earned.
3. In March you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $1,200 in residual income for a total of $1,800 earned.
4. In April you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $1,800 in residual income for a total of $2,400 earned.
5. In May you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $2,400 in residual income for a total of $3,000 earned.
6. In June you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $3,000 in residual income for a total of $3,600 earned.
7. In July you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $3,600 in residual income for a total of $4,200 earned.
8. In August you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $4,200 in residual income for a total of $4,800 earned.
9. In September you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $4,800 in residual income for a total of $5,400 earned.
10. In October you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $5,400 in residual income for a total of $6,000 earned.
11. In November you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $6,000 in residual income for a total of $6,600 earned.
12. In December you made 30 sales and earned $600, and also collected $6,600 in residual income for a total of $7,200 earned.

Do the math – signing up 1 new insurance policy per day results in $46,800 in earnings in one year!

It doesn’t matter whether you sell insurance, handbags, cosmetics, artwork, textbooks, websites – you name it! This works the same!

Just remember you must factor into account your expenses and any drops – meaning people who do not stay with you and quit before the year is up. This will impact these earnings figures!

The point is – the power of residual income in work from home businesses is one of the single biggest reasons I choose to work from home! You cannot get this in an hourly wage job!

Hopefully this article will help you better understand how residual income can work and compound!

Read my Work From Home Reviews to learn about some companies you can work for that offer residual income!

I take a quick look at a local Craigslist website and find some hot and not so hot work from home jobs along the way!]]> Welcome to the first edition of our Work From Home Scams Shame Blog.

This blog is supposed to be by you, for you. That means that I want your comments at the end of each post.

• Is there a company that seems fishy to you? Ask about it by posting. We can share with one another about work from home scams.
• Did you have an experience with a work from home company that scammed you in the past? Report them to me! Provide the information by commenting and I will feature them in a future work from home blog post!
• Did you experience a work from home scam mentioned in a post? Post your horror story for others to see and be warned!

Don’t forget to check out our Work From Home Scams section to learn all about preventing and reporting work from home scams.

So start posting below and we will get started exposing these scams! I am excited to start busting work from home scams!

Today I wanted to do something random – and I did. I said I would go to my local Cleveland, Ohio Craigslist website and time how quickly I could find work from home opportunities and possible work from home scams. Cleveland is a big city, but nothing like some so you’d think finding work from home scams would take at least some time.

Overall, my findings in 3 ads were:

• 1 very fishy ad with limited details
• 1 ad that seemed okay (no money or information was requested)
• 1 legitimate company that is a Better Business Bureau member, has a professional website, and an extensively positive web presence. Yes, the scoop on this legitimate job is included below!

All in less than 10 minutes on Cleveland’s Craigslist!

Job #1

The first work from home job ad I found fishy to say the least. It is clearly work from home, using anywhere, second income, and other typical words you see in work from home ads. The ad is vague, with no mentions of what you will really do, what the company is, or any reason to trust the ad.

Despite this – I e-mailed the person. I will let you know. But for now, this ad (see below) is very fishy. Remember the link can go down if a lot of people report it so if you click and it doesn’t work, that could be why.

Job #2

The next ad I found is quite interesting. The person comes across as sincere. A visit to the website shows a rather weak presentation, however all seemed harmless enough. The website has little history online and is new. However, all this person really does is referring you to other websites so they can make money as an affiliate.

This is an important moment to say – NEVER pay for work from home surveys!

Job #3

The last ad, working at home with Arise is at last, a good one. This company is legitimate and you can apply to work from home. Watch for a fee for the background check so you aren’t surprised if one comes! This company is a Better Business Bureau member, has a significant web presence, and thousands of employees all over the country.

I found all this searching on Google for five minutes and reviewing their website.

What does this exercise tell us? Nothing too shocking – however, I wanted to give you some tips about how to look at ads for work from home jobs and businesses!

Read my Work From Home Reviews to learn about some companies you can work for that offer residual income!

Patrick

—

You Can Review The 3 Ads Below… Be Sure To Comment!

Title: Customer Service Agent – Second Income/Flexible Schedule/Good Pay (Anywhere)

Satisfaction Service is a fast growing organization which has part-time and full-time openings for customer service representatives. We are looking for a dependable and reliable applicant who also wants to earn a well-paying income. In order to qualify for the position, you must have a phone and working internet connection.
Positions are going quickly so you must act fast in order to be considered for this job. If interested, please reply to this ad by using the above email address.
http://cleveland.craigslist.org/csr/2447150276.html

Title: extra income

I’m a college student working on my undergrad and I thought I would share it with you. It is free and easy to do. I usually do it in my free time while watching tv or something. Visit http://www.thecashbox.us and please feel free to email me with any questions.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/etc/2440857152.html

Title: Work From Home-Professionals (Metro Cleveland and Surrounding Areas)

job-jjqat-2447974874@craigslist.org

EcoSov-Enterprises-LLC. is an Arise VSC (Virtual Services Corporation) and we are looking to hire 10 Professional Home Agents within the next three months:

This is NOT A SCAM…100% Real.

We are looking for experienced inbound call takers for these Fortune 500 companies. Pay can range from $9 to $16+ per hour working from home. You set your own schedule and hours!!

Position requires a national background check and client training. We provide customer service to major corporations!

Each company has a detailed training course that requires you to pass before you can begin to work.

To start the process go to: http://www.getpaidtoworkfromhomenow.com
You will need to review the information listed and if you qualify, click on the appropriate link on the site to review more information and fill out the quick application form and someone from my office will contact you.

You can also visit our Preferred Client Arise Virtual Solutions by going to http://www.arise.com

You will then have 7 days to complete the application process. Hurry the openings won’t last long.

*NOTE*—- If you are an Arise ACP and are looking for a VSC to work with, please contact us by filling out the application along with your ACP Information.

We look forward to speaking with you, and assisting you in this process.

EcoSov-Enterprises-LLC.
ACP# 642051

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/csr/2447974874.html

You can see detailed grading criteria I use.

This can be helpful for you to look at when you are judging a company yourself!]]> Work From Home Reviews – Rationale and Thought Process

Click Work From Home Reviews to read my reviews! New ones will be posted regularly. You should also visit my Work From Home Blog for plenty more information!

When I review a work from home company I first conduct extensive research on the company.

• I conduct an extensive background check on the company to verify its legitimacy.
• I see how long it has been in business and the amount of contact information available
• I check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints
• I look to hear from actual people who’ve done the business
• I look into the industry of the company and how the company fits into the overall puzzle
• I check for legal issues the company has, currently, or may face
• I review the compensation plan (how to earn money) and compare with similar companies

If it appears to be a legitimate work from home business that has what it takes to be a success I will then give the company a trial run myself and make a decision whether to continue or not.

If I chose not to try the company – I will talk to and learn from as many people within the organization and industry to get an accurate sense of the company.

After doing my research I will create a review. I will grade the work from home business on six key areas I’ve established. The company will then receive a final score out of 100 points along with a corresponding grade. I will give my final recommendation (or lack of) and then a detailed explanation of my experience for you!

The bottom line in these reviews is that like anyone I am looking for a legitimate, solid, reputable company with great potential in the long-term and is interesting and different.

If a company can do that – it is has an “A” written all over it.

Detailed Grading Rubric (With Explanations)

Every work from home business opportunity is reviewed according to six key areas. Each category is worth the point total listed below. A total of 100 Points are available.

Grades of A, B, C, D, and F can be issued for each category.

• Legitimacy, Professionalism, Reputation and Track Record:  (20 Points)
• Compensation Plan: (20 Points)
• Industry and Company Strength: (15 Points)
• Support and Training: (10 Points)
• Community and Culture: (10 Points)
• Overall Value: (25 Points)

A final grade based on the total points awarded. The grading scale being used is standard and is listed below:

• A = 90-100 Points (Highly Recommended)
• B = 80-89 Points  (Recommended)
• C = 70-79 Points  (Serious Reservations – Case-By-Case Basis)
• D = 60-69 Points  (Not Recommended)
• F = 0-59 Points (Not Recommended – Likely Scam)

Legitimacy, Professionalism, Reputation and Track Record:  (20%)

• A – In Business for 10 or More Years, Highly Professional Website, Toll Free Number, Contact Information Highly Visible, Clean Spelling and Grammar, Leaves No Doubt on Legitimacy, and has very few if any complaints online
• B – Has all of “A” except has been in business less than 10 years
• C – Verifiably legitimate company lacking presentation skills (hard to find contact information, some typos or other errors) and may have some complaints online
• D – Questionable legitimacy based upon lacking contact information, noticeable typos, and a confusing website and has some complaints online
• F – Company presents itself in a way that leaves prospects confused on its legitimacy and turned off by a complete lack of professionalism and has many complaints online

Compensation Plan: (20%)

• A – Best in Industry
• B – Highly Competitive with Industry
• C – Average with Industry
• D – Below Average with Industry
• F – Difficult to earn and may be questionable in setup or even illegal

Industry and Company Strength: (15%)

• A – Excellent long-term growth potential
• B – Good long-term growth potential
• C – Possible long-term growth potential
• D – Stable or declining industry, may be at risk in short-term future
• F – Not likely to exist in long-term

Support and Training: (10%)

• A – Clear track record of providing comprehensive training and support with audios, videos, conference calls, e-mails, newsletters, and telephone support.  Documented by a substantial number of different testimonials found online and few if any complaints
• B – Same as A, except more information and testimonials are needed to verify
• C – Some complaints about training (including missing components listed in A)
• D – Same as C except there are also complaints about lack of support and response times
• F – Many complaints online about company support and training indicating a company in disarray

Community and Culture: (10%)

• A – Clear track record of providing resources such as discussion forums, e-mail lists, newsletters, in-person conventions, recognition awards and prizes, conference calls (with open discussion time). Documented by a substantial number of different testimonials found online
• B – Same as A, except more information and testimonials are needed to verify
• C – Limited amount of resources are provided according to evidence
• D – Numerous complaints about the lack of resources online
• F – Obvious disregard for building a work from home business community and culture by providing few, if any resources, and having many documented complaints online

Overall Value: (25%)

• A – Weighing all evidence in other criteria, in my opinion the company is clearly a work from home success story, offering a business with widespread appeal that is supported through an excellent support structure, community, and culture. Company is highly recommended
• B – For the most part contains all of A, however some doubts remain and may include some complaints online, lack of time in business, or other circumstances. Company is recommended
• C – Company is lacking in at least one key area but may be a safe investment in some circumstances. Company can be recommended with reservations on a case-by-case basis only
• D – Company cannot be recommend due to serious flaws in at least 2 key areas
• F – Company cannot be recommended and is likely a scam, illegal, or on the verge of closure with massive flaws in at least 3 key areas

I'm here to tell you - YES YOU CAN! And I will help.

See my seven vital requirements of a company and what you need to do to get started working from home today!]]> You are tired of hearing people tell you about great sounding work from home opportunities only to learn you need to pay money to get started.

You may have been scammed before.

You may just be leery.

Whatever you are – you are simply feeling normal! With over 10 years of work from home experience doing this – I have been there, done that.

I’ve lost money, made a lot more money, and learned lots along the way.

You might be able to say the same 10 years from now.

When I sat down to write this I decided I needed to come up with a list of the vital requirements I look for in a work from home company. I came up with seven after much thought.

• Low Start-Up Cost I do not want to pay hundreds or thousands to see if something works. If I can’t get in for free or at a low cost, I’m not interested. Those other businesses may work – but I like to make money, not lose it on dumb risks!
• Profitable Market with Room for Growth I want to know that people already make money in the industry, and I want real proof that it is going to be around for a long time with room for me to profit!
• High Earnings Potential I want a work from home opportunity that compensates me for my efforts. I want to be in control of my own destiny and have the largest chunk of the profits.
• Automated I want many of the annoying tasks to be taken care of. I don’t want to deal with inventory, shipping products, meeting with clients, or holding parties. Technology and the company can handle this so I can handle finding new customers!
• Turn-Key I want websites, brochures, flyers, business cards, scripts, and other resources to be ready to go so I can get started.
• Full Training I want to know the business I am involving myself in – and I expect there to be training that explains the products, compensation plan, and gets me on the right track quickly to make money.
• Full Support Last, but certainly not least, I want full support that cares about helping me succeed. I want a company that has a telephone if it is needed but is also high tech enough to have help desks, internet chats, forums, and other support available around the clock.

Over the years I have found many companies that have offered some or even many of these traits.

I’ve done Melaleuca, ProCard, and AmeriPlan, just to name a few of the big ones. Whether you’ve heard of those work from home companies or done those yourself, you know how hard it is to find a company this idealistic.

In my 10 years of working from home, the company I’ve found that best idealizes these principles is called Elenni

Elenni sells handbags, jewelry, watches, crèmes, and other great products for gifts or personal use any time of the year. Some products like the crèmes are consumable and can have repeat orders! Elenni also has a fantastic recruiting and training program and requires little cost to get up and running.

Read My Review: Elenni Work From Home Opportunity

Regardless of whether you choose Elenni, a work from home job, or a work from home business, you can count on me to be there to help you! Because I will! This website is first and foremost a support and information website – but I am not going to be quiet about a great opportunity!

Whatever you choose to do – you can expect me to be there to assist you! Let me know what you are up to and how you feel about your work from home company.

Remember to post your questions, comments, concerns, and experiences below in our comments!

Learn about all of the work from home tax advantages that you should be taking advantage of!]]> Important: It is important to stress that unless you have either the prior knowledge or the desire to take the time to learn – you must visit a professional. Use the Google Search near the top of this page to search [Tax Preparation in Mytown, Mystate] replacing Mytown, Mystate with your own!

So, you may have heard…

One of the biggest advantages to owning a home business is the tax savings you can receive and if you didn’t know it already – you have a tax expert on your side!

I have years of experience in preparing, advising, training, and managing tax returns. I also am an IRS Enrolled Agent which means I passed a comprehensive exam on the tax code (yes, its long!) and can represent clients in audits and collections and hold power of attorney status for taxes just like a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

As the next tax season nears our work from home website will contain more and more information on taxes. However for now let’s look at what you can take advantage of:

• Home Office Deduction

You can write off all direct costs (anything SPECIFIC to your office – such as having to repair a broken window).

The real savings though come from indirect expenses. This is figured by calculating what percentage of your residence you use primarily and exclusively for business. You will be able to deduct this percentage as a business expense.

Here are some common direct and indirect home office expenses:

• Rent or Mortgage Interest
• Real Estate Taxes
• Utilities
• Repairs and Maintenance (Such as cleaning supplies)
• Casualty Losses (Theft and Damage)
• And more!

• Mileage Expenses

Many times as a tax preparer I was asked by a typical employed worker if they could deduct the mileage from their home to their place of employment. In this basic situation – the answer is no. You cannot deduct what the IRS calls “Commuting Miles”.

However, if your primary place of business is your home – any business related mileage is deductible!

• Buying office supplies
• Going to the post office
• Visiting tax preparer
• Meeting clients

These are only a few examples of typical tasks you may do – and they are all deductible! Keep a record that includes the dates, times, number of miles, and purpose for the trip. It is okay to use things like MapQuest and Google Maps to get approximate mileage.

There are a host of expenses that you are entitled to deduct. Below is just a glimpse.

• Advertising (Including Business Cards and Websites)
• Commissions and Fees (Such as bank charges)
• Contract Labor (If you pay someone for extra help)
• Depreciation and Section 179 Expenses (To deduct big, expensive purchases like computers and furniture that last a long time)
• Insurance (Health Insurance, Business/Liability Insurance)
• Interest (Mortgage, Loans, and more)
• Legal and Professional Services (Lawyers, Tax Preparation, and more)
• Office Expenses (All your pens, paper, computer ink and paper)
• Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans (Contribute to various retirement plans and obtain tax deductions and credits!)
• Rent or Lease (Property)
• Repairs and Maintenance (Including cleaning supplies)
• Supplies (Materials used to produce product or service your business sells)
• Taxes and Licenses (Any fees you encounter in business)
• Travel, Meals, and Entertainment (Conventions!)
• Utilities (Often a telephone bill)
• Wages (If you have any employees – You may even be able to deduct wages paid to your children under 18!)

All of the tax advantages you may be used to in the “regular workforce” are still available – including benefits for having children, tax credits for low and moderate income earners, and even the childcare credit!

Please visit my Tax Cruncher Blog: Work From Home Tax Saving Advice and Tips for more advice and information about work from home taxes!

Post your questions, comments, and thoughts before in the comments section!