To avoid telecommuting and work-at-home job scams, ignore the too-good-to-be-true "opportunities" that require no skills, imply that you may earn without really trying, exaggerate your income potential, and most importantly, charge you an up-front fee for the details. They really are too good to be true!

The fact that these so-called telecommuting and work-at-home jobs are advertised in the first place, is a big clue that they are scams. When you think about it, are legit employers really so desperate for people to work at home that they must advertise it? Of course not. That's why real telecommuting and work-at-home jobs seem so elusive, a fact that con artists are eager to exploit to part you from your money.

The good news is, surveys show that over 50% of major U.S. employers do allow telecommuting, at least part time. Additionally, almost all outsource projects to free agents, otherwise known as consultants, freelances and independent contractors, who work at home in some capacity. In fact, both are growing trends. Another growing work-at-home trend is in the form of home-based business start-ups, especially on the Internet.

But where do you start, while avoiding the work-at-home, telecommuting and business opportunity scams? Well, as we've all heard, knowledge is power, and as we learned in school, researching authoritative books is an excellent way to gain knowledge. It's certainly better than learning the hard way, by losing your money to the scams.

The books below were carefully selected for the integrity, experience and recognition of the acclaimed authors who wrote them. Their honest advice will steer you clear of the scams, by helping you to discover legit ways to work at home as a free agent, consultant, freelance or independent contractor, land a telecommuting job as an employee, or start up a home-based business as an entrepreneur. Legit computer work-at-home jobs and Internet business opportunities are included.

But you don't have to take this writer's word for it. As of this writing, all of the books below received good to excellent reader reviews at Amazon.com. Just click through to Amazon to read them. While you're researching books on the subject, you might also want to take a look at Consulting Career for more info about becoming a free agent, consultant, freelance or independent contractor.

Tip: If you'd like to see reader reviews or if the type of work-at-home book you're looking for isn't listed below, click through on one or more Buy buttons to see Amazon.com's recommendations, customer choices, customer advice, reader reviews, or all. Each Buy button opens a new window where you may "read more" without obligation. If you're using a pop-up stopper, you may need to temporarily override it for the new window to open.

The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century
By Paul Edwards, Sarah Edwards - ISBN: 0874779731
For each home-based business idea they present, these recognized experts include details such as how to get started, advantages vs. disadvantages, start-up costs, pricing recommendations, estimated earnings, and marketing tips, along with supplemental resources. The Edwards coauthoring team have appeared on talk shows, been quoted multiple times in reputable publications, and even have their own radio show. In addition to this book, they've teamed up to write several honest self-employment, home-based business and work-at-home books, such as those listed below.

Making Money in Cyberspace
Making Money With Your Computer at Home
Working from Home
The Entrepreneurial Parent

Telecommute! Go To Work Without Leaving Home
By Lisa Shaw - ISBN: 0471118206
A guide to getting started in telecommuting, which includes these important topics: Determining if telecommuting is an option for your career • Negotiating the telecommuting option with your boss • Setting up your home office • Balancing your work and home life • Keeping your career on track when you're "out of sight"

Home-Based Business For Dummies®
By by Paul Edwards, Sarah Edwards, et al - ISBN: 0764552279
Yet another work-at-home book by the highly-acclaimed, coauthoring Edwards team, this time as a contribution to the equally-acclaimed For Dummies book series. As with all the For Dummies books, the title is not intended to insult, but rather indicate that the information is friendlier "for the rest of us." In plain English for beginners, this one covers a full range of topics about successfully starting and maintaining a home-based business, from the legal to the financial. See also the related books below.

Starting an Online Business For Dummies
Internet Marketing for Dummies
Building a Web Site for Dummies

Freelancing For Dummies
By Susan M. Drake - ISBN: 0764553690
Humorous-but-sound advice For Dummies from Susan Drake, to help you get started as a work-at-home freelance. It cover topics such as organizing your home office, managing your budget, allocating your time, evaluating projects, landing new business, dealing with clients, and paying your taxes. Includes practical tips on assessing your skills and real-world stories from successful freelances.

Getting Started in Consulting
By Alan Weiss - ISBN: 0471384550
Practical advice for starting a work-at-home consulting business that can earn a six-figure income. Learn how to establish goals, handle legal, financial and administrative issues, market and grow your business, propose and close business deals, and maximize retirement investing. The appendices include tips for creating a business plan, sample to-do lists, home-office equipment recommendations and advertising sources.

121 Internet Businesses You Can Start from Home
by Ron E. Gielgun - ISBN: 0965761738
Starting out with an honest, no-hype beginner's guide to starting an online business, it covers everything from the basics of doing business on the Internet, to advertising your e-business on a tight budget. It then presents the details of 121 work-at-home Internet business ideas that are sure to inspire more.

The Unofficial Guide to Starting a Business Online
By Jason R. Rich, Jason Rich - ISBN: 0028633407
Most of the reviews praise the contents of this book, which include the first steps in considering any e-business, developing a business plan, financial issues, planning your site, getting your new or existing business online, how to generate revenue, promoting your e-business, which search engines are most important, and Internet business opportunity scams to avoid.

Stay-At-Home Mom's Guide to Making Money from Home
By Liz Folger - ISBN: 0761521496
This work-at-home mom and nationally-syndicated columnist offers her ideas for turning your passion, hobby or desire into a satisfying, money-making, work-at-home business, while still providing quality nurturing to your kids. Also includes inspirational stories from stay-at-home moms turned successful entrepreneurs.

Mompreneurs Online
By Patricia Cobe, Ellen H. Parlapiano - ISBN: 0399527087
Respected as leading, work-at-home authorities, Cobe and Parlapiano have shared their advice on Good Day New York and New Attitudes TV shows, among others. Now, they share their advice with you, through their comprehensive book. It covers a full range of topics for starting a home-based Internet business, expanding an existing business by moving it online, and uncovering companies that offer the elusive telecommuting benefit.

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