Working from home for extra cash is very attractive for people short on money, but some pitches will only lead to disappointment.
The Better Business Bureau recommends people look for companies with a good reputation and real people.
“You can find a good one by asking questions, being wary if they want a lot of personal information or money up front,” said Jeanette Kopko, of the Dallas Better Business Bureau.
Jennifer Kinnear works out of her home cooking with Homemade Gourmet, a “start your own home business” like Avon and Mary Kay.
The company features “four meals in four minutes” plans for several days at a time and individual “homemade in a hurry” meals that steam in the microwave.
Kinnear started out as a customer and then began selling the quick-meal preparation products seven years ago to make some extra money.
“All of a sudden though, I started helping people, and they liked it, and people eat every day,” she said.
Today, she’s one of the Texas-based company’s biggest sellers.
Photo by Jeff Sandquist