We’ve all heard the horror stories about home business scams, dodgy pyramid schemes, and MLM companies that do nothing more than make the person at the top richer and richer. Unfortunately this sort of outcome has placed many honest home based businesses into the same boat. There are a few prejudices out there regarding people in network marketing that in most cases is totally unwarranted. However below I have listed some things to look out for if you are someone who is looking to get involved in a legitimate home based business opportunity, and need to choose a company/organisation that is honest in its dealings with people.Does the company offer value?There are so many network marketing companies out there that seem to concentrate on nothing more than making sales. Trying to bring people on board by showing big dollar signs; promising a million free leads (be very wary of companies that promise this amount of leads)! Therefore you need to look for someone who is dedicated in giving potential clients/customers /team member’s value. A good solid educational platform for people to grow financially yes, but also a company that promotes self development along the way. People are always looking for value. By taking time to go through the websites of some of these companies you should get a feel of what they are offering.Can you actually make any money?Look closely at their money making strategy. Does this business enable you to make money straight away? There might not be anything such as a get rich quick scheme, but it is quite feasible to start making money quickly with the right home based business. If it has good core concepts, and teaches you the tricks of the trade for getting free leads on board, and if you can spare some cash for paid advertising, you should be able to start earning. A good online business will always guide you on where, how and how much to spend on advertising.Does it have a community of entrepreneurs dedicated to your success?It’s very important that in any internet marketing or home based online business where a large team is involved, you have a solid strong group of the top earners being there to assist in advice and training. When you are new to such a venture your sponsor (if they are any good), will be there using their leadership qualities to guide you to where you want to go. However it is not a good idea to ever become sponsor dependent, you need to get out there yourself and learn as much as possible whilst putting it into practise. But having some of the top earners on hand giving good solid and precise instruction that you can easily copy is a mustWhat exactly are you selling?Make sure that what you will eventually go on to market and sell is not something that is just a fad that people will eventually lose interest in. You want to have an online business with products you not only like, but can continue working with well into the future. Think long term!Research, Research, research!Take time to research as much as you can into the area you might be thinking of joining. Sometimes forums are good places to start to see what others are saying; although be weary, I have discovered that some of the really good internet businesses out there often get attacked by people in rival home businesses to make competitors look bad.With experience you can usually tell if the company you are going for is the real deal or not. It may sound naive, but pay attention to your feelings whilst researching. If alarm bells start to ring, steer clear! Try and check that the company has a clean bill of health with the Better Business Bureau and if it is a sales company make sure that they are in good standing with the Direct Sales Association.Finally, if it doesn’t work for you, it may just be that you weren’t prepared to put in the hours and dedication. There are plenty of legitimate home based businesses that do work, and the financial rewards can be lucrative, but you have to put the hours and commitment in before you see the long term rewards. And be prepared to pay towards setting yourself up. Many people are put of when asked to pay a fee before startup,but don’t forget you are entering into a business. What business do you know that you can set up completely free of charge?