The inclusion of the word legitimate in the title to this article is an interesting point of discussion.When someone is trying to find a legitimate home based business what are they really looking for?Without looking it up (I’m far too lazy to do that) the word legitimate stems, I think, from being born in wedlock. In the old days if you were born to married parents you were considered legitimate, otherwise you were a bastard!The word has since evolved to attaching legality to the meaning.On this basis a legitimate home based business could be anything that is legal.But is this with we are after when we try to find a legitimate home based business?My thoughts are that people really mean something like:”Is this a real business that I, with my skills, can do? Or if I don’t have the skills can I learn them easily enough? Or is this a business that is going to suck me in and result in me losing my shirt?”As Hamlet might have said:”To plunge, or not to plunge: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous slavery, Or to start a business against all odds, And by so doing end poverty?……… To work: perchance to make money: ay, there’s the rub;”(With apologies to William!)If you are out to find a legitimate home based business the best advice is to do your homework. And do it thoroughly – do not take any short cuts.One of the most overlooked aspects of research is market feedback. So often a business is started with a product and then the market is asked to comment. This is the wrong way around.It is more advisable to find the market, find out what they want and then supply it to them.You may love pies but that does not mean everyone in the village will buy from your pie shop! I for one never watch or read adverts but I’m told they work.Look for a unique point of difference or niche; consider seasons and phases, current events and annual occurrences. Don’t just follow the crowd. Swimming against the stream can be tough but is often the most rewarding.Fill a gap (that pie shop may be a good idea after all!)Start with an open mind and don’t make any judgments until you have all the facts.Please do not rush into anything; the opportunity of a life time comes up at least twice a week!It’s not that difficult to find a legitimate home based business that suits you, remember the idea is to find something that will make you enough money to sustain a life style you want and are comfortable with.