Tips for Finding a Legitimate Business from Home
The internet has made it easier than ever to start a business from home.
It also makes it easy for these businesses to be scams. With so much competition, you need to be on the lookout for someone who is trying to take your money. There are ways to check if the company you're considering doing business with is legitimate and trustworthy, but there are still some red flags that are very important for people new to the world of getting paid for their work from home. This article will cover many of those red flags and give steps on how you can avoid becoming an online fraudster.
How to Avoid Working with a Scammer
Step 1: Determine if the company is really legitimate.
Once you find a company that looks reputable, it's important to do your research on the company and stay away from any "scammers" that look like they could be fake. Just like everyone else in the world, there are scams out there looking for people to take advantage of. Here are some red flags you should check when checking out companies:
Step 2: Ask plenty of questions.
Always ask plenty of questions! It's very easy for businesses to hide behind their computer screen without ever having met you face-to-face.
Step 3: Make a few business contacts before you sign up.
Make a few business friends (both online and offline) and ask them what to look for with companies. The red flags will be obvious if you have people who know the industry, because they will have their own experience with scams trying to take advantage of people.
Step 4: Avoid new companies that are offering you a high-starting wage.
It's important to avoid any company that says it will pay you $5,000 or more to work from home! This is not standard in the industry and is just plain dangerous if it's not legitimate.
Step 5: Go for a company that has been in business for a few years and has a great reputation.
Check out the company's website to see how long it has been in business, what it's previous customers have said, and whether or not the company can be found on review websites (like Yelp). A legitimate company is going to have reviews!
Step 6: Avoid companies that want your social security number right off the bat.
The most legitimate companies will never ask you for your social security number. This is a huge red flag and should be avoided at ALL costs. If they ask you for your SS#, they are almost certainly trying to scam you. This is just one of many ways they can identify you and your personal information.
Step 7: Avoid companies that ask you to put your entire credit card in their account.
It's also a huge red flag if they want to give you a debit card even after you've signed up with them. These are the kinds of things that are too good to be true and are a sign the company is suspicious. Make sure the company requires you to use a credit card before giving you access to any money or financial information.
Step 8: Avoid companies that threaten or scare you into signing up for them.
The best way to spot a red flag is if the company you're considering doing business with adds a ton of pressure for you to sign up. Another reason why this is a problem is because it makes the business model less sustainable. If they are having to resort to scare tactics, it's usually just because they aren't paying their workers enough (or anything at all).
Step 9: Avoid companies that won't let you read the fine print before signing up.
Make sure the company will let you read through the fine print before you sign any contract! This should be available on the website and should not be hidden in any way. The company should let you read through it at least twice to make sure you understand all of the terms.
Step 10: Avoid companies that don't do background checks.
The very best companies to work for will do background checks, but they should never ask you to give them your social security number. They should also have written job descriptions and provide their workers with the training they need in order to succeed at their jobs, along with some sort of internship or training program.
Step 11: Avoid companies that rely on testimonials only.
It's a good thing if a company has plenty of positive reviews from previous customers, but that shouldn't be the only thing you look for when determining if a company is legitimate or not. There are also plenty of review websites out there that will post positive reviews for anyone as long as they're willing to pay.
Step 12: Avoid companies that put up fake ads.
This one's pretty simple: If a company puts up advertisements that try to make their jobs sound better than they really are, then they're trying to scam you. It's important to check with the Better Business Bureau, Google reviews, and the FTC because there are so many scammers out there.
Step 13: Avoid companies that won't work with you personally (when needed).
The very best companies will go out of their way to help you with your career. They will be willing to work with you even if you have special circumstances that might make it difficult for you to succeed on your own.
It's very important to do your homework and make sure a company is legitimate before you sign up. These are just some of the things you should look out for when trying to figure out if that company is trustworthy or not!
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Conclusion
So, there you have it. My list of the top ten red flags you should look out for when looking for a place to work. I hope this gives you some insight into what red flags you should keep in mind when trying to find places to apply. These aren't the only red flags that should be taken into consideration when looking for employment, but they are the ones I believe can make or break your search if you're not careful.