First consider that you need to (1) protect yourself from unwanted intrusions, (2) be able to look without committing, and (3) not have a ton of follow-up communications swamping your e-mail inbox. Get a free e-mail account (like Hotmail or Yahoo) to use while you're "just looking." Once you decide on a business you can give it your primary e-mail address.

1) The first item is a personal one. Do you have an interest in the product(s) being offered? For instance, if you are into health foods, vitamins and minerals, you would probably not be interested in the Chocolate Bar of the Month business. Instead you would want to look for a vitamin and mineral company.

2) Next consider the cost of getting into the business. A home-based business usually has a start-up cost ranging from free to $1,000 or more. Look at your finances and choose wisely.

3) Think about the on-going costs. Many companies require you to purchase a certain amount of product each month to remain qualified for getting paid. Some require you to increase your purchases as you advance through the ranks.

4) Consider the cost of your Web page or pages. Some companies charge you for them on a monthly basis. Others don't charge anything. Be sure you can afford this cost before joining.

5) Know the requirements needed to begin receiving pay. Many companies require recruiting additional partners before qualifying for pay. So consider this carefully, especially if the cost of getting in is a little high. Will others you enlist be able to afford the start-up or ongoing costs?

6) Does the product lend itself to repeat sales? Is the average person likely to use this product? How much convincing will you have to do in order to get others to buy it from you?

7) Does the company offer training and materials for free or do they charge for them? This all factors into the cost of doing business and must be considered.

8) Will you have a mentor? A mentor will shorten your learning curve tremendously. Is his or her information, such as e-mail address or phone number, readily available to you?

9) Is the parent company at least five years old? This one is a little tricky. Some companies may have launched a new division, but the parent company is an established and trusted firm. This one issue has a plus on both sides of this coin. The plus for an older company is that they are established. The plus for a newly formed company, or division within an older company, is that the market may be wide open and thus the opportunity is excellent.

10) Is the company being hyped as being in pre-launch? If so, look it over carefully. Sometimes this is a ploy to draw in people to get a few quick bucks and then the company "runs for the hills." Other times it is a legitimate opportunity. Just be wary. Be sure the product is valid and one you think will be around a while.

11) Does the company say you have to sign up by a certain date or you will be passed up by others joining below you? This is a ploy to play on your fears, and it usually works. Don't allow yourself to be pressured into joining anything you haven't thoroughly checked out and want to commit to for the long haul. Don't ever be pressured by any kind of a deadline.

12) If you can speak with a live person, do so. Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions. But be prepared to be pressured to join and get started right away. You will have to resist this if you are not entirely convinced yet that this is the company for you.

13) If you look at a company's pay plan and can't understand it, maybe it isn't for you. Most reputable companies today will have a video on the Web site you can check out. These may run anywhere from 5 to 25 minutes long. What is important is that you be able to understand the concept behind the company and know what the pay plan entails. Always remember to look for the “hoops” you will have to jump through to get paid.

This is not an all inclusive list, but it will give you an excellent start in comparing one home based-business to another. You will more than likely come up with points of your own to consider. Don't be afraid to include them in your own personal checklist. After all, you are the one committing time, effort and possibly money. Remember, they have to satisfy you. If they don't, keep on looking until you find the one that is right for you.