In the crazy economy, so many people have recently lost their jobs, or fear they may soon lose their job...and are now considering the purchase of their own franchise business? All of us want more control and predictability in our lives. That's only natural. You may be thinking that owning your own franchise business would give YOU the control that so many of us are seeking. That's understandable ... but don't jump out of the frying pan... right into the fire...until you seriously evaluate your options.

When considering a business of your own...most of us are conditioned to think of a franchise. You may have never considered this as a real option before... but have you ever checked out a "real" online business? No...not those rinky-dink little scam online business...but a real, honest to goodness, legitimate home based online business? One where you can work from home in your own home based business and make money online?

Most people have no idea that tens of thousands of people are quietly making solid incomes from the comfort of their homes working online, in there own online, home based business. It's true. However...it seems the only ones we hear about, standing around the water cooler, are the scam deals that don't work.

In the community where I live a guy just opened up what appears to be a wonderful Mediterranean style deli offering falafel, gyros, kebobs and many other tasty dishes. Every time I drive by, I can't help but to wonder about that guy. Within the last six months four other restaurants have gone out of business within a few minute walk from his new place.

I know the rents in the area he is located in run $7,000 to $8,000 per month. When I think about what he has to risk to try and make that business work...compared to running a simple home based online business....it really makes me crazy.

Let's compare to the two businesses. First let's look at the deli. He may have had to plunk down $30,000 to $50,000 or more for the franchise fee...and you don't get that back if you go under. He probably had to sign a 3 to 5 year triple net lease on his building. If his business does not make it...7K to 8K per month is a lot to be on the hook for.

Also...he had to invest in his equipment, his inventory, signage, advertising, etc. Hard to imagine what that cost. Then he has to hire people to run the place 7 days a week from 10 AM till 9 PM. He has to worry about them showing up, treating his customers well, not stealing from him and hopefully not being robbed. He also gets to work every night, weekend and holiday.

What can he expect to earn in return for all of this risk and effort? Industry stats say his net would range from $40,000 to $75,000 per year. Uggg. That's like buying a very difficult job without a great deal of upside earning possibility...and a ton of personal risk!

Now...let's compare that to a "real" home based online business. (By real I mean a business like: (My Internet Business, MIB, Global Resorts Network, Big Ticket to Wealth, Carbon Copy Pro, Passport to Wealth, Cruise to Cash, Perfect Wealth System, and a few others.)

To get started in a real online home based business it will cost you somewhere between $2,000 to $15,000 depending on the program you choose. You will need to set up a merchant account to accept credit card payments, an auto responder service to follow up with your prospects, a web hosting company to host your web site, and usually pay a back office fee. Together these services combined may range in cost from $75 to $150 per month...and you're in business. Not too bad to get started.

You can choose to use only free advertising methods...or paid advertising methods, or a combination of both. Free methods take more of your time and usually take longer to produce results....while paid methods work much faster and take less of your time. Your monthly advertising budget can go as high as you wish...but many people can get off to a good start spending several hundred dollars a month on advertising in the beginning.

A few online marketing businesses teach online marketers to use funded proposals. When you use this method, you can offset or even cover your advertising cost... it's a really smart way to go.

With a home based online business you don't have to rent an office or sign a lease... working out of your home works just fine. Just grab a cup of coffee and head down the hall and you're at work... is awesome! You don't need any employees, you can set your own hours, and your overhead is minimal. You get paid up front so you have no receivables and you also don't have many of the other headaches associated with a brick and mortar business.

Okay...so how much can you make in an online business? Good question. The key is to really treat it like a real business. Many people do not. You need to study and learn new skills. Contrary to popular belief, you don't just make a few clicks and money starts pouring down upon you. The good news is it is not rocket science. Pretty much anyone can figure it out and succeed if they apply them selves, commit themselves and don't give up at the first obstacle the run into.

It is critical to get the right training and information. There is a ton of bad online marketing information out there. Lack of training...(knowing the right things to do... and how to do them correctly)... is the #1 cause of failure in online marketing. This is a make or break decision, so choose your online business carefully. The better your training...the better your results.

If you do it right, it's not that hard to start making thousands per month. It takes a bit of time to get up to speed and "fill up the pipe line", but once you do...there are a surprisingly large number of people making 50K to 100K a year... and more than you think are making multiple hundreds of thousands a year and more. The upside is truly unlimited...unlike the deli business.

So, if you compare the start up cost of the two businesses... the down side risk... and the income potential of the two businesses....it really seems like a no-brainer. When you consider best case and worst case scenarios of both businesses ...and there is a huge difference between the two. I wish you the best of luck in choosing the business that is right for you.