Making Money with Your Computer at Home (Paperback)

The key word for this book is: outsourcing. They believe, and are very likely correct, that outsourcing is the future. Everything that you or a company would have done yourself a decade ago you are now outsourcing to others to do for you today. They also appear to ignore the fundamental organizational and economic implications of the world wide web. The barriers to entry on the internet are almost non-existent for practical purposes. Anything that you can do, someone ten thousand miles away in Rangoon can do, too- most likely for less. Outsourcing is touted as giving you more control, allowing you to work less while giving you more. However, many who engage in outsourcing are actually working harder than they were when they held full-time jobs. Proximity, or the close location of business to client, does have its merits, but these are more often weakened rather than strengthened by computers and the internet. Outsourcing and proximity can work for the home business, but they more often work against it.

Yet, this does not mean that the Edwards team did not write an excellent book. In many ways, this is probably the best book out there for those who are not one hundred percent technology literate or computer savvy. Whereever possible the Edwards team encourages the reader to support and work with other home business people. Bluntly speaking, the real selling point of this book is not its computer aspects, but its ability to prepare the prospective entrepreneur to carefully consider the market for his or her product and work with computers and high technology to do business.

The book is organized into seven thoughtful chapters brimming with information. As advertised on the cover, the focus of the book is computer centered home based businesses, and the first chapter is a simple sketch and summary of one hundred such businesses. Each summary includes a list of resources (books, web-sites, and organizations) as well as a basic run-down of the type of business, its profit potential, the time committment, and start-up costs. However, some of the resources cited in the book tend to carry a high price tag, and are either out of print, out of date, unavailable, irrelevant to the business described, or not very useful. Many of the book's business ideas reflect the increasing subdivision and specialization occuring in many industries. Also, some of the business ideas are either quite related (billing and invoicing, payroll, and bookkeeping- all subdivisions of accounting) or highly ambiguous (HTML programmer and web designer, desk top publishing, publishing, and form design service).

The book is good simply because it tells you everything you need to do to be taken seriously as a business. One chapter each is devoted to outfitting your office, getting good phone service, and selecting the best computer for your home office. One of their main points is that the telephone is a very important piece of equipment for the home business, and they strongly suggest that the entrepreneur have as many lines as possible. One minor flaw with the book is that the computer information, though fairly up to date for a 1997 publishing date, is repeated ad nauseum, and could have been better presented perhaps as a separate chapter, chart or table listing the software and hardware needs for the different businesses.

Although some readers may be more advanced than others, overall, there is a lot of good, straightforward, and practical advice to be found in this book. The book is not only thorough, comprehensive and exhaustive, but also addresses all of the major (and minor) questions of the fledgling entrepreneur (though not in the order I would have liked). Aside from the exaggerated projections of potential profit for the various ventures, this book is definitely worth reading twice at least. The Edwards should be commended for producing such a straightforward, hype-free, and first-rate volume.

     Making Money With Your Computer at Home was written by Paul and Sarah Edwards to meet the needs of those persons who for one reason or another desire to work from home. There are a number of reasons why working at home is either advantageous or even necessary. Working at home will sharply reduce business overhead expenses, it is tax deductable, it offers parents the opportunity to care for and even homeschool their children, and allows t! hose persons with limiting disabilities to earn an income from within the confines of their homes.

     Making Money With Your Computer at Home is presented in two major sections. The first section provides readers with an amazing 100 actual occupations from which income can be generated at home. For instance, the authors point out that one can easily perform word processing work such as billing, invoicing, payroll, proofreading, and resume writing tasks. Those more technically inclined readers can perform computer consulting, setup, servicing, and training services.

     This second edition of the book contains new material concerning the role of the Internet in today's society. Tasks such as Website design and setup, online publishing, and promotion can be easily accomplished from one's own home as well. The authors follow-up with a series of 47 thought-provoking pertinent questions that will help set the pace for successful home-based employment. These questions will gu! ide readers through the most important personal, finacial, ! and legal issues they may face, such as setting up an office, financing start-up costs, zoning regulations, determining what work to perform, advertising, targeting potential customers, and setting up an effective work schedule.

     The second section of the book will guide readers through the process of purchasing the right computer and office equipment and obtaining the software they need to run a successful home business. Although the authors assume their readers have a basic understanding of computers, they provide sound advice on minimum requirements and offer recommendations on some name brand equipment. They thoughtfully encourage readers to avoid lower-end components by anticipating future considerations. From there the authors offer advice on how to setup and run computer and office equipment and businesses in a professional manner. For the benefit of readers, the authors also include a wealth of resources for computer use, operating a business at home, and going o! nline to sell particular products and services.

     Although people can easily buy a computer and try setting up a business at home, this will by no means guarantee that they will be successful. Armed with this easy to read book, readers have the opportunity to tap into the rich resource of material and expertise offered by leaders in the home business field. Regardless of why people may want to work at home, this book will serve as an encouragement for them to find the work and develop the plans which are right for them. With this book and the right equipment, planning, and the motivation to succeed at home, readers will have an excellent chance to succeed. This is the best book available on the subject on the market today. Don't start a computer-based home business without it! Highly recommended!