Track record of the company. Check the company’s track record of history. A company that has been around in the industry for 5 years or longer is your safest choice.  

Reputation and standing. A legitimate company will surely build a respectable name in the industry. Look for companies that have been recognized by business organizations and different forms of media.

The physical address of the company. A company that provides genuine work-at-home jobs should have a physical address. It is one of the basic requirements for businesses in the US. Watch out for employers online who cannot provide the location of where the business office is located.

The mode of compensation. Does the company offer a decent amount of salary? Will you be properly compensated for the type of work you will do? Will you paid based on your hours of work or based on the number of projects you complete?

The tasks or the job required. What are the tasks that you are required to do? Before signing up for a job, see to it that you are clear about the duties and responsibilities that are expected of you. Watch out for money making opportunities that does not involve any work at all.

The job requires initial payment. Are you asked to submit an upfront payment in order to get hired? If you are encouraged to invest your personal money before starting to work, you could be dealing with a scammer. To be safe, look for a company that hires workers without asking for any payment.

Consider carefully the following guidelines when trying to find a legitimate work at home opportunity.

1.    How long has the company been in the industry? A solid and reliable company should have been operations for at least 5 years or more. Watch out for new companies who have just launched within the year or the past months as these businesses are still unstable and can close out or crash at any time.

2.    What is the company’s reputation in the industry? A great company is certainly recognized in the market. Read reviews from various sources and learn what others have to say about the company.

3.    What is the physical address of the business? A real company should have a physical address where all its operations actually take place. Physical address and a landline telephone number are two of the basic qualifications for businesses before they are granted permits or licenses.

Stay away from companies that offer big-time home business opportunities if they don’t have an actual office that you can personally visit. Scams or fake businesses often give only their mobile number and e-mail.

4.    Does it offer regular compensation? Work-at-home opportunities that are offered by stable companies usually offer regular wages with competitive rates. You should be paid according to the tasks you are assigned to do. However, be wary about companies that promise to pay exceptionally large salaries for doing very simple tasks or not requiring any work. There is often a catch to that offer.

5.    Are you required to invest money for training or equipment? Some legitimate companies do require payment for the sales kit or the equipment necessary for the business. Nevertheless, many scammers use this tactic to acquire money from unsuspecting victims. Watch out if you are asked to submit an expensive sum of money in exchange for your training or equipment.

6.    Do you need to have certain skills to get the job? Watch out for opportunities that are open to everyone. A real company who is looking for work-at-home workers should seek specific qualifications. The scope of the job should also be clearly defined and explained.

7.    Who are the founders of the company? Who are the people behind the company? It’s important to know the owner and the managers of the company. Get to know their background and reputation. Do they really have the skills and capability to run a company? What does their background say about them?

8.    Are you encouraged to sign up in a hurry? A legitimate and stable company should have confidence in itself and would not rush applicants to sign-up right away or the opportunity would disappear. If a company forces you to sign up today, there is a risk that the business is a scam.