Starting a home based business is a very appealing prospect for many people. But do you really have what it takes to make a success of a home based venture? Working from home takes a lot more than just buying a new computer and finding a great business idea.

For most people who leave the home to work every day their routine is set for them by a boss or supervisor. They are told when to begin work, when to stop and when to take a break during the day. There are no such constraints on the home worker most of the time. You can work the hours that suit you and if you feel like taking a day off on a whim you can.

There is a flipside though. The home based business owner is the company, if they do not work in a consistent and dedicated manner the concern is bound to fail. Running a business from home actually takes a lot more self discipline, organization and dedication than is required for those who work outside the home. No one is standing over your shoulder cracking the whip so you have to be able to stay focused on the tasks at hand just by the force of your own willpower.

The successful home based worker will set themselves a schedule, just like they may have once had when they worked outside the home, and stick to it. This does not mean that you have to work twelve hours a day, seven days a week (although most home businesses, especially in the beginning, do require an investment of time that is usually greater than the average 40 hour work week.) It simply means that you commit to invest a defined amount of time every day to growing and running your business.

The Internet offers a wealth of free time management tools, tips and advice for the new home based worker and taking the time to read such information and act upon it is a free and worthwhile way to make sure that a home based career really is for you before you take the plunge.