The US is in the middle of a serious workforce change. Home-based businesses are now recognized as a viable source of new jobs. If it continues as expected, the new American workplace will be located in the spare bedroom or converted garage. Its no surprise then, that the home business movement of 2005 has received more attention from the recession-that-isnt-a-recession downturn.

Todays laid off workers are not the blue-collar workers in manufacturing jobs; those have long since been shifted to China. Today, prized engineers and corporate Vice Presidents of such-and-such have been sent to the bone yard.

Of course today we dont lay off our employees, we down-size; it seems to be a kinder verb. However you look at it, Joe Citizen is fed up and he isnt going to take it anymore. Most are leaving their private offices with an accrued vacation and sick leave pay, and a hefty 401k account. Prime targets for the online Marketer!!

Its my guess when they empty their desks and fill a cardboard box with their personal items, it will be the last time they labor someone elses dream. That if any good is to come of this disaster; it will be the sweet revenge of self-employment.

Often turning points in ones life are marked with discovery and challenge. The path we thought was the right one, changes at the crossroads and you suddenly step into new territory with a new determination filling your very soul as another door closes behind you.

You dont have to be a prized engineer to begin your Internet search for your new home-business. There are five points I used when making mine, and I dont mind sharing them with my readers.

1) Credentials find a business listed in the BBB, DSA, or Dun & Bradstreet. Make your requirements one that has been in business for over 10 years.

2) Product a company with a product that people want and need. Set your mark at about 55 million people who would benefit from this product.

3) Compensation if it isnt jaw-dropping, why bother? The secret here is in the residual income look for the biggies; theyre out there!

4) Training together with support and a system to follow; this sets you up for a long term work from home career.

5) Concept Im for high priced sales items and no telemarketing. No cold calls and no splitting my earnings with others. Independent Distributor would be an example, with a simple formula that can be duplicated over and over.

Not all people morphing to home businesses are prized engineers or ex-VIPs of big corporations. They include everyday workers tired of alarm clocks, traffic jams, and psychotic bosses. A bar manager sick of Tuesdays off airline mechanics unwilling to take a 25% cut in pay ER interns on 24 hr shifts doctors taking down their shingles because of mal-practice insurance costs teachers looking at dismal long-term retirement estimates. They are leaving it all to have it all!

Once dominated by the young, highly-driven, techie-oriented entrepreneurs, the home based business is quickly being taken over by those who happen to be in their 50s, 60s and 70s. The graying of small business is one of the nine major trends of 2005. By accident or design, people tend to retire earlier and paradoxically, they continue to work after retirement.

Joining the great myths of history is the old-time belief: if we go to school, get a good education and a job with a solid company, we will be set for life. Today, the changing of social trends will allow a small home-based business the same reach and capabilities as their larger competitors. This is thanks to PCs, the Internet, increasing phone systems, fax machines and satellite systems. All you need to add is a desire to change and a willingness to work as you learn new skills.

2005 Esther Smith