I talk to a lot of newbies in my Internet consulting business. It seems as if they all have one thing in common (actually two). They usually telll me - "I can't find the time." OR "I don't have any money to spend."

But what do they do? They race off signing up for every get rich scheme that comes down the Internet. Then sit back and wonder why they are losing time and money that they said they didn't have in the first place.

Many successful small businesses have started on the old, proverbial, shoestring budget. Some owners have started successful businesses with a large investment of capital - but a hands off approach. Albeit the later have fewer successes! If you have NO time and NO money why "waste" what little of each you may have available?

IF you are really serious about starting any type of home based business you'd better be ready to dedicate yourself. You will need at least 90% of one and 10% of the other. It doesn t manner if its 90% time versus 10% money are the other way around.

And MOST OF ALL - be prepared to spend up to one year. It is going to take that long before you see any siginificant income being generated.

You will have a learning curve as you progress, which does take time. You will need to spend a little money for some, or all, of the following:
· Website
· Domain name registration
· Product development or acquisition
· Promotion
· Software and manuals

Choosing to be an Affiliate and sell someone else's product can circumvent some of these. However, you still have the promotional (ads) costs. Yes, you can use all of those FREE sites to generate hits to a website, but your success will be pathetic, at best, if that is all you do.

Why? What sets your offer apart from any one of the other 1,000's of Affiliates out there? So a decision has to be made. How much time and how much money or you willing to set aside? Write it all down, plan it out - and stick to it. Build it and they will come doesn't work on the Internet UNLESS you:
- nurture it
- baby it
- study successful sites
- get a solid web hosting company
- write good keyword focused content
- optimize your pages
- test your pages and your offers
- stay with it
- be smart with your decisions and do not give up and it will come.

Find the right tools and USE them!

IF you devote some time, work hard and smart, and spend a little bit of money - the SMART way!
Michael Domeck is the editor of the Beacon News and has been marketing on the Internet for over 3 years. I consult with clients on Internet marketing for the Home based business. Having sold my other sites my curent site is http://www.the-best-light-houses.com