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75 of 75 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
199, well, er, 60 anyway..., February 18, 2000
I bought this book with great anticipation -- not exactly in need of a new profession, but always looking for new ideas and profitable opportunities. "199 Great Home Businesses" started well, the first few chapters providing me with the necessary motivation to really want to begin a new business in my home. This is going to be great, I thought. I'm already primed to get started! Now give me some info and I'm ready to fly!And then, abruptly, the book took an unexpected and disappointing turn. The author, in an effort to sound friendly and supportive, makes an offer to help you with your business start up. "Call me anytime," he insists -- and if you subscribe to his newsletter he'll even answer some of your questions. What's more, he adds, if you have a good business idea, he'll even help finance it for a reasonable interest rate. What? That felt strange. I ignored it though, and plodded on to the meat of the book -- the 199 Great Home Business suggestions. It definitely needs saying: THERE ARE ONLY 60 ideas detailed in this book. The remaining 139 are simply business titles and potentional salary ranges listed in capsulized charts. Not exactly helpful, but I guess 199 sounds better than 60. No big deal, 60 ideas should be enough. Besides, if I'm going to run a business, I better get used to occasional numeric disappointments. Maybe that's what the book was trying to do deliberately -- give me an early lesson in the world of business. I had to chuckle. Learning business was easy! I had one lesson already mastered. I was well on my way to finance freedom! But the 60 Great Ideas turned out to be just 60 shameless plugs for "Business Kits" that, of course, the publishers are willing to sell you if you're interested. Peppered throughout the book, and summarized at the back, are countless advertisements for the various kits and pamphlets you can purchase if you require any true info about these businesses. They range in price from $12 to over $100. Interesting. Yes, interesting. And shameless. And disappointing. When I purchased the book, I expected to receive some valuable information -- not a handful of new opportunities to spend even more money to get the info I already paid for. The book is entrepreneurial, indeed, and the author is probably making money hand over foot. But one lesson in business, one which this book has failed, is that you should provide your customer with value for his money. You WILL feel cheated by this book. Avoid.
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