Today, many of us want to go to work for ourselves – and why not? You can usually make more money by running your own Business. Research shows those that run their own businesses make more money and are happier than those who have a “job” and work for someone else. However, the difference between those who want it and those that actually do is staggering. Those that do make the attempt have two options open to them. Create their own sole proprietorship (usually a brick and mortar business) or go into an affiliate marketing business. Both can be quite productive. The difference?


Any business requires a great deal of work despite the avenue you take. The more you put into it the more you are likely to get back. However, the sole proprietorship requires much more time and commitment and has a much greater degree of risk. Creating your own business is  difficult. Unless you have a unique idea that is marketable you are going to have competition with other businesses. You have to create strategies to attract customers away from the already well known & established businesses in your area and over to yours. If you succeed the rewards can be immense but if you fail you could loose everything. Being a sole proprietor is incredibly risky. If your business fails like the vast majorities do, your sole source of income has just ended and depending on how much debt your business had and how your financed the venture, you could lose much more than income – like your house if you put that up as collateral. 


Affiliate marketing businesses provide several advantages in this area. First, you are marketing products that are already in existence. Known brands are not as hard to sell especially if they have a good reputation. Good and trusted businesses or products will attract customers much faster than something new and unknown. Affiliate marketing takes care of all of this for you. 
Affiliate marketing takes most of the risk away. You're paid according to how well you perform. You don't need to worry how the overall business is performing as much as your business is performing. You get your commissions based on products you sell,  sign others  up, etc. Affiliate marketing businesses are usually well established so you don't have to worry about them folding up and going bye-bye at a moments notice.


Advertising is an integral part of either business. If you're a sole proprietor, the advertising depends on you. You'll have to have enough in your budget to hire a professional or devise a campaign yourself. The first costs money and the latter requires a great deal of time. 
With an Online Affiliate Marketing business, the advertising is sometimes taken care of for you though not always. Actually, I'd much rather do my own advertising than rely on some advertising model that's been around for God knows how long. And I like to be creative in my advertising. You're usually given what you need such as banners, e-mails, cards to hand out, vehicle signs and other information about your business. You're also likely given good advice on how best to sell the products or services. Affiliate marketing programs should try to help you as much as possible. Generally, they better you do the better they do.



Help and support as a sole proprietor will probably lead you to the Small Business Association – SBA. Here you can get advice for free or you may need to hire out a professional, meaning extra cost to you. With an affiliate marketing business, there should be a representative on hand or up-line, that you can contact for support and advice. This service is usually free to all members.
 
Business is tough no matter how you slice it. Either route you take will require hard work, dedication and funds. However, if you want to work for yourself, join a program where most of the hard work is done for you. With an online affiliate marketing business, the risk is taken away and you don't have to re-invent the wheel – just follow directions. This allows you time to concentrate on what needs to be done, like advertising, signups, making a profit and building your business.

Above all, join a online affiliate marketing company with a history of being in business for a number of years, has a solid Better Business Bureau – BBB rating, has a history of paying their affiliates in a timely and consistent basis and has great customer service when you need help, because you ARE going to need it at some point.

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