For those who desire the flexibility and potential of an Internet home-based business, 5 questions will serve as a guide to get you started. Is working at home for me? How do I choose a home-based business? What do I need to get my business on the Internet? What do I need to keep my business on the Internet? What’s next?It Working at Home for Me?You know the advantages of operating a home-based business. Flexibility. Autonomy. Integration of work and family. And the Internet has not only made it easier to work from home, it has caused an explosion in the number of home-based opportunities.But is it for you? And just as important, is it for your family? As Business.gov points out in its home business resource guide, if you work from home it can create conflicts with your family as they are used to thinking of work as being an outside-the-home responsibility.You must have the discipline to work without supervision. You must have the commitment to work through the problems and obstacles (and all home businesses face them.) And you must have the attention to detail to handle all the various responsibilities.An Internet home-based business is full of upside potential. Just make sure the actual work is for you.How Do I Choose an Internet Business?A quick rule of thumb when choosing an Internet business: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The Internet has created many opportunities and just as many scams. The good news is it also creates a virtual community worldwide where you can research and discuss home business offers.Find work that appeals to you. Check out the business online. Talk to someone who has succeeded with it.What Do I Need to Get My Business on the Internet?You need a computer that can run the most recent version of the most popular software. You don’t have to buy it, just have the capability to run it. You must have a high-speed Internet connection. You must have a domain name and a Web-hosting service. And you need a website for your home-based business.Many Internet businesses provide this. Many Web-hosting services have tools to build your own.What Do I Need to Keep My Business on the Internet?It’s tempting to offer a 1-word answer to keeping your Internet business running: Work. Of course, more is involved. But don’t make the mistake many do of thinking that an Internet business is a magic formula for reward without effort. A home-based business is still a business. You must provide excellent service and stay on top of the details.What Next?Once your Internet business is up and running, begin a process of continuous improvement. It’s imperative that you have goals. Measure your progress against your goals at least weekly.And it is just as important to make necessary adjustments if you’re not on track.Running an Internet home-based business is an exciting adventure that offers tremendous opportunity. Just be certain to choose work you enjoy doing and commit to doing all that is required for success.