So now you know that even if you have a home based business, you still have competitors. If you want to make money at home, you must find a way to be better than these competitors.

The best way is to provide a Service or better service. It is perfectly possible to sell products of the exact same physical quality while providing a better serviceto the customer, quality and service are almost the same thing. There are companies out there who can sell computer software that their customers could get almost for free, simply because the customers like to have the support services that they get with their purchase.

Likewise, if service is all you do, then it should be pretty simple to provide a more attentive and personal service than your competitors. 'One-on-one business' gives you a great opportunity to become friendly with your customers, and that's often worth its weight in gold to them. So by doing the same differently you will win'

Make it Simpler. Many businesses offer great products, but they're pitching them to very technical customers. If you're an expert in your field, you will very often find that you can build a great business simply by selling the same thing as your competitors, but going to some trouble to explain and market it to a wider section of the public. Anytime you start using some new technology, the chances are that someone along the way had to work out how to make it simpler. Few new technologies or inventions come pre-packaged for consumer use.

Change the Design. Make it smaller, or change the color, or make it easier to open and fix. There are all sorts of ways to subtly redesign a product and give it all sorts of bells and whistles that customers will really appreciate. You might even be able to buy products, modify them, and then sell them on.

Alliances'Despite what the word might lead you to think, you don't always have to be competitive with your competitors. You might find that they have extra work sometimes that they wouldn't mind sending over to you, or you might find that they're willing to give you advice on starting up (if not for free, then perhaps for nothing more than the cost of a few drinks!). Of course, you shouldn't go giving away all your secrets or giving them any other advantage, but that doesn't mean that you should keep away. Pay special attention to any problems that they say they've had, or anything they do that seems to sell especially well.

Believe it or not, your competitors can be your best allies in this home business game, especially if they're home businesses themselvesover time, your competitors might even become your friends.