Right now, 47% of people are either telecommuting or working from home.

It is the goal of some people to stay at home with the kids. Other people are looking to make a living in a tough economy. Thanks to the internet, there are several opportunities that allow them to work from home.

Right now, 47% of people are either telecommuting or working from home. Whatever your skill, there is probably a job to match that you can do from home.

Here are some credible sites to check out.

At vipdesk.com you can become a virtual concierge or customer service representative helping people plan travel, find home improvement contractors or deal with retail returns.

Those jobs can pay between $10-$12/hr. The website states that it does not hire people in Nebraska. Please check their website for more details.

Freelance work can be found at elance.com.

There are thousands of jobs posted and you can submit a proposal for work. There is everything from writing to marketing to web design, also legal or engineering jobs.

If you're an educator, you can turn your computer into your classroom by becoming a virtual educator. Check out
tutor.com and k12.com.

On those websites, you can change a life without every leaving your home.

When looking for work online, the Better Business Bureau warns to beware of scams.

If a work-at-home company asks for money upfront, it is a scam.

Another red flag, if the company claims you can make a lot of money with little effort and no experience.

According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, just 47% of women believe they are capable of starting and running a business. About 62% percent of men feel they can do it.

Some women may be afraid of failure, and with good reason. About half of all new businesses fail within the first five years.

Being a successful business owner takes hard work and smarts.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when starting a new business.

One mistake women make when starting up: not being prepared when confronting clients.

"Don't walk up and say, 'What does your company do? What can I do for you," said Pamela Prince-Eason, the President and CEO of WBENC.

Visit websites, learn about their products or services and have a plan for how you'll benefit the clients before meeting with them.

Mistake number two: not having a dedicated sales professional.

Another mistake: not enough networking.

"People do business with people who they like. Period," said Tara Abraham, the Chairwoman and Co-CEO of Accel, Inc.

Not following up with your contacts is mistake number four.

"You always have to make sure that you set yourself apart, so it's about the follow-up after the conference," said Abraham.

Another no-no: Not taking advantage of professional organizations.

Groups like WBENC offer education, networking and support opportunities for women in business.

Mistake number six: starting your business in a saturated market.

"Look at other areas that have really been underdeveloped or not even tapped yet," said Prince-Eason.

The last mistake: not enough cash.

Some experts recommend having about three times what you think you'll need to start your business.

Another common mistake is spending too much on business cards and brochures right away. Experts say most start-up businesses change too quickly for these materials to be effective.

A good rule of thumb: wait until you can keep your typical sales presentation the same for at least six months before you invest in them.