About.com's Online Business guide, Bryan Haines, recently highlighted a very interesting company called oDesk. You need to know about oDesk because it could possibly help you with your work-from-home dreams. oDesk offers the world's largest, most comprehensive and fastest-growing online workplace. According to oDesk's website, "more online work happens on oDesk than anywhere else on the web. In 2011 alone, businesses posted over a million jobs and contractors earned more than $220 million."

If you are interested in something as simple as data-entry work or as complicated as website development, consider using oDesk to search for, and find freelance work you can do from home. To learn more about oDesk, check out this interview Bryan conducted with oDesk CEO, Gary Swart...Read more.

Twitter @abouthomebiz | Facebook | Linkedin | Newsletter | Latest Articles

Logo (c) oDesk

My last post highlighted the top 10 home business franchises for 2012, based off of Entrepreneur's annual franchise report. All excellent choices and opportunities for any entrepreneur looking for a solid business model. However, some of those franchises could run you a ticket price of upwards of $100,000 -- which definitely isn't chump change.

If you like the idea of a franchise -- the benefits of buying into a proven business with lots of support and answers -- consider this list of 2012's Cheapest Home Business Franchises.

Do you think the cost of these "cheap" franchises are really that affordable for a home business?

Twitter @abouthomebiz | Facebook | Linkedin | Newsletter | Latest Articles

Image (c) Nico Kai/Getty

This just in -- here is Entrepreneur's 2012 List of Top Home Business Franchises!

If you are an entrepreneur looking to make an investment in a business which you can run out of your home, consider these franchises. This year's list is very similar to last year's list and still consists of 60% commercial cleaning businesses. A franchise is an excellent way to lower start-up risk, providing a proven business model with training in operations, marketing and business set-up.

Would you consider starting a franchise home business?

Entrepreneur.com generates an annual list of the top 500 franchises. Here is the link to view their full list.

Twitter @abouthomebiz | Facebook | Linkedin | Newsletter | Latest Articles

Image (c) Steve Taylor/Getty

To finish out this week's tax help, I thought it might be helpful to provide you with a few useful links. Each of these resides somewhere on the government's official IRS website and may provide you with additional answers to questions that haven't been answered.

• IRS Links to each state's website for access to tax forms and questions
• IRS access to self-employed and employer tax forms
• Links to information on Employer ID Numbers (FEIN) and free online application process
• Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Help & Resource Center

Here are links to the previous articles which were highlighted this week, in case you missed something. Best of luck to you as you prepare your taxes! (Remember, deep breaths).

1. 15 Self-Employment Tax Deductions
2. 5 Self-Employed Tax Deduction Questions
3. How To Avoid an IRS Audit FAQs
4. 5 Common Self-Employed Tax Questions

Was this tax week helpful to you and your business?

Twitter @abouthomebiz | Facebook | Linkedin | Newsletter | Latest Articles