There are many online business ideas and opportunities out there - but how do you actually know which one is the best opportunity for you?

Before you even get to making that all important decision as to which online business to start, ask yourself the following questions. Your answers may very well influence the kind of business you eventually choose.

Why Are You Going Into Business?

Be very clear on what it is you want.

* Do you want to work less hours but make more money?
* Do you want more time with your family?
* Do you want to be able to travel?
* Do you want to be able to operate from anywhere in the world?

Make your choice carefully - some online businesses can be labour intensive if not set up correctly. This would defeat the purpose of starting an online business. It would really be like swapping your job for another job - is that something you want?

How Much Capital Have You Got To Invest?

Investing lots of money increases your risk. I always look for opportunities that don't require having to invest large sums of money. And the beauty of starting an online enterprise is that there are many that can be set up with very little capital investment.

Is It Scalable?

It is always a good idea to start small while you learn the ropes and iron out all the glitches. Once you've got the hang of it, you can then take it to the next level.

Can Your Idea Be Automated?

The advantage of being able to automate is that, after the initial set up, it just ticks over and you don't have to be "on the job" all the time. You can then get someone else to manage the day-to-day administrative tasks which frees you up to grow more passive income or to do all the things you've always dreamed of doing.

Will It Create Passive Income?

The beauty about the Internet is it can be set up to generate passive income - particularly if you plan to be an infopreneur. Once you set it up, it goes close to being able to run on auto pilot. Obviously you have to monitor your sales and the market on a regular basis to make sure your product is still in demand, but this is far less labour intensive than, say, selling physical products.

I hope that the above helps you to think through some of the decisions/choices you need to make as you review the many online business ideas out there.

Author's Bio: 

Lorna Zelunzuk created Successfully-Starting-an-Online-Business.com to help budding entrepreneurs get off to a great start. Get more online business ideas and tips to get your Internet business up and running.