Are you considering starting your own business in the new year? We've researched several to help you get started. Take a look, carefully consider what will help you achieve your goals, and get ready to start your exciting new business. Good luck!

Creative Memories offers scrap-booking supplies as well as digital photography services, handmade cards, home décor and custom framing. The consultant starter kits $125-355. If you choose to purchase all of the completion kits, you will invest approximately $500. In order to stay active, you'll need to submit at least $500 in sales every three months. There is no inventory required as all orders ship directly to the customer. Consultants earn a 30% sales commission and can have a personal website for a nominal fee of $10.99 per month. www.creativememories.com

Longaberger's hand-crafted baskets and home décor items including pottery, wrought iron & fabric accessories may be your choice. The starter kits range from $49-399. There is no inventory requirement since items ship directly to customers. Consultants earn a 25% sales commission and have access to a free personal website. In order to stay active, you'll need to submit $1,000 in sales per year. Consultants who sell $1,000 in sales per month receive $100 worth of products. Longaberger also offers new consultants a risk-free,100% money back guarantee. www.longaberger.com

Mary Kay. If beauty tips and pampering are your thing, Mary Kay might have the skin care and cosmetic line that's right for you. The $100 starter kit will include product samples and educational materials. While there is no inventory requirement, it is recommended to keep some product on hand. Many consultants purchase inventory based on the activity level they plan on reaching. If you'd like to have just one of every most popular item in your inventory, plan on spending a minimum of $1,000. Add another $500 if you'd like the convenient carrying case. The annual personal website fee is $50.Consultants earn a 40-50% sales commission. If you decide that a Mary Kay business is not for you, they'll repurchase, at 90% of your original cost, products purchased within the last 12 months. www.marykay.com

Pampered Chef may be perfect if you love to being in the kitchen and trying new gadgets and recipes. To get started, you'll invest $155 for products and business materials, and a personal website will cost $54 for 6 months or $96 for one year. To stay active, you'll need to submit $200 in sales every other month. Base commission is 20% and can increase (up to 25%) based on your sales in a single month. www.pamperedchef.com

Party Lite's candles are sure to warm up any room. If selling beautiful candles and accessories interest you, you can get started with a free kit when you sell $350 of merchandise at your first show. Every dollar earned over the $350 at that show, can go toward purchasing additional products to enhance your inventory. The starter kit will include candles, accessories and business supplies. In order to stay active, you'll have to submit $500 in sales each month, which on average is about one show. There is no inventory requirement since everything ships directly from the corporate office. Consultants earn a 25-32% sales commission. The monthly personal website fee is $10. www.partylite.com

Petlane offers a line of durable toys and accessories, as well as nutritious treats and foods that are all unique and affordable. If you're passionate about your pets, this may be the business for you! The $275 starter kit contains all of the paperwork, catalogs, training materials and 38 product items to get started. There is no inventory requirement as everything ships directly from the corporate office. Consultants earn a 22-25% sales commission. The monthly website fee is $4.99, and as long as you pay your monthly fee, you remain active with no minimum sales commitments. All products are 100% guaranteed, so if Fluffy doesn't like her food, they'll refund the money. www.petlane.com

Southern Living at Home may be the business for you if you have an eye for decorating and want to help inspire others to create a warm and inviting home. The $199 starter kit contains product samples, business supplies and a one-year subscription to Southern Living magazine. The $299 mega-starter kit contains five additional product samples. There is no minimum sales commitment to remain active and no inventory requirement. Consultants earn a 25% sales commission. The personal website fee is $8 or $9 a month. www.southernlivingathome/betseybishop.

A Tastefully Simple business will allow you to sampling share gourmet foods with your friends. The $170 starter kit includes all the display and sample products as well as the business materials needed for your first four shows. You are required to sell $400 every quarter to remain active but not required to keep an inventory of products. The taste-testing party process works like this: prior to the party, you give your host a packet with invitations, a food-kit filled with product samples and a few other party materials. On the day of the party, your host prepares the samples before the party begins and at the party, you talk about the gourmet foods and gifts and pass around samples. Consultants earn 33-36% sales commission. "I enjoy the yummy food we get to taste. The product sells itself basically" says Ginny Hall, a Tastefully Simple consultant in Fauquier County. www.tastefullysimple.com.

The Traveling Vineyard brings the tasting room to the family room (after the kids are tucked into bed). Consultants supply five bottles of wine to sample, as well as provide entertaining tasting demonstrations, tasting notes and food pairing suggestions. Wine glasses are even included for the evening and then collected at the end of the night so the hosts aren't left washing them. Start-up costs will range from $199- $400. You also have the opportunity to create your own sample sets of wine from a list of the most inventoried wines due to their popularity, at a slightly higher price per set. To stay active, you'll need to submit $200 in sales each month. At a 20% commission, most consultants earn an average of $100 per event. Personal website fee is $9.98 month. www.myttv.com

With Usborne Books at Home, you can grow your children's book collection while earning a 25% commission. The start-up kits vary in price, as new consultant specials are offered every month. "My kids already had many of the books, so our personal library became part of my display kit when I started this business," says Danielle Rice, a Warrenton-based Usborne at Home consultant. Consultants can also choose an educational package for an additional fee which allows them to sell to schools. A personalized website (maintained by the home office) is $50 per year. This website allows customers to browse the catalog and place orders and also allows consultants to set up e-shows or place orders. A new consultant typically averages $75-$125 per home show and there are no monthly sales quotas to remain active. "It's great to be able to run a business that meets my family's needs and also offers a product I really believe in. And I get a discount on the books my kids love," says Rice. www.ubah.com/c2518