TAHLEQUAH — Working an 8-to-5 job is stressful enough for most people, but home-based businesses often come with a heavier price tag.

Eight years ago, James and Samantha Mouse were both full-time employees, juggling work schedules with activities of their children. Samantha was working for her sister, who decided to shut down her business. It was then that Samantha and James came across a new opportunity.

“I didn’t want to work for someone else, and I wanted to be around my kids,” said Samantha. “Then my brother-in-law called and said he had a business opportunity for us.”

The Mouses were introduced to a screen-printing press system for sale in a Bargain Post, and decided to purchase the setup. J&K; Screen Printing was born, and soon, both Samantha and James were working full-time from their shop.

“We didn’t have a garage, so we left it on a trailer and parked it under a carport,” said Samantha. “The first shirts we printed were made in the shop, which had walls and a roof, but no windows or doors.”

The couple generally runs its press 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but working at home means a short break is not far away.

“If the kids have a ballgame or something, we can shut down and go watch them play,” said James.

“And,” added Samantha, “if we want to take a day off, we can.”

Four months ago, Layce Gardner introduced her Web site, www. RenegadesPostcards.com. Gardner sells antique and unique postcards around the globe, boasting sales in every most countries, excluding Asia and the Middle East.

“I guess they don’t collect postcards,” said Gardner. “I’ve only ever sold one postcard to Oklahoma - guess they don’t collect here, either!”

Business is coordinated right in Gardner’s home as necessary, a luxury most home-based business owners can appreciate. The only employee of her business, Gardner questions the need to work for someone else when it’s easy to be her own boss.

“I work harder because of self-motivation,” she said. “And I can work in my pajamas. I am open 24 hours a day, and wake up every morning to see what I’ve sold. Right now, I am averaging 800 people a day, ‘walking’ through my store.”

Her business equipment is simple: one laptop computer and wireless Internet access. If ease and affordability isn’t enough, working at home also saves on business expenses, according to Gardner.

“It’s growing by leaps and bounds. I’ve only been open four months, and it’s doubled each month,” said Gardner. “I won’t need to pay a landlord or mortgage for more space - that would be stupid with a virtual store. But I may need to buy a bigger house.”

As a business development specialist for the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center, hosted by Northeastern State University, Bill Mount worries too many people think starting a home-based business is as easy as some advertisements claim they are: “Generate insurance leads from home,” or, “Make money mailing envelopes from you home - up to $1 per envelope!”

But it’s not always that easy – or legitimate, according to Mount.

“Check with a local Better Business Bureau, or a small business association,” said Mount. “Many of these require a person to purchase a starter kit for a [certain] amount of money. Many of these advertisements are no more than a pyramid scheme.”

Mount said there are many great ideas for running a home business, but seeking professional counseling services is the best way to get started.

“For instance, most people want to go out and get a store-front operation,” he said. “But try it as a home-based business first.”

Kicking off a new business at home, rather than spending a fortune moving into a rental building, ensures the business owner doesn’t come out way behind on bills with a product that could tank, instead of become a money maker.

Reagan Cook feels she has a multitude of talents worthy of her own small, home-based business, but when she considers making it reality, the requisite organization scares her away.

“I’ve known a whole lot of people who threw open doors for some wild idea, and then a month or two months later, they’ve spent their savings away, and aren’t getting anywhere with the business,” said Cook. “When I see that, I think about my talents, and then I think about my lack of talent in the checkbook-balancing portion of my life, and realize I’m better off as an employee than an employer.”

She understands her ideas could be the “next big thing,” but when it comes down to the basics, Cook isn’t willing to throw away a guaranteed paycheck.

“I might do really for two months, start banking on success, and then after Christmas, what then? I guess I just need security,” said Cook.

For Gardner, running a business from home does come with a few drawbacks.

“People think you don’t work at all when you work for yourself,” she said. “You have to buy your own health insurance, and when things go wrong, you can only blame yourself.”

Social interaction also takes an occasional back seat for the at-home worker.

“It’s hard to separate work time from family time,” said Gardner. “Sometimes it’s impossible.”

James and Samantha have also struggled to find time completely away from work.

“People don’t ever leave you alone,” said Samantha, half-joking. “Sometimes, I’d like to go be at home. That’s the only downside.”

A few customers have visited the Mouses late at night; in fact, a few have even taken it a step beyond visiting, opening the gates to their driveway and pulling in.

“We have people call late at night, but we know they’ve been working all day, so we just tell them to come on out,” said James.

Customers make the business, and the business provides for the family, so taking every step necessary - despite being right at home - is extremely important to the owners.

“We hope to keep growing,” said Samantha. “I hope to one day hand [the business] down to my daughter or my son.”

Looking over the screen-printing equipment in the shop, Samantha pointed to a heated conveyer belt that dries ink on material.

“If all else fails, we can start fixing pizzas,” she joked.