Although there aren't very many requirements to starting, running and making money (a LOT of money) with your own home business as a marketing consultant, there are a few.

And one of the big ones is you have to like talking with and helping people.

That doesn't mean you can't be an introverted person or even a little shy. But you can't be like Obi Wan Kenobi from "Star Wars" -- living in the desert and doing it totally by phone and Internet -- never seeing anyone and never talking with anyone face to face.

I mean, yes, it can be done to an extent. There are times when you can basically do it all by "remote access" over the phone and Internet. But those kinds of deals -- those kinds of clients who can do that -- are few and far between. And it just won't work if you want to make a lot of money and get a lot of clients.

I'll tell you why.

Most of the clients -- the small business owners I recommend home based marketing consultants go after -- get up early in the morning and they're at their shop and they're working all day.

They don't have a minute during that day to pause and get on the Internet and play around with the email or instant messenger to work out a deal with you and explain everything you need to know about their business to get the job done.

Instead, they're doing what all traditional businesses do.

They're meeting payroll. They're buying inventory. They're figuring out ways to sell more. They're at the office or store and they're there sometimes from sunrise to well into the night.

So if you want to meet and work with these people, you need to meet them face-to- face. Only when you get the ball rolling and doing your thing can you settle back into your chair at home and do business via phone or Internet or whatever.

And while you will always have a few businesses who will meet and hire you online or over the phone, for the most part you're going to have to get out there and meet with people face to face. Get to see their business. Ask them questions. And get the kind of information you'll need to help them you can only get by visiting the business itself and talking to the people there.

And you know what?

That's really the only natural "inborn" skill you need to build a thriving home business as a marketing consultant. You don't need a lot of money, prior business experience or super sales skills. All you need (from a natural talent point of view) is the ability and desire to talk with and help others.

The rest of what you need to know can be learned...quickly and easily, and without needing a lot of time and money.