Who doesn’t take a multi-vitamin, use fish oil or eat protein bars these days? In 2009, supplement sales in the U.S. topped $23 billion dollars and with more people looking to lose weight and improve their health, this number will continue to rise. It represents a huge opportunity for the fitness-minded entrepreneur, so how do you get your online nutrition business started from home? By following the steps listed below and doing your homework to find the right company and the right product line!Step 1: Do you have a passion for improving the health and wellness of your clients? Your goal of owning a home-based business is to make money and gain financial freedom, but a prospective client can tell if you are merely trying to sell them something. If you don’t believe in the concept of helping people improve their health, pick another product to sell such as cosmetics, kitchen/cooking utensils or household goods.Step 2: Do you use nutritional supplements? It is not imperative that you use the products you market but it certainly helps if you can speak to your customers about what nutritional supplements have done to improve your health and fitness. You do not have to take every product that you market but having a personal story about how your products have improved your life is very powerful.Step 3: What kind of nutritional supplements do you plan to market? There are many different types of products on the market that speak to different types of consumers. Look for a product line that will attract the widest target market. This means focusing on products that have scientific or medical research to back their efficacy such as fish oil, calcium, multi-vitamins, meal replacement shakes and nutrition bars.Step 4: Now you begin the process of shopping for the right nutritional supplement home-based business, but which one is right for you? Here are some things to look for when selecting the company you choose to represent.1) Have the products in your prospective company been subjected to independent, third-party research? This means the nutritional supplements produced by your company have been tested for their efficacy by someone not associated with the company and these products have been proven to play a role in improving health and wellness. Products that have been proven to have real benefit will get the support of the medical community making your job easier when presenting to a prospective customer. For example, if their doctor has told them to take fish oil they will be more open to trying your product.2) Does your prospective company manufacture their nutritional supplements using pharmaceutical quality guidelines? Nutritional supplement companies do not have to adhere to the same production standards as drug companies. If your company voluntarily adheres to these manufacturing standards, it is a true mark of quality and an important feature to point out as a representative of that product line.3) What are the start-up costs? Look for the home-based businesses that have low start-up costs and companies that do not require you to purchase large inventories that could potentially begin collecting dust in your basement. This is an online nutrition business and you are an independent representative helping to market their products. Look for the company that does not require you to keep an inventory or ship products to customers.4) What kind of support do you receive from the company? Today, most home-based businesses have a wide array of web-based tools such as videos, flyers and other information you can send to potential clients. They also utilize social media such as Facebook and Twitter. What kind of support does your prospective company provide you?5) Finally, how do you get paid? Believe it or not, many people will jump into an online nutritional supplement business with no clue as to how they will be compensated. Since most companies use a point system that coincides with a certain dollar amount per sale, look for companies that will pay you on a weekly basis. Also look for companies that will roll-over points from previous weeks. There is nothing worse than working hard to move product, not hit your mark and lose everything by falling a few points short on a given week.Starting an online nutritional supplement home-based business is a phenomenal idea for two reasons. One, nutritional supplements are a consumable item meaning that you will continue to receive sales from the same customers. For those who sell kitchen products, for example, you have to continue to find prospective customers at a faster rate because once you sell a customer a baking stone, they will not need another one. Whereas with fish oil, calcium, etc. they will need to make frequent purchases to replenish their supply. Two, as the emphasis on good health continues to rise, consumers will be looking for the tools to become healthier. So, if you have a true passion for health and are looking for a way to better your bank account, starting an online nutritional supplement home-based business may be the way to your financial freedom.