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!”