Was a time when home based meant – “not really a business” but, oh how times and technology and lifestyles change. Today home based often means, choice, family, hip, fireplace, dog, freedom, serious income and a host of other very cool things.

That’s why I love that my friend Rich Sloan of StartUpNation has put so much energy into creating the HomeBased100 competition sponsored by Microsoft Office Live Small Business.

Look, if you’ve got a home based business go enter this competition and score yourself some potentially serious credibility and exposure.

Just look at these categories and tell me that this is not a fun contest

* Best Financial Performers
* Most Innovative
* Boomers Back in Business
* Greenest
* Yummiest
* Wackiest
* Grungiest
* Recession Busters
* Most Slacker Friendly
* Most Glamorous

The only category that size and performance really matter is the financial one so really anybody can enter.

You can enter your business until midnight Pacific Time on September 30, 2008. Throughout October, winners will be judged by StartupNation and a panel of judges who are each passionate about home-based business and the Top Ten categories highlighted in this year’s competition. Winners will be announced in mid-November, 2008.

Winners of the Home-Based 100 find themselves at the center of a media storm that includes recognition on national and local TV, radio, in newspapers and magazines, and on some of the largest, most influential websites on the web, MSN and StartupNation among them.

The judges’ decision-making process (did I mention I’m a judge?) will be influenced by the following factors:

* How well your business fits the category (or secondary category) for which you entered
* The quality and completeness of the description about your business and the case you make for it. Your passion, achievements, creativity, integrity and/or humor may be instrumental factors depending upon which category(s) you entered
* The popularity of your entry based on number of popular votes received

Here’s where you enter the competition that celebrates America’s best home based businesses and the people behind them.

Here’s a list of last year’s winners and high vote getters so you can get a feel for what you’re up against.

By the way sending me product samples and free services will not influence my vote but it may help the overall spread of good karma – you know, if you’re into that kind of thing.