NEW YORK, US: Home-based businesses (HBBs), that have at least one PC in Brazil, are set to spend a whopping US$13 billion on upgrading their info-communications technology (ICT) infrastructure this year, up some 8 percent over 2007, according to the latest study by New York-based Access Markets International (AMI) Partners, Inc.

The research firm defines HBBs as income-generating entities based in the home, led by individuals who are self-employed. It excludes individuals who work for a larger organization and telecommute, have a formal work-at-home arrangement with their employer or do after-hours work from home.

There are about 9 million HBBs in Brazil and these constitute about 17 percent of the 51.6 million households in this South American country. Brazil has 2.6 times more HBBs than SBs (small businesses, or companies in a commercial setting, with under 99 employees) and is ranked 4th worldwide in the number of PC-enabled HBBs.

"The number of very small Brazilian businesses beginning operations from home is rapidly increasing," says Maria Carolina Guedes Smith, senior consultant at AMI-Partners. This is transforming the home office into a key driver of business growth. HBBs in Brazil are likely to double their ICT spending this year, according to Smith.

 The research firm defines HBBs as income-generating entities based in the home, led by individuals who are self-employed. It excludes individuals who work for a larger organization and telecommute, have a formal work-at-home arrangement with their employer or do after-hours work from home.