The driving force behind network marketing (or MLM) is the enormous opportunity to build a business from home no matter what your background or credentials. more and more professional people career minded individuals, self employed and even people in retirement are turning to this business model that allows an extraordinary income through their own efforts.

How it works: You need to find a company that you can fall in love with their products and study their marketing plan in detail. Good companies will offer full support and training. Network marketing is a major force in the direct shopping world as it uses the power of referral from independent people to move goods and services into the market place, thus cutting out all the overheads of the middle men.

Set up costs: Most network marketing companies want you to try their products and usually you will buy a starter kit. This will range from company to company. Look for ones that offer a money back guarantee.

The plus: Your own business in your own time with minimal start up costs and the potential to earn whatever you want - a passive income.

The downside: Some companies have marketing plans where you fall back to the beginning if you are not on target.