It is many people's dream to work from home by running a home based business, but if you're in that position, about to give up the comfort and security of your regular job to venture into the unknown, it can be difficult to know where to begin. Wouldn't it be great if you could combine the traditional benefits of an established business with the independence and unlimited potential of your own home based business? With multi level marketing, better known as MLM, you really can have it both ways.

MLM is an area of business which has undergone rapid expansion thanks to the growth of the internet. Marketing of this type, also known as affiliate marketing, can enable you to set up a money making business quickly and easily by taking out a franchise from an existing company. This company will benefit from your sales potential and network marketing skills whilst you benefit from its established reputation. You can even secure bonuses when your network marketing efforts benefit fellow franchise holders and when you recruit new members to your MLM system - members who will effectively work for you and give you a percentage of their sales.

If it sounds complicated, don't worry - MLM is really one of the simplest ways there is to establish a successful money making business. It will enable you to work from home without the hassle of having to develop and promote your own home based business idea, knowing that it might not be successful. Successful internet marketing is all about having a sufficiently powerful idea with its own market niche, so joining an MLM gives you the advantage of working with an idea which has already been tested.

Some people ill warn you off MLM systems, and not without reason - here are a lot of scams out there. Some network marketing systems which pass themselves off as MLMs are essentially just pyramid schemes. These systems are designed to trick you into paying in more money than you will ever make in sales or commissions, because there always has to be somebody at the bottom of the pyramid. But real MLMs don't work like this. You can tell than an MLM system is genuine if most of the revenue you make from your affiliated money making business comes directly from sales rather than from recruitment. Genuine MLMs can be an extremely effective way to run a home based business, so it's unfortunate that they've been stigmatised on account of the scams which flourish on the internet.

Marketing through an MLM makes promoting your home based business easy. Your direct marketing efforts can make you money twice over - when you make sales, and when you pass customers on to your affiliates. This form of network marketing also benefits customers as it points them in the direction of products in which they have a genuine, established interest.

When you decide to work from home by joining an MLM system, you'll be sent all the information and practical materials you need to get started. This usually costs money, but any home based business start up entails some expenses, and this way, if you work hard enough, you're guaranteed to get your money back again. It's an easy way to develop your internet marketing skills. Network marketing also gives you the opportunity to learn from established franchise owners who can help you discover what it takes to work from home and can teach you the tricks of the trade.

Taking out an MLM franchise is a big step, but it's a step which you won't have to take alone. If you follow the guidelines you're provided with and work hard to develop your investment, you'll soon have a money making business of your own, with all the freedom and success which that entails.