Enhanced communication systems such as the Internet and telephones, has expanded the horizons of work at home based business opportunities. Fifty years back such business opportunities were small in number and there were very few people who actually undertook such businesses which were operated from home offices. Today however, many stay-at-home parents undertake such businesses to earn some extra income. People who work on a full-time basis, also tend to take up such opportunities as side businesses. There are several advantages and some limited disadvantages of such affiliate business schemes that can be run from the comfort of your homes. Such businesses are also excellent avenues to start a business with little or no money. In the following paragraphs, some work at home business opportunities have been described. A round about and brief job description and requirements for starting a business of this sort have also been included. Have a look... Internet Advertising and Marketing The concept of Internet advertising and marketing is the best example of Internet home businesses. Such businesses basically require a computer, Internet connection and a good language. In Internet advertising the company will ask you to write reviews and feedback on different media, portals, blogs and in some cases social networking sites. Employers of such businesses usually tend to pay you on the volume of work that you have completed. Potential employer home based Internet affiliate business companies include, marketing, sales and advertising companies and also consumer goods manufacturing companies. The best aspect of such a business is that there is no obligation regarding the volume of work that is to be completed per week or month. Multi-level Marketing A new kind of business model that is being adopted is that of Multi-Level Marketing (MLM). In such a marketing you become a customer, cum agent, of the company that provides some specific services and you will have the power to recruit a specified number of people below you, who will further recruit people beneath them. After every recruit under your pyramid, the company will reward you. Such a kind of business model is sometimes also known as network marketing. In the network marketing, the maximum number of recruits that can be taken is larger than that of multi-level marketing. This business model is used by companies who provide services and, in some cases, take a monthly or yearly subscription. Media companies, travel companies, software companies often take in such MLM models to successfully market their products. Direct Sales The home based affiliate marketing business can sometimes also be used for direct sales. People in the western world often demand goods and services from eastern countries and vice versa. Producer companies cannot afford to set up an office in some other country, hence, they appoint a sales agent who operates the sales and marketing operation from his/her own home. This business is often considered to be a business franchise of the producer company. In some cases, to set up the business a specialized knowledge of the product and its market is also required. In some cases regionally produced commodities can also be sold by home based businesses. Some financial institutions also appoint insurance, securities and credit agents for sales. There are countless work from home business opportunities and it is anticipated that they will go on increasing, owing to the fact that companies find marketing, advertising and selling their product through home based affiliate businesses to be very convenient and also a lot cheaper. Some other opportunities include answering service jobs from home and assisted living business, which are some of the very needed businesses in today's society. It must be however noted that such home based business income opportunities should be taken up by stay-at-home parents or as passive income sources as the total yield of the activity is good but not exactly over the top. Exercise caution while undertaking such an activity.