On The Level

A friend, representing a network marketing company, approaches you about "the business opportunity of a lifetime!" You've heard stories of network marketing (also called multilevel marketing or MLM) taking people from the brink of bankruptcy to six-figure incomes within months. You've dreamed of being your own boss, earning unlimited income and working from your home. Can an MLM opportunity really offer all that?

Before making any commitments, there are several things to consider: Will you enjoy working in network marketing? Is the company you're considering legitimate? Is it the best choice for you among the many MLM opportunities available? The following steps will help you decide.

Sean M. Lyden is a writer in Marietta, Georgia.

This article was originally published in the July 1998 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: On The Level.