L.G.
I have tried many work-at-home opportunities and I have found out a few things: 1) the majority of people do not want to buy from a person - they trust products that they can purchase at a store, 2) the numbers are right around 5% of any company's members who make a livable wage, 3) home party plans require money up front for product, catalogs, receipt books, bags, hostess gifts, shipping, etc. so the money they say you will make usually goes back into the business - be sure to ask about all the costs (and ask them honestly to tell you how long it took until they were making whatever amount of money you need to make a month), 4) your family and friends really don't want to help you out and do a party (how many parties have you enjoyed hosting?) so you end up making many of them uncomfortable around you, 5) very few people are successful at getting more than 3 people to a home party that will purchase anything (people are too busy these days to go to a home party when they really don't have money to spend), 6) most work-at-home businesses that don't tell you up front what it is will be a multi-level marketing plan (and go back to #1 for the biggest problem there), 7) the people that are making ridiculous amounts of money by working at home are in the 1% of their company, 8) if it is a well-known company (e.g. Mary Kay) then the ones who make the big money have been doing it a long time, 9) if a person is with an MLM and making ridiculous amounts of money, they have a network of people from previous MLM's and know a lot of people who want to do an MLM (not the vast majority of people you and I know) - so it is perfectly legal and possible, but only if you know a lot of people who want to be in an MLM.
Be sure to ask the questions about time and money. Also ask about current trends. One couple I know who made it big with e-Bay says that the time has past for that kind of venture. I have a friend who is a medical transcriber. She got in at a good time but now it is very hard to get in (you have to have so many hours of medical experience, etc.)
Be sure that whatever it is that you do, it is something you are passionate about. I have kept my jewelry home sales business only because the minimum is very low and it is easy, but I am not a jewelry person. So I do not put in the time I could to make decent money. I only make about $20 - 30 a month because the only business I do are past customers emailing me or calling me to buy jewelry.
If you have questions about a particular company, you can contact me as I probably have looked into it or know someone who is in it.
Sorry this is so long...