Having a background in E-Commerce people are always asking me about making money on the internet and running a business on the internet.
As I did my servcies for the corporate world, I can't really answer this in terms of the small business or sole trader.
However, I do know it's possible to make a real second income from affiliate marketing over the Net as I know people who have done it.
While MLM programs like Amway are a con, people make money through Affiliate Programs such as Avon and Ann Summers everyday.
I have a friend who has done both of these companies and she is now the UK rep for Strong Future International (SFI) - a real business selling real products.
So I refer anybody with an interest in this subject to her excellent website:
http://sapphiresfi.blogspot.com