This means you get X percent for those who you personally sign up and X percent for the products you directly sell to customers. When a member you have registered signs up a new program member, you get a slightly smaller percentage of what those associates sell. The premise of making money without having to work for it is based on the assumption that your down line will continue to sell - thus providing you with a percentage of their commissions. It is possible. There are many network marketing business owners who have built such a strong down line that they do, in fact, make most of their income off the commissions of their members.
Network marketing sounds like an Internet business owner's dream come true.
That misconception is where the downfall usually starts. Network marketing businesses ARE businesses. To build an effective down line that will produce takes time - just like building any other type of online or offline business. Just as with any other business, your network marketing business will require time. Even though the company will provide the marketing materials, it will be up to you to use them effectively.