There are probably a hundred different reasons that people have for starting a home based business, but perhaps one of the most common is that they just need to make a little more money than their day job can provide. Whether that's because the holidays are right around the corner or possibly life has recently thrown a curveball, the fact remains that a work from home business can produce an excellent return on whatever amount of time a person gives to it, providing an excellent source of secondary income.

There is no greater example of that fact than the world of vending franchises. The beauty of vending is that there is almost no upper or lower limit to your investment; whether one machine or one hundred, you can be in business, spending as much time and making as much money as you desire, with a potential 80% profit margin. With that said, there are a few excellent businesses available in this industry that you could start today.

The first, Vendstar, is probably just the kind of business that hits your mind when you think about vending. Selling only brand-name candies, nuts, and gums, their machines are sturdily built and can be put basically anywhere. For a very low initial investment, less than $10,000, you can start up your own business and be selling sweet treats in no time.

Not all vending business opportunities make their money from candy sales. In fact, one of the up-and-coming corners of the vending industry is the DVD rental market. It's already made a big splash in Europe, drawing unending lines of customers who are tired of spending extra time and money at overpriced video rental stores when they could go to a conveniently located machine, choose from the same selection of new movies, and pay a fraction of the cost. Owners of these machines profit 24/7 without the overhead costs of storefronts and employees. In the states, the franchise providing this service is DVDNow, and if the concept seems good to you, $20,000 gets you in on the ground floor of this budding market.

Though it's not really a vending business, per se, ACFN ATM works on a very similar business model. Providing ATMs to various businesses in the guest service and entertainment industries, this franchise serves the public by giving instant access to personal bank accounts in the places where people most often forget to bring cash, and the franchisee takes a fee off the top for each transaction. Once again, you only put out as many machines as you want in order to make the necessary amount of money.

Vending isn't the only business that you can operate in your spare time to bring in extra income; internet franchises offer a variety of good opportunities as well. While these businesses don't run themselves, like vending machines, they do allow you to work at home without having to leave the office as frequently.

Take Adventures in Advertising for example. One of the premier advertising franchises in the US, they give advertising support to high level executives around the country. You can take on as many or as few clients as you wish, and whoever you develop professional relationships with, ADVENTURES IN ADVERTISING provides all the working capital to take care of their projects. Work where you want, when you want, as often as you want, and for whomever you want; that's freedom.

Wireless internet has become a big deal in America, and virtually all markets have been tapped, from corporate giants to individual coffee shops. There is, however, at least one wireless market that has not been fully saturated yet; rural wireless, and Air Advantage is trying to change that. Primarily a sales business, franchisees are responsible for building relationships with small towns in the more remote places of America for the purpose of selling their new wave of wireless technology designed for just such places. When you've got time, dive in to make as many or as few sales as you like.

If you're interested in more of a weekender job, ElizaJ is the one for you. They are one of the best wedding franchises around, and for a moderate investment, provide top-grade restroom facilities for outdoor weddings and other celebrations. These portable restrooms are much more than something you'd see on a constructions site, they combine form and function, providing a pleasing experience complete with running water, air freshener and the look and feel of an indoor restroom. The amount of business you get depends wholly on the amount of advertising you do, so you determine how often you work and how much you make depending on what you want.

Life can often shift quickly, leaving a person wondering how to get out of the financial mess he finds himself in. And though buying one of these franchises can't solve all of life's problems or guarantee that there won't be any more, it can certainly help to have a secondary source of income to get you ready for the day that things do go awry. Whether you're making up financial ground already lost or just stocking some extra dollars away for a rainy day, having a small business running on the side has the potential to be of great benefit to you and your family.