Affiliate Marketing Secrets

I want to start an online business. However, I can’t figure out what’s the difference between affiliate programs and having a specific type of online business. Can someone explain this to me? I want to have a variety of products available but I don’t want to deal with the shipping and stocking. BUT I want this to generate income so I need some direction. What would you recommend? I have a friend that has an online business and she takes care of a family of five with the income from it alone. She has a specific type of online business. Does affiliate programs generate the same amount of income as a specific type of business? I need help figuring this out… Thanks!

I am a freelance web designer/ search engine marketing strategist and am looking to build an ecommerce brand/storefront but do not have the time nor money to fully commit to stocking inventory. I was wondering if theres any affiliate/reseller programs that allow webmasters to sell their products for a cut.
What I am not looking for is affiliate linking systems. I want to sell their products not provide them with traffic.