What is behind the proverb, "It takes money to make money"?

Well it basically means you have to spend something in order to achieve something. Like if you are planning to open up a new business that you plan will get you success and money, you need to first spend a little money on buying it, buying all the stuff for it and starting out. This also works with working hard to get something. You can't just want something and not work for it and expect it to fall right into your hands.

It takes money to make money, you always have to put something in to get something back.

In order to make money you have to spend money. Meaning that nothing in life is free. Just to get to work you spend money on transportation. To start a business there are always start up investments. No matter what you do you will always have sometype of expense in order to have money coming in.

Well, it is pretty much what it says. there's no way to make money unless you have a little to invest. It may even be gas getting to and from work, or uniforms or any other little thing. You'll have to spend something to be in a position of making money!