NOTE: With this article, Towel & Basin continues its celebration of Women’s History Month by serving and supporting, encouraging and empowering women who are making history today.
If you answer “Yes” to both questions, then what?
There are scores of products you could sell and companies you could work for selling those products. How do you choose one?
Product quality
Is the product good quality? Do you use it?
Many WAHMs who sell a product through one of these companies using MLM discover the product when they attend a home party where the product is being sold.
They might find that they like the flavor of the food, the ease of makeup application or how they feel after drinking the drink. In other words, they believe in the product’s quality and have used it. They are a customer before signing up with the company as a distributor.
But if you decide to sell something that you have never tried before, you have to do more research. Verify that the product has good reviews, that it does what it promises and that the company itself is a good one that stands behind its products.
Investment required
How much will it cost you to get started in this business?
Generally speaking, you should never have to pay to work for a company. But there is always a start-up investment when dealing with a MLM. You will need to buy a kit, or supplies, or a starter supply of the product.
Can you afford the initial investment required to get your business started? Many MLM companies will let you start with either a basic, bare-bones kit, or you can purchase a kit that includes samples, sales orders and the like.
In addition to whatever kit you choose, however, you will also need to purchase business cards, perhaps a website, and other office and business supplies.
Support offered
What kind of support does the company offer its consultants?
Can you call someone during your start-up period for advice? Is it free? What kind of support might you get from the others who work for the company? Will your upline provide any support? Are there any training efforts that will help you as you establish your business?
One of the best aspects of signing up to sell a MLM product is the built-in support that most companies offer. But not all companies do offer that support Ask questions about the level of support before you sign up.
Time required
Does the time requirement for working your business fit you?
If you decide to sell food or kitchen products, for example, you might need to prepare food in advance of each party. Do you have time for that? If you sell scrapbooking products, you might need to make an album full of sample pages with the company’s products. Can you add that into your schedule?
If you don’t want to invest the time for this kind of work, you might want to look elsewhere. Other products, like makeup or skincare, might not require as much preparation.
Earnings potential
Have you carefully examined the company’s compensation plan?
How much will you make from a sale? How much can you make from a party? Will you make enough to cover your expenses and bring you a profit?
Sometimes it can be difficult to turn a good profit from MLM companies. Many moms report losing money. To lessen the likelihood of this happening to you, do the research ahead of time.
Your market
Do you have a good base of potential customers now?
When you first start your business, your initial customers will likely be friends and family. If you have a tiny family and few friends, your potential for getting that business off the ground quickly and easily could be shaky.
Carefully consider the market that you have. Will they buy products from you? Not everyone will be willing to hear your presentation and might even feel put off by your desire to sell the products. Make sure you have a comfortable base of potential customers to begin with.
Doing research before you jump into a new MLM earning opportunity can be the difference between success and failure. Do everything you can to achieve the former and avoid the latter.
Resources
MLMs: Pros and Cons for Work-at-Home Moms
The Top 25 MLMs by Revenue
100 Best & Top MLM Companies in the USA in 2022
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
