Should I join a MLM Company? This is a question every single adult in the world should ask themselves AND do their due diligence, before deciding the industry is or isn’t for them.
First off, network marketing is a distribution model. It’s simply a method for distributing goods and services from a manufacturer directly to the consumer.
Network marketing simply bypasses the warehouse, jobber, and other middlemen and allows consumers to buy directly from the manufacturer, either as a retail customer or wholesale buyer (distributor).
People can become a “distributor” for a network marketing company. This allows them to promote the opportunity to others, get a discount on their own purchases, and/or sell the products for a profit.
Best of all, the company services the customers. The distributors simply refer people to shop directly with the company, normally online or by phone. The company handles customer service, collects the payment, ships the product, and processes returns. The company then pays the distributors COMMISSIONS based upon their sales.
The business is built through “word of mouth” advertising and distributors are paid on multiple levels of referrals and on their own personal sales.
In many ways, being a network marketer is similar to being an insurance broker or real estate broker. These “brokers’ can sell homes or insurance themselves, and earn a commission by doing so, and they can recruit other agents and earn overrides on their sales. I think of that as a win-win situation.
I personally believe this is the best industry in the history of the world. That being said, not everyone else feels the same way. While some people are passionate about our industry, others are equally passionate about hating our industry. We are definitely a “misunderstood” industry.
Network marketing is not taught at home or in college. Most people have no clue as to what network marketing really is. In addition, many people have preconceived notions about “what they think” it is, even though they haven’t deeply explored it themselves.
One of my most trusted mentors once told me this:
100% of the population NOT involved in our industry do not understand it, or they would be involved, and 95% of the people in the industry do not understand it, or they would be building it big!
That is exactly how I feel. In the paragraphs below, I will share 22 reasons you should join a MLM Company, regardless of your current profession or situation in life.
22 Reasons to Join a MLM Company
These reasons are listed in no particular order. Enjoy.
# 1: Inexpensive to Start
Network marketing has a VERY SMALL barrier of entry. With most network marketing companies, you can get started for less than $100.
As I see it, this is a blessing and a curse. Because anyone can get involved, we attract a lot of unqualified people. I’ve also found that most people won’t take their business seriously BECAUSE they don’t have much money invested in it!
Compare that to a traditional business owner who often invests $50,000 or more just to open a business, and you will understand what I am talking about.
However, for someone who WANTS to own a business, but doesn’t have a lot of money to start a traditional business, network marketing is a great option.
How many other businesses can you think of that you can start for less than $100 and have a monthly overhead of less than $100?
“If you’re going to run a small business, you need to know what everyone is doing, be the first one in and the last one out, and work weekends.” ~Glen Mazzara
# 2: No Territories
With many businesses, you have a designated territory. If you own a retail store or a local business, you are more or less restricted to making sales to people who are in your geographical location (unless you have an online presence).
Think about a local gas station for a moment. If the gas station is located in Tampa, Florida, it will never sell gas in Augusta, Maine. It just won’t happen. It will only sell gas to people in the local proximity.
With network marketing, you can do business with anyone, anywhere in the world. I currently have team members in about 45 different states and about 30 different countries. I can recruit distributors from ANY country our company does business in.
You can too! Best of all, you don’t even have to visit those states or countries to sign people up. You can do it online if you want to.
# 3: Free Mentor
Most business owners do not want to train their employees everything they know because they know that person might become their competition one day!
In network marketing, you get a free mentor. In addition to the person who introduced you to the business, you can also seek out someone in your “upline success team” to help you.
This person is making good money in the business, has lots of experience, AND is more than willing to teach you everything they know, without charging you a dime. How awesome is that?
How can this happen? The beauty of our industry is that we can only succeed by helping others succeed. When your mentor helps you make more money, their check also increases.
# 4: Small Monthly Overhead
I mentioned this in the low-start up cost section, but I need to expand on this idea.
With network marketing, your monthly overhead is dirt cheap; normally just $50 to $100. To qualify for commissions, you agree to purchase a set dollar amount of products each month.
While the average person might complain about having to buy products every month, anyone with entrepreneurial experience understands how powerful a low monthly overhead is.
You don’t need a building. You don’t need employees. You don’t need insurance. You don’t need inventory. You don’t have utility bills.
Your only real expense is your own personal purchase, which in most cases, you can consume. For example, in my company, I must purchase about $50 to $100 per month in products to be eligible for commissions.
Best of all, I just switch stores, and buy from myself instead of buying my health products at GNC.
# 5: Work from Anywhere in the World
The average small business owner is a slave to their business. They must show up to their physical location every day at a set time and leave at a set time. They have “set” business hours. If their “shop” is closed their business is closed.
Not so with network marketing. You can work from the beach. You can work on vacation. You can work at home on the couch in your pajamas. You can work at the local coffee shop.
As long as you have your cell phone, laptop and internet connection, you are good to go! This is the ultimate lifestyle business.
# 6: No Quotas
Most businesses have quotas. Even if they don’t have a traditional sales quota, most businesses have to make X amount of sales just to break even and stay in business.
With network marketing, because of the low start-up and ongoing costs, you have no quotas. You can work your business as much, or as little, as you want, and stay in business.
Even if your business doesn’t produce much income in a month, you’re not out any money because you simply consumed your personal purchase (something you were going to buy anyway).
# 7: Residual Income
Most people earn a linear income. They work 40-hours at their job and get paid for 40-hours of work. They do it again each week and keep getting paid.
However, if they stop working, or lose their ability to work, they stop getting paid. That might not sound like a big deal until you get fired or sick, then it’s a real big deal.
Everyone needs residual income. $500 to $5000 per month of residual income would be life changing for 98% of the population.
Residual income is money that comes in month-after-month for something you did one time. Examples of residual income include military and government pensions, social security checks, book royalties, insurance premiums, etc.
Network marketing allows you to create residual income without having to invest a ton of money or hire people.
# 8: LEVERAGED income
Everyone needs a leveraged income. Leveraged, RESIDUAL income should be your ultimate goal.
Many people start a traditional business for the leverage. They know that if they hire a bunch of employees, they can earn a small profit off each employee’s efforts. Big companies have a ton of leverage because they have a ton of employees.
Network marketing gives you leverage without needing employees or large sums of capital. You can build up a team of 100, 500 or 5,000 people and earn a small commission off each person’s efforts.
I can’t speak for you, but I’d rather make 1 percent off one hundred people’s efforts than only get paid on my own efforts.
“The rich buy assets. The poor only have expenses. The middle class buys liabilities they think are assets. The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich have money work for them.” ~Robert Kiyosaki
# 9: Time & Money Freedom
Wouldn’t it be nice to really own your life? Wouldn’t it be nice to have the time, money and health to do what you want to do, when you want to do it?
The average person gets very little quality time for themselves each day. When you factor in their work responsibilities, family commitments, and outside the home commitments, I’d bet the average person gets less than one hour per day for themselves.
Network marketing gives you the opportunity to create a solid residual income stream, so you can have more time, money and better health. Network marketing gives you options. It gives you the ability to truly own your own life, something everyone should experience.
# 10: Personal Growth
One of the best things about network marketing is the personal growth. Some people say network marketing is a personal development business with a compensation plan attached to it. I agree.
This is the only industry I’ve ever been involved with where you are encouraged to grow as a person. You are mentored. You are taught to read books. You are taught to attend events. You are taught to spend time with people who uplift you and encourage you. You are taught to set goals!
Who you become on your journey to success is the sweetest reward.
# 11: Recognition
Babies cry for it. Grown men die for it. RECOGNITION. The average person gets very LITTLE recognition at home or from their employer.
In this industry, people get recognized all the time, even for the smallest of things. There are contests, prizes, cash gifts, trips, cars, plaques, free products and hundreds of other things. This is one of my favorite things about the industry.
As the leader of my own team, it’s what I enjoy doing the most: recognizing others.
# 12: Tax Advantages
I am not a CPA. That being said, I do know that having a home-based business will save the average American family minimum several thousand dollars per year in taxes.
Even if you decide network marketing is not for you, make sure you have some type of home-based business.
# 13: Make Your Own Schedule
After spending more than 15-years in the Army, I realized I was not a morning person. I work best from about 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
With network marketing, you can set your own business hours. You still have to work if you want your business to grow, but your hours are very flexible.
You can work an hour here, 30-minutes there, etc. As long as you put in time every day, and work smart, you can grow a successful network marketing business.
# 14: No Employees
I’ve been an employee and I’ve had employees. While employees often complain about their employer, I can personally tell you that having employees is a nightmare.
With network marketing, you need ZERO employees. You are an independent contractor with the network marketing company. Everyone on your team is also an independent contractor.
That means you have no payroll. No employee theft. No employee issues. How about them apples!
# 15: No Billing/Accounts Receivable
If you have ever owned a traditional business, or have an accounting background, you probably know about accounts receivable.
Most businesses hope their customers will pay on time each month, so they can stay in business. Sadly, not all customers pay on time, or pay at all.
With network marketing, there is no billing or accounts receivable. Everything is taken care of by the parent network marketing company. We simply refer people to shop with them and they handle the rest.
“It’s not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handles the money. It’s the customer who pays the wages.” ~Henry Ford
# 16: No Discrimination or Office Politics
If you are a minority or a woman, there is a good chance you face discrimination in the workplace.
Not so in network marketing. What you do with the opportunity is totally up to you. It doesn’t matter if you are young, old, fat, thin, pretty, ugly, white, black, religious, non-religious, smart or dumb.
It doesn’t matter where you went to college, what your blood line is, or where you grew up. You don’t have to play office politics, kiss butt, or worry about who likes you.
This is a true “equal” playing field. The only thing that matters is YOU.
# 17: No Commuting
Depending on where you live, I bet there is a high likelihood you sit in traffic every morning and every evening, on your way to and from work. Most people do. Some people love commuting and sitting in traffic. I personally hated it.
Network marketing really can be a home-based business. I drive very little every month and spend my days working from home, with my wife right next to me. My commute is about 30 paces from my bedroom to my office. That sure beats sitting in traffic.
# 18: Condense Your Work Career
In today’s world, the average person is going to be in the work force for close to 50-years, if not longer. That’s a LONG time.
With network marketing, you really can condense your work career. Although there is no guarantee of success, it is possible.
In just a few short years, you have the potential to build up an asset that continues to pay you for decades to come. Does your job offer you that? Does your traditional business offer you that? Work hard for a few years and then slow down or stop, but keep getting paid? I doubt it.
# 19: Fulfilling Work
Everyone should have a job or career that they love. Life is too short to do something you don’t enjoy.
Network marketing is very fulfilling. What I love most about this industry is seeing other people step out of their own comfort zone and do things they normally would never do.
I enjoy helping others improve their health, quality of life, and financial situation. I love seeing people grow, develop their skills and learn new things.
# 20: Choose who You Work With
Ever have a boss or co-worker that really annoyed you? Most of us have.
With network marketing, we get to choose who we work with. If you don’t like someone, don’t recruit them! If a customer is constantly annoying you, fire them, and go find a new customer. You get to build your own success team and work with whoever you want to!
# 21: Help People
I don’t know about you, but to me, the purpose of life is to serve people. In this industry, the more people you serve and help succeed, the better you do in the business!
If you are a servant leader, and enjoy helping others, I can’t think of a better business model to participate in. You can mentor and coach people, watch them grow and help them improve their quality of life at the same time.
# 22: Build a Financial Legacy for Your Family
Wouldn’t it be great to build something that would continue to pay your family, even after you die? In most network marketing companies, you can “will” your business to a loved one.
There are many people in our industry who have passed away, but left a constant stream of residual income to their loved ones. To me, that’s one of the greatest gifts you can give your family.
Final Thoughts
There you have it folks. These are 22 reasons you should join a MLM Company. I hope you will put some serious thought into your decision and at least give our industry an educated look. I think you will love what you find.
Sincerely,
Chuck Holmes
Network Marketing Professional (21+ years)
Top Recruiter & Top Rep
mrchuckholmes@gmail.com