MLM / Business Owners

One of the hardest things we have to deal with at You Be Aware are the questions we get from our members about the home-based business industry. There are so many different opportunities for individuals to supplement their income or even have full-time employment it is very difficult for us to give or recommend any companies offering such opportunities.

However we would like to give you some advice on what to look for in your search for the American dream to own your own business. The first thing we suggest is that you find something that you enjoy so it doesn't feel like it's a job. The more you enjoy what you will be doing, the easier it will be to be successful.

Let's begin with business opportunities like franchises. Obviously if you can financially afford a franchise like McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts or any of the named brand franchises it could increase your chances of success in business. This is often because of the training and systems that companies like these offer to the franchisees. The problem with a name brand franchise is that they are very expensive and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and you are limited to where you can be located and what you can do.

Please make sure you do your research on the franchises, but also talk to some of the store owners to make sure it's as good as you're being led to believe. Take your time before you make a decision about what kind of franchise you would like to run and operate.

Most entrepreneurs will start typically in what we call the MLM industry, also known as multi-level marketing or network marketing. This is one of the toughest industries to start and operate as a business owner, even though the cost to start in these types of businesses are very inexpensive compared to the franchise industry. It takes a lot of self discipline to be successful in network marketing. You must have a strong desire to succeed, and remember you are your own boss, and so there is no one there to tell you when to go to work and when to stop. Being self employed is not for everyone, but, for those that want to be their own boss and are able to manage their time, networking is a great business.

Unfortunately this industry has a very negative image due to the hype a lot of companies use to promote their opportunity. However, I'm sure you would agree that if you had the chance to go to the first Amway meeting and sign up to become one of their distributors, today you would be extremely happy with the residual income you would be receiving. So depending on the company and the pay structure, and of course the product, becoming a distributor can work for many people.

When doing your research just like in the franchise industry make sure that you have the opportunity to really understand the product and the compensation plan. Unfortunately, the main reason people are not successful in network marketing companies is they forget a four letter word called WORK. There are no free lunches in life when it comes to success. Every business takes time and effort to become successful. In a traditional business it takes several years to see a profit, but with the right network marketing company that success can be seen in months, not years.

It seems that when you attend a business opportunity meeting where you are invited by a friend, they really don't get into all the details about the business but more into the excitement. It is more about if you know two people who then would tell two more people you would make a lots of money. The reality is that if you don't have the right training the chances of being successful are very slim. Step Number one, find the right leader/trainer and make sure the company has a system to follow just like the franchise business.

The other problem is that many of the companies offer pills and potions that really do not work. So when you do have the opportunity to market your product and have the correct training, you discover that most consumers have already tried the products from other friends. That makes it an extremely difficult sale to push your product to somebody who doesn't want to purchase it in the first place.

We certainly aren't suggesting that you don't pursue the American dream and become a business owner; we are simply trying to give you the best advice on what kind of company and products you should look at. Before you spend a large amount of money on a franchise, and then find out that you do not want to be a business owner, you need to find out some of the negatives that go with running a business.

However if you really would like to try a business consider a product that you would use on a daily basis. Think about it, if you feel good about using the product, you become the best testimonial for your friends and families or even complete strangers.

Research the company and its founders (this is very important because as the old saying goes, your past predicts your future).
First find a product you like
Find a company that you like
Find a compensation plan that you understand and like.
Find a company that will give you the training and support. (not hype)
Find out from your friends what they think about your new product, and would they buy it from you.
Find out how many hours and additional money you may have to invest, before you start to see a return.
Find some existing distributors and ask them if they've had the support and training they promised.
Find out if there have been any issues with the commission checks and when do you receive them.

There are many good companies offering opportunities for additional income. In fact there are a few new companies recently launched that are offering a great opportunity for full time income only working part time hours. We have received many e-mails from You Be Aware members recommending companies, but unfortunately we are in a very delicate situation. Even though we would like to see our members make additional income for themselves and their families, if we recommend a company and you do not succeed we feel that you might blame You Be Aware. Therefore even though we have listed some companies for you to review, please understand that we do not endorse them or suggest that you become members of these companies.

We have done some basic research on the companies listed below and found that they have a reasonable standing in the industry, and that their product appears to be desired. We also found little or no complaints about the companies at the time of our investigation, but please make sure you do your own research before you join any of these organizations.

We wish you the best in your search for the American dream and hope and pray that you will be successful in your new venture. Please keep us informed on how you and your new business are working.

Continue: Your Environment