ny even exists.

Offer excellent training and support.

One of the things that make a direct sales company so successful is the training and support consultants rely on and receive when they need it especially if it is their first go with a direct sales company. A good idea is to have weekly or monthly chats not only to hear feedback about how they doing but to lead them in the right direction. Make each chat about a different subject. For example, you may want to talk about marketing, recruiting, hosting a good party, etc.

Have a back up plan

Always have a back up plan for you business. If you are a sole owner, recruiting some reps that have done well or getting a business partner to learn the ropes can really help if you run into som

In a lot of ways starting your own direct sales business is like starting your own retail business. The only major difference is that in a direct sales business, you have consultants to deal with.

As this may be a good thing, it can also turn ugly. Picky consultants can cause a lot of problems. And yes, I’m speaking from experience.

Here are some helpful tips if you are considering or in the stages of starting your very own direct sales business.

Know your market and do your research.

Usually before you start any type of business you want to do your research. Check out your competition and ask yourself how you can differentiate your business from your competition. Offering something better or different is key to getting those sales and returning customers. In the long run it might even be your trademark and why people what to join your direct sales business.

There will be a lot of overtime.

Most people think that once they start their own business they can pick and choose when they want to work. With any business that is not the case, at least during the first year. In the beginning I put in at least 12 hours a day just to make sure everything was up to par, trying to figure out routine, answering emails, and doing other business essentials.

Remember, it is YOUR business.

When you own your own business it’s tough. When you have consultants you have to keep up with, it definitely gets tougher. There will be a few stragglers or trouble makers that come into the group. If this happens, try to work with them at first, if that doesn’t help you may need to consider losing them as a consultant and moving on. Those consultants my think they are helping the business, but in the long run they are hurting it. Input from your consultants is good because they help with the success of the business, but as a business owner, you need to follow your heart and stick with your plans.

I had a rep come in one time and was giving me tips on various things about how I ran my business and consultant program. She was right on a few things and I immediately corrected them or changed my ways. Not because she said so, but because I knew that if I continued doing it I might lose potential or current consultants and sales. After a while she kept making more and more demands, to them point where she was basically running the show. I immediately decided to put a stop to this. I had decided this was my company and I am in charge. I will not let her run it for me and decide where my business is going or not going. Just remember... it is your business, you make all the decisions.

Don’t expect your consultants to do all the advertising/marketing.

This could go two ways. If you have good consultants who want to succeed you probably won’t have to do much advertising. But, if you have consultants who are busy promoting their other businesses or are not good at marketing, you’re company probably will not have too much success. At first, you will have to do a lot of advertising; otherwise, no one knows your company even exists.

Offer excellent training and support.

One of the things that make a direct sales company so successful is the training and support consultants rely on and receive when they need it especially if it is their first go with a direct sales company. A good idea is to have weekly or monthly chats not only to hear feedback about how they doing but to lead them in the right direction. Make each chat about a different subject. For example, you may want to talk about marketing, recruiting, hosting a good party, etc.

Have a back up plan

Always have a back up plan for you business. If you are a sole owner, recruiting some reps that have done well or getting a business partner to learn the ropes can really help if you run into some

rning customers. In the long run it might even be your trademark and why people what to join your direct sales business.

There will be a lot of overtime.

Most people think that once they start their own business they can pick and choose when they want to work. With any business that is not the case, at least during the first year. In the beginning I put in at least 12 hours a day just to make sure everything was up to par, trying to figure out routine, answering emails, and doing other business essentials.

Remember, it is YOUR business.

When you own your own business it’s tough. When you have consultants you have to keep up with, it definitely gets tougher. There will be a few stragglers or trouble makers that come into the group. If this happens, try to work with them at first, if that doesn’t help you may need to consider losing them as a consultant and moving on. Those consultants my think they are helping the business, but in the long run they are hurting it. Input from your consultants is good because they help with the success of the business, but as a business owner, you need to follow your heart and stick with your plans.

I had a rep come in one time and was giving me tips on various things about how I ran my business and consultant program. She was right on a few things and I immediately corrected them or changed my ways. Not because she said so, but because I knew that if I continued doing it I might lose potential or current consultants and sales. After a while she kept making more and more demands, to them point where she was basically running the show. I immediately decided to put a stop to this. I had decided this was my company and I am in charge. I will not let her run it for me and decide where my business is going or not going. Just remember... it is your business, you make all the decisions.

Don’t expect your consultants to do all the advertising/marketing.

This could go two ways. If you have good consultants who want to succeed you probably won’t have to do much advertising. But, if you have consultants who are busy promoting their other businesses or are not good at marketing, you’re company probably will not have too much success. At first, you will have to do a lot of advertising; otherwise, no one knows your company even exists.

Offer excellent training and support.

One of the things that make a direct sales company so successful is the training and support consultants rely on and receive when they need it especially if it is their first go with a direct sales company. A good idea is to have weekly or monthly chats not only to hear feedback about how they doing but to lead them in the right direction. Make each chat about a different subject. For example, you may want to talk about marketing, recruiting, hosting a good party, etc.

Have a back up plan

Always have a back up plan for you business. If you are a sole owner, recruiting some reps that have done well or getting a business partner to learn the ropes can really help if you run into som

If this happens, try to work with them at first, if that doesn’t help you may need to consider losing them as a consultant and moving on. Those consultants my think they are helping the business, but in the long run they are hurting it. Input from your consultants is good because they help with the success of the business, but as a business owner, you need to follow your heart and stick with your plans.

I had a rep come in one time and was giving me tips on various things about how I ran my business and consultant program. She was right on a few things and I immediately corrected them or changed my ways. Not because she said so, but because I knew that if I continued doing it I might lose potential or current consultants and sales. After a while she kept making more and more demands, to them point where she was basically running the show. I immediately decided to put a stop to this. I had decided this was my company and I am in charge. I will not let her run it for me and decide where my business is going or not going. Just remember... it is your business, you make all the decisions.

Don’t expect your consultants to do all the advertising/marketing.

This could go two ways. If you have good consultants who want to succeed you probably won’t have to do much advertising. But, if you have consultants who are busy promoting their other businesses or are not good at marketing, you’re company probably will not have too much success. At first, you will have to do a lot of advertising; otherwise, no one knows your company even exists.

Offer excellent training and support.

One of the things that make a direct sales company so successful is the training and support consultants rely on and receive when they need it especially if it is their first go with a direct sales company. A good idea is to have weekly or monthly chats not only to hear feedback about how they doing but to lead them in the right direction. Make each chat about a different subject. For example, you may want to talk about marketing, recruiting, hosting a good party, etc.

Have a back up plan

Always have a back up plan for you business. If you are a sole owner, recruiting some reps that have done well or getting a business partner to learn the ropes can really help if you run into som

and more demands, to them point where she was basically running the show. I immediately decided to put a stop to this. I had decided this was my company and I am in charge. I will not let her run it for me and decide where my business is going or not going. Just remember... it is your business, you make all the decisions.

Don’t expect your consultants to do all the advertising/marketing.

This could go two ways. If you have good consultants who want to succeed you probably won’t have to do much advertising. But, if you have consultants who are busy promoting their other businesses or are not good at marketing, you’re company probably will not have too much success. At first, you will have to do a lot of advertising; otherwise, no one knows your company even exists.

Offer excellent training and support.

One of the things that make a direct sales company so successful is the training and support consultants rely on and receive when they need it especially if it is their first go with a direct sales company. A good idea is to have weekly or monthly chats not only to hear feedback about how they doing but to lead them in the right direction. Make each chat about a different subject. For example, you may want to talk about marketing, recruiting, hosting a good party, etc.

Have a back up plan

Always have a back up plan for you business. If you are a sole owner, recruiting some reps that have done well or getting a business partner to learn the ropes can really help if you run into som

ny even exists.

Offer excellent training and support.

One of the things that make a direct sales company so successful is the training and support consultants rely on and receive when they need it especially if it is their first go with a direct sales company. A good idea is to have weekly or monthly chats not only to hear feedback about how they doing but to lead them in the right direction. Make each chat about a different subject. For example, you may want to talk about marketing, recruiting, hosting a good party, etc.

Have a back up plan

Always have a back up plan for you business. If you are a sole owner, recruiting some reps that have done well or getting a business partner to learn the ropes can really help if you run into some tough times and need to take some time off. Having to close your business because you are going out of town or have an emergency will, in most cases, not go over well. I have seen this with too many companies. I’ve seen owners going out of town for a month and closing business and letting the consultants fend for themselves or getting to the orders when they return. Soon the consultants and your customers may get irritated, start complaining, and take their business elsewhere.