Starting any business can be tricky. The success of a business is not just dependent upon the time and energy that you put into it, it is also dependent upon your realistic view of the industry and how you "roll with the punches." Starting an MLM business with your eyes wide open and riding the ups and downs will help tremendously with its overall success.
Here are some of the pros and cons of MLM to consider.
Pro – It is easy to get into.
There is not much that you have to do to start an MLM business. You usually do not need to have a college degree or even certain experience. Usually the start up costs are fairly low as well.
Con – It can make you alienate your family and friends.
Most MLMs encourage you to make a list of all of your family and friends, then approach them about buying into your opportunity. This can lead to them heading in the other direction when they see you coming.
Pro – The company does all the work.
With most MLM companies, it is the company that does all the work. They manufacture the product and often drop ship it to your customers. All you do is make the sales.
Con – Running a business requires discipline and energy.
When you are running your own business, you do not have a supervisor to answer to. While that freedom can be a wonderful feeling, it can also leave you to your own devices and if you are not motivated and disciplined, you could wind up playing computer games all day instead of selling your product.
Pro – You set your own hours.
With an MLM company, you set the hours that you want to work. You can work a full time job and do sales calls for your MLM business in the evenings and on weekends. There is no set time and you do not punch a timeclock. This is a main reason that many people start an MLM business
Con – There's usually some money involved.
More often than not, at some point you are going to have to dig into your pockets and cough up some change. You are going to have to purchase a certain amount of the product, usually to keep you eligible to stay in the program. Look before you leap and know the financial commitment that you are agreeing to.
Pro – You can work out of your home.
You do not need a fancy office to run your MLM business. You can work right out of your home. This means low overhead and a much easier lifestyle.
Con – There are a lot of scams out there.
There are a lot of scams out there, and for some reason, MLM opportunities tend to catch a lot of the scammers. The way to avoid this, though, is to be careful and research your company before you sign on with them.
Pro – The marketing and business plans are already there.
You do not have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to your business plans or marketing strategies when starting an MLM business. You can use what already exists with the company and run with it.
MLM can be quite lucrative if you find the right opportunity … weigh the pros and cons and discover if it's right for you.
