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I too have drunk the cool-aid

Oh, I’ve been there. Sitting in that Multi Level Marketing party, listening to the sales person rave about how much they love the business and being convinced.

When I was in my early 20’s, long before kids, I sold PartyLite candles. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit it now but my husband and I even went to the National Meeting at the end of our honeymoon. (God, I was so young.)

I didn’t earn much money and hated making calls so I just let the business fizzle out after a while.

Then, two years ago after reading about all the horrible things in shampoo and toothpaste I was convinced by a friend to sell Ava Anderson. About a month into my new “business” the owner decided to sell the company and all hell broke loose.

It ended up that if I wanted to continue I had to buy a whole new kit! Ummm, no!

So that one ended too.

I know that many people are happy with their Multi Level Marketing businesses but I just can’t get on board anymore.

It’s not really owning a business. It’s being part of a corporation. No matter what they tell you, you don’t own anything.

There are so many great products, and some I still buy, but I will never join an MLM business again.

9 Reasons why an MLM business is not your own business

1) Everything you do is controlled by a corporation.

The products, brand, marketing, sales, everything is controlled by a corporation. You have ownership over nothing.

2) You have no control over the products you sell.

Don’t like a certain product? Think it could be improved? Tough luck, you are stuck with the products they give you.

3) It’s not really about the products anyway, it’s about the recruits.

You will be encouraged to recruit other people to join the company under you. It is painted as a good thing since you will be getting a percentage of their sales. Which leads to…

4) People only want you to join so THEY make more money.

I mean that’s why you recruit, right?

5) You can only advertise in approved ways.

Have a great idea of an online promotion for the company? Tough luck! You can’t do any independent advertising. Plus, your website is what they give you. Some of them look horrible but you can’t change that. You also can’t mention certain keywords in a website or blog you own.

6) They promise you will earn tons of money with no work…

The promise of huge amounts of money seems to be universally pushed in MLM companies. Of all the people that you know who are a part of an MLM business, how many are millionaires? That’s what I thought.

7) …then encourage you to cold call people.

And who likes cold calling??? No one I know!

8) Markets are easily oversaturated.

Did anyone else notice this with Lularoe? I mean those leggings are super soft and desirable but it seemed like one minute they were rare and the next everyone and their cousin was selling them.

9) There are lots of training that are mostly motivational speeches.

I love a good training, where you learn techniques and skills that will help grow your business. But sitting in a room and listening to someone try to encourage everyone to make a certain number of calls each day is not my idea of a good time.

10) YOU HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE JOB!

This is a job. You work for someone else. You have to pay to get the job. That is messed up.

Did I go too far? I certainly got heated up!

I just hate seeing people put their hard earned money into an MLM business that they will fail at eventually.

I’d so much rather that anyone who wanted to work and work hard, start their own business. A business that they would have ownership over. A business that they are passionate about.

Owning a business is one of the hardest things I have ever done. It is a constant struggle to keep up with products, bookkeeping, employees and hundreds of tiny task that pop up.

But owning a business is also one of the most rewarding things I have ever done!

I love creating something that other people love. I love connecting with the customers and making my product and business even better in response.

So what I’m saying to you is, if you are thinking about making money from an MLM, STOP! Sit down and figure out a business you can start yourself. Take the $100 you were going to invest in the MLM company and start your own thing.

Need help? Take my free course, Find Your Passion, to help you figure out what type of business to start. Then check out Everything You Need to Know About Starting a Small Scale Business to get your business off the ground.

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