If you're a talented salesperson, like people, and enjoy the flexibility of working your own hours, direct selling as an independent sales rep may be right for you. Independent sales reps are independent contractors who must take care of their own taxes without an employer withholding a part of their paycheck. According to the Direct Selling Association, the national trade association for direct sellers, more than 15 million people participated in direct selling in 2007 in the United States alone. Here's how you can join that number.
Consider the competition in your area. If the opportunity you're considering doesn't have sales territories that's both a good thing and a bad thing. Although with no territories you can sell to anyone you want, so can everyone else. Don't choose a company that already has too many distributors in your area. Customers are rarely faithful to independent sales reps and are, instead, brand loyal.
Consider the costs. When looking at opportunities, consider the start-up costs involved. Typically you'll be asked to pay for a sales kit to get you started. The sales kit will contain samples to share, catalogs, order forms, and training materials. Start-up costs range from approximately $20 to several thousand dollars.
Narrow your choices down to three possibilities and speak with sales representatives already working with these companies. Ask what they like and don't like about the company and ask about the products they sell.
Explore the possibilities. There are hundreds of direct selling opportunities out there, some of them better than others. In order to ensure you're working with a legitimate company, search the member directory at the Direct Selling Association website. All member companies must follow a strict code of ethics in order to remain in the association.
Pick the company you want to work with and follow their sign-up procedure, pay for your start-up kit, and start selling.
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