Below are Questions to help you do the Best Home Based Business Comparison

Use this worksheet as a best home based business comparison guide. Make sure you know all the details about the company before taking the actual step and joining.
Home Business Comparison Worksheet

By: Diane Drayer

When you start your search for the perfect Direct Selling or Network Marketing business, here are some valuable questions to do the best home based business comparison:

1) Start up cost should be minimal. Start up cost in direct selling and network marketing companies are usually modest and mainly to cover the cost of the sales kit. Q. What is the company’s start up cost?
Q. What comes with a new Distributor/Consultant kit?

2) Some companies require a monthly purchase.
Q. Is there a monthly minimum purchase requirement and if so, how much is the monthly investment?

3) Most companies submit the local state sales tax, however, there are a few that do not.
Q. Will I be required to submit my own state sales tax?

4) Check with each company regarding their return policy. This will be vital to your business.
Q. Can I return unwanted or damaged products and if so, what is the company’s return policy?

5) Do you have a “buy-back” policy? Some companies offer to “buy-back” unsold marketable products purchased within the 12 months prior, should you decide to quit the business for 90% of the price you originally paid.
Q. Does the company offer a “buy-back” policy?

6) Some companies require Independent Representatives to pay for portions of the Hostess gifts, etc. You should know up front whether part of your commission earned will go to cover these cost. This will reduce the actual amount of commissions earned.
Q. Will I be required to cover part of the Hostess Gifts or pay admin fees, etc.?

7) It is always smart to compare catalog and supplies cost as they vary by company.
Q. What do company catalogs and paperwork cost?

Customer shipping charges are important to your business and can vary greatly from company
to company.
Q. What are the customer shipping charges?

9) It is customary for companies to have a monthly or quarterly sales requirement to stay active and/or receive overrides.
Q. What, if any, are the monthly/quarterly requirements?

10) If you plan to participate in local fairs, festivals or events, you will want to know whether the company allows you to sell “cash & carry.” Many will not as they prefer Representatives to provide one on one customer support and book to increase sales. Q. Does your company allow Representatives to sell products “cash & carry” at local fairs and events?

11) Many companies provide Representatives with a company approved website. If you plan to market your business online, this will be vital to your success.
Q. Does your company provide a website and if so, what is the cost?
Q. If they do not, can I design my own?
Q. Are Consultants/Representatives allowed to market online and what are the company guidelines?

12) Some companies authorize Representatives to deduct their commissions prior to sending in their Show Order, while others require all monies collected forwarded to home office and then commission checks are issued monthly or twice per month.
Q. How are you required to submit payment for a show?

13) How often are commission checks issued..monthly, bi-weekly or weekly? My experience has been that most issue monthly. Be sure to ask as there are a few that offer twice monthly and weekly.
Q. How often are commission checks issued…monthly, bi-weekly, weekly?
Q. At what time of each month will I receive my commission check?

14) Many companies now ship their products directly to the consumer or Hostess, however, there are few that require Representatives to deliver a Show or products.
Q. Will I be required to deliver products?

15) With some opportunities, Representatives are encouraged to stock products to have on hand for eager customers.
Q. Will I be required to stock or carry inventory?
Q. If no, will my business be more successful if I elect to have on hand “hot sellers?”

16) Most companies allow their Representatives to purchase products or display items at a special
discount.
Q. Are Representatives allowed to purchase products at a discount and if so, what is the discount?

17) Have them explain the commission structure and levels of achievement as it varies greatly by company.
Q. What is your commission structure?

18) Do they offer additional incentives, such as trips, a cash bonus and etc.?
Q. What additional incentives does the company offer?

19) What type of support is available?
Q. What type of support can I expect?
As with any business, finding what works for you and your lifestyle will be the key.

Take time to research opportunities and consider whether the business and support team are a good match for you. Another wise decision is to consult with a home business tax professional before launching your home business. Learn what can and cannot be deducted, as well as, good record keeping.

About the Author: Diane Drayer is an experienced online marketer, as well as, the creator and moderator for the popular Ryze Direct Selling Network. In addition, she owns and manages www.DirectSellingOpportunities.com. When she isn’t busy moderating her Ryze board or marketing her home business resource site, she teaches others how to build and maintain a website through her MakeAnEasyWebsite.com service.

If you own a business of any kind, you know that without a sale, there will be no business. Too many entrepreneurs focus on the development of the business, but they don’t let their market know they exist. Read on to find out the importance of using a direct-mail sales letter to get customers to your door.

Contrary to the belief of many new business owners, your customers are not just sitting at home hoping that you will create a new product that you can buy. There are some viral exceptions to this, but for the other 99% of us, you will need to make sure that the customer knows you are out there and you won’t let them forget about you. This is where the sales letter comes in.

A sales letter is a direct conversation with your customer. It multiplies your selling efforts, by creating a sales conversation with the person in which you do not have to be present. You will need to address all of the customer’s concerns, provide them with a compelling reason to buy and a call to action. This is your time to shine and really show your customer what you will do for them.

It all starts with a compelling headline. Make sure that you are only talking to one person at a time. Use the word “you” a lot. The headline is what can make or break your sales letter. If you don’t grab their attention immediately, they will never read what you have to say. Don’t try to give your whole offer in the headline, just grab their attention and get them to keep reading. The rest of the sales letter will do the actual selling.

Make the sales letter from you personally. People pay more attention to statements that are being made from an individual instead of an entire company. That seems to impersonal to most people. Also try to include a good picture of yourself and the product that you are selling. People want to know what they are getting and who they are buying from. A picture can really help close the deal, just make sure they look professional or they can work against you.

The frequency of your letter will also make a large difference. It is better to send to a smaller list of people multiple times than it is to send to a large list once. The average customer may need up to 5 contacts with your offer before they will even consider making a buying decision. If you are selling a big ticket item, it may require many more contacts. For all of these reasons a sales letter is a very efficient way to spread your message and get more customers.

Joshua Black is the developer of the Underdog Sales Letter System. This report gives you all of tips, templates, and tricks necessary to create your own customer-grabbing sales letters in as little as 8 hours. Check it out at: http://www.sales-letter-system.com.

A marketing plan outlines the basics for how you want to market your business. Your marketing plan helps you establish, direct and coordinate your marketing efforts. It’s your roadmap for success. Your marketing plan allows you to understand your customer base, better determine exactly how products or services will benefit those clients, and create a plan to market to those clients. Below are tips to get you started creating a marketing plan that will help you grow your business effectively:

1. Outline your marketing goals. Make sure to include any research or information that supports your marketing plan. For example, keep a notebook that has all applicable keywords, research for new sites to connect with, and business contacts.

2. Outline a specific time frame for completion of your goals. If you layout a timeline for your goals, you will be much more likely to reach them.

3. Make a list of all of your marketing plans. Each time a new idea comes to you, add it to your list.

4. Plan out your budget. Know how much you have available so that you can be sure to spend it wisely. Be clear here on where you will spend your advertising dollars. Don’t just tell yourself, “I have $XXX for marketing.” Instead, be specific. “I have $100 for paid press releases.” or “I have $40 for a Google Adwords campaign.”

5. Think through how you will handle the clients/customers who respond to your marketing attempts. Too many make this mistake. They market and ask questions later. A client calls and wants additional information on their services and they are like ‘now what do I do.” We want to have you so that when that potential client calls, it runs like clockwork!

6. Make a list of any/all the marketing you’ve done in the past. Note next to each item on the list whether or not the marketing attempt was a success or failure and why. Now with the marketing ideas that worked, make sure to give them priority.

By taking each of these steps you will find yourself well on the path to an effective marketing plan.

Jill Hart, Founder of Christian Work-at-Home Moms http://www.cwahm.com/, (offering mentoring & advice for cwahms) and Diana Ennen, President of Virtual Word Publishing, http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com/ (offering PR and marketing assistance) co-wrote So You Want to Be a Work at Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business http://www.soyouwanttobeawahm.com/. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

A few days ago, our family made a trip to the local bank here in our community so that our children could open their first savings account. The piggy banks were overflowing with money due to various visits from the tooth fairy, as well as rewards for all of their good deeds around the house. What happened when we entered the bank made a big impression on me and got me thinking about how Smart Women entrepreneurs always make a good first impression.

When we entered the front door, we were immediately greeted by an energetic young woman who wanted to know how she could help us. She escorted us to someone who could help our children open their accounts. We were invited to try a beverage from their vast menu (water, coffee, tea, soda, juice and hot chocolate) and of course the children were immediately given lollipops to welcome them as new customers. (By the way, the complimentary drinks were not just for new customers. I could overhear the conversation at the teller window and they were offering this to everyone who entered the bank.)

The representative that helped our children open their accounts was knowledgeable. He answered our questions and he treated our children with respect. He spent a lot of time with us and we never felt rushed or confused about what was going to happen next.

We walked away from the experience feeling like we made a great decision to open the accounts at this bank and it was a great “first” experience in banking for our children as well.

No matter what type of business you’re in, first impressions count – a lot. People want and expect a very personal, high-touch experience. If you are a woman entrepreneur and you want to create raving fans for your business, I invite you to take an inventory of the process you use to create an unforgettable first impression.

Here are a few tips on setting yourself up for success for a great first impression:

1. You had me at Hello – What’s the point of first contact with you and your company? If it’s email, make sure you have a system in place for you or someone on your team to receive email inquiries quickly. If it’s by phone, does your message state clearly what you want the caller to do? Do you have a system set up so that you return calls within 24 hours? Here at Smart Women Smart Solutions® response time is a valuable part of laying a good foundation with our clients. Our goal is to provide “red carpet” treatment to everyone we come in contact with. Review your systems for how someone makes that initial contact with you. Make sure your system works fast and efficiently.

2. It’s contagious – Having a friendly, positive attitude from the initial point of contact is important. People want to associate or be with people who are friendly and helpful. It makes them feel supported and cared for. Several years ago, I walked into my office one day to find my assistant at the time talking rudely to someone on the phone. I was horrified! Needless to say, that particular person did not work out well, however it was a valuable lesson for me. I want to attract support team members who hold quality client interaction to the same standard as I do.

3. Plan Your Process – Create a process for your ideal client so that the first impression with you is seamless and successful. Decide now how you want the process to work and enlist your team to help you roll it out. If you are a solo entrepreneur and don’t have any team members working with you yet, I invite you to sit down and think about what you want your first impression to look like with your ideal client. This is time well spent and can mean the difference between incredible business growth or ho-hum results. (It was when I took this part of my business seriously that I began to see huge jumps not only in my income but in the quality of the clients I serve.)

Spend some time reflecting on your first impression process. I invite you to set the intention to create “royal red carpet” treatment from that first point of contact so that you too can enjoy big leaps in your income along with quality clients who rave about you everywhere they go.

Anything is possible. Everything is waiting for you.

© 2011 Joy Chudacoff

Joy Chudacoff, ICF, PCC, is the founder of Smart Women Smart Solutions®, a Professional Certified Coach to 1000’s of women, Motivational Speaker, and Entrepreneur. She publishes a weekly buzz generating ezine, Reflections On Life and Business for Women Entrepreneurs. If you’re ready take your life and your business to the next level, get your FREE Tips, FREE Report and FREE MP3 now at Profits With Passion .

If you are looking to make money with a home business and you are considering joining one of the Direct Sales Companies, there are a few things you need to consider before going down the network marketing path.

Most recruiting consultants with a Direct Sales company will tell you that you can make a lot of money by joining their company and working the business on a full-time basis. While that is true for some people…the real truth is…only a small percentage of those in network marketing make thousands of dollars each month. Furthermore, for the few who do make the larger amounts of money in Direct Sales, those people have been in the business for a couple of years. You will not make millions and you certainly won’t make a lot of money overnight.

Working a home party plan type of business takes a lot of hard work and it does cost money! If any recruiter tells you that business is so good and that customers run to you without you having to do anything…that is a lie. Customers never magically find a home business consultant. You will have to spend consistent time each and every week promoting and marketing your business for it to be a success. Furthermore…you will have on-going business expenses such as ordering new catalogs, order forms, mailing supplies, samples and if you are promoting that business online, you will have internet expenses as well. Having a home party plan business isn’t always cheap.

In addition to the expenses there is the “time” factor. Will you have a minimum of 15 hours a week to work on your business? You will need to call up people you know to try to get party bookings and orders. You will need to spend time on advertising, marketing and networking for your business and after all of that is done, you will be responsible for conducting parties in your hostesses homes. If you want to make decent money you will need to recruit and train those who join your team. All of this can add up to 15+ hours per week! If you have the time…then a Direct Sales company may be for you.

The upside to having this type of business is that if you are willing to commit the time, energy, hard work and money to working and marketing this type of business…it can eventually make you a full-time income. For most consultants, it takes a minimum of 1 year before that full-time income is generated.

Can you make full-time money in a home party plan business? Yes you can! However, you will have to work your butt off to make it a success and you will need to choose the right company and leader to work with you to achieve business success.

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989 and is the owner of the popular web site called Work At Home Business Options at http://www.workathomebusinessoptions.com where you can find free business articles, Direct Sales tips and home business resources.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” -Matthew 22:21

I don’t know about you, but every year I dread – and I mean DREAD – tax time. As the appointment with my accountant draws near I lie awake at night worrying about whether or not I’ve messed anything up and what might possibly be coming my way.

I wasn’t always afraid of my accountant, but several years ago, when I was transitioning CWAHM from “hobby” status to “business” status, I got caught offguard when tax time came. I had made quite a bit more income than the previous year, but it had never dawned on me during the year to send more in to the IRS along the way. I sent in to the IRS what the accountant told me to each month and assumed that would take care of it.

That year I left the accountant’s office in tears, nearly hyperventilating, promising myself it would never happen again. We owed several thousand dollars in taxes and I had no idea where it was going to come from.

God provided for us, but it was an incredibly difficult time. And now each year at tax-time I’m reminded of my previous mistakes and I begin terrifying myself about what I may have done wrong this year.

I learned a few tips along the way – maybe they will help you, too:

If possible, use an accountant. I would have missed a lot of deductions these last few years if it weren’t for mine.
Keep all business receipts. I have a folder in my filing cabinets specifically for business receipts so that I can simply plop them in there in case they are ever needed.
Ask your accountant or tax professional exactly what you need to be tracking throughout the year (mileage, utility costs or other things depending on your business) and make sure that you understand how to calculate any monthly or quarterly payments that need to be made to the IRS.

This year was still stressful for me. My appointment with Mr. Accountant was on a Friday and I spent that week alternating between worrying and peace. It felt like every time I gave my worries to the Lord they showed right back up an hour later.

The difference this year is that God had people in place to call me on my attitude. My husband repeatedly reminded me to stop worrying and lay it at God’s feet. Several friends also realized that I was struggling and encouraged me to look not at my mistakes, but at God’s provision over the years. He has never failed me. Even in the messes I create for myself, God is there and He is faithful.

The day of the tax appointment has come and gone and (praise God!) all was pretty much fine this year. Going forward, I am committed to focusing on God’s faithfulness instead of my mistakes.

If you struggle with worry – about taxes or anything else – here are some things I’ve learned the hard way over the years. Maybe they will save you from some of the struggle:

Tell someone you’re struggling and ask them to pray with you
Be honest with your spouse or significant other about what’s bothering you
Be careful not to take the stress and frustration out on your kids

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com and the co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-At-Home Mom (Beacon Hill Press, 2009). She graduated from Grace University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development/Family Studies and Bible. Jill has worked from home since 2000 and started her own home-based business to assist other Christians who desire to work from home while maintaining a godly life. Jill is the host of the podcast, Christian Work at Home Moment and co-host of the LIVE internet radio show, The CWAHM Network.

In my opinion, the best way to get started in the network marketing industry is to work with the people you know. I know that a lot of people will disagree with this statement, so I’m going to take a few moments and explain why I feel this way.

If you are new to MLM, chances are you don’t know anything about sales or marketing. You don’t know much about online lead generation, capture pages, pay-per-click advertising, or any of the other important online marketing skills.

But you do know people. You have a sphere of influence. In fact, you probably have 300-1,000 people who you know, like and trust.

If you start your network marketing journey by talking with friends and family, you will do well. Your secret to success is your approach. In most cases, new distributors are taught to make a name list and then to pitch their business opportunity to anyone who is willing to listen.

That’s a recipe for disaster because most people have no desire to get involved with network marketing. But, many of those same people will be interested in your products.

Before you talk to anyone about your products or business opportunity, you need to spend a few hours creating a large name list. Ideally, you want 300 to 800 names on your list. That might sound overwhelming, but if you block off three hours of time, you will come up with that many names.

You want a large list of names so you have lots of people to talk with.

Here’s a few ways to get started:

Write down all your Facebook friends
Make a list of family members
Refer to old high school yearbooks
Play the alphabet get (names starting with “A.” then “B” etc.

Once you have your name list, pick the easiest person to approach and ask them if they would be interested in sitting down with you one-on-one to learn about some great products. Chances are, they will sit down with you.

After you meet with them and get an order, you need to do two things. First, see if they are willing to book an in-home party where you can come over and showcase the products.

If they aren’t willing to do that, try to get two referrals from them and follow-up with those people.

By following the advice in this article, you will achieve success in any network marketing company.

To learn other great ways to succeed in direct sales or network marketing, visit our website at http://www.multi-level-marketing-website.com/mlm-plan.html. Charles Holmes is an author, infopreneur and marketing guru.

By David L. Feinstein

It’s getting more and more difficult these days for moms to run their household without feeling like the month is closing in on them. Wondering where the money is going to come from for the bills that are already stacked up on the table…not to mention the bills that are on their way… can be immensely stressful.

With women taking on more and more responsibility these days than ever before, including careers and motherhood, many women don’t know where to turn anymore when it seems that they’re already doing all that they can do.

It can be overwhelming, but when it comes to providing for her family, just like a mother bear, a woman can become fierce. And instead of ever giving up, you’ll find that most women will begin to look for a new way to solve the problem.

Many begin to look for a second income, or even a new and better full-time income. They begin to search for a business that they can start in their spare time (or at least the time that they create for spare time)… while on their own terms.

The problem of overwhelming choice quickly becomes apparent with their search, as well as the fear of getting scammed into something that will not only NOT work, but waste both their precious time and money.

This is the time when they need a great leader, trainer, and mentor to come into their lives and show them the solution to their problems. Someone that they can count on to show them the absolute fastest track to profiting and getting themselves and their families out of the tough spot that they’re in.

But unfortunately this is also the time when those not-so-ethical “recruiters” smell fresh meat, and come out of the woodwork to play on the desperation factor.

This does amazing damage to the network marketing industry, and the home-business industry as a whole.

This is the reason that we – as professional network marketers – need to really start going out of our way to strive for excellence in ethical behavior our own selves, and go above and beyond for those that truly need our guidance.

We need to remember that those hard-working moms with the worry of getting food on the table, keeping their children with a roof over their heads, and the electricity bill on, need and deserve to be treated for what they are…modern day heroes.

Now that doesn’t mean that you have to carry anyone through the race, or over the finish line. This doesn’t mean that you have to deal with time wasters who aren’t willing to do the work for themselves. But it means that you SHOULD go out of your way to genuinely CARE about those who are in a desperate situation, and respect wholeheartedly that they’re willing to really put in the elbow grease to do everything that they can for their family’s well-being.

This also means that we have to start being tougher on our selves and our peers… and when we see unscrupulous behavior from other’s in our industry that we call them out on it. It means that we become tougher watchdogs for the very industry that allows us to live and enjoy the lifestyles that we have been able to create.

The industry of network marketing is an industry for personal growth along with an industry that opens doors for great financial opportunity. There are people out there actively tainting that fact, and undoing what we’ve all worked so hard to do. And some of those that they prey on our most beloved women…our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, and our wives!

And they’re doing it when they’re at their most vulnerable. We can’t let this happen, and we have to fight for our industry. We do that by being completely ethical, going that extra step and mentoring as best to our ability, and calling out those people who don’t.

I once heard this network marketing distributor say you can’t make money long-term with jewelry and accessories. Clearly he doesn’t know women too well. There’s a reason jewelry is big business because women love them.

Remember that we love to buy and women enjoy shopping (I do). They buy because they want to not because they have to or need to.

There are many ways with marketing your jewelry party business. Selling through home parties can be lucrative and a fun way to connect and bond with other female friends. But if you want to sustain your business long-term, you’ll need to be creative and use the internet, social networking, free and paid ads, to grow your business.

While writing this article, I looked at top selling categories on Amazon for 2010, and jewelry is in the top 10. Online jewelry sales is big business.

The key to marketing your jewelry business successfully online is to know your products and the type of customers most likely to buy the jewelry.

Yep, I’ve said this before and will say again, you need to know your audience. Who’s likely to buy your jewelry? If you sell vintage, unique jewelry, this might not appeal to people that only want gold jewelry. Know the type/style of jewelry you’re selling and the price points. This will help your marketing and reach the right audience.

For example: If you’re selling unique jewelry, use this to differentiate your products. Some keywords are vintage, hand-made, romantic, unique hand-made jewelry, and so forth. Think of all the words you or your potential customer would use to describe your jewelry.

With thousands of jewelry to choose from, you must have a unique selling position to set your business apart from others.

Some other ways to grow your jewelry business online is to sell on Etsy (if it’s hand-made by you) and Ebay. Online craft fairs might be a good option. Be creative, experiment with different online marketing techniques, and see what works and what doesn’t.

For jewelry lovers, what a great way to wear what you love, and make money at the same time. With the internet and social networking, it’s easy and cost-effective, to grow your jewelry home party business online, anywhere and at anytime.

**Janette Stoll helps direct sales consultants generate targeted leads from articles, blogging, and social media marketing. Her blog is visited by thousands of work-at-home professionals monthly. Sign up for your FREE 10-Part Mini Course and learn how to attract leads effortlessly. Click here –> http://www.janettestoll.com

As a Direct Sales professional, I often see other business people using deception as a way to sponsor new teammates. Does this type of tactic work? In my opinion, it does not.

Using deception to sponsor or recruit is not only unprofessional, it can be illegal.

Let’s take a look at a few examples.

1. Insinuating that the product sells itself. You don’t have to work hard, the money just comes to you.
2. Misrepresenting your position within the company.
3. Misleading potential leads by stating that you have a large successful downline, when in fact you have very few teammates.
4. Lying about the commission payment structure, or not fully explaining how it works.
5. Concealing the truth about ongoing business costs and quota requirements.

Why doesn’t this work?

Yes, you might be able to recruit several new Direct Sales consultants by using these deceptive business practices, but these new teammates will not be with the business for the long haul. Often times, they will file company complaints against you for misleading them. You will risk your own position within the company that you are representing. The online work at home community, is a small world. People will hear about deceptive practices and that can hurt your business as well.

When it comes to having a successful business, you need to grow a strong team. You will want your team to recruit and build their own downlines. Misleading consultants to sign with you will only cause a ripple effect and that as a whole will not be good for you, your team or your company. So keep your recruiting methods on the up and up. Keep your business and your company strong. Your good name is the key to marketing yourself, growing your team, and your business.

Shelly Hill has been working from home in Direct Sales since 1989. Shelly is a Manager with Tupperware. You can contact Shelly at: Web: http://www.classybusinesswomen.com Recipe Blog: http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com

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