people putting in 10 hours or less, according to the Direct Selling Association. For those putting in at least 30 hours a week, the median net pay is about $25,000 a year.
To make it in the direct-selling business, Jane Deuber, president and co-founder of the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance (www.dswa.org) based in Kailua, Hawaii, says you’ll need:
- A strong belief in the company and the product. Selling products in a home setting where you come face-to-face with customers requires a good amount of passion and motivation for the merchandise because there is little marketing of the items in mass markets.
- A willingness to learn and grow. There is potential to increase your income level quickly if you can study the intricacies of the direct-selling system and create a situation where you’ve got money coming in from a web of recruits you bring on board.
- A desire to serve others (customers, distributors, and the company). Direct sellers must juggle a wide range of needs as they navigate the direct-selling system, so that means being able to satisfy the customers you sell to, the representatives you recruit, and the company at large.
- Persistence. A big part of succeeding in the direct-selling business is consistently challenging yourself, stepping out of your comfort zone to do things you might not otherwise do, and being willing to share business opportunities and products with those you know.