has anyone here had a successful business?

Question

selling melaleuca products? if you tried it how was your experience? what did you do that made it successful?

Answer 1

I made a decision, decades ago, not to encourage or discourage anyone from going the MultiLevel Marketing (MLM) route. I have not prepared a tax return, in over two decades, for anyone who earned a meaningful income in an MLM, but I do not want to be responsible for discouraging the next potential MLM King or Queen!

Rather, I decided to present my observations, below:

Here, we look at the Networking System. Whether your experience with a MLM is favorable or unfavorable, it might be helpful to consider the elements of a good MLM Format and compare it with that of the services and products of other business organizations.

The following are conclusions of a study of MLMs.
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1. The company should offer a unique quality product that isn't available through stores.
2. The product should be needed by a broad segment of the population, the most popular segment being the Baby Boomer generation.
3. It should be a product that gets re-ordered frequently.
4. Sales History - Is the company in rapid growth?
5. The company should be financially stable.
6. The company should have a track record of at least five years.
7. The company should be a member of the Direct Selling Association.
8. The business should have no regulatory problems.
9. The compensation plan should allow you to recruit as many people as you can to your first level.
10. The compensation plan should pay commissions and overrides on at least five levels. *
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Generally known weaknesses of MultiLevel Marketing Companies:
1) Distributors cannot make meaningful income selling products, personally
2) Relatively very few ever make full-time income, much less accumulate meaningful wealth
3) System requires huge recruiting numbers to make meaningful money
4) Many MLM company leaders make majority of money selling materials and events to field force
5) Very often little or no training
6) Very often little or no business system
7) Often tremendous hype, little substance
8) Not a licensed, regulated profession
9) Seldom have offices and full business operation

Known strengths of MultiLevel Marketing Companies:
1) Building System that has incentives and rewards people
2) Emphasis on Motivating, Uplifting and Recognizing people

When I got out of college, in 1977, it was only a matter of months before an Amway distributor tried to recruit me. I have talked with many MLM distributors, including my former brother-in-law, over the years, and though I am willing to accept that they market quality products, my experience is that the discussions about business opportunity involved great hype and little substance. I have never joined an MLM.

Based on the above, I encourage the reader to use his/her intellectual judgment, and to decide, accordingly.

Phil
http://www.phillipfostercpa.com

Answer 2

I had a friend try to do that with that product and let me tell you what it was awful!!