Direct Sales?

By Holly Reisem Hanna

Direct sales is the process of selling products and services face to face, away from a retail store location. Many times this is done through in-home parties, presentations, online and/or through catalogs. Companies offer starter kits that give you everything you need to get started, and they usually have a very low start up cost.

Your first prospects/buyers will generally be friends, family and/or co-workers; you will then build your customer base by getting referrals from these people. Some direct sales companies will give you a few leads to get started.

As a sales consultant you will be paid a commission on each product you sell. Some direct sales companies will also pay you a commission on products from sales consultants who you referred into the program. Besides being able to work from home, you will also be able to choose the hours you want to work, and the type of products you would like to sell. Many mothers choose to present their products at night, when dad can watch the kids.

How much money can a sales consultant make? The average commission that a sales consultant makes is generally around 20% – 35%; so if you were making 20% commission, you would need to sell $2,500.00 in products to make $500.00. With this said, many direct sales companies offer a tiered commission percentage based on your monthly sales, (the more you sell, the higher percentage you will make).

So if you are a self starter, confident, have high energy, and are truly excited and passionate about the products you are selling, a career in direct sales may be the perfect work at home opportunity for you! Check out the resources below to get started.