Many people are looking for ways to make money from home. One popular home based business model is Direct Sales. Sometimes called party plans, direct sales companies include businesses like Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, and Ameriplan.

Direct Sales and Party Plan Companies are also called network marketing companies. They focus not only on selling products or services, but also recruiting other salespeople into the company. These type of home based businesses are best for people with outgoing personalities who enjoy hosting parties, inviting people to events, and talking to strangers. If you decide to sell products or services for one of these companies you will usually be an independent sales representative or independent contractor, NOT an employee. You most likely will be paid commissions when you sell a product, or when someone you recruit or sponsor into the business, sells a product. If you don’t make any sales, you won’t make any money.

There are usually costs associated with doing business, and one must consider these costs prior to joining the business. There may be monthly fees to pay, which may cover your company website or national marketing campaigns. There may also be costs associated with the products you sell. The independent consultant may be required to buy the products first at a wholesale rate, then resell the product to customers at retail price, thus keeping their profit. Other companies may NOT require the independent sale representative to carry the inventory, but rather the items are drop shipped directly to the consumer. Customers may be able to order products from a company website or only from the independent representative. The independent sales rep may need to pay to marketing materials, products, samples, training courses and monthly fees.

Before joining any company, find out the actual costs that are mandatory, like a required monthly fee. Then try to get an estimate of variable costs, like advertising expenses, from an independent rep already in the business. You may also want to talk to people who have “failed” or “quit” this business. They may give you a more accurate description of the costs involved. Calculate how many products you would need to sell per month in order to just break even after your expenses are paid. If this number feasible? How many hours or parties will you need to host to meet this minimum amount of sales? Will you have additional income from the sale of products from a company website or do all product sales come from in person transactions? These are all things to consider when deciding to start a home business in direct selling or party plan type companies.

Before joining any company as a sales representative, make sure to check out their credentials with the Direct Selling Association at www.dsa.org. Also make sure to read the Better Business Bureau report on their company.

About the author:
I specialize in small business internet marketing, giving small businesses a website presence. My featured marketing project is for Blue Cactus Pool Service – Phoenix Arizona. Blue Cactus Pool Service LLC provides Phoenix Pool Cleaning, Phoenix Pool Repair, and pool maintenance services in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Anthem Arizona.

Enjoy a fun filled day of shopping and networking at the Spring Stop and Shop!

Saturday, April 30 · 8:00am – 5:00pm
at the Ramada Inn on Church St., Murfreesboro, TN

Your chance to win prizes, get great shopping discounts and find local small businesses.

Booths include:

• Perfect Expressions
• Premier Jewelry
• Mia Bella Candles
• Personalized Creations
• Pure Romance
• Mobile medical Scrubs
• Personalize Me Hair Care
• Body Wraps
• Midway Diner
• Thirty-One
• Tupperware
• Avon
• Arbonne International
• Gold Canyon Candles
• Mary Kay
• I Dream of Bows
• Simply Said
• Pampered Chef
• Li bri Cosmetics
• Scentsy
• and more!

A BIG congratulations to Katy Lunsford who is the winner of the $99 Scholarship from MySalesTactics.com

Register now for Barb’ Girson’s November Program: Recruiting Share Your G.I.F.T.S. & Grow:
To learn more…. http://www.mysalestactics.com/coaching/share-your-gifts

Build your recruiting confidence, become a recruiting expert, grow your team now and start 2011 strong!

All Sales Moms readers are invited to register and attend the Free Preview Class with Barb Girson, My Sales Tactics.
Plus – Barb Girson is offering a FREE Scholarship Drawing to one lucky Sales MOMS reader!

Everyone who registers for Barb Girson’s FREE Teleclass will:

• Be entered in the FREE drawing to win a FREE Scholarship to her November professional skill-building program: Share Your Gifts & Grow ($99 Value!)
• Get a complimentary subscription to her Award-Winning Sales Strategies that STICK Ezine

Even if you can not attend the live free teleclass, you will want to register to get in the drawing for the scholarship. All registrants will get the replay dial in info.

Free Preview Teleclass with Barb Girson, My Sales Tactics : Get More Recruits This Holiday Season!

Attend this free teleclass and get a preview of Barb Girson’s November professional skill development program: Recruiting: Share Your G.I.F.T.S & Grow. Get some tips you can use immediately.

When: Thurs. nite, Oct. 28 Time: 9:00 PM Eastern Time
Must register to get dial in information immediately.
CLICK HERE to register now
Please mention referred by ‘Sales Moms” when registering to be entered to win the $99 Scholarship.

All Sales Moms readers are invited to register and attend the Free Preview Class with Barb Girson, My Sales Tactics.
Plus – Barb Girson is offering a FREE Scholarship Drawing to one lucky Sales MOMS reader!

Everyone who registers for Barb Girson’s FREE Teleclass will:

• Be entered in the FREE drawing to win a FREE Scholarship to her November professional skill-building program: Share Your Gifts & Grow ($99 Value!)
• Get a complimentary subscription to her Award-Winning Sales Strategies that STICK Ezine

Even if you can not attend the live free teleclass, you will want to register to get in the drawing for the scholarship. All registrants will get the replay dial in info.

Free Preview Teleclass with Barb Girson, My Sales Tactics : Get More Recruits This Holiday Season!

Attend this free teleclass and get a preview of Barb Girson’s November professional skill development program: Recruiting: Share Your G.I.F.T.S & Grow. Get some tips you can use immediately.

When: Thurs. nite, Oct. 28 Time: 9:00 PM Eastern Time
Must register to get dial in information immediately.
CLICK HERE to register now
Please mention referred by ‘Sales Moms” when registering to be entered to win the $99 Scholarship.

Barb Girson began her sales career with Tupperware, working her business part time, while teaching sales and marketing full time. She was not very successful at first, yet over time she developed a system for success.

After a very humble start, Barb progressed to #2 in the nation out of 10,000 independent managers and 80,000 consultants. Barb led her multi-million dollar Tupperware business to the top 10% of franchises in North America by helping managers achieve national recognition in sales, recruiting and promoting leaders.

Ready for a new challenge, she joined the corporate senior management arena serving in such position as, National Sales Director and Vice President, General Manager, with responsibilities for driving up to $40M in revenue and leading direct sales organizations with as many 500 leaders and 20,000 consultants in North America.

Using skills that she mastered as an independent entrepreneur and a corporate employee, Barb Girson founded My Sales Tactics, a professional skill development company. As president, Barb and her team help companies, sales teams and entrepreneurs gain confidence, get into action and grow sales by designing and delivering custom training and coaching programs at workshops, leader retreats and conventions.

Girson, an interactive creative speaker and author, has been featured in USA Today, appeared on CBS This Morning, Fox 28 News/Columbus, 880AM Radio and has been quoted in numerous other national/regional and local publications. Barb Girson is a sought-after authority speaking on women, entrepreneurs, & direct sales.

• For Free Resources/Articles/Teleclasses visit: http://www.MySalesTactics.com
• Join her list: http://tinyurl.com/Barb-snewsletter

All Sales Moms readers are invited to register and attend the Free Preview Class with Barb Girson, My Sales Tactics.
Plus – Barb Girson is offering a FREE Scholarship Drawing to one lucky Sales MOMS reader!

Everyone who registers for her FREE Teleclass will:

• Be entered in the FREE drawing to win a FREE Scholarship to her November professional skill-building program: Share Your Gifts & Grow ($99 Value!)
• Get a complimentary subscription to her Award-Winning Sales Strategies that STICK Ezine

Even if you can not attend the live free teleclass, you will want to register to get in the drawing for the scholarship. All registrants will get the replay dial in info.

Free Preview Teleclass with Barb Girson, My Sales Tactics : Get More Recruits This Holiday Season!
Attend this free teleclass and get a preview of Barb Girson’s November professional skill development program: Recruiting: Share Your G.I.F.T.S & Grow.  Get some tips you can use immediately.

When: Thurs. nite, Oct. 28 Time: 9:00 PM Eastern Time
Must register to get dial in information immediately. 
CLICK HERE to register now
Please mention referred by ‘Sales Moms” when registering to be entered to win the $99 Scholarship.