Five Great Ideas For Starting A Direct Selling Business

As a busy mum, if you need other sources of income, you might think long and hard about self-employment. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to set your own hours, make a good income and still be able to cope with all those family commitments and household chores? Many mums in this position turn to direct selling and of the more than 50 million people estimated to work in this style of business worldwide, almost 70% are women.

So many things can stand in the way of the mum when it comes to getting back to work after a pregnancy or achieving some additional income as a family grows, but professional coaching - particularly coaching for women, can help quickly make these things an achievable possibility. You wish you could set a fixed schedule with a family in tow, but as those of us in that position can testify, any number of last-minute and unplanned crises can arise to throw everything off course. Kids can be so vulnerable to the smallest virus when they are at school and those school hour days you had saved up can easily whittle away. If the thought of a flexible-hour, part-time, direct selling business is very attractive to you, it's definitely worth your while to look into online life coaching to help get you on the right track.

Before you rush off to start your direct selling business, consider some important aspects.

- Firstly you must really ask yourself whether you are a socialite, are outgoing and love to meet people. Of course you aren't a hermit, its just that the business needs you to be very astute in social environments and forward reaching. This may require a bit of soul-searching; make sure that you are really cut out for this kind of approach before you start.

- Are you good at research? As we know, the Internet can uncover a wealth of information about any subject. Look into the concept of direct selling and learn all you can about the companies you are considering an involvement with. Direct selling can be a minefield at times and you might come across some so-called opportunities that are very similar to pyramid schemes. If you come across a program that requires you to enrol others for financial gain, be wary. Always check references and contact the testimonial givers as well.

- Direct sales opportunities exist in so many different industries. You might be able to build a business around an existing hobby? You can find direct selling opportunities in book sales, supplements, clothing, childcare, party supplies, cosmetics, scrap booking, beverages, weight management, toys and many others. Try to get involved in something that you really like, this is surprisingly important.

- Be wary of any significant start up fees. Generally speaking these are low and you should expect to pay for an initial kit of supplies to get you going. Look at the quality of the product in front of you. Would you buy it yourself - if not don't think that you'll be able to sell it to acquaintances, friends or friends of your friends without some repercussions!

- The chances are you may know somebody who is already into direct selling. Brainstorm with them as much as they will allow and while you may not expect them to give away any proprietary secrets, you will undoubtedly get some interesting tales from the front line to help you make up your mind.

Through a thorough investigation of the direct selling opportunity, you may be ready to invest and the next thing to do is to come up with a clear vision of what you expect from the business. Set your income, lifestyle and contribution goals as a next step. Once you've written up your vision, start taking action by drawing up your first ten steps to getting your new direct selling business off to a flying start.

Amanda Alexander is the Director of Coaching Mums and a widely renowned ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working mums across the globe who long for more time, balance and fulfilment in their busy lives. Download our free eBook especially for working mums with 5 easy ways to achieve balance.