I wanted to comment about this area first since it always gets a lot of discussion. The US Federal Trade Commission describes Multi-level Marketing as:
Another type of work-at-home opportunity is a multilevel marketing (MLM) plan. In multilevel or network marketing, you are supposed to sell products to the public — often by word of mouth and direct sales. In legitimate MLM opportunities, you will earn commissions for the products you sell, and for sales made by people you recruit.
But not all multilevel marketing plans are legitimate. Some MLM companies tout luxurious lifestyles and suggest you will earn enough money to quit your job or meaningfully supplement your income. But are their claims for real? Be wary and ask for written information about how much money most people make (after deducting their expenses). Also, if anyone suggests recruiting is the real way to make money, know this: MLMs that survive on recruiting new participants rather than retail sales are pyramid schemes. Pyramid schemes are illegal, and the vast majority of participants lose money.
I have been involved with a number of MLM companies over the years. One I was involved with early on in my online career was Melaleuca. I made some money with it but going to big company meetings and meeting people at hotels to make sales just was not something I was into. I did love the products. Melaleuca is still around and going strong. A side note here, my sponsor in Melaleuca, who lived in the next town from me was making over $50,000 a month, so if you want to work at it, it can be very profitable.
There are other legitimate MLM companies out there that have been around for years. Avon, Fuller Brush, Amway, Shaklee, Herbalife, NuSkin, Mary Kay and Tupperware are just a few that have withstood the test of time and are still in business.
