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CAI
Consumer Awareness Institute
Non-profit Corporation
1,357 Ways YOU Can Make a LOT more Money* than in MLM/Network Marketing
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By
Jon M. Taylor, Ph.D., Consumer Awareness Institute
*With the possible exception of those at or near the top of a pyramidal hierarchy of tens of thousands of participants – or at the beginning of an endless chain of participants
Some people who get into MLM want to make more money, to secure a
more “passive” or “residual” income, or to have more independence
or freedom to use their talents than a typical job offers. Many people
just need the extra income to support a family, pay for an education, etc.
MLM/network marketing is appealing for many reasons. But is MLM the only
game in town? Are there better alternatives than MLM/network marketing to
meet these varied needs?
For many individuals, nothing in their experience promises so much
for so little investment as MLM (multi-level marketing). For a variety of
reasons, people needing income seek alternatives to the standard job
market. I believe that many people are drawn into MLM simply because they
have been approached by someone – an
d
are unaware of the vast array of other income opportunities that are
available to them outside the standard job market. These are explored
below and in the pages linked at the bottom.
To
see why we can safely say that so many income opportunities beat the odds
of profiting in MLM/network marketing
Experienced entrepreneurs know that the best opportunities don’t
come seeking you – you must search them out. In doing so, consider not
only your interests and passions, but also what you have to offer in
skills, natural talents, certification, and how these factors fit with
real needs in the marketplace.
Books on small business opportunities are full of write-ups of the
latest “hot” businesses of the 90’s.
And small business
“opportunity” web sites abound. But you will have to research them for
yourself. A detailed discussion of the thousands of income options would
require a massive research team many years to process – and it would
never be finished because entrepreneurs are dreaming up new businesses
daily.
Below are some categorical alternatives to the standard job market,
which are fairly easy to get into, even from home. Some require a modest
investment, and some require specialized training or licenses.
–Computer
services.
Anyone who is technically proficient and willing to do some market
research can usually find a niche that can be filled in this growing and
futuristic field. Hundreds of opportunities present them
selves
to programmers, systems engineers, networking experts, repair and upgrade
specialists – you name it. And of course, anyone can do data entry or
word processing from home.
–Internet
sales and services.
The Internet opened up the world to entrepreneurs and home workers like
nothing before. Online clearing houses of information, specialized product
outlets, auctions, and you-name-it are exploding on the Web. It really
pays to gain expertise in web technology and resources –coupled with
whatever specialized field interests you.
–Home
manufacturing. If you have developed a product that can be
manufactured from home, such as clothing or gift items, calls to
prospective retail outlets or attendance at a gift or craft show may get
you started in business.
–Agriculture-related.
Resourceful growers specialize in niche marke
ts
overlooked by major farmers and ranchers, such as mushrooms, exotic
fruits, organically grown vegetables, or unusual plants and flowers. Some
start in back yards and grow to sizable businesses.
–Repair
and maintenance.
While we are moving towards an increasingly high-tech society, persons who
are skilled in keeping our computers and other gadgets in working order
will always be in demand. Also, more routine maintenance of homes, yards,
vehicles, and equipment will always be needed.
–Teachin
g
and consulting. Anyone who can teach skills or useful information
on virtually any subject can sell that information in a variety of
formats. Also, experts in a variety of fields off
–Insurance.
This field is particularly good for persons who want the independence of
working their own hours—often from their homes. Successful insurance
agents or brokers build up enough commissions from renewals year after
year to provide a base of income much more secure than a salaried job can
offer.
–Real
estate.
While you can work from home, agents are always on call, since buyers tend
to look when they are in the mood. The income of
agents fluctuates widely, since they are essentially “unemployed”
between sales. So two or three major commissions in one month may be
followed b
–Other
agency/broker/finder arrangements. Arrangements vary all over the
map, but usually involve representing a company or a client for a fee or
commission. Examples would include management search firms, travel
agencies, domestic help agencies, collection agencies, contractor
referrals, investigative services, and temporary help agencies.
–Manufacturers
representative. This
is a person who can represent manufacturers to prospective retailers and
can draw commissions for repeat business from the same customers year
after year. Print sales reps also work this way.
–Miscellaneous
independent sales arrangements. Anyone who can learn to sell will
always have work opportunities, regardless of economic clas
s,
race, education, age, or sex. The classified ads sections of newspapers
are full of ads for people to sell a variety of goods and services. True,
many are not very solid and most are for commissions only, but if you talk
to enough of them, you might find something that appeals to you. Many
sales people work successfully from their homes.
–Tele
marketing.
This field has been dealt a major setback with recent FTC restrictions,
but there are still pockets of opportunity within the new rules. But be
careful – telemarketing scams abound. So programs sponsored by others,
including fund-raising promoters, should be checked out very carefully.
–Writing
and other creative freelancing. Good writers, artists, and others
with creative skills often work at home on a free-lance basis. Not onl
y
must you work on your writing skills, but
–Mail
order. Many people are more comfortable buying through the mail
than going down to a busy shopping center. Mail order is a lot like
fishing – you send out flyers or catalogs and wait to see who will bite.
If your returns are good, you use the same bait. Otherwise, you try
something else until you find what works. A big advantage of mail order is
that it can be operated from home, and the whole family can be involved.
–Importing
and exporting. Anyone who likes to travel (and preferably speaks a
foreign language) can find opportunities to bring products to and from the
United States or other countries. This field promises to grow in the
coming years as we move towards a world economy.
–Job,
career, and entrepreneurial services.
Frequent layoffs, corporate downsizing, and the move toward temporary
hiring and contract work have created new opportunities for some. These
include career consultants, outplacement centers, self-marketing coaches,
temporary help agencies, resume services, re-training centers, executive
and technical search firms and clearinghouses, and services for
entrepreneurs.
–Child
or adult day care. With the growth in number of mothers in the
workforce, the demand remains high for day care services. And with the
increase in the aging population, adult day care services and home health
care is on the rise.
–Construction.
Persons skilled in a variety of building trades can usually find work on a
subcontract basis. Some go on to become general contractors and coordinate
the work of many subcontractors to complete both major and minor projects.
–Franchisee
or franchiser.
Any of a large variety of products and services are offered on a franchise
basis. Franchises offer an increased likeli
hood
of success because the franchise package has been proven elsewhere, often
in hundreds of places. If you are resourceful enough to develop a
successful business that could be duplicated elsewhere, such as a novel
restaurant, you can package it and franchise it to others.
–
Buying
an existing business.
This option removes a great deal of uncertainty for inexperienced persons
seeking to get into a business of their own. Sometimes the seller will
stay with the buyer long enough to train the buyer thoroughly in all
aspects of the business, substantially reducing the risk of failure.
–Other.
Our list of income alternatives could go on and on – wholesaling and
retailing, vending machines and services, pet care and grooming, health
care and other professional services, advertising and public relations,
catering, decorating, etc.
________________________________________
UPDATE: An excellent article describing "Five Jobs that Let You Be Your Own Boss" appeared in MSN Careers April 28, 2008. Other articles for those with entrepreneurial inclinations are linked to the article. The five "jobs" are:
Graphic Web Designer - With the
right web design programs, anyone can do this. But there's the rub - you
have to be good to compete. One out of every four web designers work for
themselves.
EBay Entrepreneur - There are over 600,000 EBay Power Sellers
raking in over $1,000 a month, mostly from home. The market is huge:
276 million users span 39 global markets.
Financial Consultant - An estimated 35% are home-based CEO's, most
with at least a bachelor's degree. Get a license and go for it.
Interior Designer - 26 % are self-employed and most have
specialized training, such as a bachelor's degree in interior design.
Salesperson - Always open to those with the skills. The range of
sales options range from prestigious high paying positions to flaky scams,
so be careful and do lots of research before getting into it.
________________________________________
As you can see, we are really only limited by our creativity, skills, and
resourcefulness. At the very least it’s safe to say that MLM is not the
only game in town.
Before the Internet became popular, I drafted a proposal for a book on how
to find or create an income opportunity that is tailored to the needs of
the person seeking the income source. A publisher was enthused about the
project, but I got busy with other things and set it aside. Now –
especially with the number of online business opportunities that are
literally exploding - it is time to take another look.
I did a Google search to see what might turn up and was astounded
at the options. (Of course, many are duplicate pages on the same sites –
and a huge percentage are MLM’s):
·
“Home
Business Opportunities” yielded 1,150,000 listings. That’s 1.15
million!
·
When
I entered “Income Opportunities” the search yielded 1,470,000
listings. That’s 1.4 million!
·
“Business
Opportunities” yielded 86,800,000 listings. That’s over 86 million!
·
“Entrepreneurship” yielded 112,000,000 listings. That’s 112
million!
·
“Work from Home” yielded 4,230,000,000 listings. That’s 4.2
trillion!
Somehow I don’t feel inclined to do a thorough analysis of all of these. But on the coming pages, let’s take a look at some listings of what might be considered legitimate income opportunities. Of course, most would require considerable research before proceeding. A lot of this information – and much, much more – can easily be obtained from a search of the Internet and/or from books available through Amazon.com and other sources.
________________________________________
LINKS OFFERING GUIDANCE FOR CONSIDERING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES – BY THE THOUSANDS!
Starting a business from scratch can be tough and take years to get established. Often it is easier and much more profitable to buy the business of someone who is selling. Read our pointers on how to buy an existing business.
For alternatives that are sometimes safer, consider buying a franchise. Check out listings, information, and helpful links.
Examine listings of hundreds of specific income and business opportunities, some of which can be quite profitable. Also, read success stories and consider your own adaptations from Rich Sloan's "Home-based 100" on his web site – www.startupnation.com.
You can also find listings of sponsored "Work at Home" contract jobs. But be careful – anyone listing a sponsored income opportunity should be looked at very critically.
Consider samples of books and links that could be helpful in finding or starting a
business. Information about hundreds of specific income options are described in
additional books available from your local library or bookstore
– or through online sources, such as – www.Amazon.com.
Read our own helpful advice for those seeking an income opportunity or successful self-employment.
Why
we can safely say that so many income opportunities beat the odds of
profiting in MLM/network marketing
If you have read the research that has been done recently on the
profitability of chain selling programs (MLM, network marketing, 2-ups,
etc.), you know that at least four separate independent investigations
demonstrate that chain selling is a losing proposition for nearly all
participants. To review this research in more detail, go to –
www.mlm-thetruth.com
If you eliminate the "big winners" at the beginning of the chain or near the
top of a hierarchy of tens of thousands of participants, approximately
99.9% of the “downline” of participants lose money. This abysmal loss rate is computed after all expenses are subtracted,
including minimum purchases required to qualify for commissions or to
advance in the scheme. (For more history on how these conclusions were
derived by myself as the principle researcher and author, click
here.)
Since nearly all MLM participants lose money, it is not difficult
to come up with a list of income opportunities that are likely to be a
lot more profitable that MLM. Here are some examples:
-
Sell pencils on a street corner
-
Babysit.
-
Tend or walk the neighbor’s dog
-
Mow lawns
-
Deliver newspapers
-
Use a metal detector to find coins in vacant lots
-
Search garbage for aluminum cans to sell for recycling
-
Sit on the sidewalk and beg.
-
Gamble in Las Vegas
-
Et cetera
· Anyway, you get the idea. There are lots of ways of earning money without wasting time and money and without exploiting your most valuable relationships in a chain selling program that will only lead to further financial loss.
Return to Top of Page to review consider business opportunities by the thousands – many of which can be operated from home.
Guidance for persons seeking to start or buy a business.
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