On the fence about joining an MLM? Read this before joining an MLM as a homemaker.
This post isn’t directly created to deter homemakers from MLMs. I’ve been in my fair share of MLMs and wish I considered these factors before joining. Every situation is different and these are simply some things to think about.
You Won’t Be Making any Money…For a While
Most MLM recruiters are pretty up front about the fact that you must be in it for the long-game if you are wanting to build an income from an MLM. Whether you are wanting to sell products on social media or to people in real-life, it takes a lot of time to gain enough customers (or business builders) to actually make an income.
It often takes years to make a decent wage…and statistically most people who are involved in MLMs do not make money, and even lose money. Yes, you might be in that top small percentage of people who actually make money — but that means most (if not all) of the business builders you recruit will not be making money.
Is Your Upline Actually Your Friend?
Business builders in MLMs are salespeople. Uplines encourage their builders to engage with people on social media several times per day and to build meaningful relationships.
Here is my question…is a relationship genuine if it was built on the hope that you will be fiscally profiting from it one day?
I’m certainly not saying everyone in an MLM is fake or disingenuous. But it is a valid question.
Can You Afford It?
MLM companies typically only pay based on commission. This means product prices must be hiked up enough to compensate many people. MLM product prices are outrageously high. If they aren’t, the products are probably low quality (Sometimes they are both).
Do you find yourself justifying the price of products? To me, this is a red flag. If you have the money to spend, don’t let me get in your way. By all means, go for it! I know many (if not most) of my readers are living off of one income and it’s really difficult to justify spending $40 on a 1 oz essential oil product, no matter how high the quality is.
On that note, most MLM products are things we don’t actually need. You don’t need a weight loss shake. You don’t need essential oils or supplements. These things can be nice to have, but if you are trying to pay off debt or save money…it’s best to avoid overpriced products you simply can live without.
Like I said, if you have the extra money and this is how you want to spend it…great! If you don’t and find yourself needing to justify it as an investment…I would think twice.
MLMs Target Homemakers
MLM recruiters aren’t merely selling products. They are also typically selling a dream. We all know that one blogger who made enough money so her husband could quit his job.
When MLM recruiters post things on social media that say “I love working from home and getting to spend more time with my kids!” or “So glad I joined my MLM so I could pay off my student loans” — these are intentional. They are posting strategically to recruit business builders.
I’m not necessarily saying this is wrong, but I think it’s important to be aware of.
MLMs Breed (and Feed Off of) Discontentment
Many homemakers join an MLM out of sheer discontentment for their life. They aren’t satisfied with their husband’s income. They aren’t fulfilled as homemakers and they want something more out of their life. So, they join an MLM…often at the expense of their budget and time with their families.
When you are saying yes to business building, you are saying no to something else. Always. As a homemaker, your home and family must come first. It’s often unreasonable to add in building a business…especially if you are a mother of littles.
If you are battling the sin of discontentment, you may need a break from Instagram. Here are 6 signs it’s time to take an Instagram-break.
I hope this post doesn’t seem too much like I am bashing MLM’s and their many members. I know they are a great thing for some people, but the truth is, for most homemakers…they really are not the best option.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy homemaking!
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