How to Start Your Own Direct Sales Company

By Rick Suttle, Demand Media , chron.com

There are several different ways to start your own direct sales company. You can either sell for an existing company or create your own direct sales business from scratch. In either case, you will be selling to consumers directly or through the home party plan. Set up your office at home. You will likely need a DBA, or "doing business as" name, and vendor's license because you will be selling products at retail prices.

Step 1
Select the products you want to sell. Sell products that interest you, as your enthusiasm can enhance your selling success.


Step 2
Contact a direct sales company for which to sell products. Go to the direct sales company's website. Contact the company and order a distributor's kit, including a sales manual, price list, catalog, brochures, order forms and other visual aids.

Step 3
Find a wholesale or manufacturer supplier, if you prefer to start your direct sales company from scratch. Contact the National Wholesalers Association for a potential supplier. Visit the Tradepub website and order free publications on potential distributors. Visit the Thomasnet website for a list of manufacturers that sell your products.


Step 4
Call several of the wholesale or manufacturer suppliers. Find out which companies drop ship products, which will allow you to order single units of products at wholesale prices. Choose the wholesale or manufacturer supplier that offers you the lowest unit cost on products.


Tips
Talk to some of your party guests about selling for your company. Many direct sales companies pay you commissions on each recruit's sales. For example, you recruit Mary as a sales rep. Mary sells $300 of products at her first home party. You may earn 10 percent of Mary's sales or $30 because you recruited her.

Advertise your direct sales company in business opportunity publications if you are not affiliated with a particular direct sales organization. You will be targeting people who want to own a business. Mail a brochure and information about your direct sales opportunity to people who call or write you.