The first thing to do when choosing a Network Marketing company is to look at the actual products that are being sold. If you already use and love products being sold through multi-level marketing, that would be a great place to start. You can also think about what interests you. The following are areas to consider: Candles, Make-Up, Skin Care, Health and Wellness, Baskets, Cooking and food related, Clothing, Telecommunications, Scrap-booking, and even automotive lubricants! The list is almost endless! One helpful thing to do is search for MLM directories on-line. There are several websites that give links to hundreds of companies. Choose one or two companies to explore. Choose a company with products you know you can believe in. If you want other customers and prospects to believe in your business, you must have that belief in place as well. There are a lot of different companies offering a lot of different products.

After you have one or two companies you are considering, it is critical to investigate your choices! Network Marketing, sometimes referred to as Multi Level Marketing (MLM)is a legitimate and respectable business. While there are a lot of wonderful companies, there will always be someone trying to take advantage of others. The first thing you need to consider when evaluating a company is whether or not it is a legitimate company. Take the time to research the company you are interested in joining and you will save yourself a lot of headaches. Here are some helpful tips when researching your choices:

1. Read The Bottom Line on Multi-Level Marketing at the Federal Trade Commission website. It gives excellent information on avoiding companies that may possibly have illegal operations. A good suggestion is to save the article and print it out. Keep it with you when reviewing companies. In addition, you may want to read what they have to say about pyramid schemes which are illegal.

   
   

2. Research your choices at the Better Business Bureau. Find out if there are any legitimate complaints and how they were resolved.

   
   

3. Check to see if your company choices are a member of the Direct Selling Association. The Direct Selling Association is professional membership for direct selling companies. They have a code of ethics that all members are expected to follow. Not only can you see which companies are members, you can review the code of ethics and learn more about what they must do in order to maintain membership.
4. When choosing a network marketing opportunity, you also want to know how the values of the company align with yours.
   
5. Trust your gut feeling. Don't ever feel pressured to join a company. Take time to think about it and see if the opportunity is right for you

The next step is to consider the what the company has to offer. Here are a few things to look at when making a choice:

1. Review the compensation plan. Do you have an ability to earn money if you choose to work part time? Is the plan easy to understand? What commissions can you earn when selling products? Don't be afraid to ask questions and get an understanding of what the company has to offer.
2. What type of training and support are provided? Will you have a mentor? Are there a variety of methods to receive training (i.e. webinars, conferences, phone calls)? Do you feel confident in the leadership's ability to help you as you grow your business?
3. Check out the expenses involved. You will have to invest some money into starting your business. This is to be expected. There are some expenses though that you may be able to avoid. Does the company expect you to get a merchant's account or can you process credit card orders through the company? Are you expected to have a huge inventory of product? There are companies who will deliver directly to your customers. Typically you will have a certain amount of product you are expected to purchase each month to remain active. You may want to look at the various expectations of each company you are considering.

Summary:

Network Marketing is an exciting and wonderful industry. There are many reputable companies to choose from. Take the time to learn about the company and opportunity. Not only will you save yourself a lot of headaches, you will also feel good about being with a company you believe in.

If you are new to Network Marketing or are interested in learning cutting edge methods for building your business, view the free tutorials at The Renegade University.