They all describe a business opportunity that involves millions of Americans and billions of dollars in sales. It may be-if you are willing to keep your eyes wide open, roll up your sleeves for some hard work, and risk some of your time and money to become an entrepreneur.
Network marketing is just one of the many business channels for distributing goods and services.
It is part of the direct selling industry, which is rich with familiar names such as Avon, Mary Kay, Fuller Brush and Tupperware. These companies market goods and services through networks of thousands of independent distributors. Historically, direct selling companies sold goods to distributors for resale or paid them a commission when they sold products to consumers. The past three decades, however, have seen the evolution of a new type of direct selling company - the network marketing or MLM company. In the old direct selling companies, distributors made money only through their direct sales.