(1) Market demand, longevity and innovation:

Is there a real need for this product or service and do people want it, both now and for the long term? Is this market sensitive to changes in fashion or technology or from new entrants? Can the company keep developing their products or services with new ideas?

(2) Enthusiasm for the product or service:

Do you like the products or services, and will you use them yourself long term? If not, ask yourself if it’s ethical to sell or represent anything that you don’t have any personal interest in or respect for? (No, it isn’t!)

(3) Experience and capability of the company’s management and your sponsor:

Is the leadership and company management able to execute well and steer the company through the inevitable challenges? Do you get on well with your sponsor; will they guide, support and encourage you?

(4) Good business practices and ethics:

Do they treat customers, promoters and their own staff fairly and ethically? Are their marketing messages and selling and recruitment practices ethical and unforced? Are there ways to raise and resolve issues quickly and fairly?

(5) Back end systems, support and training:

Is there good training, materials and systems to market the product or service? Is the back office system up to the job of easily accepting orders, getting them delivered and everyone getting paid?

(6) A fair and sustainable compensation plan:

Is it easy enough to understand and are the targets and payouts fair? Will it balance reward for direct selling and for building a deep team underneath you? Is it sustainable?

(7) Financial status of the company:

Does the company have the financial reserves and profitability to keep going, keep innovating and keep growing long term?

Dig down and get answers to all of these questions.

You might be about to spend a lot of time and effort with this company, so it’s a “must do” step. If you truly plan on building a business for the long term, you need to do your due diligence, evaluate what you find, if everything comes out ok, decide what’s right for you.

Don’t Forget….Run Your Business  As A Business

You need to factor in any additional costs

Don’t forget that any business you create is going to cost you financially, no matter what business it is, no matter what industry.

If anyone tells you otherwise, they are either a poor business person, or worse, they have an ulterior motive for telling you this.

Here are some of the costs you need to think about:

• The cost of driving your car to meet someone,
• Your internet  / Online Zoom costs
• The cost every time you pick up the phone to call a prospect, put in an order or call up a customer
• Book keeping
• Advertising (at some point you may wish to do this)
• Team events and other meetings