6 reasons to NOT make your side hustle a MLM
1. 99% of People in an MLM Lose Money
After studying 350 MLMs, the Jon Taylor found that 99% of people who join multilevel marketing companies lose money.
If you join an MLM scheme then you only have a 1% chance of not losing money. Not a 1% chance of getting rich.
2. MLMs Alienate You From Your Family and Friends
With your only potential customers being your family, friends and social media followers, you have no choice but to endlessly bug those around you to buy your products. Not to mention it clouds up your social media feed. People get tired of constantly seeing ads all over their feed.
3. MLMs Blame You For Not Succeeding
people in MLM companies are trained to blame you, the victim, for failing in a system that is designed in a way that makes it sound like you just need to try alittle harder. And it’s your lack of work that’s the problem. Sounds slightly like a narcissist cult to me.
participants begin to crack under the immense pressure from their uplines to recruit, recruit, recruit.
4. You Are an Unpaid Sales Rep, Not a Business Owner
Stop believing the lie please.
You are an independent contractor. While this does not technically make you an
employee of the company, it also does not make you a business owner. Stop believing these fancy buzzwords.
5. MLM Schemes Prey on
Vulnerable People
This one makes me SO mad. Stay-at-home moms, college students and military wives are often prime targets for MLM huns because they are often bored, eager to make money from home, and with broad social networks ripe for manipulation. I’ve literally been in all three of those categories.
6. MLMS ARE PYRAMID
SCHEMES
MLM companies are nothing more than pyramid schemes that found a loophole and thus manage to operate legally. pyramid schemes are illegal because their only focus is on recruiting others to the business and not actually selling a product. Multilevel marketing companies sell products as well as recruiting others to the company (sticking to the 70/30 rule of 70% product selling and 30% recruitment), and so they can be seen as legitimate companies.
please don’t fall for these. There are so many other ways to make money than to sign up for these. For more info watch the Hilario documentary on Amazon prime. It is eye opening.
#lemon8challenge #moneysavingtips #makemoneyonline #sidehustle #sidehustleideasforbeginners #sidehustleforbeginners #advice #secondjob #sideincome #sidehustle2023
I totally get the appeal of wanting to start a side hustle, especially when you're dreaming of making money from home with a cozy desk setup and a laptop. Who doesn't want financial freedom and a flexible schedule? For a long time, I was swayed by the shiny promises of multi-level marketing (MLM) as a potential path to that dream. But after seeing so many people (including myself, in various vulnerable life stages) get drawn in, I realized there's a lot more to these schemes than meets the eye, and usually, they're just not worth it. One of the biggest eye-openers for me was understanding the true financial commitment. It's not just the initial 'starter kit' they push. It’s the constant pressure to buy more inventory, attend expensive conferences, and purchase 'exclusive' training materials from your upline. These hidden costs quickly add up, turning what you hoped would be profit into a significant loss. I’ve seen friends end up with garages full of unsold products, and the actual money they made, if any, didn't even cover their expenses. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking you just need to 'invest more to earn more,' when in reality, you're just digging a deeper hole. Beyond the money, the emotional toll is immense. The original article touches on alienating friends and family, and it's so true. Your social media feed can quickly turn into an endless stream of product pitches, causing your genuine connections to dwindle. I've also observed the intense pressure from uplines to recruit, recruit, recruit, which creates a toxic environment. It weighs heavily on you when you feel like you're constantly failing to meet impossible targets, and then being told it's your fault for not working hard enough. This kind of blame game is incredibly damaging to self-esteem and far from the supportive community they promise. So, how can you spot an MLM before you get sucked in? Look for opportunities that heavily emphasize recruitment over actual product sales. If the main way to earn money is by bringing in new people who then also have to buy products, that's a huge red flag. Also, be wary if the product seems overpriced or difficult to sell outside of the network, or if there's a requirement to purchase a large amount of inventory upfront. Legitimate direct sales focus on selling a valuable product to customers, not primarily on building a downline. Instead of falling for MLM traps, there are so many legitimate ways to build a side hustle using your laptop and skills. Consider freelance writing, virtual assisting, graphic design, social media management, online tutoring, or even starting an Etsy shop for handmade goods. These avenues allow you to build something sustainable, develop real skills, and genuinely help people without relying on predatory recruitment tactics. You have control over your business, your pricing, and your customer base, which is a true mark of entrepreneurship. Do your research, protect your relationships, and invest your energy into something that truly empowers you.
See more comments