I have built 2 successful direct sales businesses in the past, however, I have chosen to now come out of that industry.
For many, Direct Sales is an excellent way to start out self-employed, with the infrastructure and support of a large brand name, for minimal investment and the opportunity to earn an unlimited income.
Some people just need to earn and extra £50 / £100 a month to keep a roof over their heads. It can be a lifeline. Some people want to earn thousands, and that is achievable too.
However, I decided it is no longer for me.
One thing to remember is that even though you are self-employed, this is never YOUR business. You can have 100s or 1000s of customers and recruits, however, at any given time, the company you have chosen to partner with could, for example, go bust. Overnight you lose everything. They control the stock, the shipping, the commissions and your team. Whilst your team may stay loyal to you and move to another company, every person in that genealogy would have to start from scratch.
Similarly, you may have built an incredible business and inadvertently breached a contract term and they could strike you off. Leaving your entire downline business to roll up to the person above you. Overnight, you lose everything. I've seen this personally happen.
I have earned THOUSANDS through direct sales and do not regret a moment of my time in that industry. It has taught me a lot and I've made some lifelong friends. However, for me, I decided I wanted greater control over my future and my income. For me being self-employed means greater business freedom, not tied to limitations imposed by another company.