The 10 Best Direct Sales Company Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms
10 Direct Sales Companies That Are Great for Stay at Home Moms
- Thrive Life
- Usborne Books and More
- SeneGence
- Pink Zebra
- Norwex
- Jordan Essentials
- LimeLife by Alcone
- The Watkins Company
- Mary Kay
- Team Beachbody
Before our second daughter was born, our family was feeling a financial crunch so I started exploring direct sales companies in an effort to maximize my earning potential while still staying home with my girls.
Well, after a whole lot of research I decided that joining a multi-level-marketing company wasn't a great fit for me and went back to school for business and marketing instead. Exploring the ins and outs of business led me to think even more about these direct sales endeavors and while there's people who absolutely hate them and others who vouch for it like it's their gospel, one thing is certain to me - no one invests in a direct sales company hoping to fail. That's why I think it's important to research, research, research and analyze what would be the best fit for your own life if you decide this is the route for you.
Keep in mind, I don't sell, I never have and chances are I never will, but I know a lot of busy moms who really enjoy selling for MLM companies and who make decent money doing it.
With that in mind, here's my totally-honest, possibly offensive opinion on ten direct sales companies that could be a great fit for a busy stay at home mom who wants to supplement her family's income.
1. Thrive Life
With so many companies incorporating the word “thrive” into their name, it might be a little confusing to put your finger on this one - these are freeze-dried pantry staples and snacks delivered to your door. Thrive offers everything from Bechamel sauce mixes to diaper bag perfect snacks like yogurt bites. They even offer grilled chicken, shredded beef and pulled pork. Just add water!
Startup Costs and Quotas
$135 for the basic kit, $50 monthly sales quota.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
The product itself caters to a busy lifestyle, and whoever says SAHMs aren’t busy can babysit my kids tonight. You can use your own insight to market the products as a simple, healthy meal solution.
Potential Pitfalls
You have to convince people to eat freeze dried food.
2. Usborne Books and More
Books! I’m swooning! Usborne publishes and distributes fun, educational and interactive books for kids with titles like “Lift-the-Flap Adding and Subtracting”, “100 Paper Spaceships to Fold”, and “That’s Not My Hamster” (a favorite in our home). They also offer reading programs and seasonal titles.
Startup Costs and Quotas
$75 to start, $8 monthly fee (after 6 months) and no quotas.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
These books have somewhat of a cult following, especially in homeschool and educator circles. They’re actually sought-after which means that there’s a good chance you already know a few people who want to buy these. You can throw parties through social media, sell on your blog, etc. You can basically just integrate it into your own routine, “Hey FB friends, I’m putting in an Usborne order - who needs a new book?”
Potential Pitfalls
With a low investment and a small monthly fee, the worst pitfall you could really encounter is deciding you don’t want to pay the monthly fee anymore. I don’t think anyone would make a full-time living with this company, but there isn’t a huge investment to lose either way.
3. SeneGence
SeneGence is the company that creates those highly pigmented, mixable liquid lipsticks with the royal blue and gold packaging that you’ve probably seen all over Facebook. They also sell skincare solutions (like under eye treatment) and cream to powder eyeshadow wands.
Startup Costs and Quotas
The most basic package starts at $55. As for quota, I have no idea because I can’t find reputable information regarding this.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
You can host parties online and use your own stock, swatches and company photos to market the product.
Potential Pitfalls
I think you’ll have to really show consumers why your $25 lipstick is superior to the beauty counter equivalent, but this can be done through photos, video tutorials and going live.
4. Pink Zebra
This company’s signature product is their “Sprinkles” jar - 3.75 ounces of highly scented pebbles of wax that you can simmer in a wax burner to make your house smell like a dream come true. With scents like Raisin Nut Bread, Mango Guava, Oak and Bourbon, True Lavender, their Sprinkles can be enjoyed on their own or mixed according to Pink Zebra’s recipes to create unique home fragrances that don’t require a flame.
Startup Costs and Quotas
$59 to start, though you can spend up to $199 on a larger kit. To stay active as a consultant you’ll need to make $150 in sales every six months. Their site states that you can earn up to a 35% commission - read between the lines and that probably means you won’t be earning a very high percentage to start.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
It's a consumable product. I mean no, you can’t actually eat it (although this Fresh Juicy Pineapple one seems a little tempting), but it’s something that gets used up and repurchased and, unlike most wax tarts, you can control how much of each scent you’re actually using. For these reasons, it seems like a product you could sell even when you’re elbow deep in last week’s clean laundry, without having to convince people they want it, you know? It’s not hard to convince most of us that we want to make our house smell better and what mom doesn’t appreciate a flame-free home fragrance at a fair price?
Plus, customers can shop directly through the Pink Zebra website, and the site itself is attractive and easy to navigate which I think really helps gain customer trust. This also means you don’t have to carry inventory in your home!
Potential Pitfalls
Considering the price of the product itself isn’t very high, you’re probably not going to be earning big bucks with this business. If you sell $50 worth of product (roughly 5 or 6 Sprinkles jars) at the highest commission percentage you’re still only making $17.50.
5. Norwex
Everyone’s trying to get a little greener and Norwex products appeal to this. According to their website, they’re top sellers include a cleaning paste with recyclable packaging, wool dryer balls that eliminate the need for dryer sheets and just over two pounds of phosphate-free laundry detergent.
Startup Costs and Quotas
$200. Consultants will tell you that the cost is only $9.99 but this is only true if you sell two grand ($2,000!) worth of product in the first 3 months of signing up. If this doesn’t happen, you’ll be billed for $200 (of course you’re also receiving product with that initial startup kit).To stay current as a consultant you’ll need to sell $250 in products every six months.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
While green cleaning was once a fringe movement, it’s now the norm and us SAHM’s are all over that shizz. You’ll be selling products you probably already use.
Potential Pitfalls
The products are crazy expensive, especially considering that a lot of this stuff can be found on Amazon for half the price. Those dryer balls? About $30 for three of them through Norwex - I grabbed 
these for ten bucks off Amazon with free shipping.
these for ten bucks off Amazon with free shipping.
6. Jordan Essentials
Aluminum free deodorant, alcohol free hand sanitizer and essential oil based bug sprays. Jordan Essentials’ home, body and baby products are a crunchy mama’s dream.
Startup Costs and Quotas
It’s $99 for the starter kit, plus $10 a month to maintain your website. You only need to place one order per year to stay active as a consultant.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
This company seems really transparent, which means that you probably won’t have to go deep diving for info when you’re already struggling to catch your breath.
Potential Pitfalls
Jordan Essentials touts itself as a “Christian” company. Take from it what you want, knowing that some people are put off by businesses that put themselves in a religious category. Also, these products seem great but, of course, you can find cheaper variations of these all-natural products in retail stores.
7. LimeLife by Alcone
This one’s a baby, with just a few years under its skinny belt, it was founded in 2015 and offers skincare, professional grade makeup and brushes. Where companies like Younique focus on big, bold contoured looks, LimeLife goes for subtle and natural-but-better with shadows in shades like “Gilded Lily”, “Coral of The Story” and “Pineapple of My Eye”.
Startup Costs and Quotas
$169 for your startup kit plus $10 per month to maintain your website, plus an annual “renewal” fee of $75. It looks like you’ll need to maintain $300 per month in sales to stay active. Phew! Am I wrong? I’m sure someone will let me know!
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
The sleek packaging is fresh and understated and in itself is a selling point for those of us who are more “It's 5 PM, where's my jammies?” and less “I’ll need this for the club tonight.”
Potential Pitfalls
The prices are high - you’re looking at dropping $22 on a single tube of lipstick. You’ll need to find customers who value ease of shopping (the site is one of the simplest and most attractive on this list), a simple line of everyday wearable essentials (you won’t get lost trying to figure out what each product does - these are your makeup basics) and who desire to create fresh, natural looks as opposed to Kardashian-esque contours.
8. The Watkins Company
Since 1868 The Watkins Company has been creating premium food seasonings, organic extracts and home and body products in classic fragrances like lemon, lavender and grapefruit.
By the way, wondering if J.R. Watkins and The Watkins Company are indeed the same entity? Yup, they are! You might have seen their lip balms in Bath and Body Works and their cleaning products at WalMart.
Startup Costs and Quotas
Startup costs start at $29.95 with up to 35% commission. I can’t find anything on quotas.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
These are products SAHM’s use every day - room fresheners, cleaning sprays and hand soap, at prices that are barely more expensive than store brand. You’ll receive your own consultant website where you can direct customers to make a purchase so you don’t necessarily have to carry product.
Potential Pitfalls
I pick some of these products up at Target nowadays! Right now I’ve already got a handful of their hand creams and air fresheners either in my house or in my digital cart. And while I would love to purchase from an independent consultant, there’s just so much convenience in picking up a bottle of lemon dish soap on my way home from the park. To be successful with this company you’ll want to make sure that those you know, know you’re a consultant. I know that if I knew anyone personally who sold these products I’d be all up in their stuff (for the sake of transparency this is truly my favorite company/product on this list).
Also, and someone correct me if I’m mistaken, but if I’m purchasing from an independent consultant I need to spend ONE HUNDRED dollars to qualify for free shipping.
9. Mary Kay
You know Mary Kay! Silky hand moisturizers, pink lipstick and nostalgia. At the moment, Mary Kay’s most popular product is their TimeWise line - a bathroom counter’s worth of anti-aging serums and creams.
Startup Costs and Quotas
Once again we have a company that isn’t exactly transparent about startup costs or quotas, but as of Spring 2019, the startup cost looks to be about $120 (excluding any limited time offers) and according to this Indeed Q&A, you’ll need to make $225 in sales every 3 months (so once each quarter) to remain an active consultant.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
Mary Kay does a lot of the marketing for you so you can focus on personal networking. I made a purchase (that I was very happy with!) from a friend who’s an independent consultant like, four years ago, and I’m still getting emails and mailed catalogs all of these years later. These products are tried and true and if something doesn’t work, the company is quick to nix it, so you never have to worry about being the peddler of outdated goods. Plus, you can come at sale from the angle of a busy mom - here’s the products I use every day and it only takes me ten minutes to put a look together!
Potential Pitfalls
It’s an oversaturated market - both companywide and nichewide. It seems like every other direct sales company is offering makeup a skincare. Still, Mary Kay is one of the originals.
10. Team Beachbody
Like It Works! You’ve seen Beachbody on Instagram and Facebook, and even if you’ve unfollowed all of the fitspo feeds, you’ve almost for sure heard of Beachbody’s signature Shakeology.
Independent Team Beachbody “coaches” sell a healthier lifestyle with their branded fitness apparel, protein bars, nutritional supplements and workout gear.
Startup Costs and Quotas
It’s about $40 to start and an additional $16 per month after that to join Team Beachbody as an independent coach.
Why It’s Great for SAHM’s
When my youngest turned three I was ready to reel it in and ease back into a healthier lifestyle. This company gives you a way to not only do that for yourself but the potential to also earn some extra money helping other moms do the same thing.
Potential Pitfalls
Big red flag - I can’t find a hard and fast percentage for Team Beachbody coach commissions. Does that mean it’s not worth joining? Well, if you already use the products and want a discount and you’re big into fitness and have a solid social media following to sell to, chances are you could still earn a supplemental income. I still don’t love when a company isn’t forthright with earning potential though.
Did I miss a company I need to know about? Leave a nice comment and let me know what you love about your company. All comments are moderated.
Why I Didn’t Include Your Company in This List
There’s a ton of direct sales companies out there - some that are timeless, some that pop in and out so quickly that it’s like they never existed, and others that just get buried under the better known names. When I created this list for stay at home moms I tried to keep in mind a SAHM’s main goals (like earning extra income for her family without spending too much time on the details, schedule flexibility, and products that appeal to this phase of life). For the sake of readability, and based on this criteria, I picked my top ten.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Joining a Direct Sales Company
- Consultants are the FIRST customer. When you sign up to become a consultant through a direct sales company, you’re paying a startup fee to the company. Yes, you would spend money to start your own business, that’s true. But you’re not starting your own business from the ground up here. You’re clamoring for a slice of the pie along with thousands of other consultants, all selling the same products at the same price.
- Almost no one makes a full-time living selling through a direct sales company. Yes, you can hustle, yes you get to pick your own hours, but the tradeoff of setting your own schedule and working from home is that most of what you make will go directly to your upline and those above them.
- You will need to pay for your own health insurance and taxes. If you’re not receiving health insurance through another means (your partner’s employee health program, etc.) you’ll need to save out earnings to pay for your own health insurance. Likewise, you’re probably going to be paying your own taxes. Make sure you properly track and report your income when it comes time to file your taxes - and be prepared to pay your taxes out of pocket (this sounds like a bigger deal than it is - I do this too).
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
- What do you think of Clever Container's direct sales jobs?I just checked it out and I'm loving the idea of a company that focuses on home organization which I think is a very lucrative niche right now.I also think that the low startup costs of between $45-$99 is a great price.From a marketing perspective, I'm concerned about the price point of the products. I know that with most direct sales products you're going to see a slightly higher price point, but usually there's an incentive to the buyer there, like an all-natural product that's harder to find in stores.With the Clever Containers I see a lot of stuff that can be purchased at a value price at retailers like Hollar, Ikea or even Target. To compete, I think Clever Container needs to style their products with more of an eye towards their market (I would consider myself one of their markets). What I look for in home organization products is first, functionality, which is present here, but second a product that blends well or accents my home, vehicle or office space. Their bathroom products are a great example of functionality and attractiveness! I'd like to see the laundry bags, travel sets and shopping bags come in more neutral patterns - they would be more marketable that way.Helpful 11
- Is Artistic Impressions still in business?It doesn't appear that Artistic Impressions, Inc. is still an active business. I looked up the company and can't really find anything new or relevant about them from the past decade.I also notice that on Bart Breigner's LinkedIn profile, he's listed as the "former" founder and CEO of Artistic Impressions - another clue that this business is no longer in operation.Helpful 9
- Is there a direct sales company called New Day for home parties?No, there is not. But there is a direct sales company called Noonday Collection that features products (especially home décor and seasonal décor) made by and supporting artisans around the globe. Ambassadors can have "trunk shows" in the homes of their hosts.Helpful 8
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