Thinking About Starting a MK Business, Advice?

Emma-

I sold MK for several years. There is an initial investment of $200 and when you place an order for new products you need to order $400 worth of product to get a 50% discount (therefore you are spending $200 again each time you order) If you think you will have enough clientel it is worth it, if not I would suggest another company such as Avon. good luck!

I would encourage you to talk to women who are in the Mary Kay business now. I use Mary Kay products and love most of them. I have a Mary Kay representative, if you would like her name and number. You could call her and talk with her and ask questions. I would really think about it hard and consider what the positives would be and the negatives of starting a business like that.

I've worked from home selling Pre-Paid Legal and other things and it is challenging, however it can be done. Good Luck!

Emma,

If you really like the Mary Kay products and can afford the initial investment and the sales/ordering requirements, I say go for it! I think it could be great fun.

If all the requirements seem a bit over-whelming, I would suggest that you do what SEVERAL former Mary Kay reps have done. Have your own Avon business instead. I have met several former Mary Kay reps since starting my own Avon business. I was amazed at the money that some of these women paid out initially. With Avon, it is only $10 to get started and you get what you need for the first month so you can get started right away. There are NO selling or inventory requirements. I have loved every minute of it.

If you would like more information about it, please email me (____@____.com). I can even give you a "Try It Kit" to see if it is something you would like to do first. That way you can "try it before you buy it" so to speak. No sense in spending money on any type of business if it won't work out for you and your particular needs.

L.

Emma,

I, too, tried MK a few years ago. I think the business model is GREAT; however, they try to sell it as being a "part-time" or "in your spare time" job and you CANNOT build your business and have any type of income by working it in that way. You cannot make some "extra" money by only working it a part time job. I ended up working more hours on the MK business (because of weekly meetings/events, hosting parties, training, working my business etc) than I did on my full-time job. I was having to get a babysitter every weekend because that was the time to host a party or meet with people (you are not supposed to have your kids with you at parties etc.). The reason I had gotten in was to be able to leave my FT job and be at home with the MK business and my kids. It takes many, many years of very hard work to accomplish this. Many Directors will try to get you in saying you can work it part time just so they can meet their numbers and sign people up.

Really do your research and make sure that you want to invest the time and money (you will be required to buy inventory to have on hand) before you do it. I've seen so many women who are very successful in MK....but don't buy into the idea that it was easy for them to get there or that they did it working part time! Good luck!

go to my website www.ultimatepowergroup.com - watch the video!
After the initial investment (which you get most of back in less than a month) the only overhead is $24.95/mo - completely paperless and you don't have product to deal with or have to continually go back and ask if they need more product every few weeks/months! LOVE IT! (I sold AVON for 28 years and this by far is exceptional!)
Let me know what you think - presentations in person all over the metroplex weekly! It's so much fun - everyone uses it and needs it!

Hi Emma,
I love the products... so don't get me wrong. With the marketing materials (doesn't count against monthly investment or discountable), minimum monthly investment to get the % off, weekly meetings and team building requirements... I ended up spending more hours a day working on my MK business then a typical job (bad word for them) and pretty much broke even after 2 years of working HARD. I felt pretty defeated and was basically shunned by my director. I would personally not recommend, it is an interesting group of women to say the least!

Good Luck!
E.

I know some ladies with Mary Kay, it is a great company so if you decide to get started I can recommend some successful mentors however I see on your profile that you have a 3 year old and 3 month old.
I have 2 small children also and did not want to leave my home to work from home selling and stocking inventory. Work at Home United was a better fit for me because I did not have to purchase inventory and do parties etc so I could be home with my children. You may consider the time away from your family that is required to earn income with Mary Kay etc.
If you are wanting supplemental income from home you can request info on my Work at Home United website, www.WorkAtHomeUnited.com/TEXAS
Good luck with your decision :)

I may be a rare case, but I got into MK with two women above me that I thought were trustworthy Christian women... and got screwed over. They didnt tell me everything up front, then after I signed up, they divulged the rest of the info(that wasnt so great). When I confronted them about it, they said that if they would have told me all up front, then I would have been too scared/overwhelmed to want to do it. I thought it was very shady and underhanded and got out as quickly as I could (which wasnt so easy seeing as how I bought a huge inventory). My husband was overseas at the time, so it was a horrible ordeal. I enjoy a couple of their products, but dont encourage anyone to get started in it.
On that note, I went to a model/talent agency workshop a couple weekends ago, and they highly encouraged Arbonne products. My cousin sells it and I'm going to get signed up..(it's only $29 and you dont have to purchase a certain amt anually)...(beauticontrol also has great products) Hope this helps on your decision!
A.

Have you heard of Scentsy "Authentic Wickless Candle"? Extremely safe w/ no wick, soot, lead, or flame.

Our warmers are heated by a 25-watt light bulb in a 2-piece warmer, our candle bars are made of a soft wax packed full of incredible scents. With a burn time of 60-80 hours per Scentsy bar (and sometimes more), over 80 scents to choose from, a wonderful selection of warmers, plus car candles and room sprays, there's something for everyone.

Consider this: By the middle of May 2008, we sold over 1.5 million worth of warmers, bars, room sprays, and car candles. That's 495% more than during the same time period in May 2007. That's AMAZING! We also added 698 Consultants in this time period. THAT'S 612% MORE THAN WE HAD JOINED DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD IN MAY 2007! If you are considering a home business, this is a great opportunity for you to get in early with a company that I believe will become a household name! Ask me about MY SPECIAL for anyone interested in BECOMING a Scentsy Consultant in the month of September!

Have a Scent-Sational Day!

C. Etheredge
VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR DETAILS www.scentsy.com/dfw

Hello Emma,

I have been a Mary Kay Consultant for 5 years. I started my business because I liked the products and it sounded like fun.

I worked part-time hours, averaging 3 selling appointments and one training/meeting weekly, for the first two years. I built a client base of repeat business and then coasted for the next two years by holding a few parties a month and keeping in close contact with my existing customers for re-orders.

The business is flexible. Work it at home, around your kids naps, a few evenings a week... You can make money. It does take a time investment. It's not a get rich quick program. The meetings and ladies you will meet are fun!

Inventory is optional, but it is best to have the products on had for immediate delivery. (That's how our competitors do it!)

I have enjoyed my MK career.