So you’ve decided to give network marketing a try. You’ve done the research and see the income potential and life style change this type of opportunity can provide. Now you have an even bigger decision to make: Which opportunity or opportunities are best for you? Here are a few guidelines to use when choosing the right network marketing opportunity.

1. How stable is the company? The majority of network marketing companies don’t make it past their first year. The last thing you want to do is join an organization, only to find yourself looking for a new opportunity before you even had a chance to get this one off the ground. Now this does not mean to ignore any company that hasn’t been around for very long. After all, those that have been around for 20+ years had a first year as well. More importantly check the resumes of the principles in the company. Do they have previous experience and success in building a company? Do they have experience in building a network marketing company? Also inquire about the financial stability of the company. If they are new make sure they have strong financial backing to weather the first couple of years.

2. Is there value in the product you will be selling? Although your financial success in any network marketing organization relies on you recruiting other consultants, the company’s success relies on the product. It should be a consumable product that will be purchased month after month after month. Make sure that it is priced competitively. It does not have to be cheaper than the competition, although that would be nice. If it is more expensive the consumer must see value in paying more for it. There should also be a genuine need for the product. It should be something that the consumer is either already using or will gain a major benefit from using. It should not be a fad. You are planning your retirement on this product, so make sure it is something that the consumer will continue to use for years.

3. What investment are you willing to make? This comes in two forms: time and money. Remember, you are building your own business, so you should expect to have to invest time and some money to build it. Find out not only the initial cost to participate, but what other reoccurring costs can you expect. Will it be necessary to invest money every month in marketing? Are you required to purchase a certain amount of product every month? Are there any monthly fees for web sites or other support? Are there yearly renewal fees? Also, find out how much time will be necessary to build your business. Make sure it is something you can do in your spare time while you continue to work your regular full time job. Remember, network marketing is not a get rich quick scheme and it will take time to replace your current income.

4. Is the person who introduced you to the opportunity 100% committed to your success? This is critical if you are new to network marketing and have no sales or marketing background. Make sure that this person will be a sponsor or mentor and not just a recruiter. A recruiter merely signs people up and then sends them off on their own to sink or swim. A mentor will be by your side to coach, motivate and train you.

5. Will you have fun building this business? This should be something you can become passionate about and have fun doing. You most likely already have a J.O.B., the last thing you want to do is replace that with something that is not enjoyable for you.

Following these guidelines will not guarantee success, even with the perfect company you still have to put forth the effort to make it work. There is no free lunch. It will require hard work and determination. But unlike your J.O.B. your rewards will grow exponentially.