Have you ever thought about participating in a niche business of direct selling? Many label this as Multi-Level marketing. If you believer there is no money in directing selling or being a part of a multi-level marketing company you should think again.

Many people of made great money in multi-level marketing with direct selling. Some of the most notable profitable companies are multi-level marketing companies. You have heard of Avon, Am Way, Mary Kay, Primerica, and Tupperware Brands to name just a few.

Well how do you think they have become the power house companies they are today without direct selling. Direct Selling has grown worldwide and the scope is enormous to most peoples imagination.

According to DirectSellingNews.com (DSN), direct selling has enormous potential for small businesses to grow their business. The DSN list the Top 100 Direct Selling Companies in the World. See if you recognize any of these names. I have only listed the Top 20 so to view the rest of this article go to the link above. Maybe you can find a niche business opportunity for yourself within the direct selling market. Check out #16 in this list for a successful business opportunity.

Avon Products Inc.
Sales: $10.3 billion
Country: USA

Avon is the founder of modern direct selling and the acknowledged world leader in cosmetics, fragrances and toiletries. Avon’s well-known product lines include Avon Color, Anew, Skin So Soft, Advance Techniques Hair Care and Avon Wellness.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $10.3 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to- person
Compensation Plan: Single level and multi- level
Products: Beauty, fashion jewelry and apparel
Markets: 100+
Distributors: 6.2 million
Employees: 42,000
Headquarters: New York, N.Y.
Year Founded: 1886
Stock Symbol: AVP—NYSE

2. Amway
Sales: $8.4 billion
Country: USA

Amway, under parent company Alticor, is maintaining its might in the industry. Its product banner includes Artistry cosmetics and skincare products, Nutrilite nutritional products and loyalty-inducing household products. Amway independent business owners work through the company’s e-commerce network.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $8.4 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Personal care, beauty and home care
Markets: 80+
Distributors: 3 million+
Employees: 13,000+
Headquarters: Ada, Mich.
Year Founded: 1959

3. Vorwerk & Co. KG
Sales: $3.58 billion
Country: Germany

Vorwerk is an 80-year-old, family-owned, German-based company that has always focused on the direct selling channel. Products include household appliances as well as high-quality cosmetics. Vorwerk & Co. KG is a global group that includes JAFRA Cosmetics, which reported sales volume of more than $500 million 2009.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $3.58 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person and party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Cosmetics and home appliances
Markets: 61
Distributors: 530,000
Employees: 23,000
Headquarters: Wuppertal, Germany
Year Founded: 1883

4. Mary Kay Inc.
Sales: $2.5 billion
Country: USA

Mary Kay Inc. was founded by the now-legendary Mary Kay Ash to give women more options. She struck a chord with the motto “God first, family second, career third.” Today, that message adjusts across borders and cultures to make the company one of the largest direct sellers of skincare products and color cosmetics in the world.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.5 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person and party plan
Compensation Plan: Single level and Multi- level
Products: Skincare products and color cosmetics
Markets: 35
Distributors: 2 million
Employees: 5,000
Headquarters: Addison, Texas
Year Founded: 1963

5. Natura Cosmeticos SA
Sales: $2.4 billion
Country: Brazil

Natura is the cosmetics giant born in Brazil. Corporate social responsibility is one of its core emphases, and its more than 900 products help consultants earn a living. Natura also has operations in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, France, Venezuela and Colombia.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.4 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person and retail
Compensation Plan: Bi-level
Products: Personal care products and fragrances
Markets: 8
Distributors: 1 million+
Employees: 5,000+
Headquarters: São Paulo, Brazil
Year Founded: 1969
Stock Symbol: NATU3.SA—São  Paulo

6. Herbalife Ltd.
Sales: $2.3 billion
Country: USA

Herbalife sells nutritional supplements and weight-management and personal-care products. Its extensive product line has gained a following and credits success to scientific backing. All of its products have been developed by scientists, physicians and nutrition experts, including Nobel laureate in medicine Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.3 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, and health/fitness, wellness, personal-care, skincare and weight-management products
Markets: 72
Distributors: 2 million
Employees: 4,000
Headquarters: Los Angeles, Calif.
Year Founded: 1980
Stock Symbol: HLF—NYSEa

7. Primerica
Sales: $2.2 billion
Country: USA

Primerica provides financial products and services, including term life insurance, mutual funds, variable annuities, loans and other services to 6 million clients. The company dates to 1977 when it began a crusade to transform the life insurance industry. Previously owned by Citigroup, Primerica is now publicly traded.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.2 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Financial services
Markets: 5
Distributors: 100,000
Employees: 2,000
Headquarters: Duluth, Ga.
Year Founded: 1977
Stock Symbol: PRI—NYSE

8. Tupperware Brands Corp.
Sales: $2.1 billion
Country: USA

One of the first party plan companies in the world, Tupperware Brands Corporation today is a global direct seller of storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home. Brands include Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, Swissgarde and, of course, Tupperware.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $2.1 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person and party plan
Compensation Plan: Single level and multi- level
Products: Storage and serving products; beauty and personal-care products
Markets: 100
Distributors: 2.4 million consultants; 1,800 distributors
Employees: 13,000
Headquarters: Orlando, Fla.
Year Founded: 1946
Stock Symbol: TUP—NYSE

9. Oriflame Kosmetiek B.V.
Sales: $1.8 billion
Country: Sweden

Oriflame is the market leader in more than half of the countries where it operates. Though it has no U.S. presence, it operates in Mexico and Central America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The company offers a wide range of high- quality beauty products.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1.8 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Beauty products
Markets: 62
Distributors: 3.3 million
Employees: 7,000+
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Year Founded: 1967
Stock Symbol: ODI-SDB.ST—Stockholm

10. Forever Living Products*
Sales: $1.7 billion
Country: USA

Forever Living is the world’s largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of aloe vera, and this inspires them to make environmental responsibility a priority. The company offers a complete line of aloe vera drinks, skincare products and cosmetics, as well as a full line of nutritional supplements and products from beehives.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1.7 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Aloe vera drinks, skincare products and cosmetics, nutritional supplements and Forever Resorts
Markets: 142
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 9.3 million
Headquarters: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Year Founded: 1978

11. Nu Skin Enterprises Inc.
Sales: $1.3 billion
Country: USA

Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. is a global direct selling company operating in 48 international markets throughout the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Going far beyond cosmetics, toiletries and fragrances, Nu Skin sells more than 200 products through three distinct brands: Nu Skin, Pharmanex and Big Planet.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1.3 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Personal-care, nutritional and technology products, anti-aging skin care and nutritionals
Markets: 50
Distributors: 760,000+
Employees: 1,200
Headquarters: Provo, Utah
Year Founded: 1984
Stock Symbol: NUS-NYSE

12. Pola Inc.*
Sales: $1.03 billion
Country: Japan

Pola sets the standard in Japan. It is the nation’s fourth-largest cosmetics company and the biggest direct seller. Pola products include cosmetics, skincare, personal-care and nutritional products sold in department stores, retail stores, through mail order and door to door.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1.03 billion
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Single-level
Products: Cosmetics, skincare, personal-care and nutritional products, fashion and jewelry
Markets: 16
Distributors: 100,000
Employees: 1,049
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Year Founded: 1929

13. Belcorp/L’Bel Paris
Sales: $1 billion+
Country: Peru

Belcorp/L’Bel Paris focuses on women. It has more than 500,000 independent beauty consultants in 15 countries and 18 Latin American specialty stores. They sell the well-known L’Bel, Ésika and Cyzone brands.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $1 billion+
Marketing Style: Person-to-person and party plan
Compensation Plan: Single level
Products: Skincare, fragrance, makeup, body care, hair care
Markets: 15
Distributors: 500,000+
Employees: Not available
Headquarters: Lima, Peru
Year Founded: 1949

14. Miki Corporation*
Sales: $969.2 million
Country: Japan

Miki Corporation began as a textile importer and seller. Today, it is a multimillion-dollar seller of supplements made from prune extracts, of household cleaners, personal-care items and much more. The company has “sales agents” in Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $969.2 million
Marketing Style: Not available
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Foods, cosmetics and household products
Markets: 3
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 270
Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Year Founded: 1964

15. Melaleuca Inc.*
Sales: $879 million
Country: USA

Melaleuca Inc. sells more than 350 products, including personal-care items, cosmetics, household cleaning supplies and vitamins to consumers through a network of sales representatives, as well as catalogs and websites.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $879 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Single-level
Products: Personal-care products, cosmetics, cleaning supplies and vitamins
Markets: 18
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 1,200
Headquarters: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Year Founded: 1985

16. Ignite Inc.
Sales: $845 million
Country: USA

Ignite Inc. was founded in 2004 by parent company Stream Energy to meet the changing needs of consumers. With energy-service deregulation, more choices exist for consumers and entrepreneurs, and Ignite seeks to meet the needs of both.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $845 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Electricity and natural gas
Markets: 1 (Texas and Georgia in USA)
Distributors: 150,000
Employees: 275
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Year Founded: 2004

To learn more about this Business Opportunity and how to make money and save people money doing it click on this link: Business Opportunity

17. MonaVie LLC*
Sales: $785 million
Country: USA

Introduced in January 2005, MonaVie develops and markets scientifically formulated, premium-quality nutritional products, featuring an exclusive blend of açai berry and other nutrient-dense fruits. MonaVie is designed to provide consumers with the antioxidants and phytonutrients they need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $785 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Foods and nutritional products
Markets: 12
Distributors: 1 million+
Employees: 450
Headquarters: South Jordan, Utah
Year Founded: 2005

18. Omnilife*
Sales: $750 million+
Country: Mexico

Omnilife Manufactura S.A. de C.V. is owned by ultimate parent company Grupo Omnilife S.A. de C.V. The company has independent consultants in 23 markets in South America, North America, Central America, Asia and Europe.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $750 million+
Marketing Style: Person-to-person
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Nutritional supplements, weight-management and beauty products, beverages, cosmetics, fragrances
Markets: 23
Distributors: 4.5 million
Employees: 400
Headquarters: Zapopan, Mexico
Year Founded: 1992

19. PartyLite (Blyth Inc.)
Sales: $621.6 million
Country: USA

Beginning with a single line of bayberry candles, PartyLite is, today, the world’s largest direct seller of candles and home-fragrance products. Blyth Inc. became the parent company in 1990. In select markets, consultants also offer Two Sisters Gourmet foods.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $621.6 million
Marketing Style: Party plan
Compensation Plan: Multi-level
Products: Candles, candle warmers, flameless fragrance, home accents, personal-care products and food products
Markets: 14
Distributors: 64,000
Employees: 1,250
Headquarters: Plymouth, Mass.
Year Founded: 1973
Stock Symbol: BTH—NYSE

20. NOEVIR Co. Ltd.
Sales: $613.9 million
Country: Japan

The Noevir Group consists of 13 companies, headed by Noevir Co. Ltd. in Japan. With five domestic—and eight international—subsidiaries, Noevir is developing a global business. The Noevir Group distributes its portfolio of brands through a variety of channels, including direct sales, retail and business to  business.

Wholesale Corporate Revenue: $613.9 million
Marketing Style: Person-to-person, retail and business-to-business
Compensation Plan: Not available
Products: Skincare, body care, nutritional supplements and cosmetics
Markets: 8
Distributors: Not available
Employees: 1,085
Headquarters: Japan
Year Founded: 1964
Stock Symbol: 4916/TYO SE

What is MLM? MLM stands for Multilevel Marketing. According to en.wikiepedia.org: MLM is designed to create a marketing and sales force by compensating promoters of company products not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of other promoters they introduce to the company, creating a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation in the form of a pyramid.

Many think of MLM’s as a “pyramid” and associate that with illegal dealings. Some MLM’s are not what the doctored order and those are called “pyramid schemes or ponzi schemes”. However most MLM’s are just an extension of a companies marketing division.

Think about a typical business structure. You have the Business. Then you have the Marketing Department. In the marketing department you have sales associates that are employed by the company. Their job is to sell the product or service to customers for the company. The sales associates are paid a set salary and benefit by the company no matter how successful they are or are not in acquiring customers.

Now think of an MLM structure. You have the Business. The business has a marketing department. The marketing department’s purpose is to acquire independent associates who in turn acquire customers for the business. The customers acquired results in revenue for the company. The associates are paid based on the revenue generated from the customers.

If the independent associate does not acquire customers they are not paid. However if the independent associate grows their customer base resulting in more revenue and then expands their downline of independent associates who grow their customer base the profits can be very handsome. The benefit to the independent associate is the potential for a lucrative income. The benefit to the company is low overhead and no expense of a traditional marketing department with a set number of associates employed by the company. With independent associates no benefits or salaries are paid. The independent associate in an MLM is driven by shear income potential. The more associates in their downline and the larger the customers base the larger the income potential.

Is this a good idea for a starting a niche business? It can be. Most MLM’s already have an established system if followed can be profitable to the marketing associate. But there are no guarantees. There is work involved and most new entrepreneurs are not good fits for MLM’s. MLM’s are not a “Get Rich” quick scheme which many naïve entrepreneurs are looking for.

A few examples of well-known MLM companies are Pampered Chef, Pre-Paid Legal, Mary Kay, and Avon. Most people do not realize these companies are MLM companies.

With any business you need to be passionate about the business. If you love Avon products but hate to conduct home parties, talk to people, and handle the orders then that obviously is not the right business for you. Most people who introduce you to a business opportunity are family, friends, and neighbors. If it sounds great but you don’t believe the opportunity is for you just say so. They’ll understand.

When considering any business venture you must research the business and be willing to do a lot of work in making your business successful. There are really no free rides but there are great opportunities.

What is Affiliate Marketing? - Affiliate marketing is a cooperative effort between merchants and “affiliate’s” for one particular result. Affiliate marketing is very popular with many Internet entrepreneurs. As an affiliate they have an opportunity to offer some product or service from merchants to earn some extra or additional income from their website.

There are many niche businesses that their entire purpose of existence is affiliate marketing. Marketing other merchants products or services to the masses. This can be very lucrative if you pick the right niche. Again it boils down to a niche.

The Affiliate Marketing Secret is a “free” 20 page eBook on how to make money in affiliate marketing. By no means does this eBook cover everything but gives you the basics to affiliate marketing. Check it out and see what you think.

Affiliate Marketing is a win-win situation for both the merchant and the affiliate. The merchant through their affiliates are able to market their products and services to a wide spectrum of people at minimal cost. It is free advertising and promotion in most cases until the potential customer purchases the product or service. After the agreed upon result is achieved the merchant is then responsible for paying the affiliate an agreed upon amount for the action the customer took.

The action could be a click to the merchants website, an Opt-In form completed on the merchants site directed through the affiliates site, or the purchase of a product being offered by the merchant directed through the affiliates site. There are many ways to be paid as an affiliate based on the merchant’s affiliates agreement.

Where do I find merchants with affiliate programs so I can offer them on my website? Great question. Do a search in your favorite search engine for affiliate programs and review. It is easy to get draw into the hype and offer as many products as you can find. This will only lead to despair. Remember it all again boils down to your niche business. The products or services you offer should be based on your niche business and the niche market you are marketing to.

Here are just a few affiliate sites you can check out. Clickbank, Commission Junction, eBay Network, and Amazon.com have affiliate programs. Are these all? Not exactly there are more on the net but you will have to weed out the ones that do not fit your business.

Check out more articles on affiliate marketing and niche business ideas throughout this website.