Find Your Direct Sales Fit

In the world of direct sales, a nearly endless list of companies exists to pursue your entrepreneurial dream. You know how much time and energy you have to devote to your business and, likewise, you should have confidence the direct selling company you choose will match your efforts with quality products and a sensible earning structure.

Many businesses claim they’re among the best direct selling companies to work for, but how do you quantify it? To understand what makes a company stand out from the crowd, look for an industry leader with years of success. One longstanding example is USANA Health Sciences, a top 100 direct sales company in 2020 that has been going strong since 1992.

Here are some of the reasons USANA stands out—and what to keep in mind in your search.

Products to be Proud Of

A solid range of products you’re excited to use daily and are proud to promote is key to catching potential customers’ interest. In USANA’s case, they cover the health and wellness sphere with science-backed nutritional supplements, meal-replacement shakes, high-performance skincare products, and more.

Selling a variety of products is one thing—but quality is what truly counts. Companies like ConsumerLab—which has recognized USANA’s supplements with numerous awards—offer third-party assurance you’re purchasing the real deal. Partnerships with trusted organizations go a long way, too—and more professional and Olympic athletes use and trust USANA products than any other nutritional supplement company in the world—see the stats on USANAathletes.com.

Tools of the Trade

With the right resources, you have the tools and best practices at your fingertips. Beyond an informative website and shopping experience, USANA offers Associates—the people who own USANA businesses—their own personal USANA.com website that mimics the look and feel of USANA’s own site.

Elite direct selling companies also provide entrepreneurs additional resources—along with business and product training—to become the best business owners they can be. Such resources include:

• A central hub for company news, tools, and other information.
• A resource center with designed social shareables, training files, presentations, and more.
• Active social media communities (check out USANA’s Ethics and Education Facebook group—it’s a great resource for Associates!).
• Training programs with sensible advice for running a business in compliance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations.
• Market-specific sales and customer service support teams.
• Regularly scheduled in-person and online trainings, celebrations, and other events.
• A transparent product guarantee and return policy for you and your customers.

This list is a starting point to keep in mind as you research potential companies.

Flexibility to Earn

It’s important that any company you work with offers a compensation plan to match your vision of success. USANA has one type of distributor—Associates—and two customer types—retail customers and Preferred Customers (PCs). Retail customers are just that—people who shop on USANA.com or through an Associate to purchase products. PCs can qualify to receive a special discount on all the products they purchase.

USANA Associates sell products to qualify to earn compensation from their customers’ and team members’ purchases, but otherwise, the sky is the limit. Most Associates earn a modest side income to help pay for the supplements and other products they use to support their active lifestyle. Others put in serious effort to build their customer connections and teams to grow their business into a more substantial earning opportunity.

When you find a potentially good fit and you’re having conversations with your company contacts, be honest and upfront about the amount of time and effort you’re planning to invest in your business. See how their compensation plan may work with—or against—what you have in mind.

Ethical Operations

There’s certainly wariness around pyramid schemes and get-rich-quick scams—and for good reason. Bad actors were around well before Charles Ponzi diverted investor money in 1920. Today’s elite direct sales companies take pride in their business ethics. USANA is a longstanding member and supporter of the Direct Selling Association (DSA), which serves to “protect, promote, and police the direct selling industry.”

Between the DSA, FTC, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC), these businesses are held to the highest standards to act ethically, and to train and hold their distributors accountable.

USANA, along with every member company of the DSA, follows the DSA’s official Code of Ethics to protect consumers and their independent salesforce. The company you partner with should offer a similarly clear commitment to business excellence.

The savvy shopper of today wants to know their spending dollars support a socially conscious company. USANA has two charity arms:

• The USANA Foundation provides emergency food aid and long-term solutions to tackle malnutrition around the globe. And 100% of overhead costs are covered by USANA. Associates are encouraged to support the Foundation and have opportunities to participate in fundraisers and service trips.
• USANA Kids Eat combats childhood hunger in USANA’s home state of Utah. They provide backpacks full of nonperishable foods to at-risk youth at over 65 local schools and organizations. As with the USANA Foundation, USANA covers all administrative costs, so every dollar donated goes to feed hungry kids.

Companies who focus on giving back are also a great conversation starter to engage potential customers.

Culture, Culture, Culture

Whether it’s mixing up the latest viral TikTok dance or using trending emojis or hashtags in an Instagram post, the company you choose should have a strong online presence. Active social communities are a fun way to break the ice with interested customers and show relevance in a modern, always-online world.

The internet also lets you peer into the best direct selling companies to work for from the corporate side. Do people enjoy working there? Do they approve of the leadership? USANA has a commendable 4.2-star rating on Glassdoor, and nearly 100% of employees approve of how CEO Kevin Guest and other executives are navigating the company. The company has also been consistently recognized as a best place to work in the direct selling sphere.

Your future customers will search for your company online, so do some sleuthing yourself to see if they make a good first impression.

Fulfill Your Vision

USANA is one example of many outstanding, ethical direct sales businesses that produce quality products, offer high-level resources and education, and let you earn on your own terms. Now that you have the knowledge to guide you on your quest to find the best direct selling companies to work for, search for the one that’s right for you.