lois from new york (Contact Member) -

I was wondering who else here has a small business going? I don't really have one yet. I do sell crocheted items online from time to time but have not gotten a site together or anything. I would really like to make it into a small business someday. That would be nice.

Comment #1 Cinnamon from The Kitchen (Contact Member) -

I have my own cleaning business. It works out great for me. I started it about 10 years ago on my own.I've gathered up enough houses and apartments that I now have two girls working for me. And, I don't have to lift a finger now that I have my daughter. I make about 1500 per month to just do the business end of it (paperwork, advertising, scheduling). Plus my girls make 10.00 per hour, and it works great for them because they both clean the houses together 9am-2pm, so they can pick their kids up from school and take them.

Comment #2 George from Dead Like Me (Contact Member) -

Hey Cinnamon! Want to come over to my house? I am so domestically challenged. I have never been good at cleaning house. I need to hire people.

Comment #3 Turtle from the Pond (Contact Member) -

I used to sell Mary Kay. What a nightmare that was! Mary Kay is such a cult. I just didn't fit into that world and I couldn't see the merchandise. I ended up not liking the products myself. Now I sell Avon. I don't have many clients; mostly enough to pay for my products.

Comment #4 lois from new york (Contact Member) -

Cinnamon, that sounds like a great business and nice how you don't have to do the cleaning part anymore! :)

Turtle, what is the difference between Avon and Mary Kay? I always assumed they would work the same way as they both are about selling make up and such.

Comment #5 Turtle from the Pond (Contact Member) -

Oh my. How to explain this. Hmmm. Mary Kay is all about recruiting. The more people under you, the better off you are. As long as they're buying, that is. They don't have to sell, just buy. I had thousands of dollars of inventory debt that I couldn't sell. And my up-line didn't care about helping me learn to sell in any way that worked for me. I had to figure out how to do it the Mary Kay way. And to stay active you have to buy $200 a quarter. I also can't say anything good about MK because I got a bad director who treated me horribly.

Avon's not much better, because you have to buy to stay active. But with Avon there's no dollar amount you have to buy. I don't have to go to meetings. I don't have to have parties. It's just different.

My husband and I had a romantic getaway on the Queen Mary the same time that the Mary Kay directors were there. The directors were bothering diners in the restaurant trying to get them to agree to "facials" and "makeovers". That's the Mary Kay way.

Comment #6 Spongebob from The Ocean (Contact Member) -

I can't stand Avon or Mary Kay. I couldn't work for either of them because I don't find their products to be that great. The makeup I have used from both are not any better than over the counter makeup. I do like some of the holiday stuff that Avon has, but still I think you can find stuff that is just as good at the store. I own a small marketing company, just my husband and I are working for the company. We are just getting a start on it right now. We would like to make enough money where we could retire by the time we are 35-40. LOL

Comment #7 Cinnamon from The Kitchen (Contact Member) -

Hey George, For the right price we would love to clean your house LOL

I love my job/company. It took a lot of effort and some word of mouth, but it was worth the hard work I put into it. I couldn't do it without the two girls I have working for me. They are amazing. I am giving them each a 500.00 Christmas Bonus!

Comment #8 Turtle from the Pond (Contact Member) -

Spongebob, you're right. I think Avon and Mary Kay have outlived their usefulness. You can get similar products anywhere. But I love Avon products. I didn't like Mary Kay. No one liked Mary Kay. That's why I couldn't sell it. But my Avon customers want to buy Avon, so I sell to them and that keeps me in Avon products. The thing with Avon skincare is the products are really good and very affordable. But I'm not trying to sell to you. I never try to sell to people who don't like it or don't want it.

Comment #9 George from Dead Like Me (Contact Member) -

If you were anywhere near me, Cinnamon, I'd let your girls come clean my house. What's really funny is that while I'm horrible at cleaning my own house, I'd probably be fantastic at cleaning other people's houses. Provided they weren't slobs, of course. They'd have to just be like me.

Comment #10 lois from new york (Contact Member) -

Eek, yes Mary Kay does sound like a cult!! Avon sounds better, at least tolerable. I have never been approached by Avon sellers but I have been approached by Mary Kay sellers before. I do like Avon skincare products and use some of them. The makeup i am not so big on but the skincare is really nice and usually affordable to an extent.

Cinnamon, that is sooo sweet to give your workers a 500.00 bonus for Christmas!! WOW! I want you as my boss!

Comment #11 Allison (98.122.157.250) -

You guys are completely wrong about Mary Kay! It's a great business. One of the FEW cosmetic companies that is Christian based and that DOES NOT TEST ITS PRODUCTS ON ANIMALS. Some people just aren't meant to sell Mary Kay.

Comment #12 Chandelle (24.176.188.76) -

"It's what you make of it"

Here is my point of view on this whole thing. All of these business' are multi-level marketing. They are what you put into them. Even Avon. HOWEVER

with experiane in both fields. I did find Mary Kay to be way harder to stay with. You have to buy alot of product to stay active, and when each member has to pay that much of COURSE the person above you amesk a good cut. But that didn't feel honest to me. Pushing girls into buying 1000's of dollars worth of stuff, knowing she may not sell it, just so I made my cut etc. I feel you spend more time convincing people to join then to buy your product. As a matter of fact the product almost seemed to be the smallest part of it all. Avon however did NOT force anyone to sell or buy any amount in any certain time. I found their product to be true and tried, and great prices!!! It wasn't pushy, and for some reason people just love having an Avon lady around. Even the buy in was cheap, ten bucks, no hidden fees or more to buy besides your books. It's what you make of it. Of course the more you sell, and the more people you can get to join your team the better you'll do. Just like all the rest. One other one I found to be kind of interesting was Passion Parties. The buy in is a little high, but the comition was really nice! bigger then most. about 40% actually.

Good Luck!

Comment #13 diana (1) from colorado (Contact Member) - Thu May 20 16:04:07 2010

"Newbbie! "

Hi, everyone! I am trying to start a small cleaning business here in colorado, but not quite sure where to begin. Does anyone have any advice? I would highly appreciate it! I know I must register my business with the Secretary of state and get my EIN but what other forms do I need?? THANKS

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