Do ANY of these networking marketing businesses work?

[Tron]

Just curious. I work in marketing and have a BBA. I've ALWAYS been against network marketing but they seem to be able to keep luring people into these programs like amyway, FHTM, it works. BUT it seems like the ones they recruit usually fall off.

A lot of people say the point is just gaining money via recruits?

What's the deal? Is there any merit in these business models?

[J]

often a scam.

Depends on your student debt tolerance...

Complete thorough realistic research. Maybe accounting, engineering, law....

Pick a job where you don't start working bankrupt with debt. You must earn enough to support a family in a major City ...thats $200k plus/yr. Do not low ball your life and your future family.

Almost 50 million on food stamps, ~20% of males 25 to 54 yrs not working, lowest SATs in 40 years, debt to GDP over 100% and whats uncle sams answer to America's problems? Why more fancy jet toys to attack fictional enemies, of course and adding a trillion dollars of debt to prop up financial markets artificially. What a mess!

America You are On Your Own. YOYO's the word. Never forget it. Take control of your own lives and ignore what ever solutions the politicians and corproations thow around as solutions.

Abandon consumer spending obesity addiction. Cut your lifestyle in half or less...small house or apt..one car or no car .. always have a second job cause the one you have can/will disappear ...save and invest over 50% of your income if you can .... stay with your parents....parents move in with your kids...Rent with friends...Live like the wage you make today could be the last you'll earn, always.

[Christine]

Network marketing businesses fail at a rate which is slightly less than traditional business. However network marketers (the people who join) fail at a rate which is very similar to people who start a small business.

The failure rate is very high, at around 98%.

In almost every case, in both traditional business and network marketing, one or both of 2 factors are at play:

1) The business itself doesn't pass due diligence. The products or services don't have sufficient differentiation and the market is too competitive, or the pricing is uncompetitive, or the marketing plan is ineffective (maybe because there's not even really a valid consumer market and the only people buying are those who are trying to make money out of it). There are about 14 different points of due diligence that need to be checked out.

2) The person wishing to join is not suitable. Someone with no or little business experience, who is not coachable, not proactive, not disciplined or well organised, doesn't know how to build quality networks or isn't willing to learn, is highly unlikely to succeed.

If you have a viable business (get your accountant to go over it comprehensively) and you know how to build networks (ie, connect people together in a way that builds appreciation and loyalty to each other and to you), then that is a solid recipe for success in any field. If that viable business is a leveraged business (ie network marketing or the "social business model") then the potential is even greater.