MLM Business Plan [Sample Template]

Are you about starting a starting a network marketing business? If YES, here’s a complete sample network marketing business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE to raise money. Marketing is one of the best tools that can attract loads of people. This is one of the very reasons why network marketing agencies have come to be.

If you have a natural penchant for marketing and meeting people, you may want to consider starting a network marketing agency business. This is a great way to start a trade anytime and anyway.

A Sample Multi Level Marketing Business Plan Template

1. Industry Overview

Network marketing business is generally referred to as a business opportunity that is very popular with people looking for part-time and perhaps flexible means of earning additional income. Some of the leading network marketing companies in the united states are Forever Living Products, Fuel Freedom International, Avon Products, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Tupperware et al.

Network marketing which can also be referred to as Multi-level Marketing (MLM) or Pyramid selling or affiliate marketing et al is a controversial marketing strategy in which the sales force is compensated not only for the sales they able to generate, but also for the sales of the other salespeople (down – line / team members) that they recruit.

In the United States of America and of course in most countries of the world, companies that leverage of network marketing approach for compensation have been a frequent subject of criticism and lawsuits.

Generally, criticism has been focused on their similarity to illegal pyramid schemes, price fixing of their products, high initial costs for registering (the amount needed to purchase marketing kit and first products), emphasis on their recruitment strategies and loads of other technique that seems not to be plain and easy.

Research carried out by The Direct Selling Association (DSA) of which network marketing us under, shows that in 1990, 25 percent of members used network marketing, growing to 77.3 percent in 1999. By 2009, 94.2 percent of The Direct Selling Association (DSA) members were using network marketing, accounting for 99.6 percent of sellers, and 97.1 percent of sales.

The research also shows that companies such as Avon, Electrolux, Tupperware, and Kirby all initially used single level marketing to sell their products and later introduced network marketing compensation plans. The Direct Selling Association (DSA) in the United States has approximately 200 registered members, while it is estimated there are approximately 1,000 firms using network marketing in the United States alone.

It is important to state that network marketing companies operate in all the 50 states in U.S. Over and above, network marketing has become one of the best options for stay at home mothers or anyone who intend making money without registering their own personal business or directly working for an organization.

So if you have the intention of starting your own network marketing company, then you should ensure that you select a product that is easily sellable and of course a good reward system for network marketers under your scheme. You should also ensure that you conduct a thorough feasibility studies and market survey before launching your network marketing company.

2. Executive Summary

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. is a U.S based and world class network marketing company. We have been able to secure a standard and well – positioned office facility in a central business district in Carson City – Nevada.

We are a network marketing company that is set to compete in the highly competitive network marketing industry not only in the United States market, but also in the global market because our clientele base will not be restricted to just individuals in the United States.

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. will manufacture and retail cosmetic products in the United States and in other parts of the world via network marketing. Our business goal is to become one of the leading network marketing companies in the United States of America with a robust network of individual clients scattered all around the United States and the world.

Our back office staff members are going to be selected from a pool of talented and highly creative experts in and around Carson City – Nevada and also from any part of the world as the business grows.

We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce through the required trainings that will position them to meet the expectation of the company and to compete with leading network marketing companies in the United States and throughout the globe.

At Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc., our network marketers and client’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our clients. Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. is founded by Rooney Wilberforce and his friend and business partner for many years Festus Holloway.

They both graduated from University of California – Beckley with BSc in Business Administration and Marketing respectively and they have a combine experience that revolves around market researching, sales, network marketing and advertising and business management et al.

3. Our Products and Services

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. was established with the aim of maximizing profits in the Network Marketing industry. We want to compete favorably with the leading network marketing companies in the United States of America and the world which is why we have but in place a competent team that will ensure that we meet and even surpass our network marketers and customers’ expectations.

We will work hard to ensure that Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. do not just recruit network marketers and sell her products to clients in the United States of America, but also for clients in other parts of the world. Our products and services are listed below;

Sell of cosmetic products via network marketing model (reward network marketers under our scheme)

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

Our vision is to establish a standard and world class network marketing company whose products and brand will not only be accepted in the United States of America, but also in other parts of the world.
Our mission is to become amongst the top 20 network marketing companies in the world; a company that will be known for sincerity and one of the best reward system for network marketers.
We want to build a network marketing company that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the network marketing agencies industry.

Our Business Structure

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc., is a network marketing company that intend starting small in Carson City – Nevada, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading network marketing agencies in the industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

At Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc., we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, and creative, result driven, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, network marketers and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

Chief Executive Officer
Creative Director
Network Marketing Specialist
Human Resources and Admin Manager
Sales and Marketing Executive
Accountant
Network Marketers / Freelance Marketers
Client Service Executive / Call Center Agents

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
Responsible for providing direction for the business
Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
Evaluates the success of the organization

Creative Director:

Serves as project manager of the organization; works directly with the product manufacturing team and the network marketing team
Responsible for designing concepts and winning business proposals for the organization
Develops strategic plan by studying technological and financial opportunities; presenting assumptions; recommending objectives.
Accomplishes subsidiary objectives by establishing plans, budgets, and results measurements; allocating resources; reviewing progress; making mid-course corrections.
Coordinates efforts by establishing procurement, production, marketing, field, and technical services policies and practices; coordinating actions with corporate staff.
Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
Makes certain that operations and marketing department perform efficiently, coordinate employee efforts, and facilitate communications between management and employees
Part of the team responsible for training network marketers / freelance marketers
Ensures that the organization work in line with international best practices.

Network Marketing Specialist

Responsible for handling core network marketing services such as reward system, monitoring team progress, expanding the scope of the network and penalizing erring members under our network.
Serves as compliance and quality assurance manager for the organization
Part of the team responsible for training network marketers / freelance marketers
Handle other related network marketing advisory and consulting services

Human Resources and Admin Manager

Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
Designs job descriptions with KPI to drive performance management for clients
Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of HR Policies, Procedures and Processes
Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
Carrying out staff induction for new team members
Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
Oversees the smooth running of the daily back office activities.

Sales and Marketing Manager

Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
Creates new markets cum businesses for the organization
Part of the team responsible for training network marketers / freelance marketers
Empower and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant / Cashier:

Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
Responsible for administering payrolls
Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
Handles all financial transactions for Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc.
Serves as internal auditor for Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc.

Network Marketers / Freelance Marketers

Responsible for selling the company’s products (cosmetics products) via network marketing models and getting reward / commission
Responsible for creating content / buzz words that will help attract more networks marketers
Responsible for managing team members under his or her network
Responsible for engaging internet users and people around his or her community to get help statistics and leads
Liaising and working effectively With other our back office staff and network members to generate sales for the business

Client Service Executive

Welcomes clients and potential clients by greeting them in person, online or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
Manages administrative duties assigned by the creative director in an effective and timely manner
Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries.

6. SWOT Analysis

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured network marketing business that can favorably compete in the highly competitive network marketing agencies industry in the United States and the world at large.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a SWOT analysis for Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc.;

Strength:

Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of creative, result driven and highly proficient network marketing expert, a team with excellent qualifications and experience various niche areas in the network marketing agencies industry and other related industry.

Aside from the synergy that exist in our carefully selected back office staff members and network marketing experts, our products are easily marketable and our reward system is one of the easiest amongst network marketing companies and will be guided by best practices in the industry.

Weakness:

As a new network marketing company in Carson City – Nevada, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top experienced network marketers in the already saturated and highly competitive network marketing industry; that is perhaps our major weakness. Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to pump into promoting our business the way we would want to.

Opportunities:

No doubt, the opportunities available in the network marketing industry is massive especially when you are ready to play by the books and also considering the number of individuals who would not only want to make use of our cosmetic products, but would also want to make money by selling the products as independent marketers, recruiting down – lines, building a robust network and earning good commission from doing same.

As a standard and world class network marketing company, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that is available in the industry.

Threat:

Aside from unfavorable government policies, just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power.

Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a network marketing company or even a company retailing same cosmetic products like us in same location where our target market exist and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Trends

If you are conversant with network marketing business, you will agree that it is quite challenging for them to survive that tough and unfriendly terrain that they are expected to operate in. As a matter of fact, most people still see network marketing companies as fraudulent, with a very difficult reward system.

In view of that, most network marketing companies are trying as much as they can to make people believe that they are genuine and are out there not just to make profits, but also to help people – those under their network marketing scheme make additional income without becoming a full – time employee of the organization.

Another notable trend in the network marketing industry is that most network marketing companies go beyond just giving commissions to network markets under their company when they sell their products or recruit down – lines under their network, but also encourage them by rewarding them with mouthwatering gifts when they hit a milestone.

Such gifts go beyond electronics, and cars et al. Some of them win all expense paid trips to notable tourist destinations as a result of their work.

This is one of the reasons why no network marketing company survives without constantly throwing out promos that will encourage and motivate the team to continue to perform thereby creating a win – win situation for the company and of course for the network marketers.

8. Our Target Market

Before starting our network marketing company, we are certain that there are loads of people out there; employed and unemployed who would want to make money and get their life going or make addition income from a business that is flexible.

In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to stay at home moms, unemployed, employed and student et al who would want to make cool cash from using our products, and also referring or selling our products.

We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that we meet and surpass the expectations of our clients Below is a list of the people and organizations that we have specifically market our product and network marketing services to;

Unemployed people
Employed people
Corporate executives
Students
Business men and Business women
Entrepreneurs and Start – Ups

Our Competitive Advantage

Surviving as a network marketing company goes beyond having the right products, but also having a full grasp of the network marketing industry, playing by the books, and having a good and easy reward system that will encourage people to join your network with little or no stress

We are quite aware that to be highly competitive in the network marketing industry means that you are not only expected to be able to retail good and reliable products and excellent customer services, but you must be result driven and able to create a network marketing system that everyone out there would not only find it easier to understand, but would want to freely join and recommend people to join.

No one would want to continue to remain as member of your network marketing company if don’t always meet up with the target date of paying out commissions or earnings as the case may be.

Our competitive advantage lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of creative, result driven and highly proficient network marketing experts, a team with excellent qualifications and experience various niche areas in the network marketing industry and other related industry.

Lastly, all our employees (back office staff members) and network marketers will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups network marketing companies in the United States) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

Sources of Income

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the network marketing industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to meet and surpass the expectations of all our network marketers that will enroll in our company.

Basically, Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. will generate income by offering the following network marketing services and other related services;

Sell of cosmetic products via network marketing model (reward network marketers under our scheme)

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be loads of people out there; employed and unemployed, students, business men and business women et al, who would want to make money and get their lives going or make addition income from a business that is as flexible as network marketing company.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in network marketing industry and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of building a robust network marketers and generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow our network marketing company to favorably compete with the likes of Forever Living Products, Fuel Freedom International, Avon Products, Mary Kay Cosmetics and Tupperware et al.

We have been able to critically examine the network marketing space and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection are based on information gathered on the field, our products (cosmetics products) and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Carson City – Nevada.

Below are the sales projection for Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc., it is based on the location of our business and of course the kind of products we want to retail and target market;

First Fiscal Year-: $250,000
Second Fiscal Year-: $700,000
Third Fiscal Year-: $1.5 million

N.B: This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same products (cosmetics products) and network marketing model as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are mindful of the fact that there is stiffer competition in the network marketing industry; hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing concerns.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience of the network marketing industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall business goal of Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc.

Our corporate goal is to grow Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. to become one of the leading network marketing brands in the United States of America and the world at large which is why we have mapped out strategy that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in the United States of America but also in other parts of the world.

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract network marketer

Introduce our network marketing company by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to individuals, unemployed, business men and business women, students, religious organizations and key stake holders.
Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, and other media platforms.
List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still accommodate them in our network
Leverage on the internet to promote our business
Engage in direct marketing approach
Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied network marketers

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our in house brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to become the number one choice for people who reside in the whole of the United States and beyond which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our network marketing company.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc.;

Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our products and network marketing brand
Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around Carson City – Nevada
Engage in road show from time to time in targeted neighborhoods
Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
Contact households, schools and religious organizations by calling them up and informing them of Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. and the products and services we offer
List our network marketing company in local directories / yellow pages
Advertise our network marketing company in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
Ensure that all our staff members and network marketers wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our company logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

At Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. we will keep the prices of our products and starter packs / kits below the average market rate for all of our network marketers / customers by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance from network marketers who would sign into our network marketing scheme.

Payment Options

At Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc., our payment policy will be all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that we will make available to our clients;

Payment by via bank transfer
Payment via online bank transfer
Payment via check
Payment via bank draft
Payment via mobile money
Payment with cash

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans with little or no itches. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to network marketers / clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for the purchase of our starter pack / kit.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The materials and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a network marketing company; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. However, this is what it would cost us to setup Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. in the United of America;

Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
Acquiring an office space or warehouse that will accommodate the number of employees and our products (cosmetic products / starter pack) for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $150,000.
Equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, servers / internet facility, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $30,000
Amount required to purchase the needed software applications – $3,500
Launching an official Website will cost – $500
The cost for purchase of the required software applications (CRM software, Accounting and Bookkeeping software and Payroll software et al) – $10,500
Amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000
Miscellaneous – $5000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) U.S. dollars to successfully set – up a medium scale but standard network marketing company in the United States of America.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc.

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. is a business that will be owned, financed and managed by Rooney Wilberforce and his friend and business partner for many years Festus Holloway. They are the sole financial of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital for the business to just three major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 (Personal savings $85,000 and soft loan from family members $15,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning network marketers and potential marketers over is to our network marketing services is to ensure that we create a reward system that is easy and fair to all, and also to make our starter pack / kit highly affordable.

We will also ensure that at regular intervals we come up with mouthwatering promos that people who are not interested in network marketing will find it difficult to resist.

Good Life® Network Marketing, Inc. will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare is well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner of our business strategy.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more as determined by the board of the organization. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
Business Incorporation: Completed
Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
Securing a standard office facility and warehouse facility in a good location: Completed
Application for business license and permit: Completed
Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
Generating part of the start – up capital from the founders: Completed
Writing of Business Plan: Completed
Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
Design of Logo for the business: Completed
Secure trademark for our products: In Progress
Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
Recruitment of employees: In Progress
Purchase of the Needed furniture, office equipment, software applications, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In Progress
Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
Creating Awareness for the business: In Progress
Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress