smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

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Q: I have received a mailer about a business opportunity. It quotes in the literature ‘From just three sales.....will give you a grand total of £25,550.’ I would get this if I pay their full product pack for £149.95 and get three customers, who in turn have to get a further three customers. I get a commission on these new customers. What do you think?

Aug 17 2005

Answered by: Philip Wilkinson Ask a question

The biggest market for direct mail businesses is what’s known as the Business Opportunities market. Everyone reading this page (plus me!) falls into this market - we are all looking for a way of making more money from our business activities.

The literature you have sent me is full of fairly typical promises. To quote the literature: ‘It involves continually recruiting other people’. The success of such schemes relies on people believing that it is possible to make great fortunes without having to work hard. I don’t believe it. Leave well alone and hang on to your £149.95.

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