Is being a Virtual Assistant like being in an MLM?

One of the questions I get asked a lot about becoming a VA, is it like being in an MLM. 

The short answer? No. 

The long answer? Well let’s dive deeper by understanding what an MLM is. 

MLM stands for multilevel marketing. The business model for an MLM is that individuals will have products that they will sell. They also have a monetary incentive if they recruit other people into the business. The more people you recruit, the more residual income you will earn. This incentivizes people to recruit as many people as they possibly can. This is also one of the biggest drawbacks of an MLM. Many people feel that the sales representatives are too pushy about their products, and are promoting products they may not necessarily even believe in because they need to make that commission. Additionally, it also benefits people at the top more than the people that are working in sales. Some of the most popular MLM brands are Avon, Monat, Herbalife, and Amway. 

So is being a VA like being part of an MLM? Absolutely not! Why? Because you don’t report to anyone. A virtual assistant brings in their own clients, keeps 100% of what the clients pay, and operates as a standard service based business. This means that we have services that people need, and we charge an amount that we deem fit for the service to the client. There is no recruitment involved, there is no residual income program involved, there is no high tier and elaborate marketing involved. 

When you are a virtual assistant you operate as a business owner. You are in charge of your own taxes, finding your own clients, creating your services and packages, branding your own business, and being the voice behind what your company stands for. 

So, being a virtual assistant is not like being in an MLM. It IS like being a small business owner.