Many people who tell you about network marketing talk first about what you can gain. I do it the other way round. In this article I show you what you invest. Honestly calculated, in four items: time, money, courage and learning. Because only when you know what you put in can you make a good decision.
Why I talk about the investment first
I spent over two decades in the food industry. There I learned that every good decision starts with an honest calculation. What comes in? What goes out? And what does it cost me if I don’t do it?
That is exactly how you should think about a small business of your own. Not through rose-tinted glasses. Not with pictures of pools and palm trees. But with a sheet of paper and one clear question: can I put this in?
What you earn in the end depends on you. The range is huge. That is why you won’t find any income figures here. Only the investment. And that is equally honest for everyone.
Investment 1: time
At the start, a few fixed hours a week are enough. Many people start alongside their job, and that is completely normal. According to the KfW Start-up Monitor, around 690,000 people in Germany started a business of their own in 2025. More than two thirds of them did so as a side business.
What matters is not the number of hours. What matters is that they are fixed in your calendar. “When I have time” is not a plan. “Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm” is one.
My tip: take an honest look at the screen time on your phone. Most of us find more hours there than we thought.
Investment 2: money
This is worth a close look, because this is exactly where a serious model separates itself from a dubious one.
In a serious model, you mainly invest money in products you use yourself:
- The start: a starter kit with products you use yourself and get to know.
- Your own regular order: products you need in your everyday life anyway.
- The formalities: in most countries you register a small business. In Germany, for example, this costs a small fee, and as long as your turnover stays below 25,000 euros in the previous year, you can use the small business rule and don’t have to charge VAT. Check the rules where you live.
What you don’t need:
- no stock in your garage
- no minimum sales
- no expensive compulsory seminars
- no penalty if you stop again
If someone tells you otherwise, take a close look. How to recognise a pyramid scheme is described in detail in my article “Network marketing or pyramid scheme?”.
Investment 3: courage
The most expensive thing at the start is not the money. It is the courage for the first conversation.
I still remember exactly how it felt. For years I had been the man from the industry who checked recipes. And suddenly I was supposed to tell people about something that mattered to me personally. That is a completely different feeling.
What helped me: I never talked anyone into anything. I shared what convinced me and asked questions. Those who were interested asked more. Those who weren’t, didn’t. Sowing instead of hunting. That is why a no doesn’t hurt. It is simply an answer.
Investment 4: learning
Nobody can do this on day one. I couldn’t either.
You learn how to have conversations. How to explain products without exaggerating. How to plan your time. And how to support others when they want to start themselves.
The good thing is: you don’t learn alone. A team at your side shares what works and catches you when something doesn’t. For me, that is one of the biggest differences from a classic start-up, where you have to work everything out yourself.
The honest calculation at a glance
| Investment | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Time | A few fixed hours a week, easy to fit alongside a job |
| Money | A start with products you use yourself, and your own regular order |
| Courage | The first conversations with people you know |
| Learning | Step by step, with a team and training |
And what does it cost to do nothing?
I ask myself this question with every decision. For me, the answer was clear back then: I did not want to spend more years in a system I could no longer stand behind.
Your answer may look completely different. Maybe this path isn’t for you. That is perfectly fine. Network marketing isn’t for everyone. But it is one of the simplest ways to become self-employed. And for many people, a real chance to get out of the hamster wheel.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to buy products in stock?
No. In a serious model, your customers order directly from the company. You don’t need any stock and you don’t have to deliver anything.
Do I need to register a business?
In most countries, yes, as soon as you want to earn regular income. Registration is usually simple. For tax questions, get advice from a tax adviser.
How much time do I really need?
That depends on your goals. At the start, a few fixed hours a week are enough. Regularity matters more than quantity.
Is this right for you?
Let’s talk for 30 minutes. Honestly, without pressure and without a sales pitch. Book a free intro call on Zoom.
Book an intro callSources
- KfW Research: KfW Start-up Monitor 2026, press release of 19 May 2026 (around 690,000 start-ups in 2025, 483,000 of them as a side business, German): https://www.kfw.de/Über-die-KfW/Newsroom/Aktuelles/Pressemitteilungen-Details_893632.html
- IHK München: small business rule under section 19 of the German VAT Act (thresholds since 2025, German): https://www.ihk-muenchen.de/ratgeber/steuern/umsatzsteuer/kleinunternehmerregelung/
- German Act against Unfair Competition (UWG), section 16(2): ban on pyramid-style customer recruitment (German): https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/uwg_2004/__16.html