Direct selling offers millions of people the opportunity to make money on their own time, mainly as a supplement to income. According to the Direct Selling Association (www.dsa.org), about 15.1 million people in the United States are doing it right now.

How it works. Direct selling is person-to-person sales of consumer products or services taking place outside of a traditional retail location. Direct sellers are independent consultants, not employees. Products are sold primarily through parties, hosted in private homes where you gather a bunch of your friends or you get people you know to invite their friends. One-on-one selling is also an option.

Is it right for me? For most people direct sales is ideal for supplemental income, not your main source. The median income in direct sales is $2,500 annually, which means 50 percent of the people make more, and half make less. The average seller spends less than 10 hours a week focused on his or her business. Steer clear of any promise of big bucks or fast cash with minimal effort; that doesn’t exist in direct sales.Most direct selling companies make it easy for you to sell their products: Every seller gets a webpage on the company’s website from which to take and process orders, so when your customers want to reorder, they can do it online. Each time you make a sale, you earn a commission. And if you recruit people to become sellers, you’ll make a small commission on their sales too.

Take your personality into account. If you’re very shy and introverted — if you’re not outgoing or willing to hustle — then any form of sales probably isn’t right for you. Unlike working in a retail store, where customers walk in, with direct sales you’re on your own — you must find your customers. So a driven, motivated, friendly person who wouldn’t be shy about asking her friends to consider buying her line, and who isn’t shy about chatting up strangers, is needed.

What should I sell? Pick a product line that you are personally passionate about. If you can’t see yourself using the products or giving the products as gifts, stay away. Below is a full list of the official members of the Direct Selling Organization, and for more information you can always visit dsa.org for an in-depth directory and more information.

3000BC 4Life Research, LLC 5LINX Enterprises, Inc. ACN, Inc. AdvoCare International, LP Aerus LLC Agel Enterprises, LLC Aihu, Inc. All Dazzle Aloette Cosmetics, Inc. Amazon Herb Company Ambit Energy AMS Health Sciences Inc. Amway anyArt, Inc. Arbonne International, LLC Ava Anderson Non-Toxic Avalla Avon Products, Inc. Azuliskye Barefoot Books Beachbody LLC Become International, Inc. Beijo, Inc. Belcorp USA Big Planet (Division of Nu Skin Enterprises) Blessings Unlimited Brightpeak Financial Carico International Celebrating Home Clever Container Compelling Creations, Inc. Conklin Company, Inc. Cookie Lee, Inc. Creative Memories CUTCO/Vector Marketing Corporation Daisy Blue Naturals Demarle At Home, Inc. DeTech, Inc. Dove Chocolate Discoveries Dudly Beauty Corp, LLC Enagic USA, Inc. ENERGETIX gmbH & Co. KG Enzacta USA Essential Bodywear Fifth Avenue Collection, Inc. For Every Home Foru international FreeLife International The Fuller Brush Company Gano Excel USA, Inc. Gigi Hill, Inc. Global Domains International, Inc. GNLD International Gold Canyon H2O at Home Herbalife HomeTec

Hy Cite Corporation Immunotech, Inc. Initial Outfitters Initials, Inc. Isagenix International JAFRA Cosmetics International, Inc. Jeunesse Global Jockey Person to Person John Amico Haircaire Products Jordan Essentials Jusuru International, Inc. K&K Designs Kilambe Coffee The Kirby Company Kitchen Fair (Regal Ware, Inc.) Kyani Latasia & Company L’Bri Pure N’ Natural Lia sophia Life Force International Lifemax, Inc. Lifestyles USA LifeVantage Corporation The Limu Company, LLC Lindt Chocolate RSVP Lionne Designs The Longaberger Company Loving Works, LLC Maddy Moo Creations Mannatech, Inc. Mary Kay Inc. Melaleuca, Inc. Mia Mariu Morinda Bioactives Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. Nefful U.S.A., Inc. Neways USA Inc. NHT Global, Inc. Nikken, Inc. Noevir USA, Inc. NSA Nu Skin Enterprises Orenda International, LLC Oxyfresh.com/21Ten Inc. The Pampered Chef Paperly PartyLite Gifts, Inc. Pharmanex (Division of Nu Skin Enterprises) Phoenix Trading Pink Papaya, LLC PM-International Nutrition and Cosmetics POLA U.S.A., Inc. Premier Designs, Inc. Primerica, Inc. Princess House, Inc. Rastelli Direct RBC Life Regal Ware, Inc. Reliv International, Inc. Rena Ware International, Inc. Rendi, Ltd.

Rexair LLC Rodan + Fields Dermatologists Sabika, Inc. Saladmaster, Inc. Scentsy, Inc. Send Out Cards SeneGence International Set to a Tea Shaklee Corporation Signature Homestyles Silpada Designs SimpleXity Health Simply Said, LLC Simply You SimplyFun, LLC Smart Circle International Smart Living Company Soul Purpose Lifestyle, Inc. Southwestern Advantage Sozo Global, LLC Sportron International, Inc. Stampin’ Up! Stanley Home Products Stella & Dot Stemtech HealthSciences, Inc. Steam Cosmetics, LLC Stream Energy Sunrider International SwissJust Symmetry Corporation Synergy WorldWide Take Shape for Life, Inc.-Medifast Talk Fusion Tastefully Simple, Inc. Tealightful Inc. Team National Thirty-One Gifts Tianshi Health Products, Inc. Tomboy Tools, Inc. Touchstone Crystal, Inc. Traci Lynn Fashion Jewelry Traveling Vinyard Tristar Enterprises, LLC TriVita, Inc. U Design Jewelry Unicity International, Inc. Univera USANA Health Sciences, Inc. Usborne Books and More Vantani, Inc. Vantel Pearls in the Oyster Viridian Network, LLC Vollara, LLC Vorwerk USA Co., L.P. Votra Vu Wildtree Willow House WineShop At Home World Book, Inc. XANGO YOR Health Zermat International, LLC Zrii Zyrra