forThose Doing Pampered Chef as Their Sole Source of Income

[pamperedpals]

Okay I wasn't sure were to put this question, so since it had to do with sales, I put it in this forum.

I so desparately want to stay home with my kids, however, it is just not an option right now (I carry the benefit's). So I was wondering, how many of you that are currently doing PC as their sole source of income, had another job when you first started? Also, how long did it take for you to quit the other job and only have PC as your income? Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[redsoxgirl]

I'd love to hear the answers on this one also

 

[chefann]

Me, too, since I lost my FT job yesterday. I know that I need to boost my show schedule to AT LEAST 8 shows a month AND recruit some people who have decent sales themselves for us to stay afloat.

 

[heather223]

Ann you lost your job? I am so sorry to hear that!!!!

 

[chefshawna]

I am also interested in this question, I had a FT position and didn't go back after baby. I have been trying to just do PC FT, but am looking for PT job until it really starts booming. I have been building up though. I think if you really work at it and go at all angles of the business full throttle (fundraisers, wedding registry, recruiting, catalog and cooking shows) you should be able to get there in 3-6 months depending on your contacts and how hard you work it. That's what I'm hoping anyway!!!!! I printed off some flyers to take around to schools, bridal shops, florists etc... I'm hoping these will generate some business. Also the catalog tote has been great for me!!! I'm handing out mini's all the time b/c of it!!
Hope this helped!! Good luck.
Ann, sorry about your job. Maybe it just means PC is what you should really do FT!!!!!!!!!

 

[MissChef]

Well, I qualify for this! I started PC 8 1/2 years ago and did it for extra income, I was the only one with benefits at the time too, as my hubby was on strike with Kaiser Aluminum. 3 months after I started I got pregnant with my daughter. I had Placentia Previa, and I ended being forced to see if we could make it on one income. At the time I qualified and my son did also for state medical. I understand that is not an option for some people. Now PC has health care options too, which is nice. My hubby started working about 2 months after I started PC but didn't have medical yet. He ended up getting it about 6 months after I had the baby. He's still in the same field and I can work PC or not, he's doing that good, I choose to work it because I love it and it's our fun money and savings money!
After I had my baby, I ended quitting my job because I knew I could make it, if I tried. I consistenly did 8-12 shows a month and would settle for nothing less than 8 shows. If you try hard and push catalog shows too, you'll be amazed at how you do not need that income from FT, 8-5 work. Now some of you might try for 3 shows a week and really bring up the opportunity as much as you can. You have to have a recruiting mentality, if you do that, you will watch your money grow and grow.
I have never gone back to full time work. I worked part time for a little while when my daughter was in kindergarten, but I soon discovered I couldn't go back to having a boss after being my own boss!
It is very do-able~! Another thing I suggest, is look in your local library for a book called "women leaving the work force (or place)" It shows you how you can do it. Also read books on anything you need to improve on. You cannot take it easy for awhile, or you will not make it! Not in the beginning, after you build a team, you then can slow down a little, (number of shows) if you want, but you can't do it now, or you'll second guess your decision! You have to treat it as a full time job and the hours that you use to spend at your job, you should spend working your business. You'll really see the fruits of this business if you do it like this! Limit your time to this site too, unfortunately! Because your time will vanish right before your very eyes! And with that said, I got to go! I need to go get my kids to school and start working myself! Good luck! PC can be so good if you work it like you would your other job! Really try it and you won't regret it! :sing: :balloon:

 

[pamperedpals]

Ann I'm sorry to hear you lost your job.

 

[lacychef]

Sorry Ann! ((hugs))

I do stay home w/my kids & mainly do PC. I would still say I'm making part time income though; I've always just worked part time since I've had kids.
What I would do though; is break it down. Figure out the amount you need to make each month....then break that down into number of shows you need to do each month. (figure your show average & divide that by amount of $$ needed) Then just work that phone!
Good luck!

 

[wadesgirl]

I know in order for me to quit my job, I need to promote to director and at least 8 shows a month (about $6000 in sales a month). The added income percentage and the percentage from my downline is what I really need.

 

[heather223]

Sorry Ann! ((hugs))

I do stay home w/my kids & mainly do PC. I would still say I'm making part time income though; I've always just worked part time since I've had kids.
What I would do though; is break it down. Figure out the amount you need to make each month....then break that down into number of shows you need to do each month. (figure your show average & divide that by amount of $$ needed) Then just work that phone!
Good luck!

There is a goal sheet in the front of our planner that help with figuring out how many shows you need to do. :chef:

 

[pamperedval]

Sorry about your bad news Ann... We're all hoping things work out for you!

As far as PC - I have two young kids (4&6) and I stay at home and do PC. I am lucky in that my husband has a good job with good benefits - BUT I do hope to build a team and have a strong business with PC so that I can bring in more money without having to return to an office position.

And someone else mentioned this - but don't forget that you can get group health insurance through PC as long as you are a qualified, active consultant. A lot less than trying to insure yourself...

It is totally possible to work this business to make enough money to cover the income from a full-time job (and more) but you have to work it!

Good luck!

 

[{*mandy*}]

I seen where a cpl of posters said this:

And someone else mentioned this - but don't forget that you can get group health insurance through PC as long as you are a qualified, active consultant. A lot less than trying to insure yourself...

Where do you go about checking on this?

TIA

Mandy

 

[chefann]

On Consultant's Corner, with the Pampered Perks stuff (Managing your business > Pampered Perks)

 

[Pam Moore]

Ann totally feel your pain my Dh lost his job back in MAy 2007 only went back to work the 1st of December. So we put our house and everything else up for sale. Of course no takes so far. Boo Hoo!!! If that wasn't bad enough with 3 teenagers 1 in college and 1 graduating this year and the other next year. December 27, 2007 the Sheriff's department I had been working with had new adminstration taking office and I was told that I was not going to be rehired. Same dat that I got sick with the flu and then lost my voice for 2 weeks.

Now I am trying to get my biz. up to speed only to get a call that my sister lost her job after just finding out she is pregant and when I thought it couldn't get any worse my MIL called to say they were calling in the family on my FIL. Of course Dh panic.
Had mandatory mtg. for unemployment so I wasn't able to go. My cluster's kick off is schedule tomorrow and since I am having to depend on PC fulltime that I have to good to it.

Just trying to hang in there.

Ann go start your pennies and double your bookings for the next month or so and then you can back down to fit your schedule.

Good luck and God Bless.

 

[cookingwithlove]

Hi Laurie,

I live in Portland, Or. I left a high paying job when I had my son ~4 years ago. It was hard because I had the benefits and it was good money (~$90K), but I never looked back. My husband works for himself and we buy our own health insurance. I have a policy with Lifewise for me and our 2 children. I am now 40 and I pay $265/month. The policy has $20 copays for wellness visits. This includes your yearly exam. Even when the kids are sick the pediatrican writes it as a wellness visit and it is only a $20. Mammograms are covered 100%. We do have a $2500 deductable, but we have money in the bank to cover this. Our kids are also young. When they start playing sports I will probably lower the deductable.

When I quit my job, we went to way less than half of what we were making (~40K). We were kind of naive and did not plan for the drop in income. We were terrible savers. We had a couple of things going for us, our cars were paid for and our mortgage is low. It was hard and there were many months (still are) where I balance the check book to the penny and I use the penny! I highly recommend sitting down with your hubby and look at where the money is going, what you can cut out and what your goals are. If you set a date to come home with the children, it will provide you the incentive to do it and you plan for it. I am amazed at how little we actually live on. I am not a frugal person by nature, but I have found that I do not want for much and I love that I can provide this time with my children.

A good older friend of mine once told me, "When you die, nobody says, geez I wish I worked more." If being with your kids is a goal for you, then figure out how to make it work.

Dave Ramsey is a great resource for figuring things out. I love listening to him. He keeps me motivated to save and spend wisely. I also highly recommend reading his book.

I hope this helps and I wish you luck. I wish that every mom who wants to stay home does.

 

[mommyhugz1978]

i am sorry you lost your job Ann, (((HUGS))))

 

[chefann]

Thanks, Leah.

 

[heat123]

OMG Ann so sorry to hear this!

 

[baychef]

Oh, Ann, I am so sorry too. {{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}} You are a bright, caring woman and if you choose to pursue antoher job, I have no doubt that you would easily find one.

Linda, I was so glad that you posted. For the most part, when those that want to do PC full time, there is someone in the house that earns another income but more importantly, that other person also carries the health insurance. I was glad to see another prospective such as yours. Being single I do have a full time job and benefits, but would love to do PC full time if I take early retirement. At that time, I would pay about half of the premium.

Your experience has helped me gain a greater prospective! Love this site!!

 

[chefmeg]

I started PC in 2000-full time employee, Mom of a 3 yo and 6 mo old
in 2003 went part-time
in 2005-quit..they were not going to let me have flexible hours to put DS on and off the bus.....
in 2006-went back...too much identity of self in that job...missed it for some crazy reason......
in 2007-really quit as I discovered that the reason I missed it was a social reason and could easily get that from PC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


SO.....now I am strictly PC and am making a 2nd career of that. I think that you have to just take the plunge into the business as if it were the only job you have. I do not recommend it being the only job you have if you are the carrier for the benefits, but even PC offers an alternative to that! WORK IT AS IF THERE WERE NOTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!! this is key in getting it where you need it to really be the only job you have!

 

[kam]

Ann, I am sorry to hear that you lost your job!!

 

[chefmeg]

Ann, I am sorry to hear that you lost your job!!

from what was said at the Leadership MNG....Ann isn't!!!!

Ann....what new adventure will you be pursuing now.......this job loss can be a real gift, ya know?????

 

[chefann]

from what was said at the Leadership MNG....Ann isn't!!!!

Ann....what new adventure will you be pursuing now.......this job loss can be a real gift, ya know?????

<giggle> You got that right, Meg! I'm viewing this as the kick in the patoot that I needed to really push PC.

 

[finley1991]

At every single show I do, I talk about the benefits that Pampered Chef offers us. I have my health insurance through PC. I pay about 1/4 of what I did before when I bought it directly. I also have my IRA through PC. Before I had it with a major US company. My annual fee with PC’s co is 1/2 of what I paid MONTHLY with the major company. With both, I have the exact same coverage and advantages I had before I switched. We are so blessed that PC offers us these great benefits. And trust me, I talk up our benefits at every show. No one can say to me now that this isn’t a “real job!” With that, most of these posts have been focused on sales. Sales are great. But we look at the high earners in this company, what do they have in common? Are they out doing 30 shows a month? No…. they’ve built a team of their own. It’s the whole work smarter, not harder concept. Basically, the One November Night theory. Each Consultant can only work so much, but if we have a team working at the same time, our incomes will go up. A few years ago at my first Leadership Summit, an upper level director talked about how once you get to Advanced Director, your income becomes more like a salary. Now I am NOT SAYING that once you become an Advanced Director, you get a salary. What she said is that it her income became more consistent and predictable. As Consultants, FDs and Ds, we know that each month our commission checks can vary greatly!If you haven’t already, listen to the Duska Mills recording on Consultant’s Corner about promoting. She’s brilliant and it’s a great plan. To listen, log onto Consultant’s Corner, click on the red tab for Consultant and Leadership Training (you need to click on it, not use the popdown menu), then click on her recording under Building Your Team… it’s titled Promote to Director.Now, again, many of you have stressed that you don’t want to or simply WON’T recruit. That’s fine… but there will ultimately be a cap on what you can earn with PC. You can only do so many shows each month. If you build a team, your income is unlimited.Just something to think about. PS: For those who fall into the “I won’t recruit” frame of mind… just remember, when you are NOT sharing what PC has to offer, the bottom line is that you are selfish. If you knew the cure to cancer, wouldn’t you tell a friend who was dying? Okay, that is an extreme example but it’s the same concept. You have something in your life that is a blessing and can do so much good for others. It’s our job to share it. That’s what Doris wants us to do.

 

[climbercanoe3]

Colleen-
My NED said to me the other day if you don't share the recruiting with others, you are making that choice for them. You need to tell them about it, and let them decide if they want to do it or not. I am not against recruiting, but I haven't found any willing participants. I also have not asked everyone. Tsk Tsk!!

 

[pamperedbecky]

AWESOME post, Colleen!! Thanks for sharing. And I agree....recruiting may not be for everyone and that may not be a big focus, but I think NOT offering the opportunity to people who need it might prevent them from truly "finding themselves" and achieving their dreams.

GREAT thread!

For me, I'm lucky that my husband has a good job with great benefits. I used to work part time when I started PC. I have a Masters in Counseling Psychology and worked FT in a psych hospital on the child and adolescent inpatient unit until I had my first baby. Then I bumped down to PT. I started PC just to have something fun to do and to get out of the house. I then had my 2nd baby. My PC business got busier and I was realizing that I could go to a show (say for 4 hours, including travel) and make just as much money, if not MORE, than I could at an 8 hour shift at the hospital. And it was more fun! So, for a year, I contemplated quitting. I finally decided to do it! That was 2 years ago and I've never looked back.

Professionally, I'm going to keep my license up (I chose to put it on "hold" right now, but I have five years to keep it that way so I don't have to do all those dang continuing education requirements!) and someday I may get back into it, but nothing beats the flexibility I have now. If I ever got back in to the therapy field, I'd do it as part of a private practice where I would make my own hours.

I know my situation isn't the same as some out there because I didn't necessarily have to replace a FT income, but I KNOW it can be done. It's a matter of building your business and being intentional about it. Set those goals!! That's the first step. Work the equation backwards....so if you know how much income you'd need per month to replace your current income (take into account not having to pay child care costs anymore, not as much in gas costs if you're not commuting to work every day, meal/lunch costs if you go out to lunch during your job, a work wardrobe if you're required to wear more professional dress, etc....all those little things) and then you can determine how many shows a month you'd need to have to maintain that income.

Whew, sorry for the long post! (I tend to do that!):blushing: