Direct sales are one of the classic and simplest forms of business. The great thing about direct selling is that it is one of the most profitable and most flexible business models, allowing parents to spend more time with the family. Another point is that with direct selling, parents can open up to the option of exposing their children to their business, so they gain a better understanding of how the family’s finances work.

As they say, not everything that a person can learn will only be learned in school. Trying your children’s hands doing some paid tasks such as faxing and stuffing envelopes introduces them to the working world at a young age.

Hence, this allows them to gain better understanding of how the world works, that the clients pay for their clothes and food. Hence, involving your children in the family business allows them to understand and appreciate what you are doing for a living.

Your business venture presents great advantages to you and your children. While it gives the children the chance to spend some quality time with you, they get to see you in a much different light. They see you as a working person, more than just the person who drives them to school, cooks them food and provides whatever they need.

Sometimes, involving the kids in the business, even at ages 7 or 8, creates a positive image to the clients. Having the children hanging around the office doing simple errands creates a picture for your clients that your business fosters great human relationships, giving them a comfortable feeling that convinces them more to do business with you.

Allowing your kids to do simple tasks should be a fun learning experience. You can do that by making the activity an attractive option. Let them try things; don’t just push them to the corner.

Allow them to experiment, work with whom they want or on what they want and they will soon understand what is involved in your work. If things work out right, your children end up benefiting the most by spending time with you and also learning how your business runs.

Experts agree that exposing children to the nature of their family business as early as 7 and 8 years old is the best way of educating them about the concept of business, work, and earning money. It is an investment that will serve their best interest in the future. But for the meantime, what you can do is encourage your children to learn about the business.

For instance, if they come up with a money-making idea, support them. As your kids see you in action they may come up with their own business ideas. If they ask for a lemonade stall in the driveway or on the corner, support their little business and find a way to make it happen.

The experience allows them to enjoy fun time while knowing the basics of money and the importance of customer service skills in any business, skills that will be handy throughout their lives.

posted by Chris Simpson