- 1). Research opportunities. Decide the type of nutritional product you want to distribute, and search online for that type of product. Research multi-level marketing companies, such as Herbalife or MonaVie. Often these companies can help you get business and marketing experience through their step-by-step systems. However, succeeding as a distributor for these companies usually requires a great deal of commitment and investment. Research nutritional product wholesalers and manufacturers. Contact them through their websites or by phone, and inquire about distribution opportunities.
- 2). Narrow down your manufacturers and wholesalers. Request a list of their products and prices, and compare similar products among different wholesalers. Go online and find the product for sale to compare retail prices. Compare profit margins between different products. Ask to speak with current clients, and ask the clients about the company's reliability, payment terms, quality of products, customer service and whether they ship on time. Choose a wholesaler based on these qualities plus product price. If you are distributing through a multi-level company, they will provide the products and wholesale pricing.
- 3). Register your business. Whether you distribute alone or with the help of a multi-level company, you will need to register a business structure to conduct business in your state. File a "doing business as" (DBA) with your local county courthouse for a sole-proprietorship. If you want to register a more complex business structure such as a C or S corporation or a limited liability company (LLC), you will need to file with your secretary of state. Every state will have slightly different requirements, check with your secretary of state for filing templates and forms. Also get an Employer Identification number (EIN) from the IRS website at IRS.gov, and a reseller license from your local county.
- 4). Set up shop. You can distribute your products online, through a store or both. Multi-level companies usually have some restrictions on the way you can advertise and promote the product. Herbalife, for example, teaches you to host "parties" where you can pitch to your friends and family the products for sale and the distributorship opportunity, and you're not allowed to display the products in a retail setting. Open up a store through third-party applications like shopify.com or weebly.com, which offer easy web design solutions and credit card payment accessibility.
- 5). Distribute your products. Build a presence among your target market through fliers, newspaper ads or online advertisements. Offer special introductory deals to expose your brand to new customers. Build on your reputation through testimonies and word-of-mouth referrals.
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