Usborne Books: Introduction
Usborne Books at Home has been around for over 30 years and they have a business model that is different than most MLMs.
They’re not like other MLMs because they are direct selling books, rather than products.
But does this make them any less of a scam?
Let’s take a closer look at the company to find out if Usborne Books at Home is worth your time or if it’s just another pyramid scheme in disguise!
Since Usborne’s products are popular, it’s easy to see why so many people consider the business as widely respected, especially because it sells children’s books. Unfortunately, this may be one of the primary reasons why their MLM company isn’t doing so well.
However, some people agree that their business model, as well as how their advisors and team leaders are paid, is better than many other MLMs such as Nu Skin or Amway.
We’ll take a close look at Usborne Books At Home and see if it’s the best MLM opportunity out there.
Afterward, I’ll answer some of the most common concerns about Usborne Books and Multi-Level Marketing in general.
But most importantly, I’ll show you the exact system I used to build my own internet marketing business to over $40,000 a month in mostly passive income.
This system made me swear off Network Marketing for good, because it uses some of the same skills but in a much more powerful and profitable way!
Usborne Books: Full Review
What Is Usborne Books & More?
Usborne Books is a subsidiary of the Education Development Corporation (EDC), which offers over 1,800 educational children’s books. Aside from that, among their products are:
- Traditional books
- Sticker books
- 3D cut out books
After just over 40 years of operation, Forbes Magazine named them one of the 200 best small companies, and Fortune Magazine named them one of the fastest-growing.
Who Started Usborne Books?
Peter Usborne started his career in the world of children’s books shortly after learning he was going to be a father.
Then, in 1973, he founded Usborne, his own publishing house.
He produced an entirely new line of unique and adorable children’s illustration books, which featured amazing high-quality popular and contemporary subjects.
So, almost 50 years later, Peter considers becoming a parent to be the greatest time of his life, with writing children’s books play a significant role.
He still enjoys waking up and going to work in the morning. Even though he is in his eighties, his responsibilities as a publisher have never been more intertwined with his job as a parent than now, since he runs Usborne with his daughter Nicola, who is also his Managing Director.
His son, Martin Usborne on the other hand has his own publishing company called Hoxton Mini Press.
The Usborne Foundation is today run by Peter and his children Martin and Nicola. The Usborne family created this charity, which uses design technology to discuss current health and literacy problems through lighthearted animation.
The Usborne Foundation is known for a series of games called “Teach Your Monster To Read,” which has been enjoyed by children all over the world.
Can I Sell Usborne Books As A Side line?
You can become a consultant for $65 and get access to the following benefits:
- Consultant for one year
- ten books
- E-business package for six months
- supply for the business
You can earn a 25% commission for any sales you make as a new consultant, as well as additional incentives for any sales you make above and above your quotas. There are no sales minimums to meet on a monthly basis, either.
Of course, there are a variety of ways to sell these books, but the majority of consultants prefer to book parties online through Facebook and host home parties in the same way that Pampered Chef does.
That is, the consultant may usually have some books on hand for staging, but the partygoers will usually order their books online from Usborne and have them delivered to their homes.
The Usborne hostess will offer free presents as well as reduced-priced books based on the sales made at the party to inspire them to invite their friends over for a party (either at their house or online).
When a friend hosts a party for you, you usually have the choice of selecting from the Fuss Fish Library’s over 20 books.
What Makes A Good Usborne Consultant?
Usborne pays an hourly rate for consulting, which is adequate for a side hustle but not a very good business opportunity.
You can also order a consultant books kit with no minimum order requirements and then use a 25% consultant discount on books to build a library for your kids.
Usborne consultants are often asked for advice on how to support new consultants. They resoundingly advise going all in.
Usborne encourages new consultants to get started as soon as possible to get their library and business up and running.
Obviously, as their direct sales companies experience seasonal fluctuations (such as during the summer and before the holidays), consultants are advised to keep their heads down.
As an Usborne consultant, you’ll hear over and over that you need to be creative. Usborne encourages this by allowing you to sell your books in many ways other than your home.
Surprisingly, some of the most successful consultants don’t sell the most books. Their main objective is to develop a downline of consultants.
Consultants are generally encouraged to ask for support when they need it, to run their company like a business, and to display their passion for books.
How Much Commission Do You Really Make As An Usborne Consultant?
According to the Usborne website, consultants usually earn about $100 per book party. So, how much does it pay every hour?
The average monthly salary for consultants ranges from $150 to $4,100 a month, with the midpoint being about $550.
It takes an average of 18 months to several years for a consultant to achieve this level with Usborne.
Every month, they host at least 5 book parties, each lasting about three hours.
To be honest, Usborne consultants make decent money, with the average hourly wage being around $40 and the lowest being around $17.50.
A team leader who hires consultants is likely to earn even more. For building his team of consultants, one consultant claims to earn $600 per hour.
Having consultants in your downline is clearly the most profitable way to develop an Usborne company (or any MLM business).
As a team manager, you will be paid a 25% commission on your personal sales as well as a sign-up bonus for each new consultant. In addition to your own 25% commission, you can also earn a commission for your team’s sales.
However, you should consider making it a long-term career and setting some long-term goals beyond just being a side hustle if you want to make a lot of money.
Is it possible to earn money by selling Usborne books to schools?
Being authorized to sell books to libraries and schools as an Usborne consultant and organizer. According to many consultants, you will make a lot of money this way.
Selling to schools, on the other hand, would earn you just a 20% commission. That’s still a good deal, but it’s not the usual 25%. As a result, I’m assuming they’re receiving more orders.
However, you’ll need at least 6 $160+ orders under your belt before you can open a sales account with schools or libraries… But, we’ve discovered that this is better said than done for consultants.
Moreover, even though you are willing to begin marketing to schools and libraries, you would be up against representatives from other firms (such as Book People). Also, these reps will sell their books in bulk to schools and libraries at a lower retail price, including the same Usborne books you sell.
For example, you can sell “See Inside Your Body” from Usborne for $13.60 at retail, but schools can get it for $10.87 from Book People. They can even get “Looking After Your Mental Health” for $4-5.50 less than the retail price from Usborne.
To compete with these other businesses, the books will have to be sold at a lower price.
But do Usborne’s books really come at that low a price?
If they do, then your commission might also certainly suffer.
To give you an example, a 20% commission on a $4.00 book will just be $0.80… and that’s before you factor in your personal expenses.
What’s even worse is that Usborne corporate sells their books to schools without consultants.
To sell these books, you must meet their specifications, which will pigeonhole you. Unfortunately, there are several hoops to go through to earn a consistent income.
Why are Usborne Consultants so obsessed with the programs?
Usborne consultants adore their books in general.
They like the fact that they can get books for their kids at a discount, which lets other kids get books they like as well.
Why are some Usborne Consultants not fond of the program?
To be honest, it’s difficult to find a consultant who will criticize Usborne.
For the most part, I assume it’s because Usborne consultants really enjoy the products and are content with the compensation plan and money they earn from the business. Of course, these sales consultants are intelligent and always have sales in mind.
Since direct sales are such an important aspect of the business, more than 30% of consultants claim they felt out of their field when they first started as consultants because they had no prior sales experience.
Most people believe it’s not easy to get a hostess to host more than one crowd, and while companies like Scholastic can make a lot of money at book fairs, they can be a major hindrance in schools and libraries.
Another challenge that most consultants face is technological problems with the Usborne website, as well as the constant setbacks that come with being a consultant.
What’s more irritating for the consultants is when a client tries to order a series of books only to discover that they are out of stock or that there is a shipping delay.
Of course, shipping and website problems are always outside a company’s control, but if a company maintains track of sales and inventory for each line, it can never run out of stock. Stuff like this can be a disadvantage to an Usborne consultant’s day-to-day operations.
Although many aspects have improved since the new website was launched, some consultants continue to have problems.
What Consultants Are Saying About Usborne Books:
For our homeschool, I adore Usborne books. Without a doubt, some of the greatest books available. It’s just that I’m not very good at sales.
– Rachel G.
As a consultant, I like that we don’t have to sound pushy. I simply buy the books at a discount for myself and then sell the product to other parents. Unstressed!
– Brynn S.
What I love about Usborne is that we can not only make money by selling the best books on the planet, but we can also make a meaningful difference in the lives of children all around the world. It’s quite lovely!
– Janice S.
Is it Worth It to Buy Usborne Books?
You’ll gain a $120 promotion bonus when you become a Team Leader… and if you can achieve it in four months from the time you start, you’ll receive a $240 bonus.
After that, you’ll receive a “Personal Team Bonus,” which is a 5% commission on all of your team’s sales per month as long as you:
- achieve a total of $120 of monthly sale quota
- Your team’s total monthly sales are $1,800.
- You have four active Organizers who have made at least $120 in sales for the past three months.
So, if we look at numbers, how much money will all of this cost you?
- You make $22.80 for a $120 party.
- You’ll earn $90 in commission from your team’s sales.
- You’ll make $28.80 if four people in your team sell $120.
So, how much money do you think you’d make in total?
You’ll make around $238.80.
Consider the following… That’s about $240 in profit if you and your team sell more than $1,800 in Usborne books. Working 6 hours a week at a part-time minimum wage job would be enough.
If you ask me, that doesn’t seem like a lot of money, especially considering how much time you have to devote to your “company.”
However, to keep your status, you must be paid this as a consultant for three months in a row.
Will it be worth it?
Frankly speaking…
The books themselves are worth it because of their great quality, but not so much because of the price.
Their website is most often buggy, so it’s not worth it.
And they have an absolutely not worth it MLM business model.
But, it is possible to develop a profitable and successful online business with the correct program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Usborne Books Scam?
First, a couple things…
Many UBAM consultants, as well as many other companies that use the direct sales model, are quite successful.
Simply look at this… In 2019, one of the best sales consultants earned approximately $4,000 commission on total books sold in a month, which is a little more than most people earn at their full-time employment.
This person wasn’t even a team leader of people selling books.
Of course, in the company, there aren’t many people like this. To pursue direct sales as a career, you must be productive.
Now is this another get rich quick scheme?
Not quite!
To generate a significant amount of money, you’ll need a lot of time and effort.
Therefore, it’s not a scam.
With Usborne Books and More, you may make a lot of money while also getting a lot of free books. You also have the opportunity to meet some extremely interesting peeps.
What Is The Cost To Join Usborne Books?
It’s simple to become a member of Usborne. There are two consultant kits available to choose from. The first one costs $65 and the other is $125.
The kits include a 6-month subscription to an online business package, an excellent branded box, catalogs, extra business materials, and books! The number of books included in the $65 kit versus the $125 kit is the difference!
Is Working From Home With Usborne Books a Good Idea?
Yes, absolutely.
Usborne Books can help you earn money at home, though not a bunch of cash. You will need to set some time preparing presentations, but it is doable.
Are Usborne Books Good?
Yes, the books are excellent!
But…
Now, I’m sure the first thing you’ll notice is the full price of Usborne books versus the similar titles available from other companies at a lower price.
So, let’s have a look at how much extra Usborne Books at Home books cost. This is what you’d get if you signed up with Usborne right now for $65:
All of these books would cost over $200 if purchased separately from Usborne Books at Home. However, when we looked at these titles individually, we discovered that you could get them for around $120 from other companies, saving you roughly $80. So you can see that while these titles are included in the one-time starter kit purchase, there is a significant saving, but not so much after that.
Is Usborne Book & More a Direct Sales Company?
Absolutely yes!
Usborne Books & More is a publishing company that distributes its books through Direct Sales (also known as Network Marketing) through a network of thousands of consultants in the United States and around the world.
Is UBAM A Pyramid Scheme?
So, like many other MLMs, is Usborne Books at Home a pyramid scheme?
Consultants must be able to earn money from public sales in addition to signing up new recruits for an MLM company to be recognized legally and not a pyramid scheme.
Is it possible to profit from selling Usborne books to the general public?
Yes, these books can be sold to the general public. So, basically, Usborne Books At Home is not a pyramid scheme, however, you will need to recruit consultants into your team to make a good amount of money.
Can You Really Make Money With Usborne Books?
Yes, You can…
But there’s a lot that comes along with Network Marketing that many people struggle with.
In fact, check out this article on Top 5 Reason Why Most Network Marketers Fail.
Now, don’t get me wrong…
You can certainly make money with MLM, but if you’re gonna put in the amount of grueling work to do this business (which, trust me, isn’t easy), you might as well bring in some REAL money while you’re learning the ropes.
The program that helped skyrocket my online business to $40,000+ per month is so simple that making money really does become second nature.
Are There Alternatives To Multi-Level Marketing?
There are a variety of Multi-Level Marketing solutions, including:
- Affiliate Marketing
- Dropshipping
- Amazon FBA
- Blogging
- Freelancing
You can make a good amount of money by doing any of these things.
But, since these business models are typically overly reliant on external factors, you may find yourself working without a safety net.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could have all of the upside potentials of an e-commerce business, none of the problems of managing a Network Marketing downline, and all of the passive income potential of Real Estate Investing?
What I’m saying is that there’s a single business model that allows you to do all of these things.
It’s referred to as “Digital Real Estate.”
What Is Digital Real Estate?
Now, before you click the tiny red “X,” listen to what I’m about to say.
This isn’t about looking for old houses… They’re fixed, flipped, and then forgotten. We’re all familiar with the headaches that come with such a situation.
Let’s say you could create a digital “house” that you could rent out for $500 – $1,000 – $2,000 a month, but only to tenants who require the services you provide?
I’m talking about starting a small network of websites similar to Usborne.com, however, instead of selling books, skincare, or supplements, you’ll be selling services to local businesses.
I’m talking about Local lead Generation.
What Is Local Lead Generation?
So, let’s assume you know a tree service provider in your area. You create a little website for tree service in his city and then optimize it for search engines.
Then you forward all of your calls to him.
However, there is something that is missing…
How Do I Make Money From This?
So the basic idea is that after you’ve developed and optimized your site, you rent it out to a local business owner.
Imagine you have a website for a tree service. The majority of tree service tasks cost between $500 and $2,000, with a finder’s fee typically ranging from 10% to 20%. You’ll get the great bulk of the calls if you’re in the top rankings.
But what if the market you choose doesn’t perform as expected and you only receive 10 calls each month?
Working with the numbers on the low end, if 10 calls came in for $500 each, the total would be $5,000. You will receive 10% of the total, which is $500.
How about if you had ten of these, each worth $500? That works up to $5,000 every month.
Where Do I Start?
Here at Scam Risk, we discovered many programs, such as Usborne that score low on the Scam Meter. But every now and then, we’ll come across one that satisfies all of the criteria for a legal business model.
This program will walk you through everything you’ll need to know to knock it out of the park.
Building a website, ranking it, and then contacting a business owner to collaborate with are all steps to follow.
Plus…
They provide a Facebook group where you can have all of your issues answered, and they have online coaching calls twice a week.
So you won’t be alone here.
I’m sure your mind is spinning and you’re weighing up plenty of questions right now.