| Comment Number: | 522418-08176 |
| Received: | 7/12/2006 1:19:28 PM |
| Organization: | DBL,D Enterprises (Quixtar) |
| Commenter: | Linda Oglesby |
| State: | NC |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I have been involved with a "home business" opportunity for over 7 years. After comprehensive evaluation of the business principles I selected the Quixtar business. I have been impressed with the opportunity. I was especially pleased to see that it is really an equal opportunity. As a downsized research scientist I had no previous business experience. I wanted a small business which I could run from my home while meeting the needs of my school-aged children. A network-marketing type of business fit my needs especially well. After attending seminars regarding the procedures for setting up a small business I knew that working under a larger "umbrella" of an establlished business where I had access to what had already been set up and to mentors already experienced in the business would suit my interest and level of experience much better than trying to establish myself independently. During the time I have been in the business I have received many benefits in addition to income. I have had access to quality products which could be easily ordered online and came with detailed and comprehensive product information. I have also had access to business training which helped me to build my business and also enhanced other non-related business endeavors. During the time I have been building the Quixtar business I have found that other "home business" opportunities which have used inappropriate approaches have damaged my ability to build a credible business because the general public has become fearful of these scams. That is sad and damages many honest people. It also prevents many people who could benefit from legimate opportunities from doing so. Therefore I applaud the efforts of the FTC to provide appropriate protection for prospective business owners. Such types of business should provide clear and complete presentations of their business plan, should have modest and reasonable start-up costs, and should provide a reasonable cancellation policy. I do not think a 7-day waiting period before a prospect could register would be helpful; in fact it could significantly slow the business building process and at least double the time to add each new business owner. This in turn would slow the growth process of the new person as they tried to build their business and decrease their earning opportunities while increasing the cost (eg. fuel for extra client meetings) to build the business. It is not likely that the time from initial contact, business presentations, and registration would be less than 7 days so an additional waiting period is not adding function. I also think that the pattern for earning income from the business should be clearly stated but disclosure of personal earning (other than in a voluntary manner) is inappropriate. Required disclosure would be a significant invasion of privacy. It could also serve to misrepresent an opportunity because people vary in business skill and work ethic. America was founded as a land of opportunity and free enterprise. Citizens should be protected from fraudulent marketing but this "protection" should be very carefully considered and the absolute minimum of regulations should be put into place or the result will be to inappropriately limit free enterprise rather than to protect.