How to Work from Home for Free, Selling Magazine Subscriptions for a Clearing House

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By Cyn Vela
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Work at home selling magazine subscriptions

If you've been looking for a job (or a second job), you should consider working from home as a magazine agent, selling subscriptions for a subscription clearing house. Because magazine companies make money according to the number of subscribers they have, they work in conjunction with clearing houses (who work with agents), to bring in new subscribers. The business is relatively easy, and is free to start. People who work from home enjoy freedom and flexibility, as well as savings on gas and day care. If you'd like to learn more about becoming a subscription agent, read on.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Find a few magazine clearing houses. You can google "magazine clearing house," or use the list I've gathered (links are listed in the "Additional Resources" section below).
Step 2

Choose a clearing house that has many magazine titles, and has an easy interface through which you can place your orders. (If you prefer to place your orders online, make sure they have online ordering, and if you prefer to call in your orders, make sure they have hours that coincide with your schedule.)
Step 3

Learn the jargon. There are two terms you will need to know when starting a magazine fulfillment agency (becoming a magazine subscription agent), which are SUBRATE and REMIT. Subrate is the price you agree to charge your customers. Breaking this rule by charging your customers more or less for a subscription can result in you losing your contract with a clearing house. Remit is the amount you will pay the clearing house for your customers' subscription. For example, if a one-year subscription to "Parents Magazine" has a subrate of $12 and a remit amount of $2, $12 is what you'd charge your customer, and $2 is what you'd pay the clearing house for that subscription. You've just made a $10 commission for one magazine subscription.
Step 4

Brainstorm. Where and how will you try to sell magazine subscriptions? Get out a pen and paper, and write down any and all ideas that come to you. The easiest way to get many orders at once is through fundraising. If you'd like to write "Fundraisers" on your list, include subcategories of what sorts of groups might need to earn money. Sports groups, cheer squads, and bands come to mind, but I'm sure you can come up with a long list of other possibilities.
Step 5

Know that selling magazine subscriptions is prohibited on eBay. Because of gross violations of clearing houses' rules, magazine publishers and eBay have worked together to make sure that subscriptions are not sold at all on their site. Trying to do so can result in suspension of your eBay account AND loss of your affiliation with the clearing house.
Step 6

Have some disposable cash on hand. Although there are no application fees, most magazine clearing houses will require that new agents put up a deposit. This is usually $50, and will be used to pay off your first remit fees. This proves to the company that you are serious about working for them, and will be submitting your subscription orders to their site.