Everything you need to know about the costs involved in being a VDI

Before embarking on a self-employed sales activity and choosing a company to work with, it's important to find out about the costs involved in being a VDI. Unlike salaried employees, self-employed salespeople may incur a number of expenses, depending on the status set out in their contract. What are the costs incurred by a home sales professional? What are the obligations of a VDI? How are home sellers paid? Elora, a home sales company in the fashion sector, answers your questions.

Which status should I opt for to minimise my costs as a VDI?

If you're wondering how to go about selling clothes from home, the first step is to set up a company.

An independent home seller can be

• Registered with the Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS) or the Registre spécial des agents commerciaux (RSAC). In this case, they are covered by the scheme for non-salaried workers (TNS) and are dependent on the RSI (Régime Social des Indépendants).

• Not registered with the RCS or RSAC. If you are not registered with the RCS or RSAC, you are treated in the same way as an employee in terms of Social Security entitlement, and are covered by the general Social Security scheme (VDI status).

Whichever option you choose, you should be aware that this status is recognised by the French government. They must therefore declare their work-related income to URSSAF and pay social security contributions. The professional must file a declaration of activity with the CFE (Centre de Formalités des Entreprises) to obtain a SIRET number, as well as an APE code.

The costs incurred depend mainly on the type of VDI contract. Agent sellers generally have no expenses to pay in advance, unlike sellers with buyer-reseller contracts.

What costs do door-to-door sales professionals incur?

The main costs that home sellers may incur in the course of their business are stock purchases. Some companies do not include lending products to independent sellers in their contracts. They therefore have to invest in a stock of items before they start canvassing. This can be an obstacle for future independent sellers, especially if the price of the products is high. It is therefore preferable to work with a company that offers each professional the opportunity to work as an authorised salesperson.

However, working as an independent salesperson can save you money in other areas too, such as petrol costs, because you don't have to travel to work every day, unlike an employee.

Why go into home shopping with Elora?

Every year, the Elora home sales company recruits a large number of home sales agents to its network. This brand is based on strong values, which it never fails to put into practice. Elora is concerned about the well-being of its sales consultants and their success, and aims to limit the costs of its sales professionals. As part of their contract, the brand lends them a complete collection so that they don't have to invest a single euro before they've even really started their business.

What's more, when they join, sales assistants receive training to provide them with all the information and tips they need. A mentor will be on hand for the first few weeks to answer her questions and show her how to promote the products to potential buyers at meetings. Other advantages include the fact that Elora sales staff have the right to organise their schedule as they wish. VDIs are paid between 20% and 30% of sales.