Door-to-door sales: VDI status or micro-enterprise scheme?

VDI status

The VDI status was created in 1993, well before the micro-enterprise regime, specifically for home-based sales. It's the perfect status for those who want to get into direct selling without taking any major risks.

As a VDI, you are not a salaried employee, but you do benefit from social protection through the company for which you sell its products. You are therefore supported and accompanied by this company, and you are guaranteed a job if you put your heart and soul into your project.

You respect a contract and you are the guarantor of the brand image of the company with which you have signed an agreement. You must therefore adopt the company's values and graphic charter.

As a VDI, you can have access to direct sales training, provided free of charge by your company. The whole team will also be on hand to listen to you, provide you with real support and help you with the steps you need to take. Find out more - it could be very interesting.

Micro-enterprise

The micro-enterprise scheme is not dedicated to home sales, but is open to anyone wishing to run a craft, commercial or liberal profession business. It is not a legal status, but a tax and social security system subject to legal constraints.

You have your own business, so you manage your communications and your activities as you see fit. You are totally autonomous and you decide on your own strategy.

However, both statuses can be combined with permanent and fixed-term contracts, unemployment and retirement benefits, among others, subject to certain conditions. If you are an employee, make sure there is no clause prohibiting you from carrying on a parallel activity.

Are VDI status and micro-business compatible?

If you are a home seller with VDI status, you can combine this with a micro-entrepreneur scheme.

Your social security contributions will then be calculated and paid differently:

• Charges relating to the VDI activity will be calculated and paid by the company for which you work.
• The charges relating to your activity as a micro-entrepreneur will be declared and paid to the SSI by you.

Which status should I choose to become a VDI?

In conclusion, VDI status seems more suitable if you want to become a self-employed home seller. It's a more reassuring status, more in line with the direct sales activity and better suited to those who want to have a supplementary income.

For a totally secure status, prefer the VDI agent contract, which does not require you to buy stock. Unlike the VDI buyer/seller contract, you don't invest any money because you sell the company's stocks directly.

If you are 100% autonomous and want to diversify your activities, it is advisable to choose a micro-entrepreneur status, which will cover all craft and commercial services.