The Sheffield Group

What The Sheffield Group does

The Sheffield Group is a privately held, boutique consulting firm headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, that specializes in launching and scaling direct selling, multi-level marketing (MLM), and party plan companies. Founded by Michael L. Sheffield around 1994 (with firmographic records listing 2007 as an alternate incorporation date), the firm has advised over 1,000 client companies across the U.S. and at least 16 international markets, and claims to have consulted 18 of the world's top 100 MLM enterprises. Its core service is a phased Launch Program (Get Ready, Launch, Grow) that combines compensation plan design, product positioning, marketing strategy, operational planning, financial forecasting, and regulatory compliance review into integrated engagements delivered by a small executive team of former direct selling operators.

The firm's product surface extends beyond consulting into productized assets: Sheffield Global Academy is a $1,995 self-paced online course with seven modules and the proprietary MLM Business Canvas tool; the proprietary Sheffield Task List codifies over 150 launch actions into a dynamic project management framework; the New Direct Selling Conference is an annual live event ($299/$149 per attendee) that bundles education with free one-on-one consulting; and the Sheffield Expert Network curates vetted MLM software, legal, executive recruiting, digital marketing, branding, app development, and merchant account partners as a referral and integrated service layer. Underlying technology is intentionally lightweight — the firm is a human-consulting practice augmented by templated planning tools rather than a software platform, with no disclosed AI, API, or patent portfolio.

Revenue derives primarily from quote-based professional services engagements with enterprise and mid-market direct selling clients, supplemented by lower-friction online course and conference fees that function as funnel tools rather than primary revenue. Go-to-market is relationship-driven, leveraging content marketing (Academy, knowledge base, video library), industry conferences, expert network referrals, and direct outreach (480-968-6199). The firm is founder-controlled, privately held, has no disclosed institutional funding, and operates with 11–50 employees including a leadership team of Mike Sheffield (Founder/CEO), Dan Lundell (President), Debbie Stenmoe (VP Operations), Chris Sheffield (Director of Client Services), Garvin DeShazer (Consultant), Doug Ridley (Executive Consultant), and Davene Peruzzini (Director of Project Management).

Name

The Sheffield Group

Legal name

The Sheffield Group

Website

https://sheffieldnet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Sheffield Group is a Scottsdale-based boutique consultancy that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow MLM and direct selling companies through phased consulting engagements, proprietary planning tools, online education, conferences, and a curated expert network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Direct Selling and MLM Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Marketing Consulting Services (541613)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA), Learning, Training & Corporate Education Consulting (BPAHAGAE)

Keywords

• Direct selling consulting
• MLM strategy services
• Compensation plan design
• Network marketing advisory
• MLM compliance consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Comprehensive consulting services for launching and growing direct selling companies, including compensation plan design, product positioning, marketing strategy, operations planning, and financial guidance. Services delivered through one-on-one consulting engagements, Get Ready Day programs, and ongoing advisory relationships.
2. Sheffield Global Academy: Online education program for direct selling entrepreneurs. Priced at $1,995 for complete access to seven modules, MLM Business Canvas tool, and one hour of personal consulting. Cost is credited toward future Sheffield services.
3. Conference Registration: Live conference for startup and existing MLM companies. Priced at $299 for first attendee per company, $149 for each additional attendee from same company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Sheffield Group is a boutique consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs and executives launch and grow direct selling, network marketing, and MLM companies. Services span compensation plan design, product positioning, marketing strategy, operational planning, financial modeling, regulatory compliance, distributor recruitment, and capital raising. Offerings are delivered through structured multi-phase consulting engagements, intensive Get Ready Day sessions, an online education program (Sheffield Global Academy), proprietary planning tools, an annual industry conference, and introductions to a vetted expert network.

Product overview

The Sheffield Group offers a consulting services portfolio centered on direct selling and MLM company launches. The core offerings include Sheffield Global Academy (an online education program at $1,995 with seven learning modules), the Launch Program with Get Ready Day consulting, and the proprietary Sheffield Task List project management tool with over 150 launch actions. Additional offerings include the MLM Business Canvas planning tool, the annual New Direct Selling Conference, and access to an Expert Network of vetted partners for MLM software, legal counsel, digital marketing, branding, graphic design, app development, and merchant accounts. Services also cover compliance review, product advisory, and capital/partnership guidance. The firm does not offer a software platform but rather delivers human consulting expertise augmented by educational tools and a curated service provider network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sheffield Global Academy: The industry’s only comprehensive online education program exclusively dedicated to direct selling startups, providing video, audio, and text-based education with seven modules.
• New Direct Selling Conference

Products and services

• Launch Program (Phases 1-3) Multi-phase consulting engagement for entrepreneurs launching or growing a direct selling company, delivered through Get Ready (Phase 1), Launch (Phase 2), and Grow (Phase 3) covering product positioning, sales strategy, compensation design, software selection, distributor recruitment, and financial planning.
• Get Ready Day Intensive one-day consulting encounter with the Sheffield executive team, available online or in-person, covering comprehensive launch planning and strategy for new direct selling companies.
• Sheffield Global Academy Comprehensive online education program exclusively dedicated to direct selling startups, delivered through seven modules of video, audio, and text content by Sheffield experts, including one hour of personal online consultation with a Sheffield consultant and the MLM Business Canvas tool.
• New Direct Selling Conference Annual industry conference providing education for startup and existing MLM companies, featuring expert speakers and one-on-one consultations with Sheffield's network of experts on topics including compensation plans, capital raising, digital marketing, and compliance.
• Compliance Services Regulatory compliance consulting including compensation plan review, marketing communications review, distributor activity evaluation, and social media compliance assessment for direct selling companies.
• Product Advisory Services Consulting on product line refinement including reviewing current products, creating new product concepts, selecting products, anticipating competition, bundling and packaging, regulation and label claims, protecting intellectual property, sourcing and manufacturing, and margins and pricing.
• Partners & Capital Services Consulting guidance on capital raising, equity partners, loans, mergers, strategic alliances, and acquisitions for direct selling companies.
• Sheffield Expert Network Curated network of industry experts covering MLM software, executive recruiting, MLM legal counsel, digital marketing, branding and naming, graphic design, app development, and merchant accounts, with introductions provided to clients as part of comprehensive service offering.
• MLM Business Canvas Single-page business planning tool for mapping out a direct selling launch, capturing essential business plan elements to align executive teams, included with Sheffield Global Academy.
• Sheffield Task List Proprietary dynamic project management tool enabling clients to understand, assign, and schedule over 150 detailed actions required for launching an MLM company.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 direct selling companies launched or advised over 30+ years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and important.

• MLM Software ProviderscoreTechnology or IntegrationVetted software providers who have been selected based on years of observation of how they serve clients and the results they produce. Sheffield helps clients select the right software provider according to their needs and budget.
• Executive Recruiting PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry's most consistently successful recruiter of direct sales executives. Sheffield participates actively in the recruitment process, bringing their knowledge of the client's particular needs.
• MLM Legal CounselcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialized legal counsel for direct sales regulatory compliance, FDA, and FTC matters. Sheffield identifies the best legal counsel for each client's launch and growth needs.
• Digital Marketing SpecialistsimportantTechnology or IntegrationDigital marketing experts who understand both the online world and direct selling industry requirements. Provide coordinated approach to online presence and distributor support tools.
• Branding and Naming ExpertsimportantTechnology or IntegrationTop branding experts with long experience in direct selling for creating company and product brands that appeal equally to customers and distributors.
• MLM App DeveloperimportantTechnology or IntegrationTop MLM app developer with deep inside knowledge of direct selling industry. Sheffield has developed close strategic relationship to provide mobile app solutions for clients.
• Merchant Account SpecialistsimportantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMerchant account experts who guide clients to the best resources based on their product and business model, addressing the special challenges direct selling companies face with banking relationships.
• Conference Expert SpeakerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-class network of experts including Brian Palmer (Thinkbox), Jerry Reynolds (Trinity Software), Robert Proctor (Multisoft Corporation), Sean Eggert (Hanna Shea Executive Search), Michael Hamburger (Ezzey Digital Marketing), and others who speak at Sheffield conferences.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DirectScale: DirectScale is an MLM SaaS platform that also offers professional services and consulting for direct selling companies, competing for the same launch-and-grow client budget as Sheffield.
• ByDesign Technologies: ByDesign Technologies combines MLM back-office software with launch and operations services for direct selling companies, making it the closest direct competitor to Sheffield's integrated consulting-plus-tool offering.

Emerging players

• Multisoft Corporation: Multisoft delivers MLM software, back-office solutions, and implementation support to direct selling companies, making it an adjacent technology-and-services competitor to Sheffield's launch consulting.
• Trinity Software: Trinity Software provides MLM/distributor management software with implementation services, serving the same direct selling clients that Sheffield advises on technology selection and launch operations.
• ThinkBox Technologies: ThinkBox provides technology and business solutions to direct selling and network marketing companies, overlapping with Sheffield's launch planning and technology selection services for MLM clients.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Consulting: Deloitte's human capital, strategy, and operations consulting practices serve large direct selling clients on enterprise-wide transformation, overlapping with parts of Sheffield's Grow and Partners & Capital offerings.
• McKinsey & Company: McKinsey's consumer and organization practices occasionally engage with MLM/DS clients on growth strategy and operating model redesign, competing for enterprise consulting mandates in adjacent categories.
• Bain & Company: Bain's corporate strategy and consumer products practices sometimes serve large direct selling companies on strategic challenges, making it a broader incumbent competitor for high-end consulting budgets.

Others

• Hanna Shea Executive Search: Hanna Shea is a specialized executive search firm for direct selling companies and a member of Sheffield's Expert Network, making it a partner/ecosystem peer rather than a competitor.
• Direct Selling Association (DSA): The DSA is the U.S. trade association for direct selling companies, providing code-of-ethics, advocacy, and educational resources; it is ecosystem-adjacent rather than a direct consulting competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCb0zSTBs1J-ZHlDrxjR91Pw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sheffield Group