The canvassing at home consists of soliciting a client in a place not normally intended for trade to sell him products or services. The customer can be requested at his home, on its workplace or during a excursion organized by the seller (e.g. trip with sightseeing tours).

Door-to-door selling involves simultaneous physical presence the seller and the customer, unlike distance selling (e-commerce, for example).

The home seller plays the role ofintermediate between the customer-consumer and the direct sales company whose products he distributes (examples: ready-to-wear, jewelry, cosmetics, household appliances, windows, insulation, solar panels, electricity, gas).

The independent home seller (VDI) exercises autonomously, without subordination link with the company that uses his services. Labor law is not applicable to it. It should not be confused with the home seller employee who has an employment contract and enjoys the status of VRP: titleContent.

Door-to-door canvassing is a business practice strictly framed by law. Thus, canvassing at home excludes the following cases:

• Sale by telephone or internet (specific distance selling scheme)
• Sale in markets, fairs, or any place usually intended for trade
• Sale of certain products: health services, foodstuffs, gambling or financial products (banks, savings, insurance).

The independent home seller (IDV) must conclude a contract with a direct selling company that entrusts him with the sale of his products or services.

It exists 2 different types of contracts :

• VDI Contract agent
• VDI Contract buyer-reseller

The sources of income of the home seller differ depending on the nature of the contract.

The Independent Home Seller (VDI) uses the name, logo or trademark the company that entrusts it with the sale of its products or services. However, the self-employed home salesman exercises independent.

He does not hold an employment contract in respect of that activity and without subordination link with the company. However, it has a written contract specifying, in particular, his status as a self-employed person, the nature of those benefits, the conditions of employment and the methods of remuneration.

It freely manages the organization of its work and determines alone its level of activity and its financial objectives without the company being able to give it directives.

However, the company can offer it assistance at start-up and/or during operation:

• Provision of documents necessary for the activity (order forms, technical sheets of the products sold)
• Advice on product inventory management and provision of accounting templates
• Provision of specific training
• Promotional and advertising actions in the form ofsamples, catalogs or gifts for customers.

The company can invite him to meetings to exchange information on the state of the market, customer needs, competitive situation, network results or any other information useful for the practice of the profession.

The company may also communicate a recommended public rate or a maximum price beyond which the product cannot be sold to the consumer. On the other hand, it cannot impose a geographical sales sector on it.

He is possible to accumulate the activity of self-employed home seller with another activity (employed or self-employed). Usually, home selling is carried out as a secondary activity, in addition to a main activity.

On the other hand, we must take into account incompatibilities related to certain regulated liberal professions (doctor, lawyer, bailiff, notary, architect, accountant, judicial administrator, etc.).

Other incompatibilities may be linked to the status of official, the length of working time or the existence of a exclusivity clause in the employment contract.