Direct Selling in Mesa and the East Valley
Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona and the biggest city in the East Valley of metro Phoenix. Its neighbor Gilbert is home to Isagenix. Mesa also has a city license rule that home based sellers should know.
The Mesa business license
Mesa General Business License[4]
Mesa has required a general business license since January 3, 2022. The city says service businesses, businesses that collect sales tax and home based businesses operating in Mesa need one. For an online seller working from home, the city says the home acts as the business headquarters. The city lists a $25 application fee and a $25 annual renewal.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Where Mesa sits in the Valley
Mesa is the largest city in the East Valley of metro Phoenix. The Census Bureau lists the city at 141.8 square miles, and its 2024 population estimate is larger than that of Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe or Scottsdale.
Gilbert is the neighboring town where Isagenix opened a 150,000 square foot world headquarters in March 2016. A Mesa distributor or employee can reach that headquarters without leaving the East Valley.
Mesa in numbers
- Mesa city population (July 1, 2024)
- 517,151[1]
- Phoenix Mesa Chandler metro population (July 1, 2024)
- 5,186,958[2]
- Rank
- Third largest city in Arizona; most populous in the East Valley[1]
- Area
- 141.8 square miles (2024)[3]
- Median age
- 36.8 years (2024)[3]
- Foreign born residents
- 11.6 percent, about 59,700 people (2024)[3]
- Hispanic or Latino residents
- 28.4 percent, about 147,100 people (2024)[3]
- Largest industry groups by resident jobs
- Educational services and health care and social assistance (51,575), professional, scientific, management and administrative services (32,535), retail trade (29,761) (2024)[3]
- Gilbert, Mesa's neighbor
- 288,790 residents (July 1, 2024)[1]
- Isagenix headquarters in Gilbert
- 150,000 square feet, opened March 2016[5]
- Isagenix listed address
- 155 E. Rivulon Blvd., Suite 104, Gilbert[6]
- Forever Living Products headquarters
- Scottsdale (September 2025 privacy notice)[7]
- Mesa General Business License start date
- January 3, 2022[4]
- Mesa business license fee
- $25 application fee and $25 annual renewal fee[4]
Jobs and industries
Educational services and health care and social assistance is the largest industry group among Mesa residents' jobs, with 51,575 workers in the Census Bureau's 2024 estimates. Professional and business services come next, then retail trade.
A direct selling team in Mesa is usually a mix of people who work for local employers and build a business on the side. Events that fit around a day job, such as evenings and weekends, suit that mix.
The cluster next door
This guide documents no direct selling company headquartered in Mesa. The nearest documented headquarters is Isagenix in Gilbert. Scottsdale hosts Plexus Worldwide and Forever Living Products on the north side of the Valley.
A team in Mesa can reach both clusters inside one metro. That helps when a company holds a regional training day.
Age and languages
The median age in Mesa is 36.8 years, older than in Phoenix. About 11.6 percent of residents were born outside the United States. The Census Bureau's 2024 estimate counts 28.4 percent of residents as Hispanic or Latino.
Those numbers suggest a market where English and Spanish materials both help. A local event plan should say which language each session uses.
Software for Mesa and East Valley companies
Plondo builds the commission engine, back office, replicated sites and AI employees for direct selling companies. A company with East Valley staff or distributors can use one platform for payroll, onboarding and customer questions. Replicated sites keep each home based distributor's page current without extra work from the company.
See Plondo direct selling softwareMesa leaders: a free, private path to a new company
If you lead a team in Mesa and your company has no relationship with Plondo, you can apply for placement with a new company at no cost. The application is confidential. Plondo takes no placement fee.
Apply confidentiallyFrequently asked questions
Is there a direct selling headquarters in Mesa?
This guide documents none. The closest documented one is Isagenix in Gilbert, a neighboring town. Plexus Worldwide and Forever Living Products are in Scottsdale.
Do home based sellers in Mesa need a city business license?
The City of Mesa says home based businesses operating in Mesa need a general business license, with exemptions. The city lists exemptions for casual sellers who make sales four or fewer times a year and for an independent contractor or sales representative who is not registered as a separate legal entity and only offers products or services for a parent organization. Ask City of Mesa Licensing whether an exemption applies to you.
How big is Mesa compared with Phoenix and Tucson?
Mesa had 517,151 residents on July 1, 2024. Phoenix had 1,673,164 and Tucson had 554,013. Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona.
How many people live in Mesa's neighbor Gilbert?
The Census Bureau estimated 288,790 people in Gilbert on July 1, 2024. Isagenix has its world headquarters there.
What are the biggest industries for Mesa residents?
In the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey, the largest industry group for Mesa residents is educational services and health care and social assistance, with 51,575 workers. Professional and business services and retail trade follow.
Can a Mesa leader apply for placement confidentially?
Yes. The application is free and confidential, and Plondo takes no placement fee. It is for leaders whose current company has no relationship with Plondo.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, city population estimates, Vintage 2024 Open source
- U.S. Census Bureau, metro population estimates, Vintage 2024 Open source
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, Mesa city (via Census Reporter) Open source
- City of Mesa, Mesa General Business License Open source
- Nationwide Realty Investors, Isagenix launches Gilbert world headquarters Open source
- Isagenix, contact us (World Headquarters) Open source
- Forever Living Products, privacy notice (September 2025) Open source