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In a pitch right now? Words you can use →

Start with a pause

You do not have to decide today.

Pitched an MLM or income opportunity? Before you pay, buy product, or message friends:

Don’t pay today. Ask for the income disclosure, full cost list, and cancellation rules in writing — then add up the costs.

Someone pitched me I already joined

You are not rude for asking. A serious opportunity can survive written questions and a quiet review.

A 3-minute pause can protect your money, time, and relationships.

If you read nothing else:

  • Do not pay during the pitch.
  • Ask for the income disclosure, compensation plan, full cost list, and cancellation rules in writing.
  • Compare any income claim with ordinary expenses before deciding.

Ask for these in writing:

  • The current income disclosure or earnings statement.
  • The compensation plan or business plan.
  • A full first-year and recurring expense list.
  • The refund, cancellation, subscription, and inventory return rules.

You can ask to read these away from the pitch before paying, ordering product, joining a subscription, attending a paid event, or contacting friends.

Do this first

1. You do not have to pay today Pause before fees, product, subscriptions, events, or licensing costs.
2. Ask for documents Request the income disclosure, expense list, compensation plan, and exit rules.
3. Add up costs Compare money received with product, tools, travel, events, and other costs.
4. Decide later A good decision can survive 48 hours of quiet review.

What do you need right now?

I was pitched

Start here if someone invited you to a meeting, presentation, or private conversation.

I'm about to pay

Pause before fees, product, tools, events, subscriptions, or licensing costs.

I already joined

Review costs, income, inventory, and exit rules without shame.

I want to stop

Pause new spending, find refund deadlines, and cancel recurring charges in writing.

Someone I love joined

How to help a friend or family member without pushing them back toward their upline.

Fast answers before you decide

Is this a pyramid scheme?

Do not decide by the label alone; ask how compensation is earned, whether real retail sales are verified, and what typical participants keep after expenses.

Should I join an MLM?

Do not join until you have reviewed the income disclosure, compensation plan, full expense list, and exit rules in writing.

See all questions

Explore the facts and tools

Understand the numbers

Words, documents & red flags

Frequently opened disclosure guides

If someone said this to you

If someone named a company

Were you pitched a specific company? Start with the “someone pitched me” checklist. Or open any company’s public-record page:

Read the income disclosure library · See all company pages

Editorial standard: We use public records, company disclosures, regulator materials, and careful language. We do not label a company or opportunity with findings about wrongdoing unless a regulator, court, or cited source has done so.