Company page
OPTAVIA
Public-record notes and questions to ask before becoming an OPTAVIA Coach (a brand operated by Medifast, Inc.).
Quick decision snapshot
- Cost to start
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- Coach Business Kit: $199
- Annual renewal: Required (OPTAVIA does not publish the amount)
- Disclosure headline
- OPTAVIA’s own 2025 disclosure: about 23% of Coaches earned nothing, and the figures are gross, before the cost of the products Coaches buy.
- Main limitation
- Whether typical Coaches keep money after the cost of products they buy, fees, and other expenses, which the gross figures do not show.
- Ask before paying
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- Does the income disclosure show net income after the products I would buy and other expenses, or only gross compensation?
- Read the OPTAVIA income disclosure guide.
- Request the income disclosure, compensation plan, expense list, and exit rules.
- Use a short script if you need time, documents, or a clear no.
What it costs to get started
| Coach Business Kit | $199 |
|---|---|
| Annual renewal | Required (OPTAVIA does not publish the amount) |
What people actually earn
OPTAVIA’s own 2025 disclosure: about 23% of Coaches earned nothing, and the figures are gross, before the cost of the products Coaches buy.
| Data year | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Earned nothing | About 23% of Coaches |
| Earned $1,000 or less | Roughly 7 in 10 Coaches |
| Reported as | Gross, before the cost of products Coaches buy |
Read the full OPTAVIA income disclosure guide →
Company overview
OPTAVIA is a weight-management and wellness brand operated by Medifast, Inc. (NYSE: MED) that sells meal-replacement products and programs.
It distributes largely through independent OPTAVIA Coaches, so a prospective participant should separate the product, the coaching role, and the compensation plan.
What the company discloses
- OPTAVIA publishes a U.S. Income Disclosure Statement reporting the distribution of Coach earnings, including the share with no earnings and the share earning small amounts in a year.
- The statement reports that its earnings figures are gross and do not include expenses Coaches incur building their businesses.
- OPTAVIA coach-recruitment materials state the company makes no guarantee of financial success and that success stories reflect a small percentage of Coaches.
What is not clear from public disclosure
- Whether typical Coaches keep money after the cost of products they buy, fees, and other expenses, which the gross figures do not show.
- How inactive or never-active enrollees are counted, and how personal-discount buyers are distinguished from people pursuing the opportunity.
- The typical first-year outcome for a new Coach, which the combined annual ranges do not isolate.
Regulatory/public record
- In 2012, a Medifast subsidiary, Jason Pharmaceuticals, Inc., agreed to a consent agreement with the FTC and to pay a $3.7 million civil penalty; the company stated it did so without conceding any wrongdoing or liability.
- Medifast, Inc. is a publicly traded company that files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Questions to ask before joining
- Does the income disclosure show net income after the products I would buy and other expenses, or only gross compensation?
- What percentage of new Coaches earned more than they spent in their first year?
- How much product am I expected to buy or maintain to stay an active Coach?
- Does my compensation depend on recruiting and building a team of Coaches?
- What are the cancellation and return rules for product and any subscriptions?
Is OPTAVIA a pyramid scheme?
People often search whether a company like this is a pyramid scheme or a scam. This page does not apply those labels: whether a company meets a legal definition is a matter for regulators and courts, not a label to settle during a recruiting conversation.
A more useful first question is where the money comes from: whether pay depends on real sales to customers outside the business, how much depends on recruiting, and what participants keep after expenses. See how to evaluate the pyramid-scheme question before relying on a label either way. Any regulator or court record specific to OPTAVIA is summarized in the public-record section above, with attribution.
Common costs to check:
- Product, samples, shipping, and taxes.
- Starter kits, renewal fees, websites, apps, or back-office tools.
- Training, events, tickets, travel, meals, lodging, and childcare.
- Advertising, giveaways, displays, packaging, or payment fees.
- Licensing, exam prep, background checks, or required continuing education.
- Unsold inventory and unpaid time.
Gross income is not the same as money kept after these costs.
Useful related pages
Choose the next page by your situation:
- If you have not paid, start with Before You Pay.
- If you already paid, review records, recurring charges, and cancellation rules.
- If you feel pressured, use a script before continuing the conversation.
Sources
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Company disclosure
OPTAVIA 2025 U.S. Income Disclosure Statement
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Company policy
Become an OPTAVIA Coach
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Regulatory public record
Jason Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Reaches Proposed Consent Agreement with FTC
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Public company filing
Medifast, Inc. SEC filings
Correction request
To request a correction, email corrections@boringanddevastating.com with this page URL, the specific text at issue, and supporting public sources.