financial freedom
In an MLM pitch, "financial freedom" is usually an income or lifestyle claim, so a prospective participant should ask for written income disclosure and expense information before joining.
Phrase library
Search the phrase before you join
If a phrase made the opportunity sound urgent, easy, or life-changing, pause here first. These pages explain what the language may mean and what to ask for in writing.
Common recruiting phrases
passive income
MLM income is not automatically passive; ask what ongoing selling, recruiting, purchasing, training, and rank maintenance are required to keep compensation.
residual income
In an MLM, residual income usually refers to compensation tied to continuing sales or volume, often involving a participant network; ask what qualifications must be maintained.
quit your job
Do not treat an MLM as wage replacement without written evidence of typical net income, expenses, time required, and participant retention.
find two people
"Find two people" usually points to duplication or recruiting-based growth, so ask how compensation works without recruiting and what typical participant outcomes are.
warm market
A warm market is usually a participant's personal network of friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and acquaintances.
personal volume
Personal volume usually refers to sales or purchase volume credited to an individual participant for compensation-plan qualification.
inventory loading
Inventory loading generally refers to participants buying more product than they can realistically use or resell.
mentor couple
A "mentor couple" pitch usually means the opportunity is being presented through personal mentorship, so ask what company, compensation plan, costs, and disclosures are involved.
not a pyramid scheme
Do not argue labels in the meeting; ask how compensation is earned, whether retail customers are verified, and what typical participants keep after expenses.
make a list of 100 people
A list of 100 people usually points to contacting a personal network, so ask whether the opportunity can work without recruiting or selling to friends and family.
be coachable
"Be coachable" may mean following a system or mentor, so ask what activities, purchases, events, and recruiting steps you would be expected to follow.
plug into the system
"Plug into the system" usually means following a repeatable set of meetings, scripts, training, purchases, or recruiting activities.
e-commerce mentorship
Ask for the company name, compensation plan, income disclosure, and all expected costs before accepting an e-commerce mentorship pitch.
support your friend's business
You can care about a friend without buying, joining, or recruiting before you understand the costs and typical outcomes.
time freedom
"Time freedom" is usually a lifestyle claim, so ask how many hours typical participants work and what they keep after expenses.
side hustle
An MLM may be presented as a side hustle, but the useful question is whether typical participants keep money after costs and time.
not selling, just sharing
If someone says it is "not selling, just sharing," ask exactly what activity creates compensation and whether retail customers are required.
ground floor opportunity
"Ground floor opportunity" usually creates urgency around joining early, so ask for written disclosures before acting quickly.
duplicate the system
"Duplicate the system" usually means repeating a set of selling or recruiting behaviors, so ask what typical participants achieve after expenses.
retire your spouse
"Retire your spouse" is an income and lifestyle claim, so ask for evidence of typical net income before relying on it.
rank advancement
Rank advancement usually means reaching compensation-plan levels, so ask what purchases, sales, recruiting, and volume are needed to qualify and stay qualified.
your job is the real pyramid
The useful response is not to argue labels; ask how this specific opportunity pays typical participants after expenses.