Company-specific checklist
Someone pitched me Arbonne. What should I ask?
If someone invited you to become an Arbonne consultant, you can slow the decision down and ask for written information first.
If you only have five minutes:
- Do not pay during the pitch.
- Ask for written documents before another meeting or purchase.
- Compare any earnings claim with costs, refund rules, and cancellation deadlines.
If you are being pressured right now: You can pause the conversation without debating the opportunity. Ask for written documents, take time away from the pitch, and decide later.
- Do not pay during the first conversation.
- Ask for the documents listed below.
- Use a script if you need more time.
Documents to request before paying
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.
- The current income disclosure statement, with its date.
- A list of registration, renewal, event, and other recurring fees.
- The compensation plan and consultant policies.
- The written refund, cancellation, and return rules.
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.
Questions to ask in writing
- Does the income disclosure show net income after expenses, or gross earnings?
- What percentage of all consultants, including those with no earnings, earned nothing?
- What are the renewal fees and other recurring costs?
- How much income comes from retail sales versus building a team?
What this does not prove
Being invited to join Arbonne does not prove anything improper about the company or the person who contacted you. It is a reason to compare gross earnings figures with fees and other expenses.
Read next
Sources
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Public-interest secondary source
DSSRC Case #191-2024: Monitoring Inquiry – Arbonne International
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Regulator guidance
Business Guidance Concerning Multi-Level Marketing
Correction request
To request a correction, email corrections@boringanddevastating.com with this page URL, the specific text at issue, and supporting public sources.