Company-specific checklist
Someone pitched me Herbalife. What should I ask?
If someone invited you to join Herbalife or sell Herbalife products, review the earnings statement and expenses before paying or ordering.
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 U.S. typical distributor earnings statement.
- The compensation plan or business plan used for the opportunity.
- A list of common expenses, including product, tools, events, nutrition club costs, travel, and training.
- The cancellation, return, and refund 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
- Which participant category would I be in, and does the disclosure describe people like me?
- Are the earnings figures before or after expenses?
- Does the person recruiting me earn from my orders, sponsored distributors, or both?
- Can I read the public FTC settlement materials and current company disclosure before deciding?
What this does not prove
Being invited to join Herbalife does not prove the opportunity is unsuitable for every person. It is a reason to compare the written earnings statement with ordinary expenses and exit rules.
Read next
Sources
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Company disclosure
U.S. Statement of Typical Distributor Earnings 2025
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Regulatory public record
Herbalife Will Restructure Its Multi-level Marketing Operations and Pay $200 Million For Consumer Redress to Settle FTC Charges
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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.