Question
How do I know if an MLM is worth it?
What to do next:
- List the startup, recurring, and exit costs you would actually pay.
- Compare likely net income with what the same time and money could do elsewhere.
- Decide based on the median result, not a success story.
Why this matters
A person can value flexibility or community and still need clear numbers before spending money.
A fair comparison includes startup costs, recurring costs, unpaid time, unsold product, taxes, and the chance of earning nothing.
See what companies actually disclose
These are companies' own published figures, before expenses, with sources on each page:
- What MLMs pay — every company’s own headline figure, side by side
- Plexus income disclosure
- It Works! income disclosure
Questions to ask before joining
- What is the median result for comparable new participants?
- What are common first-year costs?
- What would I do with the same time and money outside this opportunity?
Related recruiting phrases
Helpful next pages
- Someone pitched me an MLM. What should I do?
- Before You Join an MLM
- Before You Pay
- Documents to request before joining an MLM
- MLM expense worksheet
- Scripts you can use
Sources
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Regulator guidance
Multi-level Marketing Businesses and Pyramid Schemes
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Regulator guidance
Business Guidance Concerning Multi-Level Marketing