In this guide
For information only. Products do not replace diagnosis, treatment or a varied diet. Seek professional advice for symptoms, pregnancy and use by children.
Network or multi level marketing is a model in which distributors sell products and can also earn on the sales of people they bring into the business. Forever Living Products uses this model. Stories about travel, passive income and earning without selling sound appealing, but they are not a good basis for a decision. This text is not financial or legal advice.
What the data show
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says most people in legitimate MLM companies earn little or no money, and some lose money. On 14 April 2026 the FTC announced that it had filed a complaint against Forever Living Products over deceptive earnings claims. According to company data cited in the complaint, in each of the last five years at least 77 percent of active US participants (FBOs) received no payment at all from the company, and after two full years more than 89 percent of new US participants had not earned enough from the company to cover their start up cost of more than 300 dollars. These figures refer to the US market and to payments from the company. They do not include any income from personal retail sales, which according to the complaint the company does not track, or participants’ costs, so they do not show total profit. Still, they show clearly how risky it is to count on earnings.
Costs to calculate
- The starter pack and any minimum purchase requirements to stay active.
- Shipping, training, events, tools and advertising.
- The time you invest, converted into hours.
- Tax and business registration obligations in your country.
Warning signs and questions before joining
The FTC lists warning signs such as promises of big earnings, a focus on recruiting rather than selling to customers, pressure to decide at once and encouragement to buy more product than you need. Before deciding, ask current and former distributors how much they earned after all costs, ask for written product return terms and have the contract reviewed by an independent adviser. You can use the products without joining the business, so keep those two decisions separate.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission.
Common questions
Is passive income realistic?
Do not count on it. Income in this model depends on ongoing selling and work, and US data in the FTC complaint of April 2026 show that most active participants received no payment from the company.
How can I tell an MLM from a pyramid scheme?
The FTC says that in a pyramid scheme, income comes mainly from recruiting rather than selling to customers. If you are pushed more to recruit and buy stock than to sell, be careful.
