If you want to slim down or shape up, AdvoCare could be the MLM for you.
AdvoCare aims to change your life, whether by supplying you with products for a healthier body or by helping you build a business with a healthy income.
Charles Ragus, who had a brief career in the NFL in the 1960s, founded in the company in 1993. He passed away in 2001, but several of his family members still serve on the board. The name of the company comes from Ragus’ desire to be an advocate who truly cares, running a company that gives back to the community.
And give back is what it does — through the AdvoCare Foundation, which focuses on helping all children be happy, healthy, and safe, so the next generation can not only survive but thrive.
AdvoCare’s ability to remain stable and profitable throughout much of its history indicates that they won’t be falling off anytime soon.
FAQ
1. What does AdvoCare sell? AdvoCare sells dietary supplements, including meal replacements, protein recovery, muscle growth, fat loss, fiber, and vitamins and minerals.
2. What are AdvoCare’s most popular products? Their products are designed to help customers become champions, so they focus on slimming down and shaping up. AdvoCare One/8® is probably their most popular product. It’s a 3-part system that helps you develop lifelong healthy habits. Choose their “slim down” option, and you’ll get a fresh approach to weight loss. Choose their “shape up” option, and you get products designed for better workouts and faster recovery.
3. How much does it cost to join AdvoCare? You’ll need to buy their Distributor Kit ($59), which includes a Welcome Guide, branded AdvoCare blender bottle, samples of some of their products, distributor information, and sales tools. Be aware, there’s an annual renewal fee of $50, as well. AdvoCare does offer a 100% buy-back of products to any Distributor who decides the business isn’t for them.
4. Is AdvoCare a scam? No, AdvoCare is a legitimate business. They have a Scientific & Medical Advisory Board that ensures their products are formulated with high-quality ingredients, based on credible scientific research. And they regularly partner with elite athletes who endorse their products: David Johnson, Trevor Harris, and Jesse Gonzalez, among others. Advocare seems to care deeply about the success of their people. Each year, they host National Success School to challenge and equip their distributors. They were included in Direct Selling News‘s 2017 list of Best Places to Work. [1]
5. What is AdvoCare’s BBB rating? A+
6. How long has AdvoCare been in business? Since 1993
7. What is AdvoCare’s revenue? $586 million USD in 2017
8. How many AdvoCare distributors are there? In 2017, AdvoCare had 387,372 Distributors who purchased products at a discount and/or earned income from AdvoCare. (They have others who make don’t make any money as a distributor.)
9. What lawsuits have been filed? In 2017, two former distributors accused AdvoCare of being a pyramid scheme. Advocare issued an immediate response explaining why this claim isn’t valid. You can read it here. In 2009, two distributors accused Advocare of unfairly canceling agreements with them. The jury found that AdvoCare engaged in false, misleading or deceptive practices and awarded $1.9 million in damages to the plaintiffs. [2]
10. Comparable companies: Shaklee, Amway, Herbalife, Isagenix
So should you hop on board?
Product-wise this company might be legit, but if you’re just interested in the business opportunity, there are better options out there…
Click here for my #1 recommendation
Either way, here’s the full review on Advocare.
Products
AdvoCare has dozens of products related to health and wellness (like Trevo). Most of the products fall into one of five categories:
- Trim
- FIT
- Active
- Well
- Performance Elite
Trim products are for weight management and include supplements, shakes, and even a workout DVD. The company does mention that these products should be combined with a proper diet and exercise.
FIT products are designed to fit the way you work out and the way you live. This includes supplements that support connective tissue and joint health, prep your body for a workout, and refuel afterward.
Active products are consumed while “on the go” and are designed to both increase your energy and provide you with proper nutrition. The product line includes supplements and nutrition bars.
Wellness products are designed to promote a healthy and active lifestyle by addressing core nutrition, mental capacity, digestive support, and other elements that contribute to overall wellness. Many of these products are vitamin-based supplements.
Performance Elite products are designed to add muscle, enhance workouts, or help in recovery.
Compensation Plan
If you use AdvoCare products, the company offers you a chance to earn money selling their products to others. Agreeing to become a distributor gives you a 20% discount on AdvoCare products. This gives you the opportunity to resell the products at a profit or simply buy the products at wholesale cost and use them yourself.
If you choose to distribute AdvoCare products to others, you can ultimately earn up to 40% profits on each item sold by reaching the advisor level. Over 60% of the people who join AdvoCare reach this level or higher. There are levels within the company above advisor, but only slightly more than 10% of the contributors in the company climb that high, as it generally takes over a year to get there.
According to the 2017 income disclosure statement from AdvoCare, the average distributor makes $1,402 per year, with the top 10% hauling in at least $944 annually.
Of course, like any other multi-level marketing firm, bringing in other distributors can be a way to make additional income, as AdvoCare offers you the opportunity to make between 5 and 20% commission on the products sold by the distributors you sponsor. Leaders who build up strong networks can also earn additional bonuses.
Here are some pros about AdvoCare:
AdvoCare’s products help make the company stand out above similar companies. As mentioned above, the company offers a wide variety of products, but they are divided into specific groups based on the individual needs of customers. This prevents customers from being overwhelmed by having too many products to choose from and helps them find what they need based on their own health and nutrition goals.
It also helps that AdvoCare is endorsed by a large number of pro athletes across all major sports [4]. Obviously, some endorsements are worth more than others, but having several NFL starting quarterbacks, most notably Drew Brees, publically endorsing your product line creates instant credibility in the minds of consumers.
AdvoCare also does a good job of supporting its distributors, most notably through a unique program called Debt Buster. This program helps distributors use the money they make selling AdvoCare products to pay off any debt they have. This could be a mortgage, credit card debt, or any other type of large payment. Most MLM firms talk about giving their distributors a chance to gain financial independence, but AdvoCare’s Debt Buster program is concrete proof that they are making an effort to do so.
Here are some cons about AdvoCare:
Unfortunately, the dark side of AdvoCare includes a lawsuit that saw a jury award nearly $2 million to a pair of former distributors. The lawsuit alleged deceptive trade practices and claimed that the two distributors were unjustly removed from their position with the company. This is obviously a huge black eye for the entire company and calls into question how AdvoCare treats its distributors.
Several reviews by employees within the company also call the treatment of distributors into question [3]. Some of these reviews further allege that distributors were let go by sales managers without cause.
The public perception of AdvoCare took another hit recently with an in-depth article by ESPN the Magazine that looked into the company and the support of Brees and others [5]. The article claimed that only a little more than 2,000 of the more than half a million distributors in the company made more than $10,000 in 2014, with only 318 making a six-figure sum. For what it’s worth, Brees has stood by the company and insists that AdvoCare products have helped to prolong his career.
Recap
There’s a lot to digest when it comes to AdvoCare, but all things considered, it should be considered a viable MLM venture. It should not be considered a plan to get rich quick, and it may not be wise to put all your eggs into AdvoCare’s basket, but as a part-time venture to make a little extra money, you could do a lot worse.
The startup cost isn’t unreasonable and the discounts on products given to distributors is substantial, so if you’re going to give it an honest effort, it has a chance to pay off, particularly if you use their products and believe in them.
Like many other health-related MLMs, you’re not going to get a 100% guarantee on the validity of the products, but there’s enough science and endorsements behind them to feel comfortable both using them and selling them.
There’s no denying that AdvoCare has gotten some bad press, but there’s little chance that so many well-known athletes would stand behind a product line and a company, particularly health-related products, if they didn’t truly support them.
That being said, if you are looking for sustainable income, there are better options out there…
Look, I’ve been involved with network marketing for over ten years so I know what to look for when you consider a new opportunity.
After reviewing 200+ business opportunities and systems, here is the one I would recommend:
I’m not sure how old your article is, but the price to become a distributor is 59$. I really enjoyed this article and another MLM company I have been seeing lately. I love the you cite where you got your info from too. Thanks for the research!
For sure, glad you enjoyed it