As one of the oldest and most established MLM companies, Amway has paved the way for most others.
MLM success typically rests on creating a lifestyle business, where your life and your business work together to help you reach your goals.
With Amway, it’s not too hard to do.
Amway was founded in 1959 and is probably the most popular multi-level marketing company in the world (up there with Avon, Advocare, and Herbalife). They sell a wide variety of products, pretty much anything and everything.
The outlook of the company is promising. Amway is a known brand with a proven track record, and the company still brings in billions in revenue each year, so it’s unlikely they’ll disappear anytime soon.
FAQ
1. What does Amway sell? Health, beauty, and home care products
2. What are Amway’s most popular products? One of Amway’s flagship products — and one that will always be popular — is LOC (Liquid Organic Cleaner). This multi-purpose cleaner can be used for all washable items and surfaces, including your hands. Completely biodegradable, it’s been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice Program for container safer ingredients that don’t sacrifice quality or performance. Also popular is the Nutrilite line of health supplements. There, if you don’t have specific health needs you’re trying to address, Double X stands out as a powerful vitamin/ mineral/ phytonutrient supplement that was designed to support a healthy heart, brain, eyes, skin, bones, and immune system. If you’re active, you’ll love Amway’s XS Energy drinks. There’s a wide variety of flavors and formulas, so you can find exactly what you need.
3. How much does it cost to join Amway? There’s a $62 registration fee and an optional Product Starter Kit that costs $99.99. If you choose to buy it, you’ll get $245 of full-size products to try and numerous samples to share. Be aware, Amway charges an annual registration fee to cover expenses on resources the company provides to help you run your business. That fee is less than $100 annually in every country where Amway operates and is fully refundable within 60–180 days if you decide Amway isn’t for you.
4. Is Amway a scam? No, Amway is a legitimate business with real products that can be purchased without becoming a distributor. Adding to their credibility, Amway has been listed #35 on Forbes’ 2017 list of “America’s Largest Private Companies.” Their products repeatedly win top rankings, including their home water treatment, skincare, vitamins, and dietary supplements. They also hold 800 patents worldwide.
5. What is Amway’s BBB rating? A+
6. How long has Amway been in business? Since 1959
7. What is Amway’s revenue? 8.6 billion, as of 2017
8. How many Amway distributors are there? More than 3 million people in more than 100 countries and territories
9. What lawsuits have been filed? For decades, Proctor & Gamble (P&G) and Amway have been suing one another for false rumors about one another. [1, 2] In 1975, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused Amway of violating the provisions of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. In 1979, the FTC lost: it was ruled that Amway (and, in fact, the MLM business model) is not a pyramid scheme. [3] In 1994, the FTC tried again, challenging the concept of personal use by MLM distributors, claiming it shouldn’t qualify as retail sales. (These cases weren’t all against Amway, just the “Amway safeguards” that became the general rules honored by courts since the Amway case.) [4]
Aside from those landmark cases, Amway has had the typical lawsuits of a large MLM. In 2010, Amway paid $34 million and provided $22 million worth of products to settle a 2007 class-action suit alleging it runs a pyramid scheme. [5] That same year, Amway agreed to pay $150 million in restitution to consumers accusing them of operating a pyramid scheme. [6] In 1985, Amway was sued by Dyson for copyright infringement of the Dyson dual cyclone prototype machine. [7]
10. Comparable companies: Mary Kay, Herbalife, Shaklee
Does this mean you should get involved?
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 Amway.
Products
Amway offers customers a wide array of products. There are over a hundred products, most of which fall into one of four categories:
- Nutrition
- Beauty
- Bath & Body
- At Home
Amway’s nutrition products include dozens of vitamins and supplements under the Nutrilite brand. There are also a wide variety of products geared towards weight management, as well as protein bars, protein shakes, energy drinks, and more.
Amway’s beauty collection includes dozens of products geared towards skin care, including moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more. There is also a substantial line of makeup products.
Bath & Body products offered by Amway include those for hair care, body care, and oral care.
The At Home line of products from Amway includes cookware, air filters, water purifiers, dish detergent, laundry detergent, disinfectants, and more.
Compensation Plan
Amway has succeeded throughout much of its history because of the work of its distributors selling its products. They offer anyone who’s willing to work the opportunity to start their own business selling their products. Three ways to make money through Amway are:
- Retail margin
- Monthly bonuses
- Growth incentives
One can join Amway is a distributor for a start-up fee of $62, which has a money-back guarantee within 90 days. This fee supplies the distributor with a Getting Started Guide, catalogs of the company’s products, and information on award programs. The Starter Kit the company provides for new distributors also comes with training materials.
Distributors are free to set their own prices on the products they sell, so they can decide how much profit they want to make on something, giving them plenty of freedom and flexibility when it comes to selling to customers. A distributor’s monthly bonus comes as a result of both his or her sales, as well as the sales of any distributors they’ve sponsored, providing incentive to bring others on board.
Here are some pros about Amway:
Obviously, there’s a lot to like about a company like Amway that has a great track record and loads of financial success. It starts with its rather large and diverse product line. The quality and value of products from multi-level marketing firms can always be debated, but the range of products offered by Amway is impressive.
Obviously, it can be difficult to keep everything straight or become an expert on every product, but the large product line gives distributors a great opportunity to offer nearly every potential customer something they like or need.
The low start-up cost of starting your own business with Amway, as well as the 100% satisfaction and money-back guarantee the company offers, are more reasons to like Amway.
Not only is $62 a reasonable start-up cost compared to most other MLM companies, but distributors also get 90 days to test out a partnership with Amway. If it turns out to be the wrong fit or they are dissatisfied with the company’s training or support, the distributor can easily back out and get their start-up fee back, significantly lowering the risk of getting involved with a multi-level marketing company.
The company’s impressive track record also speaks for itself. Not only has Amway amassed billions in revenue over more than 50 years in business, but the company has also received high ratings from the Better Business Bureau.
Reviews from employees within the company have also been excellent and almost universally positive [8]. Finally, Amway has several partnerships with high-profile companies, including Sony, Macy’s, and Microsoft, further adding to the company’s credibility.
Here are some cons about Amway:
Of course, any company that has been in business as long as Amway is going to have some black marks on their record. There have been accusations throughout much of the company’s history that Amway is a pyramid scheme. The company has found a way to avoid being legally described as a pyramid scheme, but some have given it the title of “legal pyramid scheme.”
One huge red flag in the company’s history is a 2007 class-action lawsuit that alleged fraud and racketeering, among other accusations. The case was settled in 2010, with Amway agreeing to pay $34 million in cash and $22 million in products [9]. Amway did not admit any wrongdoing by paying out the settlement, but has said changes have been made to the company as a result.
Finally, some have expressed concerns about the number of distributors that actually make a significant amount of money through Amway. The company’s retention rate is said to be around 40%. This means most people will drop out after struggling to make a profit. Only a small percentage of Amway distributors are able to sell enough to make it their primary source of income, with most lucky to make a few extra dollars [10].
Recap
In terms of finding a multi-level marketing firm that’s trustworthy, it’d be difficult to find one better than Amway. Some of the accusations about it being a “legal pyramid scheme” can be a bit troubling, but reviews from within the company are positive, and it’s difficult to find many who feel ripped off by the company.
For someone looking to give direct sales a try to see what happens, Amway is a credible, legitimate, and safe option.
However, one shouldn’t expect Amway to be a revolutionary experience that turns into a career.
That may happen for a few people, but the company already has so many distributors and the market for many of its products are so saturated that it may be difficult to develop a large client base, which is what’s necessary to make a significant amount of money with an MLM firm.
You can take a shot with Amway without assuming much risk, but you shouldn’t count on it to be the thing that delivers financial independence and wealth.
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 out there, here is the one I would recommend:
