7 of the Worst MLM Companies. Don’t Waste Your Time and Money!

Hi. Today I look at The dark side of MLMs

This list of 7 of the worst mlm companies should change your mind about MLMs and their cult-like activities.

The list is intended to save you time, money, and many headaches and heartaches along the way.

Of course they’re many more, but these 7 are some of the biggest in the business.

7 Of the Worst MLM Companies

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
which are the worst MLM companies of them all?
From cosmetics, wellness, jewellery and shawls,
we know many reasons why you should stay clear from them all!

1. Monat

Photo from Monat website. used in the article 7 Of the Worst MLM Companies Don’t waste your time and money!
Monat product photo.

Founders: Luis Urdaneta & Rayner Urdaneta

Founded: 2014

Industry: Hair products

Hair—a sign of beauty, health and joy.

Monat reps proudly toss their glowing, silky hair and promise buyers the same star-like results if they use the Monat hair product range.

The company, however, has a pile of complaints and lawsuits you couldn’t jump over, stating that their hair products cause: scalp irritation, sores, and hair loss!

And it gets even worse, reps try to sell off these side effects as a healthy and natural detox phase and to continue using the products to encourage the growth of strong, younger-looking hair.

Oh, and one more thing: The products are NOT cheap, costing way above the average shampoo and conditioner you find in your local supermarket.

As far as bad MLMs go, they don’t get much worse than this one!


2. Jeunesse

Jueness logo used in the article 7 of the worst mlm companies.
Juenesse Logo.

Founders: Randy Ray & Wendy Lewis

Founded: 2009

Industry: skincare products

Although Jeunesse’s skincare products are affordable and generally have positive reviews, this MLM company is far from being a legit business opportunity.

It’s a classic case where the top people become richer, and most of the sales reps are trapped in a vicious cycle of spending more money to stay in the game.

Still, somehow it continues to exist.

On top of lawsuits and money laundering, Jeunesse is also accused of operating a pyramid scheme —so do yourself a favor and stay away from this bad MLM.



3. Le-Vel

Le-Vel logo. used in the article 7 of the Worst MLM Companies

Founders: Jason Camper and Paul Gravette

Founded: 2012

Industry: Health & wellness products

For a company that advertises itself as a “premium lifestyle company” Le-Vel falls miserably short of expectations, earning a reputation as one of the worst MLM companies.

Their range of health and wellness products promises to help reduce weight, improve mental focus, boost energy levels and increase our overall physical performance.

These rather bold claims, however, have little or no foundation.

A photo of packaged Le-Vel Thrive formula used in the article 7 of the Worst MLM Companies
Thrive Formula, is a product that attracts lots of attention, but not all of it good!

In fact, there is no scientific data to prove that their products actually work.

Considering that the company has grossed billions in sales, you’d think that they could add a few third-party regulated health and safety badges to their products.

Whether these products work is up to you to decide, but they’re not cheap to “just give them a go”.

If you’re entertaining the idea of becoming involved with Le-Vel, read these complaints at the Better Business Bureau.

At the time of writing this review, I could not access their site. It may be down or they have shut up shop. One can only guess.

You may have better luck getting onto their website.


GreenPyramid, and text of  99% of representatives lose money from mlm companies in the article 7 Of the Worst MLM Companies
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4. doTERRA

Photo of 5 women with baskets full of plant leaves, used in the article 7 Of the Worst MLM Companies
Photo from the doTerra website.

Founders: David Stirling, Emily Wright, David Hill, Corey B. Lindley, Gregory P. Cook, Robert J. Young, and Mark A. Wolfert

Founded: 2008

Industry: Essential oils

Essential oils are popular for their feel-good scents that ignite feelings of love, peace, and calm.

But how about we attached a legit-looking label like “certified therapeutic grade” to make them more saleable?

This is the case of doTERRA, which has come under fire for making false claims about its essential oils.

And although their oils smell lovely, there’s no scientific evidence whatsoever about their medical benefits

So you’re basically buying more expensive essential oils that have the same effect as the ones that you can buy in your local health shop.

How Much Can You Earn as a doTerra Representative?

Check out this table from its 2017 income disclosure as calculated by Financial Media Group, Fat Tail Media.

DoTerra RankAverage Annual EarningsPercentage of all Advocates
Entry$4676%
Manager$7529.7%
Director$1,2505.8%
Executive$1,8372.8%
Elite$4,370 *3.9%
Premier$11,260 *0.9%
Silver$27, 5570.62%
Gold$58, 5090.21%
Platinum$112, 9650.07%
Diamond$201, 7640.07%
Blue Diamond$463, 5550.02%
Presidential Diamond$1,259, 587<.01%
SOURCE: 2017 INCOME DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. *DOTERRA ONLY PROVIDES A RANGE OF $4,370 TO $11,260 FOR THESE TWO RANKS; THE LOW END OF THE RANGE WAS USED FOR ELITE, AND THE HIGH END WAS INSERTED FOR PREMIER.

The Plexus logo used in the blog article 7 of the Worst MLM Companies
Plexus logo.

5. Plexus

Founders: Tarl Robinson

Founded: 2006

Industry: Health & Wellness

There’s only one word to describe Plexus weight loss products: Useless.

From fat burners to detox products, their range contains ingredients that are either not proven to do anything or, if they are, theirs is not concentrated enough to have any effect.

Think about it: if their products worked, anybody could take a pill or have a shake mix to reach their ideal weight, right?

So how about trying this instead to shed a few pounds:- A healthy, balanced diet.

But it’s not just their products that make Plexus one of the worst MLM companies.

Although it’s an established business that sells legit products, they focus a lot on recruiting.

And to me, this sounds like a pyramid scheme in disguise.


Primerica logo used in the article 7 of the Worst MLM Companies
Primerica logo.

6. Primerica

Founders: Arthur L. Williams Jr.

Founded: 1977

Industry: Financial services and insurance

Primerica has been around for a long time and was once part of Citigroup which spun it off back in 2010. However, like all bad MLMs, it has its fair share of lawsuits.

But the issue is not their life insurance policies or financial services, which, although more expensive, actually work.

The issue is with their compensation plan, which is not worth your time and effort.

The average Primerica rep only makes barely over $5,000 in annual income.

Literally below the poverty line.

It’s way, wayyy less than what you can make working for a traditional life insurance company.

Graph of Agents income used in the blog article 7 of the Worst MLM Companies
Graph from Simply Hired.

Whether you become a part-time or full-time Primerica agent, if you’ve got a talent for selling life insurance and other financial services, why not work for a proper life insurance company?

You’d be paid a lot more than Primerica, or any other MLM would ever pay you.

You can see More on Primerica Here.


7. Dagcoin

Dagcoin logo used in the blog article 7 of the Worst MLM Companies

Founders: Nils Grossberg

Founded: 2017

Industry: cryptocurrency

If you’re looking for investment opportunities that go nowhere, Dagcoin is the one for you.

Basically, you invest an amount of money and you get an equal (or almost equal) amount of Dagcoins in return. But as the cryptocurrency is not yet publicly tradable it has literally no value.

While in theory, they sell cryptocurrency training courses (it’s an MLM after all, they have to sell something), in reality, the educational side is farcical.

All the money they make is through sales reps who earn a commission every time they recruit new members.

A better crypto MLM can be seen here.

In other words, Dagcoin is a Ponzi scheme, where no money is actually made, just redistributed.


Conclusion: Are all MLMs bad?

MLMs are all over the place, and while not all of them are bad, many are scams, pyramid schemes, or downright awful.

The cold, harsh reality of an MLM is that to succeed and reach the top, you must sell others a dream that is mathematically unobtainable for all but a handful of people.

Remember, these MLM horror stories you hear and read about are not just stories but real-life tragedies that affect millions of people all over the world.

Recognizing the red flags of an MLM scam is essential, but talking about the dangers of joining bad MLM companies is even more important.

When we talk about it, we can stop more people from getting stuck in these money traps, time-wasting, and soul-crushing MLM “opportunities”.


What other bad MLMs do you think should be added to the list? Let us know in the comments below and help raise awareness about the dangers of joining an MLM business opportunity.

Special Mention.

I have just finished a review of one of the most blatant MLM / Affiliate scams I have come across.

I come across a lot actually. but this one is so unsophisticated.

Generally, people take things at face value, but when simple agreements are not kept, the poo hits the fan.

As always feel free to leave a comment in the comment box below.

Thanks for reading. Coffee time!

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3 thoughts on “7 of the Worst MLM Companies. Don’t Waste Your Time and Money!”

  1. You have pointed out some of the bad MLM companies and have explained the reasons why they are bad. I have had experience in the past with a couple of MLM companies and I couldn’t do it, trying to convince people to join was never comfortable for me. 

    I absolutely think that Wealthy Affiliate gives me a better opportunity to learn and apply real business acumen for online opportunities without the SELL aspect. Your post gives anyone new who seeks the MLM path something to think about.

  2. First of all, it’s pretty eye-opening that 99% of DoTerra representatives make less than $12,000 a year.  75% make less than $50.  Wow!  I think that’s pretty standard but somehow they still pull people in with promises of a better life, often charging absurd amounts for “starter kits” and requiring minimum monthly purchases.   Not all MLMs are bad, though. I am a representative for several well-known “house party” companies and I do ok.  I can’t support myself on it but I also don’t have monthly requirements for sales.  And every time I have a party, I get myself a nice little commission check that will very nicely take me out to lunch or buy me a new pair of shoes.  It’s all about expectations and “doing the math” in regard to how much you have to shell out each month.

  3. Thank you, Elena, for doing this research and sharing this valuable information. 

    Though I understand the flexibility for mothers raising kids but facts on the ground show there many legit and equally flexible opportunities out there while looking for a side hustle, MLM shouldn’t be an option. 

    Affiliate marketing is a good option for moms looking for a balanced life between their business and family activities. Though you need to put in some time and effort, it will literally pay off in the end. 

    It’s sad to know the products are not cheap and still don’t meet up with the required quality.Though I’m not familiar with these brand names yet handicapped with these details, I will surely watch out and be more careful in the future.

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