Let’s Talk Truth: MLMs and Resale Courses Are Not the Shortcut You’re Looking For
Girl, I know how this looks & I am probably going to get a lot of people hating me for this one, but I am passionate about speaking openly about this.
You’re working hard. You want more time, more money, and more control. Then boom, your feed is full of women talking about how they made five figures last month from an MLM or a “buy to resell” course. They’re smiling, their makeup is flawless, and they swear they’re finally free.
I’m here to tell you what those videos won’t.
Most of those women won’t be around in six months. Not because they aren’t smart or hard-working, but because the systems they bought into were never set up to help them win. Trust me, I bought one once, not to sell it, but to learn from it, but what I ended up learning along the way made me take a real deep dive into the industries. Thankfully, I did not end up investing much, and it was worth the education at the time, but the horror stories I have heard along the way, really were horrendous. Imagine spending money, so you can make money, and a year or more later, all you have done is spent more and more money, this is the most common story there is, and I have all of the women I have met along the way to share that.
This is the post I wish every ambitious woman read before she clicked “buy.”
This is a personal accounting of both my experience and so many experiences from so many women I have met along the way.
Let’s walk through the truth together.
What MLMs Don’t Tell You
(Until It’s Too Late)
MLM stands for multi-level marketing. You join, you buy in, and you’re told you’re now a business owner. But what you’re actually doing is buying products and recruiting other people to do the same. It’s a loop. Some like to call it a business in a box, or you get all of this free training and tools....
And here’s what the real numbers say:
According to the FTC and other studies, 99 percent of MLM participants lose money or make nothing
AARP research showed that most people make nothing, and only 0.05 percent make over $100,000- that is when they are at the top of the MLM.
In most cases, the people who profit are the ones who got in early or who are selling the dream, not the actual product.
If the product was truly amazing and sold itself, would they need you to recruit anyone?
Let’s Name Names: The Most Popular MLMs Women Join
Each of these have links on the names, for additional research, lets begin with the worst of the worst...
1. Amway
One of the biggest names in the game. But in 2022, the average Amway rep in the U.S. made under $1,200 before expenses. That’s not monthly, that’s yearly. And most people don’t even get that far. This one is well known for being very "culty."
2. Herbalife
This company was investigated by the FTC and settled for hundreds of millions after being accused of making deceptive income claims. Half of their reps earned less than $300 a year. You read that right.
3. Mary Kay
Pink Cadillacs and parties sound fun, but many reps end up with boxes of makeup they can’t sell. They throw around the barbie lifestyle that only a handful of women every get to touch. One woman reported losing over $75,000 during her time with the brand. That is actually insane! Let's be honest, when was the last time you bought from Mary Kay?
4. Tupperware
Great products, sure. But most of the money goes to top sellers. The average seller makes so little that it barely qualifies as side income. Don't get me wrong, I love me some good Tupperware, and while this was more common in 80s and 90s than today, I have seen it making a come-back.
5. Nu Skin
Their “anti-aging” products come with high quotas, high pressure, and low income for the average rep. It is always crazy to me when a company calls themselves a family, especially an MLM like this. They have an actual pyramid scheme lawsuit going on right now.
6. Avon
One of the oldest there is. I am sure most of us have or have had an Avon product at some point in time. This is one of the toughest MLMs to profit from. Discounts and commissions often don’t cover your costs. Avon's Skin So Soft is great for Grandma, she used to have us use it to keep the bugs at bay, but mostly its just stocked up in her closet, and there are better products today!
7. Young Living
Essential oils with a cult following, but 94% of their sellers earned under $1 a year. SERIOUSLY, what is the investment on this, wow! And what's worse is that some sellers actually make claims that the oils can cure cancer and Corona Virus. Do not get me wrong, I know someone who is very good at selling this, but she is the exception, and she literally sells the product, not so much the MLM, but to her, I would say she has such an amazing circle, she could literally create her own line of products (because it all comes from the same source) and keep all of the profit herself!
8. Color Street
Color Street offers people the chance to make good money by reselling a product they've pre-bought-almost none of them make any money at all. In fact, they are one of the worst, because the reps are forced to buy all new products to stay on their "earning level." It is so gross because they dangle the whole, someday you will be a leader (if you buy your way up to it- is the part they don't say). I have tried and actually like Color Street products, I just absolutely hate their business model and see that we can get these nail polish stickers even at the Dollar Tree now. And my advice to the women who have already invested so much money into this is to STOP buying more product and hold a massive inventory close-out to recoup some of that massive amount of lost money.
9. Arbonne
Consultants earn income primarily through the sales of Arbonne products they make themselves and by recruiting new consultants to sell products under them. The company up marks the products so freaking much which does not make it an easy buy and picks the consultants in a tough place, and MOST of the products are sold to the "consultants" who are then responsible for selling to customers- almost no direct sales and it is painful. Its like the luxe of health consumables, but without the real luxury name.
10. Primerica
They sell financial services. But just like other MLMs, reps are pushed to recruit and buy into the system. It’s not as clean as it sounds.
I know there are plenty of women in my circles who are doing these things and would argue that I am wrong, and with that, I would gladly love to have a conversation with you, and let's talk about how much money you have actually made.
Now Let’s Talk About the “Buy This Course and Sell It” Trap
If my stance on MLMs was bad, I can tell you 100% that buying a course to sell a course is so much worse.
These are everywhere on TikTok and Instagram. You’ve probably seen it.
Someone tells you they made $10K selling a digital course, one they didn’t even make. You just buy the course, get resale rights, and start selling it too. It’s called Master Resell Rights (MRR).
Sounds easy. But here’s the problem: everyone is selling the exact same thing!
You’re told you’re an entrepreneur. That this is a business in a box, and that you will get all your money back right away! It is done for you, it is the easiest thing you will ever see.
What you actually are is a middle-woman in a saturated market. And unless you already have a huge audience, the odds are stacked against you- even though they will tell you its not. They also say all you have to do is post 3x a day! Do you know how much time and effort that takes? Even the biggest businesses in the world do not post to social media accounts 3x per day! It's pretty wild out there!
The Most Talked-About Resale Course Programs
1. Digital Wealth Academy
Looks flashy. Promises thousands. But it’s the same course being sold by hundreds of other women, and only the loudest win.
2. Legacy Builders Program
Charges a premium for “freedom.” But what you get is a course you have no control over and a sales page that looks just like everyone else’s.
3. Digital BOSS Academy
This one’s big on branding but offers no real support. Once you buy in, you’re on your own.
4. Roadmap to Riches
Markets hard on TikTok. But like all MRR schemes, you’re competing with your fellow buyers. That’s not a business. That’s a feeding frenzy.
5. Legendary Marketer
One of the most aggressive sellers online. Some legal scrutiny in the past and tons of hype. Proceed with caution.
Why These Models Feel Empowering at First (But Hurt Later)
You get community until you stop selling
You get hype but no strategy
You get hope but no systems
You end up spending money trying to make money without building anything you own
Everyone says that they are there to help, but really they are there to get you to recruit more people for them.
What to Do Instead
You don’t need a scheme. You need a system. Find what you are passionate about, and if you truly are, you can make money promoting it.
Here’s what works:
Build your own offer, even if it starts small
Learn how to attract clients with search-friendly content
Use real systems to automate your marketing, client management, and visibility
Protect your time, your brand, and your reputation
If you’re not ready to go solo yet, that’s okay. But do not sell your integrity to a system that doesn’t care if you succeed.
Still Unsure? Check the Stats Yourself
I always want you to have receipts, so other than the links on each area, here are some more supporting links. Google the rest or even ask your preferred AI Assistant.
Arbonne by BBB
Final Thought and Your Next Step
You don’t need another hustle. You need a real business, one that you control, grow, and feel proud of. MLMs and resale schemes promise freedom, but they almost always deliver burnout.
If you’re ready to build something that lasts, I’m here to help you figure out what that looks like for you.
Book your free call today at ledtoleadconsulting.com/book and let’s get clear on the path that actually moves your business forward. No fluff. Just strategy that works.
