Hey there Sea Changers… Throughout this website I have spent quite a bit of time looking into and reviewing MLM programs and have often been asked what the highest selling MLM companies are. So, I have had a look through the stats and listed the companies that earn the highest revenue per annum based on the latest statistics I could find. So for those of you looking to get yourself set up in a high selling MLM program, let’s check them out below:

What is MLM?

Multi-level marketing (MLM) programs are the mainstay of the ‘party plan’ world of products such as Tupperware, Mary Kay and Amway etc. and over the past few years have become more and more prevalent across a number of other markets as well. From the outset, I would be remiss of me if I didn’t make it clear here that this is not an easy area to make money in and success is generally experienced by only a small percentage of those who join the programs. That said, if you have a good network of customers, or are passionate about the products that the company offers, then there may be some opportunities here.

In short, the MLM process works as follows:

1. You join the program, either via referral from another person (known as your up line) or directly through their website.
2. You promote the products of the company via parties, workshops or online.
3. As you make sales, you offer incentives to your customers to sign up as a member of the program (there are different names for this but they all mean the same thing).
4. That new member is then placed ‘underneath’ you in a hierarchical arrangement (known as your down line).
5. You, and a number of levels of your up line, then gain extra commissions for everything they sell as well.
6. If they manage to refer their customers into memberships, they also become a member of your down line allowing you to make up line commissions as well.

The number of levels of your up and down lines will vary depending on the program you have joined. Commission rates will also change as your down line grows or contracts and many will also offer other incentives such as total company sales percentages and/or access to membership prizes as you build your business.

How do they calculate commissions?

When it comes to the earning of money via MLM, most programs manage their downline commissions and rankings via the calculation of Personal Volume (PV) points (there are different definitions of this such as Business volume (BV) or Group Volume (GV) but they all mean the same thing). Most MLM programs manage it this way in that commissions are paid on the points assigned to a product rather than the entire sales total. For example, if a product retails for $100 and has a 50PV rating (these generally vary from product to product) then the commission is calculated on the $50 purchase only. So if a commission rate for a product is 20% then it will generate a $10 payment to the sponsor (i.e. 20% of the $50 commissionable amount).

PV calculations can range from 1 point per $1 up to 1 per $1.50 or even $2. Obviously the closer to the dollar mark the calculation the better. In addition, most programs assign minimum PV sales per month – either personally or via customer sales – in order to qualify for commissions. Payments and rankings are then also calculated based on the total PV of the member, and their downline.

Top 10 MLM Programs by Revenue

Ok, let’s have a look at the top 10 from highest to lowest…

1. Amway

Annual Revenue 2020: $8.5 Billion

Amway was founded by Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos in 1959 and in the years since have grown to become the “world’s largest direct selling company” and a fixture within the top 10 selling MLM programs. They run factories in three US States to manufacture and distribute nutrition, beauty, personal care and home products to over 100 countries worldwide. Amway is based in Ada, Michigan in the United States.

Amway offers a massive range of nutrition, beauty, personal care and home products including:

Nutrition

• Vitamins & Supplements
• Weight Management
• Sports Nutrition
• Energy Drinks

Beauty

• Skin Care
• Makeup
• Fragrance
• Artistry™ Beauty App

Personal Care

• Bath & Body Care
• Hair Care
• Oral Care

Home

• Air Treatment
• Cookware
• Dish
• Disinfectant Cleaners
• Laundry
• Surface Cleaners
• Water Treatment

Due to their size, they are also well-known for their exclusive brands including:

• Nutrilite
• n* by Nutrilite
• Artistry
• Artistry Skin Nutrition
• Artistry Studio
• XS
• BodyKey
• Satinique
• G&H
• Glister
• Amway Home
• eSpring
• Atmosphere
• iCook

The Amway MLM program calls their members ‘Independent Business Owners’ (IBOs) who are part of a somewhat traditional, if not a little confusing, compensation plan. Here are the basics as I have found them…

Base Commission rate: Up to 30%

Down line commission rates: 3 – 21% based on total sales of downline

Minimum monthly spend to qualify for commissions

To qualify for downline commissions, IBOs are required to meet monthly PV targets of at least 100 per month to earn the base 3% commissions. This can be made of personal or customer sales.

Payment terms: Monthly.

Application required?: Yes, Application form on website.

Purchase requirements to join: Yes

From what I can see in the FAQ section, there looks to be a joining fee of around USD$100 that “covers the cost of resources Amway provides to help our Independent Business Owners effectively run their businesses” including ongoing education, training, product marketing materials, customer service and mobile business management tools.

Marketing materials provided: As per starter kit above.

Read more about the Amway MLM Program Here

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2. Natura & Co

Annual Revenue 2020: $7.16 Billion

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3. Herbalife

Annual Revenue 2020: $5.5 Billion

Herbalife was founded by Mark Hughes in Los Angeles, California, in February 1980 and in the years since has been rolled out in over 90 countries worldwide. Its aim is to “make the world healthier and happier” and they pride themselves on their high quality products based on scientific research, a strong code of ethics and sustainability. The company employs roughly 5000 people worldwide and in 2016 recorded net sales of approximately $4.5 billion. Herbalife stocks are also traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Herbalife offers over 200 products aimed at health and nutrition within the following categories:

• Healthy Weight
• Specialised Nutrition
• Energy and Fitness
• Skin and Hair care

The Herbalife MLM program is known as its Independent Distributor program. Their details, as outlined within the compensation plan, are as follows:

Base Commission rate: Nil – discounts on products for resale are available.

Down line commission rates: 5% – 25% to seven levels .

Minimum monthly spend to qualify for commissions There are no minimum monthly requirements set (unless you want to rise through the ranks) however you cannot make money in this program simply by recruiting and/or sponsoring others meaning at least some purchases are required.

Payment terms: Monthly.

Application required?: Yes, Initial application with basic information for call back.

Purchase requirements to join: Yes

• International Business Pack ($94.10) or
• International Business Pack – Super Starter ($124.10)

Marketing materials provided: Basic selling skills and access to specific marketing materials. Access to a personalised sales coach.

Read more about the Herbalife MLM program here

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4. Vorwerk

Annual Revenue 2020: $4.48 Billion

Vorwerk & Co. was founded in Wuppertal in 1883 by the Mittelsten Scheid family which over those past 137 years has now grown to become a “broadly diversified, international corporate group”. Vorwerk stands for continuity, change and personal contact. The company is still based in Wuppertal, Germany

Vorwerk’s signature product is the Thermomix – currently selling at the TM6 Model. However, they also sell a large range of home cooking and cleaning products including:

• Thermomix
  • Thermomix® TM6™
  • Cook-Keys
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Spare Parts
  • Varoma lids etc.

• Hestan Cue Set – Smart Cooking System
• Kitchen Essentials
  • Thermomix® Cookie Stamp
  • Gourmet Lunchbox Collection
  • Meater+Smart Grilling Collection
  • Sous Vide Chef Set
  • Thermomix® Dough Mat
  • Assorted Stoneware
  • Degrenne Salam Teapot
  • Thermomix® Baguette Pan
  • Thermomix® Cake Holder
  • Thermomix® Bread Loaf Bag
  • Julienne Peeler
  • Pudding Mold
  • Thermomix® Custard Molds
  • Thermomix® Bundt Cake Mold
  • Thermomix® Silicon Bags
  • Bread Knife
• Neato D8 Robot Vacuum
• Recipes and Cookbooks
• Merchandise

Note: I have also seen evidence of products such as:

• Vorwerk Carpets
• Kobold Vacuum Cleaners
• Jafra Cosmetics
• Lux Asia Pacific water purifiers and air filters
• Vorwerk Carpets

However these do not appear on official websites that I have found.

The Vorwerk MLM program calls their members Consultants however as far as the rest of the program goes, I have been unable to locate any information in regards to the compensation plan either via the Vorwerk website or within the sales pages of actual Consultants. That said, Vorwerk is a legitimate and real company who have provided products and a popular MLM program for over 100 years. The lack of information however does make it difficult for new members to determine whether it is worth joining or not.

I usually like to only take information purely from the main website of the platform owner so that I am reporting what new potential members would see, however in this case I am taking what I can get and making assumptions on the rest based on how other programs within the MLM market operate. I would love however to be corrected, or informed within the comments below.

Base Commission rate: The best numbers I have seen is $220 per Thermomix unit sold (this rises based on the number sold)

Down line commission rates: Not Located

Minimum monthly spend to qualify for commissions: Not Located

Payment terms: Not Located

Application required?: Yes, Application form on website.

Purchase requirements to join:

To become and Consultant, new enrollees must purchase a Thermomix kit worth $USD2000 to allow for demonstrations to be undertaken – There are payment plans for this.

I have not seen any record of ongoing purchase requirements (unless you count food etc. for your demonstrations).

Marketing materials provided: A personal online store, online demonstration tools & apps, marketing materials, extensive training.

Read more about the Vorwerk MLM program here

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5. COWAY

Annual Revenue 2020: $2.8 Billion

6. Nu Skin

Annual Revenue 2020: $2.5 Billion

Nu Skin was founded in 1984 by Blake Roney, Sandie Tillotson, and Steve Lund who have grown it to become a company “differentiated by its ability to demonstrate that they truly have the best people, product, culture, and opportunity in the direct sales, skin care, and wellness industries”. The company is based in Provo, Utah in the united states.

Nu Skin started as a beauty and cosmetics company with a large range of products in this area and have also expanded out to a decent range of nutritional/health and well-being offerings as well. One of their main offerings however, and one that may differentiate them from some of the others is their ageLOC series of electronic beauty devices. There is a so much there that for the purposes of this post, I will list the main categories only:

• ageLOC Electronic Devices
• Spa Systems
• Tru Face Targeted Treatments
• Nu Skin 180 Anti-Aging
• Nutricentials
• Nu Skin Clear Action
• Tri-Phasic White
• Peels, Masks & Scrubs
• Moisturizers
• Men’s Care
• Body Care
• Epoch
• Oral Care
• Hair Care
• Sun Protection
• Cosmetics

Like many other companies within this niche, they have also branched out with a fairly large range of nutrition supplements. Their products here include:

• Vitamins and Minerals
• ageLOC Vitality
• TR90 Weight Management
• g3 Juice
• Energy & Stamina
• Heart Health
• Cell Protection
• Immune Support
• Men’s Health
• Women’s Health
• Memory Support
• Bone & Joint Health
• Digestive Health
• Mood Support
• Specialized Needs

The Nu Skin MLM program is called the Velocity Program and their members Brand Affiliates. The compensation plan is available on their site but to be honest, it is quite confusing and does take a little solid reading to understand – in fact, I am still not sure that I have it all right (it should be noted here that I always only take information from the company pages themselves as I want to reflect what a potential member would see). But that said, based on my understanding, it is a fairly simple program a basic retail and downline commission structure – once you get your head around the ‘building blocks’. Anyway, here are the basics as I have found them…

Discount: 5 – 20% for Consultants

Base Commission rate: 5 – 20% (based on retail sales on discounts above)

Down line commission rates: 5 – 40% based on Blocks generated – see below

Minimum monthly spend to qualify for commissions

• Once they are designated as qualified, Brand Representatives are required to Generate at least 4 Building blocks per Month (2000 Sales Volume (SV)) per month – this can be personal or customer purchases.

Payment terms: Daily, Weekly and monthly.

Application required?: Yes, Application form with personal and business information

Purchase requirements to join: No

Special starter kits are available but not mandatory (as far as I could tell)

Marketing materials provided: Personal website, app, marketing materials, back office

Read more about the Nu Skin MLM program here

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7. Primerica

Annual Revenue 2020: $2.28B

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8. Young Living

Annual Revenue 2020: $2.28B

Young Living was founded in 1993 and is the second largest essential oils manufacturer and distributor in the world (behind doTERRA). Their Global Corporate Headquarters is located in Lehi, Utah and records sales of around $USD 2 Billion per annum.

As with many others within this niche, Young Living has also branched out to add supplements and personal care products to its massive essential oils range. Their main list of essential oils based products include:

Essential Oils

• Single Oils
• Oil blends
• Diffusers and accessories
• Rollons

They also offer a range of supplement and beauty based products as well.

Bath, Body, Beauty

• Facial care
• Hair care
• Bath and body
• Men’s care
• Kids and Basics

Cosmetics

• Mineral Cosmetics
• Lip gloss and lips sticks

Healthy and Fit

• Weight management
• Daily nutrition
• Energy and Stamina
• Cleansers
• Personal Wellbeing

The Young Living MLM program calls its members Wholesale Members with access to a traditional (even old school) commission structure based around unilevel commissions. Their compensation plan is available on their website so let’s start with the basics:

Member discount: 24%

Down line commission rates: 5 – 8% to 13 levels (1st generation (down line level 1) rates 8%).

Minimum monthly spend to qualify for commissions

• To qualify for commissions and bonuses, a minimum purchase level of 100 PV is required – these can be made up from either personal or customer purchases via the member’s account.

Payment terms: weekly and monthly

Application required?: Yes, personal and payment information at time of first purchase

Purchase requirements to join: Yes

• Membership is free to join but a starter kit purchase is required – prices range from USD $59 – $345.

Marketing materials provided: Personalised members page, banners and text links, brochures and promotional documents.

Read more about the Young Living MLM program here

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9. eXp Realty

Annual Revenue 2020: $1.8 Billion

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10. PM-International

Annual Revenue 2020: $1.71 Billion

Conclusion

So… There are the top 10 MLM programs by revenue. I hope it has been helpful for you as you commence your own online multi level marketing business and as usual, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, need some advice or have any experiences to share. Oh, and especially comment if you have any experience with these, or any other programs as well.

Until next time

Have fun

Paul

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