If you are here to learn more about Shaklee after being asked by a friend or family member, I want to compliment you for performing research before making a decision.
I’ll review Shaklee Corp. to see if it really is the best multi-level marketing (MLM) course available today.
I’ll discuss whether MLM is the best type of online business for you.
Lastly, I’ll review some of the most often asked questions about Shaklee and MLMs in general.
And most important, I’ll show you the exact system I used to build my own internet marketing business to over $40,000 a month in mostly passive income.
This system made me swear off MLMs for good because it uses some of the same skills but in a much more powerful and profitable way!
MLMs like Shaklee are a bit of a mixed bag. They CAN be a legitimate way to make money, but some have a reputation for literally ruining people’s lives – so it’s important to know what you’re getting, since each one is unique.
Like most of my readers, you were probably introduced to this one via a friend or some influencer you trust online.
And it makes sense why so many people recommend them:
Making money outside of a 9-5 can be… life-changing, to say the least.
So in this article, I want to help you explore two things:
- If MLMs are actually a worthwhile business to pursue
- If Shaklee is a worthwhile MLM
Before that, I want to clear the air on something.
There are A LOT of people out there who bash all MLMs in any form. However, I’m not one of those people.
Instead, I want to genuinely educate you about them so that you can make an informed decision on how to proceed.
If you’re unfamiliar with what MLMs actually do:
They’re businesses in which you pay money to a company for the ability to sell their products.
Sometimes the products are actually kind of decent (I still remember my mom throwing pampered-chef parties when I was younger).
Other times the products are really poorly made and come with a high price tag.
Typically, the only way to really make money is to get people (mostly friends & family) to sign up with you for a recurring subscription.
If the product is 100% legitimate & valuable, it’s entirely possible to get people to sign-up and continue paying you.
If the product is subpar, you’ll usually burn those bridges kind of quickly and end up with $0 each month.
The biggest issue I’ve seen is that this puts significant stress on your personal relationships, as you’re reliant on selling to your “network.”
Think about it: if you KNEW that every time your friend Sally called, she’d be trying to sell you on one of her products… you’d eventually stop answering Sally’s calls.
Now, this doesn’t mean MLMs are outright bad… it means you need to know what type of MLM you’re getting yourself into before you sign up.
Again, some MLMs provide real value to people, but MOST don’t – and so in this article, I’m going to explore the case with Shaklee.
But before that, I want to ask you a question: what if there was a way to build actual recurring, semi-passive income?
Income that:
- Doesn’t have inventory
- Doesn’t make you sell to your friends & family
- Doesn’t force you to recruit people onto your “team”
Something that you could make anywhere from $2,000 – $10,000 with consistently, month after month?
A stream of income that you can build as high (or low) as you feel like building it?
If that sounds interesting, you might want to consider using the Digital Rental Method.
If you wanna see what Shaklee looks like on the inside, keep reading.
What Is Shaklee?
Among MLM businesses, Shaklee Corporation is a top producer and distributor of nutritional supplements, products for weight management, cosmetics, and household items. Shaklee products are mostly created in-house and distributed by groups of independent distributors both domestically and internationally using a multi-level marketing business model.
In recent years, Shaklee distributors have started to set up websites, allowing customers to buy Shaklee products over the Internet.
Shaklee History
The first vitamin marketed in the US as “Shaklee’s Vitalized Minerals” was developed in 1915 by Forrest C. Shaklee (1894–1985), a chiropractor and nutritionist from Iowa who later moved to Oakland California. In order to produce dietary supplements, Shaklee and his two sons, Forrest Jr., and Raleigh, established the Shaklee Corporation in 1956.
Raleigh, a former insurance salesman, was in charge of the company’s marketing activities, while Forrest Jr. handled accounting and supervised day-to-day operations. Research and development were under their father’s supervision.
The company’s first product was a protein-lecithin supplement called Pro-Lecin Nibblers, which Dr. Shaklee himself created. Herb-lax, a herbal laxative, was added later in 1956. Vita-Lea, a multivitamin, multimineral supplement in tablet form, was introduced the following year and quickly became their flagship product and one of the company’s mainstays.
Rather than hiring permanent salespeople, the company decided to hire independent contractors from the start and offer them a series of lucrative incentives tied to the number of sales they generated. It was an unstructured system that required highly self-motivated participants, according to one loyal Shaklee saleswoman.
Shaklee experienced phenomenal growth in the 1970s. By the end of the decade, annual sales had risen from $20 million to more than $300 million. The Forrest C. Shaklee Research Center, which opened in Hayward, California, in 1971, was the first new research facility of the company. In 1972, the multi-level marketing company adopted its current name and went public, and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange the following year.
The company moved its headquarters to a cutting-edge skyscraper in the San Francisco Financial District in 1980.
Shaklee was named to the Fortune 500 list in 1982.
The company began diversifying in November 1986, when it paid $123 million to RJR Nabisco for the Bear Creek Corporation, a direct marketing company best known for its Harry and David Fruit-of-the-Month Club operation.
Shaklee sold 78 percent of its stake in Shaklee Japan to Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Company for $350 million in February 1989 while keeping its licensing agreement and collecting royalties from the Japanese operations.
Yamanouchi sold Shaklee Corporation for $310 million in April 2004 to American multi-millionaire Roger Barnett, managing partner of Activated Holdings LLC and a Wolfson family member. Bear Creek and the Harry and David line were sold to Wasserstein Perella & Co. for $260 million.
Roger Barnett has remained Chairman and CEO of Shaklee Corporation to this day.
Are Shaklee Products Manufactured In The United States?
Shaklee manufactures their own products in the United States of America.
What Are The Shaklee Products?
This company offers a wide range of products that are divided into five categories:
Nutrition Products
Under this category, they have:
- Nutrition Regimens
- Vitamins (Vitamins for Women, Vitamins for Men, Vita-Lea Vitamins, Life-strip, etc.)
- New Life Shake product line
- All Protein Shakes
- Prenatal Nutrition supplements.
Healthy Weight Products
Weight Reduction Kits come in four varieties: Weight Loss Shakes (Plant Protein Weight Loss Shake, Soy Protein Weight Loss Shake, and Whey Smoothee), Meal-In-A-Bar & Snacks, Energizing Tea, and Metabolic Boost are some of the weight loss products included in this category.
Beauty Products
Products under this category are: Anti-Aging Collection, Hydrating Collection, Personalized Regimen, Perfecting Makeup, Accessories (BB Cream Applicator Brush, Mesh Carry-all Bag, Cosmetics Wedge, etc.)
Sports Products
- Performance Packs (Endurance Pack, Fitness Pack)
- Build, Energize (Zero Calorie Energy Drink and Energy Chews)
- Hydrate (Low-Calorie Electrolyte Drink, Endurance Electrolyte Drink)
- Recovery (PM Recovery Complex)
Green Home Products
These are comprised of household products such as (but not limited to):
- Basic H2 Biodegradable Cleaner
- Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
- Hand Wash Concentrate
- Hand Dish Wash Liquid Concentrate
- Fresh Laundry Concentrate
What Health Issues Are Being Targeted By Shaklee Products?
Shaklee has a wide range of nutrition products to address many health issues. Below is a list of health issues that their products target:
- Aging
- Blood Sugar
- Bone & Joint
- Cleanse & Detox
- Digestive Health
- Energy
- Eye
- Fiber
- Greens
- Heart Health
- Immunity
- Men’s Health
- Mind
- Omega
- Probiotics
- Sleep
- Stress & Mood
- Turmeric
- Women’s Health
Are Shaklee Products Any Good?
The Shaklee product line is widely regarded as efficient and environmentally friendly by those who have used and tested it.
Shaklee claims that their products help promote a better planet besides helping people.
Their household cleaning products, for example, contain no chemicals and are therefore effective, gentle, and odorless. Many people who have tried Shaklee products have been so impressed with the results that they have switched completely to Shaklee.
Can Customers Purchase Shaklee Products On Amazon?
As an MLM company, you might think that the only way to buy their products would be through their Partner Distributors or their own website. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. You may buy many of their products on Amazon.
The downside of purchasing them from this online retailer is that they are not guaranteed by the Shaklee Guarantee, despite their prices being significantly lower than if you purchased them directly from the company or distributor.
This means that Shaklee will only issue refunds if the products are purchased directly from the company.
Is Shaklee An MLM Or A Pyramid Scheme?
As practiced by Shaklee, Multilevel marketing entails a network of independent salespeople selling directly to customers, often in their homes. There are no retail locations that are set in stone. Salespeople are paid commissions, as well as individual and group bonuses on both their own product sales and those made by salespeople they recruit.
Pyramid schemes, which are frequently a scam, promise payments solely for bringing in recruits rather than actually selling products. In this regard, Shaklee is definitely not a pyramid scam.
According to analysts, multilevel marketing, also known as direct sales, is a legitimate strategy because it allows MLM companies to avoid the costs of storefronts, salaried salespeople, and advertising while leveraging the power of anecdotal testimonials and devoted distributors who work entirely on commission.
“As a finance guy, you can’t help but love the direct-selling business model. It’s a very low capital investment and You have a sales force that has been outsourced. You don’t need to put a lot of money into marketing your product. Direct selling has excellent gross margins, with sales gross margins of around 80%. They give the distributor roughly half of that as a sales commission, leaving them with 40%. That’s a significant margin.”
-Scott Van Winkle, managing director of Canaccord Adams, a Canadian investment bank that counts direct sellers Herbalife and Usana Health Sciences among its clients.
Are There Any Lawsuits Involving Shaklee?
Many lawsuits have been brought against this MLM company, which we take as a major red flag.
In response to a Federal Trade Commission order, Shaklee agreed in 1974 to stop selling its product “Instant Protein” as suitable for infants and to stop misrepresenting the amount of protein in “Instant Protein.”
Shaklee was penalized by the FTC in 1976 for “requiring, coercing, threatening, or otherwise exerting pressure” on its distributors to maintain or promote suggested retail prices.
After signing on with a rival company in 1978, former distributors were sued by Shaklee for defaming their products and interfering with business relationships. Shaklee won the lawsuit in 1981, but the judgment was inadequate to pay the legal fees of the MLM company.
In that lawsuit, Shaklee was discovered to have learned that their alfalfa tablets were tainted with salmonella bacteria in 1973 but didn’t stop selling them until 1977, after trying to treat the alfalfa with a fumigant that was suspected of being carcinogenic.
How Can I Join Shaklee?
You can take advantage of Shaklee’s benefits in a variety of ways. You can just purchase their items or set up your own home office and become a Distributor. You choose the level at which you want to join.
Become A Member
As a member, you unlock access to Loyalty Rewards. With Loyalty Rewards, you earn free products and other rewards.
Perks Of The Loyalty Rewards
- First access to new products and promotions.
- When you share with a friend, both of you will receive $10 off on any order of $100+.
- Free shipping on orders of $150+.
- You can change, cancel, or add to your order at any time.
How To Be A Member
- Spend $150 on any product(s) and instantly qualify for a free membership.
- Pay $19.95 for a membership fee.
- Or purchase $60 on a personalized supplement plan and instantly become a member with a free membership.
Become A Distributor
Shaklee Distributors have the opportunity to sell Shaklee products, earn bonuses, and recruit others to join Shaklee.
Steps To Become A Distributor
A Starter Kit is the best way to get your Shaklee business up and running quickly. All Shaklee starter kits are designed to teach you how to earn money, get to know the products, and start your own business. Choose one that is best for your health, goals, and budget as the first step.
Starter Kit Options
Meology Prove It Starter Kit – $159 + $49.95 Starter Kit ($365 Value)
Includes Meology personalized supplement plan created just for YOU, your choice of 2 Life Shake canisters, a free 7-Day Healthy Cleanse, and essential business tools.
Prove It Starter Kit – $159 + $49.85 Starter Kit ($340 Value)
Includes: Vitalizer supplement strip, your choice of 2 Life Shake canisters, a free 7-Day Healthy Cleanse, and all our essential business tools.
Starter Kit – $49.95 ($82 Value)
Includes the essential business tools: Personal Website (PWS) to get selling, mobile apps to manage your business, samples to share with family, and support and training to get you started quickly.
Can I Make Money With The Shaklee Compensation Plan?
Yes, you can make money in the Company Compensation Plan. Product sales pay distributors anywhere from 16 percent to 36 percent.
The downline commission rate ranges from 12 to 20%. This is significantly higher than many other MLM compensation plans. Shaklee also offers some incentives, such as a $100 bonus for selling a specific package that is paid out weekly.
Additional benefits are available based on the company’s point system for ranking its distributors.
But there’s a lot that comes along with Network that many people struggle with.
In fact, check out my Top 5 Reason Why Network Marketers Fail.
Now, don’t get me wrong…
You can certainly make money with MLM, but if you’re gonna put in the amount of grueling work to become a Shaklee distributor (which, trust me, isn’t easy), you might as well bring in some REAL money.
The program that helped skyrocket my online business to $40,000+ per month teaches some of the same direct selling skills but shows you how to monetize them in a much, MUCH more profitable way.
Customer Reviews
Here are some product reviews of Shaklee customers who made verified purchases of the Shaklee Alfalfa Complex:
“Shaklee Alfalfa Tablets are my favorite item. They’re smoother and easier to swallow because they’re thinner and polished. I use them to help with allergies. To help control my allergy symptoms, I take 4 in the morning and 5 at night with no side effects. They also aid in the cleansing of your blood and the maintenance of your joints. My checkup and blood work came out good. I’ve been taking these for about 20 years and enjoy the benefits they provide.”
-Irene Miller
“People, I have the worst seasonal allergies you’ve ever heard of. These were given to me by a friend. I took two of them. I had NO allergies once they’d dissolved in my system! THERE ARE NO ALLERGIES. My 5 acres have been mowed and weeded. The bottom line, it’s a miracle in a bottle. God, thank you for this! I’m finally back in the real world!”
-Shaun Bukovnik
Alternatives To Shaklee?
Yes, there are plenty of other business models to choose from if you want to pursue making money in 2022. Here are just a few:
Is Shaklee A Scam?
So, time for the $1,000,000 question: is Shaklee a scam?
No, not technically. They aren’t going to run off with your money and not give you what you paid for. It’s 100% possible to make money with this program.
That being said, it’s not nearly as simple as they want you to think it is.
There’s A LOT of work to be done upfront and no guarantee that you’ll be successful. The commissions are also fairly small.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for doing hard work now, so that I can reap the benefits later.
But if you’re going to work really hard for 3 months, and your reward is a $100 check… it’s not really a great opportunity.
If I’m gonna do that, I want the rewards to be HIGH and virtually guaranteed.
I’d rather put in that same 3 months of work (in my spare time) & build a handful of Digital Rental Properties that each produce $500-$2,000 checks every single month afterward (AKA recurring income).
And the cool part is that you can do it in a lot less time than 3-months (I personally did it in my first 2 weeks of using the Digital Rental Method).
Unlike with MLMs, you can do it from anywhere in the world, so it’s a genuine “laptop-lifestyle” business.
All you need is an internet connection.
Some of my friends are Digital Rental Method that run their 6-figure businesses from:
- Camping trips at national parks
- Beachfront in Hawaii
- On the road in a camper van (with a pet pig!)
They focus on living an enjoyable life first, and focus on income second. All thanks to this program.
Read Our In Depth Breakdown Of The Top 5 MLMOpp Courses For 2024
They can take weeks or months off, and money keeps rolling in.
Living happily is the top priority.
If the thought of living perpetually at your dream vacation spot interests you, using the Digital Rental Method might be for you!
What Is My Top Recommendation For Making Money Online In 2022?
I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:
- I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
- I’ve dropshipped a toilet bowl putting green on Shopify
- I’ve sold women’s health supplements via Clickbank affiliate marketing
And I made money with all of them, so trust me when I say: there is no “perfect” business model.
I’ve also been on the other side of old friends trying to sell me their fancy new MLM products.
That being said, my #1 recommendation for making real money online is, hands-down: being a Digital Landlord.
Whether you’re a complete newbie or you’ve been around the block before but have never had that “big win” to propel you forward, using the Digital Rental Method is for you.
Why?
Time: If you’ve got a spare hour or two each day, you can do this. If you want to drop everything and go all-in, you can do this. More time obviously means faster results, but even putting in a few hours per day is enough to see real success.
And because of that flexibility, you don’t need to trade your time for money. Once the income starts, it’s recurring.
That means you can take a month off, travel the country, pursue a passion project, chill on the beach, or charter a boat across the world.
But you can only do that once you’ve created an income stream that doesn’t require YOU to be there all day, every day.
Ownership & Control: With MLMs, you don’t really “own” anything – everything belongs to the MLM.
If you read the contracts, they can kick you out at any time, or change your commission at any time (it’s happened in a few high-profile MLM cases recently).
Why pour your soul into a business that could be taken away from you at the drop of a dime?
With the Digital Rental Method, you literally own all of the assets, which means you have ultimate control.
Big Margins: With MLMs, you’re often going to have really slim margins. That means you need to have a VERY large network to make serious money. This usually entails spending A LOT of money on ads and other methods for recruiting members.
using the Digital Rental Method, your profit margin is nearly 100%. Watch here to learn how.
Just a reminder: these Digital Rental Properties are worth (at a minimum) $500/mo in semi-passive income. And each time you create another one, your income increases, and the effort put into creating the next property decreases.
Best-case scenario, you have properties bringing in over $3,000+/mo on auto-pilot.
It’s Effectively Copy-Paste: Here’s my favorite part: once you have your first Digital Rental Property up, you can literally copy-paste another version of it and find another willing “renter” in a few days. DOUBLING your income doesn’t get much easier than that…
If you wanted to double your income with an MLM, you would need to sell twice as much inventory. And I can guarantee you, that’s a lot harder than a few clicks & a phone call.
You’re Helping REAL People: My biggest gripe with MLMs is that you’re likely going to ruin your personal relationships.
The MLM may have convinced you that you’re actually helping people, but it’s often not really true.
But With the Digital Rental Method, you’re helping solve REAL problems that people are ASKING for help with:
Small local businesses around the world need one thing: customers. Without them, their business would fall apart. If you can provide those customers, they’re going to be really happy – and they’re going to pay you for it.
You’re helping a struggling mother or father put food on the table for their families, put their kids through college, or simply live life a little bit more comfortably.
Having this type of impact on the world is what will help you sleep soundly at night.
So, the rest is up to you. You could keep looking at other MLM programs like Shaklee, which might make you money 12 months from now.
You could keep researching and researching for the next few months (or few years), never making a concrete decision.
OR, you can look deep inside, think about those dreams, hopes, & desires, and make the decision to ACTUALLY make it happen, just like it has for thousands of other students before you.
Making a fortune while actually helping real people that need it.
If this sounds like you, click here to see how it all works.
