If you’re interested in earning money or creating a source of passive income and considering becoming a Reliv International member, you’re in the right place.
MLMs like Reliv 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 Reliv 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 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 kinda quickly and end up with $0 coming in 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 – so in this article, I’m going to explore the case with Reliv.
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 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 think about using the Digital Rental Method.
If you wanna see what Reliv looks like on the inside, keep reading.
What Is Reliv International?
Reliv International is a multi-level marketing enterprise specializing in dietary supplements, with its headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri.
They sell their products via a network of independent distributors in 16 countries, including the United Kingdom.
The company provides its distributors with the option of purchasing nutritional products to improve their health and body or starting a reseller business for passive income.
Who Owns Reliv International?
Reliv International was founded and is owned by husband and wife Robert and Sandy Montgomery. The company’s primary product is a nutritional formula created by Dr. Theodore Kalogris.
Their son, Ryan A. Montgomery, has also been involved in the company and currently holds the position of CEO since 2018.
Reliv MLM Review: What Are The Reliv Products?
Reliv International is a company that produces and sells Lunarich x products, which is a nutritional ingredient made from non-GMO soybean varieties. This ingredient is designed to increase the bioactive Lunasin content and provide various health benefits.
- Core Nutrition
- Reliv Now® with Whey / Soy / Kids
- Reliv Classic®
- Targeted Solutions
- RLV Hemp Extracts
- Immune Support
- Fit3 Program
Reliv MLM Review: Is Reliv International A Pyramid Scheme?
There are MLM companies that are considered pyramid schemes, while others have elements of a pyramid scheme. Reliv International falls into the latter category.
This is why Reliv International has elements of a pyramid scheme. When recruitment is the only way to make money with a company, it’s a pyramid scheme.
MLMs and Reliv International both rely heavily on recruitment.
Distributors get a commission on every sale their recruits make, which is why recruitment is so popular.
If the member’s recruit enlists others, the member will be paid commissions on their sales, and so on.
This type of system only rewards those at the very top of the pyramid, and commissions are constantly flowing upwards.
When the member is at the bottom, it’s nearly impossible to succeed.
But because a member can sell the products himself and earn a commission on each sale, this company isn’t an outright pyramid scheme.
However, anyone from a network marketing company will say that real profit is in building a downline.
Reliv MLM Review: Can You Really Make Money?
The Reliv International compensation plan offers five different ways to earn money.
- First: When one share Reliv with customers, the distributor earns an immediate profit known as retail profit, ranging from 10% to 40%.
- Second: When Distributors sponsor other Distributors and earn the difference between that Distributor’s profit level and their own, they can earn wholesale profit.
- Third: As a Distributor’s organization grows and more overrides are created, they earn percentages from the overrides created by the organization.
- Fourth: The company rewards business performance with incentive travel and monthly cash bonuses.
Distributors are paid to help others grow their Reliv businesses at the Ambassador level.
Reliv International Compensation Plan Review
When it comes to the Reliv International compensation plan, members only need to be aware of two things:
Retail Commissions
This is the point at which one actually sells something to a customer.
When a person purchases products from Reliv International, he will receive a 20% to 40% discount.
He can then resell the items at full retail price and profit.
Downline Commissions
It may have been told that the majority of one’s income from MLM companies will come from his downline. This is true in the case of Reliv International.
This is, however, what makes MLM businesses so sketchy.
Remember that a pyramid scheme is a business model in which one’s income is based on the number of people he recruits.
Building a downline is just that.
If one wants to work with Reliv International, he will need to know how to recruit people to sell for himself.
How Much Money Does A Reliv Distributor Make?
Income earned by members of Reliv International can vary from person to person.
For some individuals, Reliv International supplements their income, earning enough to cover expenses such as car payments or mortgages.
Others work full-time at their Reliv company as their primary source of income.
Each person’s earnings will vary, as they will in any business.
What Are The Steps To Joining Reliv International?
There are 2 ways to join the company:
Join As A Customer
Retail Customer
People who are occasional buyers of Reliv products can enjoy the convenience of having them shipped directly to their houses.
Preferred Customer
A customer will get a 15% discount when he signs up as a Preferred Customer.
Following this initial purchase, all subsequent orders will receive a 10% discount, subject to yearly renewal.
Join As A Distributor
One can get a 20-40% discount/profit level on products upon joining as a Distributor.
To get started, the fee to pay is $20.
What Is The Difference Between A Preferred Customer And A Distributor?
Preferred Customers and Distributors receive a 10% discount off the Suggested Retail Price when ordering products.
A Preferred Customer is a customer who uses Reliv products regularly and has registered with the company.
They pay a $10 annual registration fee and complete a registration that requires only simple contact information.
They get a 10% discount on products they use when they become a Preferred Customer.
They may receive information about the products, science, and wellness on a regular basis.
They don’t “accumulate” volume points, and anyone they talk to about Reliv International is directed to their Distributor.
A Distributor, on the other hand, is also a consumer of Reliv products, and they buy products at a 10% discount off the Suggested Retail Price.
They get a Distributor Kit that includes everything they need to get their business up and running, as well as a quarterly magazine and support.
The cost of their kit is included in their $40 enrollment fee.
A Distributor can buy Reliv products and then sell them to others, making a 10% profit.
One other benefit for the Distributor makes a significant long-term difference.
They accumulate volume over their lifetime.
This volume includes any products they order as well as any products their customers and Distributors order.
They will advance to the Affiliate level once the total product ordered reaches $750 and they have at least ONE customer or Distributor registered with the company who has also placed an order with Reliv International.
The Affiliate level allows you to earn money in a whole new way: wholesale profit!
One can get a 25% discount on Reliv products when he becomes an affiliate.
He will get a quarter-percentage point for every dollar spent by retail customers.
On items ordered by Preferred Customers, the member will also make a 15% profit.
In addition, any products moving through any Distributors in one’s group will earn him a 15% Wholesale Profit.
This equates to a 15% profit on products they buy and a 15% profit on products their customers buy.
How Much Does It Cost To Join Reliv International?
To get started, one needs to spend between $100 and $1,000. Here’s how it works:
Sign-up Cost:
MLMs charge a fee to become a distributor so you don’t just try to buy at a discount. This is usually a small fee, less than $100.
Starter Packs:
This is where the majority of the startup costs are incurred.
To make money, one needs products, which he must purchase from Reliv International.
The product packs typically range in price from $100 to $1,500.
Always opt for the less expensive pack before purchasing the more expensive one.
Reliv International Employee Reviews
Research shows that happy employees tend to be more productive.
A team from the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford has conducted research that provides evidence of this, showing that happier individuals tend to produce better quality work.
It’s also worth noting that happy employees can lead to satisfied customers, which can positively impact a business’s bottom line.
Your business will fail no matter how good your product or how brilliant your idea is if no one wants to buy it.
According to a study conducted by a pharmaceutical company, customer loyalty increased when employees were happy and engaged.
Consider how you would feel if you had to meet with someone who is unhappy and dislikes their job.
The meeting becomes tedious and unpleasant as a result of this attitude.
You may find yourself looking forward to the meeting if the salesperson or account manager is genuinely cheerful and pleasant.
You’ll find that customers who want to work with your company are more likely to buy your products.
Now take a look at the Reliv International Employee Reviews on Indeed.com to see how happy their employees are.
There are a total of 21 employee reviews for Reliv International on Indeed.com.
Reliv International received an overall average of 4-star employee rating.
And based on the employee reviews, here is the breakdown of the overall ratings:
- 5-star rating – given by 11 employees
- 4-star rating – given by 4 employees
- 3-star rating – given by 3 employees
- 2-star rating – given by 2 employees
- 1-star rating – given by 1 employee
And the ratings per category are:
- 4.3-star rating for Work/Life Balance
- 3.8-star rating for Compensation/Benefits
- 3.2-star rating for Job Security/Advancement
- 3.8-star rating for Management
- 3.8-star rating for Culture
Reliv International Scam Review: What Are The Customers Saying?
There are 41 Reliv International customer reviews in Trustpilot.
- 56% of the customers gave an Excellent rating
- 12% of the customers gave a Great rating
- 7% of the customers gave an Average rating
- 5% of the customers gave a Poor rating
- 20% of the customers gave a Bad rating
Reliv International Review: Pros And Cons
Pros:
Reliv Has Been In Existence For 30 Years.
The MLM industry is known for the frequent launch and disappearance of companies. However, 30 years in business indicates that the company has withstood the test of time and is unlikely to disappear abruptly.
They Have Good Products That Have Health Benefits For The Body.
Reliv’s products have a lot of positive feedback and could be just as good as what you’d find in the store.
It Also Has A More Than Average Commission.
When you buy from Reliv, you also get a substantial discount, and when you sell Reliv’s products, you can earn anywhere from 20% to 40%.
Cons:
Reliv Has A Low Success Rate.
On average, Reliv distributors earn approximately $100 annually, a low success rate. The effort to make $100 may not seem worthwhile, and only a tiny fraction (about 3%) of those who work with Reliv can earn an average American salary.
The Health And Wellness Market Is Crowded.
MLM and non-MLM health companies can be found almost anywhere. People will have their favorite brands and it will be difficult to persuade them to switch.
Expensive Products.
Once more, the health and wellness industry is highly competitive, making it challenging to persuade individuals to purchase your pricey health products when cheaper alternatives are available.
Self-Promotion.
A drawback of MLMs is that they often rely on self-promotion and spamming tactics to sell and share their products online. This can be awkward and uncomfortable for many people.
History Of Lawsuits.
Reliv has been involved in legal disputes, specifically in cases where their products contain higher lead levels than what is legally allowed.
Reliv International MLM Review: Final Thoughts
Reliv International is not considered a scam but a challenging business opportunity with a low success rate. It’s important to differentiate between a scam and a suboptimal business venture, and Reliv International falls into the latter category.
While the chances of making significant money are low, the decision to join Reliv International ultimately lies with the individual.
There are far better ways to make money than to do the Reliv International business. But if you are an avid user of their products and just after a passive income, then there is something to gain in this business opportunity for you. Just do not quit your day job.
Are There Alternatives To Reliv International?
Yes, there are plenty of MLM companies to choose from if you want to pursue this business model. Here are just a few:
Is Reliv International A Legit MLM Company Or A Scam?
So, time for the $1,000,000 question: is Reliv 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.
Read Our In Depth Breakdown Of The Top 5 OppReal Estate Courses For 2024
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”.
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.
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 #1 Recommendation For Making Money Online In 2024?
I’ve personally tried all of the major online business models:
- I’ve sold fidget spinners through Amazon FBA
- I’ve drop-shipped 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 them.
If you read the contracts, they can kick you out 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 profit 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 biz 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 Reliv, 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.
