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1,357 Ways to Make a More Money than in MLM

*MLM includes multi-level or network marketing, pyramid or direct (chain) selling, 2-ups, etc.

Unmask the Truth about MLM
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See articles below on MLM legality, loss rates, attrition, price comparisons, etc.

Consulting And Expert Witness Services

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Welcome to MLM - the Truth

You came to the right place for authoritative answers to your questions and reliable guidance in making decisions about MLM participation and/or help with recovery. This information is based on the most extensive research ever done on MLM compensation plans and profitability, on distinguishing characteristics separating legitimate direct selling from pyramid or chain selling, and on the deceptions used to sell product-based pyramid schemes.

 

Jon M. Taylor, Consultant & Expert Witness

Jon M. Taylor

Dr. Jon M. Taylor (MBA, PhD) has founded over 40 home businesses, focusing on sales and marketing, and consulted on many others. He has taught college classes on entrepreneurship, ethics, management, and personal finance. Also, his experience in MLM; communications with top MLM executives, law enforcement, and thousands of inquirers; consumer advocacy; and wide-ranging research on MLM - network marketing make him the premier consultant and expert witness on all forms of MLM, pyramid/chain selling, and product-based pyramid schemes.

 

Review Jon Taylor's bio and Vita.

More on consulting and expert witness services offered by Dr. Taylor to assist attorneys, law enforcement agencies, investment advisors, etc.

Key Legal Issues related to MLM

Law enforcement, regulations, and new legislation affecting MLM

DSA vs. Consumers

 

Consumer Awareness Institute

Our mission is to seek and share the truth about MLM (endless chain or pyramid selling schemes), through research, analysis, and feedback from participants who do real world market testing. Our numerous research studies and reports are posted on this web site, which has received visitors from over 140 countries. Our evaluations of over 350 MLMs and of their profitability has guided thousands of consumers to make better decisions regarding home income opportunities.

We have responded to thousands of inquiries from all parts of the world. We have also worked to discourage unwise legislation that would weaken laws against pyramid schemes – and to encourage 2nd and 3rd world nations to enact laws to protect consumers from the worst schemes coming from supposedly enlightened industrialized nations. In conducting his research, Dr. Taylor did not act alone, but consulted with top experts from government, MLM firms and the “direct selling” industry, universities, and non-profit consumer advocacy groups.

 

Research Portfolio

Opinions abound. Learn the truth about MLM based on objective research on success and loss rates, legality, ethics, etc. - for determining whether or not a particular MLM is a viable income option - or just another scam. Consumer protection agencies, attorneys, educators, and researchers will also benefit. This research – the most extensive ever done on MLM as a business model – includes:

  • Surveys of over 300 tax professionals in four states (those who handle the taxes of MLM participants)
  • Court records for actions against MLM companies
  • Review of actions by the Federal Trade Commission
  • Surveys of consumers in areas of intense MLM participation
  • Surveys of presidents of leading MLM's and communications with other top MLM officials
  • Analyses of MLM companies' reports of average incomes of distributors, as well as published financial reports
  • Marketing materials of MLM companies
  • Correspondence & meetings with officials from the FTC & other federal & state agencies
  • World-wide feedback from thousands of MLM victims
  • Insider documents, average income reports of MLM participants, etc.
  • Surveys of current and past MLM distributors from dozens of MLM programs
  • Evaluations of over 300 MLM programs, based on analyses of their compensation plans
  • Experiential one-year test of a prominent MLM program, including tracking of costs and income
  • Research on hundreds of packaged home business options
  • Comparative analysis of identifying characteristics of direct selling, no-product and product-based pyramid schemes (MLMs)
  • Comparative analyses of odds of profiting, no-product and product-based pyramid schemes, and games of chance in Las Vegas
 

New Reports & Developments

Recent feedback from visitors to this web site provide valuable insights for persons being recruited into MLM.

New report: MLMs Smoking Guns: Compelling evidence has emerged showing MLM as a business model to be flawed, uneconomic, and fraudulent

Newly revised: Typical Misrepresentations Used in MLM Recruitment  – at least 40 of them!

New – Prevent losses: If joining an MLM, use MLM income (profit or loss) TRACKER 

Consumer Alert: Abandoning consumer protection against unfair and deceptive practices endemic to MLM, the FTC is yielding to DSA/MLM pressures to exempt MLMs from having to disclose essential information that might help prospective recruits decide wisely whether or not to  participate. (see Item #7)

 

Consumer Guides, Media

1,357 Ways to Make More Money than in MLM

5-step Do-it-yourself MLM Evaluation - Surefire tool for avoiding schemes with a 99% loss rate

Frequently Asked Questions and Straight Answers about MLM

Shocking MLM Statistics – You can do
better in Vegas!

Download free e-book: "FIVE RED FLAGS" explains how and why MLM is flawed, fraudulent, and a losing proposition – except for founders and those at or near the top of the pyramid of participants. (44 pages, 2008 edition).

Beware of 5 Red Flags - Summary Report

Typical Misrepresentations Used in MLM Recruitment

MLM Income (profit or loss) TRACKER

Summary of Key Conclusions, Based on Over 300 MLMs and 15 Years Worldwide Feedback

Actions Victims Can Take- Stop! Don't do it—

12 Steps to Deprogram and Rehabilitate MLM Victims

Other consumer guides to help protect against losses

Podcast of Jon Taylor on MLM - Interviewed by Rob McNealy, Startup Story Radio

The Downline - a documentary about MLM recruitment

Humor & Satire, -- "How to Start a Pyramid Scheme and Get away with it, "Parable of the Missing Children," MLM cartoons, etc.

 

Research, Presentations

MLMs Smoking Guns: Compelling evidence has emerged showing MLM as a business model to be flawed, uneconomic, and fraudulent

Taxes Tell Who's Profiting – It's not the new recruits

High Cost of MLM Products

Average Earnings of MLM Participants – Actually, 99% of participants LOSE money!

Pay Plans Analyzed – List of MLMs we have analyzed

Nu Skin's Naughty Numbers

Other Helpful Research

Recommended Links

 

Special Markets

Direct sales persons & seekers of home business opportunities

Asian countries, and worldwide markets

Utah - and LDS

Translations into foreign languages

 

Over 350 MLMs Evaluated

Below are a few samples of MLMs evaluated by Dr. Taylor: (Place curser over name for applicable links.)

 

See the full list of over 350 MLMs evaluated to the date below.

 
 Last updated January 9, 2010