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List of multi-level marketing companies

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Original synthesis to sit alongside the encyclopedia article below. Not part of Wikipedia; verify facts on Wikipedia when precision matters.

The List of multi-level marketing companies is an English Wikipedia article that compiles notable multi-level marketing (MLM) businesses, alongside explanatory context about the MLM business model, which generates revenue through a network of independent distributors who earn commissions from their own retail sales and the sales of distributors they recruit into a hierarchical sales structure.

Key moments

  • 1940s–1950sFounding of early modern MLM companies including Nutrilite and Amway's precursor Ja-Ru Products
  • 1979U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issues ruling in FTC v. Amway, establishing legal guidelines for MLM operations in the United States
  • 2016FTC files formal charges against Herbalife, a prominent listed MLM, resulting in court-mandated restructuring of its business model
  • 2020sIncreased global regulatory scrutiny of MLM practices, with multiple jurisdictions updating consumer protection rules for the industry

Curatorial Guidelines and Notability Standards

The article’s editorial framework requires included MLM companies to have established notability via reliable third-party sources, such as significant market reach, official regulatory filings, or widespread mainstream media coverage. Entries may be removed if evidence shows they operate primarily as pyramid schemes that prioritize recruitment over legitimate retail sales, in line with Wikipedia’s content policies against misleading or fraudulent business representations.

Industry Context and Public Controversy

Multi-level marketing remains a highly debated business model. Critics argue that the vast majority of independent distributors do not turn a profit, with earnings concentrated at the top of the hierarchical structure. The list contextualizes these debates by including notes on regulatory actions, consumer complaints, and academic studies related to each listed company where available.

Global Reach and Sector Diversity

The compiled list features MLM firms across a wide range of industry sectors, including wellness and dietary supplements, cosmetics and personal care, household goods, and weight management products. Entries are based in over 30 countries globally, with many major brands operating across multiple continents to reach international distributor networks.

This is a list of companies which use multi-level marketing (also known as network marketing,[1][2][3][4][5] direct selling,[3][6] referral marketing,[7] and pyramid selling)[8][9][10][11][12] for most of their sales.

Active

Defunct

  • Beautycounter (dissolved in 2024)
  • Betterware (placed into administration in 2018) [23]
  • Black Oxygen Organics (shut down in November 2021)[24]
  • BurnLounge (shut down as pyramid scheme by FTC in 2012)
  • Equinox International (dissolved in 2001)
  • European Grouping of Marketing Professionals/CEDIPAC SA (dissolved in 1995)
  • European Home Retail (dissolved in 2007)
  • Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (dissolved in 2013)
  • FundAmerica (bankrupt in 1990)[25]
  • Holiday Magic (dissolved in 1974)
  • House of Lloyd (a.k.a. "Christmas Around the World") (filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002)
  • Kleeneze (went into administration in 2018)
  • The Longaberger Company (dissolved in 2018)[26]
  • Metabolife (dissolved in 2005)
  • MonaVie (went into foreclosure 2015)
  • Nouveau Riche (real estate investment college) (dissolved in 2010)
  • NXIVM[27][28]
  • Seasilver (ceased trading in 2006)
  • Solavei (dissolved in 2015)[29]
  • Royal Tongan Limu (dissolved in 2003)
  • Sunshine Empire (dissolved in 2009)
  • Telexfree (bankrupt in 2014)
  • United Sciences of America (dissolved in 1987)
  • WakeUpNow (dissolved in 2015)

References

  1. Michael G. Pratt, José Antonio Rosa. Transforming work-family conflict into commitment in network marketing organizations The Academy of Management Journal, 2003^
  2. Peter J. Vander Nat, William W. Keep. Marketing Fraud: An Approach for Differentiating Multilevel Marketing from Pyramid Schemes Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 2002^
  3. Bill Merrilees, Dale Miller. Direct Selling in the West and East: The Relative Roles of Product and Relationship (Guanxi) Drivers Journal of Business Research, 1999^
  4. Peter S. Cahn. Building down and Dreaming up: Finding Faith in a Mexican Multilevel Marketer American Ethnologist, 2006^
  5. Wendy Marcason. What Are the Facts and Myths about Mangosteen? Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2006^
  6. Debra A. Valentine. Pyramid Schemes FTC, May 13, 1998, retrieved July 30, 2015^
  7. multi-level marketing (a.k.a. network marketing & referral marketing) – The Skeptic's Dictionary Skepdic.com, 1991-12-09, retrieved 2010-02-04^
  8. Paul Edwards. Franchising & licensing: two powerful ways to grow your business in any economy Tarcher, 1997^
  9. Brian Clegg. The invisible customer: strategies for successive customer service down the wire Kogan Page, 2000^
  10. Philip Higgs. Rethinking Our World Juta Academic, 2007^
  11. Trevor Kitching. Purchasing scams and how to avoid them Gower Publishing Company, 2001^
  12. Martin Mendelsohn. The guide to franchising Cengage Learning Business Press, 2004^
  13. Ronaleen R. Roha. The Ups and Downs of "Downlines" Kiplinger's Personal Finance, November 1991^
  14. Megan Tatum. Easy money and exploitation: should grocery brands explore multi-level marketing? The Grocer, 28 November 2019, retrieved 10 April 2020^
  15. Hester Lacey. Success Story: 8 Hints From The Publisher Who Said No To Amazon Forbes, 30 January 2014, retrieved 10 April 2020^
  16. Darren Rovell. Beach Body Grows Exponentially Thanks to Network Marketing CNBC, 31 January 2011, retrieved 2015-03-28^
  17. Tom Harvey. Judge dismisses much of lawsuit between rival Utah 'oils' companies The Salt Lake Tribune, October 23, 2014, retrieved July 22, 2015^
  18. Phyllis Berman. If You Believe Forbes, October 11, 2004^
  19. DSN Global 100: The Top Direct Selling Companies in the World Direct Selling News, June 2010, retrieved 2010-11-15^
  20. Ressner, Jeffrey. Industries: State of Reliefs Time, 2006-10-01^
  21. Rupert Jones. Utility Warehouse: is its 'life-changing' scheme really ab fab? The Guardian, 7 December 2019, retrieved 5 January 2024^
  22. Michelle Celarier. Verve energy drink turning college students into sales force New York Post, 29 September 2013, retrieved 2015-03-28^
  23. Robert Dalling. Spoon rest and egg separator catalogue company Betterware has folded walesonline, 2018-04-30, retrieved 2020-02-20^
  24. 'Magic dirt': How the internet fueled, and defeated, the pandemic's weirdest company NBC News, retrieved 4 December 2021^
  25. Gregory Crouch. FundAmerica Files for Bankruptcy, Cites 2 Overseas Creditors Los Angeles Times, 18 August 1990^
  26. Patty Penke. The Iconic Longaberger Company Shuts Down: Will Those Collectible Baskets Be Worthless Now? retrieved 8 October 2019^
  27. Women say they were branded and traumatized by secret group's doctors CBSNews.com, CBS, 20 October 2017, retrieved 13 November 2017^
  28. James Odato. Lawyer attacks NXIVM 'scheme' TimesUnion.com, The Hearst Corporation, retrieved 13 November 2017^
  29. Taylor Soper. Multi-level marketing mobile service provider Solavei shuts down due to 'competitive landscape' GeekWire, retrieved 31 December 2015^