So, you’ve probably seen the Instagram posts. Maybe it was a high school friend you haven't talked to in a decade, or a neighbor who suddenly started posting about "clean" skincare and "fizz sticks." They look happy. They look successful. They're talking about financial freedom and being a "CEO mom." It sounds great, right? But then you see the words Arbonne multi level marketing buried in a hashtag or mentioned in a disclaimer, and you start to wonder what's actually happening behind the curtain.
MLMs are polarizing. People either love them or think they're a total scam.
Arbonne has been around since 1980. Founded by Petter Mørck in Switzerland, the brand eventually moved its headquarters to Irvine, California. It’s a legacy company in the direct selling world. They sell vegan, botanical-based wellness and beauty products. But the way they sell them—through a vast network of Independent Consultants—is where things get complicated.
Honestly, the "business opportunity" is what draws most people in. You aren't just buying a mascara; you're buying into a lifestyle. But the reality of making money in Arbonne is a lot more nuanced than the social media highlights suggest.
The Reality of the Arbonne Income Disclosure
If you want the truth about any MLM, you have to look at the math. Companies are legally required to publish an Income Disclosure Statement (IDS). Arbonne’s numbers are public. They’re also pretty sobering.
In 2023, the vast majority of people who signed up as Arbonne Independent Consultants didn't make much. In the U.S., about 61% of consultants were "Active," meaning they actually tried to sell or recruit. Of those active consultants, a massive chunk stayed at the entry level. The average annual earnings for a typical consultant at the starting level are often less than what you’d make working a single shift at a fast-food joint.
- Independent Consultant: The base level. Most people stay here.
- District Manager: The first real "promotion." You might make a few hundred bucks a month.
- Area Manager: This is where the "willable" income starts—meaning you can pass your business to your heirs.
- Regional Vice President (RVP): This is the level where the famous white Mercedes-Benz bonus kicks in.
- National Vice President (NVP): The top of the mountain.
But here’s the kicker: Less than 2% of consultants ever reach the RVP level or higher.
It’s a pyramid-shaped success rate. That’s just the nature of the beast. Most people who join Arbonne multi level marketing are actually just "preferred clients" who signed up for a discount but got talked into the consultant role. They might sell a few things to their mom or a best friend, then realize that selling $400 worth of protein powder every month is actually really hard work.
What Are You Actually Selling?
The products are the backbone. If the products sucked, the company wouldn't have lasted forty years. Arbonne focuses on "30 Days to Healthy Living" kits, vegan protein, and anti-aging skincare like the AgeWell line.
They lean heavily into the "clean" beauty movement. They ban over 2,000 ingredients. This appeals to people who are worried about parabens, sulfates, and animal testing. Because they are a B Corp, they have to meet high standards of social and environmental performance. That’s a legitimate feather in their cap that many other MLMs don't have.
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But they're pricey. You’re asking people to pay a premium. A bag of Arbonne protein is significantly more expensive than what you’d find at Costco or even Whole Foods. To sell it, you have to be a bit of a true believer. You have to convince people that the "botanical" quality justifies the cost.
The Social Media Grind
Gone are the days of living room Tupperware parties. Today, Arbonne is a digital game.
Consultants use "attraction marketing." You’ve seen it. It’s the photo of a laptop by a pool with the caption: "So grateful I can work from anywhere!" It's "lifestyle" content. The goal is to make people ask, “How do you do that?” Once they ask, the "discovery call" happens.
This is where the Arbonne multi level marketing structure gets criticized. Critics, like those in the "anti-MLM" community on YouTube (think creators like CC Suarez or Hannah Alonzo), argue that this type of marketing is deceptive. It sells a dream of easy money that isn't easy at all.
You aren't just a salesperson. You're a recruiter. To make the "quit your 9-to-5" kind of money, you need a "downline." You need to find people who also want to sell, who will then find people to sell. You get a percentage of their sales. If your downline stops buying or selling, your paycheck shrinks. It’s a treadmill. You have to keep recruiting just to stay in the same place.
Is It a Pyramid Scheme?
Legally? No.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines a pyramid scheme primarily as an organization where money is made by recruiting others rather than selling products to the public. Because Arbonne sells actual physical products to people who aren't in the business (retail customers), they stay on the right side of the law.
But the line is thin.
In 2017, the FTC sent a warning letter to Arbonne regarding some of the health and income claims their consultants were making on social media. People were out there claiming Arbonne could cure diseases or make you a millionaire overnight. The company had to tighten its compliance. Now, they are very strict about what consultants can say. You'll see "income disclaimers" on almost every post from high-level earners now.
The Cult of Positivity
One thing people don't talk about enough is the culture. It's intense.
When you join, you're suddenly part of a "sisterhood." There’s a lot of personal development talk. "Mindset is everything." "If you fail, it’s because you didn't work hard enough."
This "toxic positivity" can be a double-edged sword. For some, the community is life-changing. It gives them confidence and a social circle. For others, it’s isolating. If you decide to quit, or if you voice concerns about the business model, the community can turn cold. Suddenly, you're "negative" or "not a big enough dreamer."
Leaving an MLM can feel like a breakup. You lose the business, but you also lose the friends you made while building it.
The Hidden Costs
Most people look at the $49 or $99 sign-up fee and think that’s the only risk. It’s not.
To stay "active" and eligible for commissions, you often have to hit certain sales volumes. Many consultants end up "garage qualifying." This is when you're a few hundred dollars short of your goal for the month, so you just buy the product yourself to hit the target.
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Then there are the samples. The catalogs. The tickets to the annual conference in Las Vegas (GTC - Global Training Conference). The gas for driving to meetups. The "business tools."
Many consultants spend more on these overhead costs than they ever make in commissions. If you’re doing Arbonne multi level marketing as a hobby, that’s fine. But if you're doing it to save your family’s finances, the math often doesn't add up once you factor in the expenses.
What to Do If You're Considering Joining
Don't sign up because you're caught up in the "vibes" of a Zoom call. This is a business decision. Treat it like one.
First, ask for the Income Disclosure Statement. Read it. Not the parts the recruiter highlights, but the small print at the bottom. Look at the "average" earnings, not the "top 1%."
Second, try the products at full price first. If you wouldn't buy the protein powder or the skincare without the "business opportunity" attached to it, you’re going to have a miserable time trying to sell it to others. You can't fake passion for a $60 serum for very long.
Third, set a "quit date" and a budget. Decide how much money you are willing to "invest" (lose) before you call it quits. If you haven't made a profit in six months, will you keep going? Be honest with yourself.
Fourth, look at the market. The wellness space is incredibly crowded. You aren't just competing with other Arbonne consultants; you're competing with Sephora, Ulta, Amazon, and Target. What makes your "shop" better? If your answer is just "it's vegan," you might need a stronger pitch.
Actionable Steps for Potential Consultants
If you are still leaning toward joining, or if you're already in and struggling, here is how to approach it with your eyes wide open:
- Track Every Cent: Use a spreadsheet. Record every dollar that goes out (products, shipping, training, samples) and every dollar that comes in. Most people ignore the "out" part, which is how they end up in debt.
- Focus on Retail, Not Just Recruiting: The most sustainable way to run any business is to have loyal customers who love the product. If your only "customers" are the people you recruited, your business is a house of cards.
- Audit Your Time: If you’re spending 20 hours a week "working" but only making $50 a month, your hourly wage is $2.50. You'd be better off working almost any other part-time job.
- Research the Competition: Go to a local store and look at the ingredients and prices of similar products. Be prepared for customers to ask why they should pay Arbonne's prices.
- Maintain Your Non-MLM Friendships: Do not turn every coffee date into a pitch. If your friends feel like "prospects," you will eventually lose them. Keep your business and your social life in separate buckets as much as possible.
The Arbonne multi level marketing model works for a tiny sliver of people who have massive networks, incredible sales skills, and the timing to be at the right place at the right height of a trend. For everyone else, it’s usually a very expensive hobby. There's nothing wrong with a hobby, as long as you don't expect it to pay your mortgage.
Success in this industry isn't just about "wanting it more." It's about market saturation, math, and the ability to handle constant rejection. If you go in expecting a "get rich quick" scheme, you're going to be disappointed. If you go in because you genuinely love the fizz sticks and want a 35% discount, you'll probably be just fine.