Better Way Designs MLM Review - A Great Cause With Challenging Profits

If you are someone who enjoys helping out your fellow man, you may be intrigued by the chance to sell goods in your spare time that are made by victims. This is certainly a different kind of business opportunity. In this Better Way Designs MLM review, we'll look beyond the company's mission and the products to see if this is a moneymaker for you. A good cause may not translate into a good income. 

What is Better Way Designs MLM?

Many companies are involved in charity work and make contributions to worthy causes. Better Way Designs' mission is to sell products made by victims of the sex trafficking industry who have been freed. Products are sold through independent sales representatives called Freedom Fighters at Freedom Parties. The products are made in India, Cambodia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, and other countries. 

BWD partners with organizations that are aligned with their mission to give them access to the North American market--a market they may not have access to otherwise.

The company was started in 2001 by Bill Leep and his wife, Joanna. It was originally called Better Way Imports. In 2018, the company rebranded and became Better Way Designs (BWD), a multi-level marketing (MLM) company based in Michigan. They are a member of the Fair-Trade Federation and are a Certified B-corporation.

Unfortunately, there's no public information about annual revenue or the number of Freedom Fighters in this organization. But let's take a look at the available products.

Are Better Way Designs' Products Worth Their Price? 

BWD has a variety of products in its catalog. Products include skincare, apparel, kitchen products, pet products, jewelry, and more.

The products above are (left to right) a trivet for $32, handmade mugs for $35 each, and napkin rings for $31 (set of 4).

There are also hours listed on the products. I'm guessing that this indicates how long it takes to make each piece. 

Trivet: The trivet looks like it's made from rope but the website doesn't say what the material is. It comes in only one size and color.

Mugs: There are five different mugs to choose from. Each holds 8-10 ounces. They are wheel-thrown individually, then glazed and fired. They are microwavable and dishwasher safe. Since they are handmade the size and shape may vary. There's no time indicated on them.

Napkin Rings: The napkin rings are coiled brass rings.

The trivet and mugs are on the expensive side. The napkin rings for $31 seems reasonable. 

Product Reviews 

It's hard to find definitive information about any of the products. In fact, I couldn't find any actual opinions. I did find plenty of likes and shares on the Facebook page for different products. Unfortunately, no one actually left a comment.

The Better Way Designs Opportunity 

To become a Freedom Fighter, you need to register on the website and purchase a starter kit. The starter kit contains catalogs, order forms, a training manual, envelopes, brochures, and postcards. Everything you need to get started.

Freedom Fighters sell products at Freedom Parties. Products can also be sold through social media such as Facebook.

How Much Does It Cost To Join Better Way Designs?

The most inexpensive starter kit is $199. The products and materials in the kit are said to be worth $500. 

In order to maintain website access, you will also have to pay $12.99 a month.

To keep your active status, you need to have $600 in net sales within a 3-month period. This means sales after discounts and doesn't include shipping, handling, or taxes.

Other costs would be hidden costs such as Internet service, phone service, gas, and car maintenance. You may even have to pay for taxes, shipping, and handling of customer orders. 

Can You Make Money With Better Way Designs?

As you can see below, there are three different starter kits to choose from. The least expensive one is $199.

  Below is what is included in the Business Level 1 Starter Kit.

According to the Freedom Fighter Agreement Form, Freedom Fighters are paid commissions on the 15th of each month or the nearest weekday to the 15th of the month.

There's no real way to know if you can make money with this particular opportunity because there's no information available. But, with all MLMs, your income revolves around selling products. There's no base salary. And it's no secret that at least 50% of all independent distributors that work in the MLM world make little money. In fact, many make no money at all and never make back the money paid for a starter kit.

Pros 

BBB Complaints: According to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) there's only been one complaint lodged against Better Way Designs and it was for a back-ordered product. It's not BBB accredited but it has an A+ rating.

Money-back Guarantee: All products have a money-back guarantee. If a product is returned within 45 days of purchase, the customer can receive either a refund or an exchange. The customer is responsible for the return postage charges.

Well Respected: Due to the nature of the company, they are well respected within the community.

Variety of Products: there are several different types of products available so the customer base can be a pretty wide one. Plus, they are all hand-made.

Anyone Can Join: You don't need to have any special skills to sign up as a Freedom Fighter. You only need to be at least 18 years of age.

Safe Working Environments: The people who work for BWD's suppliers are provided with a safe working environment, child care, health care, education, and a chance to be independent.

Cons 

Limited information: It's quite difficult to tell what kind of money can be made here since there's no commission information or income disclosure statement available online.

Expensive: The starter kit is quite expensive. There are also plenty of products for customers to choose from but some are expensive.

Product Limitations: Some products are in limited supply or end up back-ordered. This can be annoying to customers.

Is Better Way Designs a Scam? 

This company is definitely not a scam but it is a multi-level marketing company. You are working on a commission basis only so if you don't sell products you don't get paid. 

Final Thoughts 

It's a noble cause to turn tragedy into financial independence. I appreciate what they are doing here and it's hard to find fault with the company's mission. But at the end of the day, they are a direct selling company. If you look at it from a Freedom Fighter's point of view, it's a difficult hill to climb especially with the lack of information available.

 Direct selling opportunities like this one make it difficult to earn money. If you'd like to have your own business where you call the shots, check out my #1 recommendation. You'll get a website, 24/7 support, training, hosting, and incredible tools. Plus, I'll help you!