Young Living MLM Review – Can You Really Make Money From Essential Oil?

Many people currently feel that it may be safer to work from home. It's not always possible. But companies like Young Living make it very attractive. In this Young Living MLM review, we'll look behind the scenes to find out if it's a money maker or a money eater. Let's start with some information about the company.

What is Young Living MLM?

Young Living is a multinational multi-level marketing (MLM) company based in Utah. It was founded in 1993 by D. Gary Young and Mary Young. The product line consists of essential oils, diffusers, body care products, and other related products. 

In 2020, the company had a record year with sales of $2.2 billion. In early April 2021, it was ranked seventh on the Direct Selling News' (DSN) Global 100 list. This organization recognizes direct selling companies for their sales success.

Are Young Living Products Worth Their Price?

Let's take a sample of what Young Living has to offer. Below are four different essential oils. One of the most commonly used essential oils is lavender and tea tree oil. In this case, they are combined into an essential oil called The Australian Ericifolia essential oil.

This product costs $48.03 on the Young Living website. It comes in a 5-milliliter bottle, which is less than half an ounce of essential oil.

Lavender and tea tree oils have many useful applications. They are usually diluted in water or other liquids and can also be used in diffusers. Lavender oil has been used to treat anxiety, fungal infections, allergies, insomnia, and more. Tea tree oil is used to treat minor cuts, lung problems, acne, burns, and much more.

The personal volume for this product (PV) is 36.5. Your commissions are based on the PV, not the selling price of the products. Each product has its own PV. 

To qualify for commissions (50 PV per month), you would need to sell 1.5 essential oils per month. Sounds reasonable, right?

But let's come back to the price. This product is listed at $48.03 for a half ounce! You can find a similar product with organic certification on Amazon in an 18-milliliter bottle (5 fl. oz.) for only $11.99. Twice the amount of essential oil for one-fifth the price. Are these products worth the price? Probably not.

The Young Living Opportunity

You can choose from nine different starter kits. To get started, you must purchase a starter kit. There are online workshops, training sessions, and other events that will teach you about the benefits of the products, how to sell them, the structure of the compensation plan, and more.

As an Associate, you are part of Enroller's downline. Everyone you recruit becomes part of your downline. This way you can earn more money -through recruitment. You earn an additional 8% of the revenue from everyone who sells products under you. You also earn 5% of the revenue from everyone your recruits recruit, 4% at the next level down.

How Much Does It Cost To Join Young Living?

As an absolute minimum, you need to buy a basic starter kit. Starter kit prices start at $29.95, and hidden costs include product samples, personal expenses such as travel, rent, phone and internet costs, training, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Can You Make Money With Young Living?

To make money, you need to sell products. A good idea is to get your customers to sign up for a subscription so they can qualify for reward points. This will give you a steady stream of sales and commissions. You also earn from every new customer who signs up with you. You earn a commission every time a new recruit buys a starter kit. 

You can earn money by promoting your products in social media groups, personal blogs and at parties.

Young Living makes no income guarantees. Eighty-eight percent of the sales force is represented by associates. Associates are on the lowest rung of the career ladder. The annual income for Associates is $0-$732 per year. At the top end, $732 equals $61 per month.

Pros of Young Living

Fast Start Program: You qualify for 25% commissions on total orders in the first three months, in addition to all base commissions. Great commissions for new distributors. But it's only good for three months.

Cash Bonuses: New distributors can receive a one-time $25 cash bonus for each new distributor if the new distributor purchases the Premium Starter Kit within the same month of signing up.

Various Sales Opportunities: Aside from hosting classes or parties in person, you can post your link on social media platforms, hold classes on Zoom, or run a sales booth at trade shows.

Cons of Young Living

Low commission rates: Commission rates for new distributors range from 5% to 8%, with the exception of the Fast Start Program and Start Living Kit bonuses.

High Commission Qualification: To qualify for commissions, a Distributor must generate at least 100 PV in a calendar month. 

Active Account Requirements: To avoid having your account canceled, Distributors must place an order every 12 months.

False Medical Claims: Young Living representatives have been found to give medical advice for which there is no scientific basis.

Class-Action Lawsuits: Some of Young Living's essential oils are labeled as "therapeutic-grade" but customers complained that they did not experience any of the promised benefits. In some cases, skin rashes and burns occurred. This led to a class action lawsuit.

Customer Complaints: According to the BBB (Better Business Bureau), there have been numerous complaints from customers who have not received refunds when requested, long delivery times, no confirmation number to track orders, multiple charges for the same order, and charges long after the customer has canceled their subscription service.

Is Young Living A Scam?

Multi-level marketing companies like Young Living do their best to stay away from the scam label. It's true that it's a very successful company that has made billions of dollars in recent years. It's probably not a scam. But from an Associate's point of view, it's a lot of hard work and the money you make will make little or no difference to your lifestyle.

Final Thoughts

These jobs where you sell products from home are very tempting because you can work whenever you want and as much as you want. But they rarely deliver what they promise. 

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