Reliv International Review – Why You’re Likely To Lose Money If You Join
Let me guess, you’re here because someone has introduced you to Reliv International and you want to know if you can indeed make a decent income with this company.
That person probably told you that it’s easy to earn a part-time or even a full-time income if you become an Independent Distributor.
I mean, the company has been around for over three decades, and if longevity and stability is what you’re looking for, you’ve got that box checked.
But despite the company’s solid reputation, you’ll be surprised to know that the majority of people who joined this company in the last 30 years ended up not making any money.
Furthermore, many customers have expressed their concerns (and complaints) against the company’s soy-based products, which we will discuss in a while.
So, in this Reliv International review we will be discussing if the products are sell-able and whether or not it is worth joining as a distributor.
Let’s get right into it…
Review Summary
Website: reliv.com
Founders: Robert and Sandy Montgomery
Price to Join Opportunity: $20 + 15/mth + monthly product orders and $40/year membership renewal fee
Recommended? No, unless you love the products. You may want to check this out instead.
Overall Income Opportunity Rating:
Quick Summary: The very first thing to consider before joining Reliv is to try the products and see if it works. Your job as a distributor is to promote these products to other people and needless to say, you can’t sell something you don’t truly believe in, right?
And if the products did work, the next thing you need to consider is if you have what it takes to be successful with this company. The reason I say this is because the success rate of Reliv International Distributors is very low, and there is a high chance of you losing money (as seen in the income disclosure below).
Nevertheless, whether you decide to join Reliv International or not, below are some training materials for you…
FOR RELIV INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS
IF RELIV INTERNATIONAL IS NOT FOR YOU
What is Reliv International?
Reliv International, also known as Reliv, is a Multi-level Marketing (MLM) company founded by couple Robert and Sandy Montgomery way back in 1988.
The company sells a variety of health and wellness supplements, one of which is a formula developed by Dr. Theodore Kalogris, Reliv Classic.
The Montgomery’s claimed to be the first people who enjoyed the health benefits of the said products, and with the intention of sharing the good news to the world, Reliv International was born.
Reliv is a widely recognized brand in the MLM industry. It garnered various awards, one of which is being named Top 14 in Forbes Magazine’s “200 Best Small Companies” in 2006.
Prestigious awards aside, the company did accumulate a lot of heat from various customers regarding their products. In fact, a Reliv International lawsuit was filed way back in 2013, which we will discuss more in a moment.
Nevertheless, the company also offers a business opportunity where selling Reliv products and building a sales team (recruitment) will be the primary source of your income.
But before we discuss how much you can earn as a Reliv International Distributor, let’s take a closer look at the facts of the products you’ll soon be promoting.
Is Reliv FDA Approved?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not evaluated Reliv International products since these products are labelled as “Dietary Supplements“.
No law requires dietary supplement companies to be proven safe by the FDA, and they are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or alleviate the effects of any diseases.
As a distributor of this company, it’s your obligation to correctly inform your customers and not start a misconception.
But what about the customers and distributors that says otherwise?
Improper/False Reliv Product Claims
Contrary to what many distributors say that it’s “absolutely safe” to consume these products, the company itself advised consumers to consult a health professional first before taking any of them.
And talking about stuff distributors say, one of their favorite pitch is that Reliv is recommended by the American Anti-Cancer Institute (AACI), a non-government organization that supposedly helps educate people on how to eradicate cancer.
While I have nothing to say about the reputation of this organization, AACI indeed recommends the Reliv International product line to cancer patients as alternative treatments.
However, one source says that AACI recommends products on its website in exchange for cash “donations.”
If you’re curious about AACI’s #1 product recommendation to support patients, it’s Kangen water from another MLM company called Enagic.
Nonetheless, I haven’t been able to verify if AACI did accept any cash donation from Reliv International or any company, so take this info as it is.
But it didn’t end there!
Reliv International Lawsuits, Warnings, and Complaints
1. Soy on Reliv Products
The biggest issue “haters” have against Reliv International is its soy-based products. Many products of the company, including Reliv’s flagship product “Reliv Classic”, contains soy.
People are worried that the soy in these products can do more harm than good to consumers.
Now here’s the deal.
While this legume (long seedpod of a leguminous plant) can provide vitamins and nutrients that could supplement our dietary needs, there have also been plenty of reported cases where it caused problems to a person’s health.
Countless studies about the health implications of soy have been conducted, but to date, there is no definitive proof that soy is either good or bad to human beings.
So in your opinion, is soy good or bad? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Nonetheless, the fact is that there have been cases where customers suffered a serious disease by consuming the company products.
One source claims that a distributor “allegedly” died of cancer because of the soy present on the Reliv products she is taking.
However, I wasn’t able to find more information whether or not her cancer was indeed caused by the Reliv products she consumed.
Furthermore, if you really want to try these products, and even if you are not allergic to soy, it’s better to seek advice from a health professional first.
And as a distributor, you should always ask for allergens from your customers before you sell them any of your products to avoid any problems.
2. Lead on Reliv Products
A lawsuit was filed against the company in 2013 because, apparently, some of its products contain more lead than what’s considered safe for consumption.
The products cited in the lawsuit include Arthaffect, ReversAge, FibRestore, Reliv CardioSentials, and SoySentials.
Now, this is a more serious matter compared to the soy issue because lead is scientifically proven to cause cancer. (Source)
I haven’t been able to find any more information about this lawsuit, so it could still be open at the moment.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to get involved in a company which products are known to contain harmful chemicals.
3. Reliv Proprietary Blends
The company made it clear that its products contain “proprietary blends” made of different mixtures of ingredients that they didn’t reveal to the public.
I’m not saying this blend contains harmful ingredients, but if you have any substances that you are allergic to, you might want to make sure that it isn’t an active ingredient of this proprietary blend.
Unfortunately, this is referred to as the company’s “secret recipe” that makes their products “effective,” so it is unlikely you’ll know the formula even if it is for safety purposes.
And if ever your prospect would ask you the same question, you better find a good answer or else you’re sure to lose a customer.
What are the Reliv Products?
The company has a wide range of dietary supplements that you can sell to your customers from health and wellness, weight loss, and just recently, CBD oils.
Reliv International is also the exclusive provider of LunaRich products, a nutritional ingredient, made from non-GMO soybean varieties, that optimizes high-quality bioactive Lunasin.
Lunasin is said to be a soy peptide that can prevent the growth of cancer cells.
That being said, these are the current Reliv products as I was writing this review, in their respective categories and including the retail prices.
Core Nutrition
- Reliv Classic ($59) – Reliv’s flagship product advertised to provide your body with protein, vitamins, minerals, and super-powered antioxidants.
- Reliv Now with Whey ($59) – A balanced array of the most advanced ingredients along with 7 grams of whey-based protein.
- Reliv Now with Soy ($59) – Food supplement made with LunaRich and loaded with protein, vitamins, minerals, and super-powered antioxidants.
- Reliv Now for Kids ($36) – Provides essential nutrients for children ages 2–12 that support energy, mental performance, and overall wellness.
RLV Hemp Extracts
- RLV Hemp + Melatonin ($85) – 500 mg Full Spectrum Hemp Extract formulated with 3 mg of melatonin plus L-Tryptophan.
- RLV Hemp Full Spectrum 750 ($100) – Contains 750 mg of phytocannabinoids, including CBD, CBC, CBG, CBG-A, CBC-A, and CBN, along with plant terpenes and flavonoids.
- RLV Hemp Full Spectrum 500 ($80) – Full spectrum hemp extract tincture that contains 500 mg of phytocannabinoids, including CBD, CBC, CBG, CBG-A, CBC-A, and CBN, with plant terpenes and flavonoids.
- RLV Hemp Isolate 750 ($100) – Contains 750 mg of isolated pure CBD extracted (THC-free) from organically-grown hemp.
- RLV Hemp Isolate 500 ($85) – Contains 500 mg of isolated pure CBD extracted (THC-free) from organically-grown hemp.
Targeted Solutions
- LunaRich X ($42) – Concentrated Lunasin extract supports weight loss, heart health, and metabolic wellness.
- FibRestore ($54) – A blend of soluble and insoluble fiber, antioxidants, enzymes, and 21 herbs.
- Arthaffect ($70) – Combines 20+ ingredients to ease joint discomfort and stiffness.
- Innergize! ($29) – Increases energy, improves oxygen absorption, and strengthens the immune system.
- Active ($75) – A healthy shake with 15 grams of plant-based protein per serving.
- Fit3 Purify ($39) – A probiotic, liver cleanse, and metabolic supporter in one.
- Fit3 Burn ($39) – Helps in burning fat and promotes a healthy weight when combined with good nutrition and exercise.
- ReversAge ($93) – Contains youth-promoting ingredients to fight free radical damage at the cellular level, cleanse, protect and revitalize.
- CardioSentials ($110) – A patented formula has been clinically shown to improve cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose levels.
- 24K ($75) – A blend of 24 active ingredients to promote natural vitality, provide energy, focus, and stress relief.
- SoySentials ($48) – Helps ease symptoms of menopause and PMS and promote overall feminine health with soy isoflavones and probiotics.
- GlucAffect ($74) – A patented formula delivers with LunaRich that helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels and support weight loss.
- ProVantage ($48) – A muscle-building formula with 13 grams of soy protein
Have you tried any of the Reliv International products above? Feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.
Reliv International Business Opportunity
Becoming a Reliv International Distributor
You have to pay a $20 enrollment fee to become an official Reliv International Distributor.
Your membership needs to be renewed yearly at $40/year.
Unlike other MLM companies where you’ll need to purchase a product pack, you can get started with this business with just $20, and you will get 20-40% discounts on all products.
Furthermore, you can also subscribe to Reliv’s Web Bundle for $35 in your first month, then $15/month thereafter, that gives you access to a replicated website (online store to sell Reliv products), personal back office and tracking tools, training modules, and marketing materials.
I don’t know about you, but if a company wants you to promote the products for them, shouldn’t they provide you with the necessary tools instead of charging you for that? Food for thought.
Reliv Compensation Plan
The company claims to have 5 ways to compensate you, but in reality, your income will only come from selling Reliv products or recruiting people that will do the same.
1. Retail Profits
You will earn 20% up to 40% in profits by selling Reliv’s products to retail customers, either face to face or online through your replicated website.
It used to be 10%-40% in retail profits, but it appears that the company has revamped its compensation plan.
Each Reliv product has a corresponding PV (Point Volume), and your discount in products will depend on the PGPV (Personal Group Point Volume) or the total amount of products you and your team ordered within a month.
Needless to say, you can earn more money by moving up the ranks and selling a lot of products per month.
A proven way to do that is to recruit a lot of distributors on your team because their monthly product orders will count as your own.
2. Wholesale Profits
As you grow your business and started recruiting other people, you will also earn additional income from the profits made by your recruits, depending on your current Profit Level.
The wholesale products are the difference between your current profit level to that of your recruits’ current profit level.
Say you are currently at a 35% profit level and the person you recruit is at a 25% profit level, then you’ll be paid 10% of his/her total RV.
RV (Retail Volume) is calculated based on the retail prices of the products purchased.
3. Override Commissions
You must be a Master Affiliate to qualify for this commission by having at least 5,000 PGPV.
Also, Master Affiliates have to comply with certain requirements to stay “Active” and qualify for commissions.
The requirement is you must place a wholesale product order of at least 100PV each month. These products must be your personal orders, either for consumption or for retail purposes.
Reliv uses a UniLevel pay structure for Override Commissions.
In UniLevel, all your recruited distributors will be placed in your Level 1. All new distributors recruited by your Level 1 will be placed on Level 2 and so on down to the 5th level.
You can earn between 2-8% from every other Master Affiliate you have in your team.
For example, you have one Master Affiliate on your team, and each of them earned $10,000 in the same month…
Then you can earn $800 (8%) on Level 1, $600 (6%) on Level 2, $400 (4%) on Level 3, $300 (3%) on Level 4 and $200 (2%) on Level 5.
4. Reliv Director Program
You can qualify for this bonus by creating one Master Affiliate in your team and by achieving a specific monthly income.
You will be rewarded with lapel pins and jewelry.
5 Star Director Bonus Program
You can qualify for this bonus where you will earn an additional 1-3% to your Override Commissions by creating more Master Affiliate in your team and generating higher PGPV per month.
Your income potential will be as follows:
- 3 Star Director – You earn an additional 1% Override Commission by when 3 of your personally recruited Reliv Distributors reach the Master Affiliates status.
- 6 Star Director – You receive an extra 2% Override Commission by when 6 of your personally recruited Reliv Distributors reach the Master Affiliates status.
- 10 Star Director – You receive an additional 3% Override Commission by when 10 of your personally recruited Reliv Distributors reach the Master Affiliates status.
This is an infinity bonus, which means you will earn commissions from all Master Affiliates in your team until the next Star Director.
Other Bonuses and Incentives
Reliv International will also reward you with cash bonuses, cars, Rolex, vacations, and getaways.
But, to be honest, these other bonuses matter only if you become an indispensable distributor of the company, which is really tough to achieve, in my opinion. I’ll share with you why…
Can You Make a Good Income as a Reliv Independent Distributor?
Based on the latest income disclosure provided by the company, it appears that out of 18,083 distributors, 17,636 (97.53%) have an annual average income between $24 to $2,611 only.
Thus, most people who joined Reliv as distributors up to December 31, 2019 only made $2 up to $217 every month!
The company also made it clear that these earnings don’t include the expenses distributors spent, such as monthly product reorders to stay commission qualified, fees or gas for attending events, and paying for their prospects’ coffee.
So I would go out on a limb here and say that most of them actually lose money as a Reliv Distributor. Don’t you agree?
Also, by taking a look at the company’s stock price, it appears that the company’s profits had been steadily declining.
This could mean that Reliv International products and services might not be attracting as many people as it used to be.
A data from Business For Home seems to validate my suspicion as they claimed that Reliv International’s annual revenue had been steadily going down for the last five years.
These facts affect you negatively as a distributor because if only a few people (2-3%) had earned a good amount of money from Reliv when the company is still popular…
You could expect that number to be lower these days that Reliv is making less and less income.
Therefore, your chance of becoming financially free with Reliv International, though still possible, is close to zero.
But this is my own opinion, and if you would like to share yours too, feel free to leave a comment below.
But hey, let’s stay civil and respectful, okay?
Is Reliv International a Pyramid Scheme?
Reliv is a legitimate business opportunity. It is a publicly-traded company (NASDAQ:RELV), a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA), and currently maintains an A+ rating in the Better Business Bureau.
But if these things seem trivial that they don’t convince you, then the FTC made a clear distinction between a legit MLM company from a pyramid scheme.
According to the FTC, when your income is based solely on the number of people you bring into the company (aka recruitment) rather than the amount of products you sell, then you’re probably involved in a pyramid scheme.
In the case of Reliv International, while recruiting is still the way to make a decent income because the bigger commissions are tied up to you creating a large network of distributors…
All commissions are still based on PV (Point Volume) of the products sold.
In Reliv, you will not get paid just by recruiting someone to the company, but only if that person sold/bought any company products.
There is a difference between an outright scam to a less profitable business opportunity, and I think depending on each person, Reliv is the latter.
If your passion doesn’t involve selling and recruitment, then Reliv International could be bad business for you.
Conclusion – Should You Join Reliv International?
I am in no position to tell you how you should make money, but when it comes to joining an MLM company like Reliv International…
There are two things you need to consider:
First, you should only join Reliv if its products have worked for you.
Your job as a distributor of the company is to promote the products and communicate its worth, so that they will continually be long-term customers.
You cannot expect to sell products that you didn’t believe they work, right?
I’m sure you don’t want to lie and make false claims just to earn money.
Secondly, I feel that this business best suits individuals who are comfortable in the sales environment, which means being able to handle lots of rejection.
Besides your ability to sell, you need to be a great leader to your recruits because their performance directly impacts your income potential.
Are you up for the task?
If yes, then may I suggest that you take a quick look at this training program, because it teaches methods that will help you overcome the common problems with Network Marketing, like lack of new prospects.
So, if Reliv International is not for you…
Now, if you don’t think Reliv International is the right income opportunity for you, but you are still looking for other ways to earn money…
Then, I highly recommend that you check out this program.
It is the program that has taught thousands of individuals with no prior knowledge or experience to earn a full-time passive income from home without selling or recruiting. Here’s my success story with the program.
Anyways, thank you so much for taking the time to read this Reliv International review. I hope that this has helped you decide on whether or not it is worth joining this business.
If this review helped, please share it with others…
And, if you’d like to share your opinion on this income opportunity, feel free to leave a comment below.
Until here, I wish you all the best in whichever path you choose towards your financial success.
Your friend,
Jack
