USANA MLM Review – Pyramid Scheme or Legit MLM?

I Want To Know…

• About the Reviewer
• Is USANA a Scam or a Legit MLM?
• What Is USANA Health Sciences?
• What Products Does USANA Sell?
• Is USANA a Pyramid Scheme?
• How Does USANA MLM Work?
• How Much Does It Cost To Join USANA?
• How to Make Money With USANA MLM?
• What Is the USANA Compensation Plan?
• Can You Make Money With USANA MLM?
• USANA Reviews and Complaints
• USANA MLM Review – What I Like
• USANA MLM Review – What I Don’t Like
• USANA MLM Review – Conclusion
• The Best Way To Make Money Online

About the Reviewer

In the beginning, I struggled to identify legit courses and avoid ones that were just out for my money.

That’s why I created this website – my main goal is to help you steer clear of pitfalls and discover the top online business courses.

Every week, I invest hours in reviewing online courses and writing reviews based on my fact-driven review guidelines to assist you in making an informed choice.

Related: Check out my FREE training program for making money online.

Is USANA a Scam or a Legit MLM?

Usana is not a scam, but I personally don’t recommend it due to the low success rate of MLMs. However, as you’ll see in my review, Usana is a legitimate MLM company selling physical products.

When joining Usana, it’s crucial to understand customer opinions on their products.

You wouldn’t want to start a business without knowing if people would buy from you, right? Thankfully, many customers have given Usana products a 5-star rating, as reflected in my review where over 80% of them have praised the products.

To get a better understanding of how the company treats its members, you can also look for ex-member endorsements on platforms like YouTube.

In summary, Usana is a legitimate MLM company selling real products, but considering the low success rate of MLMs in general, I personally suggest exploring other opportunities.

Keep on reading my USANA MLM review to learn more about the company, its products, the compensation plan, its pros and cons, and more!

What Is USANA Health Sciences?

Founded in 1992 by Myron W. Wentz, an Immunologist and Microbiologist, Usana Health Sciences is a research company. It operates in 24 nations, including New Zealand, Australia, Colombia, Mexico, China, Japan, and Canada.

They develop and produce quality dietary supplements, healthy balanced foods, and personal care products. These products are directly marketed to Associates and Preferred Clients.

Around 67% of the products are manufactured on-site in the US, while the remaining 33% are generated in China.

To increase brand recognition, Usana has partnered with Dr. Oz who frequently mentions Usana on his show. Usana is also the exclusive supplier of supplements to over 1000 athletes worldwide.

They are referred to as “Team Usana” and include tennis player Caroline Wozniacki and fighter Austin Trout.

While their popularity is a positive aspect, there are questions surrounding whether Usana is a pyramid scheme due to its MLM program.

In this review, I will primarily address that question. But first, let’s delve into their products…

Related MLM Review: Beachbody

What Products Does USANA Sell?

The Usana product line includes dietary, personal care, and weight management products.

What sets Usana apart from other MLM firms in the health-specific niche is that they offer nutritional supplements suitable for children as young as 2 years old.

Their latest product range consists of CellSentials and Celavive (skincare range), which are developed using Usana’s patent-pending technology called InCelligence Technology.

In terms of price, Usana products are on par with other MLM companies that provide nutritional supplements, skincare, and weight management items. There is little differentiation.

For more information about Usana’s most popular product, you can watch the short video below…

What Are USANA Most Popular Products?

Currently, USANA offers 97 products for sale, ranging in price from $18.73 to $112.47. The average price of all the products is approximately $43.9.

Here are some of the most popular USANA products:

• Usana Essentials – 4-Week Supply of Total Body Health
• USANA Hepasil DTX
• USANA New Formula MagneCal D 112 Tablets
• Usana Nutrimeal Shake Formulated Dutch Chocolate
• USANA Healthpak: AM & PM Vitamin Packets
• USANA CoQuinone 30

In my review, I mentioned that the majority of USANA products are manufactured by USANA Health Sciences.

The manufacturer supplies USANA with a reliable product inventory, reflecting their strong cooperative relationship.

You have two options for purchasing USANA products.

The first option is to buy directly from their official website.

Alternatively, you can also purchase from sellers on Amazon. The store has a good reputation, so you can buy from there with confidence.

Are USANA Products Backed Up By Science?

In my earlier Usana review, I mentioned a few patent-pending products.

However, I haven’t found much information about Usana’s research. On the company’s websites, they claim to have been researching for over 25 years and have collaborated with prestigious organizations like The University Of Utah, The College Of Sydney, and Boston College.

Nevertheless, this information is vague and doesn’t provide many details about the science behind their products.

Related MLM Review: Prosperity Of Life

Is USANA a Pyramid Scheme?

Usana MLM participants earn money through selling services and recruiting new members. While Usana is a network marketing company that focuses on recruiting, it is safe to say that it is not a pyramid scheme.

However, it is important to understand what a pyramid scheme is before diving into more details.

What Is a Pyramid Scheme?

A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits members by promising payments or services in exchange for enrolling new members into the scheme. This is in contrast to providing investments or product sales.

For more information, you can watch the short video below.

Many people wonder why Usana is often considered a pyramid scheme.

The reason behind this perception is the potential to earn money through recruiting individuals into the multi-level marketing plan, which leads some to label it as a disguised pyramid scheme.

Is Usana MLM a Pyramid Scheme in Disguise?

In my review, I want to clarify that Usana is not a scam pyramid scheme. They offer commissions based on your sales and the sales of others you bring in. There are no payments just for recruiting, so there is no shady activity.

Usana simply sells real products for consumption.

Additionally, they have a clear process and payment plan for anyone who wants to join as an associate. They are upfront about their charges and expenses, and they provide clear policies and procedures.

In summary, Usana is transparent about what they offer and what they don’t. However, the question remains: can you make money by joining the Usana MLM plan?

How Does USANA MLM Work?

The Usana company, similar to other multi-level marketing businesses, offers real products for use and sale. You can become a distributor and make money by reselling their products.

However, the primary way to earn significant income from Usana MLM is to recruit individuals to join the company.

Due to its MLM structure and other factors, Usana often gets labelled as a pyramid scheme. The reasons behind this perception are quite evident, as shown in the image above.

But what exactly are these reasons?

To put it simply, promoting the Usana business opportunity is much easier than marketing the actual products. There are more people interested in making money than those willing to spend on personal care items that are readily available elsewhere.

While Usana products may indeed be of good quality, the question arises: Can they sustain USANA’s multi-level marketing without relying heavily on recruitment?

This raises suspicions.

Related MLM Review: LuLaRoe

How Much Does It Cost To Join USANA?

The joining fee for the Usana MLM program is only $29.95 as start-up costs.

The Starter Kit includes:

• a product guide
• a workout and eating guide
• a branded water bottle,
• exercise band
• pill box
• business materials

Of course, it is recommended that you purchase the items to personally experience their effectiveness. However, please note that this will cost you approximately $100 per month.

Spending around $100 monthly is a significant expense, and generating sufficient sales is necessary to surpass the product purchase costs.

Additionally, my upcoming sections on the Usana MLM review will highlight other requirements for associates to qualify for commission payments, such as sales to clients, and more.

Related MLM Review: Shaklee

How to Make Money With USANA MLM?

There are two primary ways to make money from Usana:

• Selling products: You can earn profits by selling Usana products directly.
• Recruiting members: Building your downline by recruiting members can also generate income.

However, the profitability lies in the second approach. The more participants you have in your downline, the more money you can make. This is because you will receive commissions from their sales.

This raises a question: one might wonder if multi-level marketing companies like Usana are actually pyramid schemes. Achieving success in an MLM requires recruiting hundreds or even thousands of new members.

Usana utilizes a direct marketing approach to deliver its products to customers. While this method is somewhat traditional, it remains highly effective.

To learn more about how to make money with Usana MLM, you can watch a short video presentation.

Nowadays, Usana participants utilize social media platforms to live stream their items, eliminating the need for physical meetings.

This approach allows Usana to save money on advertising and marketing costs since participants take charge of promoting themselves.

However, it can be perceived as exploitative as participants are only paid commissions for sales. Nevertheless, if you succeed in this endeavour, you can actually earn a significant amount of money.

Let’s take a look at how much…

Related MLM Review: PM-International

What Is the USANA Compensation Plan?

In total, there are seven ways to earn an income with Usana.

1. Retail Sales, the difference between preferred price and  retail price
2. Weekly commissions on personal sales and team sales (up to 20%)
3. Lifetime matching bonus
4. Incentives like travels
5. Elite bonus
6. Leadership bonus
7. Celavive product bonus

Usana utilizes a binary payment plan that includes a left and right leg. You earn a 20% payment based on retail sales and sales volumes of your team. If the points do not match on one leg, they roll over to the next week.

Usana’s payment plan also mentions organization centres, which consist of your team with 2 directly enlisted associates – one on the left and one on the right.

These two affiliates then recruit new affiliates and repeat the process.

As a new associate, you have the opportunity to open 3 business centres and double your compensation payments from day one.

Can You Make Money With USANA MLM?

Unfortunately, in 2017, 53% of Usana affiliates did not earn any payment.

According to the graphic below, only 2.23% of associates made between $5,000 to $20,000 per year. Additionally, only 0.51% had a yearly revenue of $20,000 to $50,000.

These numbers don’t take any business-related costs into account. Remember, to be qualified for compensation settlements, you have to purchase $100 worth of items each month.

So, even though the payment strategy may appear appealing, the reality of making money with Usana is disappointing.

USANA Reviews and Complaints

To determine if Usana MLM is a scam or legitimate, it is advisable to read online testimonials. Most Usana reviews focus on their products and are generally positive.

For instance, on TrustPilot, the company has received a “Great” rating, with over 67% of reviews expressing satisfaction with Usana products. Examples of such reviews are provided below.

Over 80% of the product reviews on Amazon for Usana are 5-star reviews as well.

Common Positive Reviews

• Used USANA’s products for a good 4 years. Hands down effective partnered with proper diet and exercise. But yeah product costs are too high. If you’re planning to turn this into a business make sure you’re in it for the long haul coz you’ll get meagre sales if you’re going for mediocre effort. Would I recommend the products for quality? Definitely. As a business, if you got money to burn go for it.
• I have been using USANA products for 10yrs they are amazing and I love what the company stands for. They are in my opinion the best supplements on the market. I truly believed they helped me save my life after having cancer. Thank you USANA!
• And they are the best. With all of the GMOs in foods these days, none of us are getting all the nutrients we need on diet alone. I have tried other multivitamins and they just don’t hit the sweet spot that these do, will continue to take these. Also the fast-growing hair and nails are a great side effect!

Common Negative Reviews

• the main reason that I bought this is I have heard much praise about the potency of the products. I have been taking them twice daily for the past 2 weeks and did not feel any improvement or any changes. Btw, the Vit bottle was not sealed properly when it arrives. The mineral bottle was sealed tightly but not the bottle. So I am not sure I got genuine products…

To be honest, this is the only negative review of Usana products that I’ve found online. However, it’s important to note that this is just one person’s perspective, and many people actually love their products.

This indicates that Usana is not a scam.

That being said, there is one aspect I dislike about Usana, which is the MLM part. As you can see from the above sections of my review, making money through selling these products or recruiting in a scheme is extremely difficult.

In conclusion, here are some of the things I like and don’t like about Usana MLM in my review…

Related MLM Review: DXN

USANA MLM Review – What I Like

If you have highly developed marketing skills, this company may be a good option for you to help people lose weight and eat healthily. However, if you lack these skills, you may end up wasting a lot of time and money.

In my Beachbody MLM review, I will highlight a few things that I like.

Tons of Positive Products Reviews

It is no surprise that the founder, Myron Wentz, has garnered numerous awards for his clinical success.

Usana’s products, backed by scientific research, instil confidence in its consumers and encourage continued usage.

Long-Standing Business

Many MLM companies fail within 5 years, but Usana has managed to surpass the typical lifespan of the industry.

Usana, established in 1992, continues to be profitable and brings in significant earnings. This suggests that the company is well-managed and its success is attributed to the capable individuals behind it.

Endorsed by Athletes

Usana appears to have excellent products, as specialist athletes trust the brand. Athletes have been using Usana for their health supplement needs for some time now.

Since these celebrity athletes are willing to endorse this company, there must be something good about it.

Related MLM Review: Atomy

USANA MLM Review – What I Don’t Like

Usana may not be the most effective choice for everyone. Selling certain items can be challenging, especially without a large target market. Here are some things I dislike in my Usana MLM review…

Usana Products are Expensive

In my experience, many Network Marketing companies that sell supplements tend to have high prices for their products.

Let’s consider Usana CellSentials, for instance, which costs $59.35 per container.

Each container includes 112 tablets, which is offered at a fair price given the numerous positive reviews and endorsements from professional athletes.

Now, let’s consider a popular brand, Centrum, that can be seen as a competitor to Usana.

Can you spot the difference between the two products?

One product costs $17.39 for a bottle containing 220 tablets. When given the choice between both products, which one do you think people would prefer?

You Have To Keep Buying

To maintain your active status, it is necessary to consistently make purchases. Specifically, in the case of Usana, you will need to sell $100 worth of items per month.

This is the reason why Usana continues to generate income – thanks to their dedicated customer base consisting of their own members.

Low Success Rate

In my Usana MLM review, I mentioned that 50% of all active members earned $0 in 2017.

This contradicts the company’s claims of “being your own manager” and “making a full-time wage part-time”, suggesting they are simply deceiving people.

The reality is, that all MLMs have significantly low success rates, so don’t be swayed by their persuasive language.

Saturated Niche Market

Usana MLM faces a major challenge due to market saturation.

The competition among companies in this niche makes it difficult for distributors, like yourself, to sell their products.

In simpler terms, unless you are an exceptional marketer or a renowned athlete, you are likely to find yourself among the 50% who never earn any money at all.

USANA MLM Review – Conclusion

Are you still concerned about Usana being a pyramid scheme? Determining whether something is a pyramid scheme is straightforward. If there is a product or service being exchanged, you are safe from any scams.

Usana is neither a scam nor a pyramid scheme. However, I do not necessarily recommend it.

Due to its establishment in 1992, there are already numerous participants in Usana. In other words, it’s too late to join the party.

Furthermore, consider the saturated market. People value their money and tend to stick with established brands and products that work.

Not many individuals are keen on trying new things, especially when they come with a hefty price tag. This, in my opinion, is Usana’s downfall.

Regardless, I suggest staying away from Usana or any multi-level marketing endeavours. There are better ways to earn money if you know where to look.

Thank you for reading my Usana MLM review. What are your thoughts? Do you believe Usana is a pyramid scheme or scam? Have you been or are you currently a member of this business?

Feel free to share your reviews at the end of this page!

The Best Way To Make Money Online

I earn online by creating simple affiliate websites that I use to connect people with products they are already looking for.

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And don’t forget to share this USANA MLM review with your friends and family!

All the best, Ivan @freeaffiliatemarketingbusiness.com