In this article we will be looking at Shaklee. Is Shaklee a good MLM company? Can you as a distributor make an income with Shaklee? What does it take to make money with Shaklee?
These plus other discussions will be outlined in this 2020 revision of Shaklee.
Note: I am not a member of the Shaklee MLM Program. The reason for this article is to help you decide if Shaklee is a good business opportunity.
First Question: Are you a Shaklee distributor or looking at Shaklee? If you looking, I hope to answer some of your question with the information in this article.
Introduction
Shaklee Corporation is an American manufacturer and multi-level marketing distributor of natural nutrition supplements, weight-management products, beauty products, and household products. The company is based in Pleasanton, California with global operations in Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
On November 30, 2018, Shaklee suspended its operations in Mexico after 26 years.
Beginning in 1993 and through the end of the NASA shuttle program, Shaklee provided NASA with a customized version of its rehydration beverage, Performance, under the name Astroade for use by Shuttle astronauts.
You might be thinking, “Oh no! Another networking company whose only concern is to take my hard-earned money!” With Shaklee, and what you will learn in this Shaklee review, you will see this is not so.
If you have been looking for a network marketing company to join, there are literally hundreds to choose from.
At the same time here are many hoaxes and scams, which are just waiting to take your money if you are not careful.
Now, let us address this question: Is Shaklee legit?
Being in the industry for more than 60 years, Shaklee has indeed proven that they can withstand the ups and downs, and still come out strong. You certainly don’t have to worry about Shaklee being legit or not, they are the real and successful.
In fact, they remain one of the industry’s most highly respected mlm companies to this day. So if you read other Shaklee reviews that claim this company is a scam, you really want to consider the source of the Shaklee review.
Shaklee is one of the oldest network marketing company around today and probably one of the most well known for vitamins. Shaklee shares it’s business with other well known multi-level companies such as Amway, Herbalife, Watkins, Mary Kay and a host of other MLM companies. But Shaklee grew to become one of the most recognized and successful of all the network-marketing companies with their vitamins.
Shaklee’s History
Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee, a San Francisco chiropractor, created “Shaklee’s Vitalized Minerals” in 1915 before the concept of vitamins was fully understood. In 1956, Dr. Shaklee founded the Shaklee Corporation with his two sons to manufacture nutritional supplements Shaklee chose the relatively unknown multi-level marketing business model to market his product
Starting in 1960, Dr. Shaklee began marketing organic biodegradable cleaning produced. He continually emphasized “natural” and “environmentally friendly” in his marketing messages, ideas which were not common at the time.
Forrest C. Shaklee (1894–1985), a chiropractor and nutritionist based in his home state of Iowa, and later in Oakland, California, created the first vitamin in the United States labeled “Shaklee’s Vitalized Minerals“. Starting in 1960, Shaklee began marketing organic, biodegradable cleaning products.
Shaklee heavily promote their ‘proven records’ in assisting athletes, adventurers and even astronauts to achieve their goals as well as research into the effectiveness of their products.
When network marketing or MLM began to grow many organizations challenge the MLM business. Shaklee, Amway and others took them on face-to-face, belly-to-belly and over months and years of proving that MLM business model was not a pyramid scheme. But instead a successful business model that anyone, with a little desire to own their own business could become involved and be a business owner. This was an important concept. In fact we owe today’s MLM success to These Pioneers.
What Does Shaklee Sell?
Shaklee offers a decent range of health and wellness product):
- Nutrition
- Multi vitamins
- Pre-Natal
- Targeted nutrition capsules – Blood sugar, bone and joint, eye etc.
- Healthy Weight
- Weight loss shakes
- Meal replacement bars
- Tea
- Metabolic boost capsules
- Beauty
- Makeup lotions, removers and firmer
- Hydrating lotions
- Anti-aging lotions
- Baby care
- Shampoos and conditioners
- Sports
- Protein shakes
- Energy and hydrolyze drinks and gels
- Recovering complex
- Cleaning
- Organic cleaners
- Laundry products
- Cloths and sponges
- Water purifiers
Products can be purchased individually or as ‘regimen packs’.
Shaklee Product Plans
Shaklee has a variety of products to choose from, so this list can seem a little complicated when you first take a peek. Here are 5 plans to highlight a few of the items like their shakes, vitamins, and protein powder to give you an idea of what they offer in the packages.
The Vitalizing Plan
This particular package comes with the Life Energizing Shake and the Vitalizer supplements. These different supplements are a combination of multivitamins, Vitamin B, probiotics, and omega 3’s. The shake comes with 24 grams of protein per scoop, and it comes in a soy, non-soy, and plain variety.
The Life Plan
This package combines the Life Energizing Shakes with the Life Strips and lasts around 30 days. The life strips are supplements made up of a variety of omega 3’s, multi vitamins, liquid gels for healthy aging, and a B Complex for increased energy.
The Essentials Plan
This plan combines the Life Energizing Shake with the Vitalea and Omega Guard Supplements. The Vitalea supplement promotes heart and immune health alongside of bone health. The Omega Guard is an omega 3 capsule, and it promotes a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.
The RX For A Healthier Life Plan
This plan can be customized a few different ways, but can come with the Life Energizing Shake, Life Strip, Vivix Liquid gels, Omega Guard, Multi Vitamin, and B Complex.
The Shaklee 180 Starter Kit
This kit is a combination of two canisters of the Life Energizing Shakes, 1 Box of Shaklee Snack Bars, the Shaklee Metabolic Boost supplement, Vita Lea multivitamin, as well as program support.
The Shaklee Effect
This industry-leading company is proud of what it calls the “Shaklee Effect.” It’s their company mission that helps people take small daily steps towards improving their lives and the lives of those around them. The company has been a strong leader in environmental stewardship and in supporting a variety of social causes.
Shaklee’s mission is to make the world a better place and to treat others with Golden Rule business ethics. Shaklee was the first company to be certified in completely offsetting carbon emissions in the environment, thereby resulting in a net zero impact environmentally. They also won another award for sustainable business practices. Their headquarters won an award for its green design.
Shaklee Reps
There are many so called mlm companies that reward their reps for signing up reps in hopes of making money without any real product or “loading” the reps with a lot of inventory.
Fortunately these companies were brought under investigation as Pyramid Schemes and many either revamped or dissolved.
Shaklee reps do not rely heavily on recruiting to earn their big bucks. In fact, 90% of the compensation package is for actual sales, and not recruiting.
As one of the few companies, Shaklee Corporation prides itself on promoting and manufacturing products that are “always safe, that always work, and are always green.” The company has invested heavily in research that would ensure the safety and efficacy of its products.
Many who have tried and tested the products would definitely agree that the products are not only effective but environmentally friendly as well.
Can You Make Money With Shaklee?
To answer that question truthfully, YES and NO.
YES you can if you dedicate yourself to the business and follow Shaklee’s plan. NO you can’t if your a “tire kicker” or get discouraged in small challenges and set backs.
Network marketers are a breed in themself. The successful marketers are “business” people. They know that in order to be successful you need to WORK. You need to know your “Why.” Why do you want a business? Why are you willing to give up time in order to make a part-time income? And your personal “Why.”
Now the question: Can you make your first million with Shaklee?
Many people have misconceptions about network marketing. They think that by signing-up with a sponsor, having good products, and “Hoping” the customer and distributors will simply flock to you the money will roll-in.
NOT TRUE. Your sponsor is there to help. The products are there to provide value to your business. Customers are developed through your efforts, and distributors will be developed by your products and/or your marketing efforts.
Put all this together, and you can make some money. A million dollars? That’s a stretch. But earning a full-time income is a real possibility.
And this is true with any Network Marketing Company or MLM Company.
You can earn a substantial amount of income with Shaklee, but success depends on you and your persistence.
With any MLM Company, you can earn an unlimited income. The amount of income is only limited by your desire.
Shaklee reps can expect to earn unlimited income with desire and effort, and even earn perks such as trips around the world and a luxury car.
Note: As of the writing of this article the information is incorrect or inaccurate, please accept my apology.
Shaklee’s Commission Plan and Bonus
To begin you need to join Shaklee as a distributor with an application.
Purchase requirements to join: one of the following must be purchased
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- Distributor pack $49.95 – activates account and provides access to distributor info
- Gold PAK – $349 – as per basic pack but includes product and offers higher commissions for distributors
- Gold PAK Plus – $649 as above but offers even higher commissions.
Note: The distributor pack does not include any product so at least $150 in personal purchases are required to qualify for commissions.
Marketing materials provided: Included as part of distributor pack
Base Commission rate: 4%
Distributor discount: 15 – 25% (on personal purchases)
Down line commission rates: up to 20% to 6 levels
Minimum monthly spend to qualify for commissions
- Affiliates are required to maintain a 100 Personal Volume (PV) purchase level per month to qualify for commission – approx. $150.
Payment terms: Weekly and monthly.
With the Shaklee commission plan come bonus. There are 7 Bonus Plans: Gold Bonus, Power Bonus, Personal Group Bonus, FastTrack Bonus, Leadership Bonus, Infinity Bonus, Car Bonus.
Gold Bonuses
If you are a Gold PAK or Gold PAK Plus purchaser, then you earn direct bonuses for any referral that purchases either of these products themselves. Bonuses are as follows:
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- Sponsor a Gold Ambassador with a $649 GOLD PLUS PAK = $100 Gold Bonus.
- Sponsor a Gold Ambassador with a $349 GOLD PAK = $50 Gold Bonus.
Power Bonus
Power bonuses are points earned for purchases made by your sponsored distributors with a specified product purchase level in the month you sponsor, and in your first three full months that follow.
For every 15 sponsorship points you earn, you are paid $150.
Points bonuses are earned in you first three months as a distributor only.
Personal Group Bonus
This bonus is paid as a percentage commission based on the total PGV of your downline. Rates are as follows:
To qualify for these commission, you must maintain a personal monthly purchase volume of 100 PV.
FastTRACK Bonus
The FastTRACK bonus is designed as an incentive for new entrants to rise through the ranking levels within specified time frames.
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- Rise to the rank of Director within your first three months and earn two tickets to the Shaklee Global Conference—a $500 value!
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- Rise to Master Coordinator in your first 36 months and earn $25,000 paid as follows:
- $5,000 after six consecutive months and
- $5,000 for each of the next four months you hold paid-as Master Coordinator rank
- Rise to Master Coordinator in your first 36 months and earn $25,000 paid as follows:
To qualify for FastTRACK bonuses, you must be a Gold PAK distributor or higher.
Leadership Bonus
Now for the higher level bonuses – The first one is the Leadership Bonus. This is a monthly bonus earned on the Personal Group Volume (PGV) of each Business Leader in your organization—up to six generations. The higher their PGV, the more income you generate from your Leadership Bonuses. Structure is as follows:
Organizational Volume is your Personal Volume plus the Personal Volume of each distributor within your organization, including all Business Leaders. As you reach Key Coordinator rank or above, a minimum of 50% of your organizational volume must come from outside the strongest leg in your organization.
Infinity Bonus
Infinity Bonuses are extra commissions earned by the highest ranks based on the PV and OV of all Leaders in their organization. There are no limits to the number of Leaders you can be paid on however, you will not qualify until you reach the rank of Senior Coordinator and above.
Car Bonus
This is a common bonus amongst MLM programs for higher ranking members. Once you reach certain rank levels and sales volume you are eligible for a bonus payment towards the lease of a vehicle. Within this program, the structure is as follows:
Car Volume (CV) is your Personal Group Volume (not including the PGV of a First Generation Director in the month they promote.
Ranking Structure
The commissions and bonuses paid out above are reliant upon the ‘rank’ that you qualify for within the Shaklee affiliate program. This ranking structure is in line with most other programs with commission qualifications rising based on your total monthly PGV, the number of people you have within your down line and of course, how much they sell/purchase in a calendar month (measured in PV/PGV). Rank requirements are as follows:
As with most programs, rankings are determined by the total PGV you and your downline generate in a calendar month. As your downline grows, your commission rates increase as outlined earlier within this post.
What Else Do You Get?
On top of the potential earning methods outlined above, Shaklee also offers a bonus plans for those who achieve higher rankings within the program.
Incentives
Incentives is where points are earned in the similar fashion to the Power Bonus outlined earlier. For sales generated within your downline, you earn points that can be credited towards:
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- Directors retreats
- Luxury trips
- Car bonus (see next section)
Note: some of these bonuses must be achieved within your first year as a distributor.
How Much Money Can You Make?
As mentioned in the Introduction, how much money can you make in network marketing is dependent on you, your dedication, and your marketing efforts.
The table is an outline of actual commission payments by Shaklee over an 12-month period. As with most MLM programs, the percentage of members making the upper rank levels is very low.
How Do You Market This Opportunity And Actually Succeed?
There is one thing that is clear, without question Shaklee is a great company with a track record of success. I will say that even though they clearly have all their ducks in a row, that is no guarantee that you will succeed.
If being simply a good opportunity was good enough, there would be more people successful in Shaklee. But, the truth is, you must master one simple skill that will virtually guarantee your success if you apply it and learn it.
What is that skill? Lead Generation.
Leads are the lifeblood of any business and they will be for your Shaklee business as well. Without them, you will have a hard time succeeding and getting any traction to move forward.
The big question is, how do you move forward? How do you start to get the training you need to succeed? The answer starts here…
It called Attraction Marketing. Without Attraction Marketing you might as well join the many other MLM marketers and make a couple dollars or Quit.
Attraction Marketing is the lifeblood of any successful network marketer.
How do you get Attraction Marketing? At the bottom of this article is a BANNER. Click on the Banner and receive a FREE 10-Day Bootcamp.
My Final Thoughts
I noted in the beginning that I am not a Shaklee distributor. I know of people who are and have used the products. Again, the reason for this article on Shaklee is to give you information on you possibly becoming a distributor or if your a distributor how to grow and expand your Shaklee business.
Referring to Shaklee website: “Kickstart your health & your business. Take the first step with the Immunity Challenge Pack
Become a distributor today and receive 30 days of nutritional support for your natural defense system for $159 (normally $246.95) plus our Welcome Pack for $25.”
Getting a better life is not impossible, as long as you are taking steps toward betterment.
With Shaklee, you can expect to accomplish great things and more. Many have achieved milestones with Shaklee.
Shaklee is A Good Program:
Shaklee is well known in the network marketing business. They have one of the most successful product lines. Shaklee has a great support program, good motivation programs and seminars. The leaders motivate and promote.
The marketing is a proven model and has been very successful for many Shaklee distributors. Talk to a potential customer, and they probably have heard of Shaklee vitamins through their personal contacts, family and friends. The products are excellent and the home care products will save the customer some money from purchasing from retail stores.
Is Shaklee A Bad Program?
No, Shaklee is not bad in the true since of bad. Are there problems? Could be. Because Shaklee is the oldest MLM companies there are many stories on how the program works.
For example, they want you to promote the business through family and friends. You start by getting the family on the Shaklee products then friends. Unlike Amway’s program of “keep it a secret and stay away from selling, product and Amway”, Shaklee’s approach is through product and then the business opportunity.
The problem here is What Happens when you run out of friends and family? You then start posting notes on windshield in parking lots, post notes on apartment entryways, stand in front of malls and hand out flyers. DO What Ever You Can To Invite Someone To A Business Opportunity or try your products.
The drop-out is high with many of the MLM companies and Shaklee is no exception.
How To Build A Shaklee Business
So as I said “Is Shaklee Good Or Bad” and the answer is YES. Do what your heart tells you. But there is a better way to build your Shaklee business or to get you started.
It’s called Attraction Marketing. You first have to build trust and relationship. People will buy or join a network marketing business from friends. How do you do that? Follow top people who have built million-dollar business. Learn from the best. We can even show you how to get FREE leads. Want to use Facebook, Twitter or any of the other Social Media programs? We show you how.
Here’s to success in your Shaklee business,
