OPTAVIA/MEDIFAST MLM Review: Money Maker or Money Pit?
Wondering if the OPTAVIA/MEDIFAST MLM is for you? Step right up and get the lowdown! In this review, we’ll put the health & fitness MLM under the microscope, examining the company, its comp plan, products, & how to make money. Plus, guidelines galore! Get the deets & decide if the Optavia/Medifast MLM can help you reach your financial goals – and make it look easy!
How Do MLMs Work?
Have you ever heard of multi-level marketing (MLM)? It’s a popular way to make money, but knowing how it works is EXTREMELY important. With MLM, firms or individuals sell products or services through a network of distributors. Distributors are incentivized to recruit others and earn a commission on their sales, and the sales of their recruits. Ready to take the plunge and get involved? Just make sure you understand the process before you do!
Who are We
Eve Pacific Media is an affiliate marketing firm that provides support and guidance to those contemplating or who have chosen to become content creators. We help aspiring bloggers, content creators, and affiliate marketers with their strategies.
My relationship with multi-level marketing or network marketing started in the late 80s. I have had involvement with Shaklee, Primerica, Amway, and, yes, the infamous Consumer Buyline. I enjoyed various levels of success. Back then, I aspired to become an MLM or Network Marketing Pro. Savvy top MLM earners would build massive downlines, breakaway, and move to programs with the most lucrative opportunities during that era. This was a common practice before many States barred those multi-level marketing schemes.
Our goal at Eve Pacific Media is to use my vast experience to benefit others with a series of reviews of multi-level marketing companies.
What is Optavia/Medifast MLM?
Medifast is a multi-level marketing company founded in 1980 by William Vale, a medical doctor. The company specializes in weight loss products through its Optavia brand. Before adopting health coaches, the company originally sold its weight loss products to other doctors, who in turn prescribed them to their patients.
Medifast, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, continues to grow – with over 52,500 coaches on its roster and a reported revenue of $419.4 million in the first three months of 2022. That is a remarkable 23% increase compared to the same period in 2021. This company looks set to reach new heights as it continues to make its mark in the health and wellness industry.
How Does The Optavia/Medifast MLM Work?
Joining Optavia/Medifast allows you to become a coach and take charge of your health and wellness journey. Most coaches start by using the company’s products to lose excess weight, but to get started, you must first find a sponsor and purchase the Optavia Business Kit – the only way to become part of your sponsor’s downline. In 2023, the Optavia Business Kit includes a special set of tools, resources, and discounts that are designed to help successful coaches build their businesses and reach their goals.
After you receive your kit, you can begin selling diet plans. As a coach, one of your obligations will be to provide person-to-person support to all your clients. A huge part of your job is answering their questions about products and motivating your customers to observe healthy diet and exercise programs.
Check out this Dietitian’s review of Optavia:
How Much Does It Cost To Join Optavia/Medifast?
To become an Optavia coach, you’ll need to purchase the Optavia Business Kit, which costs $199.
Purchasing the business kit means you’ll have access to business plan information, business tools and supplies, and 12 months of free access to your personal Optavia website space. However, after 12 months, there is no information about how much the personal website space would cost.
Can You Make Money With Optavia/Medifast?
As an Optavia coach, you’ll earn commissions based on the PCV (Personal Compensation Volume) of all Optavia/ Medifast products ordered by clients.
If you become a Certified Coach, you can start earning bonuses based on the FQV (Frontline Qualifying Volume). The bonuses are listed below:
2,000 FQV = $250 bonus
4,000 FQV = $500 bonus
6,000 FQV = $1000 bonus
The bonuses listed above are based on sales within a consecutive period of 3 months.
A common theme of MLMs is that you will have to work hard to make money. It’s all about commissions. If you’ve read the fine print, you’ll realize that Optavia doesn’t guarantee success. Your success depends on how many consistent customers you can recruit.
Also, another way to increase your income is by recruiting new members. Every time you recruit a new member, you will receive commissions from their sales.
Optavia/Medifast MLM Program Specifics
Optavia diet plans are created as high protein and low carbohydrate diets to help consumers lose weight. Although there are a lot of identical weight loss products in the market, Optavia/Medifast products are special in many ways. Let’s take a look at their plans:
5&1 Plan: This plan supplies 80-100 grams of carbohydrates and 800-1000 calories daily. Clients who generally partake in this diet plan for about 12 weeks relinquish around 12 pounds: one pound per week.
There are two kits to select from for this diet plan: the Essential Optimal Kit and the Essential On-The-Go Kit. Both kits cost $428.20.
4&2&1 Plan: This diet plan is a bit more flexible. Four of your meals called “Optavia Fuelings” will be separately purchased meals. These meals are also interchangeable since you can choose from 60 meals.
3&3 Plan: This category of diet plan is created to help you preserve a healthy weight once you attain your weight goal. This diet plan consists of three balanced meals and three Optimal Fuelings per day.
One thing about the above plans is that they are pretty straightforward to follow since all the meals are pre-made and you can buy individual products.
However, one problem with these diets and buying pre-made meals is that one does not know how they are made or what was used to prepare them. Not knowing the composition of these meals can sometimes damage your health.
Also, according to the BBB (Better Business Bureau), customers have complained about the side effects of Optavia/Medifast products which are sometimes severe. Some of the most typical side effects include Bloating, Constipation, and Abdominal pains.
In addition, these plans are costly, and similar products on the market are just as effective and cheaper — for example, Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.
Pros and Cons
What I Like About Optavia/Medifast MLM
Great Bonuses: If you manage to become a certified coach, you can earn bonuses when you make qualified sales.
Certified Training Programs: To reach the next level as a coach, you must get certified by attending advanced training courses.
3-6 Months Customer Income: When you get consistent customers who purchase 3-6 months of monthly supplies, it will result in you earning consistent commissions.
What I Don’t Like About Optavia/Medifast MLM
Negative Side Effects: Several customers have grumbled about experiencing negative reactions from using the products.
No Discounts: There are no discounts for Optavia/Medifast products. Customers and Coaches pay the same price for them.
No FDA Approval: None of the Optavia/Medifast dietary supplements or weight loss products have been approved by the FDA.
Very Expensive Products: The starter kits and products are costly.
False Advertising: In 2012, Medifast was fined $3.7 million for false advertising. Without a scientific basis, the company falsely proclaimed in their advertisement that customers could lose 2-5 pounds per week with the Medifast 5&1 plan.
Is Optavia/Medifast Legitimate?
Optavia/Medifast is not a scam because it is like any other MLM company; they depend mainly on their health coaches to make money. However, someone deeply involved in health and fitness would not typically peddle Optavia/Medifast products because they are highly processed and contain sugar and other additives.
Final Thoughts
While Optavia/Medifast has been around for over two decades, there is still some skepticism surrounding the company and its claims. Although the company promises to provide comprehensive nutritional guidance, a wide range of healthy products, and a supportive community of coaches, it is well worth considering whether or not these promises align with the company’s current operations and policies as of 2023. Before signing up for Optavia/Medifast, it is important to do your research and evaluate the company’s track record to ensure that it is a legitimate opportunity for you to make lasting lifestyle changes and most importantly, MONEY!
However, if you feel the Optavia/Medifast marketing program is not for you and you’ll like to start your own business, check out my number one recommendation on how to go about it.
What you’ll get from my recommendation includes a free website and hosting, 24/7 support, and some excellent online tools. In addition, I’ll also help you out and guide you in setting up your own business.
