Is Beachbody a Pyramid Scheme?

I was talking about the coaching opportunity the other day and someone said, "sounds like a pyramid scheme to me!"

And I am sure if you have been discussing with your spouse, or someone you know or maybe just surfing the web, somewhere along the way the words "Pyramid Scheme" surfaced. 

I mean, when I began the conversations when I considered coaching, people were like "why on earth would you want to join some sleazy, cult that is likely a pyramid scheme." 

And when I searched the web...it was filled with similar sentiments.

So, why would I go ahead and sign up as a coach?  Well, first it was because I found a product that I was truly passionate about and I wanted to share it with the world!  My second reason was that no matter what you search on the web, you're gonna find negatives...lots and lots of negatives. 

I like to look at the positives and the negatives when making an informed decision, so for me, I did a lot of research and listed the positives and negatives.  

What I found was, Beachbody is a Network Marketing company. A Network Marketing company is a business model where independent contractors buy into a company and earn commission on the products they sell.  

In a pyramid scheme, you recruit and recruit, the person at the top gets richer and richer. These are also labeled as "get-rich-quick-schemes." There is no product involved - just money exchanges...which is why it is illegal.

In a business, you have a CEO, upper management, middle management, and then hard-working employees at the bottom. Looks very familiar doesn't it?

As a coach, I don't get paid to recruit coaches.  In fact, the more coaches we "sign-up" under our team, does NOT mean more money!  We get paid through commissions on products sold. 

I like to look at Network Marketing in a corporate america way...If I were to go onto Facebook or my blog and show a picture of my Adidas sneakers and say, "These are the most comfortable shoes ever! Love 'em!" and posted...I am endorsing a shoe company, for free.  I get nothing out of it.  But the company will benefit because my friends might see that and then purchase the shoes.  

This actually happened when Beachbody first started.  They were a company that sold workouts through infomercials.  Then people started sharing and posting on blogs and exercise boards about the great products, they supported and motivated each other and the coach was born. Beachbody's CEO Carl Daikeler saw opportunity and jumped on it.  

Does it take work to build your Beachbody business?

YES!!!

This is not a get-rich-quick-scheme!  It doesn't come quick and easy.  But if you work hard and stay consistent, it will come!  The team that I am on has coaches who joined between 2-3 years ago and are earning well over 6 figures a year!  None of them had a Network Marketing background, or even a sales background.  

How did they become successful? They made a choice. They decided to ignore the nay-sayers and dove into their business wholeheartedly, working their butts off, and now they are seeing the their seed grow. It doesn't matter when you start, you can grow at the rate you choose.  

As I mentioned above, I don't get paid to recruit coaches. I help coaches, who have dreams of making a life for themselves and their families, become a reality.  Coaches earn the same percentage of commissions. I don't earn money off of my coaches commissions, we all earn the same commissions off our individual sales.  But the better your team does, Beachbody rewards you with team bonuses.  That is from their bank, not mine nor my coaches!  

And here is something that doesn't happen in a pyramid or in corporate america...There can be a coach underneath me who makes more money than me!  Yup!  

Here is something to chew on too: 82% of women who earn $100k OR MORE per year do it through network marketing. 

The times of working for that same company for 30+ years is becoming a thing of the past. In fact, most companies don't want you to stick around that long anyway.  Times are changing...why not take the opportunity to BE YOUR OWN BOSS and work towards your DREAM, not someone else's.  

 Beachbody has given me the tools and resources to grow my business. After spending almost 20 years in corporate, non-profit and government employment, I was ready for a change.  I needed to be surrounded by positive and uplifting people. I needed to be in a place that allowed me to be me. I needed to have flexibility to be a mom and not feel guilty for it.  Beachbody has given me these things.  

If you are interested in learning more about being your own boss, please complete this application for my next Coaching Sneak Peek. Then you can decide whether or not it's a Pyramid Scheme.