We all want to support our friends, in their personal lives and in business.

I will be your number one cheerleader. I will follow your business pages, I will recommend your new ventures to friends and I will sure as hell purchase your products at full price. Because that’s what friends do.

But multi-level marketing is a whole different beast.

The difference between shopping in a relationship vs shopping when single. Post continues below.





Video via Mamamia

We’ve all seen them splashed across our Facebook feeds, promoting a diet shake or miracle cream. And MLMs are increasingly being seen as an attractive revenue stream for parents.

The traditional 9-5 model (which, let’s face it, is more like 8-6) is not particularly conducive to raising small humans, which is why there has been a noticeable spike in MLM activity around this stage of life.

People are looking for alternatives. All power to them.

But there’s just something that doesn’t sit right with me.

When my friend starts a business selling cookies, I know that she makes a profit on the sale. I also know that there’s a substantial investment required for her to set up her business (whether that’s staff, permits, a website, insurance, ingredients… just to name a few).

Also, her cookies are delicious.

The same is true for services. Degrees were attained, sacrifices were made, dreams were achieved. I get what you’re offering. It’s clear. I am happy to support you and help contribute to your success.

But with MLMs, I don’t actually know exactly what’s on offer. Often, the product is a mere distraction from the real profit-making mechanism. Sure, the person spruiking life-changing water purifiers to their friends and relatives makes a commission. No worries.