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Shaklee Review: Is It a Legitimate MLM Opportunity?

This Shaklee review examines the legitimacy, risks, and investment potential of Shaklee Corporation, a multi-level marketing (MLM) company founded in 1956. Operating through https://us.shaklee.com/, Shaklee sells health, wellness, beauty, and household products. This comprehensive analysis focuses on ownership, the compensation plan, ROI sustainability, and comparisons with other investments. It uses clear language, charts, and bullet points to help readers understand if Shaklee is a viable opportunity.

Shaklee logo for Shaklee Review and product information
Shaklee logo for Shaklee Review and product information

Ownership and Background

Shaklee company was founded by Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee, a chiropractor and nutritionist who created one of the first U.S. multivitamins in 1915. In 2004, Roger Barnett, an American entrepreneur from the influential Wolfson family, acquired Shaklee for $310 million through Activated Holdings LLC. Barnett, now Chairman and CEO, has a background in finance and e-commerce but no prior MLM experience before Shaklee. 

Heather Chastain, President, brings extensive MLM expertise. The company operates globally in countries like the U.S., Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, and Australia (since 2024), with over 750,000 distributors.

Key Ownership Details

  • Founder: Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee (deceased 1985).
  • Current Owner/CEO: Roger Barnett, acquired Shaklee in 2004.
  • President: Heather Chastain, experienced in MLM operations.
  • Corporate History: Publicly traded on NYSE in the 1970s; sold Japan operations to Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical in 1989.

Analysis: Shaklee’s long history and transparent ownership suggest stability. However, its MLM model raises concerns about sustainability due to reliance on recruitment.

haklee website header with Shaklee Review, featuring clean and clinically proven products

Compensation Plan Breakdown

Shaklee’s compensation plan rewards Independent Distributors (Ambassadors) through product sales and team-building. Below is a detailed overview:

Compensation Components

Retail Profits: 15%–25% discounts for Members; 16%–36% for Distributors on product sales.

Personal Group Volume (PGV) Bonus:

  • 250 PGV: 4% bonus.
  • 500 PGV: 8% bonus.
  • 1,000 PGV: 12% bonus.
  • 1,500 PGV: 14% bonus.
  • 2,000+ PGV: 20% bonus.

Residual Commissions: Paid via a unilevel structure (up to 6 levels):

  • Senior Director: 6% (level 1), 3% (level 2).
  • Coordinator: 6% (level 1), 4% (level 2).
  • Higher ranks earn up to 6% on levels 1–2, 4% on levels 3–4, 3% on levels 5–6.

Infinity Bonus: 2%–8% on deeper unilevel team legs for Senior Coordinator and above.

Matching Bonus: 10%–25% on recruited affiliates’ earnings (Senior Key Coordinator and above).

Prove It Bonus: $75 for every three Prove It Challenge packs sold monthly.

Rank Rewards: Include car bonuses ($225–$600/month) and international trips for ranks like Director to Presidential Master Coordinator.

Starter Kits: Range from $49.95 (Business Starter Kit) to $899 (Well-being Beauty Bundle).

Storefront Subscription: $14.95/month after a free 3-month trial.

 

Rank

Requirements

Distributor

Sign up with a Starter Kit.

Director

100 PV + 2,000 PGV monthly.

Senior Director

Director + 1 Director recruit.

Coordinator

Director + 2 Director recruits.

Master Coordinator

Director + 6 Directors + 100,000 GV monthly.

Presidential Master

Director + 8 Directors + 2 Master Coordinators + 500,000 GV monthly.

Qualification RanksPV (Personal Volume): Sales from personal purchases or retail customers.

PGV (Personal Group Volume): Sales from the distributor and their recruits.

GV (Group Volume): Sales from the entire downline.

Analysis: The plan emphasizes recruitment, with higher earnings tied to building a downline. Only 0.27% (2,000/750,000) of distributors become millionaires, per Shaklee’s earnings chart, indicating a low success rate.

Investment Comparison chart including Shaklee Review, Real Estate, Bank Savings, and Crypto Staking

ROI Analysis and Sustainability

Shaklee claims distributors can earn supplemental income, but most face losses. Let’s calculate ROI for a typical distributor:

ROI Calculation

Costs (Year 1):

  • Starter Kit: $49.95 (one-time).
  • Monthly PV (100, ~$100): $100 × 12 = $1,200.
  • Storefront Subscription: $14.95 × 9 (post-trial) = $134.55.
  • Total: $1,384.50.

Earnings (Optimistic):

  • Retail Profit (16%–36% on $100/month): $16–$36/month = $192–$432/year.
  • PGV Bonus ($50/month, optimistic): $50 × 12 = $600.
  • Total: $792–$1,032.

Sustainability Issues

  • Low Success Rate: Only 0.27% achieve significant wealth.
  • Recruitment Dependency: Exponential growth (e.g., 5 recruits per distributor annually = 3,125 in 5 years) leads to market saturation.
  • Revenue Constraints: Shaklee’s 2022 revenue (~$500M) cannot sustain widespread payouts if all distributors earn $100/month ($750,000 × 100 = $75M/month).

Investment Comparison

Investment

Avg. Annual ROI

Risk Level

Liquidity

Shaklee MLM

-25% to -43%

Very High

Low

Real Estate

5%–10%

Medium

Low

Bank Savings

4%–5%

Low

High

Crypto Staking

3%–8%

High

Medium

Analysis: Shaklee’s negative ROI contrasts with positive returns from real estate, banks, and crypto, making it a risky investment.

Traffic and Public Perception

Traffic (SimilarWeb): ~100,000–200,000 monthly visits, with 76% direct traffic, showing a loyal base but limited organic growth.

Public Sentiment:

  • Positive: Praise for product quality (e.g., Vitalizer, score 8.7/10 on MultivitaminGuide.org) and sustainability (Climate Neutral Certified in 2000).
  • Negative: Criticism on Reddit and ScamRisk.com for low earnings and past FTC sanctions (1974, 1976) for misleading claims.

Security and Authenticity

  • Security: HTTPS encryption, reCAPTCHA, and over 100,000 annual quality tests ensure product safety.
  • Authenticity: Backed by 100+ patents and studies (e.g., UC Berkeley Landmark Study), but distributor-driven claims risk exaggeration.

Red Flags of Shaklee

  • Recruitment Focus: Earnings rely on downline growth, resembling pyramid scheme traits.
  • Low Earnings: 90% earn <$5,000/year, per income disclosures.
  • Past Issues: FTC sanctions and a 2012 Ponzi scheme by distributor John Cranney ($10.4M fraud) raise oversight concerns.

Recommendations

  • Distributors: Research earnings data and treat Shaklee as a side hustle.
  • Investors: Opt for real estate, bank accounts, or crypto for better ROI.
  • Consumers: Buy products as a Member to avoid distributor costs.

Shaklee Review Disclaimer

This Shaklee review uses public data as of May 20, 2025, and is not financial advice. Verify claims via the BBB (https://www.bbb.org), FTC (https://www.ftc.gov), or Shaklee’s site (https://us.shaklee.com/earnings). MLM outcomes vary, so consult advisors before investing.

Shaklee Review by Scams Radar featuring a robot analyzing Shaklee products

AShaklee Trust Score

The website being discussed is likely a fake because trust scores are the most crucial metric of a website’s credibility. This website requires extreme caution.
This Shaklee website’s ownership, location, popularity, user reviews, phony items, threats, and phishing attempts are thoroughly investigated.
Shaklee Review by former senior accountant on work-life balance, pros, and cons

FAQs

The answers to frequently asked questions about the validity Shaklee report can be found here. To address your concerns, we have provided the following questions and answers:

Shaklee is a health and wellness MLM company founded in 1956, selling supplements, beauty, and household products. Its model lets distributors earn through product sales and recruiting others, with commissions ranging from 16%–36%.

Yes, Shaklee is a legitimate MLM with a 60+ year history and transparent ownership. However, its recruitment-heavy model means most distributors earn minimal income, with only 0.27% becoming millionaires.

  1. Joining Shaklee costs $49.95 for the Business Starter Kit or up to $899 for premium kits. Distributors also face ongoing costs like $100 monthly product purchases and a $14.95/month Storefront fee.

A Shaklee review can highlight product quality, backed by 100+ patents and studies, but distributor claims may exaggerate benefits. Check verified sources like the BBB or FTC for balanced insights.

Risks include negative ROI (often -25% to -43%), reliance on recruitment, and low success rates. Compared to real estate (5%–10% ROI) or bank savings (4%–5%), Shaklee’s model is high-risk.

 

Other Infromation:

WHOIS data : Hidden
Owner : REDACTED FOR PRIVACY
Country : United States
WHOIS registration date : 1995-01-05
WHOIS last update date : 2024-12-15
WHOIS renew date : 2026-01-04

Title: Online Vitamin, Supplement & Skin Care Store for Total Wellness | Shaklee

Traffic Coming From : NL

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