Living Forever In The Universe: Can Forever Living Really Do That?

There is an evolving marketing for natural products. Forever Living Products International ("FLP") is known for personal care goods and vitamin supplements that are entirely derived from nature: bee pollen and aloe vera. About as natural as it gets.

The natural products market has respect for FLP. Is FLP worth your serious consideration when starting a new business?

Background: Established in 1978, by current CEO Rex Maughan, the company resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. In 2006, it ranked #340 on the Forbes 400 list.

FLP is estimated to have about 4 million distributors in 44 countries.

Forever Essential and Arctic Sea Super Omega 3 top the list of favorite FLP products. The company is known for a top notch reputation and exemplifies ethical business practices.

Comp Structure: FLP follows a typical MLM plan. Primary level commissions come from direct selling. Direct selling for this company is based either on personal referrals or usage of duplicated websites.

Creating a downline increased dollars earned. A distristbutor receives overrides on downline sales. Volume bonuses can come from meeting certain sales volume criteria.

New membership is free, without annual dues and free access to FLP presentation. Commissions are paid when sales reach $250. The plan is unusual; commissions on paid on the retail price of the product as opposed to wholesale cost.

Example: With retail sales of$286 (at a cost of $200), a $286 commission (of about 5-8%) would equate to about $286. There are powerful earning incentives in play with the triple tier bonus system as well.

Some expert MLM marketers opine that FLP should adapt their comp plan to make it more responsive to the unprecedented growth of internet marketing. A newcomer might to think about this further.

At the peak of the FLP ladder, life time membership can be achieved. When reached, other bonuses arise: home purchase assistance, auto incentives and tuition contribution for education.

Education: FLP stresses it training program. This is accomplished through FLP University. The University is an online site focusing on "product knowledge; detailed explanations of the marketing plan and incentives; and step-by-step instructions on the 'how-to's' of network marketing."

Personal mentoring is stressed.

FLP represents a unique lifestyle approach to business and in life. The fit must be a good one for a new member to feel comfortable and succeed. Given the nature of lifestyle product, many new members believe that personal networking is more effective that online networking.

Community: FLP created the 'Forever Giving Foundation' to partner with worldwide charities. The Foundation is renowned for fighting poverty and hunger and offers pediatric medical aid. Disaster aid is part of their work.

Nutshell: Forever Living is alive and strong. The business opportunity may well be living forever in the universe if their past is an indicator. For the person who is willing to train and build a downline, it is real contender.