The Optavia diet is quite popular amongst the weight loss population despite the fact that it was just launched in 2017.
This popularity comes in no surprise because it is backed by a solid company Medifast that has been in the industry for years.
Although, it should be noted that the Optavia website does not really mention anything about its affiliation with Medifast except in its Terms and Conditions.
Even the company ownership and management structure are not readily available on the website.
Optavia's marketing pitch focuses on helping others achieve a lifelong transformation with healthy habits. Hence, the company acknowledges the contributions of its coaches as the lifeblood of the program.
However, as part of these diet programs that Optavia's coaches are advocating is the requirement to purchase Optavia's fuelings or food packs.
We will know as we go on with this article that there can be no denying on the effectiveness of Optavia's diet programs.
However, this company operates with a multi-level marketing system.
In this article, we aim to examine Optavia's business opportunity and find out whether or not it is a scam or legit money-making business worth your money and time investment.
Read on to find out more.
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Optavia - Is It A Scam Or Legit Making-Money Opportunity
The Optavia Company Some Facts You Should Know
Optavia is a multi-level marketing company under health and nutrition.
It is in fact a subsidiary of Medifast, an American health and weight loss company that has been existent for the past 40 years.
Optavia's predecessor company under Medifast is Take Shape for Life. Optavia's system is designed to offer health coaching to clients. This system is co-founded by Dr. Wayne Andersen, a proven health and wellness author and advocate.
Under Optavia's system, coaches guide customers along the way with the goal of reaching optimal health and wellbeing.
Similar companies are Juice Plus and Plexus Worldwide.
This is made possible by following the habits of health as popularized by one of the founders, Dr. Andersen. Also, this includes the consumption of Optavia fuelings daily.
Optavia was launched in 2017 with its headquarter in Baltimore, Maryland.
Currently, the CEO of Medifast is Dan Chard , an experienced executive in the field of marketing and branding with worldwide reach.
Medifast is listed in Better Business Bureau and is A+ rated.
From the BBB website, we take note of the complaints from customers mostly referring to problems with products and services.
The good news is that most of these complaints were resolved accordingly.
Medifast Optavia is also a member of Direct Selling Association (DSA).
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The Optavia Products
Optavia products are called fuelings and are incorporated by Optavia coaches to your diet plan.
It is said that these products are developed and formulated by physicians, dietitians and scientists.
Optavia Essential Fuelings
These are composed of snack bars, smoothie/shake powder, coffee powder, soup mix, pancake mix, cereals, oatmeal, biscuits and the likes. There are about 48 varieties of these food packs. These packs contain 7 servings each and are sold at US$21.45.
Optavia Select Fuelings
These are composed of 10 varieties of food packs each with 7 servings and are sold at US$23.45.
Classic Fuelings
There are about 43 food pack varieties under this classification with 7 servings each and are sold at US$19.95.
Optimal Health Fuelings
With 6 food pack varieties, these items are sold at US$19.95. Also, each pack contains 7 servings.
Purposeful Hydration
These are powdered juices sold at US$39.95. Each pack contains 30 servings.
Snacks
These include snacks such as popcorn, juice powder and many more.
Optivia also offers probiotic dietary supplement at US$288, digestive enzyme supplement at US$192 and Omega-3 Dietary supplement at US$299.40. Each pack is good for 30-day supply.
Also, there are relevant guides and books sold at the Optavia shop.
The above products are incorporated in Optavia's 3 types of optimal weight plans.
Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan
This will require you to observe the habit of eating 6 small meals per day usually at the interval of 2-3 hours.
As per my understanding this plan consists of eating 5 fuelings per day and 1 lean and green meal. Suggested kits for this plan are sold at US$414.6 - US$448.6. Each of these kits are for about 24 days of supply.
Optimal Weight 4&2&1 Plan
This meal plan consists of eating 4 Optavia fuelings, 2 lean and green meals and one healthy snack. There is a recommended kit sold at US$408 for about 28-day supply.
Optimal Health 3&3 Plan
This meal plan makes use of 3 fuelings and 3 lean and green meals per day. The applicable kit is for about 43-day supply and is sold at US$333.
How Can You Become An Optavia Coach
Joining Optavia as a coach opens a business opportunity for you.
You can join the company by talking to an Optavia coach, buying the business kit and engaging in Optavia community.
The business kit is priced at US$199. This includes business tools, plan information, some business accessories and 12-month access to personal website and back office.
The Optavia Compensation Plan
Your earnings as an Optavia coach depends on the following income opportunities:
1. Client Acquisition and Support
Coaches earn from the purchases that their client make via their personalized website. A 15% commission on their level 1 front line volume orders is rewarded to coaches.
When a Coach further pursues more training and gets certified, he/she gets 3% bonus of his/her frontline volume.
As the Coach accumulates more sales volume, he/she gets a commission as well ranging from 5-13%.
There is a consistency bonus given to certified coaches with sales that qualify to the below requirement:
· 2000 FLV for 3 consecutive months - bonus of US$250
· 4000 FLV for 3 consecutive months - bonus of US$500
· 6000 FLV for 3 consecutive months - bonus of US$1000
Lastly, client acquisition bonus (CAB) is given to coaches that generate a total of 1000 FLV within their first 30 days from 5 new clients/coaches.
2. Sponsoring and Team Building
As a reference to the discussion of the bonuses that will be explained from here, it is better to understand the rankings that can be achieved as an Optavia coach. The ranks are summarized by the chart below.
When a coach assists a new frontline in earning his/her CAB, he/she will get a US$100 assist bonus.
While a coach progresses to higher ranks and his/her team grows, he/she gets 2-12% commission on the sales of the teams outside his/her frontline. This is called the team growth bonus.
Fully Integrated Business Coach (FIBC) Consistency Bonus is attained by a certified coach who is at Executive Director rank and for 3 consecutive months has maintained 6000 frontline volume, 5 qualified senior coach and 15000 group volume. A bonus of US$1000 will be paid to a qualified coach.
3. Leadership Development
Executive Director Generation bonuses is paid to business leaders with rank Regional Director or higher if they develop Executive Directors within their team. The percentage of commission ranges from 1.5-2.5% and up to 6 generations depending on the leader's rank.
There is an Elite Leadership Bonuses as well for National Director and higher.
The percentage bonus is 0.5% of the entire business of the leader down to up to the second leader on the same line of sponsorship.
Can You Earn Money With The Optavia Opportunity?
According to Optavia's income disclosure statement in 2017, its coaches earn from zero to up to more than US$200000 annually.
Making use of the income ranges and the corresponding percentage of coaches earning such income, I was able to deduce that the average income of coaches is at around US$4158 annually and the median income is at around US$175.
Hence, Optavia's income disclosure statement just confirms the common perception about MLM companies that only the few are earning decent income from them as members.
In the case of Optavia, less than 5% of the members are earning adequate income that at least comes near to the median personal income in the US.
This high disparity of income amongst members are just proof that the people on top of MLMs are just preying on the effort and sales of those who are in the bottom tier.
According to marketwatch.com, in 2018 there are about 16,000 coaches representing Optavia.
The good news here is that based on this number, there can be some room for expansion for new members still.
Also, the average income of coaches at US$4158 is a little better than other MLM companies that I have reviewed however the median income is almost the same with other MLM companies that are transparent enough to show their income disclosure statement.
Plus, the retail commission is quite lower than the other MLM companies that I have reviewed.
Nevertheless, based on Optavia's income disclosure statement, it is possible to earn money from its programs however as they say the devil is in the details.
The percentage of success is quite low so it really depends on you.
Do you have what it takes to sell and build your team? Are you willing to take the risks and rise from it?
If your answer to these questions is yes, then Optavia can be for you.
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The Pros Of Optavia At A Glance
· Optavia is a subsidiary of a legitimate company that was founded by medical doctors and has been in the industry for 40 long years. Medifast is even recognized by Forbes as one of the most trusted American companies.
· The current CEO has a proven track record as executive of other successful MLM companies so the company can be in good hands.
· The company is listed in BBB and is rated A+. It is also a member of DSA.
· The products are proven to be effective in achieving rapid weight loss. They are also convenient and delicious-tasting. They promote healthy lifestyle as well.
· The company offers a 30-day return policy.
· Cost of joining is at reasonable cost. But, it is not some amount that you can just invest without even thinking about the opportunity thoroughly.
· The company is transparent in detailing its compensation plan as well as its income disclosure statement.
The Cons Of Optavia
· Monthly cost of maintaining the diet recommended by the program is high.
· Your fresh food intake will be limited because all of the products are processed.
· It may need a great deal of discipline from you to follow the meal programs despite the fact that they can leave you feeling hungry at times.
· The calorie content of meal plans contain lower calorie level than what is recommended by USDA.
· Retail commission rate is relatively low.
· Estimated average and median income of coaches are still low and it means business losses.
· Success rate is low as well with less than 5% of coaches earning a decent income enough to feed a household.
· Contrary to the press release of the company, earning money with Optavia still relies heavily on recruitment rather than sales of the products.
Conclusion - Optavia -Is It A Scam Or Legit Money-Making Opportunity
Obviously, Optavia under the umbrella of Medifast is a legitimate company with just enough recognitions and accreditations that we can actually believe in.
The company offers weight loss products that are tested and proven to be effective and are even recommended by health and medical practitioners.
However, as a business opportunity, Optavia's money-making system still falls under the cloak of multi-level marketing where income potentials are just empty promises that do not really translate to real income for many participants.
Although the products are widely accepted by weight loss followers and are believed to be effective, they are not without limitations.
Hence, selling will really not come in easy. And, with compensation plan that mainly rewards based on recruitment, this is an opportunity that poses more risks than benefits.
So, if you have been burnt by an MLM system before, expect the same when you decide to join Optavia for its business opportunity offerings alone.
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Stop Annoying Friends And Family!
You have it wrong. The top earners are those who did the work to become successful and did it consistently. They also do it full time. You also overlook the fact that this work can be done part-time and that $500 extra a month is A LOT for many people, couples, or families.
Hi Nancy, thanks for commenting. There is no doubt that the top earners are working hard to become successful. But I also know from my personal experience that consultants in lower levels are working hard as well but are not able to make it to the top. $500 is a good side hustle but many people forget that they still need to pay taxes on it as well as travel and other business expenses. The questions, if it is worth getting involved with any MLM company, can only be answered by each individual. The truth is that many people jump from one MLM opportunity to the next in the search of becoming the next success story. Looking at income disclaimers, only 0.1% are making it to the top.
I think that it is important to be aware of the benefits and risks of getting involved with network marketing.
Best, Anke