Companies that left the MLM model in 2024-2025 - what does this mean for the industry?

Several notable companies have abandoned the MLM model recently. Rodan and Fields dropped their MLM structure. BeachBody (now BODi) shut down its partner network on January 1, 2025, replacing it with a straight affiliate program. Tupperware filed for bankruptcy. Colored Street changed its compensation plan significantly. Epicure and Modere also shut down in 2025. Is the MLM model dying? Are these companies the canary in the coal mine? Or are they just poorly managed companies that happened to be MLMs?

This is a one-sided view. I know plenty of people earning full-time income from their MLM business. They work hard, treat it like a real business, and provide genuine value to their customers. Success IS possible.

The math is simple and undeniable. In any MLM, the people who join later are at a structural disadvantage because the market becomes increasingly saturated. This is not a feature bug - it is a fundamental design flaw of multi-level compensation structures.

I joined Amway in college because a senior student recruited me. Spent $2,000 I did not have on products and tools. Made $47 in commissions over 6 months. Dropped out of the business but the experience taught me to always research before investing in anything.

Here is my advice for anyone considering MLM: Do not join if you need money now. MLM is a long-term play that might never pay off. Only join if you genuinely love the products and can afford the monthly cost as a consumer. Treat any income as a bonus, not an expectation.

I felt this post in my soul. The loneliness of being the only one still working while your team goes silent is crushing. But remember - you are building skills and resilience that will serve you regardless of whether you stay in MLM or move on to something else.