The Sweet Dream of Passive Income via a MLM, Not a Business. They’re Commission-Only Chaos. Here’s What to Build Instead.

By Sarah Greener – Founder of The Moxie Movement

Multi-level marketing (MLM) isn’t a business.

It’s a commission-only sales and marketing job for a company you don’t own, don’t control, and frankly don't benefit from in the way you’ve been sold.

And yet, this concept is being relentlessly marketed to mums and women in business as “the way” to earn an income from home with “flexibility and freedom.” This Business Model Only Works for the People at the Top.

I’ve built businesses that actually pay the bills, support our family, and give us the freedom to live on a tropical island while homeschooling and running a seasonal cruise company back in New Zealand.

So when women message me saying, “Sarah, are you in XYZ business? It looks like the lifestyle they’re promoting!” I know exactly why they’re asking. They see our life and think, that’s what they’re promising me too. But what they’re being sold is a filtered illusion.

💣 Most MLMs don’t even get their members to a livable income. 85%+ earn less than $1,000/year and that’s before subtracting costs for product, training, marketing, or events. In some cases, median incomes are less than $100/year.

The model isn’t built to make you money. It’s built to make money from you.

The Worst Part? You Don’t Own a Damn Thing

No assets. No equity. No brand. You’re pouring time, energy, and passion into building someone else’s business. And at any point, a boardroom exec can erase your commission with a single signature.

That’s not freedom. And it ain’t any business I want a part of because that’s even more fragile then an international tourism business during Covid (and you know I’ve lived that!).

And let’s talk about ethics for a second. You’re encouraged to sell this “opportunity” to others even if it’s not working for you yet. You’re asked to promote a dream you haven’t lived because that’s what keeps the system going.

Exhausting, right?

So… What Should You Be Doing Instead?

If you’re a mum running a business or dreaming of one, here's what I want you to know:

You can earn great money, be present for your family, and build something you actually control.

In fact, you’re probably already sitting on a goldmine of skills and assets you could start leveraging today.

Instead of selling hope on commission, try:

• Freelancing skills you already have (admin, writing, photography, tutoring)
• Starting micro-service businesses like baking, dog walking, or decluttering
• Selling your knowledge via digital products, workshops, or coaching
• Leaning into your existing business and finally fixing the bits that aren’t working (if you have one of course!)

These paths give you something MLMs never will: ownership, profit, and autonomy.

A Real Business Supports Your Life

You don’t need an upline. You need clarity on what you want, and then a business that helps create that.

You don’t need hype (and if you do there are plenty of reels on IG doing it for you!). You need a model that works when you do and doesn’t crumble when someone else decides it's no longer profitable.

You deserve to build something that lifts you, your family, and your lifestyle without guilt, burnout, or constantly on energy.

💥 Let’s Build That Business. Together.

If you already have something off the ground, but it’s bleeding time, money, or clarity let's fix it.

👉 Book a Moxie Breakthrough Call with me. 

We’ll look at what’s working, what’s not, and map out a next move that finally gets you paid well for the magic you bring to the world.

Because you’re not here to run in circles. You’re here to build something that really works - for you, the kids AND the people you serve.

P.S. If this stirred something in you, come join the conversation over on Instagram or Facebook, or subscribe to The Moxie Movement Podcast for more truth, tools, and bold next steps.

You don’t need to sell someone else’s dream. You can build your own. Let’s do it with Moxie.