If you’re on the internet, you’ve probably seen the ads for Monat, an MLM company that sells hair products and beauty products.
According to their marketing team, they promise “revolutionary” haircare products that can transform your hair in ways you never thought possible.
But can you really make money selling Monat products that are expensive, or is Monat Global just another pyramid scheme waiting to take your money?
This Monat MLM review will provide you with an in-depth overview of what to expect from this multi-level marketing company so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not Monat legitimate company.
What Is Monat?
Currently, Luis is the Chairman of the company and Rayner is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
What’s interesting about the Urdaneta family is that they are immigrants from Venezuela and are the true embodiment of the American dream.
That is, coming to America with dreams of creating a better life for oneself and future generations of their family through hard work, determination, and perseverance.
With the support of his wife and sons, Luis Urdaneta founded Monat Global with its core mission of making the world better through its products.
How Does Monat Work?
Monat operates through a traditional network marketing business model, which essentially means that those who are interested in creating a home-based business can join the company as a Market Partner (MP).
Once they have established their business, they have to start recruiting others to become to MPs and get them to sell Monat as a distributor.
As more people join their team (also known as their “downline”), they will start earning commissions on sales made by those they recruited.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because Monat’s income structure outlines how most MLM companies operate.
You essentially create a sales team that can go up to six levels for leveraged revenue sharing (aka profit margin) between you and the other MPs that you have built for your business.
To become a Monat MP, individuals must first purchase a starter kit, which includes a selection of products and access to training materials and support from the corporate team to help them succeed in their business endeavors.
In addition, as an MP you can also earn additional income through bonuses, incentives, and other rewards programs.
The Monat Product Line
Monat’s product lines are broken down into three core categories: Hair, Skin, and Wellness. Each one of these focuses on different aspects of beauty, health, and wellness.
Below is an outline of these products and a few of the sub-categories offered:
Hair
Monat’s hair products offer a wide range of solutions to establish healthy hair, including their Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner.
For added volume, Monat offers the Refresh & Revitalize Dry Shampoo to increase growth, Hair Thickening Spray or Stimulating Scalp Serum, and Lift & Lock Volumizing Hairspray or Defining Whip Styling Crème.
These products are formulated with natural ingredients like Rejuveniqe Oil, which is the signature ingredient in Monat’s hair care products.
It is a blend of 13 natural plant and essential oils that are known for their hydrating, nourishing, and restorative properties.
Skin
Monat also offers a variety of skincare products that they claim are designed to nourish and protect your skin from damage caused by aging, stress, and environmental factors.
The skincare line is comprised of Monat’s Be Gentle, Be Balanced, and Be Firm treatment systems.
The Be Gentle system is said to give your complexion a youthful bounce with firming serums, lotions, and creams formulated with natural ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides.
The Be Balanced system uses gentle cleansers and moisturizers that won’t strip away essential oils or dehydrate your skin.
Lastly, the Be Firm system helps balance out oily or dry skin while providing intense hydration.
Wellness
Finally, there are Monat’s wellness products which are designed to restore energy levels and promote overall well-being.
Their Replenish & Restore line includes vitamin B12 sublingual tablets plus supplements that boost immunity levels while replenishing vital nutrients in the body.
The Reboot & Recharge line consists of energy bars made with healthy ingredients such as nuts, oats, honey, chia seeds, coconut oil, and more for an optimal dose of natural energy throughout the day.
Monat Market Partners Opportunity
If you are looking to start a home-based business and earn money, Monat offers those who are interested the opportunity to become an MP.
Most MLM companies use the term distributor to describe someone who sells products and promotes products for the MLM, but Monat calls these individuals Market Partners.
When you join Monat Global as an MP, you will receive a starter kit that includes product samples and other resources that will help you get started.
Additionally, you will have access to exclusive training materials as well as ongoing corporate support.
Once your business is up and running, you can take advantage of their rewards program which offers bonuses, incentives, and other perks for those who are successful in their sales efforts.
Plus, you get a 30% discount off retail for any products you order for yourself.
How Much Does It Cost to Join Monat?
When you join Monat you have two options for membership, VIP Customer or MP. Depending on which one you enroll in will determine the cost and perks you will receive.
VIP Customer
For a one-time fee of $19.99, this small investment will open up the doors to exclusive discounts, promotions, and rewards that are only available to VIP members.
In addition, once you’re in, there are no monthly fees or hidden costs.
Under this membership, you’ll get 15% off all MONAT products, free shipping on qualified Flexship orders over $84, and access to flash sales and special promotions that are not available to non-members.
Market Partner
If you are looking to join Monat as an MP, then you will have to fork over $99 for the starter kit. When your kit arrives you will get:
- Jelly bag with a variety of product samples
- SMART Start Roadmap
- SMART Start Workbook
- Product Magazine with price list
- VIP Booklet
Once you get this kit you will be in what is considered your SMART Start period. This period consists of the month you enrolled plus the next two full calendar months.
During that time, you’ll receive cash bonuses for adding customers and building a team by personally sponsoring new MPs.
The SMART Start roadmap walks you through the steps of getting your business up and running as quickly as possible.
According to the Monat literature, you learn the business while earning at the same time. How you earn is laid out in the next section.
How Does Monat Pay You?
As a Monat Market Partner with Monat, you can earn an income based primarily on what I will call three SMART Start bonus streams:
- VIP Acquisition Bonus
- Block Bonus
- Neighborhood (MONATbourhood) Bonus
VIP Acquisition Bonus
The VIP Acquisition Bonus (VAB) is the first bonus that MPs can receive for recruiting four new customers (VIPs) into their business.
If you do this within a calendar month, you will receive $15 for each VIP that joins, plus a bonus of $60. There is no cap to how many VIPs you can enroll, so the more the better.
Block Bonus
The bonus for enrolling a new MP can vary from $50 – $350 depending on the product pack they select when signing up.
So on top of the VAB and the bonus for signing up a new MP in the same calendar month, you will receive an additional $150.
This 4:1 ratio is considered a block and just like the VIP Acquisition bonus, there is no limit on the number of blocks you can build.
Neighborhood (MONATbourhood) Bonus
Finally, there is the Neighborhood bonus. To achieve this bonus, you have to build three blocks (4 VIPs + 1 MP) before the end of your SMART Start period.
If you do, then you will receive an additional $500 payout.
Compared to other MLM programs, the Monat compensation plan is probably the most straightforward payment and bonus system to understand.
In short, the more VIP customers and Market Partners that you can sign up during the SMART Start timeframe, the more money you can potentially earn.
However, earnings do not stop with VIPs and Market Partners, there are also leadership levels that you can attain and achieve even higher bonus payments
The leadership levels are as follows:
- Managing MP
- Associate Market Builder
- Market Builder
- Managing Market Builder
- Managing Market Mentor
- Associate Market Mentor
- Market Mentor
- Associate Executive Director
- Executive Director
- Senior Executive Director
Is Monat Worth It?
Reviews of Monat Products
As with many MLMs, Monat prides itself on using proprietary ingredients to make its products. According to their website, Monat only uses safe colorants approved by the FDA, Health Canada, and the European Commission in the European Union.
All fragrances used in Monat are made with ingredients approved as safe by RIFM (Research Institute for Fragrance Materials) and IFRA (International Fragrance Association).
And for those who prefer vegan options, Monat Global claims no animal-derived ingredients or animal byproducts are used in any of their formulations.
It is my guess that all of those qualifiers provide the justification for the prices that they charge for their products.
Monat is not alone, this is true for many of the beauty and cosmetic MLMs out there such as Mary kay or Avon.
This is a difference of $19, plus you get two of each.
The Monat Body Care Smooth & Renew Body Lotion costs $57 for a 7 oz. bottle. Compare that to a 17 oz bottle of Nivea Shea Nourish Body Lotion from Amazon.
You can get the Nivea lotion for less than $6 as a Prime member. That is a difference of $51.
Now to be fair, the shampoo and lotion products on Amazon may not compare scientifically with all the ingredients, but the point I am trying to make is a comparison in value.
And in this day and age, I think a middle-income earner would be more inclined to pay a lower cost for like items.
In my opinion, I think it would be difficult to sell products that are marked up 3x to 5x. Will people be willing to pay that kind of premium for products with the inflation rate we have today?
I’d say probably not.
The comparison clearly demonstrates that.
However, if you are approaching this from a “building a business” perspective, I think you are going to have to exhaust a lot of sweat equity to make a profit.
Let’s face it building a business is no easy task, to begin with.
As I have outlined in the section about making money with Monat, you are going to have to build a substantial amount of blocks and create a sustained “Monatbourhood” that brings in a steady stream of income.
And as I mentioned previously, that can be somewhat difficult to do in the current economy.
I guess the question really comes down to what you can afford to put in, and what kind of return on investment you are expecting.
The customer reviews vary when it comes to Monat products. Some customers love their hair care products and are very pleased with their results.
Other customers have reported adverse reactions after using some of Monat’s hair and skin products.
For example, customers who have used Monat hair products have complained of scalp irritation.
In some cases, some have noted that after using Monat’s shampoo and conditioner, they began to experience thinning hair.
And for some customers, hair loss resulted after using the hair products.
Despite the negative outcomes by some users, Monat stands by their claim of only using clinically-tested ingredients that have been independently vetted by third-party labs.
While that may be true, not everyone may be tolerant of the chemicals used by Monat.
That being the case, I would recommend trying out samples of the different offerings from the Monat product line.
After all, you wouldn’t buy a brand new car without test-driving it first, now would you?
Monat: The Good and the Bad (Pros & Cons)
If you’ve been seeing ads for Monat products, you may be wondering if it’s worth investing in them. After all, the company has been gaining a lot of attention lately.
However, before you make any decision, it’s important to know all the pros and cons of Monat.
Below are some of the good and bad when it comes to the Monat MLM:
Monat Pros
Affordable
Monat Global Corp products are surprisingly affordable. While some brands might charge exorbitant prices for their natural ingredients, Monat provides high-quality products at an affordable price point.
Plus, with free shipping on orders over $50 and discounts for returning customers, it’s easy to save money when buying from Monat.
Natural Ingredients
One of the main things that set Monat apart from other hair care products is its use of natural ingredients.
By using plant-based extracts such as lavender oil, rosemary extract, and grape seed oil, Monat is able to provide effective yet gentle cleansing without harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances.
These natural ingredients work together to nourish your scalp and keep your hair looking healthy and vibrant.
Eco-friendly Packaging
The company uses recycled materials whenever possible and never tests on animals or uses animal bi-products in any products or packaging materials.
Not only does this help reduce their environmental impact but it helps ensure that their customers know exactly what they’re putting onto their bodies with every product purchase.
Monat Cons
Monat Products are Not FDA-Approved
One major con is that none of Monat’s products are FDA-approved. This means that there is no guarantee that they will be effective or even safe to use.
Additionally, there have been reports of people experiencing itching or rashes after using certain Monat products, although these incidents seem to be rare.
Very Few People Can Make Money With Monat
Another negative of investing in Monat is that only a few people can actually make money with it.
Many people join the company hoping to make extra income but quickly realize it isn’t as easy as they thought.
The sales structure is complex, and recruiting new members can be difficult without prior sales experience or a large network of contacts.
Plus, most Monat distributors don’t even break even on their own product purchases, let alone make enough profit to sustain themselves financially.
Cancellation Of Monat Membership Is Difficult
One of the biggest cons associated with being a Monat member is their cancellation policy. In order to cancel your membership, you have to call customer service and speak with a representative there is no online option or self-service tool available for canceling your membership.
This can be extremely frustrating if you’re trying to quickly cancel your account and move on to another haircare brand.
Furthermore, even after speaking with customer service and confirming your cancellation, you may still continue to be charged, further demonstrating how difficult it can be to actually cancel your account fully and move on from Monat once and for all.
The Monat Lawsuit
Despite touting its products as being safe and effective, Monat Global has been rocked by a 2018 class-action lawsuit in the US District Court for Florida.
The case raises questions about possible flaws with the company’s hair care products.
The lawsuit claims that Monat’s purported “all-natural” products actually contain harsh detergents and other hazardous ingredients, resulting in hair loss, scalp irritation, and some adverse skin reactions for some users
Additionally, it was alleged that Monat made false and misleading statements about the safety and effectiveness of its products as well as misleadingly marketed them as natural or organic when they contained synthetic materials.
Of course, Monat denied the claims made in the lawsuit, maintaining their position that their products are safe for consumers.
To support their claims, they have cited positive lab test results from Kosmoscience, a Brazilian -based testing facility widely used by other well-known cosmetic brands.
Business Model: Is Monat a Pyramid Scheme?
If you are wondering whether or not Monat Global is a pyramid scheme the answer is no.
However, It is clear that Monat fits perfectly into the multi-level marketing company model because they use independent representatives to promote their products and services while offering attractive incentives for doing so.
Being a multi-level marketing company has allowed Monat to expand its reach beyond traditional advertising methods.
That is by having its independent business owners sell skincare and haircare products to customers and by recruiting others into the MLM business.
Despite the perceived appearance of a pyramid scheme, Monat’s MLM business model can offer opportunities for earning income and building a business.
But joining Monat can also come with risks and challenges, such as the need to continuously recruit new Monat distributors and the potential for oversaturation in the market.
Final Verdict: Monat MLM Review
As with many multi-level marketing companies, Monat MLM provides a legitimate business opportunity for those who have an entrepreneurial spirit and are interested in getting involved in the beauty industry.
However, earning a consistent income is going to take a lot of work to make money. Even after you do, there’s a chance that you might lose money or just break even.
Before jumping into the program, you should be clear about your expectations and research the company thoroughly.
