Network Marketing Company Directory

doTERRA

Controversial
Founded2008
HeadquartersPleasant Grove, Utah, USA
CategoryEssential oils & wellness
StatusActive · privately held

Products: Essential oils, supplements and personal-care products.

Overview

doTERRA is one of the two dominant essential-oils MLMs, selling oils and wellness products through "wellness advocates".

History & controversies

In 2014 the U.S. FDA sent warning letters after doTERRA distributors marketed oils as treatments for serious diseases (including Ebola, cancer and others). The oils are legal consumer products; the problem was illegal health claims, which the company was told to stop. It has not been ruled an illegal pyramid.

Our honest take

Be most careful about the health claims culture — oils are not medicine, and disease-cure claims are illegal. On the business side, apply the usual test: is there real customer demand at the price, or mostly distributors buying to stay active? See our pyramid-scheme test.

What you can realistically earn

Most advocates earn little; income disclosures across the oils industry show modest averages. Run your numbers in the income calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is doTERRA a pyramid scheme?

doTERRA has not been ruled an illegal pyramid scheme and is a legal company. Its notable regulatory issue was a 2014 FDA warning over distributors making illegal disease-treatment claims about the oils, not its pay structure.

Can you make money with doTERRA?

A minority build a real income through genuine retail sales, but most wellness advocates earn little. And you should never repeat health or disease-cure claims about the oils — that is both false and illegal.

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Informational only, based on publicly reported facts believed accurate at the time of writing. This is opinion, not legal or financial advice, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by any company listed. Facts change — spotted an error? Contact us and we will correct it.