Southwestern Advantage Review: Legitimate Books MLM?
Southwestern Advantage is a multi-level marketing company that sells educational resources like books and online learning systems door to door. Southwestern Advantage representatives typically earn a commission for each product they sell, as well as a percentage of the sales generated by their downline (the people they’ve recruited to sell Southwestern Advantage products). If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, Southwestern Advantage may be worth considering. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Southwestern Advantage and answer the question: is Southwestern Advantage a scam or legitimate MLM?
History of Southwestern Advantage
Southwestern Advantage was founded in 1855 by the Rev. J.R. Graves. The company was originally created to sell Bibles door to door. Southwestern Advantage eventually expanded its product line to include educational resources like books and online learning systems, and today the company operates in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The company is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
Southwestern Advantage’s mission is to “help college students succeed in life.” The company does this by providing educational resources that help students academically and professionally. Southwestern Advantage also offers a Leadership Development Program, which it claims will help participants develop the skills needed to succeed in any business.
What products does Southwestern Advantage sell?
Southwestern Advantage sells school books and online learning systems. The company’s products are designed to help students academically and professionally. Southwestern Advantage’s product line includes the following items:
- Business books: Southwestern Advantage’s business books include titles like “The Southwestern Advantage: How to Sell More, Earn More, and Live Better,” which is a book about sales techniques.
- Student success books: Southwestern Advantage’s student success books include titles like “How to Study Smart Not Hard,” which is a book about study skills.
- Leadership development books: Southwestern Advantage’s leadership development books include titles like “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” which is a book about leadership principles.
- History books: Southwestern Advantage’s history books include titles like “The Southwestern Story,” which is a book about the company’s history.
- Self-improvement books: Southwestern Advantage’s self-improvement books include titles like “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” which is a book about habits that lead to success.
- Online learning systems: Southwestern Advantage’s online learning systems include the Southwestern Advantage Online Academy, which is an online education platform that offers courses in subjects like business, marketing, and sales.
How does Southwestern Advantage work?
Southwestern Advantage representatives sell the company’s products door to door. Representatives typically earn a commission for each product they sell, as well as a percentage of the sales generated by their downline (the people they’ve recruited to sell Southwestern Advantage products). Southwestern Advantage also offers a Leadership Development Program, which it claims will help participants develop the skills needed to succeed in any business.
To join Southwestern Advantage, interested individuals must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Southwestern Advantage representatives must also be able to pass a background check.
Southwestern Advantage’s compensation plan is based on a binary system, meaning representatives can build two teams (a left team and a right team) of downline members. Southwestern Advantage representatives earn commissions on the sales generated by their downline, as well as bonuses for recruiting new members.
Here are the Southwestern Advantage bonuses and how they work:
- Recruiting Bonuses: Southwestern Advantage representatives can earn bonuses for recruiting new members. Bonuses are based on the number of new members recruited, as well as the sales generated by those members.
- Leadership Development Bonuses: Southwestern Advantage representatives can earn bonuses for completing the Leadership Development Program. Bonuses are based on the number of new members recruited, as well as the sales generated by those members.
- Sales Bonuses: Southwestern Advantage representatives can earn bonuses on the sales generated by their downline. Bonuses are based on the total sales volume generated by the team.
Southwestern Advantage has ranks. Representatives can progress through the ranks by recruiting new members and generating sales.
There are seven ranks in Southwestern Advantage, as follows:
- Associate: To qualify as an Associate, a Southwestern Advantage representative must have at least two active downline members.
- Director: To qualify as a Director, a Southwestern Advantage representative must have at least four active downline members and generate at least $4,000 in sales volume per month.
- Senior Director: To qualify as a Senior Director, a Southwestern Advantage representative must have at least eight active downline members and generate at least $8,000 in sales volume per month.
- Executive Director: To qualify as an Executive Director, a Southwestern Advantage representative must have at least 16 active downline members and generate at least $16,000 in sales volume per month.
- Regional Director: To qualify as a Regional Director, a Southwestern Advantage representative must have at least 32 active downline members and generate at least $32,000 in sales volume per month.
- National Director: To qualify as a National Director, a Southwestern Advantage representative must have at least 64 active downline members and generate at least $64,000 in sales volume per month.
- President’s Club: The President’s Club is Southwestern Advantage’s top rank. Southwestern Advantage representatives can qualify for the President’s Club by generating at least $125,000 in sales volume per month.
How do you join Southwestern Advantage?
Nature's Sunshine is a legitimate MLM company that offers a variety of health and wellness products. The company has been in business for over 45 years and does not require distributors to maintain a minimum inventory. However, the Nature's Sunshine compensation plan is very complicated and there are a lot of requirements that need to be met in order to make money. The company has also been sued in the past for making false claims about their products. If you are looking for an alternative to Nature's Sunshine, there are many other direct selling companies that offer health, beauty, and wellness products.
Southwestern Advantage requires a $99 application fee. Southwestern Advantage representatives must purchase the company's products at a discounted rate and then sell them door-to-door. The cost of Southwestern Advantage products varies depending on the type of product.
Is Southwestern Advantage a pyramid scheme?
Southwestern Advantage is not a pyramid scheme. Southwestern Advantage representatives earn commissions on the sales of the products they sell, as well as a percentage of the sales generated by their downline. Southwestern Advantage does not require representatives to purchase its products in order to qualify for commissions.
Under a pyramid scheme, representatives earn commissions solely on the recruitment of new members. Southwestern Advantage representatives do not earn commissions solely on the recruitment of new members. Southwestern Advantage is a legitimate MLM company.
How about complaints or lawsuits?
Southwestern Advantage has faced some complaints and lawsuits over the years.
- In 2005, Southwestern Advantage was sued by the attorney general of Tennessee for allegedly operating as a pyramid scheme. The case was settled out of court, with Southwestern Advantage agreeing to change its business practices.
- In 2009, Southwestern Advantage agreed to pay $1 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that the company was operating as a pyramid scheme.
- In 2010, Southwestern Advantage was sued by the attorney general of Massachusetts for allegedly operating as a pyramid scheme. The case was settled out of court, with Southwestern Advantage agreeing to change its business practices.
- In 2013, Southwestern Advantage was sued by the attorney general of North Carolina for allegedly operating as a pyramid scheme. The case was settled out of court, with Southwestern Advantage agreeing to change its business practices.
Despite the complaints and lawsuits, Southwestern Advantage continues to operate as a legitimate MLM company. Southwestern Advantage has changed its business practices in response to the complaints and lawsuits.
What we like about Southwestern Advantage
- Southwestern Advantage is a legitimate MLM company that has been in business for over 100 years.
- Southwestern Advantage representatives can earn commissions on the sales of products they sell, as well as a percentage of the sales generated by their downline.
- Southwestern Advantage does not require representatives to purchase its products in order to qualify for commissions.
What we don’t like about Southwestern Advantage
- Southwestern Advantage has been the subject of complaints and lawsuits alleging that it is a pyramid scheme.
- Southwestern Advantage representatives must generate a significant amount of sales volume in order to qualify for commissions on the sales generated by their downline.
- Southwestern Advantage products are only available for purchase by Southwestern Advantage representatives.
Are there alternatives to Southwestern Advantage?
There are alternatives to Southwestern Advantage. Southwestern Advantage is not the only MLM company that sells educational resources.
Some other companies that sell educational resources include:
- Tutor Doctor
- Kaplan
- Sylvan Learning
- Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services
You can also sell educational resources online through platforms like Amazon or eBay. You can also start your own online education business.
Do we recommend Southwestern Advantage?
No, we do not recommend Southwestern Advantage. Southwestern Advantage is a legitimate MLM company that has been in business for over 100 years. However, Southwestern Advantage has been the subject of complaints and lawsuits alleging that it is a pyramid scheme. Southwestern Advantage representatives must generate a significant amount of sales volume in order to qualify for commissions on the sales generated by their downline. Southwestern Advantage products are only available for purchase by Southwestern Advantage representatives. There are many other MLM companies that sell educational resources, and we believe there are better alternatives to Southwestern Advantage.
You must thoroughly research any multi-level marketing company before joining as a distributor because there is always the potential for scams. Here's what to look for in an MLM:
- A product that is in high demand: The products you’re selling should be in high demand. This ensures that you’ll be able to generate enough sales to make a good profit.
- A low entry fee: You don’t want to spend too much money to get started with an MLM company. A low entry fee ensures that you won’t have to spend a lot of money to get started.
- A compensation plan that is fair: The compensation plan should be fair, so that you’re not being taken advantage of.
- A company with a good reputation: You want to join an MLM company that has a good reputation. This ensures that you’ll be able to sell the products and make a good profit.
I Buy I Review is an excellent source of information on MLM companies. We research and review MLM companies so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to join one.
I buy and review courses so you don’t have to. Sometimes, I even find courses that are legitimate and worthwhile; and that’s how I accidentally came across one that led me to building a 6-figure business in a little under 5 years. Now, I still review courses because it’s my favorite hobby. 🙂 Learn more about me here.