Case #200-2025: Administrative Closure - Plexus WorldWide, LLC

BBB NATIONAL PROGRAMS

Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council
Case #200-2025: Administrative Closure - Plexus WorldWide, LLC

 

Company Description 

Plexus WorldWide, LLC (“Plexus” or the “Company”) markets health and wellness products through a direct selling business model. The Company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

 

Basis Of Inquiry

The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (“DSSRC”) is a national advertising self-regulation program administered by BBB National Programs. This inquiry was commenced by DSSRC pursuant to its ongoing independent monitoring of advertising and marketing claims in the direct selling industry. 

The inquiry concerned 17 earnings claims disseminated on Facebook and Instagram. DSSRC was concerned that the challenged earnings claims overstated the amount of income that could be generally expected by the typical Plexus salesforce member participating in the Company’s business opportunities.

The representative earnings claims identified by DSSRC are specified below:

  • I'm blown away that I'm able to earn a full-time income by working part-time hours” (July 2020)
  • “The income opportunity with plexus is truly unmatched. Whether you’re looking for extra income or a full time income, that opportunity is there.
  • There is nothing better than being able to work from anywhere, on your own time & bring in as much $$ as you want!” (April 2024)
  • “financial freedom” (November 2023 & May 2024)

  • “It isn’t just extra income.
    It’s being able to breathe.
    It’s no longer being in debt.
    It’s being able to pay for extras.
    It’s finally taking that family vacation.
    It’s having the financial freedom to do what you WANT…
    p.s. this is a picture of me the day before I left on a cruise to the Caribbean thanks to plexus!” (March 2024)

  • “So many times people look at the Plexus business opportunity and immediately think of the Diamonds in the company - the people making 6 figures a year. They think, there’s no way that they could ever attain something like that...so they don’t even imagine trying this business.
    But...guess what...there are literally THOUSANDS of Ambassadors who are earning life changing money! By life changing, I don’t mean 6 or even 4 figures. I mean enough money to afford things they never would have been able to in the past!
    We have Ambassadors who are using their extra Plexus income to:
    - Purchase school clothes
    -Afford sports fees
    -Contribute to savings
    -Help their spouse quit their 2nd job
    -Contribute to charities
    -Pay down credit card debt
    -Afford to take their family on vacation
    -Help pay bills
    -Put away in a college fund
    -To pay for their family’s products so the money doesn’t have to go on their Credit Card

What could YOU do with an extra $500-$5,000 a month?!?” (January 2023)

  • “just putting in a solid 2 to 3 hrs a day, a substantial income can be earned.” (November 2021)
  • “If you need extra income or a full-time job, flexibility, and freedom, this might be something for you” (May 2023)
  • “Congrats an additional extra $600 Brooke Pagley on top of allllll the other ways Plexus pays out! And you’re so close to earning that free cruise!!!  I love that you have an extra monthly income stream to bless your family and others! We all know that’s NEEDED in this economy, such a blessing … Or if you’re looking to earn a free cruise for 2 also and a couple thousand by Christmas she’ll show you how!” (October 2024)
  • “When just 4 people order by clicking your referral link you’ll earn about $500 cash‼️… Imagine an extra $500–$1000 hitting your account this month.”1 (November 2024)
  • “Unlock Financial Freedom with Plexus!
    Are you looking for a side income or even a full-time opportunity to work on your own terms? With Plexus, not only can you achieve your health and wellness goals, but you can also take control of your financial future!”
    (November 2024)
  • “Could you use an extra $500 this month?” (November 2024)
  • “It means I help Mommies stay home with their babies. I help working Mommies pay for daycare and babysitters on the weekends. I help college kids start their own businesses that they can work between classes. I help families make ends meet. I help Daddies quit their 2nd or 3rd jobs so they can be home more with their families, and I even help retirees earn extra income so they can travel and live life to the fullest after retirement. I help people of all walks of life find financial freedom!” (November 2024)
  • “One of the things I’m hoping for is tackling my student loan debt. Make big strides to pay it off and build a better financial future for myself. Financial freedom.
    I’m hoping to use my income from my social selling business as the main source of income for this project next year…
    Are you ready to give yourself some financial freedom” (November 2024)
  • “I haven’t even been with PLEXUS a whole month & I’ve been paid not only once, but TWICE!
    I also just received a holiday cash bonus like how awesome is that?
    I have already ranked to silver, and my goal this month is to rank to gold that’s an extra 11k a year on top of what I already make with my cleaning business!” (November 2024)

 

Company Position

The Company promptly responded to DSSRC’s inquiry and began contacting the individuals responsible for the social media posts to request the removal of the identified claims. The Company also provided DSSRC with a spreadsheet of the relevant claims to track their status. After this initial action, one post, although modified, still contained language that DSSRC was concerned could be interpreted as an unsupported earnings claim. Plexus once again reached out to the individual responsible for disseminating the claim and was successful in having the post completely removed. In total, nine posts were removed from social media platforms. Additionally, eight posts were significantly modified to remove the claims at issue.

 

Administrative Closure

DSSRC acknowledged the good faith actions taken by the Company to effectuate the removal and/or modification of the 17 earnings claims that were the subject of the inquiry. DSSRC determined that the Company’s actions were necessary and appropriate.

Pursuant to the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council Guidance on Earnings Claims (the “DSSRC Guidance”), DSSRC cautions direct selling companies and their independent salesforce against the use of language or images which communicate an opportunity that results in “earnings beyond what can be generally expected by the typical salesforce member in the depicted circumstances . . . .”2 Under section 6 of the DSSRC Guidance, specific phrases are prohibited when made to current salesforce members or to a general audience of prospective members. This includes language such as such as “unlimited income”, “full-time income.” Additionally, language that conveys the message that salesforce members can continuously earn income with “little or no ongoing effort” is also prohibited.3

Based upon Plexus’ good faith actions to facilitate the removal and/or modification of all claims identified in this inquiry in the spirit of voluntary self-regulation, DSSRC administratively closed its inquiry.

 

Company Statement

"Plexus remains committed to upholding the highest standards of truthfulness, integrity, and transparency in all aspects of our business, particularly in promoting our business opportunities. We recognize that our reputation—both with consumers and within the industry—has been instrumental to our success and continues to be a vital asset. We take great pride in the trust and confidence that stakeholders place in us, and we are resolute in our dedication to safeguarding this reputation.

In pursuit of excellence and responsible business practices, Plexus will maintain its ongoing commitment to ethics and compliance across all operations. We will continue proactively identifying opportunities to enhance our training programs, providing our sales force with the knowledge and tools necessary to operate with integrity and fully comply with relevant regulations. This includes but is not limited to compliance-focused resources, such as our evolving suite of social media templates, designed to support our team in their efforts while ensuring adherence to ethical standards. 

As we progress, Plexus will consistently evaluate and adapt our strategies to foster a culture of compliance, accountability, and ethical conduct, ensuring that all promotional efforts align with our core values. We remain dedicated to reinforcing these principles across our organization, with a focus on continued education, communication, and support for our sales force to promote a positive and responsible business environment.”

 

(Case #200-2025, Closed on 2/07/25)
Copyright 2025 BBB National Programs

 

 

[1] DSSRC identified three separate iterations of this claim on social media.

[2] DSSRC, Guidance on Earnings Claims for the Direct Selling Industry (2022) at DSSRC Guidance on Earnings Claims for the Direct Selling Industry.

[3] Id.