A couple of weeks again a reader reached out to counsel I revisit Viv in gentle of compensation adjustments.
My first port of name was Viv’s web site, on which I used to be solely capable of finding a compensation plan dated September 2020.
I assumed any compensation adjustments have been newer, so I turned to Viv’s social media profiles.
I discovered a video titled “2021 Comp Plan Enhancements UNVEILED!”, uploaded to Viv’s official Vimeo channel on December fifteenth, 2020.
So far as I can inform that is the newest model of Viv’s compensation plan. It’s thus the premise of this evaluate.
For reference, BehindMLM first reviewed Viv in November 2018 and once more in January 2020.
Learn on for an up to date Viv evaluate for 2021.
The Firm
Viv company seems to be a lot the identical since launch.
Viv continues to be primarily based out of Connecticut and headed up by CEO Cami Boehme (proper).
Take a look at our authentic Viv evaluate for extra data on Boehme’s MLM historical past.
Viv’s Merchandise
Viv’s merchandise haven’t modified considerably since our 2020 second evaluate.
The corporate nonetheless sells utilities and third-party service subscriptions.
Supplied utility companies are break up into dwelling and enterprise.
The house service is Autopilot Financial savings:
- prospects “add their payments” to Viv
- Viv’s service provider supplier haggles with the client’s service suppliers
- buyer saves cash
That’s the way it’s imagined to work, with Viv accumulating “50% of the financial savings every month you save”.
“Pay-in-full reductions” are additionally talked about however no specifics given.
For power payments Viv nonetheless makes use of Utiliz to handle automated service supplier switching.
For enterprise Viv’s providing seems to be unchanged. Ditto Viv’s Professional Membership.
Professional Membership is $139.98 after which $69.99. The service supplies entry to third-party subscription companies.
- ediCall – “entry to a digital MD 24/7” ($29.99 a month individually)
- TechRescue – “24/7 tech assist” ($19.99 a month individually)
- GetAway – “unique journey membership” ($29.99 a month individually)
- OutReach – “advertising automation & gamification” ($29.99 a month individually)
Viv’s Compensation Plan
Viv has gotten rid of residual unilevel staff commissions and changed them with upfront bonuses.
The remainder of the corporate’s compensation plan stays largely the identical.
Private Buyer Factors
Private Buyer Factors (PCPs) are factors allotted on the sale of utilities to Viv prospects.
Viv’s compensation documentation doesn’t specify whether or not particular person subscription companies and Professional Memberships generate PCPs.
Given these are additionally merchandise nonetheless, it’s assumed they do.
PCPs are required for Premium Service Subscription commissions and residual commissions.
Community Factors (group PCP) is used to trace Weekly Base Pay qualification.
Energy Workforce
A number of bonuses inside Viv’s compensation plan have a Energy Workforce element.
A Viv affiliate’s Professional Workforce is outlined as the primary three upline ranges. That’s the recruiting affiliate, the affiliate who recruited them and the affiliate who recruited them.
From there the primary Pacesetter or increased ranked affiliate is counted, after which the primary Silver Associate or increased ranked affiliate.
Thus in whole, every Viv affiliate’s Energy Workforce is made up of 5 upline tiers.
Notice that the Energy Workforce bonuses are coded.
Because of this PaceSetter and Silver Associate (and better) ranked associates accumulate Energy Workforce Bonuses beneath them.
E.g. if you happen to’re instant upline is a PaceSetter, they’ll obtain the primary three Energy Workforce Degree tier bonuses plus their PaceSetter tier bonus.
This leaves solely the Silver Associate tier to pay out.
To maintain issues easy, I’ve referred to every of those 5 Energy Workforce ranges as follows:
- Energy Workforce Degree 1 (the affiliate who recruited you)
- Energy Workforce Degree 2
- Energy Workforce Degree 3
- Energy Workforce PaceSetter+
- Energy Workforce Silver Associate+
Professional Membership Gross sales
Viv associates obtain $25 per Professional Membership sale to a retail buyer or recruited affiliate.
$15 can also be paid to the Energy Workforce, nonetheless particular quantities should not supplied.
Premium Service Commissions
Viv’s present compensation plan mentions associates can “earn on different gross sales”. No additional particulars are supplied.
Viv’s earlier compensation plan detailed commissions on HomeSecure ($150), IntelliHVAC ($150) and EnerG2 ($75) “premium service” product gross sales.
Whether or not these commissions stay the identical or pay out in a different way is unclear.
Quick Motion Bonus
The Quick Motion Bonus replaces Viv’s Quick Observe Bonus. It’s paid out throughout a Viv affiliate’s first 60 days with the corporate.
The Quick Motion Bonus incentivizes associates to join Professional Membership.
That is completed by way of lowered Quick Motion qualification standards:
- Viv Consultants qualify for the Quick Motion Bonus by submitting thirty payments
- Viv Professional Consultants qualify for the Quick Motion Bonus by submitting ten payments
Commissions paid on satisfying the above qualification standards and submitting payments are as follows:
- flip in ten payments and earn $150
- flip in fifteen payments and earn $200
- flip in twenty payments and earn $250
- flip in thirty payments and earn $400
There’s additionally a $50 upline fee paid at every Quick Motion tier.
Lastly, every Quick Motion bonus tier additionally has a Energy Workforce element:
- the ten invoice tier pays $3 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- the fifteen invoice tier pays $3 to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $5 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- the twenty invoice tier pays $5 to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $7.50 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- the thirty invoice tier pays $7.50 to the Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $10 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
It’s not clear if these quantities are break up throughout the Energy Workforce or equally to every upline Energy Workforce affiliate.
Quick Motion Builder
The Quick Motion Builder rewards associates with $150 for promoting three Professional Memberships.
That is recurring bonus accessible throughout a brand new Viv affiliate’s first 60 days with the corporate.
Professional Memberships may be offered to recruited associates or retail prospects.
The Quick Motion Builder additionally pays a $50 upline bonus, in addition to a $35 to the Energy Workforce.
- $5 is paid to the Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three tiers
- $10 is paid to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
Financial savings Bonus
The Financial savings Bonus kicks in if a buyer or recruited affiliate utilizing the AutoPilot service saves $150 or extra on a invoice.
- $150 to $249 in financial savings = $5 Financial savings Bonus
- $250 to $499 in financial savings = $10 Financial savings Bonus
- $500 to $749 in financial savings = $15 Financial savings Bonus
- $750 to $999 in financial savings = $20 Financial savings Bonus
- $1000 to $1499 in financial savings = $30 Financial savings Bonus
- $1500 to $1999 in financial savings = $45 Financial savings Bonus
- $2000 to $2499 in financial savings = $60 Financial savings Bonus
- $2500 to $2999 in financial savings = $75 Financial savings Bonus
There’s additionally a Energy Workforce element to the Financial savings Bonus:
- $150 to $249 in financial savings = $1 paid to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $250 to $499 in financial savings = $1 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $2 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $500 to $749 in financial savings = $2 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $4 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $750 to $999 in financial savings = $3 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $5 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $1000 to $1499 in financial savings = $4 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $6 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $1500 to $1999 in financial savings = $6 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $8 to the Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $2000 to $2499 in financial savings = $8 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $12 to Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $2500 to $2999 in financial savings = $10 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $15 to Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
If calculated financial savings surpass $3000, a 15% “rev share” is paid on the lifetime of the client account.
This equates to
- $3000 in financial savings = $225 Financial savings Bonus, $13 paid to Energy Workforce ranges 1 to three and $18 to Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $3500 in financial savings = $250 Financial savings Bonus, $15 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $21 to Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $4000 in financial savings = $300 Financial savings Bonus, $18 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $24 to Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
- $5000 in financial savings = $350 Financial savings Bonus, $22 paid to Energy Workforce Ranges 1 to three and $30 to Energy Workforce PaceSetter+ and Silver Associate+ tiers
Notice that because the Financial savings Bonus is paid upfront by Viv, they withhold the bonus on $5000+ in financial savings “on receipt of income”.
Because of this the Financial savings Bonus continues to be paid out, it’s simply not upfront just like the decrease quantities are.
Weekly Base Pay
Weekly Base Pay is a rank primarily based weekly fee paid to Viv associates.
Rank qualification relies on Community Factors (NP), which is the sum whole CPC generated by a Viv affiliate and their downline.
- Promoter 160 – generate 160 NPs a month and obtain $10 every week
- Promoter 320 – generate 320 NPs a month and obtain $15 every week
- Promoter 650 – generate 650 NPs a month and obtain $25 every week
- Pacesetter – generate 1250 NPs a month and obtain $50 every week
- Associate – generate 2500 NPs a month and obtain $100 every week
- Silver Associate – generate 5000 NPs a month and obtain $175 every week
- Gold Associate – generate 9000 NPs a month and obtain $250 every week
- Platinum Associate – generate 15,000 NPs a month and obtain $500 every week
- Diamond Associate – generate 25,000 NPs a month and obtain $750 every week
- Govt – generate 40,000 NPs a month and obtain $1000 every week
- Silver Govt – generate 60,000 NPs a month and obtain $1500 every week
- Gold Govt – generate 90,000 NPs a month and obtain $2000 every week
- Platinum Govt – generate 130,000 NPs a month and obtain $3000 every week
- Diamond Govt – generate 200,000 NPs a month and obtain $5000 every week
Qualifying for “Energetic Weekly Pay” doubles the above quantities.
Energetic Weekly Pay qualification is as follows:
- join Professional Membership and generate 50 PCP a month (100 PCP with out Professional Membership)
- downline PCP ought to improve no less than one week out of the previous three weeks
- enroll no less than one new retail buyer or recruit an affiliate as soon as each 6 weeks
Notice that no extra that 40% of NPs can come from anybody unilevel staff leg.
Management Pool
Viv takes 4% of company-wide income and locations it into two 2% Management Swimming pools.
- Platinum Companions and better ranked associates obtain a share within the 2% Associate Pool
- Silver Executives and better ranked associates obtain a share within the 2% Govt Pool
A further 1% is put aside for a Visionary Pool, open to Pacesetter and better ranked Viv associates who
- qualify at PaceSetter inside their first 90 days; or
- recruit an affiliate who themselves qualifies as a PaceSetter inside their first 90 days.
Becoming a member of Viv
Fundamental Viv affiliate membership is $99 after which $19.99 a month.
Full entry to Viv’s earnings alternative (requires Professional Membership) prices $189 after which $69.99 a month.
Notice that there’s additionally a free Viv affiliate possibility (non-MLM commissions solely).
Using “affiliate” on this evaluate doesn’t confer with this Viv membership possibility.
Conclusion
Viv’s compensation revamp is attention-grabbing in that it swings focus again in the direction of their invoice financial savings providing.
That’s to not say Professional Membership isn’t a spotlight, simply much less so.
In true pseudo-compliance style Viv has financially incentivized Professional Membership by tying it to a number of commissions and bonuses.
Take the Quick Motion Bonus for instance;
Professional Membership will not be required. It’s merely the quickest solution to earn your Quick Motion Bonuses.
Add an extra 20 payments to fulfill the necessities with out Professional Membership.
Whereas there was no various qualification possibility once we final reviewed Vic in January 2020, they’ve now been added.
So technically a Professional Membership isn’t required however, by Viv’s personal admission, having one “is the quickest solution to earn” some bonuses.
That is nonetheless “pay to play” and lends itself to Viv working as a pyramid scheme.
You join as a Viv affiliate, take out Professional Membership and deal with recruiting others who do the identical.
Submitting your personal payments for financial savings and people you recruit doing the identical opens up the remainder of the compensation plan.
Viv did launch with retail buyer qualifiers however ditched them between our first and second critiques.
With the brand new upfront financial savings bonuses, one factor Cami Boehme didn’t handle in her comp plan adjustments presentation was what occurs if a buyer cancels.
In paying upfront bonuses on projected financial savings, Viv appears to be taking the danger. This is the reason nothing upfront is paid on $5000+ in projected financial savings.
The corporate has clearly decided the danger is just too excessive till the financial savings are realized.
That’s fantastic however in paying upfront on the decrease financial savings tiers, is there clawback if sufficient financial savings aren’t realized to cowl Viv’s upfront bonus value?
Previous to the upfront change, Viv was paying cents on the greenback on common invoice submissions. That’s a variety of months for the corporate to cowl $5 even on the low finish.
And what concerning the Quick Motion Bonus? Ten payments is $150 upfront, once more presumably with Viv taking the danger on projected financial savings.
What occurs if sufficient of these payments are switched once more later down the observe, earlier than Viv recoups the already paid upfront bonus?
I don’t see Viv taking the hit, which means there’s probably a clawback clause within the compensation plan.
I’d love to substantiate this however Viv nonetheless don’t present a replica of their compensation plan to shoppers on their web site.
Three years in, that is an ongoing potential violation of the FTC Act Viv clearly doesn’t care about.
The explanation that is essential is potential clawbacks makes spending what you’ve earned tough. One can simply discover themselves in a money crunch if Viv one month claws again a big quantity already paid as bonuses months in the past.
All in all of the idea of offering prospects with financial savings on their payments is stable. It’s simply whether or not the idea may be translated over right into a viable MLM enterprise.
Clearly with Viv making drastic adjustments to their compensation plan, they’re nonetheless figuring issues out.
Alternatively, if nearly all of commissions paid out are nonetheless tied to the sale of Professional Memberships to recruited associates, then criticisms I raised in January 2020 nonetheless apply.
As a potential Viv affiliate, what you wish to discover out is how your potential upline is primarily getting paid.
If it’s by way of recruitment of Professional Membership associates, that’s a pyramid scheme.
The $69.99 Professional Membership provides as much as $839.88 yearly, which is the naked minimal worth you want to get hold of simply to interrupt even.
Can’t actually see that taking place for most individuals, making it’s retail viability questionable.
Strategy with warning.