There’s a quiet panic happening in the coaching and online business world and it’s feeling like MLM culture in the coaching space.
You can see it in the launches with no buyers. You sometimes can feel it in the DMs that feel more like cold calls and unanswered messages. There are times you can hear it in the constant, desperate pitches:
“Join my high-ticket mastermind before prices go up again!”
And if you’ve been paying attention, it all feels eerily familiar.
That’s because MLM culture in the coaching space is thriving—and it’s becoming a serious problem.
The Rise of the Online “Coachfluencer”
At first glance, everything looks polished:
- Airy branding
- Luxury lifestyle photos
- $10K months (allegedly)
- Confidence oozing from every carousel
But scratch the surface and you’ll find the same structure that’s plagued MLMs for decades:
- High-ticket upsells with low-value returns
- Endless recruitment (“Get rich by selling what I sell!”)
- A hierarchy of hype, not results
The difference? Online entrepreneurs are dressing it up in empowerment language and manifestation glitter. And people are falling for it.
Why This Hurts Everyone—Especially Ethical Creatives
When people feel burned by scammy sales tactics, they start distrusting all service providers.
Even the good ones. Even you.
This damages client trust, waters down the industry, and silences ethical voices who don’t play the performance game.
You shouldn’t have to share your trauma on a livestream or pretend you’re a millionaire to book clients.
You also shouldn’t need a $25K “VIP Day” to feel valid.
Being told “you’re not investing in me, you’re investing in yourself” when you’re clearly being manipulated is a f*cked up ploy.
What to Do Instead: Build With Integrity, Not Illusion
If you’re done with the performance and ready to build a business that actually feels good, here’s your next move:
- Lead with transparency. Show your process. Name your prices. Don’t fake numbers for credibility.
- Center transformation over transaction. What are you actually helping people do? Say that. Clearly.
- Respect your audience’s intelligence. They don’t need pressure. They need clarity, boundaries, and space to decide.
- Be okay growing slower. Fast doesn’t mean sustainable. Big doesn’t mean ethical. Your pace is not your worth.
The Industry Isn’t Dead—But It Needs a Detox
MLM culture in the coaching space is getting louder, flashier, and more harmful. But that’s exactly why ethical, thoughtful, real entrepreneurs like you need to speak louder.
Not with judgment. With honesty.
Not with shame. With transparency.
Not with scarcity. With service.
Because what we build together matters more than what we sell today.
If you’re building a human-first brand and want strategy that actually aligns with your ethics?
Let’s map that with clarity. Check out our options and book a clarity session and let’s figure it out!
