A Critical and Honest ACN Review - Don't Join Before You Read This!

ACN is a telecom-based network marketingearn an override residual income from every
company, originally based in Farmington Hills, Michigan,customer that's acquired through your organization.
but now based in Concord, North Carolina. It's a2. Upfront Bonuses (CAB & T-CAB Bonuses) -
popular network marketing company that started inBonuses are paid out in relation to the amount of
1993. In 1999, the company opened operations inreps your team brings in on a monthly basis. Keep in
Europe and in 2004 opened the markets in Asia.mind, that bonuses are ONLY paid out when reps get
Currently, ACN operates in 20 countries and has 5QUALIFIED within their FIRST 30 days. This
International Headquarters (besides the US basedQUALIFICATION changes every now and then, but
offices). While there are many reports implying thattypically it consists of a new rep acquiring 8 customer
ACN is a scam, ACN is a legitimate businesspoints, with each service earning a certain amount of
opportunity. Currently, ACN is a member of thecustomer points. For example, when a new rep
Direct Selling Association (DSA) and has a A+ ratingacquires a new VOIP customer, that customer gives
in the Better Business Bureau.them 2 customer points.
With that said, there are pros and cons associatedWith that said, there are two MAJOR factors to
with the ACN Business Opportunity. Before I go intokeep in mind when it comes to ACN's Upfront
them, let me BRIEFLY explain it's services andBonuses:
compensation plan.1. If a new rep DOESN'T get qualified in their FIRST
The Services30 days, then bonuses are NOT paid out.
While ACN markets several different services that2. There are thresholds that have to be passed for
aren't telecom-based (home security devices,reps to earn bigger bonuses. For example, if a new
broadband internet services and satellite TV), it's mainrep needs to hit 10 Qualified Reps to earn a $1,500
lines of services revolve around telecommunications:Bonus, but they only get 9 Qualified Reps that
1. Local And Long Distance Service - Because of themonth, they will earn the bonus given at the lower
deregulation that took place in the phone industrylevel (typically for getting 5 people qualified).
back in 1996, ACN was able to position themselves inNow, Let Me Give You 3 PROS Of The ACN
front customers who were now able to choose theirBusiness Opportunity:
phone company. It's really a great idea. Why?1. As I mentioned earlier, the genius of ACN is you're
Because all you, as an ACN rep, have to do is saveSIMPLY saving customers money on a service
someone a few dollars a month on a service they'rethey're ALREADY paying for.
ALREADY and WILL CONTINUE to pay for every2. ACN is positioned in front of the curve, when it
single month.comes to Video Phones. If Video Phones become
2. Voice Over Internet Protocal (VOIP) - In a nutshell,the next big thing in telecom, it can mean huge
VOIP technology enables a customer to make phoneopportunity for ACN reps.
calls over their internet line. By doing this, they are3. ACN has some of the BEST network marketing
able to cut their $70-$80 a month local & longtraining and trainers that I've seen in the last 13 years
distance phone bill down to a $25-$30 a month VOIPthat I've been full-time in this industry.
bill. Typically, unlimited international calls to severalNow, For 3 Of The CONS:
selected countries are also included in this LOW1. The residual income is very small. Now, I'm not
monthly bill.saying ACN is a bad company, but there's only so
3. Cellular Phone - ACN resells cell phones from prettymany ways they can pay out residual income on a
much all the major carriers like Sprint, Verizon and$25 a month VOIP bill. In order to make significant
T-Mobile.residual income, you will need to build a HUGE
4. The Video Phone - The video phone is ACN'sorganization with tens of thousands (and hundreds of
flagship product. It's exactly what it sounds like, athousands) of active customers. With that said, there
VOIP phone that has a screen on it that allows youare many producing RVPs making multiple 6-figures a
to see the person you're talking to, assuming theyyear. The problem is the bulk of their income is from
are on a video phone also.bonuses and NOT residuals. So if they ever slow
The Compensation Plan (Model)down, they are in BIG trouble.
ACN operates on a UNILEVEL compensation plan2. As I mentioned earlier, CAB Bonuses are ONLY
platform. While a UNILEVEL comp plan is typicallypaid out on QUALIFIED reps. In other words, if your
used by older MLM companies and doesn't have theteam puts in 20 reps, but ONLY 5 of them get
"sexiness" associated with a Binary, it's still a veryQUALIFIED, you'll only get paid for having 5
stable and profitable business model. In fact,QUALIFIED reps that month. But yet ACN still takes
UNILEVEL comp plans have had the LEASTin the same $500 entry on all the other 15 reps they
complaints when compared to the amount ofdidn't pay you on. In my opinion, there is a TON of
complaints that Binaries and Matrixes have gottenbreakage in the comp plan.
over the last couple of years.3. As great as the concept is, ACN still has a
With that said, the compensation plan can be brokentremendous amount of competition. In the network
down into two categories:marketing arena, there are companies like Fortune
1. Residual Income - Residual income is earned andHi-Tech Marketing, Network Marketing, Lightyear
built through the acquisition of customers. As youWireless and Escape International who are all offering
personally acquire customers who get on ACNtelecom services. But on top of that, they have to
services, you earn a residual income every month ascompete with the big monopolies like Sprint, Verizon,
your customers pay their bills. On top of that, you'llDishTV, etc.