DuoLife operates in the nutritional supplement and personal care MLM niches.

The company is based of Poland but operates throughout Europe and North America.

DuoLife was co-founded in 2012 by Bartosz Królikowski, Piotr Pacyga, Norbert Janeczek and Lukasz Godyń.

Bartosz Królikowski  heads up DuoLife as President of the Board.

As per Królikowski’s DuoLife corporate bio, he’s

held the President of the Board position since the very beginning of DuoLife existence.

In order to improve the functioning of DuoLife, he derives from many years of experience, acquired while working in some of the biggest corporations and from being a co-owner, member of the board and managing director of Polish companies.

We learn a bit more about Królikowski’s past in his DuoLife Ireland corporate bio;

worked as limited partner in a law firm. He is also an investor, owner of numerous properties all over Poland.

I did try and suss out Królikowski’s MLM history but turned up blank. This might be due to language barriers.

Read on for a full review of DuoLife’s MLM opportunity.

DuoLife’s Products

DuoLife market a large range of nutritional supplements and personal care products.

Nutritional Supplements

  • DuoLife Fiber – “containing a complex of soluble dietary fiber from as many as 4 sources as well as proprietary, branded formulas of plant extracts”, retails at $47.50 for a 750 ml bottle
  • DuoLife Fiber Powder – “a complex of soluble dietary fiber from as many as 4 sources (in the form of branded ingredients) as well as a proprietary, branded nucleotide formula with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae”, retails at $47.50 for a box of twenty single-serve sachets
  • DuoLife Clinical Formula ProBactilardii – prebiotic/probiotic “dietary supplement, consisting of 2 complementary capsules”, retails at $73
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProImmuno – “can directly contribute to supporting the body in the fight against viral infections and bacterial infections”, retails at $37 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProMigren – “a perfect source of substances fostering a normal function of the central nervous system”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProCholterol – “a rich source of natural substances which help to regulate cholesterol level and maintain it at a healthy level”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProSugar – “a rich source of natural vitamins, minerals and macro and microelements”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProDeacid – “rich in vitamins, micro – and macro-elements and the elements necessary for the body to work properly”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProRelaxin – “helps to calm your nerves, makes it easier to fall asleep and re-establishes emotional balance”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProSlimer – “helps to lose weight effectively. It assists metabolic processes, reduces adipose tissue and regulates water balance in the body”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProStik – “supports healthy condition of muscles and joints, their flexibility and mobility”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProSelect – “high in polyphenols, oxindole alkaloids, tannins and sterols and acetogenins”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula ProCardiol – “a rich source of natural substances that protect the whole circulatory system”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Medical Formula BorelissPro – “an excellent source of phenolic compounds, chlorogene acid, iridoids and alkaloids”, retails at $33 for a bottle of 60 capsules
  • DuoLife Clinical Formula ProOptical – “a source of natural compounds that protect the eyes”, retails at $67.50 for a box of 30 capsules
  • DuoLife My Blood – “a 100% natural complex of vitamins, minerals and fruit and vegetable extracts”, retails at $51 for a 750 ml bottle
  • DuoLife Keratin Hair Complex – “helps your hair grow, reduces hair loss, adds more hair density and volume”, retails at $61 for a 750 ml bottle
  • DuoLife Day and Night Set – “unique composition of natural ingredients supports the work of individual systems, depending on the daily cycle”, retails at $106 for two 750 ml bottles (one day, one night)
  • DuoLife Aloes – “assures full regeneration of the body”, retails at $33 for a 750 ml bottle
  • DuoLife Chlorofil – “the answer for those who want to keep their organism in an optimal shape as long as possible”, retails at $33 for a 750 ml bottle
  • DuoLife Collagen – “enriched with antioxidants helps to keep the skin firm and supple, protecting it against premature ageing and improving the health of your hair and nails”, retails at $44 for a 750 ml bottle
  • DuoLife Vita C – “boost (your) mood and supplement their vitamin and minerals deficiencies”, retails at $33 for a 750 ml bottle
  • DuoLife RegenOil Liquid Gold – “unique composition and the use of 13 unrefined, cold-pressed vegetable oils”, retails at $43 for a 250 ml bottle
  • SunVital Natural KIDS Formula – “syrup contains natural plant substances and organic zinc”, retails at $22 for a 150 ml bottle
  • Shape Code Protein Shake – “the latest generation protein shake”, retails at $49 for a 700 g pouch or $4.25 for a 35 g pouch
  • Shape Code Slim Shake – “the right offer for all who strive for maintaining beautiful, slim figure”, retails at $108 for a 750 g pouch or $4 for a 25 g pouch
  • Shape Code Best Flavors Coffee/Caramel – “intended for use as an additive to the classic vanilla and cream shakes”, retails at $24.90 for a 100 g pouch

DuoLife also markets a set of branded “glass shots”, intended to take its liquid supplements through, for $8.

The Shape Code products are complimented with a fitness orientated “Shape Code” branded clothing line:

DuoLife’s supplements can also be purchased in various discounted bundles.

Personal Care

  • DuoLife Beauty Care Aloes Shower Gel – “revitalise your skin with the extraordinary shower gel and wake up your senses with its sensual fragrance”, retails at $18 for a 200 ml tube
  • Toothpaste Set, DuoLife Day & Night Beauty Care – “effective, silica-free toothpastes enriched with a huge amount of nutrients”, retails at $18 for two 50 ml tubes (day/night)
  • DuoLife Keratin Hair Complex Advanced Formula Shampoo – ” cosmetic designed for hair falling out, dry, damaged, with split ends and lacking shine”, retails at $25.70 for a 200 ml tube
  • DuoLife Keratin Hair Complex Advanced Formula Conditioner – “a revitalizing SOS for hair”, retails at $32.90 for a 200 ml tub
  • DuoLife Beauty Care Chlorofil Body Scrub – “a carefully composed combination of the best ingredients that stimulate microcirculation while, at the same time, cleansing skin and improving its absorptive properties”, retails at $23.90 for a 200 ml tub
  • DuoLife Beauty Care Collagen Body Butter – “an exceptional combination of three forms of hyaluronic acid”, retails at $23.90 for a 200 ml tub
  • DuoLife Beauty Care Vita C Hand Cream – “an excellent rejuvenating therapy for your skin and hands”, retails at $9.90 for a 75 ml tube

DuoLife’s personal care products are also available in various sample bundles.

DuoLife’s Compensation Plan

DuoLife’s compensation documentation is poorly written and overly complicated.

I have done my best to break the confusing mess down into a more simplified explanation below.

DuoLife Affiliate Ranks

There are thirteen affiliate ranks within DuoLife’s compensation plan.

Along with their respective qualification criteria, they are as follows:

  • Group Leader – recruit and maintain three affiliates, who each are placed in a unilevel team leg generating at least $125 a month in sales volume (includes your own sales volume)
  • Junior Team Leader – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $1000 GV a month
  • Team Leader – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $2000 GV a month
  • Executive Leader – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $6250 GV a month
  • Regional Manager – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $12,500 GV a month
  • Senior Manager – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $25,000 GV a month
  • Regional Director – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $50,000 GV a month
  • National Director – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $100,000 GV a month
  • International Director – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $200,000 GV a month
  • General Director – maintain three personally recruited affiliates and generate and maintain $400,000 GV a month
  • Vice President – recruit and maintain five Regional Director or higher ranked affiliates, and generate and maintain $750,000 GV a month
  • President – recruit and maintain seven Regional Director or higher ranked affiliates, and generate and maintain $1,500,000 GV a month
  • Global President – recruit and maintain nine Regional Director or higher ranked affiliates, and generate and maintain $2,500,000 GV a month

In order to count towards qualification criteria, recruited affiliates must be generating either $62.50 (restricted) or $125 (full) PV a month.

They must also be in unilevel team legs generating at least $125 a month.

PV stands for “Personal Volume” and is sales volume generated by retail sales and an affiliate’s own purchases.

GV stands for “Group Volume” and is PV generated by an affiliate and their downline.

Note that from Junior Team Leader, no more than 60% required GV can come from any one unilevel team leg.

MLM Commission Qualification

To qualify for MLM commissions, DuoLife affiliates must

  1. maintain a $62.50 a month product order (restricted commission eligibility); or
  2. maintain a $125 a month product order (full commission eligibility)

Note that DuoLife counts a month across the 15th of one month to the 16th of the next.

Retail Commissions

DuoLife affiliates earn a commission on the sale of products to retail customers.

Retail commissions are calculated as the difference between the wholesale and retail price of products ordered.

Residual Commissions (“discount structure”)

For some reason DuoLife refers to residual unilevel commissions as a “discount structure”.

This adds to confusion when trying to understand the commission rates.

In any event, a unilevel compensation structure places an affiliate at the top of a unilevel team, with every personally recruited affiliate placed directly under them (level 1):

If any level 1 affiliates recruit new affiliates, they are placed on level 2 of the original affiliate’s unilevel team.

If any level 2 affiliates recruit new affiliates, they are placed on level 3 and so on and so forth down a theoretical infinite number of levels.

Rather than explain what residual commissions are paid out on and down how many levels, DuoLife just provides earnings caps.

These residual commission earning caps are based on how much a DuoLife affiliate spends each month, as well as who they’ve recruited.

  • restricted affiliates who don’t recruit anyone can earn up to €37.50 EUR in residual commissions
  • full affiliates who don’t recruit anyone can earn up to €75 EUR in residual commissions
  • restricted affiliates who recruit and maintain one affiliate and generate and maintain one $125 total volume unilevel team leg, can earn up to €62.50 EUR in residual commissions
  • full affiliates who recruit and maintain one affiliate and generate and maintain one $125 total volume unilevel team leg, can earn up to €125 EUR in residual commissions
  • restricted affiliates who recruit and maintain two affiliates and generate and maintain two $125 total volume unilevel team legs, can earn up to €125 EUR in residual commissions
  • full affiliates who recruit and maintain two affiliates and generate and maintain two $125 total volume unilevel team legs, can earn up to €250 EUR in residual commissions
  • full affiliates who recruit and maintain three affiliates and generate and maintain three $125 total volume unilevel team legs, don’t have a residual commissions earning cap

Note that DuoLife’s documentation doesn’t specify the timeframe the above earning caps apply to. I’m assuming it’s monthly.

Recruited affiliates can either be restricted or full.

Residual Recruitment Commissions (expandable matrix)

DuoLife pays residual recruitment commissions via an expandable 3×6 matrix.

A 3×6 matrix places an affiliate at the top of a matrix, with three positions directly under them:

These three positions form the first level of the matrix. The second level of the matrix is generated by splitting these first three positions into another three positions each.

Residual commissions are paid out as a percentage of sales volume generated across the matrix.

  • level 1 (3 positions) – 5%
  • level 2 (9 positions) – 4%
  • level 3 (27 positions) – 4%
  • level 4 (81 positions) – 3%
  • level 5 (243 positions) – 3%
  • level 6 (729 positions) – 2%

From the Team Leader rank, the matrix appears to convert into a standard unilevel team structure with no restrictions.

Generation Bonus

DuoLife pays a Generation Bonus using the same unilevel compensation structure used to pay residual commissions (see above).

DuoLife define a generation in a unilevel team leg when an affiliate at the same or higher rank is found in the leg.

The Generation Bonus is paid as a percentage of sales volume generated down to that first ranked affiliate.

Using this generation structure, the Generation Bonus is paid out as follows:

  • Team Leaders earn a 6% Generation Bonus
  • Executive Leaders earn a 4% Generation Bonus (max 10%)
  • Regional Managers earn a 4% Generation Bonus (max 14%)
  • Senior Managers earn a 3% Generation Bonus (max 17%)
  • Regional Directors earn a 3% Generation Bonus (max 20%)
  • National Directors earn a 2% Generation Bonus (max 22%)
  • International Directors earn a 1.5% Generation Bonus (max 23.5%)
  • General Directors earn a 0.5% Generation Bonus (max 24.5%)
  • Vice Presidents earn a 0.5% Generation Bonus (max 25.5%)
  • Global Presidents earn a 0.5% Generation Bonus (max 26%)

With respect to the “max” Generation Bonus amounts, DuoLife’s compensation plan states:

Commissions from various positions add up. The Regional Manager (RM) earns 4% + as the Executive Leader (EL) from the open line + 6% as the Team Leader (TL) from the open line.

This sounds like the “max” amount is paid out. What I’m unsure on though is whether it’s a coded bonus. I.e. commission percentages paid out are reduced based on the ranks of affiliates in the generation.

This makes more sense math wise but is not clarified in DuoLife’s compensation documentation.

Well it is but as above doesn’t really make any sense.

Loyalty Bonus

DuoLife’s Loyalty Bonus rewards affiliates with products discounted to €1 EUR.

To qualify for the Loyalty Bonus, DuoLife affiliates must maintain a $62.50 or $125 monthly autoship order.

Recruitment Commissions

DuoLife affiliates earn a “margin commission” when personally recruited affiliates place their first order.

DuoLife do not disclose recruitment commission rates, stating only that

the amount of the commission depends on the amount of the first order products chosen by a New Club Member recommended by you. It also depends on the margin added to the products.

Note that DuoLife recruitment commissions aren’t subject to “MLM commission qualification” criteria detailed above.

Bonus Pools

DuoLife takes 11.5% of company-wide sales volume and places it into four bonus pools.

Golden Group Leader and higher ranked affiliates qualify for a share in the pools as follows:

  • Golden Group Leaders receive an equal share in a 1.5% bonus pool
  • Junior Team Leaders receive an equal share in a 1.5% bonus pool
  • Team Leaders receive an equal share in a 2% bonus pool
  • Executive Leaders receive an equal share in a 1.5% bonus pool
  • International Directors receive an equal share in a 1% bonus pool
  • General Directors receive an equal share in a 1% bonus pool (includes share in International Director pool)
  • Vice Presidents receive an equal share in a 1% bonus pool (includes shares in International Director and General Director pool)
  • Presidents receive an equal share in a 1% bonus pool (includes shares in International Director, General Director and Vice President pools)
  • Global Presidents receive an equal share in a 1% bonus pool (includes shares in International Director, General Director, Vice President and President pools)

Bonus pool volume is calculated and paid out monthly.

Multiple Income Positions

Regional Director and higher ranked DuoLife affiliates receive multiple income positions.

  • Regional Directors receive one additional income position (total 2)
  • National Directors receive another additional income position (total 3)
  • International Directors receive another additional income position (total 4)
  • Generation Directors receive another additional income position (total 5)
  • Vice Presidents receive another additional income position (total 6)
  • Presidents receive another additional income position (total 7)
  • Global Presidents receive an additional income position (total 8)

Each additional DuoLife income position functions as a new affiliate position, subject to rank qualification criteria.

Matching Bonus

From what I can suss out, Regional Director and higher ranked affiliates earn a Matching Bonus on “position based commissions” (???) earned by downline Regional Director and higher ranked affiliates.

The Matching Bonus is paid out via the same unilevel structure residual commissions are paid out with (see above):

  • Regional Directors earn a 30% match on the first Regional Director or higher ranked affiliate in a unilevel team leg
  • National Directors earn a 30% match on the first Regional Director or higher ranked affiliate in a unilevel team leg and 15% on the second
  • International Directors earn a 30% match on the first Regional Director or higher ranked affiliate in a unilevel team leg, 15% on the second and 10% on the third
  • General Directors earn a 30% match on the first Regional Director or higher ranked affiliate in a unilevel team leg, 15% on the second, 10% on the third and 7.5% on the fourth
  • Vice Presidents earn a 30% match on the first Regional Director or higher ranked affiliate in a unilevel team leg, 15% on the second, 10% on the third, 7.5% on the fourth and 2.5% on the fifth
  • Presidents earn a 30% match on the first Regional Director or higher ranked affiliate in a unilevel team leg, 15% on the second, 10% on the third, 7.5% on the fourth and 2.5% on the fifth and sixth
  • Global Presidents earn a 30% match on the first Regional Director or higher ranked affiliate in a unilevel team leg, 15% on the second, 10% on the third, 7.5% on the fourth and 2.5% on the fifth to seventh

Note that DuoLife counts Matching Bonus levels anywhere in a unilevel team leg.

Fast Start Bonus

The Fast Start Bonus is a reward for qualifying at Team Leader and Executive Leader within a set time period.

  • qualify as a Team Leader within 30 days of singing up and receive €250 EUR
  • qualify as a Team Leader within 60 days of signing up and receive €125
  • qualify as an Executive Leader within 60 days of signing up and receive €500 EUR
  • qualify as an Executive Leader within 90 days of signing up and receive €250 EUR

Car Bonus and Trips

DuoLife’s compensation documentation references both a Car Bonus and “DuoLife Trips Program”.

Specifics are not provided.

Joining DuoLife

DuoLife affiliate membership is tied to a minimum $125 product order.

Restricted DuoLife affiliate membership is also available with a minimum $62.50 product order.

Restricted DuoLife affiliates qualify for reduced commission rates.

DuoLife Conclusion

There are two elephants in the room when analyzing DuoLife; medical claims and implications surrounding their products, and a god awful compensation plan.

Let’s start with the obvious; naming your products “medical formula” implies they are the equivalent of medicine.

It’s deliberate and illegal as per the FTC Act. If DuoLife was marketed in Poland and Poland only, I might give them a pass if Poland didn’t bother regulating this stuff.

DuoLife operate and market in the US though, and naming your nutritional supplement “medical formula” is a problem.

Then there’s the obligatory COVID-19 bandwagoning.

Sure enough, a few months into the pandemic DuoLife came up with ProImmuno.

While DuoLife don’t outright market ProImmuno as a treatment for COVID-19, they heavily imply it can prevent it.

Can ingredients of the ProImmuno dietary supplement help to protect the body against infections such as flu or Covid-19?

The composition of the ProImmuno dietary supplement has been developed on the basis of a number of scientific contributions, including the scientific research rendered in 2020.

In the light of them, bioactive plant ingredients contained in the preparation may promote keeping the optimal condition and immunity of the body.

The well-functioning immune, respiratory and cardiovascular system is a huge “starting capital” allowing to protect and fight with infections such as flu and with infections induced by coronaviruses.

The course of viral infections is highly dependent on the starting condition of the body.

To be clear, there isn’t a single peer-reviewed study available showing ProImmuno has any effect on protecting against or preventing COVID-19.

This is straight up illegal marketing on DuoLife’s part.

Given DuoLife itself is making illegal medical claims about its products, it’s not surprising they don’t give a damn how their affiliates are marketing either:

While DuoLife counts a parade of doctors on its “scientific board”, the company fails to provide a single peer-reviewed medical study for any of its products.

Anybody claiming medical benefits from DuoLife’s products is making illegal unverifiable medical claims.

Other, less harmful, marketing quirks include the terrible named “DuoLife My Blood”. It’s a multivitamin, you couldn’t think of something less disgusting to call it?

Then there’s DuoLife Cholorphyll, which is “the answer for those who want to keep their organism in an optimal shape as long as possible.”

I know keeping my organism in optimal shape keeps me up at night. Good to know DuoLife has a cure.

With respect to pricing I didn’t dig too deep. I did note however that $47.50 for a 750 ml bottle of premixed liquid fiber is pretty ridiculous. The powder version costing the same at twenty servings isn’t much better.

If that’s indicative of DuoLife’s overall pricing, you’re getting gouged.

That of course might not matter to DuoLife’s affiliates, as retail is an afterthought.

It is clear that DuoLife’s compensation plan focuses on signing up with a purchase, committing to autoship ($125 or you get robbed of commissions), and then recruiting others who do the same.

Yes, retail is possible – but that’s not good enough, it has to be viable.

By tying affiliate membership to a product order, DuoLife sets itself up as a pyramid scheme:

After the registration and completing the data in the DuoLife system you are transfered [sic] to the online Shop.

There you can choose the most interesting products of the whole variety of the products available at the Shop.

If you buy for the value of 250-499pts, you get the Consumer Level Activity.

If you buy for the value of 500pts or more, you get the Business Level Activity.

Autoship recruitment comes into play by way of monthly active requirements:

A Monthly Activity involves all purchase made by you in a given Settlement Period.

– Business Level – min. 500pts

500 points is $125. From here you see it doesn’t matter what DuoLife sells or for how much. So long as you spend $125 or more on something, you qualify for commissions on recruits who do the same.

Trying to suss that out as a layperson might prove difficult. I can’t stress this enough: DuoLife’s compensation documentation is horrendously terrible. 

It is easily one of the worst MLM compensation plans I’ve come across over the last couple of years. And that’s out of hundreds.

Seriously, if you can’t adequately explain your compensation across eighty-four pages, it’s time to scrap what you’ve got and evaluate where you went wrong.

DuoLife’s compensation documentation is a disjointed mess that makes no sense at the best of times.

Take the Matching Bonus, you get paid a percentage of downline sales volume across multiple ranks. Simple.

It’s not rocket science, yet here’s what DuoLife expects people to decipher;

Matching Bonus is connected with your own Recommendation Lines and lets you earn some percent from the Director or President remuneration in your own Recommendation Line, generated on the grounds of the Position-based commission.

I now know what that sentence means having stared at it for a good ten minutes. But your average affiliate going over the comp plan? No a hope in hell.

And that’s just one paragraph, DuoLife’s eighty-four page compensation novel is full of them!

DuoLife absolutely fails the headache test and on that premise alone I’d give it a hard pass. Throw in the dodgy “medical formula” product marketing and there’s nothing to salvage here.

For a nine year old company there is no excuse for any of this. Avoid!