Side-by-Side Comparison
Young Living Essential Oils vs Home Business Academy (HBA)
An honest comparison to help you choose the right opportunity
Feature Comparison
Typical Earnings
~94% earn near $0; median $4/yr for business builders
$128/mo per full-suite customer, paid every Thursday
Winner
Monthly Autoship
100 PV/month required to stay active and earn
No mandatory autoship
Winner
Business Model
Stairstep breakaway MLM
One-tier flat affiliate commissions
Winner
Startup Cost
Premium Starter Kit $165+
Start for $10/month
Winner
Income Transparency
IDS shows median $4/year for business builders
Clear math: 2 referrals = profit
Winner
Overall Rating
2.3/5
4.8/5
Winner
Detailed Breakdown
Young Living Essential Oils
Pros
- Pioneer in the essential oil industry — founded 1993
- Owns its own farms for seed-to-seal quality control
- Large, loyal customer base
- Wide product catalog beyond just oils
Cons
- Vast majority of Brand Partners earn little to no income
- Required monthly Essential Rewards order (~$35-100/mo)
- Products significantly overpriced vs. retail equivalents
Home Business Academy (HBA)
Pros
- 80% commissions — you earn more than the company keeps
- Paid every Thursday without fail since 2016 (never missed a payment)
- One-tier model: income depends on YOU, not a downline
- Comp plan has never changed since 2016
Cons
- Must own a product to earn commission on it (qualified sale rule)
- Requires consistent marketing effort — not passive without work
Our Verdict
Winner: Home Business Academy (HBA)
4.8
Home Business Academy is the stronger business opportunity. Young Living's income disclosure shows ~94% of distributors who tried to build a business earned a median of $4/year. HBA's transparent one-tier model, 80% commissions, and never-changed comp plan make it a far more reliable path to residual income.
Ready to Get Started with Home Business Academy (HBA)?
Based on our analysis, Home Business Academy (HBA) offers the best opportunity for success.