American Communications Network, also called ACN, is a multi-level marketing company that sells telecommunications and essential services through independent business owners. Founded in 1993, the company now operates in over 27 countries and offers products like phone services, energy plans, and home security systems. If you’re considering joining ACN or just curious about how it works, we want to give you clear information to help you decide.
ACN lets people start their own business by selling services and recruiting others, but success depends heavily on building a large network of salespeople beneath you. The company has faced criticism and questions about whether it’s a legitimate opportunity or something to avoid. We’ll look at both the potential benefits and the real challenges people face when they join.
In this American Communications Network review, we’ll break down what ACN actually offers, how much it costs to get started, and what kind of earnings you might expect. We’ll also explore the training provided, address common criticisms, and help you figure out if this opportunity matches your goals and situation.
What Is American Communications Network?
American Communications Network, commonly known as ACN or ACN Inc., is a multi-level marketing company that started in 1993. The company was founded by four individuals: Greg Provenzano, Robert Stevanovski, Tony Cupisz, and Mike Cupisz. ACN is based in Concord, North Carolina.
The company operates in over 27 countries around the world. ACN sells what they call “essential services” to customers through independent business owners instead of traditional retail stores.
Services ACN Offers:
- Telecommunications (phone plans and long-distance service)
- Internet and broadband
- Television packages
- Energy services
- Home security systems
- Healthcare services (in some countries)
- Merchant services
ACN uses a multi-level marketing (MLM) business model. This means independent sellers can earn money in two ways: by selling ACN services directly to customers and by recruiting other people to become sellers. When we look at how ACN works, it’s important to understand that it’s a direct sales company, not a traditional business.
The company positions itself as an opportunity for regular people to start their own business. Independent business owners, or IBOs, promote ACN services through word-of-mouth marketing. They don’t need a physical storefront or large startup costs compared to traditional businesses.
ACN has grown from offering just long-distance phone service in one country to providing multiple services across many countries.
American Communications Network Review – Products and Services
ACN offers a range of everyday services that most households already use. The company acts as a reseller, meaning they partner with established providers to offer these services through their independent business owners.
For home communication, ACN provides high-speed internet and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone services. These let customers stay connected through reliable internet connections and make calls over the internet instead of traditional phone lines.
Entertainment options include satellite television packages. Customers can access various TV channels and programming through these partnerships.
ACN also offers home security services to help protect properties. These systems typically include monitoring and alarm features.
Energy is another major category in their product lineup. Through Xoom Energy, ACN provides electricity and natural gas services in areas where energy deregulation allows customer choice. This means customers can potentially switch their energy provider while still receiving service through their existing utility infrastructure.
The company includes merchant services for small businesses too. This helps business owners process credit card payments and handle transactions.
What makes ACN different is that they bundle these essential services together. Instead of having separate providers for internet, energy, and security, customers can potentially get multiple services through one company.
Availability varies by location. Not all ACN products and services are offered in every country or state. Energy services, for example, are only available in deregulated markets where customers have the option to choose their supplier.
How the ACN Business Opportunity Works
ACN operates as a multi-level marketing company where people sign up to become Independent Business Owners (IBOs). When you join as an ACN IBO, you earn money by selling telecommunications and energy services to customers.
The basic idea is simple. You promote services from major brands like AT&T, Verizon, and DirecTV to people you know. When customers buy and use these services, you earn commissions.
Getting Started as an IBO
To begin your ACN business, you need to pay a sign-up fee. You also pay monthly business support fees to maintain your active status. These are operating expenses that come with running the business.
How You Make Money
Your earnings depend on two main activities:
- Direct sales to customers who use the services
- Building a team of other IBOs who also make sales
This is the MLM business model. You earn from your own sales and from the sales your team makes. The bigger your network grows, the more potential income you can generate.
The ACN Compensation Plan
The ACN compensation plan rewards IBOs based on customer acquisition and usage. You don’t earn just from signing people up. Customers need to actually use the services for you to get paid.
You also earn bonuses when your team hits certain sales targets. The compensation structure includes multiple levels, meaning you benefit when people in your network recruit and build their own teams.
Keep in mind that your success depends entirely on making sales and building an active customer base.
Training and Support for IBOs
ACN puts serious effort into helping Independent Business Owners learn the business. When we join as new IBOs, we get access to onboarding sessions that walk us through the basics.
The company provides multiple training resources we can use anytime. We get access to webinars, video training materials, and educational content about the products and services we’ll be selling. ACN also hosts local, regional, and national training events where we can learn from experienced members.
Key Training Resources Include:
- One-on-one mentorship from experienced IBOs
- Online training websites and support portals
- Business building and management tools
- Sales and marketing technique workshops
- Leadership development programs
- International training events and conferences
We also get ongoing support through the business. ACN assigns us mentors who guide us through our first steps and help us understand the multi-level marketing model. These mentors teach us effective sales strategies and help us build our teams.
The company charges a $25 monthly Business Support Fee. This fee covers customer support services and keeps our IBO status active. In return, we get access to customer care tools and business management resources.
ACN handles most of the customer service work for us. This lets us focus on sales and team building instead of dealing with technical issues. We can attend as many training events as we want to keep improving our skills and growing our business knowledge.
Costs, Earnings, and Expenses
When we looked into ACN, we found that getting started requires paying a sign-up fee. This initial cost gets you registered as an Independent Business Owner (IBO).
Beyond the sign-up fee, ACN charges monthly business support fees. These ongoing expenses cover access to their business systems and training resources. We need to factor these into our budget when considering this opportunity.
Main Expenses Include:
- Initial sign-up fee to become an IBO
- Monthly business support fees
- Marketing and promotional materials
- Travel costs for meetings and events
- Phone and internet expenses for running the business
ACN states that earnings depend entirely on successfully referring products to customers and their actual usage of those services. We don’t get paid just for signing up or recruiting others. The compensation comes from customer referrals and the services they purchase.
The company promotes itself as a path to financial freedom, but we found that income varies widely among IBOs. Most people who join MLM companies don’t make substantial income. We saw that earnings potential grows as your network of customers and team members expands.
It’s important to understand that running an ACN business means we’re operating as independent contractors. This means we cover all our own business expenses. We also don’t receive employee benefits like health insurance or paid time off. The larger our customer base becomes, the more potential we have for earning commissions from their ongoing service usage.
Public Perception and Criticisms
American Communications Network operates as a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, which naturally attracts mixed opinions from the public. We’ve noticed that MLM business models often face skepticism because of how they’re structured.
Common Concerns About ACN:
- MLM structure – Some people worry that the focus is more on recruiting new members than selling actual products and services
- Income expectations – Many independent business owners don’t earn significant income, which leads to disappointment
- Startup costs – There are fees to join and maintain membership that some find too high
- Market saturation – In some areas, there are already many representatives competing for customers
The company has faced controversy over the years. Critics question whether the MLM model provides real business opportunities or if it benefits mainly those at the top of the organization. We found that public perception often links MLM companies to pyramid schemes, even when they operate legally.
However, ACN has maintained its operations since 1993 and continues doing business in multiple countries. The company sells real services like telecommunications and energy, which sets it apart from companies with no genuine products.
What influences these views:
- Media coverage of MLM industry problems affects how people see all multi-level marketing companies
- Personal experiences from former representatives shape online reviews and discussions
- Success rates that show most participants earn little or no profit
We see that opinions about ACN depend heavily on individual experiences and general attitudes toward the MLM business model.
Is American Communications Network a Scam?
ACN is not technically a scam, but it operates as a multi-level marketing (MLM) company. This means the business model focuses heavily on recruiting other sellers, not just selling products.
The company was founded in 1993 and sells real services like telecommunications, energy, and merchant services. These products do exist and some customers use them. However, ACN is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, which raises some concerns about their business practices.
The main issue we found is how most people make money with ACN. Like other MLM companies, most independent sellers earn very little income. The people at the top of the recruiting chain typically make the most money, while new members often struggle to profit.
Here’s what we know about ACN:
- It’s a legitimate registered company operating in over 27 countries
- The products and services are real
- Most distributors don’t make significant income
- Success depends heavily on recruiting others
- The company has faced lawsuits and complaints over the years
ACN is legal, but the MLM business model makes it very difficult for most people to succeed. We found that only a small percentage of independent sellers actually earn substantial income. Many people lose money after paying for starter kits, training materials, and other business expenses.
If you’re considering joining ACN, we recommend carefully reviewing their income disclosure statements. These documents show how much the average person actually earns.
Is ACN Right for You?
We’ve looked at what ACN offers, but deciding if it’s right for you depends on your goals and situation.
ACN works best if you:
- Already have a large network of people who trust you
- Feel comfortable selling services and recruiting others
- Can handle rejection and slow income growth
- Have time to build relationships and attend meetings
- Don’t need immediate income to pay your bills
ACN might not work if you:
- Dislike sales or feel uncomfortable recruiting friends and family
- Need steady income right away
- Prefer working alone rather than building a team
- Have a small social network
- Want a traditional business model
We found that most beginners struggle with the ACN business model. The dual requirement of selling services and recruiting new members creates challenges for many people.
Your success depends heavily on your sales skills and ability to grow a team. If you’re naturally good at networking and don’t mind the MLM structure, you might find opportunities here.
However, only a small percentage of ACN representatives make significant money. Most people joining the ACN business earn little or nothing after expenses.
Consider your financial situation carefully before joining. You’ll need to pay startup costs and ongoing fees. Make sure you can afford these expenses even if you don’t earn money right away.
We suggest researching other business models before committing to ACN. Many options exist that don’t require recruiting others or selling to your personal network.