Key takeaways
- PV and BV are points, not money. The plan converts them into pay.
- Personal volume counts your own sales. Group volume counts your team's.
- Points usually need a monthly qualification and often reset.
What are PV and BV in direct selling?
PV (point value) and BV (business volume) are points that direct selling companies assign to each product to track sales volume. They are not currency. Your points, and your team's, are added up each period and measured against the compensation plan's thresholds to decide your rank and commission.
The terms you'll hear
| Term | What it counts | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| PV (point value) | Points per product, often tied to rank | Qualifying for ranks and bonuses |
| BV (business volume) | Sales volume, sometimes after tax | Calculating commission |
| PV / personal volume | Your own purchases and sales | Staying "active" |
| GV / group volume | Your team's combined volume | Team commission |
| Carry-over | Points kept for the next period | Binary plans especially |
For where points sit next to prices, see MRP, DP, PV and BV.
A qualification example
This invented plan shows how points gate your pay. You need to hit both thresholds in a month to earn the commission at that rank.
| Rank | Personal PV needed | Group PV needed | Commission on group PV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 25 | 0 | 0% |
| Silver | 50 | 300 | 3% |
| Gold | 100 | 1,000 | 5% |
Suppose you reach 60 personal PV and your group reaches 280 PV. You've missed Silver by 20 group PV and you earn nothing on the team that month. Points are a threshold game, which is why small misses matter, and why people feel pressure to buy a bit extra at month end.
The pressure point: a miss by 20 points
Invented example. Group PV needed for Silver: 300.
If buying 20 PV of products you wouldn't otherwise use is the only way to hit the number, ask whether that bonus is worth its cost. See the month-end pressure flag →
Questions to ask about points
- "Do all sales count equally, or only customer sales?"
- "What do I need each month, in PV, to stay active?"
- "Do points reset or carry forward?"
- "How many rupees does a PV actually pay at my rank?"
- "How often do the company change PV values?"
Next, see how teams are structured in binary, unilevel and matrix plans, and the wider picture in how compensation plans work.
Frequently asked questions
Is one PV equal to one rupee?
Not usually. PV is a points score set by the company for each product. How points turn into money is set in the compensation plan, and the conversion differs by company, rank and bonus type.
Do PV and BV expire?
In many plans, points count only in the period they're earned, often monthly, and then reset. Others carry some points forward. Check the plan document.
Can PV count even if a customer didn't actually buy?
Points should come from genuine sales. If the company or team encourages buying stock just to generate points, that is a warning sign. See the red flags checklist.
Sources
- Department of Consumer Affairs, India: Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021. consumeraffairs.nic.in
- U.S. FTC Consumer Advice: Multi-Level Marketing Businesses and Pyramid Schemes. consumer.ftc.gov