5 Step Formula Review – Is the Viral Commission System Legit?

Hey, it’s Mark from MarksInsights.

If you’re here, you’ve probably seen the ads for 5 Step Formula, sometimes marketed as “The Viral Commission System” claiming that complete beginners are making $1,300 per day with just 10–15 minutes of work.

Bold claims. Fast money and a “team” doing the work for you.

And all for just $17.

I’ve reviewed hundreds of these “push-button income systems” over the past 15+ years… and this one has a very familiar feel.

Quick Note Before We Dive In

If you’re simply looking for a real online business that doesn’t rely on hype, loopholes, or unrealistic income claims, there’s one model I personally recommend above anything else after reviewing online programs for over a decade:

👉 See my No.1 recommendation here

Key Takeaways (If You’re in a Hurry)

• 5 Step Formula is a typical low-ticket make-money-online system using classic get rich quick style marketing.

• The entire pitch relies on fake scarcity, income screenshots with no proof, and claims of “viral commissions” magically passed up to you.

• The “team does the work for you” narrative is not backed by evidence, and the “viral data” explanation is intentionally vague.

• Expect upsells, hidden costs, and a backend structure resembling other $17 feeder programs that lead into high-ticket offers.

• There is no substance behind the $1,300/day claim, no real explanation of how revenue is generated, and no disclosed company or verifiable testimonials.

• Verdict: Not recommended. This is another hype-driven entry product designed to funnel you into something more expensive. It won’t create passive income.

👉 Looking for something real? See my No.1 recommendation here

First, a bit of context for beginners…

If you’re still trying to understand which online business models work (and which don’t), read my full guide on how to make money online which compares affiliate marketing, ecommerce, lead gen, coaching, content, and more, so you can see where programs like this sit in the bigger picture.

Once you see that landscape clearly, offers like 5 Step Formula become much easier to evaluate.

What Is the 5 Step Formula?

On the sales page, David Humphries claims that:

• You’ll earn money from “viral traffic”
• Your “team” passes up every 5th lead to you
• You can make $100–$1,300+ per day
• It only takes 10–15 minutes per day
• You don’t need ads, skills, experience, or followers
• The system “runs itself”

And all for $17.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because this structure has existed for decades:

• Low-ticket entry
• Emotional testimonials
• Fake scarcity
• “Spillover” commissions
• Vague traffic promises
• Backend upsells

Nothing in the pitch explains what the actual business model is, how commissions are generated, or what product is being sold beyond access to the system itself.

That’s the first big red flag.

How the Viral Commission System Actually Works (Based on Patterns)

While the sales page tries to sound mysterious, programs like this typically follow a very predictable model:

1. The $17 product is just the front-end

The “5 steps” are usually shallow, generic, and designed to upsell you into:

• A high-ticket coaching offer
• A recurring membership
• A done-for-you marketing system
• Lead buyers or MLM-style pass-up structures

2. “Viral traffic” = recycled referral links

There is no algorithm, no data exploitation, and no million-dollar team giving away their sources.

3. “Passed up leads” = new members joining the same system

The idea is simple:

You promote the same system, and when someone buys through your link, you might get a commission or “spillover” — but only if people below you recruit even more people.

That’s not viral traffic.
That’s not passive income.
That’s recruitment dressed up with buzzwords.

4. The income screenshots are not verified

Screenshots are easy to fake.
The testimonials shown have no last names, no verifiable social profiles, no order IDs, no timestamps.

5. Founder identity appears to be fabricated

Another issue worth noting: the supposed founder “David Humphries” does not appear to be a real, verifiable person. There’s no LinkedIn profile, no past business presence, no interviews, and no digital footprint other than this sales page.

The photo he uses also appears in stock-image libraries. When a program uses a fictional persona instead of a real, accountable founder, it’s usually a sign the creators don’t want their names attached to the product — which is a major red flag.

6. The sales page avoids explaining the product

Because the real product is… the system itself.

Classic circular “make money by promoting the system” design.

The Red Flags (Each One Warranted)

Here’s where the analysis shifts into firmer tone — but only because the red flags are objective and undeniable.

1. Unrealistic income claims ($1,300/day from 10 minutes)

This is FTC-problematic wording.
No legitimate business pays like this.

2. Fake scarcity timer

It resets.
There is no cap.
There are not “1000 invitations only.”

Scarcity is manufactured to pressure beginners.

3. No real explanation of how money is generated

“We use viral data companies.”
“We tap into big data.”
“We use a secret formula.”

None of this means anything.

If someone can’t explain the business model in one sentence… they’re hiding something.

4. Testimonials with no evidence

Names but no verifiable identities.
No links.
No proof.
No business context.

Very common tactic in low-ticket MMO funnels.

5. “Done for you” income is impossible

If passive, automated systems like this actually worked they’d never be sold for $17.

• There would be no reason to recruit more people
• The owners would quietly scale it for themselves

6. The offer contradicts itself

“No affiliate networks”…
Yet the entire structure is an affiliate pass-up system.

“No traffic required”…
Yet Step 3 is “Your Traffic Account.”

“No experience needed”…
Yet recurring commissions usually require active promotion.

If these warning signs feel familiar, that’s because they follow the same playbook used by countless hype-driven online systems. If you want a deeper breakdown of the psychological tactics, income-claim tricks, and fake scarcity signals these funnels use, I’ve put together a full guide on scam warnings and red flags that every beginner should read.

Real Costs They Don’t Mention

Even if you bought the $17 entry product, you should expect:

• Upsells ($97 – $997+ depending on the funnel)
• Traffic costs if you want actual results
• Monthly tools or memberships
• A short lifespan (these systems churn quickly)

Programs built on hype rarely last long — the marketing outruns the product.

Who Is 5 Step Formula Actually For?

Realistically:

• Not for beginners looking for stability
• Not for people needing predictable income
• Not for anyone wanting a legitimate business model
• Not for people who don’t want to recruit others

It might appeal to people who enjoy trying shiny objects, but it will not build a long-term asset.

This entire structure is nearly identical to systems like Income Team X, Instant Cash Algorithm, and ANX-305 all of which use the same feeder funnel approach with vague traffic promises and unverified earnings.”

Better Alternatives (What Actually Works)

After reviewing thousands of online programs, here’s what I actually recommend based on real-world results.

The best model for beginners: Local Lead Generation

You build simple websites → they rank → local businesses pay monthly for the leads.

Why it outperforms these $17 “viral” systems:

• No recruiting
• No fake scarcity
• No made-up screenshots
• No ad costs (you can use free traffic)
• No refunds, chargebacks or customer support
• Real businesses, real value, real income

This is the model I personally run and recommend:

👉 See my No.1 recommendation here

Other legitimate paths include:

• Affiliate marketing (when done properly, not through hype systems)
• Freelancing / service-based skills (copywriting, ads, SEO)
• Content creation with a niche strategy
  But none of these promise unrealistic income from 10 minutes a day.

My Verdict: Is 5 Step Formula Legit?

Here’s the fairest and most accurate way to phrase it:

5 Step Formula is “legit” only in the sense that you receive something for your $17 but it is not a legitimate business model.

The marketing overstates income, undersells the required work and the founder “David Humphries”? Yeah he’s a completely made up person. Pretty obvious from the stock photo to be honest!

There’s nothing here that builds a real, long-term skill or business.
It’s another low-ticket MMO funnel designed to upsell you down the line.

Before You Go

If you’re tired of hype, loopholes, vague systems, and promises that fall apart the moment you look under the hood…

There is a genuine alternative.

This is the model I’d start with if I had to begin again today:

👉 Go here to see the best business to start online