If you love eco-friendly products, you likely remember Better Life, the natural cleaning product that appeared on Shark Tank Season 5.
While many cleaning products have appeared on the show, not many products have made a big splash like Better Life did.
Tim Barklage and Kevin Tibbs, two lifelong friends and dads, co-founded Better Life in 2008 due to frustrations with toxic chemicals commonly found in conventional cleaning products.
In response to these concerns, they aimed to create a cleaning product that replaces toxic ingredients with plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, and with no artificial fragrances, dyes, sulfates, or bleach.
A lot has happened since Season 5 aired. Is Better Life still in business, and what is its current net worth?
Let’s take a deep dive into Better Life’s journey from its “Shark Tank effect” to its present day.
Better Life Founders: Meet Tim and Kevin
Better Life was co-founded by two lifelong friends, Tim Barklage and Kevin Tibbs, who wanted to create a safe and effective cleaning product for their family.
They were both worried about their young kids and pets crawling around and putting things in their mouths, exposing them to dangerous chemicals found in most cleaning products.
With Kevin’s career as a formulation chemist, the duo aimed to create a product that is safe for both people and pets by using all-natural plant-based ingredients. They came up with Better Life, a cleaning product that uses plant-based, biodegradable alternatives that still pack a punch when it comes to cleaning.
Better Life cleaning product stood out due to the duo’s transparency- they disclosed all their ingredients, something that was rare in the cleaning industry when the product was launched. Kevin even sprayed their cleaning detergent in his mouth to demonstrate how safe it was!
Better Life Net Worth
As of 2025, Better Life’s estimated net worth is about $10 million. This includes the value of its Better Life product lines, retail partnerships, and intellectual property.
The company has carved out a niche in the eco-friendly cleaning market, competing with popular products like Method, Seventh Generation, and Mrs.Meyer’s. In 2018, Better Life was acquired by BISSELL Homecare for an undisclosed amount and currently operates as a subsidiary of BISSELL.
Better Life Shark Tank Pitch
Better Life appeared on Shark Tank in Season 5, Episode 7, which aired in 2013.
Tim and Kevin entered the Shark Tank seeking $400,000 for a 7% equity stake, which valued the company at $5.7 million, and they came prepared to wow the Sharks.
The pair set out to demonstrate how their product works. They cleaned a dirty tile with spray paint, then cleaned up a countertop with raw chicken smeared on it with a national cleaning brand against Better Life cleaner. Their product proved more effective in cleaning bacteria, and even safe enough to “eat”.
Kevin told the Sharks that they had been in business for over four years before their appearance on the Show. Asked about their sales, Kevin said they had made $2.1 million in sales in the previous year, with their cleaning product selling at retailers like Whole Foods and Crate & Barrel.
They netted just 7% of their sales, since they had been ploughing back the profits into the brand, with minimal debts. They raked in $115,000 in pre-tax profits in the 12 months prior.
After handing over samples of the Better Life cleaning products, Lori Greiner gave the first offer- $400,000 for 17% equity, with a promise to get Better Life into Bed Bath & Beyond and QVC.
Kevin came in next with a loan offer of $400,000 with a 3-year repayment period at 10% interest, in exchange for 5% equity.
John Paul Dejoria a.k.a. JP, came in with the third offer, $400,000 for 20% equity, offering to partner with Lori 50-50. He told the two founders that his global distribution channels could help move the brand around the world.
Next, Daymond John upped the bid slightly, offering $500,000 for 20% equity. At this point, Tim countered Daymond’s offer with an offer of $500,000 for 10%. Lori and JP revised their original offer to $400,000 for 17%.
With offers from 4 of the 5 Sharks, Tim and Kevin asked Mark Cuban if he had an offer. Mark offered $800,000 in exchange for 20% equity, but wanted to partner with Lori in the deal, without JP. Lori felt $800,000 was too high.
Kevin altered his original offer to $400,000 for 17% equity, with the equity falling to 7% once the $400,000 was repaid. Lori said she would match Kevin’s offer. Since JP was now excluded from Lori’s deal, he partnered with Daymond and offered $500,000 for 20% equity.
Lori opted to go solo on the deal, dropping Mark as a partner, saying she would pull it off on her own.
Mark, now left on his own, opted to back out of the deal.
With Tim and Mark pressured to take a deal, the duo accepted Lori Greiner’s offer.
But did the deal with Lori go through after the show? Let’s find out.
Did Better Life Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
After securing a deal on Shark Tank with Lori, Tim and Kevin not only walked away with a $400,000 equity investment, but they also got a strategic partner to help them scale their operations further.
Based on an update posted on Better Life’s official website, it seems the deal with Lori went through, and the company doubled its manufacturing capacity, expanded its retail presence, and recorded about a 645% growth after the show aired.
Lori, known as the “Queen of QVC”, proved to be a strong fit. Better Life got access to wide distribution networks and gained retail contracts with Meijer, Marianos, Target, and Amazon. They also expanded to Canada, Bermuda, the EU, and South Korea.
The sudden rise saw Better Life listed as the 503rd fastest-growing company in the United States by Inc. Magazine.
What Happened to Better Life After Shark Tank? The Shark Tank Effect
Immediately after the show, “the Shark Tank Effect” hit the duo hard, in a good way.
Months after the show aired, Tim and Kevin reported experiencing a massive spike in sales. Their products were flying off the shelves, website traffic surged, and they gained significant media attention.
An update posted on their official website disclosed that they received over 10,000 orders in two months and had to seek help from friends and family to answer calls, pack, and ship out orders.
Better Life leveraged Lori’s expertise to get their brand into big stores like Whole Foods, Target, and Bed Bath and Beyond.
The company also expanded its product line, creating a wider range of plant-based cleaning products. They currently sell all-purpose cleaners, floor cleaners, bathroom & toilet cleaners, laundry detergents, glass cleaners, kitchen dish soap, as well as soaps and lotions.
In 2018, Bissell acquired Better Life for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition allowed Better Life to tap into Bissell’s extensive distribution channels while continuing to operate under its original branding and values.
Better Life retained its commitment to non-toxic, eco-friendly, and plant-based cleaning products and expanded internationally under the Bissell brand.
Where to buy Better Life cleaning products?
Better Life is available across the United States, both in-store and online. You can find the full range of Better Life products at:
- Better Life official website
- Target
- Amazon
- Thrive Market
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
Better Life cleaning products are affordably priced and come bundled in starter kits for eco-conscious households. Additionally, the company has maintained consistently high ratings on Amazon, demonstrating its good reputation and customer service.
Is Better Life still in business?
As of 2025, Better Life is still in business and currently operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bissell.
The company has expanded its line of products, while remaining committed to its original mission- providing non-toxic, plant-based, natural cleaning products that work. It also remains committed to transparency, eco-friendly packaging, and cruelty-free ingredients.
You can follow Better Life on social media. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram for the latest information and product updates.
