Start A Membership Site Business - Business Ideas
Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.
A membership site business involves creating a platform where individuals with shared interests or needs can access premium content and engage in a community of like-minded individuals.
As a founder of a membership site business, you are responsible for developing high-quality blogs, videos, discussion forums, and resource libraries exclusive to paying members.
These members subscribe on a monthly or annual basis, providing predictable recurring revenue for your business.
With the ability to target specific demographics and cater to niche audiences, membership sites offer a lucrative business model that is fueled by digital community demand and infinite content possibilities.
This makes it an accessible startup option for creators seeking low-cost entry into the online business world.
Starting a membership site business requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.
If you're interested in how to sell membership site, or selling membership site online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.
Key Stats
Startup Costs
Min Startup Costs | Max Startup Costs | |
---|---|---|
Office Space Expenses |
$0 |
$7,000 |
App Creation Costs |
$1,099 |
$20,099 |
Software Expenses |
$162 |
$2,894 |
Advertising & Marketing Costs |
$0 |
$2,500 |
Website Costs |
$13 |
$215 |
Training & Education Expenses |
$0 |
$850 |
Total Startup Costs |
$1,274 |
$33,558 |
Case Studies
Successful Businesses
Business | URL | Rank | |
---|---|---|---|
Patreon |
patreon.com |
338 |
|
enterprise |
enterprise.com |
6,868 |
|
Businessday NG |
businessday.ng |
12,508 |
|
worldprofit |
worldprofit.com |
19,819 |
|
DCU |
dcu.org |
20,175 |
|
Paid Memberships Pro |
paidmembershipspro.com |
29,779 |
|
AICPA |
aicpa.org |
36,180 |
|
Memberful |
memberful.com |
41,918 |
|
Airport Lounge Access Worldwide |
prioritypass.com |
45,512 |
|
WishList Products |
wishlistproducts.com |
51,747 |
|
Members 1st Federal Credit Union |
members1st.org |
66,818 |
Pros & Cons
Pros | Description |
---|---|
Flexibility |
You can put as much time into the business as you'd like. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own. |
Ability to start your business from home |
It's not necessary to have a physical storefront or office space to get your business started. You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning! |
Rewarding work |
Starting a membership site business can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about. |
Scalable |
With businesses and processes changing daily, there will always be demand for new features, products and services for your business. Additionally, there are several different business models and pricing tiers you can implement that will allow you to reach all types of customers. |
Traffic to your website |
A membership site business gives people a reason to visit your website and to keep coming back to you! |
No overhead costs |
To get your membership site business started, there are no costs associated with overhead, storage, packaging, etc. This will save you a lot of time and money! |
Cons | Description |
---|---|
Crowded Space |
Competition is high when it comes to your membership site business, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies. |
Motivation of employees |
If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees. |
Longer Sales Process |
A membership site business can be a big time and money investment for your customer, so it's important you plan and predict a longer conversion funnel and stay in communication with potential customers. |
Security Issues |
With any Saas business, data loss and security issues may arise throughout your process of building your product. It's critical that you understand exactly what you're responsible for and how to avoid potential issues down the road. |
Isolation |
Often times, as a membership site business, you typically work alone and do not have much face-to-face interaction with other team members. |
Taxes |
As a membership site business, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it. |
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings