Business Idea: Start An Online Community in 2026
Online communities bring people who share common values together. For anyone looking to start a side hustle and earn money, you need to figure out the best online communities to participate. More important, you need to figure out on how to translate your online community membership into dollars. Ideas of how to earn through online communities include:
- Selling your products
- Promoting affiliate links for a commission
- Run ads
- Sell online community membership
- Start your own online community and charge for sponsored content
Revenue & Profitability
How much do online communities make?
- On average, successful online communities report $665K/year in revenue.
- 91% of online communities report being profitable.
Learn more about how much money online communities make.
Startup Costs
How much does it cost to start an online community?
- It can cost as low as $25 to start an online community.
- It can cost as high as $25,000 to start an online community.
Learn more about the costs of an online community.
Examples Of Successful Online Communities
Successful online community businesses and case studies
Explore how Sam Jacobs leveraged community-driven growth by turning informal executive dinners into Pavilion, a thriving global network with over 10,000 members, generating an impressive $11 million annually through strategies centered on kindness, member feedback, and organic expansion.
Learn how leveraging personalized networking, strategic partnerships, and content-driven growth transformed the COO Alliance into a profitable venture generating over $2.5 million annually, offering targeted resources and support for second-in-command executives who often lack development platforms.
See full list of successful online communities.
