Business Idea: Create An Online Course in 2025
An online course business involves creating and selling digital classes teaching specialized skills or knowledge to subscribed students.
As an entrepreneurial course creator, you identify educational gaps around topics you have expertise in and develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials.
With flexibility around self-paced or cohort-based structures, building a student base provides passive income potential.
For founders who enjoy information-sharing, launching an online course platform presents a lucrative way to monetize your instructional talents with small startup costs by serving eager lifelong learners seeking convenient access to emerging subjects.
Revenue & Profitability
How much do online courses make?
- On average, successful online courses report $1M/year in revenue.
- 100% of online courses report being profitable.
Learn more about how much money online courses make.
Startup Costs
How much does it cost to create an online course?
- It can cost as low as $49 to create an online course.
- It can cost as high as $150,000 to create an online course.
Learn more about the costs of an online course.
Examples Of Successful Online Courses
Successful online course businesses and case studies
Animal Behavior College, a vocational school that trains animal lovers to become professional dog trainers, pet groomers, veterinary assistants, cat trainers and aquatic management specialists, achieved double-digit growth every year from 2001-2014, with revenue reaching $1 million per month on average, thanks to its innovative hybrid model of distance and hands-on learning and strong focus on the needs of pet owners and animal welfare.
ClickMeeting, a platform for webinars and online meetings, has grown to host over 2 million events with 30 million attendees and has been profitable since its launch in 2010, with a focus on reliability and quality customer service.
See full list of successful online courses.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
