If you’ve ever wondered how to get paid while doing less, welcome to the magic of membership communities. Imagine earning a consistent income, working fewer hours, and still making a massive impact—all while secretly debating whether to take a power nap or watch another episode of that show you're hooked on.

It’s simple: instead of one-off sales or unpredictable project work, membership communities allow you to get paid month after month. Plus, once the heavy lifting is done, you can keep the party going with minimal effort. The best part? People can pay to join your membership at 3 a.m. while you’re fast asleep—because who doesn’t love making money while catching Z’s?

Let’s break down how to craft a membership program that not only adds value to your audience but also adds dollars to your pocket.

The 3 Core Membership Models: Content, Coaching, and Community

Membership programs typically fall into three core models: Content, Coaching, and Community. Think of these as the foundation for your membership empire—whether you’re dishing out exclusive tutorials, offering tailored advice, or building a hive of like-minded folks. Each model has its strengths and appeal, and the most successful sites usually combine at least two (or all three) to deliver an unbeatable member experience.

Let’s take a better look into these models and explore what makes each one a powerful engine for driving value—and of course, profits.

Content Membership Sites

If you’re sitting on a goldmine of knowledge and expertise, the Content Model is a perfect match. This model revolves around providing members with access to exclusive educational materials like tutorials, workshops, and downloadable resources. Whether you're helping someone become a master at knitting or unlocking the mysteries of digital marketing, people are willing to pay to learn from the best.

Deliverables might include video tutorials, in-depth how-to guides, a content library, or a signature course. The best part? Once the content is created, it’s infinitely scalable—no extra work for you if 10 or 10,000 members sign up.

Membership Websites Examples: Sew It Academy is a great illustration of how to create a subscription website. It flourishes by offering members access to exclusive step-by-step videos showing people how to sew their own clothes.

Perfect for: Educators, creators, or experts who want to scale their knowledge.

Coaching Membership Sites

If you prefer a hands-on approach and enjoy guiding others, a Coaching Model could be your best example of a membership website. This type of membership program focuses on providing direct mentorship, support, and tailored advice to help members achieve specific outcomes. Coaching can take the form of live group sessions, personalized feedback, or even one-on-one video calls.

While this model allows you to charge higher fees due to the personal attention members receive, it can be more challenging to scale since your time is a limited resource. However, the deeper engagement with fewer members often results in long-term loyalty and higher member satisfaction.

Membership Websites Examples: My Pivotal Point is a beautiful membership program designed to help caregivers of aging loved ones thrive. Its strength lies in the meaningful connections made between the coach and members, as well as members amongst themselves.

Perfect for: Coaches, consultants, therapists, and tutors who enjoy working directly with clients.

Community Membership Sites

Some people aren’t just looking for education or coaching; they want a place to connect. That’s where the Community Model comes in. These membership sites focus on bringing together groups of people to share experiences, offer support, and grow together. Often, the connections formed within the group become the primary reason people continue to pay for access.

Deliverables here might include access to private forums, live networking events, or virtual meet-ups. It’s all about creating a safe and engaging environment where members feel they belong.

Membership Websites Example: Led by two therapists, The Healthy Weigh Out Circle of HOPE is a powerful membership community focused on helping people overcome disordered eating. Its emphasis on creating a community that offers loving, non-judgmental support to one another is key to its success.

Perfect for: Community builders, therapists, niche enthusiasts, or groups focused on networking.

How to Choose the Right Membership Model for Your Business

Choosing between the Content, Coaching, and Community models isn’t always straightforward. The right choice depends on your expertise, your audience’s needs, and how much time you want to invest.

Content Model: Ideal for those who enjoy creating educational materials and want to reach a broad audience without constant interaction.
Coaching Model: Best suited for individuals who want to work closely with their members and are comfortable with a more intimate group size.
Community Model: Perfect for those who excel at bringing people together and nurturing relationships, with less focus on direct teaching or guidance.

If you find yourself torn, remember that many successful membership sites incorporate elements from two or even all three models, creating a more comprehensive experience.

Combining Models for a Full-Circle Experience

While choosing a single model might seem like the easiest route, many of the most successful membership websites combine elements from multiple models to create a more holistic experience. This hybrid approach allows you to cater to different preferences within your audience.

For example, you might start with a Content Model, offering exclusive tutorials, and later integrate a Community Model with forums or live events to foster interaction among members. Or, if you’re a coach, you could add a Content Library for members to access between sessions.

Membership Websites Example: Sites like Circle and Kajabi allow creators to mix content, coaching, and community to offer a well-rounded membership experience.

Membership Enrollment Models: Open vs. Closed

Once you’ve nailed down your membership model, it’s time to decide how people will gain access to it. There are two main types of enrollment models: Open and Closed.

Open Enrollment means your membership is always available. People can sign up anytime, which makes it easier to capture new members as they discover your content. However, it also requires continuous marketing efforts to keep attracting new subscribers.
Closed Enrollment, on the other hand, opens membership only during specific periods—perhaps once a quarter or a couple of times a year. This can create a sense of urgency, driving more sign-ups during limited windows. However, it also means you might miss out on people who want to join during off periods.

Example: Some coaching programs use closed enrollment to create a “launch buzz,” while content-driven sites like Skillshare keep doors open year-round to maximize subscriber intake.

Payment Structures: Freemium, One-Off, Monthly, and Annual

Your payment structure can make or break the success of your membership site. Here are a few common options:

Freemium: This model offers a free tier with limited content, encouraging users to upgrade to a paid plan for full access. It’s a great way to build trust with potential members.
One-Off Payments: In this model, members pay once for a fixed period of access (e.g., a year or a lifetime). While this can result in significant upfront revenue, it doesn't provide the recurring income that monthly subscriptions do.
Monthly: The most common and flexible option, allowing members to pay a low monthly fee to maintain access. However, it also gives them the ability to cancel at any time.
Annual: Offering an annual subscription (often with a discount compared to paying monthly) encourages longer-term commitments and provides a steady cash flow.

Example: Platforms like Patreon use a mix of freemium and monthly payment options, allowing creators to offer tiered content at different price points.

Examples of Profitable Membership Sites That Make Money

Now that you’ve got a handle on the different models and payment structures, it’s time to get inspired by some real-life examples of membership sites that are thriving:

Lady Boss: A fitness community that combines live workout classes with a strong sense of community, leveraging both content and community models to keep members engaged.
Freelance Writer’s Den: This platform offers exclusive content from industry leaders, focusing on the content model but with an added sense of community through forums and class discussions.
Patreon: Creators of all kinds—from podcasters to writers—use this platform to offer tiered membership options, combining content and community to engage their audience.

Each of these sites successfully leverages different membership models and payment structures to generate ongoing revenue. Whether through educational content, coaching, or simply creating a space for connection, the potential for financial success is clear.

Membership Site Ideas for Different Niches

Struggling to come up with a membership site idea? Here are some niche-specific concepts to spark your creativity:

Health and Wellness: Offer members access to guided meditations, workout plans, or personalized coaching sessions.
Business Coaching: Help entrepreneurs reach their goals with exclusive webinars, masterminds, and networking opportunities.
DIY and Crafting: Create a membership for hobbyists, offering tutorials, patterns, and member forums to share progress.
Personal Finance: Provide educational resources, budgeting tools, and coaching sessions to help members achieve financial independence.

No matter the niche, the key to a successful membership site is finding a topic that aligns with your skills and your audience’s needs.

The Deliverables That Will Keep Members Engaged

Deliverables are the tangible benefits that keep people subscribed to your membership site. These can vary widely depending on your chosen model, but generally fall into two categories:

Core Deliverables: These are the main features members sign up for, such as video tutorials, live coaching sessions, or access to a community forum.
Complementary Deliverables: These are added bonuses that enhance the core offering, like Q&A sessions, downloadable resources, or live workshops.

The key to keeping members engaged is consistent value. Make sure your deliverables address their specific needs and are regularly updated to keep them coming back.

How to Structure Your Pricing for Maximum Profitability

Pricing your membership site can be tricky, but there are a few tried-and-true strategies to help you maximize profitability:

Tiered Pricing: Offering multiple membership levels (e.g., basic, premium, VIP) can help you cater to different segments of your audience. Each tier provides increasing value, whether through more content, personalized coaching, or exclusive community access.
Discounts for Annual Subscriptions: Encouraging members to commit to a year of access with a discounted rate can help reduce churn and improve cash flow.

Example: Many membership platforms like Teachable or Kajabi use tiered pricing to offer different levels of content access and coaching, allowing users to choose what best fits their needs.

The Pros and Cons of Drip vs. Full Access Content

How you deliver your content is just as important as the content itself. Here’s a quick breakdown of two popular approaches:

Drip Content: With this method, content is released over time, usually in weekly or monthly increments. This encourages members to stay subscribed longer and prevents content overwhelm.
Full Access: All content is available immediately, allowing members to binge at their own pace. This works well for evergreen material, but you might see higher turnover as members consume everything quickly and leave.

Scaling Your Membership Site

Once you’ve launched your site and gained some traction, scaling becomes the next big challenge. Here are some tips to help you grow without burning out:

Add New Tiers: Introduce higher-tier memberships that offer more exclusive content or personalized attention.
Automate: Use email funnels, automated onboarding processes, and scheduled content releases to reduce manual work.
Delegate: As your membership grows, consider bringing on additional coaches, content creators, or community managers to help share the load.

Keeping Your Members Happy and Reducing Churn

Retaining members is just as important as gaining new ones. To reduce churn and keep members happy:

Offer Continuous Value: Keep your content fresh and relevant to ensure members stay engaged.
Provide Excellent Support: A responsive and supportive customer service experience can make a big difference in whether members stick around.

Start Small, Think Big – Building a Membership Site That Lasts

Building a successful membership site doesn’t happen overnight. Start small, focus on your strengths, and keep refining your offerings as your membership grows. With the right blend of content, coaching, and community, you can create a membership that not only delivers value to your audience but also provides a steady, scalable source of income for you. If you’d like more support in building out your membership community, schedule a time for us to chat.

Building Membership Sites That Make Money