When I started my first course, I had a free facebook group.

I woke up to 147 notifications and quickly slammed my laptop.

My heart sank faster than a lead balloon in a swimming pool.

This wasn’t just any Monday morning headache – this was my “brilliant” idea of running a free community coming back to bite me.

Four thousand members. Endless questions. Zero dollars.

I wanted to help people but I also wanted to scale my business.

I’d created a monster.

A really friendly, engaged monster… but still a monster that was eating up my time like a kid in a candy store.

Here’s the funny part – I kept telling myself this was “market research.” (You know, that thing we tell ourselves to justify giving away too much for free?)

But something had to change. My notification anxiety was through the roof.

That’s when it hit me like a caffeinated epiphany: What if I’d charged just $5 a month from the start?

Do the math with me. Four thousand members at $5 each? That’s $20,000 monthly in recurring revenue I left on the table.

Ouch.

That realization stung more than my morning coffee burns.

Now I run a proper membership. No more notification nightmares. No more endless free support. Just happy members getting exactly what they need, when they need it.

Now if you are thinking of starting a membership this year, here are some tips.

Determining the Right Time to Start a Membership:

1. Have a clear outcome: Define what your members will achieve by joining.  A clear purpose attracts and retains members.

2. Existing funnel:  A working funnel (e.g., mini-course funnel, lead magnet funnel) is crucial for consistently attracting new members. Don’t launch a membership without a way to bring in new people.

3. Test the waters:  Consider a short-term (3-4 month) trial membership at a lower price point to gauge interest and refine your offering before a full-scale launch. This allows you to gather feedback and adjust before a long-term commitment.

4. Don’t need a huge audience: You don’t need thousands of followers to launch a successful membership. Even a small, engaged group can generate substantial recurring revenue.

Membership Structure and Approach:

–Low-ticket pricing:  A lower price point ($50-$150/month) makes the membership more accessible and reduces the risk for potential members. It also allows members to leave easily if it’s not a good fit.

–Evergreen launch vs. big launch: Consider launching your membership with a significant marketing push to get initial traction. However, evergreen launches (ongoing recruitment) are also viable long-term after that.

–Choose the right platform: Select a membership platform that integrates all necessary features (payments, course hosting, communication, etc.) to streamline the process.

–Consider community engagement: While you don’t need a large group, community interaction is important. A smaller, more engaged group may be preferred over a larger, less active one.

Will anyone join?

–Fear of low membership numbers:  Even a small number of members can create significant recurring revenue, providing a stable foundation for your business.

–Work-life balance:  A well-structured membership can create a better work-life balance, compared to high-ticket, intensive coaching programs. Choose a format that fits your desired lifestyle. I launched my 2nd membership with only about 2500 on my email list.

I love my membership and truly love the flexibility it gives me and them.

The best part?

They can come and go as they please. No locked-in contracts. No guilt trips.

Want to know exactly how I flipped the switch from free-for-all to profitable membership?

I break down every step in my Create a Membership program.

Because trust me – you don’t need to learn this lesson the hard way like I did.