Paid Membership or Subscription Community
Originally published Sep 16, 2026 — Sean Dollwet
Sean Dollwet · 5 Digital Products That Will Make The Most Money in 2027 ↗
One of 4 ideas covered in this video
You run an online community, for example on Skool, where members pay a monthly fee for ongoing content, live calls and support. Income comes from recurring subscriptions as long as members keep finding value.
The presenter acknowledges the appeal: steady monthly income when it works, a low price that makes it easy to get members, and the chance to build a loyal group. He says typical memberships run $10 to $50 a month, so reaching $5,000 a month takes roughly 100 to 500 paying members depending on price. He is mostly skeptical, arguing that members cancel quickly once fresh content slows down.
Creators who already have an engaged audience and genuinely enjoy producing new content, running live calls and supporting members every month.
The presenter's own assessment is critical: he says it is a constant job with a monthly deadline, churn rises the moment value drops, and it depends on having an audience before you start. His observation that many people who launched low-ticket communities on gurus' advice later dropped them is anecdotal but plausible. The member-count math he gives is straightforward and useful for sanity-checking. His comparisons favor KDP, which he sells coaching for, so read the contrast with that in mind.