How to Make $5K/Month Running a Membership Site
When I first started my membership site, I had no idea how much potential it had. I thought it would be a small side hustle, but once I learned the right strategy, I was able to scale it into a full-time income. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a membership site that makes $5K/month, this guide is for you.
You don’t need a huge audience or complicated funnels. You just need a clear offer, consistent value, and the right platform to run your business.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Pick a Profitable Niche
The first step is choosing a topic that solves a problem people are willing to pay for. Your membership needs to deliver consistent value. For example, you could teach business skills, fitness, personal development, or even a hobby like photography.
Ask yourself: What transformation will my members get by being part of this community? The clearer the transformation, the easier it will be to sell.
Step 2: Build a Simple Membership Model
You don’t need to overcomplicate it. A successful membership site can be as simple as:
- A private community where members connect
- Access to exclusive trainings, templates, or resources
- Monthly group coaching or Q&A calls
The key is creating a model that’s easy for you to manage and valuable for your members.
Step 3: Use the Right Platform
I use Skool because it combines courses, community, and payments in one platform. This makes it easy to deliver content, engage members, and collect recurring revenue—all without tech headaches.
Skool also includes gamification features like points and leaderboards that keep members active, which improves retention and revenue.
Step 4: Get Your First Members
You don’t need hundreds of members to hit $5K/month. If you charge $50/month, you only need 100 members. At $100/month, you only need 50 members.
Start by reaching out to your existing audience, friends, and colleagues. Offer them a “founding member” discount and ask for testimonials. These early members will help you refine your offer and attract more people.
Step 5: Focus on Retention
Retention is the secret to a profitable membership site. When members stay month after month, your revenue compounds.
Make your members feel valued by celebrating their wins, providing vupdates, and asking for feedback. Engaged members are much more likely to stick around.
Step 6: Scale with Organic Marketing
Once you have a few happy members, ask for referrals. Share testimonials and success stories on social media. You can also use content marketing (blog posts, YouTube videos, podcasts) to attract more members organically.
The more you show the transformation your membership provides, the easier it is to scale.
Ready to Hit $5K/Month?
You don’t need a giant audience or complicated systems. Start small, focus on delivering value, and build a community people love.
Click here to create your Skool account and launch your membership site today—the simple way.
One of the biggest mindset shifts I had was realizing you don’t need thousands of people to make great money with a membership site. Even a small but engaged group can generate consistent recurring revenue. This makes the membership model one of the most accessible business strategies for creators and coaches.
Pricing plays a huge role in hitting your $5K/month goal. Many people undercharge because they’re afraid members won’t join. But when your membership solves a clear problem and delivers real results, members are happy to pay. Don’t be afraid to price your membership at a sustainable level.
Another key is to keep your offer simple. Many membership owners try to include too much content and end up overwhelming themselves and their members. Instead, focus on providing one clear transformation and just the resources your members need to achieve it.
I also discovered how important onboarding is. Your first impression sets the tone for the entire membership. When new members join, welcome them personally, show them how to navigate the platform, and help them get their first quick win. This dramatically improves retention.
Community is one of the biggest drivers of success in membership sites. People join for the content, but they stay for the connection. Encourage members to share their questions, celebrate wins, and support each other. This makes your membership feel alive.
I recommend using Skool because it’s built for engagement. The platform’s points and leaderboards reward participation, which keeps members coming back. This leads to higher retention and more referrals.
Once you have your first 10–20 members, your focus should shift from acquisition to retention. Retaining existing members is far easier and more profitable than constantly finding new ones. Focus on improving the experience and showing members the progress they’re making.
Don’t overlook the power of testimonials. When members share the results they’re getting, it builds trust and makes others want to join. Highlight these stories on your sales page, social media, and inside the community itself.
You can also use simple challenges to boost engagement and growth. For example, host a 5-day challenge that leads into your membership or run a community challenge that encourages members to invite friends. These events create momentum and excitement.
Content marketing is a great way to grow your membership organically. Start a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast where you share helpful tips. At the end of each piece of content, invite people to join your membership for deeper training and support.
Remember that hitting $5K/month is not about hustling harder—it’s about building systems that compound. Each new member you bring in adds to your monthly recurring revenue, and over time, this creates stability and freedom.
Finally, don’t wait until everything is perfect to launch. Start with a simple offer, a clear promise, and a small group of members. You can refine and improve as you go. What matters most is starting now and building momentum.