Many ‘online gurus' sell the dream that a membership is a shortcut to effortless riches…

This couldn't be further from the truth.

A membership site is just like any other type of business; it requires work.

That said, running a membership is an incredible experience! And there are many benefits of launching a membership site.

Here are 6 reasons why starting a membership site may be the right path for you.

Recurring revenue

Most people are drawn to the membership model by the possibility of earning recurring revenue rather than a one-off fee like in a transaction business.

As the membership model is a marathon and not a sprint, it can take a while to get momentum and accumulate that recurring revenue.

However, unlike selling a digital product or service, you're not starting from zero each month after every project is finished, or every launch is done.

Your customer base builds and accumulates, and so does the amount that you're earning in recurring revenue month-on-month.

That slow, steady growth over time is a game changer because you're getting away from the volatility of a feast and famine cycle.

Stability

The stability that recurring revenue brings means you're able to predict where your business will be months and years down the line.

That's because your decision-making is no longer compromised like it is when running a transaction-based business.

You're no longer worries about your short-term circumstances or the pressures that come with challenging clients and demanding deadlines.

How many times have you made decisions due to a slow income month?

Perhaps, you haven't been able to sign any new clients or get as many sales as you'd expected.

Your decision-making then revolves around having to put food on the table and pay the bills because you're going through a dry period.

When you have a recurring revenue business like a membership, you have a stable business – even if you lose a handful of members, it won't affect your business in the long run.

And you're not under pressure to start from zero every month and chase your next client or big launch.

Having a bigger impact on your audience

Another great reason to start a membership website is to serve a larger portion of your audience.

When you're working with people one-on-one, you're limited in terms of how many people you can have an impact on with your work.

With a membership, you don't have those constraints because you are working with a one to many model. Everything you do has the potential to reach hundreds and thousands of people.

If you're serving a larger scale of people, there's a great deal of fulfilment and personal satisfaction – you get to be part of more people's journeys!

So, if that's a driving factor behind what you do and you currently don't have a vehicle for doing that, then this could be a definite sign that a membership site is for you.

It changes the type of work you do

Most memberships involve some form of e-learning and community, so your core roles as a membership owner become two-fold – content creator and community leader.

When you're running a membership, your day-to-day job involves creating content on a subject you're knowledgeable and passionate about, such as courses, tutorials, live training and Q&As etc.

The other side of your job involves hanging out with other like-minded people within your community, answering their questions, supporting them, and getting to know them.

So, if you're currently working within a regular 9-5 job or running a transaction-based business, the type and the nature of the work that you do day-to-day is going to change by becoming a content creator and a community leader.

Personal fulfilment

Another amazing reason to start a membership website is that you get personal fulfilment from using all the tools in your toolkit.

With a membership, you're able to tap into as many of your skills, as much of your knowledge, experience and expertise as you want to put your best work out there.

It's entirely up to you how you build your membership site, what you provide and what you deliver. You're not depending on individual client needs limiting the scope of the skills you can use.

When you're working one-on-one with clients and you know that they're not getting the best from you because you're not suing all your expertise, it can become frustrating.

A membership site, on the other hand, allows you to dig deep into everything that you have the potential to do.

The feeling that brings is hugely fulfilling, especially if you feel like you're stuck in a bit of a rut or dead end in your current employment.

It's a lot of fun!

Lastly, running a membership website is a lot of fun!

Some of that comes from the fulfilment you get from running a business you're passionate about, working with a wider audience and tapping in to all of your skills.

There's also the fact that your working hours are negotiable. You don't need to work a traditional 9 to 5 so you have the freedom to set your own schedule.

A membership enables you to eat, sleep and breathe a topic you love, whether that's business or hobby/lifestyle-related.

And if you want to get to know your members on a deeper level, you'd have the opportunity to see them in person. This could be through a meet-up or grabbing a quick coffee when you're in the same town.

Is a membership for you?

If you've been debating starting a membership site, these 6 benefits may help sway your decision.

Running a membership site is hard work, and it's not for everyone.

But, if you love talking about a subject you're experienced in…

Want to tap in to your entire skillset, and build a business that provides recurring revenue for stability…

Then a membership site may be the right choice for you!

Related articles about starting a membership

• Do You Need to be an Expert to Start a Membership Website?
• How Much Does it Cost to Start and Run a Membership Website?
• How to Build a Membership Website in Under a Day
• How Much Time Does it Take to Run a Membership Site?

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