Building a thriving online community can be both rewarding and profitable.
With membership subscriptions on the rise, community-driven businesses are seeing impressive returns. In fact, the average online community generates about $665K per year . Even better, nearly half of established membership sites earn six figures annually.
Nevertheless, the opportunities are huge.
This article will walk you through how BuddyBoss – a powerful WordPress-based platform – makes it easy to monetize a community through memberships, courses, events, and more.
Note: All statistics and data shared in this article are collected from reputable sources. We’ve listed these sources at the end of the article for your reference—no third-party redirects in the middle of your read.
Why Monetize Your Community?
Every dollar you bring in can be reinvested to improve content, support members, and reach new audiences.
Communities often enjoy incredibly high retention and lifetime value: for example, 99% of membership sites report that customers stay for more than 3 months, and the average subscriber lasts over a year.
Practically, this means that once members join and see value, they tend to stick around, giving you a steady, predictable income stream.
Here are some reasons to why Monetize a Community:-
- Financial Sustainability: Cover hosting, content creation, and team costs, and build a reliable revenue base. With most membership businesses collecting multiple income streams, you’re not relying on just one source of revenue.
- Enhanced Value: Paid tiers or premium content lets you reward your most engaged members with exclusive perks (deep dives, live Q&As, expert coaching) while maintaining free or lower-priced levels for newcomers.
- Growth Incentive: Charging for access can actually motivate you to keep improving your offerings. Plus, the subscription business model is flourishing – and it shows. More than half of membership businesses saw income increase over the last year, and many communities are scaling up to six- or seven-figure revenues.
- Community Investment: When members pay, they’re more invested. They’ll participate actively, knowing they have “skin in the game.” This creates a virtuous circle: better content and engagement lead to more sign-ups and renewals.
Real-World Numbers Showing The Benefits Of Monetizing A Community
- One analysis estimates online communities have a $1.2 billion market size and earn on average hundreds of thousands per year.
- About 45% of established membership sites bring in six-figure annual revenues (and roughly 7% even hit seven figures).
- Sites with dedicated community areas see lower churn (about 6% vs. 10% for those without) (40+ Membership Site Statistics To Know in 2025), showing how community features boost retention.
These stats are proof that with the right approach – quality content and the right tools – You can monetize a community and build something truly sustainable.
BuddyBoss: Your Platform For Online Community Monetization
BuddyBoss is built on WordPress, giving you the freedom to customize and scale your site without the constraints of closed SaaS platforms.
It’s purpose-built for online communities, Courses and membership sites, so you get all the social features (profiles, activity feeds, groups, messaging) and a design framework that seamlessly integrates with monetization tools.
Here’s how BuddyBoss empowers every aspect of your plan to monetize a community:
Tiered Memberships
BuddyBoss works hand-in-hand with top WordPress membership plugins – MemberPress, Paid Memberships Pro, WooCommerce Memberships/Subscriptions, Wishlist Member and more.
You can use these tools to monetize a community by creating membership tiers (e.g. Free, Standard, Premium) with different access levels.
Example of Tiered Memberships
Imagine you’re running an online fitness community. Here’s how you could structure your membership tiers:
- Free Member (Basic Plan)
→ Access to community forums
→ Weekly free workout tips
→ Ability to comment and interact with posts - Premium Member ($19/month)
→ Everything in Free, plus:
→ Access to exclusive workout videos
→ Monthly live Q&A sessions with fitness experts
→ Member-only challenges and giveaways - VIP Member ($49/month)
→ Everything in Premium, plus:
→ Personalized fitness plans
→ 1-on-1 coaching calls (once a month)
→ Early access to new courses and merchandise discounts
In this model:
- Beginners can join for free and experience your community.
- Serious members who want deeper content can upgrade.
- Highly committed members who want personal attention are willing to pay even more.
BuddyBoss makes it super easy to set up these different levels, control who sees what content, and manage payments through integrations like MemberPress or WooCommerce Memberships.
Built-In WooCommerce Store
Sell products, merchandise, and digital downloads directly in your community. BuddyBoss integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce – the leading e-commerce solution on WordPress.
This lets you add an online store to your site without any problem. You can offer branded t-shirts or hoodies, ebooks, coaching packages, or any other products to your members. WooCommerce also handles one-time payments and even subscription boxes if that fits your brand.
Example of an online photography community
BuddyBoss + WooCommerce, you can create your own shop inside the community platform, like this:
- Digital Products for Sale:
→ Lightroom presets
→ Photography eBooks
→ Video tutorials and masterclasses - Physical Products for Sale:
→ Custom merchandise (T-shirts, mugs, camera bags)
→ Printed photo books
→ Limited edition prints - Special Member Discounts:
→ Offer discounted prices only for community members
→ Create exclusive product bundles for paying members
Explanation:- a community member could browse your forum, get inspired by a photo challenge, and then directly buy your premium editing presets from your WooCommerce store; all without ever leaving your platform.
Start Selling Today
Built-in store. Built-in trust. Sell anything, anywhere with BuddyBoss + WooCommerce.
Online Courses with LearnDash
Another powerful way to monetize a community is through online courses. BuddyBoss integrates with LearnDash and other LMS platforms to help you deliver structured, high-value learning experiences.
It works natively with LMS platforms such as LearnDash (and LifterLMS and some other LMS plugins), so you can build and sell online courses to your community.
From video lessons and quizzes to assignments and certificates, you get a full-featured course platform. Many successful community educators (like Stefan James of Project Life Mastery University) use BuddyBoss + LearnDash to offer paid learning programs.
In fact, Stefan chose BuddyBoss because it “provided a user-friendly, centralized course platform” with built-in profiles and LearnDash styling for a smooth student experience. You can do the same – create premium courses and charge for enrollment (recurring or one-time).
Build Courses with LearnDash
Create binge-worthy courses, not boring modules. BuddyBoss + LearnDash makes it seamless.
Event Ticketing
Plan workshops, webinars, or even live meetups? BuddyBoss supports event-based monetization too.
You can use The Events Calendar plugin (which BuddyBoss can integrate with) to list events on your site, and then sell tickets via WooCommerce.
Example of Event Ticketing
For running an online business coaching community with BuddyBoss (and integrations like The Events Calendar or WooCommerce Tickets), you can easily sell tickets for:
- Virtual Workshops and Webinars
→ Host a “Master Your Marketing” live workshop for $49 per ticket
→ Offer bundle discounts (e.g., attend 3 workshops for $120)
→ Special early-bird pricing for community members - In-Person Meetups and Conferences
→ Organize a small business networking event in your city
→ Sell entry tickets and VIP passes with exclusive perks (like private dinners with speakers)
→ Track attendees and manage RSVPs directly from your BuddyBoss site - Exclusive Member-Only Events
→ Invite only your paying members to special mastermind sessions or annual retreats
→ Offer free or discounted tickets as a perk for high-tier members
Explanation: A member browsing your community sees a banner for your upcoming “Scaling Your Business” workshop, clicks through, buys a ticket right on your site — and immediately gets access to a private event discussion group to start networking before the event even happens!
BuddyBoss + Event Ticketing gives you complete control:
- Set ticket prices
- Limit spots (create urgency)
- Offer different ticket types (General, VIP)
- Send automatic reminders and updates
All without sending your members away to other platforms!
Exclusive Paid Groups
Foster premium communities within your community by creating private or paid groups. Using BuddyBoss’s robust Groups feature alongside a membership plugin, you can set up mastermind groups, VIP circles, or coaching cohorts that only paying members can join.
Example of Exclusive Paid Groups
Imagine you run a thriving online community for freelance writers.
With BuddyBoss, you can create special paid groups where members pay a subscription fee to join.
Here’s how you could structure it:
- Free Community Access
→ General discussions
→ Free tips and resource sharing
→ Open networking with all members - Paid Group: “Premium Writers’ Circle” ($15/month)
→ Access to a private mastermind group
→ Weekly writing challenges and peer feedback sessions
→ Monthly guest expert sessions (on topics like pitching, portfolio building, SEO writing)
→ Early access to freelance job leads curated just for the group - Higher-Tier Paid Group: “Pro Writers Academy” ($49/month)
→ Everything in Premium Writers’ Circle, plus:
→ 1-on-1 mentorship opportunities
→ Portfolio reviews by industry experts
→ Access to a private job board with high-paying gigs
→ Masterclasses on scaling to six figures as a freelancer
Example in action: A free member who’s been learning and growing in your community for a few months decides they want serious career growth. They see the exclusive benefits offered in your paid group and happily subscribe to gain deeper support and faster results.
BuddyBoss makes it easy to:
- Set up private, paid-access groups
- Manage memberships automatically (grant or revoke access)
- Offer a seamless, all-in-one experience — no need to jump between platforms
Create Paid Groups
Your most engaged members deserve a private space—and you deserve to get paid for it.
Mobile App & In-App Purchases
Maximize convenience (and revenue) with the BuddyBoss App. This add-on service turns your site into a fully branded iOS/Android app.
Beyond just engaging mobile access, the app supports in-app purchases – letting users subscribe or buy courses directly inside the app (via Apple Pay and Google Pay). Imagine a member browsing your courses on their phone and seamlessly upgrading to a premium plan with one tap.
Mobile access and push notifications also skyrocket engagement, which naturally leads to more renewals and sales. (If you haven’t launched a mobile app for your community, this is a powerful next step.)
You can monetize a community by selling:
- In-app course bundles
- Subscription upgrades
- Event tickets
- Exclusive member content
With BuddyBoss App (their mobile app solution), you can give members the power to access everything right from their phone — and introduce smart monetization with in-app purchases!
Here’s how it could look:
- Free Mobile App Access
→ Members can browse free workout tips, join open challenges, and participate in the public community forum. - In-App Purchases for Premium Access
→ Buy access to a “30-Day Fat Burn Program” directly inside the app for $29.99
→ Subscribe monthly ($9.99/month) to unlock a library of exclusive workout videos, meal plans, and live coaching sessions
→ Pay-per-event model: Purchase a ticket to attend a live Zoom bootcamp via in-app payment ($14.99 per event) - In-App Course Sales
→ Offer a full “Personal Trainer Certification Course” right inside the app for $199
→ Members can complete lessons, track progress, and get certificates—all from their phone
Example in action: A user scrolling through your app during their commute finds an exclusive “Summer Shred Challenge” program. They’re excited, click “Buy Now,” complete the purchase in seconds—and immediately start Day 1 from their mobile! 🚀
BuddyBoss App allows you to:
- Sell memberships, courses, event tickets, or special content via Apple App Store and Google Play
- Send push notifications to promote new offers
- Keep members engaged wherever they are
Mobile apps often lead to higher engagement rates — because your community is literally in their pocket!
More engagement = more loyalty = more sales over time.
Some More Monetization Strategies
- Merchandise and Swag: If your community has a strong brand or insider lingo, consider branded merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, notebooks). Physical products can be fun for members and profitable for you. With BuddyBoss + WooCommerce, you can list and sell these items just like any other product, adding another revenue stream.
- Upsells and One-Offs: Don’t limit yourself to just recurring fees. Offer occasional add-ons like one-on-one coaching sessions, portfolio reviews, or certified training for an extra price. You can promote these inside your community to warm leads, making it easy for members to say yes.
- Affiliate Partnerships or Sponsorships: Once your community grows, partner with companies that align with your niche. For example, if you run a photography community, partner with a camera gear brand for affiliate deals. Or offer sponsored content (like an exclusive member discount) to advertisers interested in your engaged audience. (Always keep your members’ trust – only promote products you genuinely endorse.)
- Focus on Retention and Value: The best hack to monetize a community is keeping members subscribed. A strong, active community pays for itself with word-of-mouth referrals and consistent renewal revenue. Keep engagement high through forums, leaderboards, events, and exclusive Q&As. Remember, “memberships that offer a dedicated community area see much lower churn”. The more valuable and fun your community is, the less you’ll need to constantly sell to your audience.
How They Did It: Real Results from Real Communities
Seeing how others have succeeded can be incredibly motivating. Here are some real communities (some built with BuddyBoss) that turned engagement into income:
Project Life Mastery (Stefan James)
Stefan’s education business consolidated multiple course websites onto one BuddyBoss platform. He uses BuddyBoss + LearnDash to sell personal-development courses and coaching. The result?
A unified, branded experience where students log in once for everything. As his team explains, “BuddyBoss [with LearnDash] provided a cohesive, personalized learning environment”
By offering premium courses and a vibrant community under one roof, Stefan’s team has created a high-value membership ecosystem.
Learn more about Stefan’s journey and consider how consolidating platforms can cut costs and boost sales.- Stefan’s Journey
Soccer Mindset Academy
This team targeted a niche – mental performance training for young soccer players. They needed a mobile-friendly solution, so they built a BuddyBoss-based app (powered by WordPress + LearnDash) for training programs.
As the founders put it, BuddyBoss enabled mobile learning through a custom app solution. The app includes short video lessons, audio tracks, and daily exercises, which keep kids engaged on the go.
By selling structured programs in their app, Soccer Mindset turned valuable coaching content into a steady revenue stream.
Forever Families
A nonprofit focused on marriage and parenting, Forever Families wanted to connect couples globally. They built a BuddyBoss membership site (with a special SamCart checkout for “couple accounts”) to offer courses and a community for engaged parents.
The BuddyBoss Agency notes that “BuddyBoss’s Theme with our LearnDash solution was the perfect foundation” for this community site. Couples can join at different membership levels, join private groups, and access premium content together. This setup not only furthers their mission but also generates funding through membership fees.
COO Alliance
Although not on BuddyBoss, this is a great example of a high-end community. The COO Alliance is an exclusive membership for Chief Operating Officers.
Prospective members must lead companies with at least $2M in revenue to join. This means they can charge premium fees for a highly specialized peer group. (A lesson here: by serving a niche market willing to pay for deep value, they’ve built a thriving community business.)
Each of these examples shows different ways to monetize (courses, subscriptions, apps, coaching, events). The common thread is community engagement: every successful group offers something that keeps members coming back and paying for more. You can too!
Next Steps
Sign up or log into BuddyBoss, choose a membership plugin or LMS to create your first plan, and start building a killer course or group. Think about whether a mobile app could amplify your vision – the BuddyBoss App makes it surprisingly affordable to go native.
You’ve built a community – now let it build you a business. With dedication and the right strategy, you can be part of that 45% earning six figures. Your members value what you do, so go ahead and offer them premium ways to engage and learn. The world is ready for your community.
Top Sources:-
https://www.starterstory.com/ideas/online-community/profitability
https://www.uscreen.tv/blog/membership-site-statistics
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