25 Awesome Membership Site Ideas (plus emerging trends of 2025)

You might be surprised what you can make into a membership site.

Today’s digital landscape is a hotbed of creativity, with countless individuals harnessing the power of online LMS platforms to reimagine their futures.

This digital boom makes it a great time to grow your ideas.

Especially with the many WordPress LMS plugins at your fingertips.

What lies before us is a major shift in our approach to thinking, working, and life-building.

And even through a tough year of recession and inflation, there’s an uplifting thought to take into account.

Many entrepreneurs have found success by adapting to change and managing crises. They’ve experienced clear moments or made big life changes.

Consider the stories of companies such as Airbnb, Slack, and WhatsApp.

They are all a product of the The Great Recession and have since shown themselves to be successful, established, and widely recognized brands today.

Today, all these startups are household names. But the story of Airbnb hits closest to home.

The Airbnb Story

The story of Airbnb begins with three financially strapped friends facing rent challenges. They needed to figure out a way to move forward.

One of the men, Joe Gebbia, sent an email to his friend, Brian Chesky:

“Brian, I thought of a way to make a few bucks – turning our place into ‘designers bed and breakfast’ – offering young designers who come into town a place to crash during the 4 day event, complete with wireless internet, a small desk space, sleeping mat, and breakfast each morning. Ha!”

This seemingly small idea, born from necessity, evolved into the $31 billion enterprise that Airbnb is today.

The key takeaway? Times of change are ripe with opportunities for innovation.

Periods of uncertainty give rise to transformative ideas that have the power to redefine an era.

So consider this upcoming year as the time to question everything you’ve known.

What have you held off on doing because of things you had zero control over?

Here’s a better question:

With accessible resources like WordPress and MemberPress, what could you create?

And here’s an even better question: What WILL you create?

Membership Site Facts and Statistics You Need to Know

The world of membership sites presents a thrilling blend of connection, knowledge, and community like no other platform.

A well-executed site has the power to cater to specific user needs, inspire great conversations, and share primo, exclusive content.

Before we jump in, let’s take a moment to understand the importance and popularity of membership sites by looking at some key statistics and facts.

General Industry Trends

• The subscription ecommerce market is set to balloon from $199.41 billion in 2023 to an astounding $2227.63 billion by 2028, marking a meteoric rise, with a growth rate of over 65.8%.
  
• The average American spends $237 a year on digital subscriptions
  
  
• Subscription boxes have moved online, with membership sites offering monthly digital products or services
  
  
• Community-focused membership sites are on the rise, connecting people with similar interests or goals
  

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Trending Niches

• By 2029, the global online education market is expected to reach $279 billion
  
  
• The global elearning market is set to grow by 8.56% annually through 2029
  
  
• Business coaching and consulting services are increasingly being offered through membership sites
  
  
• Online learning platforms are popular membership sites, offering courses on a wide range of subjects from coding to cooking
  
  
• Fitness and wellness sites are thriving, providing workout routines, diet plans, and mental health resources for members
  
  
• The global health and wellness market is expected to reach $9 trillion by 2028
  
  
• The global fitness app market is expected to reach $10 billion by 2029
  
  
• The global ebook market is expected to reach $15.7 billion by 2029
  
  
• The global online personal coaching market is expected to reach $4.5 billion by 2028
  

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As the new year approaches, smart entrepreneurs will want to be wrapping their minds around the huge revenue-generating potential of membership sites.

The statistics mentioned above show the far-reaching influence, increased traction, and substantial financial growth this business model promises.

Elevate Your Coaching Game

Looking to take a piece of the $1.34 billion personal coaching industry? You’ll be happy to know we have the right tool for you – MemberPress’ latest add-on, CoachKit™.

It lets you turn your site into an awesome coaching or client management platform – no coding required.

With CoachKit™ you can keep up with how your students or clients are coming along. And you can set them up for success through all kinds of communication…

• Shoot them regular pep-talks to keep the motivation flowing
  
• Assign routines and goals aligning with each client’s unique learning journey and aspirations
  
• Offer personalized feedback on progress and milestones to celebrate achievements
  
• Schedule and run live one-on-one or group coaching sessions for real-time interaction and support
  
• Use automated reminders for upcoming sessions, deadlines, or milestones to maintain engagement
  
• Offer exclusive access to custom resources tailored to individual client needs for deeper learning and development

And actually, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the comprehensive CoachKit™ toolkit.

You can even set up passive income streams through cohorts of coaches working under you.

But back to CoachKit’s communication features, the most important part. These features allow you to deliver interactions that do double duty:

1. Communication fires up your members
2. and it helps you build a friendly, tight-knit community

And remember: Members of tight-knit communities keep coming back.

WordPress Coaching and Courses Rolled Into One

You can even merge your online courses into your coaching program, and include handy resources like…

• Videos (tutorials, demonstration)
• Audio (lessons, podcasts, lectures)
• Images (infographics, guides, reference material)
• PDFs (ebooks, flashcards, guidebooks, templates)
• Live classes (Zoom or other platforms)

And CoachKit™ makes it all a breeze.

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Now on to Some Advice ✨

Membership sites blend comprehensive services, robust community connections, stellar customer service, and seamless accessibility.

These are all the elements for a successful business in today’s digital era.

Starting a membership site could be your next big step if you’re an entrepreneur looking to take off with a new successful business venture.

In this guide, we will present 25 innovative membership site concepts, complete with links to ‘how-to’ resources, designed to spark your inspiration and kick-start your journey.

Starting a Paid Membership Site

Recent shifts have really expanded the creator economy, presenting a huge, software-driven landscape for creators to monetize their innovative ideas.

Yes, starting a business is a significant leap.

However, tools like WordPress and membership monetization plugins simplify the process, making it more accessible to launch your venture.

And you can even opt for so-called “Done For You” membership sites, leaving website creation and setup to the pros.

When it’s this easy, the crucial question then becomes: How will you achieve success?

Successful membership sites demand dedication, focus, and practical strategies.

Let’s dive into what makes a successful membership site.

What Makes a Great Membership Site?

• Understanding your audience: Identify who your target members are and what they need.
  
  This will guide you in creating content that they will find valuable and engaging.

• Creating quality content: Your membership site should provide premium content that is informative, relevant and unique.
  
  This could be in the form of articles, webinars, podcasts, or downloadable resources.
  
  Regularly updating your content will ensure your members keep coming back for more.

• Providing a sense of community: Incorporate features like forums, chats, or Q&A sections for members to connect and interact with each other.
  
  This will help in creating a sense of belonging and increase member retention.
  
  
• Prioritizing user-friendly design: A responsive and intuitive design will improve member experience on your website.
  
  Ensure your website is easy to navigate and accessible across different devices.

• Incorporating tiered memberships: Offering different membership levels with varying benefits can cater to a wider audience.
  
  It also provides an opportunity for members to upgrade, generating more revenue for your website.
  
  
• Offering exceptional customer service: To have a winning membership website, you need to make your members feel valued and heard.
  
  This includes quick responses to inquiries, regular communication, and troubleshooting tech issues efficiently.

What are the hottest trends in membership websites for 2025?

As we look towards a new year, the landscape of membership websites is expected to undergo a significant transformation.

This shift will bring a bunch of fresh trends and concepts to light.

Each will be set up to reshape the way we interact and share information within these platforms.

In this section, we’ll explore some of the biggest trends projected to dominate the scene.

We’ll look into the rise of micro-communities, the use of gamification, and the tilt toward mobile-first design, to name a few.

So, buckle up. Get ready for an exciting exploration into what the future holds for membership sites!

Micro-Communities

In 2025, membership websites are evolving and adapting to the changing digital landscape.

One emerging trend is the rise of micro-communities.

These are niche-specific online spaces where like-minded individuals can connect, share ideas, and learn from each other.

They offer a more personalized and intimate experience compared to larger, more generalized platforms.

Community features that allow members to connect and interact with each other are also important. Some features include:

• Forums,
• Chat rooms, or
• Social networking features

This not only enhances the value of the membership, but also helps to build a loyal and engaged community.

Gamification

Another trend is gamification in membership sites and online courses.

This involves the use of game design techniques to engage and motivate users.

Leaderboards, badges, points, and rewards are just a few examples of how gamification can be used.

The gamification trend is all about making the user experience more fun and engaging.

Mobile-First

Another trend to watch out for is the rise of mobile-first membership sites.

More and more people are accessing the internet on smartphones. So it’s becoming even more important for membership sites to be mobile-friendly.

This means having a responsive design that looks and works well on smaller screens.

ReadyLaunch™ by MemberPress makes this easy for you. It’s a built-in, customizable page maker you can use to create MemberPress pages that…

• Are mobile-responsive
• Optimized to sell
• Branded, and

…actually look good. All with zero coding.

Security

Security is also a critical feature.

Members need to trust that their personal and financial information is safe.

This means having robust security measures in place, including secure sockets layer (SSL) encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular security audits.

High Quality and Educational Content

Next, a successful membership website needs to offer high-quality, exclusive content.

This could be articles, videos, webinars, or ebooks only available to your members.

The content needs to be valuable and relevant to your members, and updated regularly to keep them engaged.

There’s also a growing emphasis on providing value through educational content.

This can take the form of online courses, webinars, ebooks, and other forms of educational resources.

The goal is to provide members with important knowledge and skills they can use in their personal or professional lives.

Flexible Payment Options

A major trend in membership site models in 2025 is the move toward flexible and personalize-able subscription options.

A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t apply in the subscription industry.

That’s why successful membership websites are offering users the ability to tailor their subscriptions to match their needs and activities.

This personalized approach ensures that customers only pay for what they actually use. And this adds real value to their subscription plans.

The shift toward personalize-able plans answers the increasing demand for choice. It demonstrates that these platforms understand their members’ preferences and needs.

Offering flexible payment options will create a rise in subscription numbers. And it’ll make for more loyal customers – always a wonderful thing.

Customer Service

Lastly, a successful membership website needs to have responsive customer service.

Members should be able to contact support and receive helpful responses fast and easily. This could be through:

• Live chat,
• Email, or
• A dedicated support portal.

Now for the Membership Site Ideas 💡

The essentials of a successful membership site include:

• A sharp focus,
• An emphasis on prioritizing customer experience,
• A genuine passion and commitment to your topic, and
• An understanding of how your topic solves problems or encourages growth

To make concrete plans, you need to know what you’re getting into.

Our list of membership site ideas is designed for you to start from home, ready to launch immediately.

25 Inspiring Membership Site Categories to Kickstart Your Journey

This list is just a starting point!

Think of this as a compilation of ideas to revisit, enrich with further research, and use as a springboard to discover the ideal membership model for you.

Genuine success in online business springs from a clear topical focus, dynamic marketing efforts, and extensive, thoughtful planning.

These membership site ideas span various categories with some overlap (and that’s fine!).

The key is to find something you can take away from this article to build your own personalized plan.

Below, we’ve outlined 25 diverse membership sites, grouped by category, to inspire and guide your start.

Content Libraries

One of the most popular membership sites is the content library.

A content library is a big collection of blogs, videos, audio, or any other type of content that can help members solve a problem or learn a trade.

Your members get access to your library of solutions once they pay your membership fee.

Access to content libraries can be split a number of ways.

• You can give members complete access to the full library as soon as payment is received.
  
• You can offer a portion of your content library membership site for free and charge for the rest – like the MemberPress site Copyblogger.
  
• You can even offer tiered memberships, giving access to some content for lower-paying members and all content for higher tiers.
  
  MemberPress makes this part easy, so it’s really up to you!

Content library membership sites are a fantastic way to make money, but they take a lot of time to build and maintain.

You have to continually add fresh content.

Besides the substantial marketing needed to succeed, content creation can be tough if you’re working by yourself.

If those aspects aren’t deal breakers for you, you can find major ongoing success and an extremely loyal membership base from running a content library.

Below are two more specific membership site ideas that would be considered content library sites.

Template and Stock Membership Sites

This is a popular and high-performing membership model.

Template sites are a great place to enlist user-generated content to encourage sign ups and longtime memberships.

The nature of these sites makes pricing highly customizable.

Sites like themeforest.net allow users to make free accounts, but their actual products cost money.

Their clients are both the buyers and the sellers.

Sites like Shutterstock, on the other hand, require a monthly payment for access to their vast library of stock photography and templates.

There are plenty of sites you can make in this format. A few ideas include:

• Stock photos, videos, or illustrations
• Website templates (especially WordPress, Joomla, etc.)
• Plugins and add-ons
• Business/marketing/development plan templates
• Legal contract templates
• 3D characters

Recipes and Cooking Membership Sites

Cooking is a huge part of life for families across the world.

In some cultures, entire families take a role in the cooking process, bonding and spending quality time together.

Online cooking communities are no different, and cooking membership sites are a hit with people of all ages.

40 Aprons (another MemberPress site) is a great example.

In the quest for better health and bigger savings, many people look online to find their next recipe.

These types of sites give a huge boost to college students, busy mothers, and bachelors across the globe.

Many cooking membership sites have video libraries, weekly meal plans, and shopping lists.

Cooking sites are always a massive hit. Take your cooking skills and spread the wealth!

Services

While freelancers and gig workers are in high demand, it can be a hassle to find actual clients.

Running a service membership site, such as Codeable, helps you build a tribe of buyers, clients, and customers who pay you regularly for your skills.

You can also run a site that connects freelancers with clients, but that’s a bit more involved.

On the other hand, you can start a simple service-based membership site with any marketable skill, such as:

• Marketing and business services
• Coaching services
• SEO services
• Tutoring and homeschooling
• Coding and web development
• Design services
• Accounting services
• Legal services

You can also start a service like TaskRabbit in your local area, where your members are both workers and clients.

Here are a few more marketable service-based membership site ideas to consider.

Online Coaching Membership Sites (Again)

We’ve already talked about WordPress coaching plugins and how to use them to grow your online business. But the list wouldn’t be complete without a mention.

So scroll up to learn more about this incredible business model. And see how the right WordPress coaching plugin can turn an okay coaching business into a money-making machine.

Content Production Service Membership Sites

Content is an essential part of any business, small or large.

Offering content services to members can prove to be lucrative, especially combined with a monthly plan that includes other business services.

Think social media marketing, editorial calendar creation, or other skills that can help with content distribution.

WordCandy is a great example.

Consider charging based on content volume and type, or providing a certain amount of content per month (five blogs a month for the low level membership, etc.).

While this is a great business model, content production is time consuming.

It’s a better idea if you have a team to work with you, or if you don’t plan on customizing every piece of content.

Digital Art and Design Membership Sites

If you have artistic talent, you’re in demand!

Businesses are trying to create unique experiences for their leads, and there’s no better way than with branding and visuals.

CH Creative, which uses MemberPress to power its online design agency, is a great example.

Like CH, you could offer memberships that provide customized designs for businesses, graphic design services for the life of the membership, and more.

You could also license your art to businesses for a certain number of uses.

Groups & Communities

People need each other, and we need space to congregate.

Group, community, and micro-community membership sites offer a place to chat, socialize, and share knowledge.

The era of the micro-community has come back full swing, especially at a time like this.

It probably seems like an uphill battle to monetize any forum or community.

More and more, though, people are tired of unfiltered content and all-access conversations.

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A lot of people crave a space that’s well-structured.

They want a space for meaningful discussions and connecting with others, without the fear of trolls.

For your group site to rock, focus on its niche, keep trolls at bay, and make sure it’s user-friendly.

Do it right, and people will want to join

There are so many examples of micro-communities we’d need an entire blog to even scratch the surface.

Here are a few you can start thinking about.

Classifieds Membership Sites

As with many membership site ideas listed here, the success of your classifieds site will hinge on your niche.

The more you can drill down your niche the better.

Here are a few things you can do with a classified ads membership site:

• Offer a limited number of posts for free
  
• Charge customers based on the type of post (for example, a job post might cost more than a free-stuff listing)
  
• If you go with a dating site, you could limit a user’s ability to read and send messages without a membership (otherwise known as paywalling)

But don’t be too restrictive when building your classifieds site. It’s easy to push users away.

Hostfully is a MemberPress site you might want to look at for inspiration in this area.

This cool company has set up a subscription service using MemberPress.

It lets property owners manage all their vacation rentals, from Airbnb to TripAdvisor, in one spot.

Entertainment or Fandom Membership Sites

Do you know everything there is to know about Star Wars, Harry Potter, or any other huge fandom?

Or do you even just know more than the average fan?

You can monetize your love for different entertainment mediums by starting a fan site with news, wiki entries, or general information.

World of Walt is a great example.

This site uses MemberPress to offer fans articles, livecams, videos, and swag related to all things Disney.

A fandom membership site will definitely attract a lot of viewers and readers.

If you’re willing to spend the time needed to become an influencer, there’s huge money-making potential in this area.

Speaking of that…

Patron/Fan Membership Sites

People need entertainment.

Patron membership sites allow consumers to support their favorite entertainers without also supporting a middleman.

Patron membership sites can double as content libraries.

Members pay to access the work of a specific group or person.

Some are even built with general support in mind instead of an exchange of goods.

People want to help their favorite creators continue in their creative processes, and they can be willing to offer support over the long haul.

So what about the middleman part?

There are lots of sites, like Patreon, that help creators access their fans directly.

However, hosted sites like this that take a big a cut of your profits and hold you to an intense set of rules.

They also take away your control and take ownership of your data.

That’s why many creators decide to cut the middleman and start their members-only site with MemberPress.

This gives them full control over their content and eliminates any deep cuts to their profits.

Pro NFL player Terrell Owens’ MemberPress fansite is a great example.

Creative Community Membership Sites

Artists, writers, musicians, and most creative people want to talk about their creativity, and they want to share their knowledge.

Sites that bring people together to discuss tips and stories about their favorite creative skills are a huge hit.

Hosted sites like DeviantArt, Stories.com, and Behance show that giving people a platform to show off their skills attracts a wide audience.

However, as we mentioned, these sites charge big fees and take control out of your hands.

MemberPress is a much better option for creators who value their independence.

Hobby Membership Sites

Hobbies are essential, and hobbies build community.

These types of sites are usually full of valuable content talking about the world around certain hobbies, giving tips and tricks, and more.

For instance, a crochet community membership site might have blog posts and articles dedicated to the best hooks to use for different projects.

It might also include course offerings that teach newbies how to get started.

The same website might offer an active forum, video guides, and alerts about local sales on yarn and materials.

For inspiration, check out MemberPress hobby site Cake Craft School.

The school manages its enrollment with MemberPress, offering monthly, quarterly, and biannual access to fondant hobbyists.

Serial Content

Magazines and print journalism have seen a huge nosedive in the last decade.

As more people read their news and fiction on phones and ereaders, fewer people are investing in newsstands and bookstores.

Radio is making a huge comeback in the form of podcasts. That, and the internet is king when it comes to our entertainment.

With that being said, there are countless readers, watchers, and listeners who are always looking for something to digest – that’s in their niche.

Niche-based online publications see large and loyal membership bases.

For example, The Tracking Board is a MemberPress site that serves only those working in the Southern California entertainment industry.

Using a paywall like MemberPress, publications can be a great option for monetization.

Like Medium, you can charge members a fee for for publishing on your site (a great way to avoid ads).

And/or you can charge readers for access to articles and other content.

Here are a few examples of online publication memberships.

News and Journalism Membership Sites

Times have changed!

With the open atmosphere of the internet, there are lots of sites that offer news, political opinions, and general observations.

Imagine sharing news on your own terms.

Your own site means you can cover the topics you care about, editor-free.

And you don’t have to worry about getting canceled by your platform.

South African MemberPress site BizNews is one such publication.

This online business news source works in partnership with The Wall Street Journal to cover a wide range of topics from an even wider range of angles.

Plenty of previously print-only magazines and newspapers have adopted this model.

Chances are some of your favorite news source require a monthly subscription to access content after a certain point. You can do the same!

There’s no need to paywall every single thing, especially in the beginning.

Show potential readers that your opinion matters with enough free content to get them hooked.

It’s best to engage often and provide extreme value to see any success with a news or journalism business.

Serial Fiction Membership Sites

A publication type growing in popularity is serial fiction.

Sites like Webtoons, Tapas, and Wattpad offer memberships to readers.

In exchange, readers are given access to and notifications for new works of fiction on the platforms.

The content on these websites is published over a period of time and released in installments.

While this type of membership site can be lucrative, it does require a level of talent and dedication.

Podcast Membership Sites

If you have something interesting to cover, and you’re considering starting a podcast, now is the time.

Podcasting is a trendy and profitable format right now, and plenty of people are on the lookout for their next favorite podcast.

Your fanbase will want to discuss your episodes, engage with you, and see show notes and sources.

Give them the space to do so without outside interruption, and they’ll love you (and pay you) for it!

Dutch “Event men” Nikki and Thijs have done just this with their MemberPress-based show, On Stage – The Podcast.

They deliver insights, news, and humor to folks working in the events industry.

When used with a plugin like Blubrry PowerPress, MemberPress allows you to protect your podcast feed based on membership levels.

While podcasts are an excellent choice if you’ve already built an audience, it can take a long time to acquire a substantial listenership.

You won’t feel the benefits of podcasting with a smaller audience, and you’ll need the time to build and expand.

So keep in mind – this is an idea best utilized by people who are in it for the long haul.

But, if you’re a master researcher, niche expert, or just generally well-spoken and organized, a podcast might be an excellent move for you.

Workshops & Online Courses

What’s the difference between a workshop and a course? While it’s mostly semantics, there are a few differences between the two.

Workshops will typically have more exercises, homework, and things for the participants to try out.

Workshops are more likely to be administered in the form of a live (or previously recorded) webinar using a video conferencing solution like Zoom.

Workshop teachers are a bit more involved, while courses allow you to work at your own pace (or a designated pace).

If you’re interested in starting a course-based membership site, you should check out our MemberPress Courses add-on!

It allows you to create and sell courses using a visual, drag-and-drop builder, and even create customized quizzes. Plus it’s included at every level.

Life Skills Training Membership Sites

There are a lot of people out there who come from small families.

There’s a bunch who haven’t learned the basics of adulting. You know, cooking, apartment hunting, and all that stuff you need to live on your own.

This disadvantage presents a huge opportunity for people who are knowledgeable with life skills and hacks.

That knowledge can lead to a great online business.

Teach other adults how to take care of things they might have missed out on learning.

You can compile a ton of life skills and offer a membership and coaching site that covers them all, or find a niche topic and expand on it.

For inspiration, check out Mark Manson.

He was actually one of the first life coaching brands to pick up the paid subscription model. And he uses MemberPress!

A few other ideas:

• Disaster preparedness (definitely appropriate for our current global situation)
• Food and water storage systems
• Braiding and fashion
• Apartment hunting or first-time home buying

You can make money with your life skills membership site by offering a knowledge-base and compiling the information for courses and downloads.

Software and Tools Training Membership Sites

Whether they’re using Adobe Creative Cloud for personal or professional reasons, chances are most people could use a helping hand with this somewhat complicated software.

Another viable option for software and tools training is offering add-ons, plugins, and cheats that are custom-made for popular programs.

Consider creating courses that help your customers master software with a high-learning curve:

• Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Sketch
• Blender
• Python
• AutoCAD

You can also give people technical overviews on equipment needed to run certain businesses.

Think microphone and studio setups for voiceover actors, podcasters, and audio professionals.

Keeping people informed on these topics will convince them to keep their membership month after month.

Certifications & Training

Certification and training sites are probably some of the most popular and profitable membership sites.

The clear ROI demonstrated by these types of sites makes signing up more attractive to prospective members.

Plenty of people need to be better at what they’re doing to advance in their careers.

You can offer training for subjects that will increase your members’ viability and desirability in an unstable job market.

You can also offer your services on top of the training.

With a setup like MemberPress with CoachKit™, you could make money through certifications and training sites by charging for:

• Access to content libraries
• One-on-one video training or personalized sessions
• Paid certifications (offer certificates)
• Paid courses that are required before members have access to certifications

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You could even help your customers get existing certifications or create your own certifications that prospective employers can view on your site.

Following are some membership site ideas that fit into the certification and training membership category.

Marketing and Business Training Membership Sites

Marketing is hard, but it’s essential for business growth.

With that in mind, you can train others to market their products and services in ways that fit their business models.

Sites like DigitalMarketer and Hubspot are great examples of this.

They’ve crafted names as reputable and highly sought sources of digital marketing information.

They’re both so big now that their certifications carry more weight than some academic degrees!

Consider offering training in areas like:

• Marketing
• Digital marketing
• Advertising
• PPC
• Affiliate marketing
• Copywriting
• Business niches

Spark & Logic is a MemberPress-based site that offers training in the real estate business niche.

They offer their program through a four-tiered subscription plan based on the number of agents enrolled.

This type of training is invaluable and stands out as one of the more lucrative membership site types.

It takes a lot of growth to see success, but it’s worth it if you have the knowledge.

Coding and Web Development Membership Sites

With the current state of things, it’s not looking like coding skills are going to fall out of favor anytime soon.

Like Codecademy, you can take members through hands-on training that shows (and tells) the valuable skill of coding.

No matter the coding language you choose to cover, potential members will be happy to pay for a certification that could launch their careers.

This type of site might require some custom coding on your part along with MemberPress. But hey, you’re an expert, so that should be no problem!

Resume and Job Preparation Membership Sites

Resume-writing itself may be too small a subject to create a membership site around. Instead, you might consider job preparation.

Job preparation as a whole includes many additional skills that could warrant a monthly payment, such as tips and tricks, and lots of updated information.

This is another site that can be multiple things at once.

Offer to edit and create resumes, allow community-based critiques and grading, and show plenty of examples for maximum success.

Networking and Modern Job Skills Membership Sites

There’s an art to networking.

Much like studying and school prep, finding a job can be a skill on its own.

Offer members a way to learn the art of cover letters, dressing for the job they want, and acing interviews.

You could include things like:

• Tips and tricks for networking events
• Event schedules and discounts
• Job skill courses or kits
• Cover letter examples (and services)
• Community critique
• Other essential job skills

Finance Training Membership Sites

With money being such a vital part of our lives, it’s interesting that most people don’t understand it at all.

You can change that with a membership site dedicated to financial literacy, financial services, or just financial training in general.

The Signals Guru does all the above.

The MemberPress-based site offers access to live investment advice, training materials, online courses, and other resources relevant to Forex trading.

Your site could cover topics like:

• Stocks training, walk-throughs, and guides
• Financial advice
• Credit repair guidance
• Tax and IRS help

Test Preparation and Study Help Membership Sites

If you’re a tutor, this is a great idea to consider.

Test prep and study membership sites see a steady stream of students of all ages looking for consistent help.

Your offered services might include video tutoring via a service like Zoom.

ASE School Prep is an excellent example.

Built on MemberPress, the site offers comprehensive preparation resources for the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) test.

Helping people get ahead in school, or get ready for college, will always be a viable membership model.

There are many places to start, but if you’re drawing a blank, consider one of these:

• Preparation for the MCAT
• ACT testing
• DAT
• LEED certification
• LSAT
• Special needs curriculum

For inspiration, you might also check out English Pro Tips.

This MemberPress site prepares students for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam.

Homeschool and Online Learning Content Library Membership Sites

Speaking of tutoring, we’re seeing an unprecedented number of children being taught from home.

Post-pandemic, many parents have experienced the unexpected benefits of homeschooling.

While school closures initially prompted this shift, numerous families have discovered its suitability for their children’s unique learning needs.

If you have a background in education, you can offer courses that help bring even more variety to the homeschooling experience.

You might want to check out the MemberPress site The Measured Mom for some inspiration and ideas.

Personal Development

If you have a hobby or personal skill you’ve been honing your whole life, now’s the time to treat it seriously. It could turn out to be a great way to make a living.

Consider the following creative and personal development membership sites ideas.

Music/Art/Writing Membership Sites

We don’t believe in starving artists.

It’s been said that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert. When you think about it, aren’t you already an expert when it comes to your favorite creative outlet?

Chances are, you’re also an expert at your favorite hobby, and you can share that knowledge with people looking to learn more.

Kara Bullock Art School, an art education site built on MemberPress, is a great example.

What could be better than teaching members the art of creativity?

Some may want these skills for their job search. Others may just want personal growth.

Either way, people are more than willing to pay for one-on-one training, video courses, and how-to guides on their favorite creative outlet.

DIY Membership Sites

Upcycling and at home fixes will never go out of style.

Create a DIY membership site to give members ideas and guides on transformations they can do themselves.

Consider the following fun topics:

• Painting
• Furniture refinishing
• Home repairs
• Gardening

DoItYourself is an example of an awesome (and free) membership site for handy people.

The site generates revenue through ads and – we would assume – email marketing. So to join, the only “fee” is your email address.

The free membership site model is an excellent option, and you can easily set up a site like this with MemberPress.

Fitness and Nutrition Membership Sites

Here’s an extra bonus idea! Fitness and Nutrition membership sites are consistently the most profitable.

That could be because everyone needs to exercise and eat right to stay healthy, but not everyone has access to expensive personal trainers or nutritionists.

Consider starting a fitness-based membership site based around:

• Weight training
• Cardio / Aerobics
• Yoga
• Sports training
• Food and nutrition facts
• Meal planning

Also, there’s never been a time when people needed home-based fitness and nutrition training more!

So if you have a background in fitness, personal training, or health and nutrition, this is an idea you must give serious consideration.

Looking for more inspiration? You’ve got to check out Pilatesology.

Pilatesology is considered the #1 source for online Pilates workouts, was named “The gold standard of online Pilates” by CBS News, and also happens to be built on MemberPress.

Ready to Start?

Remember the financial collapse we mentioned at the beginning of this article? Chances are, many everyday things you’re used to were born out of that sudden change.

A lot of the services and businesses you love were created out of a need for something new and radical, by those willing to take a chance.

Hopefully, you’ve found something in the list above that gives you ideas for your own movement. There are so many ways to create your own business these days.

And with WordPress monetization plugins like MemberPress, you can turn your membership site ideas into a profitable business more easily than ever.

Remember that the most significant skill you need to craft a successful membership site focus and a customer-first approach.

Your customer’s experience is what will grow your business, attract more members, and keep them where you want them – dedicated to your idea.

Here’s to your success at starting one of the top paid membership sites out there!

Do you have your own great membership website ideas for starting your own business? Let us know in the comments!