I sit down with membership expert, Stu McLaren on why every creative should start a membership, how they can do it and the easy steps to start today.
Why Every Creative Should Launch a Membership (And Why Now is the Perfect Time)
If you’re a creative entrepreneur, you’ve probably felt the pressure of trading time for money. Whether you’re a designer, photographer, copywriter, or coach, there’s a limit to how many clients you can serve before burnout hits. This is exactly why every creative should launch a membership.
A membership model creates predictable, recurring revenue, allowing you to scale your business without working more hours. Instead of constantly hunting for new clients, you can build a community of loyal members who pay you every month for access to your expertise, resources, or services.
Think of it this way: You’re already subscribed to memberships like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Spotify because they provide ongoing value. The same principle applies to your business—when you consistently help your audience solve a problem or improve their lives, they’ll happily pay for a membership that delivers results.
The Power of Recurring Revenue
One of the biggest reasons why every creative should launch a membership is financial stability. With traditional service-based businesses, you’re always wondering where the next client will come from. But with a membership model, you start each month knowing you have predictable income.
This eliminates financial stress and allows you to focus on delivering value, growing your brand, and refining your offer. It also makes it easier to plan your workload, hire support, and create a sustainable business that doesn’t rely on constant sales calls or launches.
Four Types of Membership Models for Creatives
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, which is why every creative should launch a membership tailored to their skills and audience. Here are four proven membership models you can choose from:
1. Product-Based Memberships
This model works best if you sell a physical or digital product that people need regularly. Examples include:
- Monthly art supply kits for artists
- Stock photo memberships for content creators
- Canva template memberships for social media managers
By offering a subscription-based product, you remove the uncertainty of one-time sales and create steady monthly income.
2. Service-Based Memberships
If you offer creative services like design, branding, or photography, you can turn your expertise into a membership with defined deliverables. Instead of one-off projects, offer:
- A monthly design subscription with a set number of deliverables
- Social media content creation packages
- Quarterly brand refreshes
Unlike traditional retainers that feel open-ended, a service-based membership clearly defines what members get each month, creating boundaries and predictability for both you and your clients.
3. Knowledge-Based Memberships
If you’re an expert in your field, you can build a membership around teaching others. Examples include:
- Illustration techniques for aspiring artists
- Copywriting courses and swipe files
- Photography training and editing tutorials
This model positions you as a leader in your industry while allowing you to help more people without trading more hours.
4. Community-Based Memberships
People crave connection, and that’s why every creative should launch a membership that brings like-minded individuals together. Community memberships work well for:
- Creative masterminds
- Freelance business support groups
- Accountability programs for productivity
By offering exclusive content, Q&A calls, or live coaching sessions, you build deeper relationships with your audience while generating consistent income.
How to Sell Your Membership Without Feeling Salesy
A major hesitation many creatives have is marketing and selling their membership. If this is you, don’t worry—there’s a simple framework to make it feel natural and effective.
Instead of focusing on the features of your membership (how many calls, resources, or templates you offer), shift your messaging to highlight the transformation your members will experience.
For example, if you run a brand strategy membership, don’t just say:
“You’ll get a monthly branding workbook and group coaching call.”
Instead, show them the outcome:
“Imagine having a brand that attracts high-paying clients on autopilot. My membership gives you the tools and strategies to make that happen.”
By focusing on the before and after, you create contrast between their current struggles and the results they’ll achieve inside your membership.
Should You Keep Your Membership Open or Have Limited Launches?
One mistake many creatives make is keeping their membership open all the time. While this sounds logical, it actually makes it harder to sell. Why? Because people procrastinate when there’s no urgency.
Instead, try launching your membership in short, focused enrollment periods. When doors close, people have a reason to act NOW instead of waiting indefinitely. This also gives you space between launches to focus on delivering an amazing experience to your existing members.
This strategy has been proven to increase conversions while reducing stress, making it one of the biggest reasons why every creative should launch a membership with intentional launch periods.
Your Next Steps: Why Every Creative Should Launch a Membership Today
If you’ve been looking for a way to scale your creative business without burnout, launching a membership is the answer. To get started:
- Choose Your Membership Model – Product, Service, Knowledge, or Community.
- Define the Transformation – What problem does your membership solve?
- Structure Your Offer – Set clear deliverables and pricing.
- Launch with Urgency – Open and close your membership in cycles to drive demand.
The time to start is now! If you’re serious about creating predictable income and long-term success, don’t wait—start planning your membership today.
💡 Want more guidance on how to build and sell a high-impact membership? Join my free training, The System, and learn the exact steps my clients use to create thriving memberships.
👉 Sign up for instant access here.
Review & Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
“I think My Business Playbook is the best thing since sliced bread.” – If that sounds like you, please subscribe to and review the show! (Or even if you think My Business Playbook is just the best thing since, I don’t know, sliced ham.)
Seriously though, your love and support enable me to create more podcasts, with more amazing guests who can teach you and me so, so much about business. (And it also makes me feel pretty good about myself…)
So click here, scroll to the bottom, give us a bucketload of stars, write a heartwarming review, and hit subscribe so you don’t miss a THING about business.
Resources & Links:
Join the conversation on Instagram
Grab Stu’s new book, Predictable Profits
Check out Laura’s coaching programs
