You've built an audience. You've got followers who trust you, engage with your content, and genuinely want to learn from you. But here's the uncomfortable truth we've watched thousands of creators face: having an audience and having a business are two completely different things.
At BTS, we've spent the past two years helping creators transform their followings into something real—something they actually own. We've paid out over $1.4 million to creators on our platform, and we've learned a lot about what separates creators who build sustainable businesses from those who burn out chasing transactions.
The creator economy is fragmented. Most creators end up stitching together five, six, sometimes ten different tools that never quite work together. A course platform here, a community tool there, a payment processor, an email service, a website builder—the list goes on. And at the end of the day, none of it becomes a real business. It's just a collection of subscriptions and login credentials.
We built BTS because we believe creators deserve better. BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses—not scattered tools, but actual infrastructure that grows with you.
Here are the six best practices we've learned from working with 1,600+ creators who are building something they own.
1. Stop Thinking Like a Content Creator—Start Thinking Like a Business Owner
From our experience: "The creators who succeed long-term are the ones who shift their mindset from 'I create content' to 'I run a business that happens to be built on content.'"
This might sound obvious, but it's the single biggest mental shift that separates hobbyists from creators building real income. When you think like a content creator, you're constantly chasing the next post, the next video, the next algorithm update. When you think like a business owner, you're building assets, systems, and recurring revenue.
We've seen this play out hundreds of times. A creator will come to us with impressive follower counts but zero structure. They're making decent money from brand deals or ad revenue, but they don't own any of it. The moment a platform changes its algorithm or a brand moves on, their income vanishes.
What business owners do differently:
- They build owned assets. Email lists, course libraries, community memberships—things they control regardless of what happens on social platforms.
- They focus on recurring revenue. One-time sales are nice, but subscriptions create predictability.
- They invest in infrastructure. Not just tools, but systems that work together.
Our recommendation: Before you launch your next product, ask yourself: "Am I building something I own, or am I just creating more content?" If you can't access your customer list without logging into someone else's platform, you don't own your business.
At BTS, this is exactly why we focus on giving creators one place to build something they own. Your members, your content, your revenue—all in one space that you control.
2. Choose Infrastructure Over Features
Here's something we tell every creator who's evaluating the best platforms for course creators: features don't build businesses—infrastructure does.
It's tempting to chase the platform with the longest feature list. More bells and whistles must mean more value, right? But we've watched countless creators get buried under enterprise software designed for corporations, not creators. They spend weeks configuring settings, watching tutorials, and still never launch.
What we've learned: "The most successful creators on our platform launch within a day. Not because they're cutting corners, but because they're not fighting their tools."
The difference between features and infrastructure is this: features are things you use; infrastructure is something you build on. A feature helps you do one specific task. Infrastructure gives you a foundation that adapts as your business grows.
Consider this comparison:
| Approach | Focus | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Feature-first | "What can this tool do?" | Tool fatigue, constant switching |
| Infrastructure-first | "What can I build here?" | Scalable foundation, long-term growth |
When you're evaluating platforms, stop asking "Does it have X feature?" and start asking "Can I build my entire business here?"
BTS's take: We deliberately designed BTS as creator business infrastructure—not a course platform, not community software, not just a payment processor. Everything runs behind the scenes in one space because that's what it takes to build something real.
Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. They want you to sell a course, take their cut, and come back tomorrow to sell another one. We want you to build something durable that grows over time.
3. Prioritise Design and Brand—Your Members Notice
Let's be honest about something the industry doesn't talk about enough: most creator platforms look terrible.
We're not being harsh for the sake of it. This matters more than you think. Your members are making split-second judgments about your credibility based on how your business looks. When your course portal looks like something from the early 2000s, when your community feels like back-office software, when your checkout page screams "template"—your members feel it.
From our experience: "Creators consistently underestimate how much design affects conversion rates and member retention. The platforms you use are a direct reflection of your brand."
This is one of the reasons we obsess over design at BTS. Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand. Your members should feel like they're joining something premium, not enrolling in a night school course.
What modern design communicates:
- Professionalism. You take your business seriously.
- Trust. You've invested in quality.
- Value. What you're offering is worth paying for.
Quick checklist for evaluating platform design:
| Element | Question to Ask |
|---|---|
| Landing pages | Does this look like MY brand or a generic template? |
| Member experience | Would I be proud to show this to my audience? |
| Mobile experience | Does it work seamlessly on phones? |
| Checkout flow | Is this a premium buying experience? |
Our recommendation: Before you commit to any platform, send the member experience link to a friend and ask them to rate it 1-10 on first impression. If they hesitate, that's your answer.
We built BTS to be modern and brand-forward because your members deserve better than dated interfaces. When creators choose us over alternatives like Circle (which often feels like back-office software), design is usually the deciding factor.
4. Build for Structure and Momentum, Not Algorithms
This is the trap that kills more creator businesses than anything else: building for algorithms instead of building for your actual audience.
When you build for algorithms, you're at the mercy of platforms that don't have your interests at heart. One update and your reach tanks. One policy change and your monetisation gets restricted. You're constantly reacting instead of building.
What we've learned: "Creators who focus on structure and momentum—clear offerings, consistent delivery, engaged members—outperform algorithm-chasers every single time."
Structure means having a clear path for your members. When someone joins your community or buys your course, they know exactly what they're getting and what comes next. There's no confusion, no hunting around, no wondering if they made a mistake.
Momentum means consistent progress. Not viral spikes followed by crashes, but steady growth that compounds over time. Ten new members every week beats one hundred members once a year.
How BTS Approaches Structure:
- Clear tiers. Members know exactly what they're paying for and what they get.
- Organised content. Everything has a place; nothing gets lost.
- Progress tracking. Members can see their journey through your material.
- Community integration. Content and community live together, not scattered across tools.
BTS's take: We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. BTS is not a social network with feeds fighting for attention. It's infrastructure for building a real business where your members actually engage with your content because they want to—not because an algorithm surfaced it.
Actionable takeaway: Map out your ideal member journey right now. From the moment someone discovers you on social media to becoming a paying member to staying engaged for years—what does that path look like? If you can't describe it clearly, you don't have structure yet.
5. Own Your Audience—Don't Rent It
This is non-negotiable if you want to build something that lasts: you must own your audience.
When your entire business exists on rented platforms—Instagram followers, YouTube subscribers, TikTok views—you're one policy change away from starting over. We've seen it happen. Creators with millions of followers suddenly can't reach their audience. Accounts get restricted. Algorithms shift. Platforms pivot.
Our data shows: "Creators who migrate their audience to owned platforms see 3-4x higher engagement rates compared to social media followers."
The difference isn't just philosophical—it's financial. A follower on Instagram might see 10% of your posts if you're lucky. A member in your own community sees everything. They've opted in. They've paid. They're invested.
What ownership looks like:
| Rented Audience | Owned Audience |
|---|---|
| Followers on social platforms | Email list you can export |
| Views controlled by algorithms | Members in your community |
| Revenue dependent on platform policies | Payments directly to you |
| Can be taken away at any time | Yours forever |
From our experience: "The creators who build the most resilient businesses treat social media as a funnel, not a foundation. They use it to attract attention, then immediately move their best fans to something they own."
This is exactly why BTS exists. BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. Your members, your content, your data—it's yours. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, but you own the business.
Practical steps to take today:
- Start building your email list if you haven't already.
- Create a clear offer for your best followers to join something deeper.
- Stop treating your social audience as your "real" audience—they're prospects.
- Choose infrastructure that gives you control and portability.
6. Simplify Everything (Then Simplify It Again)
The final best practice is one we've learned the hard way, both building BTS and working with creators: complexity kills creator businesses.
It's counterintuitive. You'd think more options, more features, more flexibility would be better. But what we've seen over and over is that creators get paralysed by complexity. They spend months building instead of launching. They confuse their members with too many options. They burn out managing systems that should be simple.
What we've learned: "The best-performing creator businesses on our platform are almost always the simplest. Clear offer, clean experience, focused value proposition."
This doesn't mean dumbing things down. It means being intentional about what you include and ruthless about what you cut. Every element in your business should earn its place.
Signs your business is too complex:
- You have more than three main offerings.
- Members frequently ask "what should I start with?"
- You spend more time managing tools than creating content.
- Your pricing page needs a FAQ to explain it.
- You've needed to create tutorials just so people can navigate your business.
Our recommendation: Audit your current setup. How many tools are you using? How many subscriptions are you paying for? Could you accomplish the same thing (or better) with proper infrastructure instead of a patchwork of features?
This is why we built BTS as an all-in-one creator business infrastructure. Not because we want to trap creators in our ecosystem, but because we've seen firsthand how tool fragmentation destroys momentum. When everything runs behind the scenes in one space, you can focus on what actually matters: creating, connecting, and growing.
Comparison: Complexity vs. Simplicity
| Complex Approach | Simple Approach |
|---|---|
| 5+ tools stitched together | One integrated platform |
| Multiple logins, multiple dashboards | Single source of truth |
| Hours managing tech | Minutes managing tech |
| Confused members | Clear member experience |
| Scattered revenue tracking | Unified business view |
How We Built BTS to Address These
When we started building BTS, we weren't trying to create another course platform or another community tool. The market had plenty of both. What it didn't have was genuine creator business infrastructure.
From our experience: "Creators don't need more features. They need a foundation they can build on."
Every design decision we've made comes back to the six principles above:
Business-owner mindset: We built BTS for creators who are serious about building something real, not hobbyists looking for side income. If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer.
Infrastructure over features: Instead of competing on feature count, we focused on creating a foundation that grows with creators. Simple to start, flexible to scale.
Design matters: Unlike platforms that prioritise function over form, we obsess over the member experience. Your community should feel premium because it is.
Structure and momentum: We don't optimise for algorithms or viral growth. We optimise for progress—for creators building something durable week over week.
Ownership: Your business, your members, your data. We run the infrastructure; you run everything else.
Simplicity: One platform. One login. One place where everything works together.
This philosophy has helped us pay out over $1.4 million to creators since launching in 2024. We're now working with 1,600+ creators across education, business, fitness, and entrepreneurship verticals. Not because we have the longest feature list, but because we've built something that actually helps creators succeed.
As George Mirosevich, one of our creators, put it: "I was already sharing a lot online... BTS just helped me turn it into something much more tangible."
That's exactly what we're trying to do for every creator on the platform.
Ready to Build Something Real?
If you've made it this far, you're probably not a casual creator looking for a tip jar. You're someone with an audience, a clear value proposition, and a desire to build something you actually own.
That's exactly who BTS is for.
We offer a free Starter plan so you can launch and start earning without any upfront commitment. No complicated setup, no weeks of configuration—most creators launch within a day.
When you're ready for more, our Pro plan gives you everything you need to scale: custom domains, lower fees, advanced features, and hands-on support from real humans who understand creator businesses.
BTS is the creator business infrastructure. One place to build something you own, designed for structure and momentum. We run everything behind the scenes so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing.
Your audience is waiting. Let's build something real together.
Get Started for Free →
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does BTS cost?
BTS offers a free Starter plan with a 10% platform fee to get you launched quickly. Our Pro plan is $149/month with a reduced 3.5% + 30¢ transaction fee—designed for creators who are serious about growing. In our experience, most creators who hit consistent revenue upgrade to Pro within 3-6 months because the math just works out better.
Q: Is BTS free to use?
Yes! Our Starter plan is completely free with no monthly fees. You only pay a percentage when you actually earn. This lets you test, launch, and validate your offer without any financial risk upfront. We built it this way because we believe creators should be able to start building without barriers.
Q: What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?
We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetisation. While most platforms optimise for transactions, we optimise for ownership. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place—courses, community, payments, content—so you're not stitching together a patchwork of tools that never becomes a real business.
Q: What is the best platform for course creators in 2026?
The best platforms for course creators depend on what you're actually building. If you just need to host videos, there are simpler options. But if you're building a creator business—with community, multiple revenue streams, and long-term member relationships—you need infrastructure, not just a course host. At BTS, we've helped 1,600+ creators build exactly that.
Q: Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?
Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Patreon, Teachable, Kajabi, and others. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and our team provides hands-on support throughout the process. We've successfully migrated communities of all sizes.
Q: How long does it take to set up BTS?
Most creators launch within a day. Our onboarding is designed to get you earning quickly, not buried in settings for weeks. We've intentionally kept the setup simple because we know complexity kills momentum.
Q: Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?
Yes, our fee structure is transparent. Starter plan: 10% platform fee. Pro plan: 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction plus $149/month. Check our pricing page for the complete breakdown. We've designed our pricing to align with creator success—when you grow, we grow.
Q: What kind of support does BTS offer?
We provide hands-on creator success support from real humans who understand your business. Not just ticket systems and canned responses, but actual conversations about your specific situation. Our team includes creators themselves, so we get the challenges you're facing.
Q: Can I use my own domain with BTS?
Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your members will never see "BTS" in the URL—it's your brand, front and center.
Q: What types of creators succeed on BTS?
We see the most success with education-focused creators who have a clear niche and an existing audience of 10,000+. Entertainment creators with 100,000+ followers also thrive here. The common thread is creators with something valuable to offer who want to build a real business, not just collect tips.
Q: Is BTS better than Patreon?
Patreon monetises content; BTS helps creators build a real business. If you're looking for a simple way to collect monthly payments, Patreon works. If you're looking for infrastructure that combines courses, community, multiple payment models, and a modern brand experience, BTS is designed for that.
Q: How does BTS compare to Kajabi?
Kajabi is enterprise software for course creators with significant complexity and cost. BTS is infrastructure for creator businesses—simpler to start, designed for modern creators, with a brand-forward experience. In our view, if you don't need Fortune 500-style features, you don't need Kajabi-style complexity.
Q: Can I sell courses and memberships on BTS?
Yes, BTS supports subscriptions (monthly/annual), one-time payments, pay-per-view content, free trials, and more. You can sell courses, run a membership community, offer coaching, or combine all of the above in one unified business.
Q: How fast do I get paid on BTS?
Payouts are fast: 1-5 days globally, same-day for US creators. We work with established payment infrastructure to ensure you're not waiting weeks to access your earnings.
Q: What if I'm just getting started as a creator?
If you already have an audience (even a small one) and a clear value proposition, BTS can help you build structure around it. If you're still figuring out your niche or don't have any following yet, focus on that first. We don't solve audience discovery—you bring your audience; we help you turn them into a real business.
Q: Is BTS available internationally?
Yes, BTS is available globally with a few exceptions (Africa, Spain, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, Russia currently not supported). Whether you're in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, or Asia, you can build and monetise on BTS.
Q: What mistakes should I avoid when building a creator business?
Based on working with 1,600+ creators, the biggest mistakes are: (1) waiting too long to launch, (2) overcomplicating your offer, (3) using too many disconnected tools, (4) not owning your audience, and (5) building for algorithms instead of your actual members. The creators who succeed start simple, focus on structure, and iterate from there.
Q: What's the future of creator businesses?
We believe the future is ownership. The era of creators being dependent on platform algorithms and brand deals is ending. The next generation of successful creators will own their audience, their content, and their revenue streams. That's exactly what we're building toward at BTS—infrastructure that helps creators build something they truly own.
Key Takeaways
- Think like a business owner, not a content creator. Build assets you own, not just content you post.
- Choose infrastructure over features. A solid foundation beats a long feature list every time.
- Design matters more than you think. Your platform is a reflection of your brand—make it count.
- Build for structure and momentum, not algorithms. Sustainable growth beats viral spikes.
- Own your audience. Social followers are prospects; members are your real business.
- Simplify ruthlessly. The best creator businesses are almost always the simplest.
About the Author
The BTS Team is the Creator Success team at BTS, working directly with 1,600+ creators building real businesses on our platform. We've helped pay out over $1.4 million to creators since launching in 2024, and we spend our days learning what actually works in the creator economy—not in theory, but in practice.
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something you own.
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.