What are the biggest membership site mistakes to avoid? After working with over 1,600 creators and paying out more than $1.4 million, we've seen almost every mistake in the book. The creator economy is fragmented, and that fragmentation leads to predictable pitfalls that hold creators back from building something real.
Here's the thing: most creators aren't failing because they lack talent or audience. They're failing because the ecosystem forces them into patchwork solutions that never become a real business. They're stitching together tools, juggling platforms, and losing momentum every step of the way.
At BTS, we built creator business infrastructure specifically to help you avoid these traps. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something you actually own.
In this guide, we're breaking down the seven most common creator business mistakes we see—and showing you exactly how to sidestep each one. Whether you're launching your first membership site or scaling an existing creator business, these lessons come straight from the trenches.
Let's get into it.
1. Treating Your Creator Business Like a Side Hustle
The mistake: Building without intention. Approaching your creator business as something you'll "figure out later" instead of treating it like the real business it can become.
We see this constantly. A creator has 50,000 followers, real expertise in their niche, and genuine demand from their audience. But instead of building proper infrastructure, they throw up a Patreon page, add a link-in-bio, and hope for the best.
From our experience: "The creators who succeed fastest are the ones who treat their creator business like a business from day one—not as an afterthought to their content."
This side-hustle mentality shows up in subtle ways:
- No clear value proposition. What exactly are members paying for?
- Inconsistent delivery. Posting "when you feel like it" instead of building reliable momentum.
- Scattered presence. Members don't know where to find you or what to expect.
- Reactive pricing. Setting prices based on what others charge, not what your offering is worth.
The truth is, your audience doesn't want another subscription to manage. They want to invest in something that delivers real value consistently. When you treat your business casually, they sense it—and they churn.
How we help: BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. Our platform is designed around structure and momentum, not algorithms. When you set up on BTS, you're not just adding another monetisation tool—you're building the foundation for a durable business you actually own.
Actionable takeaway: Before you launch (or relaunch), write down exactly what members get, how often they get it, and why it's worth the price. If you can't articulate this clearly, neither can your potential members.
2. Spreading Across Too Many Platforms
The mistake: Using five different tools to run what should be one business.
This is the fragmentation trap, and it's the number one reason creator businesses stall. You've got your community on Discord, courses on Teachable, payments through Stripe, email on ConvertKit, and content on Patreon. Each tool does one thing. None of them talk to each other. And you're spending more time managing tech than creating value.
Our data shows: Creators who consolidate their business into a single platform see 40% higher retention rates than those running fragmented operations across multiple tools.
The hidden costs of fragmentation include:
- Time tax. Every platform has its own learning curve, updates, and quirks.
- Data silos. You can't see the full picture of your member journey.
- Inconsistent experience. Members log into three different things to access what they paid for.
- Higher churn. Confusion creates friction, and friction kills retention.
- No ownership. Your business is scattered across platforms you don't control.
What we've learned: The most successful creator businesses operate from one central hub. Everything—content, community, payments, members—lives in one place.
How we help: BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. Everything runs behind the scenes in one space. Your content, community, courses, and payments all live together. Members log in once and get everything. You manage one platform, not seven.
Unlike Kajabi (enterprise software for course creators) or Circle (back-office software), BTS feels like a modern, public-facing creator business. It's designed to look and feel like a brand, not an admin dashboard.
Actionable takeaway: Audit your current tech stack. How many logins do your members need? How many dashboards do you check daily? If the answer is more than one, you're paying a fragmentation tax.
3. Choosing the Wrong Platform for Your Stage
The mistake: Picking a platform based on features you don't need yet, or worse, picking one that can't grow with you.
We've watched creators agonise over platform decisions. They spend weeks comparing feature lists, reading reviews, and watching YouTube tutorials. Then they pick Kajabi because it has "everything"—and quit three months later because it's overwhelming and expensive for where they are.
On the flip side, creators start on simple tools like Gumroad or Stan Store, outgrow them in six months, and face a painful migration.
BTS's take: "The right platform isn't the one with the most features. It's the one that matches your current needs while giving you room to grow."
Here's what to actually evaluate:
| Factor | Questions to Ask |
|---|---|
| **Complexity** | Can you launch this week, or will setup take a month? |
| **Scalability** | Does it support where you want to be in two years? |
| **Design** | Does it represent your brand, or look like generic software? |
| **Ownership** | Do you own your member data and relationships? |
| **Support** | When you're stuck, can you reach a human who cares? |
How we help: We designed BTS to be simple to start and flexible to scale. You can launch in a day—most creators do—but the platform grows with you. Add courses, expand community features, create new membership tiers. All without migrating.
Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand, not an online course portal from the early 2000s. Your business should look like your business.
Actionable takeaway: Choose based on what you need in the next 90 days, but verify the platform can handle your 18-month vision. Ask: "Can I start small and scale here?"
4. Underpricing (Then Overdelivering Until You Burn Out)
The mistake: Setting prices so low you have to overwork to feel like you're delivering value.
This is the death spiral we see all the time. Creator launches at $9/month because they're "not sure if it's worth more." To justify even that price, they create endless content, host weekly calls, respond to every DM, and build elaborate course modules.
Six months later, they're exhausted, resentful, and still making less than minimum wage per hour. Their members, meanwhile, are overwhelmed by content they'll never consume.
From our experience: "Underpricing doesn't attract more members—it attracts the wrong members and trains them to undervalue your work."
The underpricing trap creates cascading problems:
- Attracts price-sensitive members who are more likely to churn.
- Forces overdelivery that's unsustainable long-term.
- Devalues your expertise in your own mind and your market.
- Prevents reinvestment in better content, tools, or help.
- Creates resentment that shows up in your work.
Our recommendation: Based on working with 1,600+ creators, we suggest pricing based on transformation delivered, not hours spent. A $49/month membership that delivers clear outcomes will outperform a $9/month content dump every time.
How we help: BTS supports flexible monetisation—subscriptions (monthly and annual), pay-per-view, one-off payments, free trials, and more. We don't push you toward any particular price point. But our creator success team will challenge you when we see underpricing, because we've watched that movie before.
Creator-controlled pricing means you set the rates. Our job is to help you capture the value you're actually delivering.
Actionable takeaway: If you're exhausted trying to "justify" your price, the price is wrong. Raise it, deliver less but better, and watch both your income and your energy improve.
5. Building for Everyone Instead of Your Specific Audience
The mistake: Creating generic content that could apply to anyone, instead of going deep for your actual people.
"I don't want to exclude anyone" is how creators exclude everyone. When your membership promises to help "anyone interested in fitness" or "people who want to learn marketing," you're competing with every free YouTube video ever made.
What we've learned: The most successful memberships on BTS serve specific audiences with specific problems. Not "fitness enthusiasts"—"busy professionals over 40 who want to stay strong without living at the gym." Not "people learning marketing"—"Etsy sellers who want to scale to six figures."
From our experience: "Niching down feels scary because you think you're shrinking your audience. In reality, you're clarifying who you serve—and that clarity converts."
Signs you're too broad:
- Your content could be published by a dozen other creators.
- You struggle to describe your ideal member specifically.
- Members join but don't engage (it's "kinda useful" but not essential).
- You're always chasing trends instead of deepening expertise.
- Growth feels random instead of compounding.
How we help: If a creator has an existing audience but no structure, BTS is the answer. But structure starts with clarity. Our platform encourages you to build something specific—your brand, your approach, your audience. Not a generic community that could be anyone's.
BTS is not a marketplace that finds customers for you. You bring your audience. We help you turn them into a real business. That only works when you know exactly who that audience is.
Actionable takeaway: Describe your ideal member in one sentence, including their situation and desired outcome. If you can't, you're not ready to build.
6. Neglecting Community in Favor of Content
The mistake: Treating your membership like a content library instead of a living community.
Content is important. But content alone is a commodity. Your members can find tutorials, courses, and information anywhere. What they can't find anywhere is your community—people like them, working toward similar goals, with you as the guide.
Our data shows: Memberships with active community elements see 2-3x higher retention than content-only offerings. Members stay for the people as much as the content.
The content-only trap looks like this:
- You're constantly creating new content to "keep members interested."
- Members consume passively but never connect.
- Churn happens silently—people just stop showing up.
- You feel like a content machine, not a community leader.
- There's no network effect—new members don't make the experience better for existing ones.
BTS's take: "The creator economy is moving from content consumption to community participation. Memberships that don't evolve will get left behind."
Content and community should reinforce each other:
| Content Approach | Community Approach |
|---|---|
| Pre-recorded courses | Live Q&A sessions |
| Written guides | Discussion threads |
| Templates and tools | Member showcases |
| Tutorial videos | Accountability groups |
| Resource libraries | Direct access to you |
How we help: BTS combines content and community in one space. It's not either/or—it's both, working together. Your courses, posts, and resources live alongside real conversations, member connections, and community events.
We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. That means your community isn't fighting for visibility in a feed. Members find what they need, connect with who they need, and build relationships that keep them around.
Actionable takeaway: For every piece of content you create, ask: "How can this spark a conversation?" Build community around your content, not just alongside it.
7. Ignoring the Business Fundamentals
The mistake: Focusing on content creation while neglecting the basics that make a business actually work.
You can create the best content in your niche, build an engaged community, and still fail as a business. Because a creator business is still a business. And businesses require attention to things that aren't as exciting as creating:
- Member retention tracking. Do you know your churn rate?
- Payment reliability. Are payments actually going through?
- Member communication. Can you reach everyone when needed?
- Financial visibility. Do you know your revenue by product, by month, by cohort?
- Operational efficiency. How much time do you spend on admin vs. creation?
From our experience: "Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. They help you make sales but don't help you build a business."
Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. And that patchwork creates business blind spots:
- You don't know who's about to churn.
- You can't see which content drives retention.
- Your revenue is scattered across platforms.
- Member support requests fall through cracks.
- You're guessing instead of knowing.
How we help: BTS is creator business infrastructure. Not just a monetisation tool—infrastructure. That means we care about the fundamentals:
- Global payouts processed in 1-5 days (same-day in the US).
- Transparent fee structure (from 3.5% on Pro, clear and predictable).
- Member insights so you know who's engaged and who needs attention.
- Everything in one place so you can actually see your business.
We've paid out over $1.4 million to creators. That's not possible without infrastructure that actually works.
Actionable takeaway: Block one hour monthly to review your business fundamentals—churn, revenue trends, engagement patterns. The numbers will tell you what content never can.
How We Built BTS to Address These Mistakes
Every feature, design decision, and priority at BTS traces back to the mistakes we watched creators make.
We saw fragmentation destroying businesses, so we built one place to build something you own. We saw creators trapped on platforms that looked like 2010s software, so we built something modern and brand-forward. We saw creators burning out on complexity, so we made it simple to start and flexible to scale.
Our philosophy is simple: BTS is the creator business infrastructure. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing.
We're not a social network with feeds and algorithms. We're not a marketplace that finds customers for you. We're not a tip jar or a passive income tool. We're infrastructure for creators who are ready to build something real.
That means we're opinionated. We believe in structure and momentum over features and complexity. We believe creators should own their audience, their data, and their business. We believe the best creator businesses are specific, not generic—and we built a platform that reflects your brand, not ours.
BTS is not for everyone. We're not for hobbyists or casual experimenters. We're not for creators hoping a platform will magically find them an audience. We're for creators with an existing audience, a clear value-niche, and something real to offer.
If that's you, we built BTS for you.
Ready to Build Something Real?
You've read about the mistakes. You know the traps. Now it's about taking action.
BTS offers a free Starter plan—no credit card required—so you can launch and start building without risk. Set up your space, invite your first members, and experience what it's like when everything lives in one place.
Our creator success team is here to help. Not a ticket system—real humans who understand creator businesses and want to see yours succeed.
Your next step: Visit BTS and start your free space today. You bring your audience. We help you turn them into a real business.
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 the goal. Let's build something real.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does BTS cost?
BTS offers a free Starter plan to get you launched with no upfront investment. The Starter plan includes a 10% platform fee on transactions. Our Pro plan is $149/month with a reduced 3.5% + 30¢ transaction fee—designed for creators who are scaling and want maximum earnings. Check our pricing page for the full breakdown.
Is BTS free to use?
Yes! Our Starter plan is completely free to start. You only pay when you earn—and even then, you keep the majority. It's designed to let you validate your creator business without financial risk.
What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?
We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetisation. While Patreon monetises content and Teachable sells courses, BTS helps you build a complete, owned business. Everything—content, community, payments, members—runs behind the scenes in one space. Plus, we actually look like a modern brand, not back-office software.
Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?
Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Patreon, Teachable, Kajabi, and others regularly. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and our creator success team guides you through the process. No one gets lost, no payments get missed.
How long does it take to set up BTS?
Most creators launch within a day—many within a few hours. Our onboarding is designed to get you earning quickly, not buried in settings for weeks. Unlike enterprise tools like Kajabi that take forever to configure, BTS is simple to start.
Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?
Yes, like most platforms, we have transaction fees. On Starter, it's 10%. On Pro, it's 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction. These are competitive rates, and they're completely transparent—no hidden fees or surprise charges.
What kind of support does BTS offer?
We provide hands-on creator success support. Real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems with automated responses. Whether you need help with setup, strategy, or troubleshooting, you'll get actual guidance from people who've helped 1,600+ creators build their businesses.
Can I use my own domain with BTS?
Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your members visit your domain, see your brand—BTS runs everything behind the scenes.
What payment methods does BTS support?
We support all major credit cards, and payouts work globally (excluding a small number of restricted countries). US creators can receive same-day payouts; international payouts typically process in 1-5 days.
Does BTS support courses and digital products?
Yes. BTS supports subscriptions (monthly and annual), pay-per-view content, one-off payments, free trials, and more. You can sell courses, run communities, offer coaching—or combine everything into one membership.
What if I don't have a large audience yet?
BTS works best for creators with existing audiences of 10,000+. We're not a social network that helps you find followers—you bring your audience, and we help you turn them into a real business. If you're still building your audience, focus on that first.
Can I run multiple membership tiers on BTS?
Absolutely. You can create different tiers with different pricing, access levels, and benefits. Many of our most successful creators offer tiered memberships that let members choose their level of investment.
Is BTS just for courses, or can I build a community?
BTS supports both—and we think the best creator businesses combine them. Unlike course-only platforms or community-only tools, BTS lets you build content and community together in one space.
How does BTS compare to Skool?
Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand—not an online course portal from the early 2000s. We focus on design, extensibility, and helping you build something that represents your brand.
How does BTS compare to Patreon?
Patreon monetises content. BTS helps you build a real business. That means ownership of your member data, proper business infrastructure, and a platform designed for growth—not just transactions.
What types of creators succeed on BTS?
Our strongest categories include education, business, fitness, and entrepreneurship creators. The common thread: creators with a clear niche, an existing audience, and a digital product offering (content, courses, coaching, or community).
Do I own my member data on BTS?
Yes. Your members, your data, your business. We believe creators should own what they build—that's why we built infrastructure, not another platform that holds your audience hostage.
Is BTS available internationally?
Yes, BTS works globally. We support creators and members in most countries, with some restrictions (Africa, Spain, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, and Russia are currently excluded due to payment processing limitations).
Can I offer free trials on BTS?
Yes. Free trials are built into the platform. It's a powerful way to let potential members experience your value before committing.
What's the BTS platform fee compared to competitors?
Our Pro plan fee of 3.5% + 30¢ is highly competitive. Many platforms charge 5-10% or more. And unlike some competitors, we don't have hidden fees or charge extra for features that should be standard.
Key Takeaways
- Treat your creator business like a business from day one—not a side hustle you'll figure out later.
- Consolidate your tools to eliminate the fragmentation tax that kills momentum and retention.
- Choose platforms for where you are while verifying they can scale with your growth.
- Price based on transformation delivered, not hours spent or competitor pricing.
- Go specific with your audience—niching down clarifies who you serve and converts better.
- Build community around your content, not just alongside it—retention comes from connection.
- Mind the business fundamentals—creator businesses are still businesses.
About the Author
The BTS Team leads Creator Success at BTS, where we've helped 1,600+ creators build real businesses and paid out over $1.4 million. Our expertise spans creator business infrastructure, membership strategy, and community building—with a focus on helping creators own what they build.
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.