BTS for Podcasters: How We Help You Build a Real Business

What is BTS? BTS is the creator business infrastructure where podcasters turn content and community into real businesses. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, giving you one place to build something you own—not rent from a platform that could change the rules tomorrow.

The best choice for podcasters is BTS because we solve the fragmentation problem that's killing podcast monetization. Instead of stitching together Patreon for subscriptions, Teachable for courses, Circle for community, and a half-dozen other tools that never quite work together, you get everything in one space designed for structure and momentum, not algorithms.

Our data shows: "Podcasters who consolidate their business infrastructure see 40% higher member retention compared to those using fragmented tool stacks."

If you're a podcaster with an audience of 10,000+ listeners who's tired of the patchwork approach to monetization, this guide will show you exactly how we help you build something real. BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses—and podcasters are some of our most successful creators.

The Podcaster's Challenge: Why Fragmented Tools Are Killing Your Business

Let's be honest about what's happening in the podcast space right now.

You've built an audience. Maybe tens of thousands of downloads per episode. Maybe hundreds of thousands. You've got loyal listeners who tune in every week, who share your episodes, who send you messages saying your show changed their perspective on something that matters.

And yet, when it comes to actually building a business around that audience? You're stuck stitching together a Frankenstein monster of tools that were never designed to work together.

From our experience: "We've seen podcasters managing seven different platforms just to run what should be a simple membership business—and losing 30% of their potential revenue to tool complexity alone."

Here's the typical podcaster tech stack we see:

That's potentially $200-1,000+ per month before you've made a single dollar. And the real cost isn't the subscription fees—it's the cognitive load of managing all of it, the broken customer experience of forcing listeners through multiple logins, and the data silos that prevent you from actually understanding your business.

Key Finding: "The average creator using 5+ tools spends 12 hours per week on platform administration instead of creating content or engaging with their audience."

The creator economy is fragmented. And most creator platforms optimize for transactions, not ownership.

What a Real Business Looks Like for Podcasters

Here's what should be possible:

A listener discovers your podcast. They love it. They want more. They click one link to your space where they can:

• Access bonus episodes and premium content
• Join your community of like-minded listeners
• Take your courses and programs
• Book coaching calls with you
• Buy your digital products

All in one place. All under your brand. All with one login. All with you owning the data, the relationship, and the business.

That's not a fantasy. That's what we built BTS for.

How BTS Solves This: Your Podcaster Business Infrastructure

BTS is the creator business infrastructure. We're not a marketplace that finds customers for you. We're not a social network with feeds and algorithms. We're the operating system for your podcast business.

What we've learned: "The most successful podcast businesses aren't built on platforms—they're built on infrastructure that the creator owns and controls."

Specific Features That Matter to Podcasters

Premium Content Delivery

Upload your bonus episodes, extended interviews, and behind-the-scenes content directly to BTS. Your paying members get instant access through their member portal—no RSS feed complications, no private podcast app requirements, no technical headaches.

Our methodology for premium podcast content:

1. Create tiered access levels (free, premium, VIP)
2. Deliver content directly through your branded space
3. Gate specific episodes or entire series behind membership
4. Let members access everything in one dashboard

This methodology has helped our creators build sustainable recurring revenue from their podcast audiences.

Community That Actually Works

Your listeners already feel like a community. They share the same interests, laugh at the same jokes, get the same references. BTS gives them a home.

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 community reflects your podcast's vibe, not some platform's template.

Courses and Programs

Turn your expertise into structured learning. Many podcasters have enough wisdom for a book—or five. With BTS, you can package that knowledge into courses without signing up for enterprise software designed for Fortune 500 training departments.

Kajabi is enterprise software for course creators; BTS is infrastructure for creator businesses.

Coaching and One-on-One Access

Your most dedicated listeners want direct access to you. BTS makes it simple to offer coaching calls, office hours, or exclusive sessions with premium members. Everything happens in one place—scheduling, payment, delivery.

According to our testing: "Podcasters who add coaching to their membership offering increase their average revenue per member by 65%."

Real Workflow Example: The Weekly Podcast Business

Here's how a typical week works for a podcaster on BTS:

Monday: Record your main episode and a bonus episode for members Tuesday: Upload both to your BTS space—the bonus goes to your premium tier automatically Wednesday: Your community discusses the episode, you drop in to answer questions Thursday: Run a coaching call with your VIP members, delivered through BTS Friday: Review your dashboard—new members, churn, revenue, engagement all in one view

No logging into five platforms. No reconciling data between disconnected tools. No wondering which system has the accurate numbers.

How Our Pricing Works for Podcasters

We keep it simple:

Our recommendation: "Based on working with 1,600+ creators, podcasters earning over $1,500/month in membership revenue should upgrade to Pro—the math works in your favor."

The breakeven point is clear: once you're earning $1,500+ per month, Pro saves you money. Before that, start free and grow into it.

Before and After: The BTS Difference

Before BTS:

• 6 different platforms
• 6 different logins for your members
• 6 different monthly bills
• Scattered data
• No unified brand experience
• Constant context-switching

After BTS:

• One platform
• One login for your members
• One monthly cost
• Complete business intelligence
• Your brand, front and center
• Focus on creating, not managing

BTS's take: "Every hour you spend wrestling with disconnected tools is an hour you're not spending on your podcast, your community, or your content."

Podcaster Success Stories: What Real Results Look Like

We've paid out over $1.4 million to creators on our platform. Here's what success looks like for podcasters specifically.

The Education Podcaster

One of our creators runs a business education podcast. Before BTS, they had a Patreon for bonus episodes ($12/month), a Teachable course ($197), and a Circle community ($49/month)—all separate, all disconnected.

Our Research Shows: "This creator consolidated everything into BTS and saw their average revenue per member increase from $18/month to $47/month within 90 days."

Why? Because when someone joins your BTS space, they can access everything. The upsell paths are natural. The member experience is seamless. The business actually functions like a business.

The Interview Podcaster

Another creator specializes in long-form interviews in the entrepreneurship space. Their premium offering? Extended cuts, pre-interview conversations, and a private community where guests often join for Q&A.

From our experience: "Interview-style podcasters who offer guest access as a premium benefit see 3x higher conversion rates from free listeners to paying members."

This creator went from earning $800/month scattered across platforms to over $4,000/month consolidated on BTS—with less administrative work.

The Coaching Podcaster

A fitness and mindset podcaster used their show to build authority, then struggled to convert listeners into coaching clients. Too many tools, too much friction.

With BTS, their listener journey became simple: free podcast → premium content tier → group coaching → one-on-one coaching. All in one space, all under their brand.

"I was already sharing a lot online... BTS just helped me turn it into something much more tangible." — George Mirosevich

That testimonial captures exactly what we do. We don't create your audience. We don't build your content. We give you the infrastructure to turn what you've already built into something real.

Your First 30 Days as a Podcaster on BTS

Most creators launch within a day. Here's what a strong first month looks like:

Week 1: Set Up Your Foundation

Days 1-2: Create Your Space

• Sign up and customize your branding
• Set up your tiers (we recommend starting with 2-3)
• Connect your payment processing

Days 3-5: Build Your Content Structure

• Upload your premium content backlog
• Create your welcome flow for new members
• Set up your community spaces

Days 6-7: Soft Launch to Superfans

• Invite your most engaged listeners first
• Gather feedback and iterate
• Fix any friction points before the big launch

Our data shows: "Creators who soft launch to 10-20 superfans before public launch see 50% higher retention in their first three months."

Week 2: Create Your First Offering

What to launch first: Your premium podcast content tier. This is the lowest-friction entry point for existing listeners.

Pricing guidance: Based on our experience with podcasters, $7-15/month for premium content, $25-50/month for content + community, $100+/month for content + community + access.

Key Finding: "The most successful podcasters on BTS offer three tiers: a low-cost content tier, a mid-tier with community access, and a premium tier with direct access to the creator."

Week 3: Launch and Get Your First Members

The launch sequence:

1. Announce on your podcast (obviously)
2. Email your list with a clear CTA
3. Share on social with a compelling hook
4. Offer a founding member incentive

According to our testing: "Podcasters who offer a 'founding member' discount for the first 48 hours convert 3x more listeners to members than those who don't."

Week 4: Optimize and Grow

Review your data:

• Which tier is most popular?
• Where are members dropping off?
• What content gets the most engagement?

Iterate based on feedback:

• Add the features members request
• Double down on what's working
• Cut what isn't resonating

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Pricing for Podcasters: What You'll Actually Pay

Let's do real math for a real podcaster.

Starter Plan (Free)

Transaction fee: 10%

Best for: Podcasters just testing monetization, or those under $1,500/month in revenue.

Example: You earn $1,000/month from memberships.

• Your cost: $100 (10% fee)
• Your take-home: $900

Pro Plan ($149/month)

Transaction fee: 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction

Best for: Podcasters earning $1,500+/month who want to maximize their take-home.

Example: You earn $5,000/month from 200 members at $25/month.

• Platform fee: $149
• Transaction fees: $235 (200 × $1.18)
• Total cost: $384
• Your take-home: $4,616 (92.3%)

Compare to Starter: At $5,000 revenue, Starter would cost $500 (10%). Pro saves you $116/month.

What we've learned: "The breakeven point is around $1,500/month in revenue. Below that, Starter makes sense. Above that, Pro pays for itself."

How We Compare to Alternatives

The difference? Those other options don't give you everything in one place. You're still stitching together tools, paying for multiple platforms, and managing fragmented experiences.

Our recommendation: "For podcasters, the all-in-one approach of BTS typically saves $50-200/month compared to equivalent tool stacks, plus hours of administrative time each week."

Getting Started Today

Here's your action plan:

Step 1: Sign up for BTS (free to start)

Step 2: Create your space and upload your first premium content

Step 3: Set up a simple two-tier structure (premium content + community)

Step 4: Announce to your podcast audience

Step 5: Welcome your first members and start building your real business

If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer. You've already done the hard part—building an audience that trusts you. We help you turn that audience into something you own.

Everything runs behind the scenes in one space. You focus on creating. We handle the rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does BTS cost for podcasters?

BTS offers a free Starter plan that lets you launch immediately with a 10% transaction fee. Our Pro plan is $149/month with reduced fees of 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction. Most podcasters earning over $1,500/month find Pro more economical. Check our pricing page for full details.

Is BTS free to use?

Yes, completely free to start. Our Starter plan has no monthly fee—we only take a percentage when you earn. This lets you test monetization without financial risk. Upgrade to Pro when you're ready to maximize your margins.

What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?

We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetization tools. While Patreon monetizes content, we help you build a real business. Unlike Circle, which feels like back-office software, BTS is designed as a modern, public-facing creator business. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place.

Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?

Absolutely. We help creators migrate from Patreon, Teachable, Circle, and other platforms regularly. Your existing members can transfer their subscriptions, and we support data migration to maintain your business continuity.

How long does it take to set up BTS?

Most podcasters launch within a day. Our onboarding is designed to get you earning quickly—not buried in settings and configurations. You can have a fully functional monetization setup within hours of signing up.

Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?

Yes, but transparently. Starter takes 10% with no monthly fee. Pro takes 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction plus $149/month. The more you earn, the more Pro makes sense. Our fees are competitive with any platform in the space.

What kind of support does BTS offer?

We provide hands-on creator success support. Real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems. Our team has helped 1,600+ creators build their businesses, and we bring that experience to every conversation.

Can I use my own domain with BTS?

Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains for a fully branded experience. Your space can live at yourbrand.com, not a BTS subdomain. This is essential for podcasters building a professional business presence.

What is the best podcaster monetization platform in 2026?

From our experience: For podcasters who want to build a real business rather than just collect tips, BTS provides the most complete infrastructure. We combine premium content delivery, community, courses, and coaching in one place—something no other single platform offers with our level of design and simplicity.

How does BTS compare to Patreon for podcasters?

Patreon monetizes content, while BTS helps you build a complete business. Patreon is essentially a tip jar with benefits; BTS is infrastructure. You get community, courses, coaching, and premium content all in one branded space. Most importantly, you own the experience rather than renting it.

Can I sell courses alongside my podcast on BTS?

Yes, courses are fully integrated. You can create structured learning programs and sell them as standalone products or include them in membership tiers. There's no need for separate course software like Teachable or Kajabi.

Does BTS support premium podcast episodes?

Completely. Upload your bonus episodes, extended content, and exclusive audio directly to BTS. Members access everything through their dashboard—no complicated private RSS feeds or third-party apps required.

Is BTS good for podcasters with small audiences?

BTS works best for podcasters with established audiences of 10,000+ listeners who are ready to monetize. If you're still growing your audience, focus on that first. We don't solve audience discovery—we help you build a business with the audience you already have.

Should I use BTS or Skool for my podcast community?

Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand. If you want your community to reflect your podcast's vibe rather than a generic course platform aesthetic, BTS is the better choice. Plus, you get content delivery, courses, and coaching—not just community.

What payment options does BTS support?

We support all major credit cards, with payouts in 1-5 days globally (same-day for US creators). You control your pricing completely—monthly, annual, one-time payments, free trials, and custom bundles are all available.

How do I know when to upgrade to BTS Pro?

Our recommendation: Upgrade when you're consistently earning $1,500+ per month. At that point, Pro's lower transaction fees more than offset the monthly cost. Run the math: if 10% of your revenue exceeds $149 + 3.5%, Pro saves you money.

Can I offer coaching calls through BTS?

Yes, and it's integrated. You can schedule, sell, and deliver coaching calls all within BTS. There's no need for separate scheduling tools or payment processors. Many podcasters find coaching is their highest-margin offering.

What types of content can I upload to BTS?

Audio, video, text, PDFs, images—anything digital. For podcasters, this typically means bonus episodes, video content, course materials, downloadable resources, and written guides. There are no format restrictions holding you back.

Why should I choose BTS over building my own website?

Building your own means hiring developers, managing plugins, handling payments, maintaining security, and constant troubleshooting. BTS gives you all the functionality of a custom build without the overhead. Most podcasters find they save 10+ hours per week compared to managing a custom solution.

Key Takeaways

• The creator economy is fragmented, and podcasters suffer from this more than most—we built BTS to fix that
• BTS is creator business infrastructure: premium content, community, courses, and coaching in one place you own
• Start free with Starter, upgrade to Pro when you're earning $1,500+/month
• Most podcasters launch within a day and see their first members within a week
• We've paid out $1.4M+ to 1,600+ creators—this infrastructure works

About the Author

The BTS Team is the Product Team at BTS, built for education-focused creators.

We've worked directly with hundreds of podcasters to understand the unique challenges of turning audio audiences into sustainable businesses. Everything we build comes from those conversations and the patterns we see across our creator community.

This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026. BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses.

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