How a Business Coach Built a 6-Figure Business on BTS [Case Study]

Quick Stats

When Marcus Chen came to us, he was the definition of a fragmented creator business. A LinkedIn following of 45,000, a YouTube channel with 28,000 subscribers, three different payment processors, two community platforms, and a course hosted somewhere else entirely. His content was reaching people. His business? Barely surviving.

Fourteen months later, Marcus runs a $150,000+ annual coaching business from a single dashboard. No more duct-taping tools together. No more 3am troubleshooting why his payment link broke again.

This is the story of how one business coach stopped renting his business and started owning it.

At BTS, we've had the privilege of watching hundreds of creators make this transition. Marcus's journey stands out because it's so relatable—he wasn't starting from zero, and he wasn't a tech wizard. He was a skilled coach with an audience, stuck in the purgatory of "almost making it work."

The Background

Marcus spent 15 years in corporate leadership roles before transitioning to coaching in 2021. He'd built genuine expertise helping mid-level managers become effective leaders—the kind of transformation that takes years to develop and can't be faked.

His content strategy was solid: weekly YouTube videos breaking down leadership frameworks, daily LinkedIn posts with practical tips, and a monthly newsletter that had grown to 8,000 subscribers. The audience was there. The authority was real.

The problem? His business looked like a junk drawer.

Here's what Marcus was juggling before BTS:

• Patreon for monthly supporters ($800/month from 40 members)
• Teachable for his signature course ($1,200/month average)
• Calendly + Stripe for 1:1 coaching bookings
• Circle for his community (which he was paying $99/month for but barely using)
• ConvertKit for email marketing
• Notion for course materials and client resources

Six platforms. Six logins. Six monthly bills. And worst of all—six different places where his audience data lived, never talking to each other.

From our experience: We've seen this exact pattern with dozens of business coaches. The creator economy is fragmented by design—platforms want you locked into their ecosystem, not building something portable and owned. Marcus had fallen into this trap without realizing it.

"I was spending 10+ hours a week just managing the tech," Marcus told us during our onboarding call. "That's 10 hours I wasn't coaching, creating content, or actually growing my business."

He'd tried to make it work. Hired a VA to handle the admin. Built Zapier automations to sync data between platforms. Even considered hiring a developer to build custom integrations.

None of it solved the fundamental problem: he didn't own his business infrastructure. He was renting it, piece by piece, from companies with different priorities than his.

The Challenge

The breaking point came in March 2024. Marcus launched a new cohort-based coaching program—his most ambitious offer yet. Premium pricing ($2,500 for 8 weeks), limited to 12 participants, with live sessions, community access, and course materials included.

The launch was a disaster. Not because people didn't want it. Because the tech couldn't handle it.

Here's what went wrong:

1. Payment confusion: Some buyers used his Stripe checkout, others went through Teachable. He had to manually reconcile who actually paid.
2. Access nightmare: Course was on Teachable, community on Circle, live sessions on Zoom with links in... somewhere. Three buyers couldn't find the community. Two missed the first live session because they looked for it in the wrong place.
3. No unified view: Marcus had no single dashboard showing him who was engaged, who was falling behind, or who might be a candidate for his higher-tier 1:1 coaching.
4. Brand fragmentation: His Teachable page looked nothing like his Circle community, which looked nothing like his landing page. There was no cohesive brand experience.

"I made $18,000 from that launch," Marcus said. "But I spent so much time firefighting that I probably lost 20 hours I should have spent actually delivering the program. And I know at least two people didn't renew because the experience was confusing."

What we've learned: Creators don't lose customers because their content isn't good enough. They lose customers because their business infrastructure creates friction. Every extra login, every confusing redirect, every "check your email for the link"—it all adds up.

Marcus had tried other solutions before finding us:

• Kajabi: Too complex, too expensive, too "enterprise" for a solo coach
• Skool: Liked the simplicity but hated the classroom-style interface that made his brand look generic
• Whop: Powerful but overwhelming—felt like he needed to be a tech founder to use it properly

He wasn't looking for more features. He was looking for structure. A foundation he could actually build on without becoming a full-time platform administrator.

The Solution: Why They Chose BTS

Marcus discovered BTS through another creator in our community—George Mirosevich, who'd shared his own transition story on LinkedIn.

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

That quote resonated with Marcus. He wasn't starting from scratch. He had the audience, the expertise, the offers. He needed the infrastructure to make it all work together.

What attracted Marcus to BTS:

1. One place, not ten: Everything—courses, community, payments, content—in a single space. No more platform juggling.
2. Modern design: Unlike Skool's dated classroom aesthetic, BTS felt like a modern brand. His coaching business would look premium because the platform looked premium.
3. Ownership focus: We don't optimise for transactions. We help creators build something they actually own. That philosophy matched what Marcus was searching for.
4. Creator-friendly pricing: Our Starter plan let him migrate without upfront costs. Pay 10% on revenue instead of $300/month in platform fees before making a single sale.

Our recommendation: For coaches like Marcus with existing revenue but fragmented operations, we typically suggest starting on the Starter plan, migrating gradually, and upgrading to Pro once monthly revenue exceeds $1,500 on the platform. The math just works better that way.

The decision process took Marcus about two weeks. He booked a call with our team, walked through his current setup, and we mapped out a migration plan together.

"What sold me was how they talked about my business," Marcus said. "Other platforms talked about features. BTS talked about structure, momentum, and ownership. They got what I was actually trying to build."

His first impressions after signing up:

• Setup time: 4 hours to create his first space (vs. the 3 weeks he'd spent configuring Kajabi before giving up)
• Migration support: Our team helped him import his email list and existing course content
• Brand consistency: For the first time, everything looked like his brand

BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. Marcus was about to experience exactly what that means.

The Implementation

Marcus didn't try to migrate everything at once. We actually discouraged that—big-bang migrations create chaos and frustration. Instead, he followed a phased approach over 90 days.

Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1-2)

First priority: get payments flowing through BTS. Marcus created his space, set up his branding, and launched one simple offer—a $97/month membership that combined his Patreon content and Circle community into a single product.

He emailed his existing Patreon members with a clear message: "I'm consolidating everything into one home. Here's your new link. Same price, better experience."

Result: 32 of 40 Patreon members migrated within the first week. The 8 who didn't? They'd been inactive for months anyway.

Phase 2: Content Migration (Weeks 3-6)

With recurring revenue established, Marcus moved his signature course to BTS. This was the scary part—his Teachable course was generating $1,200/month, and he didn't want to break what was working.

How we approached it:

1. Rebuilt the course modules in BTS (our team helped with content import)
2. Created a new landing page with improved positioning
3. Set up a "founding member" discount for existing students who wanted to switch
4. Kept Teachable running for 60 days to honor existing purchases

The BTS version of his course included something Teachable couldn't offer: integrated community access. Students could ask questions, share wins, and connect with each other—all without leaving the course environment.

Phase 3: Premium Offers (Weeks 7-12)

With the foundation solid, Marcus built his premium tier: a $497/month coaching membership with live group calls, exclusive content, and priority access to his time.

Key features he used:

• Subscriptions: Monthly and annual options with automatic billing
• Community spaces: Separate areas for course students vs. premium members
• Content scheduling: Drip-release for course modules, immediate access for membership content
• Simple analytics: Finally, one dashboard showing who was engaged and who wasn't

Phase 4: Optimization (Months 4-6)

With everything consolidated, Marcus could actually see his business clearly for the first time. He discovered:

• 60% of his premium members came from his free YouTube audience
• Course completion rates jumped 40% with integrated community support
• His most engaged members were asking for 1:1 coaching (which he'd stopped promoting because it was too admin-heavy)

BTS's take: Most creators don't know their own business because their data is scattered across platforms. Consolidation isn't just about convenience—it's about visibility. You can't optimise what you can't see.

The Results

Let's talk numbers. Fourteen months after Marcus joined BTS, here's where his business stands:

Revenue Growth

That's 433% revenue growth. But the revenue number doesn't tell the whole story.

Time Savings

Marcus reclaimed 14.5 hours per week. That's 750+ hours per year he now spends coaching, creating content, and actually growing his business.

Audience & Engagement

• Community members: 340 (up from 40 on Patreon)
• Course students: 180 (up from 95 on Teachable)
• Premium members: 26 paying $497/month
• Course completion rate: 68% (up from 41% on Teachable)
• Member retention (monthly): 94%

The Bigger Wins

From our experience: Revenue growth is easy to measure. The transformation in how Marcus works is harder to quantify but just as important.

Before BTS, Marcus was a content creator who happened to sell courses. After BTS, he runs a coaching business with multiple revenue streams, clear member journeys, and infrastructure that scales.

Specific wins he mentioned:

1. Pricing confidence: With everything in one place, he could see exactly what members valued. He raised his premium tier from $297 to $497 with zero pushback.
2. Referral engine: Members started bringing friends because the experience was seamless. 23% of new members now come from referrals.
3. Premium positioning: His brand looks premium because his platform looks premium. He's attracting higher-quality clients willing to pay for transformation, not just information.
4. Work-life balance: "I took two weeks off last December," Marcus said. "Everything kept running. That never would have happened with my old setup."

Our data shows: Coaches who consolidate their business onto BTS see an average 3.2x revenue increase within 12 months. Marcus exceeded that, but his results aren't unusual—they're what happens when structure replaces chaos.

Key Lessons Learned

We asked Marcus what he'd share with other business coaches considering the switch. Here's what he said:

What Worked Best

1. Phased migration: "Don't try to move everything at once. Start with one offer, get it working, then expand. BTS made this easy because I could add things gradually."
2. Community integration: "Having the community inside the same space as my content changed everything. Students help each other now. I'm not the only one answering questions."
3. Premium tier from day one: "I almost didn't create the $497 tier because I thought it was too expensive. Within 3 months, it was generating more revenue than everything else combined."
4. Simple over sophisticated: "I used to think I needed complex funnels and automations. Turns out I just needed one clear path for members to follow."

What He'd Do Differently

1. Move faster: "I spent two months 'researching' before making the switch. That was two months of revenue I left on the table."
2. Kill the old platforms sooner: "I kept Teachable running 'just in case' for way too long. It just confused people."
3. Raise prices earlier: "The improved experience justified higher prices immediately. I waited 6 months to raise them. Mistake."

Advice for Similar Creators

"If you have an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer."

Marcus's specific recommendations:

• Stop trying to make fragmented tools work together
• Invest time upfront in proper setup (it pays off within weeks)
• Don't underestimate the value of design—how your business looks affects what you can charge
• Use the community features—they're not optional, they're the secret weapon

What we've learned: The creators who succeed on BTS aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest audiences. They're the ones who commit to building something owned, structured, and scalable. Marcus had 45,000 LinkedIn followers for years before his business actually worked. The audience was never the problem. The infrastructure was.

Your Turn: Getting Started

Marcus's story isn't unique. It's the pattern we see over and over at BTS—skilled creators with real expertise, stuck in platform purgatory, finally discovering what's possible when infrastructure works for you instead of against you.

Here's how to start:

1. Audit your current setup: How many platforms are you using? How much time do you spend on admin? How much are you paying in combined fees?
2. Identify your core offer: What's the one thing your audience will pay for? Start there.
3. Create your BTS space: Our Starter plan costs nothing upfront. You only pay when you earn.
4. Migrate gradually: Move one offer at a time. Don't rush.
5. Focus on structure, not features: The goal isn't to use every feature. It's to build something that works.

We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something you own. That's always been our mission. Marcus is living proof of what it looks like in practice.

Ready to stop renting your business and start building one you actually own?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a creator business platform, and why does it matter for coaches?

A creator business platform is infrastructure that lets you run courses, community, memberships, and payments from one place. For coaches, it matters because fragmented tools create friction, waste time, and limit what you can charge. At BTS, we call this creator business infrastructure—everything you need to turn expertise into a real business.

How long does it take to see results after switching platforms?

Most creators see measurable results within 60-90 days. Marcus hit his first $10K month in month 5. The timeline depends on your existing audience size and how quickly you migrate. In our experience, creators who move decisively see faster results than those who run parallel systems indefinitely.

Is BTS only for business coaches?

No. BTS works for any creator with an audience and a digital product—courses, communities, memberships, coaching, or content. Business coaches are common because the model fits perfectly, but we have creators in fitness, education, entrepreneurship, and many other niches. If you have something valuable to teach, BTS can help you build around it.

How does BTS pricing compare to using multiple platforms?

Typically, creators save 40-60% on platform fees after consolidating. Marcus was paying $450/month across platforms before BTS. Now he pays roughly $175/month on our Pro plan—and that's at 5x the revenue. The math improves as you grow because our percentage-based model scales with you.

Can I migrate my existing courses and community to BTS?

Yes. We support content import from most major platforms, and our team helps with migration. Marcus moved his entire Teachable course and Circle community within 6 weeks while keeping everything running. No downtime, no lost members.

What makes BTS different from Kajabi or Teachable?

Kajabi and Teachable are course platforms. BTS is creator business infrastructure. We're not just hosting your course—we're giving you one place to build something you own: courses, community, memberships, payments, and content, all with modern design and simple setup. Unlike Kajabi's enterprise complexity, BTS is built to get you started fast.

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. Both work for communities, but BTS offers more flexibility in monetisation and branding. If how your business looks matters to you, BTS is the better choice.

Do I need technical skills to use BTS?

No. Marcus isn't a tech person—he's a coach. He set up his entire business in under 4 hours with no code, no developers, and no complex configurations. If you can use social media, you can use BTS.

What if I already have a working business on another platform?

That's actually the ideal situation. You have proof of concept and an existing audience. Migration lets you consolidate, improve your member experience, and often increase prices. Most creators in Marcus's situation see immediate improvements after switching.

How do payouts work on BTS?

Payouts happen within 1-5 days globally (same-day in the US). Creator-controlled pricing, no hidden fees. Our platform fee starts at 10% on the free Starter plan and drops to 3.5% + $0.30 on Pro ($149/month). You keep the vast majority of what you earn.

Can I run 1:1 coaching through BTS?

Yes. Many coaches use BTS for their full business—courses for leverage, community for retention, and 1:1 coaching as their premium tier. You can sell coaching packages, manage bookings, and deliver resources all in one place.

What kind of support does BTS offer?

We pride ourselves on creator-focused support. Our team understands the business you're building, not just the tech. During migration, you'll work directly with people who've helped hundreds of creators make the same transition Marcus did.

Is BTS a good fit if I'm just starting out?

BTS works best for creators who already have an audience (10,000+ followers) and a clear value-niche. If you're still building your audience, focus on content first. When you're ready to turn that audience into a business, we'll be here.

What results are typical for business coaches on BTS?

Our data shows coaches who consolidate onto BTS see an average 3.2x revenue increase within 12 months. Results vary based on audience size, offer quality, and execution—but the infrastructure removes a major bottleneck that holds most coaches back.

How is BTS different from Patreon?

Patreon monetises content. BTS helps creators build a real business. With Patreon, you're essentially collecting tips. With BTS, you're building structured offerings—courses, communities, coaching tiers—that can scale. There's nothing wrong with Patreon for what it does, but if you want to build something bigger, you'll outgrow it.

What's the first step to getting started?

Create your free space on BTS. No credit card required on the Starter plan. Build your first offer, invite your audience, and see how it feels. Most creators know within the first week whether BTS is right for them.

Key Takeaways

• Fragmentation is the enemy: Marcus's business transformed when he stopped managing six platforms and consolidated into one
• Structure beats features: The goal isn't more tools—it's infrastructure that works together
• Design affects pricing power: A premium-looking business lets you charge premium prices
• Time savings compound: 14 hours/week reclaimed equals 750+ hours/year for actual business growth
• Migration doesn't have to be scary: Phased approaches work. Start with one offer and expand

About the Author

The BTS Team is the Creator Success team at BTS. We work directly with creators building businesses on our platform—coaches, educators, and experts turning audiences into sustainable income. This case study reflects real patterns we've observed across 1,600+ creators and $1.4M+ paid out to our community.

Have a story to share? We're always looking for creators doing remarkable things on BTS. Reach out—we'd love to hear from you.

This case study reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026. Results vary based on individual effort, audience size, and market conditions.

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