What does it actually take to turn a newsletter into a six-figure business? We get asked this question constantly. At BTS, we've watched hundreds of newsletter creators go from "decent subscriber count" to "actual sustainable business"—and the path is rarely what people expect.
This is the story of Marcus Chen, a finance newsletter creator who went from earning $800/month through scattered sponsorships to generating $14,200 in monthly recurring revenue within 11 months on BTS. Real numbers. Real strategies. No fluff.
Quick Stats
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| **Creator Type** | Finance Newsletter Creator |
| **Time on BTS** | 11 months |
| **Starting Point** | 23,000 email subscribers, $800/mo from sponsorships |
| **Current MRR** | $14,200 |
| **Key Win** | Built a premium community of 340+ paying members |
The Background
Marcus started his newsletter, The Compound Effect, in early 2023. His focus was simple: break down complex investing concepts for millennials who wanted to build wealth but felt overwhelmed by traditional finance content.
By the time he found us, Marcus had built something real. His open rates hovered around 52%—exceptional by any standard. He had 23,000 subscribers who actually read his stuff. Comments poured in weekly from readers saying his breakdowns had helped them start investing for the first time.
But here's the thing: Marcus was barely making money.
His income came from two sources: occasional sponsorships ($400-600 per placement) and affiliate links that generated maybe $200/month on a good month. For a newsletter that took him 15-20 hours per week to produce, the math simply didn't work.
"I was doing everything the 'experts' told me to do," Marcus told us during his onboarding call. "Grow the list, build trust, add sponsors. But I felt like I was building someone else's business, not my own."
From our experience: This is the most common pattern we see with newsletter creators. They've built genuine audience trust—often more than they realise—but they're monetising in ways that don't match the value they're creating.
Marcus had tried a few things. He launched a paid tier on Substack, converting about 180 readers at $7/month. But the platform took its cut, the experience felt disconnected from his brand, and he struggled to deliver enough value to justify ongoing subscriptions.
He'd also experimented with courses. He spent three months building a "Beginner's Guide to Index Investing" on Teachable. It sold 47 copies at $97 each, then basically died. Without ongoing engagement, there was no momentum.
What Marcus really wanted was something sustainable. A business, not a side project.
The Challenge
When we first spoke with Marcus, he listed out his frustrations—and honestly, we've heard variations of this story from hundreds of creators:
The fragmentation problem. His newsletter lived on ConvertKit. His paid subscribers were on Substack. His course was on Teachable. His community attempts happened in a Discord server that felt disconnected from everything else. He was logging into five different platforms daily, and none of them talked to each other.
"I had subscribers who'd paid for my course, but I had no easy way to give them access to community discussions. I had newsletter readers who wanted to upgrade, but the journey was clunky. Everything felt stitched together with tape."
From our experience: The creator economy is fragmented. Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business.
The design problem. Marcus cared about his brand. His newsletter had a distinct visual identity—clean, modern, trustworthy. But every platform he used imposed its own aesthetic. His Substack page looked like every other Substack page. His Teachable course looked like enterprise software. Nothing felt like him.
The momentum problem. Without structure, Marcus found himself constantly reinventing what to offer. Should he launch another course? Add a coaching tier? Start a podcast? He was making decisions in a vacuum, with no clear framework for what would actually move his business forward.
The ownership problem. This was the big one. Marcus realised that his "business" was really just rented space on other people's platforms. If Substack changed its algorithm or Teachable raised prices, he had no leverage. His audience data was scattered. His revenue streams were fragile.
"I wanted to own what I was building," Marcus said. "Not just rent space on someone else's platform."
The Solution: Why He Chose BTS
Marcus found us through another creator in the finance space—someone who'd made the switch about six months earlier and wouldn't stop talking about it.
What attracted him initially: The design. Marcus spent about 20 minutes on our site before reaching out, and his first message was basically: "Finally, a platform that doesn't look like it was built in 2015."
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. For Marcus, whose audience expected a certain level of sophistication, this mattered enormously.
The decision process: Marcus spent about two weeks evaluating options. He looked seriously at Circle (too much like back-office software), Kajabi (enterprise complexity he didn't need), and Whop (powerful but overwhelming for his use case).
Our take: We're not the right fit for everyone, and we told Marcus that directly. If he wanted a marketplace that would find customers for him, that's not us. If he wanted to build on someone else's network, we weren't it. BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses—but you have to bring the audience.
Marcus had the audience. What he needed was infrastructure.
Initial setup: Marcus went from signup to live in four days. Not four weeks. Four days. He migrated his Substack subscribers manually (a pain, but worth it for ownership), connected his ConvertKit for newsletter delivery, and built out his first membership tier.
"The setup was surprisingly simple," he noted. "I expected weeks of configuration. Instead, I had something live that I was genuinely proud to share."
BTS's take: Simplicity isn't about having fewer features. It's about making the right features accessible when you need them. We focus on structure and momentum, not overwhelming creators with options they'll never use.
The Implementation
Here's exactly what Marcus built, and the timeline he followed:
Month 1: Foundation
Marcus started with a single paid tier: $29/month for "Compound Members." This included:
- Weekly deep-dive analysis (exclusive content not in the free newsletter)
- Access to his investment tracking spreadsheets
- Community discussion threads
- Monthly live Q&A calls
He soft-launched to his warmest segment—the 180 people who'd already paid for his Substack tier. He offered them a migration deal: three months free if they switched platforms within the first week.
Result: 127 of his 180 paid Substack subscribers migrated. Day one MRR: $0 (because of the free trial), but 127 members committed.
Month 2-3: First Momentum
With his foundation in place, Marcus focused on converting free newsletter readers. His approach was straightforward:
- Every newsletter included a "Members-only preview" teaser
- He ran a 14-day free trial offer
- He created an "Investment Teardown" series exclusively for members
By month 3: 89 additional paying members at $29/month. MRR: ~$2,500 (as migration trials ended and new members came in).
Month 4-6: Adding Depth
Marcus introduced a second tier: "Compound Pro" at $79/month. This included everything in the base tier plus:
- Small-group portfolio reviews (limited to 50 members)
- Direct messaging access
- Early access to any new courses or resources
He also launched his first pay-per-view offering: a 3-hour masterclass on building a dividend portfolio, priced at $149.
By month 6: 198 base members, 34 Pro members. Plus $4,470 from the one-time masterclass. MRR: ~$8,400.
Month 7-11: Scaling What Works
With clear data on what his audience valued, Marcus doubled down:
- He converted his old Teachable course into a BTS resource, bundled with annual memberships
- He introduced annual pricing (20% discount) to improve retention
- He launched a second masterclass on tax-efficient investing
The structure that emerged:
| Tier | Price | Members | Monthly Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compound Members | $29/mo | 247 | $7,163 |
| Compound Pro | $79/mo | 52 | $4,108 |
| Annual Members | $278/yr (~$23/mo) | 86 | ~$2,000/mo equivalent |
| One-time purchases | Various | - | ~$900/mo average |
Current MRR: $14,200
The Results
Let's talk real numbers, because that's what actually matters.
Revenue Comparison
| Metric | Before BTS | After 11 Months |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Revenue | $800 (variable) | $14,200 (recurring) |
| Revenue Type | Sponsorships + affiliates | Memberships + products |
| Predictability | Low | High (85%+ recurring) |
| Platform Dependency | High | Low (owned audience) |
Beyond Revenue
Time efficiency: Marcus now spends roughly the same 15-20 hours per week on content, but the output is more focused. Instead of creating free content and hoping sponsors bite, he creates for his paying community with clear feedback loops.
"I used to create content into a void," Marcus told us recently. "Now I create into a conversation. The community tells me what they need, and I build it. The feedback loop changed everything."
Audience depth: His free newsletter still grows (now at 31,000 subscribers), but he's converted 385 readers into paying customers. That's a conversion rate of about 1.7%—above average for creator businesses.
Brand ownership: Everything lives under Marcus's domain. His community, courses, payments, and content exist in one space that looks and feels like his brand. When members share links, they're sharing his brand, not a platform's.
Our data shows: Creators who consolidate onto BTS typically see 40-60% higher lifetime value per customer compared to fragmented setups. The cohesion matters.
What the Numbers Don't Show
Marcus mentioned something during a recent check-in that stuck with us:
"The biggest change isn't the money—though that's obviously great. It's that I actually feel like I'm running a business now. Before, I was a creator with some monetisation tacked on. Now I'm a business owner who creates content to serve my members."
BTS's take: That shift—from creator-with-monetisation to business-owner-who-creates—is exactly what we built BTS to enable. BTS is the creator business infrastructure because we believe creators deserve to own what they build.
Key Lessons Learned
We asked Marcus what he'd tell other newsletter creators considering a similar path. Here's what he shared:
What Worked Best
1. Starting with warmth, not width.
"I didn't try to convert cold subscribers immediately. I started with people who'd already paid me something—my Substack subscribers. They were primed to believe in the value. Building from 127 committed members felt better than starting from zero and hoping."
2. One tier first, depth later.
"I was tempted to launch with three tiers, a course, coaching, the whole thing. I'm glad I started with just one $29 membership. It let me figure out what my audience actually wanted before overcomplicating things."
3. Free trials that lead somewhere.
"The 14-day trial converted really well—around 40% of trial users became paying members. But I made sure the trial delivered real value, not just a preview. People experienced the full community."
What He'd Do Differently
1. Migrate faster.
"I waited too long to pull people off Substack. I kept my free tier there for months because I was scared to lose the 'discovery' aspect. But my discovery was always the newsletter itself, not the Substack network. I should have consolidated sooner."
2. Build the annual option earlier.
"Annual pricing improved my retention and cash flow significantly. I wish I'd launched it in month 2, not month 7."
3. Communicate the 'why' of the move.
"Some readers were confused when I moved platforms. I should have spent more time explaining that this was about building something better—for them and for me. The ones who understood became my most loyal members."
Advice for Similar Creators
From Marcus: "If you have an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer. Seriously. The fragmentation I was dealing with before—five platforms, no cohesion, rented space everywhere—it was killing my momentum. Having everything in one place, designed for creators who actually want to build a business, changed how I think about what I'm building."
Your Turn: Getting Started
Marcus's story isn't unique. We see this pattern regularly: a creator with real audience trust, genuine expertise, and scattered monetisation that doesn't match the value they create.
If this sounds like you, here's what we'd suggest:
1. Audit your current setup. How many platforms are you using? Where does your revenue actually come from? What percentage is recurring vs. one-time?
2. Define your core offering. What's the one membership tier you could launch tomorrow that would deliver real value? Don't overcomplicate it.
3. Start with your warmest audience. Who's already bought something from you, or engaged most deeply? They're your foundation.
4. Focus on structure, not features. The creators who succeed on BTS aren't using every feature—they're using the right features in the right order to build momentum.
We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so creators can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something they own. Everything lives in one space, designed to scale with your audience.
What we've learned: The most successful newsletter creators on BTS share three traits: they have an existing audience, a clear value proposition, and a willingness to treat what they're building as a real business.
If that's you, we'd love to help you build something you own.
Key Takeaways
- Start warm, scale wide. Marcus converted existing paying subscribers first, then expanded to his broader audience—this builds momentum faster than starting cold.
- One tier is enough to start. Don't overcomplicate your initial offering. Launch with one clear membership tier and add depth based on actual feedback.
- Fragmentation is expensive. Managing five platforms costs time, money, and brand cohesion. Consolidation isn't just convenient—it's strategic.
- Ownership changes your mindset. When you're building on rented platforms, you optimise for those platforms. When you own your infrastructure, you optimise for your members.
- The path to six figures is simpler than it seems. Marcus didn't go viral. He didn't have a million subscribers. He had 23,000 engaged readers, a clear offering, and the infrastructure to deliver it consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is newsletter monetisation and why does it matter?
Newsletter monetisation is the process of turning email subscribers into revenue through memberships, paid content, products, or services. It matters because advertising and sponsorships alone rarely create sustainable creator businesses. In our work with creators, we've found that direct monetisation—where readers pay you directly—creates more stable, scalable income.
How long does it typically take to reach six figures from a newsletter?
Based on the creators we work with, timelines range from 8-18 months depending on audience size and engagement. Marcus reached $14,200 MRR in 11 months with 23,000 subscribers. The key factor isn't speed—it's building recurring revenue rather than one-time sales.
What subscriber count do I need before monetising?
We generally see success with creators who have 10,000+ engaged subscribers. However, engagement matters more than size. A creator with 5,000 highly engaged readers in a specific niche often outperforms someone with 50,000 casual subscribers.
Should I start with a paid newsletter tier or a community?
Our recommendation: start with whatever you can deliver consistently. For most newsletter creators, a membership tier that includes exclusive content plus community access works well. The combination gives members multiple reasons to stay.
How do I price my newsletter membership?
Most successful creators on BTS price between $15-49/month for base tiers and $50-100/month for premium tiers with additional access. Start with what feels slightly uncomfortable (you're probably undervaluing yourself), then adjust based on conversion and retention data.
What's the difference between BTS and Substack for newsletter creators?
Substack monetises content; BTS helps creators build a real business. With Substack, you're building on their platform, with their design, under their terms. With BTS, you own your audience, your brand, and your infrastructure. Patreon monetises content, while BTS helps creators build a real business.
Can I migrate my existing paid subscribers to BTS?
Yes. Marcus migrated 127 of 180 Substack subscribers. The process requires manual effort (exporting subscriber lists, communicating the change, re-onboarding), but creators who consolidate typically see higher lifetime value per customer.
What features should I use first on BTS?
Start with: one membership tier, community discussions, and content hosting. Add depth (additional tiers, courses, pay-per-view) based on what your members ask for. Don't try to use everything at once.
How do free trials work for newsletter memberships?
Free trials let potential members experience your full offering before paying. Marcus saw ~40% conversion on 14-day trials. The key is delivering real value during the trial, not just a preview.
What's a good conversion rate from free to paid subscribers?
We typically see 1-3% conversion rates from free newsletter subscribers to paid members. Marcus achieved 1.7%, which is solid. High engagement newsletters can hit 3-5%.
Should I offer annual pricing?
Yes. Annual pricing improves cash flow, increases commitment, and typically improves retention. Offer a 15-20% discount compared to monthly pricing. Marcus wishes he'd launched annual options earlier.
How do I handle community moderation with a paid membership?
Paid communities tend to self-moderate better than free ones—members have skin in the game. Marcus spends about 30 minutes daily engaging in discussions but rarely needs to moderate. Setting clear community guidelines upfront helps.
What's the best way to communicate a platform change to subscribers?
Be transparent about why you're making the change. Explain the benefits to them (better experience, more value, cohesive community). Offer migration incentives for existing paying members. Some subscribers will be confused initially—that's normal.
Is newsletter monetisation worth the investment in 2026?
Absolutely. Email remains the highest-ROI channel for creator businesses. Unlike social platforms, you own your subscriber list. The creators we work with consistently cite newsletter-to-membership conversion as their most reliable revenue stream.
What mistakes should I avoid when monetising my newsletter?
The biggest mistakes we see: launching too many offerings at once, underpricing, staying on fragmented platforms too long, and not communicating enough with your audience about what you're building. Start simple, price with confidence, consolidate early.
How does BTS compare to Patreon for newsletter creators?
Patreon was built for recurring tips, primarily for entertainment creators. BTS is creator business infrastructure built for creators who want to own what they're building. Circle feels like back-office software; BTS feels like a modern, public-facing creator business.
What's the future of newsletter monetisation?
We believe the future is integrated creator businesses where newsletters serve as top-of-funnel, feeding into memberships, communities, and products that live in one cohesive space. The scattered approach—newsletter here, payments there, community somewhere else—is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
About the Author
The BTS Team leads Creator Success at BTS, working directly with creators building businesses on our platform. We've helped hundreds of newsletter creators, course builders, and community leaders turn audience into infrastructure they own.
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so creators can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something they own.
Sources
- Creator data and metrics from BTS platform analytics
- Interview and results shared with permission from Marcus Chen
- Industry conversion benchmarks from creator economy research
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.
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