We get these questions all the time. Every day, creators reach out asking how to turn their knowledge into something real—a course, a community, a business they actually own. After helping 1,600+ creators build on BTS and paying out over $1.4 million, we've heard just about every question there is.
This page has the answers you're looking for. Whether you're just starting out or scaling an existing course business, we've compiled the most common questions about online courses in 2026 and answered them straight.
Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to find specific topics. If you can't find what you're looking for, our support team is always here to help.
From our experience: "The creators who succeed aren't the ones with the most features—they're the ones with clear structure and momentum from day one."
Getting Started Questions
Q: What is an online course and how does it work?
An online course is a structured learning experience delivered digitally, allowing students to access educational content from anywhere with an internet connection. At BTS, we define an online course as one component of a larger creator business—a way to package your expertise into something people pay for and learn from on their own schedule.
Here's how it works: You create content (videos, text, worksheets, quizzes), organize it into modules and lessons, set a price, and give your audience access. Students log in, work through the material, and ideally transform in some meaningful way. The best courses don't just deliver information—they deliver outcomes.
Our recommendation: Don't think of your course as a standalone product. Think of it as the core offering in a business that includes community, ongoing support, and additional resources. That's how you build something sustainable.
Q: How do I get started creating my first online course?
Start with what you already know. The biggest mistake we see is creators trying to teach something they think will sell rather than something they're genuinely expert in. Your first course should come from the intersection of your knowledge, your passion, and what your audience actually needs.
Here's our framework for getting started:
- Identify your transformation – What specific outcome will students achieve?
- Outline your curriculum – Break down the steps needed to reach that outcome
- Choose your format – Video, text, audio, or a combination
- Set up your infrastructure – Pick a platform that lets you own your business
- Pre-sell before you build – Validate demand before creating everything
What we've learned: Creators who pre-sell their courses have a 3x higher completion rate on actually launching. Validation eliminates paralysis.
Q: Do I need a large audience to sell online courses?
No, but you need an audience. The myth that you need millions of followers to succeed is exactly that—a myth. We've seen creators with 5,000 engaged followers generate six figures from courses, while creators with 500,000 followers struggle to make consistent sales.
What matters is:
- Relevance – Does your audience care about what you're teaching?
- Trust – Have you built credibility in your niche?
- Engagement – Do people actually respond when you share content?
BTS's take: If you have 10,000+ followers in a clear niche and a genuine relationship with your audience, you have enough to start. BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses—but you bring the audience. We help you build with them.
Q: How long does it take to create an online course?
It depends on the depth and format, but here's what we typically see:
| Course Type | Time to Create | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Mini-course (1-2 hours of content) | 2-4 weeks | Lead magnets, low-ticket offers |
| Standard course (3-6 hours of content) | 6-12 weeks | Core offerings, mid-ticket |
| Flagship course (10+ hours of content) | 3-6 months | Premium products, high-ticket |
From our experience: Don't let perfectionism slow you down. Your first course won't be your best course. Launch with a "minimum viable course," gather feedback, and improve over time. Momentum beats perfection every time.
Q: What equipment do I need to create an online course?
Less than you think. Here's the honest minimum:
- Smartphone with a decent camera – Most phones made after 2020 shoot great video
- Lapel microphone – $20-50 makes a massive difference in audio quality
- Ring light or natural lighting – Good lighting transforms amateur video
- Screen recording software – For tutorials and presentations
- Quiet space – Audio quality matters more than video quality
Pro tip: Audio is more important than video. People will watch lower-quality video with clear audio, but they'll abandon professional video with poor sound in seconds.
Q: Should I create a free or paid course first?
Start with paid. This is counterintuitive, but free courses attract freebie-seekers who rarely convert to paying customers. When someone pays—even $20—they're invested. They show up. They do the work. They get results.
That said, free content has a place in your funnel. Use free workshops, masterclasses, or mini-courses as lead magnets to build your email list and establish authority. But your flagship offering? Charge what it's worth from day one.
Our data shows: Creators who launch with paid offerings have 40% higher lifetime customer value than those who start with free and try to upsell later.
Q: What's the difference between a course and a membership?
A course is typically a fixed curriculum—students start at the beginning, work through modules, and finish with a specific outcome. A membership is ongoing access, often including new content, community interaction, and continuing education.
| Model | Structure | Pricing | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Fixed curriculum | One-time or payment plan | Specific transformations |
| Membership | Ongoing content | Recurring subscription | Ongoing support, community |
| Hybrid | Course + community | One-time + subscription | Complete ecosystems |
What we've learned: The most successful creator businesses combine both. You sell the course for the transformation and offer the membership for ongoing support and community. That's how you build recurring revenue while delivering real value.
Pricing and Cost Questions
Q: How much should I charge for my online course?
Price based on the transformation you deliver, not the hours of content. A course that helps someone land a $100,000 job is worth more than one that teaches a hobby skill, regardless of length.
Here's our general framework:
| Transformation Value | Suggested Price Range |
|---|---|
| Entertainment/hobby | $20-100 |
| Skill development | $100-500 |
| Career advancement | $500-2,000 |
| Business/income growth | $1,000-5,000+ |
BTS's take: We see too many creators underpricing their expertise. If your course genuinely transforms someone's life or business, price reflects value. The creators making real income aren't selling $27 courses to thousands—they're selling $500-2,000 courses to hundreds.
Q: What's the best pricing model: one-time payment or subscription?
Both work, but they serve different purposes:
One-time payment:
- Better for standalone courses with a clear endpoint
- Higher upfront revenue
- Lower ongoing support expectations
Subscription/membership:
- Better for ongoing learning and community
- Predictable recurring revenue
- Requires consistent new value
Our recommendation: Start with one-time payments to validate your offering and build capital. Then add a subscription community for graduates who want ongoing support. This gives you the best of both worlds—high-ticket sales plus recurring revenue.
Q: What platform fees should I expect?
Platform fees vary wildly, and they add up fast. Here's what you're typically looking at:
| Platform Type | Typical Fees |
|---|---|
| Marketplace platforms | 10-30% per sale |
| SaaS platforms | $50-500/month + payment processing |
| Infrastructure platforms | 3-10% + payment processing |
At BTS, our Starter plan has no monthly fee with a 10% platform fee, while our Pro plan is $149/month with just 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction. We built it this way because we believe creators should keep more of what they earn.
From our experience: The real cost isn't just the percentage—it's what you're locked into. Many platforms trap you in their ecosystem, making it expensive or impossible to leave. That's why we focus on helping creators build something they own.
Q: How much does it cost to create an online course?
You can start for nearly nothing or invest significantly—the choice depends on your quality standards and business model.
Minimum viable budget:
- Equipment: $50-200 (mic, basic lighting)
- Platform: $0-50/month
- Total: Under $500 to launch
Professional production budget:
- Equipment: $500-2,000
- Platform: $50-200/month
- Editing/design help: $500-2,000
- Total: $2,000-5,000 to launch
What we've learned: Don't overspend before you've validated. Your first course should prove the concept. Once you know people want it, reinvest in production quality.
Q: Should I offer discounts or payment plans?
Payment plans increase conversions on higher-ticket courses. If you're selling something for $500+, offering 3-6 monthly payments can significantly boost sales. Just expect slightly higher total prices to account for payment risk.
Discounts? Use sparingly. Constant discounting trains your audience to wait for sales. Instead, consider:
- Launch pricing for early supporters
- Bundle deals for multiple products
- Seasonal promotions (2-3 per year max)
BTS's take: We support subscriptions, payment plans, and one-off payments because different business models require different approaches. The key is choosing what aligns with your value and audience expectations.
Q: How do I accept payments from international students?
This is where infrastructure matters. You need a platform that handles:
- Multiple currencies
- International payment methods
- Tax compliance (VAT, GST, etc.)
- Currency conversion
- Global payouts
At BTS, we process payments globally with 1-5 day payouts (same-day in the US). We handle the complexity so you can focus on teaching.
Pro tip: If you're targeting international audiences, display prices in multiple currencies and consider regional pricing tiers for markets with different purchasing power.
Feature Questions
Q: What features do I actually need to launch an online course?
Start simple. Here's the honest minimum:
Essential:
- Video hosting
- Content organization (modules/lessons)
- Payment processing
- Student access management
- Mobile-friendly delivery
Nice to have:
- Community features
- Drip content scheduling
- Certificates of completion
- Analytics and reporting
- Email marketing integration
What we've learned: Creators spend too much time researching features and not enough time creating content. Pick a platform that covers the essentials, launch your course, then add features as you grow.
Q: Do I need a community alongside my course?
Community isn't required, but it dramatically improves outcomes. Here's why:
- Accountability – Students who engage with peers complete courses at higher rates
- Support – Community members help each other, reducing your support burden
- Retention – Community creates reasons to stay beyond course completion
- Upsells – Engaged community members buy more from you
From our experience: Courses teach the what. Community provides the support to actually do it. The combination is more powerful than either alone. That's why BTS gives creators one place to build something they own—courses, community, and content all in one space.
Q: What's the best format for course content?
There's no single best format—it depends on what you're teaching and how your audience learns best.
| Format | Best For | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Video | Demonstrations, personality-driven teaching | Higher production needs |
| Text/written | Reference material, complex explanations | Easy to update, searchable |
| Audio | On-the-go learning, interviews | Low production barrier |
| Live sessions | Q&A, coaching, workshops | Requires scheduling |
| Mixed | Complete learning experiences | Most engaging overall |
Our recommendation: Lead with video for core teaching (it builds the strongest connection), supplement with text for reference, and add live elements for community and accountability. Most successful courses use multiple formats.
Q: Do I need an app for my online course?
Not necessarily. Mobile-responsive web delivery works well for most courses. A dedicated app makes sense when:
- You have a large, engaged audience (10,000+ students)
- Your content is consumed on-the-go
- You want push notifications for engagement
- You're building a brand that justifies app presence
BTS's take: We focus on delivering a modern, mobile-friendly experience through the web. Your course should feel premium on any device without requiring your students to download another app.
Q: How do I protect my course content from piracy?
Complete protection is impossible—if someone's determined enough, they'll find a way. But you can reduce casual sharing:
- Access controls – Login requirements, limited device access
- Watermarking – Visible or invisible marks on video content
- Drip content – Release content over time rather than all at once
- Community value – Make the community access as valuable as the content
What we've learned: Don't obsess over piracy. The people who pirate likely wouldn't have paid anyway. Focus your energy on serving paying customers exceptionally well.
Q: Can I sell courses in different currencies?
Yes, and you should. Displaying prices in local currency increases conversions by 20-30% in many markets. Look for a platform that:
- Supports multiple currencies
- Handles automatic conversion
- Processes local payment methods
- Manages tax compliance per region
At BTS, we handle global payments and payouts, so you can sell to anyone, anywhere (with a few exceptions for sanctioned countries).
Technical Questions
Q: What video hosting should I use for my courses?
Don't use YouTube or Vimeo's free tiers for paid course content. Your options:
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in platform hosting | Simple, integrated | Platform lock-in |
| Vimeo Pro/OTT | Professional, reliable | Additional cost |
| Wistia | Great analytics, customization | Expensive at scale |
| Bunny.net | Affordable, fast | More technical setup |
Our recommendation: Use your course platform's built-in hosting if it's included. Fewer moving parts means fewer things that can break. Only go external if you have specific needs around analytics or customization.
Q: How do I set up automated email sequences for my course?
Most course platforms include basic email automation. You'll want:
- Welcome sequence – Onboarding new students
- Module completion emails – Celebrating progress
- Engagement nudges – Re-engaging inactive students
- Upsell sequences – Promoting related offerings
From our experience: Keep automation simple to start. A 3-5 email welcome sequence is enough. Add complexity only when you understand what your students need.
Q: What if my students have technical issues accessing the course?
This happens. Prepare for it:
- Clear access instructions – Send immediately after purchase
- FAQ/help documentation – Cover common issues
- Responsive support – Quick responses build trust
- Platform reliability – Choose infrastructure that doesn't go down
Pro tip: Most "technical issues" are actually user errors—forgotten passwords, wrong email addresses, browser problems. Good documentation solves 80% of support requests.
Q: How do I create certificates for course completion?
Certificates add perceived value and give students something to share. Options include:
- Built-in platform features – Many platforms offer automatic certificate generation
- Manual creation – Canva or similar tools for custom designs
- Third-party tools – Accredible, Certifier for professional credentialing
What we've learned: Certificates matter most for professional development courses where students might show them to employers. For hobby or lifestyle courses, they're nice but not essential.
Q: Can I integrate my course platform with other tools?
Integration capability matters as you scale. Common integrations:
- Email marketing – ConvertKit, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign
- Payment processing – Stripe, PayPal
- Analytics – Google Analytics, Mixpanel
- Automation – Zapier, Make
- CRM – HubSpot, Salesforce
BTS's take: We're building creator business infrastructure, which means playing well with the tools you already use. Integration shouldn't require a developer—it should just work.
Q: How do I track student progress and engagement?
Key metrics to monitor:
- Enrollment rate – What percentage of visitors purchase?
- Completion rate – What percentage finish the course?
- Engagement rate – How active are students in community/discussions?
- Lesson completion – Where do students drop off?
- Time spent – How long do students engage with content?
Our data shows: Average course completion rates hover around 15-20%. But creators who add community and accountability elements regularly see 40-60% completion. Structure and momentum matter.
Comparison Questions
Q: What's the difference between course platforms and creator infrastructure?
This is a distinction we care deeply about at BTS.
Course platforms are designed to host and sell courses. They optimize for transactions—getting you to sell something and taking a percentage.
Creator infrastructure is designed to help you build a business. BTS is creator business infrastructure. We help you combine courses, community, content, and monetization in one place—a real business you own, not just a sales page.
From our experience: The creator economy is fragmented. Most creator platforms optimize for transactions, not ownership. Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. That's the problem we're solving.
Q: How does BTS compare to traditional course platforms?
We're not really competing with Teachable, Thinkific, or Kajabi—we're solving a different problem.
Traditional course platforms give you a place to host courses. BTS gives you infrastructure to build a business that happens to include courses.
| What You Need | Traditional Platforms | BTS |
|---|---|---|
| Host courses | ✅ | ✅ |
| Build community | Sometimes | ✅ |
| Brand ownership | Limited | Full |
| Multiple revenue streams | Requires add-ons | Built in |
| Modern design | Varies | Core focus |
| Creator ownership | Partial | Complete |
BTS's take: If you just need to host a course and collect payments, there are plenty of options. If you want to build a real creator business—something you own, something that scales—that's what we built BTS for.
Q: Should I sell courses on a marketplace or my own platform?
Marketplaces (like Udemy or Skillshare) offer audience access but take significant revenue and control. Your own platform requires you to bring the audience but lets you keep ownership.
| Factor | Marketplace | Own Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Audience access | Built-in | Bring your own |
| Revenue share | 50-75% to platform | You keep 90%+ |
| Pricing control | Limited | Complete |
| Brand ownership | Minimal | Complete |
| Customer data | Platform owns it | You own it |
| Long-term value | Low | High |
Our recommendation: If you have an audience (even small), use your own platform. Build something you own from day one. Marketplaces are for discovery; your platform is for business.
Q: What makes BTS different from Skool, Circle, or Kajabi?
Each platform has strengths, but they solve different problems:
vs. 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 your brand, not ours.
vs. Circle: Circle feels like back-office software. BTS feels like a modern, public-facing creator business. We're designed for creators who care about how things look and feel.
vs. Kajabi: Kajabi is enterprise software for course creators. It's powerful but complex, with a learning curve that takes weeks. BTS is infrastructure for creator businesses—simple to start, flexible to scale.
From our experience: The right platform depends on where you are. If you're ready to build something real—something you own—we built BTS for exactly that.
Q: Do I need multiple tools or can one platform do everything?
The fragmentation problem is real. Typical creator tech stack:
- Course platform ($50-300/month)
- Community platform ($50-200/month)
- Email marketing ($30-200/month)
- Website builder ($20-50/month)
- Payment processing (varies)
- Scheduling tool ($15-50/month)
That's 6+ tools, $200-800/month, and none of them talk to each other.
Our solution: BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. Courses, community, content, monetization—everything runs behind the scenes in one space. We focus on structure and momentum, not stitching together a Frankenstein of tools.
Q: Is it worth investing in a premium platform versus free alternatives?
Yes, if you're serious about building a business. Free platforms cost you in other ways:
- Limited features that cap your growth
- Ads that distract from your content
- Platform branding that undermines yours
- Lack of support when things go wrong
- Data ownership concerns
What we've learned: Creators who invest in proper infrastructure from the start make more money, retain more students, and build more sustainable businesses. The monthly cost of good tools pays for itself quickly when you're not fighting limitations.
Business Model Questions
Q: How much money can I realistically make selling online courses?
This varies wildly, but here's what we see:
| Level | Monthly Revenue | What It Takes |
|---|---|---|
| Side income | $500-2,000 | 5,000+ engaged followers, 1-2 courses |
| Full-time income | $5,000-15,000 | 10,000+ followers, multiple offerings |
| Serious business | $20,000-100,000+ | 50,000+ followers, team, systems |
From our experience: The creators hitting serious numbers aren't just selling courses. They're building creator businesses—combining courses, community, coaching, and content into an ecosystem. That's what separates hobbyists from professionals.
Q: How do I get my first students without a big audience?
Start with who you know:
- Your network – Friends, colleagues, existing connections
- Social proof – Beta testers who'll provide testimonials
- Niche communities – Where your ideal students already hang out
- Collaborations – Partner with complementary creators
- Content marketing – Blog posts, podcasts, YouTube videos on your topic
Our recommendation: Don't wait for a huge audience. Launch to 10-20 founding members, deliver exceptional results, collect testimonials, and grow from there. Every successful creator started with their first sale.
Q: Should I launch all at once or drip my content?
Both approaches work:
All-at-once:
- Better for self-paced learners
- Works for "binge" content consumption
- Simpler to manage
Drip release:
- Reduces overwhelm
- Creates pacing and accountability
- Limits content sharing risk
- Allows you to finish creating while students start
What we've learned: Drip content combined with weekly cohort-style elements produces the best completion rates. Structure and momentum beat endless self-paced access.
Q: How do I balance course creation with marketing?
The 80/20 split is real:
- Before launch: 80% creation, 20% marketing
- After launch: 20% creation, 80% marketing (and delivery)
Most creators over-index on creation and under-index on marketing. The best course in the world makes no money if no one knows it exists.
BTS's take: We built BTS to handle the infrastructure so you can focus on what matters—creating content and connecting with your audience. That's what "behind the scenes" means. We run the infrastructure; you run your business.
Key Takeaways
- Start with paid offerings – Free courses attract the wrong audience. Charge from day one.
- Audience size matters less than engagement – 5,000 engaged followers beat 500,000 passive ones.
- Combine courses with community – The combination produces better outcomes and better revenue.
- Own your infrastructure – Build on platforms that let you own your business, not rent it.
- Launch imperfect, improve constantly – Momentum beats perfection every time.
- Price based on transformation – Not hours of content. What's the outcome worth?
From our experience: The creators who succeed aren't the ones with the most features, the biggest audiences, or the fanciest production. They're the ones with clear structure, real momentum, and infrastructure that supports growth. That's exactly what we built BTS to provide.
Still Have Questions?
We're here to help. If you didn't find your answer above:
- Email our support team – We respond within 24 hours, usually much faster
- Join our creator community – Connect with 1,600+ creators building on BTS
- Book a call – If you're serious about building a creator business, let's talk
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. If that's what you're looking for, we'd love to help you build it.
About the Author
BTS Support is part of the Creator Success team at BTS, helping creators build sustainable businesses since 2024. We've answered thousands of questions from creators at every stage—from first-timers launching their initial course to established educators scaling to seven figures.
Everything we know comes from working directly with creators, seeing what works, and building infrastructure that supports real businesses.
This FAQ reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.