How Women Entrepreneurs are Turning Communities into Cash

June 23rd 2026

Many women business owners think of “community” as a group they should join to get support in growing and running their business. Is this a good idea? Absolutely. And, fortunately, there are many to choose from, including our own WomensNet Facebook group, the well-established Women Presidents Organization(WPO), and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), as well as the newer Ellevate Network, just to name a few.

While these types of groups can be instrumental in building networks, receiving guidance on how to scale, and making connections that can lead to new business, smart entrepreneurs are also building communities that they manage and that pay them for their expertise.

The paid membership community market is growing at 16.5 percent per year and is expected to hit $16.25 billion by 2030, according to Research and Markets. A combination of the rising popularity of the subscription business model, the growth of online communities, and the expansion of the creator economy is fueling demand.

You should take advantage of this market dynamic and consider forming your own paid community.

A new revenue stream

When I use the word “community,” I’m talking about a group of people with a similar interest or background who pay for access to you and to others, much like a gym membership or Netflix plan. Most group coaching programs today include membership in an online community as a benefit, so that members can access one another in addition to the lead coach.

Although communities do take work to start and maintain, they can also form a significant source of revenue. Let’s run some basic numbers.

A community with, say, 100 members paying $20 per month generates $2,000 in monthly recurring revenue; $24,000 per year. Since remaining active in a community requires ongoing payment, paid groups are a lot like monthly subscriptions. That is, they can be predictable and stable, and they don’t require as much time and energy as one-on-one clients.

A paid community is also a revenue model that can become more valuable as it grows, without necessarily requiring more of your time. Attracting more members takes effort, but once they are part of the community, the incremental amount of time required to engage with them is negligible.

What you sell

Although forming a group is fairly simple, there are some misconceptions about exactly what a community is and what it offers its members. The biggest misconception is that a community is based on content, and those mistaken entrepreneurs then invest way too much time and money in developing articles, reports, and blog posts that they make available to members. That’s effectively a library, not a community.

According to a report from Circle, which facilitates communities, 88 percent of community builders monetize their groups, meaning they don’t run them for free. Additionally, rather than positioning reference materials as the biggest member benefit, 69 percent focus on providing members with a transformation. Members stick around longer when they experience recognizable progress toward their stated goal, whether that’s increasing sales, a climbing social media follower count, or reaching a personal goal, for example.

Yes, they may need access to other resources to make progress, but the decision to continue as a member has more to do with changes they’re seeing in their business or themselves. Within a group, they might also gain access to an accountability process, faster problem-solving, and a network of peers who are dealing with much the same challenges. Content may support that work, but it doesn’t replace the relationships that are forged and that keep members sticking around.

Many communities charge under $100 per month for access, on an ongoing basis, to keep the price point affordable. In some cases, that community then becomes the foundation or stepping stone to higher ticket offers, like courses, advanced masterminds, or one-on-one coaching.

Why women are the best community builders

Women entrepreneurs are uniquely qualified to establish successful communities, paid or free. That’s because women tend to be natural relationship-builders. Many almost instinctively look to forge connections, share what they know, and help others. Those are the building blocks of a thriving community.

Groups that are relationship-driven rather than mainly based on access to content also have higher retention rates. Community-driven memberships retain, on average, 85 to 92 percent of members, versus 60 to 70 percent for content-only sites, according to BuddyBoss, which studies revenue-generating communities. Higher retention means more people paying their monthly membership fee for a longer period of time, or a higher customer lifetime value (CLV).

Getting started

If you’ve been thinking about starting a new community, or adding one to your current product or service mix, here are some steps to get you up and running quickly:

Start with the audience you have. If you have an email list or social media followers, those people could be the founding members of a new community. If you’re not sure you’re ready to launch a group, consider working to build up your follower count in case you change your mind later. But don’t think you need to attract hundreds of members at first, either; 44 percent of communities have fewer than 100 members.

Choose a niche. Rather than launching a general community, get super specific about your target audience and the transformation you promise. For example, instead of launching a sourdough bread group, how about a group for bakers who want to launch a sourdough bread business at farmers’ markets? Or instead of a group for women who want to get more fit, how about a community of women over 65 who want to get fit and avoid injury? The more specific your niche, the easier it is to attract and retain members who want what you’re offering.

Explore potential community platforms. There are several places you could host your group, from Facebook groups that are free but not within your control, to paid platforms like Circle, Mighty Networks, and Skool, to name a few. Check pricing and functionality before committing.

The reality is, starting a business requires community-building, from establishing client relationships to forming a referral network, support system, and online reputation. You’re already doing all of that. The next step is taking the process and setting up a place online where people can access you and your expertise in exchange for a monthly fee.