The 6 Stages of Membership Growth

Find out where you are & what you need to focus on next to scale your membership site.

Stage 1:
Foundation

Setting up the tech stack & defining the business model.

Stage 2:
Attraction

Getting your first paying members & driving sign-ups.

Stage 3:
Engagement

Keeping members happy, engaged, and active.

Stage 4:
Retention

Reducing churn & increasing member lifetime value.

Stage 5:
Scaling

Growing beyond $20K/month with automation & systems.

Stage 6:
Authority

Becoming the go-to leader in your industry.

Where You Are Now?

Stage 1: The Foundation

The Starting Line

You have an idea for a membership site, but you feel stuck. Maybe you’re excited about your concept, but…

  • You don’t know where to start or what steps to take.
  • You’re overwhelmed by tech options (Kajabi, WordPress, ClickFunnels, etc.).
  • You’re not sure if people will pay for your membership.
  • You lack a clear roadmap to turn your idea into reality.

The good news? Every successful membership site owner started right where you are now. The key is to take the right first steps—so you don’t waste time, money, or energy on things that won’t work.

Why This Matters

Most people never make it past this stage—not because their idea is bad, but because they focus on the wrong things:

  • They spend months perfecting their site without validating if people will pay.
  • They build without a strategy and wonder why no one joins.
  • They get overwhelmed by tech and quit before launching.

But the truth is…

  • Your membership success starts NOW.
  • You don’t need a perfect website—just a clear plan.
  • Taking the right first steps will save you from costly mistakes.

What to Focus on Next

To move forward, you need to validate your idea and lay the foundation for a profitable membership site.

  • Step 1: Validate Your Idea
  • Identify a real problem your membership solves.
  • Research if people are actively paying for this type of membership.
  • Survey or talk to potential members to confirm interest.
  • Step 2: Choose the Right Platform & Tools
  • Membership Platform: WordPress + MemberPress, Kajabi, Teachable, or others?
  • Payment Gateways: Stripe, PayPal, or alternative payment methods?
  • Community & Engagement Tools: Facebook Groups, Discord, Circle, etc.
  • Step 3: Create Your MVP (Minimal Viable Product)
  • Start simple. Offer an exclusive community, a few courses, or valuable content.
  • Don’t overcomplicate! You don’t need a fully automated system yet—just something members will pay for.
Take the Launch Roadmap Quiz

Your Next Step: Take the Launch Roadmap Quiz!

Want a step-by-step breakdown of what to do next? Take our quick quiz, and we’ll show you exactly how to move forward.