Online Training Platform Success Stories [2024]
Got knowledge to share and a knack for digital tools? Consider starting an online training platform.
This business involves creating a website where you host courses across various subjects—from coding to cooking. By using video lessons, downloadable guides, and real-time Q&As, you can offer a rich learning experience for users.
Online training platforms are growing in demand as people look to upskill from the comfort of their homes. You'll need to focus on content quality, seamless user experience, and effective marketing strategies to stand out in this competitive landscape.
While it requires significant upfront work to develop high-quality content and a functional site, the payoff is in its scalability. Once your courses are set up, they can earn revenue with minimal ongoing effort. If you're geared towards long-term value and impact, this business model is compelling and sustainable.
In this list, you'll find real-world online training platform success stories and very profitable examples of starting a online training platform that makes money.
1. Coassemble ($2.1M/year)
Jude Novak, Co-Founder & CPO of Coassemble, came up with the idea for the online training platform after experiencing the limitations and poor user experience of existing online training systems. He wanted to create a platform that was easy to use and could provide engaging training experiences. By targeting the underserved market segment of small to medium-sized businesses new to online training, Coassemble has experienced over 100% YoY customer growth and has attracted over 1,000 businesses to their platform.
How much money it makes: $2.1M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
How many people on the team: 30
Coassemble is an online training platform that has seen >100% YoY growth since launch, capturing the untapped market segment of small to medium businesses looking to train online for the first time, with over 1,000 businesses signing up to the platform and 90% of new customers training online for the first time, using a focus on ease of use, flexible sharing options, deep reporting, and genuine engagement experiences.
2. Miss Excel ($2M/year)
Miss Excel offers an interactive and enjoyable way of learning Microsoft Excel tips and tricks.
Most of Miss Excel’s revenue comes from selling nine courses and a bundle.
Kat started her career in consulting where she taught Excel training workshops for her company around the country. But when COVID lockdowns hit, Kat realized she wasn’t happy with her job.
Kat loved teaching Excel, she liked helping people, and she loved to dance. A friend suggested, ‘What if you put your Excel tips on TikTok?’ 48 hours later, she posted her first 14-second video.
How much money it makes: $2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 3
Founder of Miss Excel, Kat Norton, built a viral social media account that teaches millions how to use Excel, amassing 950K followers on Instagram, 939K on TikTok, and hitting $2M in revenue by 2023, all with startup costs of just $1,000 and a growth strategy focused on TikTok dance trends.
3. Grow Your Agency ($1.44M/year)
Iman Gadzhi, founder of IAG Media and Grow Your Agency, came up with the idea for his social media marketing agency (SMMA) and online course after mastering Facebook ads and personal branding. With over $1.2 million in profit in just two years and multiple successful students, Gadzhi has become a leader in the SMMA industry.
How much money it makes: $1.44M/year
How many people on the team: 2
Iman Gadzhi made over $1.2M in profit within two years with his social media marketing agency and education company, where he teaches entrepreneurs how to start and scale a profitable SMMA, with over 45 of his students making over six figures with their SMMA, and over 300 students having quit their regular jobs.
4. The Unofficial Shopify Podcast ($108K/year)
Kurt Elster came up with the idea for his podcast, The Unofficial Shopify Podcast, after realizing the potential of content marketing and wanting a consistent way to market his ecommerce consulting services. He decided to host his own podcast after receiving positive feedback from guest appearances on other podcasts, and with the help of his business partner's editing skills, he was able to launch the podcast and grow it to 750,000 downloads and four sponsors.
How much money it makes: $108K/year
How many people on the team: 0
Unofficial Shopify Podcast has generated 750,000 downloads and has four sponsors, resulting in significant monetary gain for ecommerce consultant and host, Kurt Elster, who has created a thriving business and community around his podcast.
5. Mindynamics ($18K/year)
Saakshi Choithani, a mompreneur and Professional Growth Hacker, came up with the idea for her business, Mindynamics, after realizing the impact of the pandemic on the education sector. She designed her first program to help teachers during the lockdown and offered it for free, which attracted participants from multiple countries. From there, she expanded her offerings to include e-learning programs and services to help companies and organizations set up their own e-learning platforms.
How much money it makes: $18K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 0
Mindynamics, an Indian-based training and skill development company, successfully pivoted to e-learning during the pandemic and achieved over 100 events in the past year, expanding to five countries and offering individual and corporate training programs, while also helping trainers with technology challenges and content creation.
6. Health Haven ($7.2K/year)
Edward, the founder of Health Haven, came up with the idea while he was a student at university. He noticed a lack of guidance and affordability in the fitness industry, and saw an opportunity to create a platform that would connect fitness professionals with those looking for personal training services. After outsourcing app development and receiving feedback from users, Edward realized the niche extended beyond sports coaches and expanded the platform to serve the entire personal training community. The COVID-19 pandemic further validated the need for remote training, and Edward used his own experiences with a rare condition to assist others in the community.
How much money it makes: $7.2K/year
How much did it cost to start: $20
How many people on the team: 0
Health Haven is a one-stop-shop app for personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts to connect, with a monthly revenue of ~£500, offering powerful lead generation systems and convenient client management options.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
