elearning business plan example

eLearning Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

If you’re looking to create an eLearning business plan, you’ve come to the right place!

Over the past 25 years, the PlanPros team has helped over 1 million entrepreneurs and business owners write business plans….and many of them have started and grown successful eLearning businesses.

eLearning Business Plan Example

Below is our eLearning business plan template and sample plan:  

I. Executive Summary

Company overview.

Our company, SkillWave eLearning, is a dynamic startup focused on delivering a comprehensive online learning experience to individuals seeking to enhance their skills and professional qualifications. Based in the heart of Silicon Valley, we offer a diverse range of high-quality courses across various disciplines, including technology, business, and creative arts. Our platform is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, providing learners with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive job market. SkillWave eLearning aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by partnering with industry leaders and academic professionals to develop relevant, up-to-date content.

Success Factors

Our success is driven by several key factors, including our commitment to quality content, our innovative learning platform, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction. We have achieved notable accomplishments, such as securing partnerships with renowned instructors and industry experts, garnering positive feedback from our growing user base, and achieving a high course completion rate. Our adaptive learning technology and personalized course recommendations have set us apart in the eLearning industry, leading to increased customer engagement and retention.

Industry Analysis

The eLearning industry is experiencing rapid growth, fueled by technological advancements and a shift towards remote learning. This growth is further accelerated by the global workforce’s need for continuous skill development in response to automation and changing job requirements. Our market research indicates a significant demand for online professional development courses, with particular interest in flexible, self-paced learning options. SkillWave eLearning is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend by offering a diverse course catalog that caters to learners at different stages of their careers.

Customer Analysis

Our target customers are individuals seeking to enhance their career prospects through skill development and certification. This includes professionals aiming for career advancement, job seekers looking to increase their employability, and lifelong learners interested in personal growth. We have identified a substantial market segment composed of young adults who prefer digital learning solutions and value the convenience and flexibility of online courses. By understanding the needs and preferences of our customer base, SkillWave eLearning tailors its offerings to meet the demands of a diverse and tech-savvy audience.

Competitive Analysis

Top competitors:

• Udemy: A leading global marketplace for learning and instruction, offering a vast selection of courses.
• Coursera: Partners with universities and organizations to offer courses, certificates, and degrees online.
• LinkedIn Learning: Provides a wide range of courses with a focus on professional development.

Competitive Advantages:

We differentiate ourselves from competitors through our personalized learning experiences and industry-aligned course content. Our platform’s interactivity and the inclusion of real-world projects in our curriculum provide practical knowledge that sets our learners up for success. Furthermore, our strong partnerships with employers guarantee that our courses meet the current demands of the job market.

Marketing Plan

Our marketing plan is centered around offering a blend of products, services, and competitive pricing to attract and retain customers. SkillWave eLearning provides a variety of courses, ranging from one-time workshops to comprehensive certification programs. We employ a tiered pricing model to cater to different budgets and learning needs. Our promotions plan involves leveraging digital marketing strategies such as SEO, content marketing, and social media campaigns to increase our visibility and engage with potential customers. Additionally, we plan to offer promotional discounts and bundle deals to incentivize new sign-ups and reward loyalty among existing users.

Operations Plan

To ensure seamless operations, our team is dedicated to executing key processes effectively. This includes providing excellent customer support, managing and updating content, conducting proactive marketing and outreach, ensuring technical platform maintenance, processing enrollments, overseeing financial management, maintaining quality assurance, and investing in staff training and development. We aspire to achieve significant milestones such as expanding our course offerings, growing our user base, and maintaining high customer satisfaction rates. These milestones are essential for our continued growth and success in the eLearning market.

Management Team

Our management team is composed of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds in education technology, business development, and content creation. The team’s collective expertise fuels our strategic vision and operational excellence. We are led by a CEO with a proven track record in the eLearning industry, supported by a CFO with deep financial acumen, and a CTO who oversees the innovation and maintenance of our learning platform. Together, our leadership ensures that SkillWave eLearning remains at the forefront of educational technology.

Financial Plan

To achieve our growth objectives, SkillWave eLearning requires significant investment. We are actively seeking funding to expand our course library, enhance our technology infrastructure, and scale our marketing efforts. The capital will also support the development of new features and services that will improve the learning experience for our users and solidify our position in the competitive eLearning market.

Below is an overview of our expected financial performance over the next five years:

II. Company Overview

Welcome to SkillWave eLearning, a fresh and dynamic eLearning venture situated in the heart of Antioch, CA. We are proud to be the newest local eLearning business, filling a significant gap in the market by offering high-quality eLearning solutions. At SkillWave eLearning, our mission is to enhance the educational landscape of Antioch by delivering exceptional learning experiences to our customers.

Our Products & Services

At SkillWave eLearning, our offerings are designed to cater to a variety of learning needs. We provide comprehensive Online Course Development for just $300, enabling educators and businesses to create engaging and effective online courses. Our Learning Management System (LMS) Implementation service, available for $250, ensures that clients have a seamless platform for course delivery and management. For those seeking interactive and real-time learning environments, our Virtual Classroom Solutions are the perfect fit at $500. Moreover, we offer advanced Assessment and Analytics services for $700 to help our clients track and enhance learner performance.

Our Location

Rooted in Antioch, CA, SkillWave eLearning is dedicated to serving the local community. Our presence in Antioch ensures that we understand the unique needs of our clients and can provide tailored eLearning solutions right where it’s needed.

Why We Will Succeed

Our confidence in SkillWave eLearning’s success stems from a solid foundation and clear competitive edge. Our founder brings invaluable experience from previously running a successful eLearning business, ensuring we have the expertise to thrive. Furthermore, our dedication to offering superior eLearning services sets us apart from the competition, securing our place as a leader in the local eLearning industry.

Since our founding on January 9, 2024, SkillWave eLearning has been operating as a Sole Proprietorship, navigating the eLearning sector with agility and personal commitment. We’ve hit several key milestones early on, including designing a distinctive logo that represents our brand, developing our company name that resonates with our mission, and securing a prime location that serves as a hub for our operations and client interactions.

III. Industry Analysis

The eLearning industry in the United States is currently experiencing significant growth and is projected to continue expanding in the coming years. According to recent research, the market size of eLearning in the US was estimated to be $19.05 billion in 2020. This figure is expected to reach a staggering $38.09 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6% during the forecast period. These numbers indicate a promising future for businesses operating in the eLearning sector, including SkillWave eLearning.

Several trends in the eLearning industry are contributing to its growth and success. One major trend is the increasing adoption of online learning platforms by educational institutions, corporations, and individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend, as remote learning became a necessity. Additionally, the rising demand for personalized and self-paced learning experiences is fueling the growth of eLearning. SkillWave eLearning can capitalize on these trends by offering a wide range of online courses and flexible learning options to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of its customers in Antioch, CA.

Moreover, advancements in technology, such as the widespread use of mobile devices and the availability of high-speed internet, have facilitated the growth of the eLearning industry. Mobile learning, or mLearning, is gaining popularity as it allows individuals to access educational content anytime and anywhere. SkillWave eLearning can leverage this trend by optimizing its platform for mobile devices and ensuring seamless user experience across different devices. By staying up-to-date with emerging technologies and incorporating them into their eLearning solutions, SkillWave can position itself as a leading provider in the eLearning market in Antioch, CA.

IV. Customer Analysis

Below is a description of our target customers and their core needs.

Target Customers

SkillWave eLearning will target local residents seeking to improve their job prospects through upskilling and reskilling in various industries such as technology, business, and healthcare. They will tailor their courses to meet the specific needs of individuals aiming to advance in their current roles or pivot to new careers. The growing demand for continuous education in a rapidly changing job market will make SkillWave eLearning an essential resource for these residents.

Furthermore, SkillWave eLearning will also serve small to medium-sized businesses looking to enhance their employees’ skills without the significant cost of traditional corporate training programs. They will offer customizable training modules that align with the unique needs and goals of these businesses. This segment will benefit from SkillWave’s ability to provide flexible, scalable learning solutions that contribute to both employee development and organizational growth.

In addition, the company will target high school and college students who are seeking supplemental learning opportunities. SkillWave eLearning will provide courses that complement their academic pursuits and prepare them for college entrance exams or future careers. This demographic will also include individuals taking gap years who wish to use their time productively by gaining new skills and certifications.

Customer Needs

SkillWave eLearning meets the increasing demand for flexible learning opportunities by providing high-quality eLearning services that residents desire. Customers can access a vast array of courses from the comfort of their own homes, fitting education around their busy schedules. This flexibility ensures that individuals seeking personal development or professional advancement do not have to compromise on the quality of their education.

Recognizing the diverse learning needs and preferences, SkillWave eLearning offers various multimedia content, including video lectures, interactive quizzes, and real-time webinars. By doing so, customers can engage with the material in a way that suits their learning style best. This personalized approach helps in retaining information and applying the learned skills effectively in real-life situations.

In today’s fast-paced world, customers expect not only to receive information but also to acquire skills that are immediately applicable in the workforce. SkillWave eLearning responds to this need by providing courses that are industry-relevant and designed in collaboration with professionals. Customers can rest assured that the knowledge and skills they gain are up-to-date and can lead to tangible career benefits.

V. Competitive Analysis

Direct competitors.

SkillWave eLearning’s competitors include the following companies:

Safety Training Seminars

Safety Training Seminars offers a range of safety training solutions, with a focus on CPR, First Aid, and BLS (Basic Life Support) certification courses. They cater to individuals and organizations seeking compliance with OSHA regulations and other safety credentials. The price points for their courses vary depending on the certification and duration of the training but are generally designed to be competitive and affordable.

While specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, Safety Training Seminars operates with a business model geared towards high-volume and repeat certifications, which suggests a sustainable revenue stream. They are located throughout the Bay Area, providing convenient access to customers in various regions including Antioch, CA. Their customer segments include healthcare professionals, educators, and corporate entities.

The key strengths of Safety Training Seminars include their specialized focus on safety training, a solid reputation for providing quality instruction, and recognized certification programs. A potential weakness could be their limited scope of offerings beyond safety training, which might restrict their appeal to a broader eLearning market.

Liberty Adult Education

Liberty Adult Education provides a broad spectrum of learning opportunities for adults, including high school diploma programs, career technical education, ESL classes, and community interest courses. They operate with a pricing model that is designed to be inclusive, often offering free or low-cost courses to serve the local community effectively. Their revenue is likely supplemented by state and federal educational grants and funding.

The institution is based in Antioch, CA, and serves a local customer segment that includes adult learners seeking to advance their education or acquire new skills. They are geographically focused on the surrounding communities, ensuring they cater to the educational needs within their immediate vicinity.

Liberty Adult Education’s strengths lie in their community integration and the breadth of their educational offerings. However, their reliance on government funding and the focus on local markets may limit their expansion capabilities and their ability to scale up rapidly compared to more commercialized competitors.

Opportunity Junction

Opportunity Junction specializes in providing job training, support, and placement services to empower low-income individuals to achieve financial self-sufficiency. They offer programs that include computer skills training, career counseling, and internships. Their services are typically free or heavily subsidized, aimed at removing financial barriers to education and employment for their clients.

Revenue for Opportunity Junction is primarily derived from donations, grants, and philanthropic support, reflecting their non-profit status. They operate primarily in East Contra Costa County, with a focus on helping residents of Antioch and nearby areas.

Opportunity Junction’s key strengths include their comprehensive support services and strong community partnerships, which enhance their training programs and placement success. A weakness might be their dependency on external funding, which can be variable and impact the sustainability of their programs.

Competitive Advantages

At SkillWave eLearning, we pride ourselves on offering superior eLearning services that eclipse those of our competitors. Our tailored learning experiences are crafted to meet the unique needs of each individual learner, ensuring that personal learning objectives are met with precision and care. We leverage cutting-edge technology to provide an immersive learning environment that is both engaging and effective, facilitating knowledge retention and practical application. Our courses are designed by industry experts, guaranteeing that the content is not only current but also relevant to real-world scenarios, which sets us apart in delivering quality education.

Furthermore, our commitment to customer satisfaction is unparalleled. We understand the importance of support in the eLearning journey, which is why we offer robust customer service to accompany our educational offerings. This means that learners have access to assistance whenever they need it, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted learning experience. Additionally, we are constantly innovating, staying ahead of the curve by incorporating the latest educational trends and learning methodologies into our program offerings. This dedication to innovation ensures that we are always offering the most effective and enjoyable eLearning experience possible. By choosing SkillWave eLearning, customers can expect a superior service that not only educates but also inspires and empowers.

VI. Marketing Plan

Our marketing plan, included below, details our products/services, pricing and promotions plan.

Products, Services & Pricing

At SkillWave eLearning, we pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our learning community. Our team specializes in creating innovative and engaging online educational experiences for all types of learners.

Online Course Development

Our Online Course Development service empowers educators and organizations to craft personalized learning paths. With a focus on interactive and impactful content, we can transform traditional curriculum into immersive online courses. This service is adeptly priced at an average of $300, ensuring accessibility and quality for our clients.

Learning Management System (LMS) Implementation

Streamlining the education process is key, which is why our Learning Management System Implementation is integral for any learning institution or business. We offer seamless integration of LMS platforms that enhance the learning experience for both teachers and students alike. This essential service is available for an average price of $250, offering exceptional value for this foundational eLearning tool.

Virtual Classroom Solutions

Embracing the future of learning, our Virtual Classroom Solutions open the doors to global classrooms. These solutions enable live, interactive sessions and provide a rich array of tools to facilitate real-time collaboration and instruction. Clients can access this cutting-edge service for an average cost of $500, allowing for a robust virtual learning environment without geographical limitations.

Assessment and Analytics

Understanding performance and progress is critical, which is why we offer Assessment and Analytics services. This advanced offering empowers clients with data-driven insights to track learner outcomes and optimize educational strategies. With an average price of $700, our comprehensive analytics package ensures that educators and organizations can make informed decisions to enhance learning effectiveness.

At SkillWave eLearning, we are dedicated to providing exceptional value and transformative learning experiences. Our services are competitively priced and designed to foster an engaging and efficient online learning environment.

Promotions Plan

SkillWave eLearning understands the importance of effective promotion in attracting customers. With a comprehensive strategy tailored to the local market in Antioch, CA, SkillWave eLearning will employ a variety of promotional methods to reach potential learners.

Online Marketing

Online marketing stands at the forefront of SkillWave eLearning’s promotional efforts. The company will leverage search engine optimization (SEO) to increase visibility on search engines, ensuring that potential customers find SkillWave eLearning when searching for relevant courses. Additionally, SkillWave eLearning will engage in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns to target individuals actively looking for eLearning solutions.

Social media platforms will play a key role as well. SkillWave eLearning will create engaging content that will resonate with the target audience, driving shares and interactions. Email marketing campaigns will keep subscribers informed about new courses, special offers, and industry insights, further establishing SkillWave eLearning as a thought leader in the eLearning space.

Content Marketing

Content is king, and SkillWave eLearning will create high-quality, informative content that provides value to its audience. This will include blog posts, e-books, webinars, and instructional videos. By addressing common questions and challenges faced by learners, SkillWave eLearning will attract and retain customers seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Forging strategic partnerships with local businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations in Antioch will allow SkillWave eLearning to expand its reach. Collaborative workshops, guest lectures, and co-branded promotional activities will introduce SkillWave eLearning’s offerings to a broader audience.

Referral Programs

Word-of-mouth remains a powerful tool, and SkillWave eLearning will implement a referral program to incentivize current customers to spread the word. Satisfied learners will be encouraged to refer friends and colleagues, with both the referrer and the referee benefiting from discounts or bonus content.

Public Relations and Events

Engaging with the local press and participating in community events will help SkillWave eLearning build brand awareness in Antioch. Whether sponsoring a local charity event or hosting a seminar on the future of digital learning, SkillWave eLearning will ensure its presence is felt within the community.

Incentives and Promotions

Limited-time offers, such as discounted course bundles or free trial periods, will entice potential learners to experience SkillWave eLearning’s services. These promotions will be strategically timed to coincide with peak interest periods, such as New Year resolutions or back-to-school seasons.

Direct Outreach

Lastly, SkillWave eLearning will undertake direct outreach efforts, contacting potential corporate clients and offering customized training solutions. By demonstrating the value and flexibility of its eLearning programs, SkillWave eLearning will establish long-term relationships with businesses seeking to upskill their workforce.

With these promotional methods, SkillWave eLearning expects to engage and attract customers, creating a vibrant learning community in Antioch, CA.

VII. Operations Plan

Our Operations Plan details:

• The key day-to-day processes that our business performs to serve our customers
• The key business milestones that our company expects to accomplish as we grow

Key Operational Processes

• Respond promptly to customer inquiries via email, chat, or phone.
• Resolve technical issues that users encounter with the platform.
• Collect feedback from customers to improve services.
• Regularly update and upload new eLearning materials.
• Ensure all content is accurate, up-to-date, and educational.
• Review and curate user-generated content to maintain quality.
• Implement digital marketing campaigns to attract new customers.
• Engage with the community through social media channels.
• Update the website with current offerings, promotions, and events.
• Monitor the eLearning platform for uptime and performance issues.
• Perform regular backups of data to prevent loss.
• Update the platform software to ensure security and functionality.
• Process new enrollments and set up user accounts.
• Guide potential customers through the course offerings.
• Track and report on sales metrics to inform strategy.
• Handle invoicing, billing, and payment processing for customers.
• Manage accounts payable and receivable.
• Prepare and review financial reports for accuracy and insights.
• Conduct regular assessments of courses to ensure educational quality.
• Implement improvements based on customer and stakeholder feedback.
• Maintain compliance with industry standards and regulations.
• Provide ongoing training for staff to improve skills and knowledge.
• Hold regular team meetings to align on goals and share updates.
• Evaluate staff performance and provide constructive feedback.
• SkillWave eLearning expects to complete the following milestones in the coming months in order to ensure its success:
• Establish Legal Foundations: Finalize business registration, secure necessary eLearning licenses, and establish terms of service and privacy policies to ensure legal compliance and protect the company.
• Develop Robust eLearning Platform: Complete the build of a user-friendly, scalable eLearning platform with essential features like course management, payment gateway integration, and customer support mechanisms.
• Acquire Initial Course Content: Curate or produce high-quality, marketable course content that aligns with the needs and interests of Antioch’s community and potential wider audiences.
• Launch Marketing Campaign: Implement targeted marketing strategies to generate awareness and attract initial users, utilizing social media, local partnerships, and SEO practices.
• Launch Our eLearning Business: Officially open SkillWave eLearning to the public, ensuring that all technology and customer service processes are operational and optimized for user experience.
• Secure Strategic Partnerships: Form partnerships with local educational institutions, businesses, and influencers to expand market reach and credibility.
• Establish Customer Feedback Loops: Create mechanisms for collecting and analyzing customer feedback to continuously improve the platform and course offerings.
• Reach Operational Break-Even: Adjust operational expenditures to ensure the business reaches a break-even point, optimizing costs without compromising on quality.
• Get to $15,000/Month in Revenue: Grow the user base and expand course offerings to reach the milestone of $15,000 in monthly revenue, demonstrating a viable and sustainable business model.

VIII. Management Team

Our management team has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan.

Management Team Members

SkillWave eLearning management team, which includes the following members, has the experience and expertise to successfully execute on our business plan:

Mason Harris, President

Mason Harris, President , is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record in the eLearning sector. His expertise stems from his experience in operating a successful eLearning business previously. This background equips him with a deep understanding of the educational technology landscape, market trends, and the strategic know-how required to steer an eLearning company towards growth and innovation. His leadership skills, combined with his experience in this niche, position him to effectively guide SkillWave eLearning in fulfilling its mission to provide top-notch online educational content and courses that meet the evolving needs of learners worldwide.

IX. Financial Plan

Funding requirements/use of funds.

To accomplish our growth goals, SkillWave eLearning needs $211,500 in funding. Key uses of this funding will be as follows:

Financial Projections

5 Year Annual Income Statement

5 year annual balance sheet, 5 year annual cash flow statement, what is an elearning business plan.

A eLearning business plan is a document that outlines the strategies you have developed to start and/or grow your eLearning business. Among other things, it details information about your industry, customers and competitors to help ensure your company is positioned properly to succeed. Your eLearning business plan also assesses how much funding you will need to grow your business and proves, via your financial forecasts, why the business is viable.  

Why You Need a Business Plan for your eLearning Business

A business plan is required if you are seeking funding for your eLearning business. Investors and lenders will review your plan to ensure it meets their criteria before providing you with capital. In addition, an eLearning business plan helps you and your team stay focused. It documents the strategies you must follow and gives you financial projections you should strive to achieve and against which you can judge your performance.  

eLearning Business Plan Template PDF

Download our eLearning Business Plan PDF to help guide you as you create your business plan for your own eLearning business.  

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E-learning Business Plan Sample

Published Sep.30, 2013

Updated Apr.22, 2024

By: Jakub Babkins

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Table of Content

E-learning Business Plan for starting your own business

If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, that is, we can do a lot more from home than we previously thought. We are presenting this business plan for educational services from home. This is the right time to get started with an e-learning business as people are still reluctant to go out.

If you want to know how to set up and elearning course, you are in the right place. Just like a business plan for a driving school or a business plan for language school , this one is based on an actual start up. Let’s see the components of strategy that will help Smart E-learning School succeed.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Smart E-learning School will be owned and headed by Hazel White. The school will be focused on providing technical education via the internet and distant learning. The courses offered by the school will be about computer, languages, and programming. starting a e learning business is easier than you think. It is just like a preschool business plan but everything is online.

2.2 Management of E-Learning Business

If you are looking for an answer to how to start e learning business, here it is. The online school business plan will be headed by White and she will hire specialists of each field to help her plan how to set up online training courses in such a way as to make the maximum profit. A mobile application business plan will also be needed to make the business available for all.

2.3 Customers of E-Learning Business

The customers of Smart E-learning School will be from all geometrographic geographic subdivisions from all over the US. The main customers of the business will be:

• People looking to acquire new skills.
• People wanting to learn new languages.
• People interested in learning photography and videography.
• College graduates wanting to get safety and other certifications.

2.4 Business Target

The subjective target of this online school business plan is to create a reputable name in the elearning industry. However, we’ve set the following objective targets:

• Enroll 5,000 students within the first 6 months.
• Generate a revenue of $0.3 million per annum by the end of year 3.
• Expand to the global market by the end of year 2.

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Hazel White will be the owner and CEO of Smart E-learning School. White has worked as an educationist for 30 years. She previously implemented a tutoring business plan with success. That makes her the perfect person to implement this e learning business plan sample.

3.2 Why the E-learning business is being started

After the coronavirus pandemic, people have realized that it is cost and time effective to learn from home than going to a school. The greatest evidence of this is the increase in the use of services like Google Classroom and Zoom. This is be best time to start e learning business.

3.3 How the E-learning business will be started

Step1: Planning

The first step towards successfully launching this online school business plan is business model for e learning is planning. The managemental hierarchy of the business will be developed and online education e learning sample business plan implementation strategy will be finalized. This is not as simple as a martial arts business .

Step2: Developing a Brand

The next step towards starting the business will be establishing a brand. Top-ranking educationists will be hired to create an impression of the brand. Just like a martial arts business plan it is important to have a brand.

Step3: Establish a Web and Physical Presence

Once the brand has been established, the next step will be to hire office space to start the work. An extensive website will be launched to make the business accessible for customers.

Step4: Promote and Market

The next step will be to create a strong marketing strategy to help the business get noticed by the customers.

The next thing that needs to be addressed in this e learning business plan template are the services. If you want to start your own e learning business, you need to determine the services.

Smart E-learning School will be focusing on 20 services divided into 4 categories:

1. Basic Freelance Skills Training

This category will teach people the basic level and easy freelancing skills that they can use to make money. This will include:

• Freelance writing.
• Content creation.
• Data entry.
• Use of popular word processors

2. Advanced Freelancing Skills Training

This head will cover specialized skills that can be used for freelancing as well as office jobs. These will include:

• Video editing.
• Basic programming.
• Photo editing.
• Virtual assistant training.
• Business plan writing .

3. Languages

We will also be teaching people languages that can increase the chances of them getting better employment opportunities. Smart E-learning School will teach:

• Entry level Chinese.
• Intermediate Spanish.
• Advanced English.
• Intermediate French.
• Advanced Spanish.

4. Advanced Skills

These will include:

• Photography.
• Videography.
• Automotive repair.

Marketing Analysis of E-learning Business

If you want to know how to start e learning business online, you need to conduct marketing analysis. This is the part where we determine the economic viability of the project.

As of 2019, there are more than 31,000 elearning companies in the US. The market capitalization of the elearning industry was 144 billion USD in 2019. It has been growing ever since at a rate of 14.4% annually and is expected to be worth more than 370 billion USD by 2025.

If you want to start your own e-learning business pdf, you’ll need to come up with an innovative approach. However, the COVID situation has made things easier. People now prefer to learn via elearning rather than attending an actual school.

Great service

Great service. Good turnaround time and quality work. Thanks!

One of the most profitable customer bases for any e learning business model are small to medium enterprises. These companies want to get their employees trained at the lowest possible cost. That is only possible through elearning. This enables the employees to receive training while they are in the office and they do not have to take a leave for it.

Another thing that you need to take care of while planning to start an online school business plan is the availability of teachers. If you want to succeed as a new entrant in the industry, you’ll need to hire the best teachers. The best teachers and trainers in the territory are the people who can make the business a success for you.

You also need to look into the way others in the same industry are operating. The way they teach, examine, and certify their students are some of the very important things to get inspiration from.

5.1 Market Trends

As stated earlier there are more than 31,000 e-learning businesses in the US. The market, however, has not always been like this. There were only a handful of distant learning companies operating in the US before the widespread use of the internet. These companies taught through distant lectures on dedicated TV channels and conducted examinations in large cities.

Since the 2000s, the industry started to bloom. It had a growth rate of 7% in 2002. The number and magnitude of e-learning businesses kept going up and the growth rate accelerated over the years. The industry still has a 14.4% growth rate meaning that new entrants still have a chance.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

In this business writing e learning we’re listing the expected customers of Smart E-learning School:

5.2.1 People Looking for Skills to Earn

One of the main customers/students of any elearning setup are the people who are looking for a cost-effective way to acquire skills. This segment will makeup the bulk of independent customers at Smart E-learning School.

5.2.2 People Looking to Learn Languages

A substantial portion of the students at Smart E-learning School will be the ones looking to learn new languages. These people will be the high paying ones as language education is expensive.

5.2.3 People Learning Skills as Passion

People also go to elearning schools to learn things they are passionate about. We’ll teach photography and videography to such people. However, people can also learn the same for earning money. We don’t judge anyone at Smart E-learning School.

5.2.4 Small to Medium Enterprises

We will also be providing online training solutions for the companies that cannot have their own training wings. This will make up the largest single market segment by revenue as such clients often need training for a lot of people.

5.3 Business Target

• To establish Smart E-learning School as a leading distant learning services provider.
• To make some permanent corporate clients and sign long-term training contracts with them.
• To start making $26,000 a month by the end of year 3.
• To maintain a CSAT score of more than 90%

5.4 Product Pricing

All courses and training programs will be priced as per the competitors. The prices will be kept a little bit lower than competing businesses to earn clients at the start.

Marketing Strategy of E-learning Business

In order to start a successful business any business e learning marketing plan sample must contain a solid marketing strategy. As the elearning market is a saturated one, a lot depends on how well we present the online school business plan.

If you have come this far looking for how to start a e-learning business proposal, you need to know the importance of an effective marketing strategy. We need to highlight the areas where we are stronger than our competitors. Only then we can succeed.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

• We will implement modern learning techniques to make our trainings better than what the competition has to offer.
• We will be hiring the top-notch professionals of every field to make sure we deliver the best.
• We will design innovative training solutions for small to medium enterprises to get permanent clients.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We will use TV commercials, Google Ads, and banners to promote our nascent brand.
• We’ll offer discounts in the first 6 months to attract people and advertise the business in turn.
• We’ll make specialized plans for corporate clients

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

The next step for this business plan for e learning company is making a list of people needed to effectively run the company. One thing that must be noted here is that this online school business plan is unique. It will be needing both administrators and teachers to run.

7.1 Company Staff

• Hazel White will be the owner of the company.
• 1 Manager Liaison will be needed to connect with the outside world.
• 4 Language Teachers will be needed, one for each language being offered.
• 7 Skills Teachers will be needed for all the subjects being offered.
• 1 IT Expert will be hired to make sure the website runs smooth.
• 1 Social Media Manager to manage the much-needed social presence of the school.
• 1 Accountant
• 1 Technician to upkeep technical equipment.
• 1 Receptionist

Financial Plan

The final part of this e learning business case will tell how much capital will be needed to start the business. This will cover the amount of money that is needed from the way the execution of the business is started to the day it starts breaking even. Here are some of the costs that must be taken into consideration:

• The rent of the place to set up the business in.
• The amount needed to purchase office equipment.
• The money needed to set up and online portal for the school
• Marketing and publicity expenses.
• Money required to pay the employees before the company starts generating revenue.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 break-even analysis.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

Download e learning business plan sample in pdf

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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How To Start Your First eLearning Video Business – Full Guide

Learn More about Video Monetization

• What Is An eLearning Business

Why You Should Start An eLearning Business

• eLearning Business Example
• eLearning Business Plans (3 types)
• How To Start An eLearning Business (6 steps)

Starting an eLearning business can be confusing.

You know you have the skill to teach, and some people want to learn it, but connecting the two and building a business around it? Man, where do you even start?

Well, it turns out, right here. 

At Uscreen we have lots of experience helping budding business owners, like you, start and grow their eLearning business. (Even if they have no entrepreneurial experience!)

And I’d like to share some of the major insights we’ve picked up along the way. Meaning you can get to work, safe in the knowledge you’re following the right steps.

So, if you want to start an eLearning business that is both profitable and enjoyable read on to find out more. We’re going to cover:

• What is an eLearning business?
• Why there’s never been a better time to start yours
• A case study of a 5-figure eLearning business
• 3 types of successful eLearning business models
• How to start an eLearning business in 6 steps

Let’s go…

What Is An eLearning Business?

An eLearning business is an online platform that educates people, either by imparting niche-specific knowledge or teaching new skills. 

eLearning businesses generate income in a number of ways, but the most common are:

• One-off sales of products like eBooks and courses
• Subscription access to independent online schools

Self-paced online learning has become popular over the last few years – it’s worth around $103.8 billion – and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the industry’s growth. (More on that next!)

So, what makes eLearning businesses so popular? Well, for students, it’s because they offer a lot of flexibility . They can choose their own…

• instructors 
• learning schedules
• payment options

…to create a customized experience that fits their needs. These are all important elements that aren’t typically offered by traditional offline learning environments.

Instructors can also take advantage of higher levels of flexibility and creative freedom. You’re not bound by traditional syllabuses or teaching structures.

Instead, you can cover the topics that interest you, in the niche you care about, to provide the most value to your audience. Better still, you can work on your own schedule.

At Uscreen, we’ve seen people build profitable eLearning businesses around:

• Arts & Crafts .
• Basketball.
• Musical instruments.
• Language learning.
• Many, many more.

And, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has never been a better time to start an eLearning business. Here’s why…

COVID-19 has shaken up how we approach work, learning, and recreation. And, people from all over the world are turning to eLearning platforms in the “new normal”.

Specifically, we’ve seen a rise in 3 types of learners:

• Those looking to grow and adapt to different ways of working.
• Those looking to escape the pandemic through learning new skills and knowledge.
• Those looking to learn in COVID-19 safe environments .

In fact, Google’s data shows a clear rise in people looking for terms like “online course” since the first lockdown measures were introduced:

There’s now a clear opportunity for anyone who wants to start an eLearning business. The supply of online learning resources is nowhere near the current demand for it!

The Associated Press reports that demand will grow 10% each year until 2024 when it will reach a worth of $21.64 billion . (Tapping into just 1% of that industry would be $216.4 million!)

Better still, when you build your eLearning business using online video , it can be affordable to start and manage, with potentially high returns. Let’s look at an example to show you what I mean!

How Frances Long Built A 5-Figure eLearning Business

Frances Long runs Your Book Of Memories , where she teaches people how to make their own mini albums.

Frances began by creating videos for her YouTube channel using a simple, inexpensive setup. Though the content of each video is complex, the creation of it is not.

Here’s one of her early videos so you can see what I mean:

Click here to watch the video -> youtube.com/watch?v=8idTnr4wdSk

Once she built a community on her channel, she pivoted to running her own eLearning business using Uscreen . 

Students can access her content in 2 ways:

• They can pay a monthly fee for access to her school, and access all of the tutorials in her library
• They can pay a one-off fee to access an individual tutorial

This gives Frances’s audience flexible access to her premium educational content. And, it gives Frances multiple income streams for her eLearning business.

The combination of these simple elements helped Frances bootstrap her way to $13,000 in her first 4 months after launching, and her income continues to grow.

In the next section, we’re going to look at how you can start your own eLearning business, starting with choosing the right business plan.

The 3 Types Of eLearning Business Plan s

There are 3 different types of eLearning business plan you can use:

• The “night school” model
• The “academy” model 
• The “combined” model

Let’s take a look at them and see which one is right for you…

Option 1: The “Night School” Business Model

The “night school” model is a classic if you just want to sell one-off access to a course. It’ll be familiar to you if you’ve ever taken an adult learning course.

Students…

• pay an up-front fee for the course
• follow a set structure from start to finish (with little deviation from the main topic)
• finish the course with a test or quiz to show proficiency

…making them best suited for students who are focused on learning one topic or skill. 

InkWorkshops use this eLearning business model well. They sell individual access to laser-focused tattoo workshops:

The benefit of this business model is that you receive a lot of up-front money. You can generate hype and sell access for a short time, which can translate into high earnings.

The downside is you only earn once from each customer. Once they have access, there’s no need for them to reinvest in this course.

You’re also limited to one topic per course, so you’ll need to create multiple standalone courses if you want to cover a variety of topics, which can be pretty time-consuming.

Option 2: The “Academy” Business Model

The “academy” model is a much longer-term option.  It’s where you create an online school that allows…

• your students receive recurring value
• you receive a recurring income

…in exchange for a recurring monthly subscription fee.

The academy style model allows you to focus on a breadth of skills your students will need. You can build an extensive library of tutorials to cover multiple necessary skills.

Let’s say you want to start an eLearning platform for guitarists. Instead of teaching one skill – like how to play a specific song – you could open it up to teach:

• How to practice chord progressions.
• How to restring your guitar.
• The basics of finger-picking.
• How to read sheet music.

These topics are far too complex and important to make part of one single course, so they all need to be taught as skills in their own right. 

Magic Stream does this extremely well. They’ve built an extensive catalog of videos that budding magicians can access for a minimal monthly fee:

From the business side of this, there are lots of benefits.

You can earn a recurring income every month from both past and new students. And, you can continue to earn from content you uploaded months or even years before!

Option 3: The “Combined” Model

Okay, this is my favorite eLearning business model…

The “combined” model is where you take the night school and academy models and put them together to create a supercharged income opportunity.

Here you use:

• the academy model as your core offering.
• the night school model to provide flexible options or add-ons.

It could be that your customers want access to just one tutorial from your database, or you’re offering a special live stream session that’s worth paying a few extra dollars for.

Students are ready and willing to pay for these if they feel it will help them improve at what it is they’ve come to learn from you.

This is the same model that Your Book Of Memories used earlier in the post, so you know it’s tried and tested!

How To Start An eLearning Business In 6 Steps

In this section, we’re going to explore how to start an eLearning business and share the specific steps you need to take.  You’re going to:

• Define your audience
• Identify your core content
• Pick and create 1-3 actionable lessons
• Select your eLearning platform
• Set your prices
• Market your new eLearning business

Before we start, it’s going to be useful if you already have authority within an online community, or audience you’ve created, before you begin to build an eLearning business. 

This will give you better access to content ideas, potential customers, and initial feedback. While not essential, I do recommend you have this before you follow any of the steps below!

Let’s get into it…

1. Define Your Audience

The first step is to define your target audience. 

It’s useful to think of this as a subsection of your current audience. The 20% of people who will be interested in signing up for your premium service.

Ideally, you’ll build an “avatar” that is an amalgamation of the 6-8 key characteristics, wants, and needs that your customers share.

You should ask questions like:

• How old are they?
• What gender (if relevant) are they?
• Where are they located?
• What are they struggling with?
• What do they want to achieve with the skills you’ll teach them?

The answers to these questions will differ depending on your niche and what you teach. The best way to answer them is to reach out to members of your current audience and ask them!

Here is a great video from entrepreneur, Eben Pagan , on how to create a customer avatar, with specific examples from an eLearning business:

2. Identify Your Core Content

The next step is to identify the specific lessons your audience needs the most.

These are the core skills that will have the biggest impact on your audience’s success. If they come away armed with these 1-3 things, they’ll have got their money’s worth.

This will help you ensure your existing customers are satisfied and help you to attract new customers with your core materials.

Let’s say you’re building an eLearning business for creative freelancers. You might create your core lessons around:

• Acquisition: how to find and pitch to new clients
• Productivity: how to manage your time and workload
• Negotiation: how to effectively raise your rates

This is something we do in our own eLearning products. For example, in Fitness Accelerator , we focus on 3 core categories for our video tutorials:

• Setting up: how to set up your online fitness platform
• Pro tips: how to create engaging, professional content
• Marketing: how to grow your online fitness business

Here’s how that looks on the website:

These core elements should hit the key needs and take your customers towards their desired end result.

3. Pick & Create 1-3 Actionable Lessons

In this step, you’re going to drill down and create some actionable lessons.

I recommend you create a completable “module” for each of your core content categories before you launch your eLearning business.

Sticking with the creative freelancer example from above, this might look like:

• Acquisition: how to write a high-converting outreach email
• Productivity: how to structure your working day
• Negotiation: 10 key things your proposal needs to have

The point here is to choose high-value lessons that set the tone for your future content, and can generate early results or progress for your customers!

If you’re starting off on a low budget, here is a great video from Think Media on how to create your first videos using only your smartphone:

Click here to watch the video -> youtube.com/watch?v=ek53TQ9U35o

4. Pick Your eLearning Platform

It’s time to look at where you’re going to build your eLearning business.

You may already have considered some “education” platforms that allow you to host single courses, but I’m going to recommend you consider a more comprehensive solution. 

Specifically, I’m going to recommend you use a video monetization platform. Here’s why…

Video is the most effective way of teaching people remotely. It allows you to convey complex information easily. Just ask the 86% of people who use YouTube videos to learn new skills !

You also need a platform that allows you to:

• Create your own controlled learning environment
• Connect directly with your audience within a standalone platform
• Offer a wide range of payment options
• Create combinations of monetization options
• Use analytics for both your videos and marketing
• Take control of your income

You can do all of this – and much, much more – by using Uscreen . You can find out more about us, and what we offer, by clicking here or watching the video below:

Click here to watch the video -> youtube.com/watch?v=fxAZYn6gj74

5. Set Your Prices

Next up, let’s look at how to set prices for your eLearning business.

In the video below one of our resident video experts, Nick Nimmon, will talk you through a tried and tested strategy for setting prices for online courses and eLearning businesses.

Check it out:

Click here to watch the video -> youtube.com/watch?v=0YkQySdR9VU

6. Market Your eLearning Business

The final step is to begin marketing your eLearning business. This is where having an existing audience really helps!

I recommend you start by identifying your existing marketing channels, like…

• your newsletter
• social media feeds
• YouTube channel audiences
• community forums 

…and promote your new platform there. 

You should also consider using YouTube to create a marketing “funnel”. This is where you share:

• Top-level videos to engage potential and new audience members
• Middle-level videos to begin educating them
• Bottom-level videos, like trailers, to point them towards your platform

You can learn more about how to create a YouTube marketing funnel here .

Better still….

You can use Uscreen’s marketing tools to build more comprehensive and effective marketing campaigns. With them, you can:

• send abandoned cart emails
• create “reduce churn” sequences
• offer high-converting free trials
• share promotional coupons
• connect with 1000+ tools via Zapier

…so you can build tailored campaigns to market your eLearning business, your way.

Bonus: Join Uscreen’s Instructional Video Business Accelerator

We created the Instructional Video Business Accelerator for those of you who are serious about starting an eLearning business.

The Instructional Video Business Accelerator is a self-paced program that helps you learn the core skills you need to build a long-term eLearning business. It’s made up of hours of video tutorials that will help you:

• Create your eLearning business.
• Record impactful video lessons.
• Build a community of excited students.
• Effectively market your platform.

The Instructional Video Business Accelerator is automatically accessible to all eLearning Uscreen clients. Start your free trial to get access today ! Be sure to check eLearning as your industry while signing up.

Wrapping This Up…

There has never been a better time to start an eLearning business. COVID-19 has changed the way people want and need to learn, and the demand is higher than ever.

If you want to learn more about the key skills you need to launch and grow your own eLearning platform, be sure to check out Uscreen’s Instructional Video Business Accelerator!

Care for an on-demand demo?

James Johnson

James is a Photography YouTuber from Manchester, England. A former digital nomad, he’s been working online and in the creator economy for over a decade.

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Grow Your Business

8 steps to building an online course business (+ business plan template), share this article.

There has never been a better time to build a business selling online courses . By 2027, the global e-learning market is estimated to reach an enormous $521.8 billion ( Research and Markets ), signalling an enormous potential.  Millions of people are purchasing online courses, inside and outside of the traditional education system, in order to upgrade their knowledge and skills.

Skip ahead:

Step 1: Decide what to teach

Step 2: create a business plan for your online training business, step 3: validate market demand, step 4: create a compelling and unique brand, step 5: build your audience, step 6: create an online course, step 7: focus on customer success, step 8: scale your business.

It comes as no surprise that in response to this demand, entrepreneurs and subject matter experts from all over the world have started creating and selling online courses to share their knowledge with others.

At Thinkific, we’ve felt the effects of this demand first hand as thousands of individuals and organizations have started using our platform to create online courses .

Creating an online course is just one part of building an online course business. Building a business is the other part.

But let’s be real here. If you ask ANY type of business owner if it was easy for them to build their business, they will tell you that it wasn’t.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is an online course business

At the beginning of 2017, I watched a close friend of mine open his own barbershop. It took him 3 months of renovations and tens of thousands of dollars just to get his barbershop ready for him to welcome his first customer through the front door. (I was his second customer, by the way. Someone else beat me to the grand opening by about 5 minutes!)

For my friend, those 3 months of preparation work was just the beginning. During the next 6 months after his grand opening, he worked 7 days per week to build up his clientele and recoup his startup costs before he started hiring more barbers. Why did he do this? Because that’s what it took to start his own barbershop. 

What does this have to do with building an online course business?

The point of this story is that it takes a lot of work upfront to build a business . It doesn’t happen overnight and building an online course business is no exception. There is a lot of work you will have to do, both before and after you create your course, in order to be successful.

Unfortunately, most course creators give up on their business before putting in the work required to ensure they will be successful. They stop digging for gold before they experience the big payoff that makes all the hard work worth it.

Even though it takes a lot of work to build a successful online course business, there are plenty of other people that have done it before (check out our customer stories to see some examples). 

With that in mind, we reached out to more than 40 successful entrepreneurs and online course creators. These people have literally built their careers by sharing their knowledge with others, many of them selling millions of dollars worth of training programs and online courses throughout their careers.

After reviewing all of the valuable insights these online course creation experts and entrepreneurs shared with us, we managed to distill the process of building a successful online course business into 8 specific steps (well, more like phases, since each one of these phases has several steps involved).

In this guide to building an online course business, we’ll be sharing these 8 steps with you.

8 Steps to Building a Successful Online Course Business

Before we jump into Step 1, there is something very important that you need to understand:

By itself, an online course is NOT a business

Without an online course to sell, you can’t exactly build an online course business. But creating your online course is just one part of building your business . Your online course is your product. It’s not your entire business.

As you can see from the graphic below, a typical online course business has many other parts as well:

This may surprise you, but creating an online course isn’t even the first step in the process of building an online course business. Out of the 8 steps we’re about to go through, creating a course is Step #6.

You’re welcome to skip steps 1-5 if you want to, but I would advise against it and here’s why:

If you jump straight to creating a course without strategically choosing a topic to teach (Step 1), creating a business model (Step 2), and validating demand for that topic (Step 3), you could end up creating a course that no one wants to sign up for.

Secondly, if you don’t build your brand (Step 4) and audience (Step 5) before you launch your course, you won’t have a way to stand out among your competition or have an audience to promote your course to.

Even if you have the “perfect” course created today, without a compelling brand and an audience to promote it to, it will be very difficult to generate sales. No sales = no business.

So to save yourself many hours of effort and (potentially) thousands of dollars in course creation and marketing costs, don’t skip these steps.

Okay, let’s dive in…

The first step in building an online course business is deciding what you will teach. What topic do you want to become known for? What topic are you expert enough to teach to others?

To be an expert at something, you just have to know more about your topic than the person you are teaching. That’s it. To that person, you’re an expert. Don’t overthink this.

Choose your course topic

Between the combination of your life experience and your professional experience, there are likely several topics that you know enough about to create a course on.

To help narrow down a specific course topic , we recommend completing the following exercise:

On a piece of paper, draw 2 vertical lines to create 3 columns. Label the first column Passions & Interests . Label the second column Skills . Label the third column Experience & Achievements .

Next, start adding as many things as you can think of to each column (aim for at least 20 per column).

Once you’ve done this, identify the top 2-3 topics where your passions/interests, your skills, and your experience/achievements intersect.

For example, if you like science fiction ( passion/interest ), you’re a great writer ( skill ), and you’ve written several science fiction novels ( experience/achievement ), then “how to write a science fiction novel” is a viable topic to consider teaching to others.

“You’ve been given a talent, you’ve been given a gift, you’ve been given experiences in your life that are here to serve others.” – Alexi Panos

Identify a specific target audience

Once you’ve identified a specific topic to teach, the next step is to identify a specific target audience (aka a target market) that is interested in that topic.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your topic (and therefore your course) will appeal to everyone. If you try to create a course that appeals to everyone, it will likely appeal to no one. I know it’s counter-intuitive, but trust me on this.

To give you an example, one of our customers ( Lizzie Lasater ) is a yoga practitioner and instructor. When she decided to create online courses , naturally, she decided to start teaching yoga online  

Instead of creating courses to teach people how to practice yoga (a very broad and highly competitive topic) she decided to narrow her target audience to other yoga instructors (more specific). With other yoga instructors as her target audience, she created courses that are specifically about how to become a better yoga teacher.

Once you have decided on what to teach and have sufficient clarity about your course topic, it is time to get your business plan ready. 

A business plan or business model is a formal blueprint describing how you will structure, manage and market your online course business. It is important to create one as it helps to ensure that your online course business will remain competitive and financially successful in the long term. 

You can choose one of the many software tools to create a standard business plan or use a regular spreadsheet or word processing software.

Now, as every business is different, their business models can vary drastically. However, certain aspects remain common to most companies. 

Here, we have laid out what you must include in your business plan:

Describe your business

A business description is needed to clearly state the purpose of your business, your target audience, and how you plan to deliver your products and services. 

When drafting it, you must be as objective and concise as possible regarding the nature of your online course and how it intends to help the target audience. 

Make sure to highlight if you will deliver your courses only online or offline. It also helps to state if your courses will be instructor-led or delivered through other e-learning methods. 

Identify your marketing strategy

Once you describe the nature of your business, the next step is to put together a marketing and sales strategy. 

Describe the strategies you will use to market your online course and how you plan to implement your email marketing, social media marketing, and other organic methods. 

In addition, you need to plan to allocate a budget for your paid advertisements and online marketing if you decide to opt for pay-per-click ad programs. 

Hiring and team management

While many online course creators choose to run their own shows, many opt to hire virtual assistants or full-time employees for help. Others choose to delegate tasks to freelancers or third-party vendors. 

Make sure to describe how you plan to delegate the tasks you cannot do. It is always a good idea to outsource tasks that do not require your intervention to save time for those that require your expertise.

Business operations

This section of the b-plan states how your day-to-day business activities will be structured and managed. 

You can include your course content, operational hours, telecom and IT-related necessities, insurance, etc. The more concise your operations section, the better ground it makes for you to validate your plan later. 

Every business requires money to run, and online businesses are no exception. In addition to the marketing and advertising expenses mentioned above, you will also need to factor in infrastructure, technology, hiring, etc. Remember to also describe what you plan to sell and how you plan to monetize your business. 

With this, make sure to have a detailed budget plan and allocate your resources to different expenses fairly. However, be careful to ensure that your budget is within what you can commit to and it does not make you feel overstretched. 

Please note that in addition to your online business course, you may also add other income streams such as selling ebooks, offering paid talks, etc. 

Two financial calculations you should consider initially are:

Gross Profit Margin: This is the number of courses you sell minus the cost of running your online course. It can be represented as a percentage. 

Gross Profit Margin = (Net course sale revenues – cost of running your online course) / net course sales x 100

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Ratio : This figure tells you the percentage of your online course sales revenue used to cover your operational expenses. 

SGA = [Selling + General + Operational (Administrative) expenses] / Net online course sales revenue

While we have described the essential aspects of a business plan, it also helps to follow the structure of a formal Business Model Canvas .  This concept was popularized by Alexander Osterwalder in 2005 and consisted of nine building blocks. These include key partners, activities, resources, cost structure, revenue streams, value propositions, customer relationships, channels, and customer segments.

Once you’ve identified a specific topic to teach and have your basic business plan blueprint in place, the next step is to validate the demand for that topic.

As a course creator it sucks to spend several weeks, maybe even months (or years?!), creating an online course about a topic that you find out there is no demand for.

It’s a lot more efficient to validate demand for your course upfront before you invest time, effort and money creating a course.

Here are 2 ways you can validate the demand for your course topic:

Research your competition

See if you can find other people or companies that are selling courses and other forms of training about your topic (or a similar one), or who serve your target audience.

• Bestselling books on Amazon
• Other online courses
• Popular blogs and forums
• Top podcasts on iTunes
• In-person seminars, conferences, workshops
• Online events (virtual summits, webinars )
• Networking groups on Meetup
• Coaches and consultants

If you can’t find anyone that is profitably teaching your topic to others, that is a red flag that there isn’t enough market demand for that topic to justify creating an online course (or building a business). Competition is usually a proof of market demand.

What if there is no competition?!

On the rare occasion that you can’t find any competing products or services about your topic, that could mean one of two things:

• There is demand, but no one is serving that market yet (rare), or
• There is no demand, and you should pick a different topic

Either way, there are still two more steps you should take before you pull the trigger and decide to create (or not create) your course.

A great way to gauge demand for your topic is to use Google’s Keyword Planner to see how many people are searching for your topic per month. The higher the search volume, the higher the demand.

“Do not be afraid of competition. Their very existence validates that there is demand for the problem you’re trying to solve or for a solution to it.” – Greg Smith, CEO of Thinkific

Ask your target audience what they want to learn

If you have access to your target audience, whether online or offline, the best way to find out what they want to learn (and would be willing to pay to learn) is to ask them directly!

Here are a few ways you can ask your audience what they want to learn:

• Ask your list of email subscribers
• Ask your fans/followers on social media
• Ask your past and/or existing clients

With each of these options, you can send people a link to a survey, ask them open-ended questions directly, or ask them to have a quick call with you.

Another way is direct outreach (aka cold calling) to your target audience by phone, email or social media. Do this in a polite, non-spammy way of course.

See how many people are searching for your course idea on google

Engaging in keyword research is a great way to identify a course topic that can possibly sell like hotcakes, without directly asking your audience., keyword research essentially helps you to understand what people are looking for online by keying in terms on google or other search engines. , to conduct keyword research on topics that may interest your audience, you can use specialised tools such as semrush or ahrefs . , irrespective of the tool you choose to use, here is the basic framework to engage in keyword research:, identify your seed term, which would be an umbrella term for your course topic. , type in “course” + your seed term., get specific and find a niche area that has not been covered by other course creators but has a high search volume. check out this tool to identify search volume, continue to search and eliminate topics that are not feasible or interesting. , for example, if you wish to start an online course on gardening, type “gardening course” in the keyword search tool. you will see multiple results with different search volumes. these results will help you get more specific. for example, you may find that “gardening courses in semi-arid regions” is a possible course topic with a decent search volume. , alternatively, you can also use our search volume too l to discover popular course topic ideas. .

Remember: If you can’t find anyone that wants to learn the topic that you’re thinking of teaching, you should probably move on to another topic.

If you can’t find buyers before you create your course, you probably won’t find any after either!

The ideal scenario is you choose a topic that there is obviously a demand for (proven by competing products and services about that topic), but nothing that is for your specific target audience.

Facebook marketing , for example, is a broad topic with strong market demand (proven by all of the blogs, books, courses, consultants, seminars, etc. about this topic).

Now, assuming we want to create a course about Facebook marketing, let’s see what topics we come up with as we hone in on a specific target audience:

• Topic 1: Facebook marketing 101 (very broad)
• Topic 2: Facebook marketing for business owners (more specific, still pretty broad)
• Topic 3: Facebook marketing for local businesses (not bad)
• Topic 4: Facebook marketing for real estate agents (very specific)
• Topic 5: Facebook marketing strategies to get more listings (ding ding ding, we have a winner!)

If you are a real estate agent and you want to learn how to use Facebook to get more listings, which course topic is going to appeal to you the most? Which topic would you pay the most money for? Probably #5, because it is the most specific. It is exactly what you want to learn.

“The easiest way to know what to do is listen to what people are asking for and then give that to them.” – JJ Virgin , Celebrity Nutritionist & Fitness Expert

Once you’ve decided on a specific topic to teach, it’s time to start building your brand.

Don’t jump straight to getting your logo, website, and business cards designed. Those things do play a role in representing your brand, but they are not the starting point.

The starting point to creating a compelling and unique brand is making a conscious decision about how you want to be positioned in your industry. Branding is about positioning .

Your brand should position you as the go-to expert on your topic. Unless you’re positioned as an expert and a trusted authority on your topic, it will be hard to convince someone to buy a course (or any product or service) from you.

Even though we’re told not to, we do judge a book by its cover. Think of your brand as the “book cover” for your business.

Be strategic with your positioning

The biggest mistake that people (and organizations) make with their branding is trying to appeal to everyone. Don’t do that. Be strategic with your positioning.

Build a brand that appeals to your specific target audience. Don’t try to appeal to everyone, because everyone is not your ideal customer/client.

Here are some questions to consider as you create your brand:

How do you want to be positioned and perceived in your marketplace? What do you want people to think of when they think of you? Who do you want to attract? Who do you NOT want to attract? What do you stand for? What do you stand against? Why do you do what you do?

When your target audience is searching for information about your topic, you want them to find you and immediately feel like they’ve come to the right place. They should feel like they’ve found the exact person (or company) that can help them overcome a specific problem or achieve a specific outcome.

“A great brand starts with understanding who you are, what you stand for, understanding your marketplace and understanding your positioning.” – Re Perez, CEO of Branding For The People

Identify your Unique Value Proposition

An exercise that we recommend all course creators complete is creating a Unique Value Proposition (UVP). Your UVP is what will help you differentiate yourself from your competition.

To create your UVP, answer these questions:

• Who do you help?
• What do you help them do?
• Why is that beneficial for them?

Once you have the answers to these questions, tie them together in a single sentence.

To give you an example, one of our customers Ellie Diop aka Ellie Talks Money , is a business coach with a proven track record that helps you scale your business and have financial success. Pretty good UVP right?

Here is a screenshot of her website’s homepage:

As you can see, anyone who visits her website will be able to instantly figure out who she is, what she does, and who her target audience is. She has a clear and compelling personal brand . If you’re someone who wants to improve your business and reach financial success, it’s obvious you’ve come to the right place. 

Good branding makes your target audience feel like they’ve come to the right place.

Once you’ve decided how you want to be positioned in your market, it’s time to start building your audience.

Your audience is the sum total of all the people that you have the ability to communicate with through various distribution channels (your blog, social media, email list , personal network, etc.).

Why is it important to build an audience?

Without an audience that knows, likes, and trusts you, it will be very difficult to sell your course for the simple reason that you don’t have anyone to sell it to!

So the sooner you start building your audience, the better.

“Online courses are the wave of the future. They can help expand my content and message into places and countries that I have yet to physically visit. Online courses have boosted my income and helped me share my message with a much larger audience.” – Andrea Beaman , Health Educator & Author

Related: How to Create Epic Content Your Customers Will Love

How to define your target audience

It helps if you follow a systematic framework to define your target audience . Some useful steps to that end include: 

• Ask your current customers
• Get details on demographics like age, gender, location, etc.
•  Understand their needs and pain points
• Analyze the solution they’re hoping for
• Create a customer avatar

Download our detailed step-by-step guide for audience research

Size is important (but not the most important)

The size of your audience is important, but not as important as you might think. The obvious benefit of having a large audience is the ability to reach more people. If you have 10,000 fans on Facebook, for example, your posts will probably be seen by more people than if you had 1,000 fans (all else being equal).

But the size of your audience is not as important as the relationship you build with your audience.

It’s more valuable to have 100 people on your email list that open and read every email you send them than it is to have 1,000 followers on Twitter who rarely see your Tweets or engage with you in any way.

When it comes to building an audience, loyalty and engagement are the most important.

Here are some of the most common ways that online course creators are building their audience:

• Social media

Set up profiles and/or pages on the social network networks that your target audience spends time on. You don’t need a presence on every social media network. Choose the top 2-3 that make the most sense for you and focus your efforts there. Share your content, join relevant groups, start your own Facebook group , and engage in conversations. The goal here is to build real relationships with other people that are interested in your course topic.

Read More: Social Media Marketing Guide: Uncracking the Code for Course Creators

• Content marketing

Publish free content about your course topic as often as you can. Free content helps you build trust and authority in your industry. Common types of content that you can create are articles, videos, podcast episodes, images, and infographics. All of these help to increase traffic to your website and exposure for your business.

The more content you publish on your website and other platforms (like YouTube ), the more likely your target audience will find you as they are searching for information about your topic.

• How To Generate Leads With Content Marketing (6 Simple Steps)
• The Complete Content Marketing Guide: Organic Growth Toolkit
• Publicity & PR

One of the quickest ways to build your audience is to get in front of existing audiences. Writing articles for popular publications in your industry, getting interviewed on podcasts , and getting featured in traditional media (TV, radio, newspapers, print magazines, etc.) are all great ways to increase your exposure and build authority in your industry.

• Networking & joint ventures

Build relationships with other experts and influencers in your industry. It doesn’t happen overnight, but building mutually beneficial relationships with others can lead to a number of opportunities including guest blogging, interviews, joint ventures , partnerships, and customer referrals.

• Public speaking

Reach out to event hosts and organizers of conferences and seminars that your target audience attends. Offer to give a presentation on your topic. Some events will even let you sell your course directly to their audience, in exchange for a percentage of your sales. A major advantage of public speaking is you have the undivided attention of everyone in the room during your presentation, and that can be very hard to get online.

• Email marketing

When it comes to marketing your online course (or any product or service online for that matter), email marketing is hands down the most effective way to generate sales. An email list of people that have expressed interest in your course topic and have given you permission to communicate with them will likely be your most valuable asset as an online course creator.

Start building your email list as soon as possible. Stay in touch with your subscribers by sending them helpful emails and links to your content on a regular basis. This is a great way to earn their trust before you ask them to buy from you.

• Paid advertising

Even with a modest budget, paid advertising can be a great way to grow your audience. By utilizing advertising platforms such as Facebook, Google, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn, you can target people based on specific criteria including demographics, interests, search terms, job titles, and more. In fact, many of Thinkific’s most successful customers have been using Facebook ads to grow their audience and generate consistent leads and sales for their online courses.

“Consistency is what did it for us. Doing something every week, at least once a week, helped us get better really, really fast because we were putting in the time and putting in the practice.”

– Jordan Harbinger , Author & Podcast Host

Creating an online course is definitely one of the more exciting steps in this entire process, but it can also be the most time consuming one if you’re not careful.

Most people spend several weeks (or months, depending on the course) creating their online course. Other, more experienced course creators have perfected this process and can create an entire online course in one weekend .

But regardless of how long it takes you to create your course, the process that you go through will most likely look a lot like this:

• Choose your course title and subtitle. 
• Ensure that your topic has high demand in the market
• Ensure that the learning outcomes are stellar
• Gather material for your online course content
• Create a lesson plan (aka course outline) and choose your lesson types (audio, video, text, etc.)
• Identify the best ways to deliver each of your course modules
• Film, record, and edit your online course
• Set up your online course, including a website
• Choose a price for your course
• Create a sales page and focus on marketing your course

Instead of going through each of these steps in more detail right here in this article (which would make it way longer than it already is!), I’m going to share a few of the most important lessons we’ve learned about course creation from the experts we interviewed.

Want to create an online course business, but unsure of where to start? Use Thinkific for free and get free training !

Or sign up for our free mini series that will teach you how to profitably create and sell an online course in just a week.

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Create a “Minimum Viable Course”

A concept that has been popularized by American writer and entrepreneur Eric Ries in his book Lean Startup is the concept of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) .

An MVP is a development technique used by organizations (especially startups) in which a new product is developed with sufficient features to satisfy early adopters. The final, complete set of features is only designed and developed after considering feedback from the product’s initial users.

Applying this concept to creating online courses, that means that you should not try to create the perfect course the first time. Instead, create a Minimum Viable Course (MVC).

Here’s why…

The problem with trying to create the “perfect” course before you show it or sell it to anyone is that “perfect” is a very subjective term. What you think is perfect is probably not the same as what your customers/students think is perfect. Even if it is, your course does not have to be perfect in order to be valuable .

Perfectionism has stopped more people from creating and launching their online courses than anything else. Don’t let this happen to you. If your course (imperfect as it may be) is good enough to help someone, then it is good enough to publish. Done is better than perfect.

Create your MVC as quickly as possible so you can publish it and get real feedback from real students. Based on their feedback and other important data (such as course completion and engagement rates ) you can remove training, add training, and make revisions to your course to make it better.

“Don’t be a perfectionist because the world can’t wait for perfect. Get it done, get it out and get it sold. It’s not a book so you can always revisit it periodically but your number one priority is creating a transformation in your clients, so keep your focus there.” – Shazzie Love , Business Strategist

Course length ≠ course value

Read More: How to decide on the ideal course length ?

Another big mistake to avoid is trying to teach everything that you know about your topic in a single course. Doing this will most likely result in a super long course that your students won’t complete and that takes a ridiculous amount of time to create in the first place. Wrong approach!!

Your online course is the shortcut

The purpose of your course is to teach your student how to get from Point A to Point B as quickly and as efficiently as possible. It’s the shortcut.

Your online course is the shortcut. Help your students get from A to B as quickly as possible.

You absolutely should not overwhelm your students by brain-dumping everything that you know about your topic into your course. Your course should be as short as possible without sacrificing the key concepts in your training.

Don’t create 8 hours of training if you can teach your students what they need to know with 3 hours of training. As long as they learn what you promised to teach them, they won’t complain that your course was “too short”. Instead, they’ll probably thank you for not wasting their time with fluff or filler content.

Launch to a small test group first

Another important lesson we learned from the experts we interviewed is not to launch the first version of your course (your MVC!) to your entire audience.

Instead, you should promote your course to a small segment of your audience at a lower price than what you eventually want to charge for your course. If you do promote your course to your entire audience, consider imposing a limit on the number of students that can enroll in it. Once you hit your goal, you temporarily close enrollment for your course.

This strategy is often called a beta launch (similar to pre-selling ). The goal of this type of launch is to get your course into the hands of a small number of students who will “test” your course. In exchange for accessing your course at a reduced price, you ask your students to provide you with feedback to help you improve the course and testimonials to use in your future marketing.

Based on the feedback from your students, you can make changes to improve your course. When you have a revised version of your course that is better than the first and positive student testimonials to use in your marketing, you re-open enrollment for your course and sell it a higher price.

If you’re ready to start marketing your course, check out these 55 online course marketing ideas here .

Okay, let’s pretend that you’ve already completed Steps 1 to 5.

• You’ve decided what topic you’re going to teach. It’s not too broad, and it appeals to a specific target audience.
• You’ve validated market demand for your topic. Thousands of people around the world are interested in it, and they’re already spending money to learn it.
• You’ve crafted a compelling brand. You are known in your industry as an expert on your topic. When your target audience finds you, they trust that you can help them.
• You’ve built an audience. You have followers on social media. You have people on your email list. You have relationships with other experts in your industry. You’ve been featured in other publications, podcasts, and media outlets.
• You’ve created an online course. And after promoting your course to your audience, you are proud to say that you have customers. Your business is generating revenue.

Even though it is a HUGE accomplishment to get this far (and yes, you deserve to celebrate at this point!), there is still work to be done.

Acquiring customers is just the beginning. Now your job is to deliver on the promise you made to your customers.

Think of any local business you are a customer of. A restaurant. A nail salon. A coffee shop. A convenience store.

These businesses don’t stay in business because they are constantly attracting new customers. They stay in business because their existing customers come back more than once, often bringing their friends and family with them. This same rule applies to your online course business.

“We’re not in this business just to get people to buy our stuff. We want them to see the change and the impact and create the success stories.” – Nick Unsworth, CEO of Life on Fire

It’s a lot cheaper to keep a customer than acquire a new one

If you are constantly investing in marketing and promotion to attract new customers, but you’re doing nothing to ensure the success of those customers, it will be very difficult (and expensive!) for you to build a profitable and sustainable business.

When a customer purchases your online course, this should not be the end of your relationship with them. This should be the beginning.

Your customers should be so thrilled with the training and overall experience that you provide to them that they purchase additional courses from you in the future, and they tell others about your courses too.

Related: The Top Customer Success Strategies Used By Successful Companies

Here are a few ways you can increase your student engagement and retention rates:

• Gamify the learning experience

Create incentives and offer rewards to your students for achieving specific milestones in your course.

Related: Gamification in Training: The Complete Guide to E-Learning Gamification [2022]

• Help your students be accountable

Pair them up with an accountability partner, offer 1-on-1 or group coaching calls with your students, or create a private group or discussion board for them to interact with each other.

• Appeal to different learning styles

Don’t create training that appeals to just one learning style. Utilize different media types to deliver your content (text, video, audio, worksheets, quizzes, etc.).

• Create small, bite-sized lessons

Shorter lessons are more likely to be completed by students than longer ones. If it takes you a while to teach a specific concept, try breaking up the concept into several shorter lessons.

• Bite Sized Learning: A New Strategy For Teaching (How It Works & Tips)
• What Is Microlearning? The Case For Shorter, Bite Sized Learning
• Send reminder emails to your students

If you notice that a student isn’t accessing or completing the training in your course, send them a polite reminder email to re-engage them. Show them that you care.

The final step in building a successful online course business is to scale your business by creating systems and/or hiring people to ensure that it continues to grow.

According to Greg Smith, CEO of Thinkific , you should only scale something that works.

The 76 steps that came before this one are your chance to do just that. To prove that your online course business works. Once you have a business that works, it’s time to shift from spending the majority of your time working in your business to working on it.

This is accomplished by creating systems and hiring people to handle the repetitive, day-to-day tasks involved in running your business. The goal is to free yourself up to focus the majority of your time on activities that move your business forward, such as:

• Building your audience
• Building your network
• Creating sales funnels to acquire new customers
• Creating additional courses and/or services to sell to your customers

Here are a few of the key lessons we learned about scaling an online course business from the expert we interviewed:

1. Automate repetitive tasks

Identify the tasks in your business that are highly repetitive and not the best use of your time as an entrepreneur. Document the process for those tasks and delegate them to someone else, or use technology/software to automate that task for you. Every repetitive task that you automate today buys you more time to focus on other activities tomorrow.

“The way you multiply time is by spending time on things today that give you more time tomorrow.” – Rory Vaden, Southwestern Consulting

2. Build a team as early as possible

To grow an online course business to 6 or even 7 figures in annual revenue and beyond, you’re going to need some help. Very few entrepreneurs are able to build successful and sustainable businesses without a team of people to help them make it happen. There is simply too much to learn and do, and not enough hours in the day for one person to do it all.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb

Hiring a virtual assistant or a personal assistant is a great starting point. From there, consider hiring help for other areas of your business including content creation and editing, marketing and advertising, branding, accounting, etc. These do not have to be full-time employees. Many course creators have teams that consist of freelancers and independent contractors from around the world.

Related: How to Hire a Virtual Assistant (An Entrepreneur’s Guide To Outsourcing)

3. Tie your business to a greater purpose

Sharing your knowledge by creating online courses is a great way to empower others through education and move humanity forward. But creating online courses is certainly not the only way to make a positive impact in the world.

There are countless organizations that are doing incredible things to make the world a better place. By partnering with other organizations and tying your business to a greater purpose, you ensure that as your business grows, so does the impact you make in the world.

“Whether you’re in the non-profit structure or the for-profit structure, you have a tremendous opportunity to use business as a force for good.” – Adam Braun, Founder of Pencils of Promise

This article was originally published May 2018, and refreshed with new information in February, 2024. 

As the Content Marketing Manager at Thinkific (2016-2019), Tyler Basu helped to create, publish, and promote content to help thousands of entrepreneurs learn how to create and sell online courses . Today, he works directly with entrepreneurs to help them create content that attracts and converts their ideal clients.

• 10 Steps To Creating A Wildly Successful Online Course
• How to Price Your Online Course (Complete Guide to Course Pricing)
• The Ultimate Online Course Launch Checklist (Free Guide + Templates)
• Best Equipment & Software For Creating Online Courses
• The Best Online Course Platforms in 2024

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How To Build An Elearning Business In 2024: Six Approaches That Work

he global school shutdown caused by the covid-19 outbreak has offered a chance for e-learning companies to reach approximately 1.37 billion students. The desire to learn and the need to supplement limited access to educational institutions have led to a boom in the eLearning industry. The e-learning industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20 percent to reach $315 billion by 2028.

Thus, now is an excellent time to start your own e-learning or training business, given the worldwide demand for online and distance learning. However, implementing an e-learning business plan is no easy feat. The key to achieving success is to try things no one else has. Consider  Cathy More  and her ilk as an example. Cathy is a well-known training pioneer who has made it her mission to rid the world of boring education. Companies such as Microsoft, Pfizer, the US Army, Barclays, and the US Department of the Interior have all used Cathy's designs. 😎 

Don't be disheartened that the key players have already taken their places at the table, and you're just getting started. At least, this is why we are here to teach you how to fly.  EducateMe  outlines the fundamental but essential steps to create an e learning business in this article. Want to follow in Cathy's footsteps or perhaps join the ranks of successful e-learning companies? Buckle up and enjoy the ride as we reveal the inside scoop. 

In six steps, the following summarizes how to start an e-learning business.

1️⃣ Define your audience

2️⃣ Establish a core content

3️⃣ Choose an LMS

4️⃣ Launch your courses

5️⃣ Promote your company 

Ready to learn? Let's go! 🚀

What Is an E-learning Business? 

Too frequently, learning and  online learning  are confused with one another. Before defining an e-learning business model, it is necessary to clarify what falls within and outside the learning scope.

E-learning, often known as "virtual learning," primarily refers to an internet-based form of education. The instructor and students do not meet in person. All coursework and contact are conducted through email, message boards, chat, or video conferencing. Some schools refer to this course format as "fully online."

• Out of scope

The bulk of the coursework will be completed online through forums, shared papers, email, chat, and so on. However, this does not mean that students and teachers have no face-to-face contact. Coursework may be completed in a classroom or remotely, so long as most discussion takes place online. Online learning falls under this category.

So what Do Elearning Startups Do? 🤔

You need an e learning business if you want to effectively educate people in a specific field or teach them new skills while maximizing your resources and increasing your revenue. Consequently, learning startups refer to platforms used by instructors to administer online courses or impart curriculum-aligned learning experiences. eLearning programs may contain videos, quizzes, simulations, games, activities, and other interactive elements. Additionally, students could view a recorded lecture or attend a live lecture.

Types of eLearning Business Models

There are three primary business models for e-learning that instructors may implement. 

✅ Night School Model

The term "night school model" was coined to describe community colleges' vocational and evening courses. The majority of eLearning companies follow the model of conventional night schools. In this tried-and-true arrangement, students pay a one-time fee for curriculum access. This business model provides courses with predetermined learning modules, assessments, quizzes, and examinations that adhere to a specific structure. 

✅ The Academy Model 

The Academy eLearning model is comparable to a cyberspace membership or subscription service. Students are granted access to all content, including live classes and courses, for a monthly fee. As their expertise grows, students have a greater say in what and when they study. The business model of the academy provides students with a plethora of study materials, including courses, videos, and other media, from which they can learn and develop in various domains. 

✅ The Combined Model 

The "combined" model is a hybrid of the night school and academy models, intending to increase income. Here, the academy model is the primary offering, while the night school strategy is an optional extra. In addition to subscription-based services, this model offers both a "buy once, use forever" option and individual courses.

Who Needs an Elearning Business? 🤷‍♂️ 

Launching an e-learning startup is just one aspect of the process, but before you start, you'll need to determine if it's a good fit for you. 

Course Designers 🖼 

Online course developers are those who make courses available to students online. Packaging your expertise into an eLearning course may supplement your income or start a new one. Using an eLearning business model, you may differentiate yourself from the competition by deciding to develop courses that feature your comprehensive knowledge and skills.

Online teachers 🧑‍🏫 

Starting an online learning business requires excellent communication and teaching skills, a stable computer, and knowledge of the subject area being taught. Your responsibilities as a remote tutor may change based on the kind of eLearning company you run, the grade level you instruct, and your student's age and learning needs.

Training Camps ⛺️ 

The eLearning industry presents an opportunity for boot camp planners to integrate their events. The first guideline for managing a successful boot camp is removing students from their normal environments. Corporate learners can now interact with distant colleagues and facilitators via the eLearning industry, broadening their access to education and training opportunities.

Is Elearning a Profitable Business and Why Launch One? 

The importance of the eLearning industry has grown as the educational landscape has shifted away from classroom-based instruction to online courses. An e-learning company facilitates digital interaction between educators and their students. Several important factors are contributing to the increase in interest and participation. Listed below are the most important ones.

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The COVID-19 Pandemic has Irrevocably Altered the Future of Education, with Elearning at the Forefront of the Revolution

According to Technavio's most recent market analysis, the e-learning market's potential growth gap is  expected to increase by USD 1.72 trillion between 2021 and 2026 . The report finds that the market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 16.35% over the predicted time frame. The e-learning market's growth is largely fueled by improved learning in the academic sector. 

COVID-19 boosted e-learning revenue. In response to rising employee safety concerns, companies are adopting work-from-home policies. This hinders companies' training, communication, progress monitoring, and upskilling, fueling demand for e-learning platforms among large corporations and SMEs. 

Corporates Are Investing Heavily in R&D for Their Clientele, and Employees

Between 2022 and 2028, the service providers industry is anticipated to grow at a rate of 30% due to the increasing emphasis on portfolio expansion among Indian businesses. The rapid spread of coronavirus necessitated the closure of schools and universities, necessitating the development of online alternatives for reinstatement of regular classes. Terms such as social and  collaborative learning are becoming commonplace in fast-advancing companies. Businesses invest more money in research and development to provide new products and services to satisfy consumer demand. 

The North American Government Is Improving Its Telecom and IT infrastructures 

Increases in telecom and IT infrastructure investment, scalability of resources, and greater access to university courses have all contributed to the expansion of the eLearning industry, as have service providers' substantial According to the International Telecommunication Union, the number of internet users will increase from 4.1 billion this year to nearly 5.3 billion in 2022. (ITU). The development of the industry is being driven by the growing number of people with Internet access. As the telecommunications and broadband industries have expanded, so has the availability of inexpensive Internet connection options. 

Higher Education Now Prioritizes Scalable Resources and Expanded Course Availability

In addition, there is a great deal of encouragement to launch an eLearning company because the demand for online learning materials currently exceeds the supply, resulting in a substantial increase in the earnings potential of market participants.

What Is ROI in Elearning?

Using an economic formula known as elearning return on investment (ROI), 💰 one can calculate the financial benefits of offering online training courses or operating an eLearning business. For an eLearning project to be successful, its benefits must exceed its expenses. A calculation of return on investment justifies the investment in training by comparing the costs of development and delivery to the value or benefits realized. 

The owner of an eLearning company is understandably curious as to whether or not their online training program produced the desired outcomes, whether or not their trainees found it useful, and whether or not their company's bottom line has increased significantly. In essence, eLearning ROI is an essential performance metric for determining whether or not your eLearning organization is optimizing its financial resources.

How Do You Measure Elearning Business ROI?

When starting an e-learning business, the ROI estimate is essential. Measuring ROI enables a business to determine the success of a campaign and establish benchmarks for future campaigns. For instance, after establishing an e-learning startup, you could use ROI measurement to determine when something fails, allowing you to swiftly reevaluate or re-shape your offerings and avoid wasting time and money on something that isn't working.

Traditional Elearning ROI Calculation

ROI is frequently calculated by dividing the profit from an investment by the amount invested. The ROI of your eLearning company can be determined by comparing the cost of creating and delivering training programs to the results they produce. To determine the average eLearning ROI, simply divide the amount of money your company made due to the program by its implementation cost. You can calculate your return on investment as a percentage using this formula by multiplying the result by 100. To declare your effort a success, you must show that the benefits and value of your program outweigh the costs.

Kirkpatrick's Four Tiers Evaluation

Donald Kirkpatrick's 4-level model, which considers learner feedback, the impact on the business, and the return on investment, is the most widely used technique for determining training effectiveness. 

• The first level or stage is known as "Reaction." Students' responses to surveys and comments reveal what should be improved and whether the material was useful. 
• Each participant's learning level will determine how much they take away from experience. It assesses how well the learner is progressing toward their objectives, whether the training objectives are being met, and whether there are knowledge gaps that can be filled by modifying the course content. 
• Upon completion of a course, instructors can determine whether their students' behavior has changed and whether the skills and knowledge they gained have been applied by observing their behavior levels. 
• The effectiveness of training is determined by calculating its impact or influence on the trainees' outcomes. Productivity gains are a common indicator of success. 
• In Kirkpatrick's assessment methodology, Level 5 is the transition between the first four stages and the final step in calculating ROI for online education. The ROI of online learning can be calculated by comparing the cost of the training to the benefits it offers.

Through an LMS (the most practical method)

A learning management system (LMS) is essential software for your e-learning business. It enables you to host training and provides multiple options for collecting training data and generating reports on the fly. Using your cloud-based learning management system (LMS), students can access course materials anytime and from any location. Your learning business's return on investment (ROI) may not rack up immediately. However, your business will begin to generate a return on investment once you replace traditional training with an LMS.

How to Build an Elearning Business in 6 Steps

There are two possible routes for launching an e-learning business. The first is to create a website or mobile application to promote your business, and the second is to use an LMS to aggregate or sell courses. Custom websites and applications are an excellent concept, but they require a substantial investment and technical expertise to develop and maintain. In contrast, LMS implementation requires fewer resources and no technical knowledge. Consequently, instructors utilize LMS more frequently.

If you prefer the LMS route, the following is a 6-step guide on how to start e learning business models.

Step #1. Define Your Audience

Market research is required to determine who you should target. To narrow down your target audience, ask yourself questions like: 

• Who is my target audience? 
• What age range should I shoot for? 
• What are their annoyances or pain points? 
• What kinds of courses do they want to take? 

With the answers to these questions, you can tailor your course material to the needs of your audience.

Step #2. Determine Your Core Content

If you want to launch an e-learning startup, you should prioritize long-term value and attract prospective new learners, and keep your current customers. A list of the core skills students want to learn is extremely beneficial. Based on this data, you can decide what to focus on creating and who you're attempting to reach. Furthermore, you may complete more than one critical piece of content with different subsets of your target audience. 

Step #3. Select an LMS

When it comes to launching your eLearning business, you have some options. However, to provide students with engaging online course material, we recommend using a platform with an open-source LMS. You can customize an open-source platform to meet your specific needs. 

Step #4. Make Your Courses Available

It's a good idea to create some sample lessons and courses that cover the main features of your platform before launching it. To see high rates of early acceptance and positive feedback, ensure your material is high quality and provides value to the learner. Your students' reactions to these initial practical exercises will determine the long-term success of your eLearning platform. 

Step #5. Decide on a Price 

Every e learning business must make a profit, and detailed course pricing is one way to do so. It would help if you struck a balance between charging too little and failing to make enough to cover your expenses and charging too much and failing to attract any students. You could conduct a market study and compare the prices of similar classes on competing websites. Establishing a market presence frequently entails undercutting competitors' prices or offering discount deals. 

Step #6. Market Your Elearning Business

You won't be able to succeed without solid marketing, no matter how strong your platform is. You'll need to actively promote your business through marketing, social media, and other channels to stand out among the hundreds of eLearning platforms. 

Elearning Startups Founders' Lessons

Here are some pearls of wisdom from early learning entrepreneurs. We didn't name them but picked up their most important messages.

👉 Lesson 1. It's All about being in the Audience!

The learners are now the mainstay of education. This trend is further supported by concepts such as  cohort-based learning . As an instructor, you must capture your students' attention and reassure them that they are not alone in their struggles. When starting an eLearning company, focus your efforts on the target audience. When users feel like they belong on your eLearning platform, they have an emotional investment, which motivates them to tell their classmates about it. 

👉 Lesson 2. You Can't Ignore the Technical Sides

Technical considerations and project technology execution are equally important to the instructional component of the project. You must understand the fundamental guidelines for evaluating your eLearning business software. 

👉 Lesson 3. Do Everything You Can (Mistakes Too)

You can save money in the early stages of a project by doing as much of the work as possible on your own. Your future failures will not negate the valuable lessons you've already learned. 

👉 Lesson 4. Adopt Industry Best Practices to Increase Your Demand

The goal of online education is to make learning enjoyable and beneficial. Best practices in the industry may be used to increase sales in this manner. Suppose you want your students to be able to see how they're doing and receive feedback on how they can improve. In that case, one option is to use an artificial intelligence-powered ePortfolio module. Games can help to foster student competition.

Create an E-learning Startup on EducateMe 🔥 

Beginning an eLearning business may not be the simplest endeavor. But with an all-inclusive and feature-rich LMS like EducateMe, you can streamline the process.EducateMe is a platform that enables instructors to offer live courses, foster engagements between mentors and their students, and offer performance analytics.

Project-Based Learning: Top Examples, Benefits & Ideas

10 Best Cloud-Based Learning Management Systems [2024]

10 Best Training Management Software for 2024

Create and scale collaborative courses

Top Elearning Companies

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How To Write a Business Plan for E-Learning in 9 Steps: Checklist

By henry sheykin, resources on e-learning.

• Financial Model
• Business Plan
• Value Proposition
• One-Page Business Plan
• SWOT Analysis
• Business Model
• Marketing Plan
• Bundle Business Plan & Fin Model

Are you considering starting an e-learning business? With the rapidly growing popularity of online education, now is the perfect time to enter the market. According to recent data, the global e-learning market is projected to reach a staggering $325 billion by 2025 . This industry has been experiencing significant growth over the past few years, and with the ongoing advancements in technology and the increasing demand for flexible and accessible learning options, the potential for success is undeniable.

But before you jump into the e-learning market, it's important to have a solid business plan in place. This will not only help you organize your thoughts and ideas but also ensure that you are taking the necessary steps to set yourself up for success. In this blog post, we will take you through a 9-step checklist on how to write a business plan for your e-learning venture.

• Conduct market research
• Define the target audience
• Identify industry trends and competition
• Determine the unique selling proposition
• Create a comprehensive business model
• Establish clear objectives and goals
• Develop a pricing strategy
• Build a prototype or proof of concept
• Prepare preliminary financial projections

By following these steps, you will be able to develop a solid foundation for your e-learning business, positioning yourself for success in this rapidly growing industry. So, let's dive in and get started on crafting your business plan!

Conduct Market Research

Market research is a crucial step in developing a successful business plan for e-learning. It involves gathering and analyzing relevant data to understand the current market landscape, identify potential opportunities, and assess the needs and preferences of your target audience. Here are some important considerations to make during the market research phase:

• Determine the size and growth of the e-learning market: Research the current and projected size of the e-learning industry to gauge its potential for growth and sustainability. Identify any trends or patterns that may impact your business.
• Identify your target audience: Clearly define the demographics, psychographics, and educational background of your target audience. Understand their preferences, pain points, and motivations when it comes to online learning.
• Analyze industry trends and competition:
• Research current industry trends and innovations in e-learning, including emerging technologies and teaching methodologies.
• Identify your direct and indirect competitors and analyze their offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing tactics. Differentiate yourself from the competition by providing a unique value proposition.
• Gather feedback and insights:
• Conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups with potential customers to gather valuable feedback on their needs and expectations.
• Utilize social media platforms, online forums, and industry-specific communities to engage with your target audience and gain insights into their preferences.

Tips for Conducting Market Research:

• Use a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods to gather comprehensive data.
• Investigate both primary and secondary sources of information, including industry reports, academic research, and market data.
• Stay up to date with industry publications, conferences, and webinars to gain a deeper understanding of the e-learning landscape.
• Consider partnering with market research firms or consultants for specialized insights and expertise.
• Regularly review and update your market research findings as the industry evolves over time.

By thoroughly conducting market research, you will be equipped with the necessary information to make informed decisions, identify potential gaps in the market, and develop a successful business plan for your e-learning venture.

Define The Target Audience

In order to develop an effective business plan for e-learning, it is crucial to clearly define the target audience for your courses or modules. Understanding who your target audience is will help you tailor your offerings to their specific needs and preferences, ensuring a higher likelihood of success.

Here are some key steps to help you define your target audience:

1. Conduct market research:

2. segment your audience:, 3. analyze competitors:, 4. consider psychographics:, 5. seek feedback:.

By defining your target audience in a detailed and thorough manner, you will be able to design and deliver e-learning courses that meet their specific needs and provide them with value. This will increase the likelihood of attracting and retaining customers, contributing to the long-term success of your e-learning business.

Identify Industry Trends And Competition

Identifying industry trends and understanding the competitive landscape is crucial for the success of your e-learning business. By staying informed about the latest developments and knowing who your competitors are, you can position your business strategically and make informed decisions.

Here are some key steps to follow when identifying industry trends and competition:

• Conduct a thorough market analysis: Research the e-learning industry to gain insights into emerging trends, customer preferences, and challenges. Look for reports, industry publications, and online resources that provide valuable information on market size, growth rate, and future projections.
• Track industry innovations: Stay up-to-date with the latest innovations and technologies in e-learning. This includes advancements in learning management systems, interactive content creation tools, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. Understanding these trends can help you adapt your business to meet the evolving needs of your target audience.
• Study your competition: Identify and analyze your direct and indirect competitors. Look at their offerings, pricing strategies, marketing tactics, and customer reviews. This will help you understand what sets your business apart and how you can differentiate yourself from the competition.
• Identify gaps and opportunities: By analyzing the competitive landscape, you can identify gaps in the market that your e-learning business can fill. Look for areas where there is high demand and low competition, as this presents an opportunity for your business to gain a competitive advantage.
• Subscribe to industry newsletters and blogs to stay informed about the latest trends and updates.
• Attend conferences, webinars, and workshops related to e-learning to network with industry experts and gain valuable insights.
• Listen to feedback from your target audience and adjust your business strategy accordingly.

Determine The Unique Selling Proposition

In order to stand out in the competitive e-learning market, it is crucial to determine your unique selling proposition (USP). Your USP is what sets your business apart from others and gives you a competitive edge. It is the reason why potential customers should choose your e-learning courses over those offered by your competitors.

When determining your USP, consider the following:

• Identify your niche: Find a specific area or subject that you can specialize in. By targeting a specific niche, you can establish yourself as an expert and attract a dedicated audience.
• Offer exceptional content: Ensure that your courses are of high quality, providing valuable and engaging content to students. This can include interactive elements, multimedia resources, and real-world examples.
• Provide personalized learning: Tailor your courses to meet the individual needs of your students. Offer flexibility in terms of learning pace, customization options, and support.
• Emphasize convenience: Highlight the convenience and accessibility of your e-learning platform. Showcase features such as mobile compatibility, downloadable materials, and 24/7 availability.
• Deliver exceptional customer service: Stand out from the competition by offering outstanding customer support. Be responsive to inquiries, provide prompt assistance, and address any concerns or issues effectively.

Tips for Determining Your Unique Selling Proposition:

• Research your competitors to identify any gaps or areas where you can differentiate yourself.
• Conduct surveys or interviews with potential customers to understand their needs and preferences.
• Create a compelling tagline or slogan that encapsulates your USP and communicates it effectively to your target audience.
• Continuously monitor and adapt your USP based on market trends, feedback, and evolving customer needs.

By determining your unique selling proposition, you can effectively position your e-learning business and attract a loyal customer base. Use this step to differentiate yourself in the market and offer a compelling reason for students to choose your courses over others.

Create A Comprehensive Business Model

Creating a comprehensive business model is a crucial step in developing an effective e-learning venture. This model will serve as the foundation for your entire business plan, guiding your decision-making and outlining how your e-learning platform will operate.

When creating your business model, consider the following key components:

• Course Offerings: Define the subjects and topics that will be available to students on your platform. This could range from academic subjects to professional development courses, ensuring a diverse range of offerings to attract a wide audience.
• Instructor Network: Determine how you will recruit and select instructors to develop and teach courses on your platform. Consider the qualifications and expertise required, as well as any vetting or review processes to maintain a high standard of instruction.
• Course Structure: Decide whether your courses will be self-paced or instructor-led, or a combination of both. Consider the use of multimedia elements, interactive exercises, and assessments to enhance the learning experience.
• Technology Infrastructure: Identify the necessary technology and infrastructure needed to support your e-learning platform. This could include learning management systems, video hosting platforms, and secure payment gateways.
• Marketing and Promotion: Develop a plan for marketing and promoting your e-learning platform to attract students. Consider strategies such as social media advertising, content marketing, and partnerships with other institutions or organizations.
• Research successful e-learning platforms to get inspiration for your business model.
• Consider conducting a pilot program to test your business model and gather feedback before launching at full scale.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate your business model to adapt and refine it based on market trends and customer feedback.

By creating a comprehensive business model, you can clearly define how your e-learning platform will operate and differentiate itself from competitors. This will provide a solid foundation for the rest of your business plan and guide your decision-making as you move forward with your e-learning venture.

Establish Clear Objectives And Goals

Once you have conducted thorough market research and identified your target audience, it is crucial to establish clear objectives and goals for your e-learning business. These objectives will serve as the foundation for your business plan and guide your decision-making process.

1. Define your mission: Clearly articulate the purpose and mission of your e-learning business. What value or benefit do you aim to provide to your target audience? This will help you align all your efforts towards a common goal.

2. Set measurable goals: Establish specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for your e-learning business. These goals should be aligned with your mission and provide a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Examples of goals include increasing student enrollment, generating a certain amount of revenue, or expanding your course offerings.

3. Identify key performance indicators: Determine the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will help you track your progress towards your goals. These could include metrics such as student satisfaction, course completion rates, revenue per course, or customer acquisition cost.

• Ensure your objectives and goals are specific and measurable to track progress effectively.
• Consider both short-term and long-term goals to maintain a balance between immediate success and sustainable growth.
• Regularly review and reassess your objectives and goals to adapt to changing market conditions and business needs.

4. Define a timeline: Determine a timeline for achieving your objectives and goals. This will provide a sense of urgency and help prioritize your efforts. Break down your goals into smaller milestones and set deadlines for each milestone.

5. Align with your business model: Ensure that your objectives and goals are aligned with your overall business model. For example, if your business model focuses on providing specialized courses, one of your goals could be to become a recognized expert in those specific subjects.

By establishing clear objectives and goals, you provide a roadmap for your e-learning business and increase the likelihood of success. Regularly monitor and evaluate your progress to stay on track and make necessary adjustments along the way.

Develop A Pricing Strategy

Developing a pricing strategy is a crucial step in the business planning process for e-learning. Your pricing strategy will determine how much you charge for your courses or modules and how it aligns with your target audience and market competition.

Here are some important considerations when developing your pricing strategy:

• Understand the value: Evaluate the value your courses or modules provide to your target audience. Consider the knowledge, skills, and benefits they will gain from your e-learning program. This understanding will help you determine the appropriate price point.
• Research the market: Research the existing pricing models used by competitors and similar e-learning businesses. This will give you insights into the industry norms and the range of pricing options available. Additionally, identify any gaps or opportunities in the market that you can leverage.
• Consider your costs: Calculate the costs involved in developing and delivering your courses or modules. Account for expenses such as content creation, platform maintenance, marketing, and customer support. Ensure that your pricing covers these costs and allows for a reasonable profit margin.
• Segment your audience: Consider segmenting your target audience based on their willingness to pay, preferences, or demographics. This will enable you to offer different pricing tiers or packages that cater to the specific needs and budgets of different customer segments.
• Test and iterate: Once you have established an initial pricing structure, it is essential to test its effectiveness. Offer limited-time promotions, discounts, or free trials to gather feedback from potential customers and gauge their willingness to pay.

Tips for Developing a Successful Pricing Strategy:

• Consider offering flexible payment options, such as one-time payments, subscriptions, or installment plans, to cater to different customer preferences.
• Regularly monitor and analyze your pricing strategy to remain competitive in the market and adapt to changing customer demands.
• Continuously assess the perceived value of your courses or modules and make pricing adjustments accordingly to ensure customer satisfaction.

By carefully considering these factors and testing your pricing strategy, you can find the right balance between affordability for your customers and profitability for your e-learning business.

Build A Prototype Or Proof Of Concept

Building a prototype or proof of concept is a crucial step in the process of developing an e-learning business plan. It allows you to test and validate your ideas, identify potential issues, and gather feedback from users before investing significant time and resources into the full development of your e-learning platform. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind:

• Focus on core features: When building a prototype, it's important to prioritize and focus on the core features of your e-learning platform. Start with the essential functionalities that will provide value to your users and demonstrate the unique selling proposition of your business.
• Keep it simple: A prototype doesn't need to be overly complex or fully polished. The goal is to create a simplified version of your e-learning platform that showcases the key aspects and functionality. This will enable you to iterate and make necessary changes based on user feedback.
• Solicit feedback: Once your prototype is ready, reach out to potential users, industry experts, or mentors to gather feedback. Their insights can help you identify usability issues, strengths, and weaknesses of your concept. Consider conducting user testing sessions or surveys to collect valuable feedback.
• Iterate and refine: Based on the feedback received, make necessary iterations and refinements to your prototype. This iterative process allows you to improve the user experience, address any concerns, and optimize your e-learning platform before proceeding to the full development stage.

Additional Tips:

• Use wireframing tools or prototyping software to visually represent your e-learning platform's interface and functionality.
• Consider creating interactive demos using clickable mockups or video walkthroughs to give a better understanding of the user flow.
• Involve potential users and stakeholders throughout the prototyping process to ensure their needs and expectations are considered.
• Document feedback and track changes to monitor progress and demonstrate the evolution of your prototype.

By building a prototype or proof of concept, you can effectively demonstrate the viability of your e-learning business idea and refine your concept before committing to full-scale development. This iterative process will not only help you identify and address potential challenges but also increase the overall success and viability of your e-learning venture.

Prepare Preliminary Financial Projections

Once you have conducted thorough market research, defined your target audience, identified industry trends and competition, determined your unique selling proposition, created a comprehensive business model, established clear objectives and goals, developed a pricing strategy, and built a prototype or proof of concept, it is time to prepare preliminary financial projections for your e-learning business. These projections will help you understand the financial viability and potential profitability of your venture.

When preparing financial projections, it is important to consider both the revenue side and the expense side of your business. Start by estimating your potential revenue streams, which in the case of a pay-per-course or pay-per-module model will primarily come from student fees. Determine how many courses or modules you anticipate selling and at what price point. This will give you a rough idea of your potential revenue.

Next, analyze your expenses. Consider the costs associated with developing and maintaining the e-learning platform, hiring instructors or partnering with education providers, marketing and promotional activities, administrative and operational expenses, and any other relevant costs. This will give you an estimate of your potential expenses.

Tips for preparing preliminary financial projections:

• Be realistic: Ensure that your revenue and expense estimates are based on thorough research and analysis, rather than overly optimistic assumptions.
• Consider different scenarios: Prepare projections for best-case, worst-case, and most likely scenarios to understand the potential range of outcomes for your business.
• Factor in growth: If you plan to scale your e-learning business in the future, consider how this growth will impact your revenue and expenses.
• Seek professional advice: If financial projections are not your area of expertise, consider consulting with an accountant or financial advisor to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Once you have prepared your preliminary financial projections, review them carefully to assess the financial feasibility of your e-learning business. Identify any areas where adjustments or improvements may be needed, and refine your projections accordingly. Remember, financial projections are not set in stone, and they will likely evolve as your business progresses. However, having a strong grasp of your potential financial situation from the start will empower you to make informed decisions and secure the necessary resources to launch and sustain your e-learning venture.

In conclusion, writing a business plan for e-learning requires careful research and planning. By following these 9 steps, you can ensure that your business is well-prepared and positioned for success in the competitive e-learning market:

• Conduct market research to understand the demand and potential for e-learning in your target market.
• Define your target audience and tailor your courses to meet their specific needs and preferences.
• Identify industry trends and competition to stay ahead in the market.
• Determine your unique selling proposition to differentiate your e-learning business from others.
• Create a comprehensive business model that includes pricing, revenue streams, and cost structure.
• Establish clear objectives and goals to guide your e-learning business's growth and success.
• Develop a pricing strategy that balances affordability for students and profitability for your business.
• Build a prototype or proof of concept to validate your e-learning platform and gather feedback.
• Prepare preliminary financial projections to assess the feasibility and potential profitability of your e-learning business.

By following this checklist, you will be well-prepared to launch and grow a successful e-learning business in the ever-evolving digital educational landscape.

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How to Create an eLearning Project Plan

When you first start an eLearning project, there’s a lot of information you must collect and expectations to establish. Much of this upfront work occurs during your eLearning project kickoff meeting , while you’re scoping the project and conducting a needs analysis . This is your opportunity to meet with your project stakeholders and subject matter experts to ask questions, collect information, and set expectations. But, how can you ensure there’s accountability for everything that has been agreed upon?

Well, the truth is, it’s all too easy to walk away from your initial eLearning project kickoff meeting, assuming everyone is on the same page and has the same expectations for the project. However, this is rarely the case. To successfully create an effective eLearning course, all of the project contributors (including yourself) must have a clear understanding of the project details. In my experience, in addition to creating an eLearning development timeline , the best way to accomplish this is to create an eLearning project plan to document the details of the project.

So, in this post, I’ll share how to create an eLearning project plan.

What is an eLearning Project Plan?

As I explain in my book, The eLearning Designer’s Handbook , an eLearning project plan is a document designed to outline all the details necessary to implement the project. I like to think of a project plan as a contract between you and your stakeholders and subject matter experts.

An eLearning project plan is a document designed to outline all the details necessary to implement the project.

Documenting the details and deliverables of a project helps solidify everything agreed upon during the kickoff meeting. A project plan also helps to maintain accountability throughout the development process and ensure everyone involved understands their responsibilities. It can also help you avoid scope creep .

An eLearning project plan can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes (and many different eLearning project management tools you can use), there’s no single method for creating or formatting a project plan or what information to include in it. What’s important is that you include the right information you need in order to gain agreement and accountability with your stakeholders and subject matter experts.

Ultimately, your plan should include enough information to give anyone a strong sense of what the project aims to achieve and the deliverables that will result from the project.

Detail the Basic Project Information

Start creating your eLearning project plan by detailing the basic project information. This includes the project title, description, and a high-level overview of its history, goals, and deliverables.

While this information in your project plan may not be critical to the successful execution of the project, it can help to provide context for anyone else involved in the future.

Document the Roles & Responsibilities

After you’ve documented the basic information about the project, the next item to include in your eLearning project plan is a list of the roles and responsibilities for the project. This includes anyone involved in the project and their specific role.

Because your project involves multiple people coming together and working towards a common goal, it’s important everyone understands their role. This can help you establish lines of accountability throughout the project.

Define the Deliverables of the Project

Once you’ve established the roles and responsibilities for the project, the next item to document in your eLearning project plan are the deliverables for the project. This includes listing the target audience for the project, the learning objectives that will be achieved, and a detailed description of the course to be created.

Whether you’re creating a single eLearning course or a blended training solution, listing the deliverables helps establish the total scope of the project. For larger, more complex projects, it can also be helpful to document the deliverables as part of an instructional design document .

Because your project plan is like a contract or statement of work between your stakeholders and subject matter experts, there must be no questions about what actual items will be created and delivered once the project is complete.

Outline the Plans for Implementation & Measurement

The final item to include in your eLearning project plan is an outline of how the project will be implemented and measured. This includes listing the project risk and constraints, specific measurements used to evaluate effectiveness, and details about how the training will be delivered to the target audience.

While it may seem premature to identify these items at the start of the project, these decisions will ultimately determine the success of the project once it’s complete.

The Bottom Line

While taking the time to document everything in an eLearning project plan may seem tedious, it will help ensure the project starts with everyone on the same page. It can also help you ensure accountability between you and your stakeholders and subject matter experts.

If you’re new to eLearning, I’d recommend checking out The eLearning Project Plan Notebook , which can help you capture and document all of the necessary information when planning your eLearning projects.

If you’d like to learn more about managing your eLearning projects, check out this post .

What else do you like to include in your eLearning project plan? Share your tips by commenting below!

Hi, I’m Tim Slade, and I’m a speaker, author, and founder of The eLearning Designer's Academy. Having spent the last decade working to help others elevate their eLearning and visual communications content, I have been recognized and awarded within the eLearning industry multiple times for my creative and innovative design aesthetics. I’m also a regular speaker at international eLearning conferences, a LinkedIn Learning instructor, and author of The eLearning Designer’s Handbook.

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Hi, Tim! Please ignore my message asking how to find the project plan template. I just found it on this posting. Thank you so much for sharing! Take care, Piri Campo

Glad you found it! 🙂

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How to Start an eLearning Business

Online courses have increasingly become the go-to method for learning a variety of skills and knowledge. The benefits of online learning for students and instructors are numerous, and for entrepreneurs, the financial potential can be significant. In fact, the eLearning industry is expected to reach $325 billion by 2025 .

eLearning businesses may deliver formal education opportunities or informal opportunities. On the more formal end of the spectrum, accredited colleges and universities offer fully online degrees. On the less formal end, other eLearning businesses offer instruction on practically every subject, from basket weaving to gardening. If you can think of a subject, chances are you can find someone attempting to teach it online.

Learn how to start your own eLearning Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Start an elearning business by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your eLearning Business
• Form your eLearning Business into a Legal Entity
• Register your eLearning Business for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your eLearning Business
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your eLearning Business
• Get eLearning Business Insurance
• Define your eLearning Business Brand
• Create your eLearning Business Website
• Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your elearning business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your elearning business?

Business name generator, what are the costs involved in opening an elearning business.

Getting started with an eLearning business doesn’t have to cost a lot. If you create your own courses and build your own platform, you will only need to pay for course production equipment (audio/visual), website hosting, and your platform. On the cheap end, you could record audio/video on your phone, edit in a free video editor, post videos on YouTube, and use WordPress for your site – all of which will cost very little.

If you want to hire others to create your coursework, the estimate for an hour of basic eLearning content in 2017 was around $4,500 at the low end. For more comprehensive content, the estimated cost of an hour of content was $10,054.

What are the ongoing expenses for an elearning business?

The ongoing costs for an eLearning business include platform maintenance and hosting as well as course creation. By far the most expensive cost is course creation. As mentioned before, the cost of an hour of course content can cost thousands of dollars or more. You can mitigate the cost of course creation somewhat by hiring salaried staff to do most of the work, but you will still need to pay experts to oversee the course creation and give final approval.

Who is the target market?

The target market for your eLearning business will vary greatly depending on what kind of courses you are offering. A course like Microsoft Excel Secrets will probably appeal to office workers while Making Homemade Sauerkraut will likely appeal more to hobbyists. There is value in both markets. Corporate clients and their employees are great consumers of online learning products, but you could also attract passionate and committed customers in the hobbyist area as well.

How does an elearning business make money?

An eLearning business usually makes money in one of two ways. The first is known as the night school model. In this model, the business charges a one-time fee for access to a course. The student follows the course outline, takes quizzes and tests to measure progress, and eventually completes the course.

The second business structure is the academy model. In this model, the business charges users a recurring fee for access to all of the courses they offer.

The amount you can charge customers depends on what courses you are offering and the market you are serving. For example, you can find basic eLearning courses for $9.99 on some platforms. Courses that lead to certification in a high-demand area can cost $10,000. Then you have eLearning platforms that offer Academy-style subscriptions, which may charge $19.99 a month to $49.99 a month.

How much profit can an elearning business make?

According to the eLearning hosting platform UScreen, the most profitable eLearning businesses use the Academy model. While charging hundreds of dollars for a single course can appear to be the most lucrative option at first, over time the subscription model adds up to more profit. UScreen claims that users applying the subscription model earn an average of $5,700 a month.

How can you make your business more profitable?

You can make your business more profitable by creating more courses. Each course you create will earn you some income and continue to earn income for as long as it is desirable to the consumer. As an example, your first course might make you an average of $100 a month. If you created 10 courses over a year, you could make ten times that amount. Another option for making your business more profitable would be to increase the variety of courses you offer. This is particularly useful in the Academy model because the more variety you offer for the monthly fee, the more attractive your subscription service becomes to customers.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your elearning business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market an elearning business

Knowing your target audience will make promotion and marketing easier. You can identify their needs and explain how your courses meet those needs. One effective marketing approach in eLearning is to let potential customers know that the online nature of your products can save them time and money over more conventional learning opportunities like in-person classes. You can also offer a promotional course for free or a portion of a course to give them a taste that will encourage them to come back for more.

How to keep customers coming back

Successful eLearning businesses do two things to keep customers coming back. First, they make sure that customers will get what they expect from their courses. Each course needs to deliver on its promise of solving a problem or meeting a need. Second, they offer new courses of similar quality. Once a customer has a satisfactory experience with one course, they are more likely to come back for another course.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

You may be passionate about a particular subject or subjects and want to share your knowledge using modern technologies. Or, you might be more interested in connecting great instructors with eager students through your own platform. Whether you are approaching this business idea as an instructor, a business person, or both, there is a lot of potential in the eLearning business model.

Some eLearning entrepreneurs are more tech-oriented, while others are more focused on pedagogy and instruction. Both have something to offer potential customers who want to take advantage of online learning.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at an elearning business?

Running an eLearning business requires juggling a lot of things, including course design, course implementation, instructor needs, tech issues, and marketing. If you are in charge of the business, you are probably not the only one creating courses. You may not even be involved in building courses. Instead, you might be working with multiple instructors to offer various courses on your platform. That means you need to keep the wheels rolling on different projects to get courses launched on time and ensure that your customers can use your platform as intended.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful elearning business?

The skills and experience you will need to be successful with an eLearning business depend somewhat on how you plan to structure your business. If you will be the instructor in all of your courses, you need enough authority to attract learners. For instance, if you want to teach journalism, you should have some journalism credentials so people want to learn from you.

If you are looking to create something bigger and more substantial like an eLearning platform with a variety of courses, you will need good management skills. As mentioned earlier, you will be working with various instructors and possibly developers to build courses and deliver those courses through an online platform. You will need to be capable of recognizing quality instruction and desirable platform design.

What is the growth potential for an elearning business?

The growth potential for an eLearning business is significant. While you may start with only a few courses, over time you can develop numerous courses and increase your customer base with each offering. One advantage this business idea has is that once you finish work on a course, that course can keep making you money for as long as it is of interest to the market. Depending on how evergreen the course is, you may have to make few if any changes to the course year after year.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting an elearning business?

• Choose a niche. If you are starting your own eLearning business and doing most of the work yourself, you definitely want to narrow down to a specific niche to avoid being overwhelmed with possibilities.
• Identify a need and fill that need with a course. For those that love certain subjects, creating courses for those subjects can be fun and satisfying. But the goal here is to make money, so you need to make sure you can sell your courses to consumers. Identify a need first – before building a course – to ensure you have a market for your product.
• Offer a user-friendly platform. The best course in the world is not going to be enough to keep customers around if your platform is difficult to use. If you have the skills, it is possible to create your own platform. However, remember that you can also use an established platform for eLearning by paying a monthly fee.

How and when to build a team

Running your own eLearning business solo will be challenging and maybe impossible if you are successful. Developing courses is time-consuming. So is creating and maintaining a platform, not to mention the time requirements for proper marketing. If you don’t build a team at the beginning, you should seriously consider doing so after your first course is successful. Expanding your business will require at least a few other team members, including someone to maintain your platform, someone to curate courses, and someone to handle marketing.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

• eLearning Learning

Real World Examples

• eLearning Company

Further Reading

• Bunny Studio

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

Start an eLearning Business

Creating an Exciting Smart Learning Wonderland

ELEARNING BUSINESS

Related business ideas, discover your perfect domain, elearning mini business plan, expected percent margin:, earnings expectations:, actions to hit those numbers:, course development:, marketing and customer acquisition:, sales and customer experience:, cost control:, business operations:, not what you had in mind here are more ideas, grab your business website name, step 1: determine if elearning business is right endeavor, breakdown of startup expenses, breakdown of ongoing expenses, examples on ways to make money, step 2: name the business, step 3: develop a business plan, outline objectives, outline strategies, outline financial plan, step 4: obtain licenses and permits, research necessary licenses and permits, obtain necessary licenses and permits, step 5: create a website, tips on designing a website, tips on writing content for website, step 6: market the business, tips on developing a marketing plan, examples of different marketing strategies, step 7: hire employees, tips on finding qualified employees, tips on training employees, step 8: develop curriculum, tips on developing curriculum, examples of different curriculum types, step 9: evaluate and monitor, tips on evaluating and monitoring business, examples of different evaluation and monitoring strategies, explore more categories, take the next steps.

Here’s the Easiest Way to Start an E-learning Business in 2024 (9 Steps)

If you’re ready to build a thriving business around sharing your knowledge, here’s what you need to know.

By Mighty Team

July 19, 2023

14 min read

IN THIS ARTICLE

E-learning is a booming business. The industry is projected to hit $848 billion by 2030 , while the mobile learning market alone was projected to hit $155 billion by 2026 .

For creators, brands, and businesses looking to enter the e-learning industry , there are a TON of opportunities with the growth of e-learning platforms AND the fact that more and more of us are comfortable learning online.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the concepts in e-learning, walk you through how to build an e-learning business, and introduce you to some of the platforms to help you do it.

What is e-Learning?

E-learning describes a learning environment that is digital as opposed to in-person (electronic learning). In the late 1980s, the idea of computer-based training (CBT) came out, and the wide scale adoption of the internet led to the online version of CBT: web-based training. By 1999 the term “e-learning” was coined to describe this new way of learning through digital mediums.

Even by the late 90s, people could see the potential of e-learning, not just to teach, but also to facilitate connections between students and teachers AND to change the way we take in information. But in the early 2000s, the tech possibilities exploded with more comprehensive learning management systems (LMS), a better understanding of virtual pedagogy, and studies showing how effective e-learning could be ( Source ).

Today, we’re still seeing an evolution in e-learning, from mass adoption by higher-ed during the pandemic to the integration of AI into e-learning platforms. And tech has created a TON of different forms for e-learning, from video to text, from asynchronous to synchronous, with advances in learning communities and different forms of evaluation.

If you glossed over this history, here’s the TLDR; Whatever your plans for your e-learning business, there’s never been more opportunity–e-learning platforms have matured AND we’re used to using them!

What is an eLearning business?

An e-learning business will create and deliver digital learning content is a major part of its business model. Some e-learning businesses sell e-learning directly, monetizing through course sales. And some e-learning businesses use e-learning to supplement a more diversified business model.

The benefits of e-learning

E-learning has some serious benefits for both learners and teachers alike:

Accessibility: From self-directed interest courses to higher-ed, e-learning dramatically changes the accessibility of knowledge. Students can get college-level education from anywhere OR learn from top leaders in a field they would NEVER have access to normally.

Scalability: E-learning tech means that you can scale your e-learning business like never before, reaching more students with less effort.

Flexibility: Traditional higher ed had limited ways of delivering knowledge– e-learning turns this on its head and lets you teach the way you want. Students can learn in different ways and have learning reinforced with things like online communities, discussions, live streaming, virtual office hours, quizzes, and more.

Ease of access: Widely available e-learning platforms means that pretty much anyone can start an e-learning business.

Focus: E-learning lets students focus on acquiring the information they need when they want.

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Concepts in e-Learning

As you're considering either creating an e-learning business or incorporating e-learning into an existing business, there are a few concepts that you should know. Understanding these will make it WAY easier to choose your approach to e-learning and pick the right e-learning platform for your business.

Asynchronous vs. synchronous

There are two words you’ll see thrown around a lot in e-learning circles: asynchronous and synchronous. This is basically a fancy way of saying live learning or pre-recorded learning.

In the early days of e-learning, platforms usually did pre-recorded courses. You would build your course on an LMS and your students could go through it after leisure.

Synchronous learning is becoming more common as livestreaming platforms become more common AND people search for the interactivity of live learning. For example, we're seeing huge growth in cohort courses –that's a course that can be pre-sold and delivered live by an instructor to a group of students virtually.

You can use this chart to help you decide which type of learning is best for your e-learning. Don't forget the two are not mutually exclusive. For example, if you were to record a live course and sell copies of the recording, it could be both synchronous and asynchronous.

Social learning

Social learning theory recognizes that learning is more than just receiving information; we learn through social interactions in a group. The concept was coined by Albert Bandura , who recognized that learning was impacted by observing, imitating, and testing behavior.

Obviously, traditional e-learning on a synchronous LMS made this impossible; you’re not learning from or imitating other students when you’re sitting in a room by yourself watching a course.

But new advances in e-learning tech make it possible for people to come alongside each other and learn together.

Mixed mediums

Until a decade ago, it was common to think that people learned with different styles. For example, people will often say that they are “visual learners” or “tactile learners.”

If you go down the rabbit hole on studying learning styles, you’ll see that there isn’t much evidence that humans have different inherent learning styles.

BUT, it’s pretty clear that people have different LEARNING PREFERENCES!

Since many e-learning platforms give you different ways to deliver content, it’s pretty easy to mix different types of learning together to help give people different options.

Microlearning

Microlearning is also another really useful concept to know as you plan your e-learning business–in this case, learners learn in short bursts. One awesome example of microlearning is Duolingo, with its famous claim that you can learn a language in as little as 10 minutes a day.

Microlearning is small, bite-sized learning experiences spread out over a long period of time. And it can be a great e-learning approach if your business caters to busy people.

Gamification

Gamification is another popular approach to learning in which learning is delivered with game-like features. For example, if your e-learning course has a leaderboard that ranks people based on accomplishments, you’re seeing gamification.

There are all sorts of ways e-learning can be gamified to make it fun–and even a bit addictive. It can help to keep students motivated.

Putting this all together

You might be saying, "Sure, these are great concepts. But how do they apply to my e-learning business?"

Basically, as you plan your e-learning business or e-learning offerings, you'll need to decide how to deliver teaching and evaluation. And, to some extent, the way you deliver information will be impacted by: your teaching preferences, your students’ learning preferences, and the platform you choose .

And of these three things, so much is resting on choosing the right platform. Some platforms like Teachable only have an option to create a pre-recorded course. Some e-learning platforms have Incorporated gamification features. Some let you deliver microlearning really efficiently. Some let you mix and match delivery options.

As we go through the steps to building an e-learning business below, keep these concepts in mind as you plan how you think you’d best serve your students.

Is it elearning or e-Learning?

Okay, let's take a fun little time out here. Because whenever we start talking about e-learning, people are going to lose their minds over how it's spelled. Technically, e-learning is probably correct. The hyphen joins two adjectives (e.g. "electronic-learning platform").

But you do you. Spell it however you want. We won't judge.

How to start an e-Learning business

1. choose an ideal student.

It all starts with your ideal student. If you get this right, you can build an e-learning empire. You need to know exactly who you’re helping and how you’re helping them. For example:

• You might be helping companies educate their employees on DEI.
• You might be teaching a valuable skill you’ve learned (e.g. social media marketing)
• You might be supplementing or moving a college course online

Whatever you decide to teach, it all comes down to a student’s transformation. Your ideal student is a person looking for a transformation. They need to know a skill and apply it. Or maybe they need to get an accreditation.

If you can have a clear understanding of what your ideal students need and want, you’ll be way more successful in your e-learning business.

And you don’t need to guess. One of the absolute best exercises, if you’re starting an e-learning business, can be to interview potential students.

2. Choose a monetization model

There are a lot of different ways eLearning businesses can monetize their content. Here are some examples of different monetization models in action.

• Pay-per-course . Instructors create courses and charge a course fee for students (e.g. Udemy ).
• Marketplace . Instructors put courses on a marketplace with other courses and earn royalties from the marketplace (e.g. Skillshare ).
• Freemium . Learners can access e-learning for free, but pay for premium features (e.g. Duolingo).
• Ad-supported learning . Learning is always free, but it's supported with advertisements (eE.g. YouTube).
• Affiliate monetization . E-learning is free but supported with opportunities for affiliate purchases (e.g. a free YouTube bookkeeping course that uses the QuickBooks affiliate program).
• Not directly monetized . Many businesses offer e-learning for free to help people learn to use a product they sell or to help employees be more successful. In these cases, e-learning isn't directly monetized but contributes to broader business goals.

3. Choose your delivery needs

Whether you believe in learning styles or not, there are two things every learning instructor needs to decide: how they prefer to teach and how their students prefer to learn.

Here are some of the tools that your disposal when it comes to e-learning:

• Pre-recorded video content
• Live streaming
• Short-form text content (e.g discussion forum)
• Long-form text content (e.g. blogs or articles)
• Courses structured around an LMS
• Courses delivered live
• 1:1 or small group teaching
• Audio learning
• Chat & messaging
• A branded e-learning app

You probably already know how you like to deliver content. But–again–if you don't know how your potential students like to receive content, ask them! Doing a few interviews with potential students could help you understand what they want.

And often, your students' preferences are dictated by lifestyle. If you are creating courses for busy executives, don't expect them to sit for hours and hours. Figure out how to give them information fast.

4. Choose your platform

When we're talking about delivery needs, we are actually starting to talk about platforms. Most e-learning is done on some sort of event platform.

You need to choose a platform that lets you deliver content in a way that fits you.

But on top of the actual learning content features of a platform, there are other things you should think about.

For example, how about monetization? If you are selling courses, you'll need a platform that lets you handle sales. This should include a payment gateway, different currency options, and the ability to bundle.

Or what about moderation features? If you have user-generated content and discussion forums, you probably need to be able to moderate to make sure the discussion stays positive.

Member management tools can be really important to help you see who your class members are and where they are at in their learning.

5. Validate the idea

A lot of e-learning businesses will just launch. But it can be really valuable to validate your idea before you go in at the deep end.

Take it from us, it can be demoralizing to spend weeks recording a course that nobody ever watches.

So at this stage in the game, it's a good idea to validate your e-learning business with some sales.

If you have your platform in place, can you create a small offer for your ideal students to pre-sell?

For example, if you create a cohort of course offers, you can sell tickets to a live course before ever delivering it. If you can't sell enough, you can simply refund the tickets if need be as you try to adjust the offer. Or, you could sell a webinar or live event as a way to validate your e-learning idea.

Validating any business idea is a vital step to success.

Validation for corporate e-learning

Even if you're not selling e-learning, if you are just adding it to an existing business, you can go through a validation process. The trick is still to start small and see if you can get buy-in.

For example, if you are creating training for your employees, can you have some of the employees drive the process? Can you ask them what their needs are for e-learning instead of just guessing? And can you find simple ways to assess if the training is valuable before you go all in on it?

6. Figure out customer acquisition

Believe it or not, the hardest part of starting an e-learning business isn’t choosing your platform or recording your lessons. It's getting people to show up.

Most e-learning companies fail at this part. So somewhere along this process, you need to figure out how you will actually get customers. Maybe you're an influencer with a huge audience and you're pretty confident you can leverage a bunch of those followers into e-learning students.

That's great.

But for those who don't have this luxury, you'll need to learn how to acquire clients.

For most e-learning businesses, one or two really good acquisition channels will do most of the heavy lifting. For example, it's tempting for a business doing corporate training to think they need to be on every single social media platform every day. Chances are, they could probably get all the clients they need by just focusing on LinkedIn.

This is the principle of client acquisition. You don't need to shotgun to every single possible acquisition channel. You need to figure out a few solid channels to fill your funnel .

Think outside the funnel

Funnel is a marketing term that describes getting a lot of potential leads into your list, and progressively narrowing them down until they either buy or disappear.

But there is another alternative. We’re really big on the value of a community flywheel instead of a funnel. When people join an online community, it takes the place of a funnel by creating a space where people can connect, learn, and grow. Your leads are constantly being nurtured without you needing to create high-pressure sales tactics.

You can create a community to support your e-learning business, and even charge admission! The average community on a Mighty Network charges $39 a month. And 90% of the communities that charge membership also make upsells to other products–like e-learning offerings.

A community is one of the very best ways to grow your e-learning business.

7. Create your first e-learning experience

Once you have your first numbers in your platform and you figure out customer acquisition, you can start trading e-learning experiences. However you choose to deliver your e-learning, actually doing it should be most of the fun.

8. Offer more to current students

There's a mistake a lot of new e-learning businesses make once they have some success: they go back out and look for a different type of client or a different offering.

It's normal to think this way, obviously growing your market share can work to grow your business.

But one of the biggest missed opportunities is to go deeper on serving your current clients.

Often, we see enormous revenue growth from Hosts who double down on doing more for their current audience. Think about things like:

• High-ticket products
• More in-depth learning
• Mastermind groups
• Accountability
• Live events

9. Learn and adapt

Any e-learning business will need to learn and adapt as they go. People change. The market changes. New, game-changing software comes out and makes your current offering redundant.

It happens.

Recognize that your path to running an e-learning business will have some ups and downs and that you'll need to adapt as you go.

And just a note. Having a platform that gives you detailed analytics can make it way easier to understand what's working and what isn't.

Ready to get started?

If you’re ready to launch your e-learning business, why not get started right now? Mighty Networks is one of the most powerful e-learning platforms on the market, letting you mix your courses with content, community, events, and commerce. You can teach both asynchronous and synchronous courses, with flexible Spaces that let you add in livestreaming, course discussions, polls and questions, member profiles, and more.

With Mighty, you can monetize in 135 currencies, selling memberships, course sales, events, groups, or bundle any of these. It comes with a beautiful, responsive app for every device. AND if you’d like, you can even get your own e-learning app under your own brand – book a call with us and we’ll show you how.

Ready to launch your own branded apps?

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Key tips for starting & growing an eLearning business

A comprehensive guide to creating a successful independent eLearning business, from determining your audience to choosing the right platform.

Recent changes in the world have created a thunderous demand for eLearning -- whether it’s to prepare for high-stakes certifications, to advance toward better job opportunities, or just to satisfy the curiosity of the life-long learner. Independent online courses and study resources have thus become massive money-making enterprises.

So if you happen to have the right educational content of your own, you may be drawn toward the delicious potential to make good money and do good in the process. The challenge is that you need more than just good content...

• You need to intimately know your audience and how to market to them ;
• You need to understand what experience they’re looking for and how to create it for them ;
• You need an attractive, functional, and intuitive online environment (for both web and mobile) that appeals to learners; and
• You need to do a constant reconnaissance of performance metrics so that you can evolve your product to cater to even the most nuanced demands.

At the end of the day, if your audience doesn’t find what they want from you, they’ll find it at one of your competitors.

The good news is you’re in exactly the right place for advice on how to lay the groundwork for a lucrative eLearning business. As the team behind Brainscape, the world’s smartest study app for thousands of subjects, we know just what it takes to transform great content into great business (AKA dolla billz) .

So we've laid out this comprehensive guide to creating a successful independent eLearning business. We hope it helps bring you clarity, efficiency, and profits!

[And by the way, we’re also open to new partnerships, so if you're looking to sell  flashcards as a component of your eLearning business plan, look no further.]

Your step-by-step guide:

Step 1: know your audience (so you can sell to them), step 2: know why you’re different (and how to communicate that with your audience), step 3: know your distribution channels.

• Step 4: Decide whether your product will be full-service or complementary

Step 5: Figure out your knowledge format/s

Step 6: determine whether to incorporate flashcards into your elearning offering, step 7: divide your subject and conquer, step 8: choose the right elearning technology, step 9: create a solid landing page, step 10: collect robust analytics, step 11: talk (and listen) to your users frequently.

The first step on your journey to building a successful eLearning enterprise is knowing exactly who your audience is so you can tailor your product and messaging to appeal to them. This requires you to answer the following questions:

• What are their learning goals? (For example: are they after a formal certification or just interested in advancing their personal knowledge?)
• What are the existing study resources for your particular subject/s or skill/s? (i.e. who are your competitors and why are they successful?)
• Where does your audience congregate and engage online (like Reddit, Twitter, Quora, etc.)? You’ll want to insert yourself into these conversations so that you can (1) get valuable insights straight from the people who matter and (2) begin to build your presence pre-launch.
• What are people willing to pay in order to achieve their learning goals? (You can learn this from your competitors’ pricing and from your conversations with your audience via the aforementioned channels. Also, consider how much learners have to pay for the exam they’re preparing for, the cost of learning materials, and how many other similar prep courses are offered out there. Affordability could be what sets you apart!)

Remember, content is king but it cannot be profitable without an audience! Do your research so that your efforts and resources are spent in the most targeted and profitable way possible.

[ Pssst! If your audience consists of employers/companies, you might want to read ' Product knowledge training: Unleashing the beast in your salespeople ' first!]

The eLearning landscape is a fiercely contested one. And while you might think you’re the best person to teach this subject or that skill, the only way you’re going to be able to make money is if you convince your audience of that.

As such, a really important part of your preparation before launch—before you even position yourself in front of your potential customers really—is finding out what makes your product different from your competitors . What are the benefits and not just basic features of functionality? Why should people choose your eLearning brand?

Don’t just focus on yourself (I’ve got a Master's degree; I have x years experience teaching; I’m super smart blah blah ). Focus more on how you serve your audience’s needs better than the other brands on the market . Then, articulate and demonstrate this so that you are positioned as the clear choice.

If you can convince your audience that you offer a better learning experience, they will be much happier to pay money for it, particularly if they’re prepping for a high-stakes subject or exam.

Distribution is the process of making a product or service available for the consumer or business user who needs it. For example: will you be selling your eLearning product or service to an institution, like a school or university? Or will you be selling it to individual consumers (learners)?

Knowing your distribution channels is the part where you figure out how you’re going to connect your product with your audience and it consists of the following core questions:

Who will be buying your eLearning product/service? Is it the CLO (Chief Learning Officer) of a company or an employee with aspirations of being promoted to management? Is it the dean of a university or a college student? Is it a high school teacher or a parent with kids in that school? What is the buyer's biggest pain point, and what words do they use to describe it?

What is your current online presence? Do you already have a big online presence and audience of your own, in your core market? Or do you need to grow this from scratch?

What combination of marketing strategies will work the best? Should you go with paid advertising (if your product is expensive enough to justify the high cost)? What about email lists? Or both? How about direct sales outreach, social media, or affiliate or content marketing?

A really solid approach to answering these questions is to test your marketing before your product even exists (if it doesn’t already). We’ll address this in a bit in our Landing Page section.

What payment method will work for me and my audience? Should you have a once-off price or monthly/annual subscription fee? How about one price for everything or a tiered price program where users pay more for more advanced features? Or a package offering versus an à la carte menu of courses? What about discounts, special offers, free trial periods, and referral programs? The more payment options you present, the more accessible you make your product.

Figuring out the answers to these questions will help you determine the best route to get your product into your audience’s hands.

Step 4: Decide whether your product will be full-service or supplementary

Are you the full, authoritative course? The A-to-Z on a particular subject? Or is there already a great course/book out there, and you just want to provide a study supplement, like digital flashcards? Or do you want to create both: the A-to-Z course and the supplementary flashcard collection?

If you do want to produce a comprehensive learning resource for a subject or skill, that’s great! But a lot of money can be made by leveraging existing authoritative courses simply by developing complementary study tools or resources for them (not to mention the fact that this approach requires a lot less work than cooking up a whole course from scratch).

For example: you could approach someone/an institution who has published a course or book on a particular subject and offer to translate that into an eLearning product and/or a flashcard collection* (on Brainscape).

Pro Tip: Don’t worry about speaking to them before you build your product: nobody is going to copy your idea; especially if you do a good job of convincing them why YOU are the right person to build the complementary product you’re pitching.

*If you DO want to work with Brainscape to resell flashcards as part of your product—or even as your entire product—check out our awesome Help Center articles for Resellers. Alternatively, go all the way and fill out this form and we will be in touch within 48 hours to schedule a phone call.

(If you are instead interested in publishing your own content on Brainscape's marketplace, click here . Or if you are interested in using Brainscape to train your employees, click here .)

Now that you have a better idea of the scope of your product, it’s time to figure out the best format in which to deliver its educational content and/or skills/expertise to your audience.

A 3,000-page ebook of margin-to-margin text is probably not going to do very well these days. It’s just not stimulating enough for most people, and the brain learns more efficiently and remembers longer when it’s stimulated. (Brainscape knows this because we’re deep into the science of how the brain learns .)

But if you mix it up and include a variety of media, such as those we’ve listed below, you’ll likely enjoy a more engagement. And great engagement = successful learning!

• Live instruction
• Written resources/guides
• Instructional/tutorial videos
• Animations and simulations
• Slide presentations
• Flashcards*
• Discussion forums
• Quizzes or exercises
• Practice exams (formatted like the real deal)

*If your subject is content heavy and requires quite a bit of memorization of knowledge, you should definitely consider creating flashcards for it in Brainscape! You can then offer this to your users and to Brainscape’s existing audience as a paid-for product . More on this in a bit.

How do I choose which knowledge format is right for my eLearning brand?

Naturally, that depends on a few things!

Is your subject SKILLS-intensive? A skills-based subject like writing, math, and sales requires more hands-on practice to master, so such a course should place an emphasis on both demonstrations (video tutorials, animations, and live lessons) and on frequent assessment like exercises, quizzes, and practice exams.

Conversely, purely skill-based subjects tend to have less of a need for memorization tools like flashcards, as they don't require as much internalization of theory, vocab, diagrams, rules, or procedures.

Is your subject KNOWLEDGE-intensive? On the other hand, a content-heavy subject that does require learners to master a lot of information (like biology, law, or a product catalog) would do very well with written resources and flashcards, combined with more formal summative assessment.

[Note that some subjects are both knowledge- and skill-intensive, in which case you might want a combination of all the formats discussed above. The variety of media should also help to keep students engaged.]

Is your subject complex and difficult to learn? Next, you should take into account how difficult your subject is. If it is a complex, involved topic, then you’ll need to unravel it in great detail and with plenty of adjunctive study tools and media so that students find it approachable and manageable. If it's easy, just a series of simple slides, videos, or readings might be enough instructional material to get the job done.

Are your students preparing for a formal certification? Another major factor in how students will be consuming your content is whether they are learning it just for their own skills or to actually prepare themselves for a big exam. Students preparing for a certification will need all the tools available to ensure that the knowledge sticks and will be mentally available on test day.

The need for true internalization of knowledge may justify the creation of digital flashcards with spaced repetition (as opposed to more casual non-assessed topics where a learner could just re-reference the videos or slides whenever they want).

Remember, if your students are preparing for a certification, you want them to score high marks so that they attribute (part of) their success to your eLearning brand! Be thorough in providing them with the resources they need to do that.

Is your course short and quick, or a long-haul journey? Hand-in-hand with the afore-mentioned consideration is how long students typically need to study. There’s not much point in offering a complete encyclopedia of study resources if all it takes to pass is a simple quiz. In fact, creating too much content can actually be damaging to your product’s success, since efficiency is one of the most important metrics.

If, on the other hand, passing that subject is a long-haul challenge that requires several months of intensive studying, it makes sense to supply the necessary support. And since students on this path will likely be with you for much longer, you may consider providing adjunctive tools like a study plan or calendar , or an adaptive flashcards tool with a progress gauge like Brainscape’s mastery meter, which will help them manage their time better:

As we touched on earlier, flashcards (especially Brainscape flashcards with spaced repetition ) are incredibly effective for the memorization component of content-heavy subjects . This is particularly true when that subject has a formal exam that students find quite stressful to prepare for, such as the bar exam, the NCLEX (nursing), or MCAT (medical school).

Click here to partner with Brainscape as a reseller!

There’s a reason we’ve built our study app upon the bedrock of cognitive science and that’s because we can leverage the three pillars of efficient learning:

• Spaced repetition: The frequent repeating of concepts the individual struggles with so that they learn them quicker and the less frequent repeating of concepts the individual is confident in, thereby saving time on unnecessary review. Read more about spaced repetition .
• Active recall: Brainscape’s flashcards compel users to remember information “from scratch” or from memory, rather than having it prompted by multiple-choice answers. This establishes much stronger memory links (neural pathways) to that information, helping them to learn it quicker and remember it for longer. Read more about active recall .
• Metacognition: Our flashcards also compel users to consider how well they knew the answer to a question (i.e. to think about their thinking ) and this establishes an additional neural pathway to that information, reinforcing the memory. Read more about metacognition .

In other words: Brainscape works . And we partner with many educators and subject matter experts who complement their teaching services with flashcards that they’ve made using our adaptive study platform. With thorough review by our team of independent experts, these collections can join the ranks of our paid-for certified flashcards, essentially setting up a passive revenue stream for these people.

You can gauge the existing demand for studying your subject in flashcards format by seeing the popularity of existing user-generated (i.e. "non-Brainscape-certified") flashcards on the Brainscape marketplace .

To learn more about being a reseller with Brainscape, and get the full scoop on how to sell your flashcards .

Now that you’ve decided on the format/s you’d like to use, it’s time to work out how you’re going to take your incredible knowledge of a subject and break it down into a series of easily digestible lessons, chapters, or modules.

• What material will you cover? Start by deciding exactly what information you need to cover in order to give students the knowledge and tools they require to become proficient in that subject and pass the exam (if there is one). On this subject...
• Align your content with the official curriculum, if applicable. If there is an official curriculum or guidelines for what is ultimately required to pass the exam or certification, make sure you align your content with that blueprint as much as possible. You don’t want to tell your customers to learn more than is absolutely necessary to do well and pass.
• Develop a sensible course outline: Now begin delineating your subject into its major chapters, lessons, or modules. For example, if you’re teaching students about wine, you might create chapters for the red wines of the world, white wines of the world, sparkling wines of the world, etc.
• Break each module down further into sections that are cohesive and logically ordered. For example, that chapter on red wines could contain sub-sections that focus on particular varietals of red wine: cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot, shiraz, etc.
• Add a “what you will learn” outline at the beginning of each module and a chapter summary and some form of knowledge check at the end (exercises, flashcards, quizzes, etc.) so that learners know the key takeaways and can practice their newfound knowledge.
• Once you’ve plotted out your entire course, create a roadmap for students to use (like a concept map, video animation, or flowchart), so that they know exactly what they’re going to learn and how they can expect to progress through the material.

All of this really goes towards helping you flesh out a detailed plan for your subject.

Choosing the eLearning tech* you’re going to use to deliver the goods to your audience is a crucial step, and one that counts enormously towards your future success. In fact, this step is so important that we really recommend you put in the time to do the necessary research , and even—if possible—take the various online course platforms and eLearning software you come across for a test drive (many offer free trials).

*eLearning tech refers to both eLearning (online) content authoring tools/software, and Learning Management Systems (LMSs) or Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). Simply put, authoring tools/software are the programs you use to create your course content, and your LMS or VLE is where your students interact with that content.

Some great examples are:

• Udemy for launching your first course
• Skillshare for teaching creative skills
• Teachable for creating an online school with advanced marketing
• Podia for selling digital products and memberships
• Thinkific for building courses from scratch
• Kajabi for marketing a course on autopilot
• LearnWorlds for creating an online learning environment or school
• Mighty Networks for building a paid community
• Pathwright for building action-oriented courses
• Xperiencify for gamifying your online course
• Brainscape for creating digital flashcards for any subject

With that said, here are some important things to consider:

Do you want total creative control or something quick and easy? Some online learning platforms make things ridiculously easy by offering you (inflexible) pre-made templates to work with, and very few decisions to make with regards to appearance, functionality, etc. But decisions equal creative freedom...so if you want a highly customizable eLearning software that allows you to control every element of design, layout, and appearance, you’ll have to make sure the tool you use accommodates that flexibility.

Just remember:

• The more sophisticated the software, the pricier it is likely to be, and ...
• The more advanced your design and development skills will have to be in order to work successfully with it!
• Make sure your fancy end design is supported on all platforms (devices and browsers)

Does it support your knowledge format/s? If your course includes multimedia, it’s pretty important that the eLearning software you choose makes it easy for you to create, edit, and upload content in multiple media; but also has other useful tools and features.

For example, if you wanted to create video presentations, an online course platform with a video recording and editing tool would be pretty important. The same applies to slideshow presentations, animations, flashcards, written content, and even timed quizzes or exams.

Just remember to keep your content highly focused and relevant. Multiple resources are good only if the subject is complex and requires additional support to help students through it. In other words: strike a healthy balance between efficiency and thoroughness.

Does it support your preferred delivery method? How are you going to be delivering your eLearning course to your learners? Will they be able to access the lessons offline? (Not being able to learn offline can be a huge handicap.) And how about via their mobile device? Obviously, the more accessible your content is to learners, the better.

How interactive do you want/need your course to be? Depending on the subject, you could go balls to the wall with interactive elements, from clickable images to video animations and more. You need to decide how interactive and immersive you really want or rather need this experience to be for learners.

The more sophisticated the online learning platform you choose, the greater the opportunities for this kind of customization ... but also the more expensive it will be.

Do you need to track your learners’ data and performance? User data is one of the most valuable sources of information you have at your disposal: it tells you which concepts/topics your learners are struggling with the most and, therefore, what can be improved, whether that be a reiteration of the content you currently have or the addition of resources.

So, it’s our recommendation that you look for an online learning platform with detailed tracking capabilities, like Brainscape does, as this is how you’re going to hone your product’s offering to a razor-sharp edge. It may be more expensive but it’s a worthwhile investment if you work with the data it provides.

Can you benefit from regular email communication with your audience? There is barely a scenario in which you cannot benefit from regular communication with your existing and potential customers so we recommend crafting an email marketing strategy in which you gently encourage your mailing list to buy your products and services.

The more you cloak this sales pitch in actual value and entertainment, the more likely they’ll investigate your offer. So, for example: engaging videos and useful information like tips, tricks, and tools for succeeding in your particular subject or skill.

An email strategy and the tools to execute that strategy will be a part of designing your product, so don’t neglect this super important aspect of setting up your eLearning business.

Does it support assessment? Frequent assessment—whether accomplished with quizzes, exercises, full-length exams, or adaptive flashcards—is incredibly important for reinforcing knowledge and gauging students’ progress. This is true for ALL subjects, whether skills based or content heavy. As such, the online learning platform you choose should have the right tools in place for you.

Also consider the nature of these assessments: do you want to create a quick “check-the-box” quiz or a three-hour, full-length exam-type experience?

Other considerations:

• Will the software satisfy your future needs (for growth and change)?
• Does it provide strong tech and community support?

Make sure your online learning platform supports all of the needs we have mentioned above because once you make that investment, it’ll be a huge disruption to have to pack up and jump ship.

(Read about the different spaced repetition systems and which one would be best for your learners!)

ALTERNATIVELY (Just when you thought you had enough to think about)

If you’d rather buy than build , you could opt for a full-service online learning platform like Udemy, Skillshare, and the others we mentioned above. These handle pretty much everything you need, from content creation to performance tracking and everything in between.

If so, you have to consider whether or not your course would be available ONLY to internal searchers of those particular eLearning marketplaces, OR whether you can "white-label" the technology and easily build it into your own website.

This will allow you to take greater control of your marketing and margins; to repost your course in multiple places online; and resell other products in the process, such as tutoring or flashcard add-ons, rather than being exclusive to a single platform.

All food for thought. (And if you need flashcard tech for web or mobile, check out Brainscape !)

Quality content is the pollen, but it’s the colorful flower petals that attract the honeybees! What this means is that, depending on your distribution channels (discussed above), you now need to lure in your audience with a website that looks as authoritative and attractive as the content it advertises.

The best way to attract your “honey bees” is to make your own simple eLearning website . Sure, even with your own website, you can still host the actual course on a third-party platform (or in some cases even integrate that third-party course tech into your own website).  But creating your own website gives you control over how you present yourself and how you bill customers.  (e.g. You can integrate with Shopify, Stripe, etc., and sell multiple products in addition to just the course you're selling out of the box.)

Pro tip: If you’re kinda new to the realm of web design, it could be a good idea to spend a few hundred (or thousand) dollars on a solid software engineer to help you get this off the ground. There are a lot of important principles that go into a successful website, which is not to say that you can’t do it but rather that using a professional will probably see higher returns!

Consider advertising your landing page BEFORE your course even exists! A really good "lean startup" philosophy practice is to build a landing page before the product even exists! You can even create a video promoting your course or study guide, etc. before it’s even fully fleshed out.

This may sound a bit like putting the cart before the horse (and there’s always the fear that people might steal your idea if it doesn’t yet exist in its full copyrighted glory) but seeing how interested visitors are is a key way to validate demand for your concept .

You can also use your product page to build a pre-launch announcement mailing list (Unbounce.com is a great tool), which will help you build an audience you can market to directly when you are eventually ready to launch.   Selling it before it exists (and collecting feedback on your marketing messaging) can often be the best way to help you shape the actual product itself.

Of course, if you just know your course topic and chosen format already has high demand, and you don't want to build any website of your own, you could always just use a full course distribution platform like Coursera .  Just know that they take hella margins and don't give you much flexibility for customization. For example: You can't easily "bundle" other services like tutoring, flashcards, t-shirts, etc.

In general, we strongly recommend that you plan many steps ahead on your course marketing and distribution strategy before actually producing any real educational content.

One of the biggest fallacies of first-time eLearning entrepreneurs is that you'll just put the course, website, and marketing campaigns online and let them run forever unchanged.  You've put in dozens of hours to create your course content, so in your mind, you're "done".  Sit back and watch the dolla's roll in.

In the immortal words of Cher: Snap out of it!

Analytics are super important , both during your pre-launch marketing tests and as you launch and scale your eLearning product/services. Why? Because they are key to helping you iterate toward a better performing product, which they do by indicating what’s working and what isn’t , what can be improved (and how), and what needs to be scrapped altogether.

If you have your own basic website, the tool you’ll turn to for analytics will likely be Google Analytics, but your third-party tool providers like Unbounce, Coursera, Shopify, and Brainscape, etc. can also provide great data, if you know what to look for.

If your traffic is huge, you might end up performing hundreds of micro-optimizations, from improving your marketing copy on your website and A/B testing your email subject lines to trying different marketing campaigns and channels and obsessively cutting out the ones that aren't converting as well.  

You could even consider partially redoing certain course modules, videos, or flashcards if your engagement stats are showing you that those aren't performing as well. Just remember that running a successful eLearning business involves the constant pursuit of improvement. Don't give up.

One of the most important sources of analytics is what your actual users and customers have to say, both quantitatively (e.g. via surveys) or qualitatively (via human conversations).

Reach out to both the buyers, the teachers, and the learners themselves (if those are not already the same people). Use your existing email lists from your early customer or beta signups or even use paid outreach methods to score such conversations in the early stages before you even have a product.

Good user feedback tactics include surveys, email conversations, and video chat, etc., especially while usability testing your website or course materials. You want to see people's honest reactions so that you can consistently iron out the wrinkles and optimize your offering.

In some cases, it may also be helpful to have someone else do the usability testing for you, since often people don't want to offend the proud creator of the product!

And remember: talk to enough people to reveal the patterns . It's tempting to go back and make changes to your product, website, or marketing materials after you've heard emphatic feedback from just one or two people. But don't stop there. Person #3 and #4 might give totally different feedback that would drastically change your reactive approach that you were tempted to implement after your second conversation.

Keep talking to potential or existing customers until you are no longer hearing anything new or interesting; then make your conclusions.

Rise to your challenge and go get ‘em!

If you’ve gotten to this point, then you’re most certainly on track to start (or improve) your own eLearning business and we wish you all the best in your endeavor. Much of the work required is research—knowing your audience, distribution channels, knowledge format, and course delivery—and then developing the “petals” to attract the honeybees.

In fact, it would be totally fair to say that developing the course material is the easy part of establishing an eLearning enterprise! However, we hope that the step-by-step approach we’ve outlined in this guide has answered most of your questions and laid the groundwork for your plan of action.

We also hope that—content permitting—flashcards (and particularly Brainscape’s smart flashcards) can be a part of that plan! If that’s the case, then you're ready to sell your flashcards and help your learners reach their goals. We look forward to hearing from you!

For more helpful advice on becoming a reseller, check out our awesome Help Center articles .

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• August 21, 2023

eLearning is one of the fastest-growing businesses in the world, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19. If you plan to start your eLearning business, you must be fully aware of the types of eLearning business models you can choose and establish a business on.

COVID-19 created a huge opportunity for the ed-tech industry as 1.37 billion learners were impacted by national school closure in March 2020. Albert Einstein once said, “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity .” Similarly, this crisis presented an opportunity in the form of e-learning businesses. With the massive demand for e-learning and online education across the globe, it is high time for you to start an eLearning business , and to be successful; you need to adopt an eLearning business model.

What is an eLearning Business Model?

An eLearning business model is a framework that would guide your business to generate monetary returns. It provides a roadmap to your business plans and helps you envision the long-term value of your business. Different types of eLearning business models are being used by businesses but we have gathered the most successful and proven business models for you.

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There are 3 most common and successful eLearning business models that you can follow. For your ease, we have attached an infographic below displaying the 3 eLearning models.

1. Night School Model

The term night school model came up from the concept of skill-based classes. It is a classical business model where a learner pays a one-time fee to access the course content. Courses under this business model follow a fixed framework that includes learning modules, assessments, quizzes, or examinations to test the learner. So, for example, if you are interested in learning Tableau , then you can follow the below steps:

• Search the course on an eLearning platform such as Udemy or Coursera
• Enroll by paying a nominal fee
• Access the course content
• Pass the quiz and complete the course

The night school model is most suitable for learners seeking a specific skill or learning a particular subject or a language. Most eLearning businesses adopt this model as it is a suitable alternative to physical classroom learning. This eLearning business model can be helpful for new businesses who are looking to generate cash flow by the subscriptions and sale of courses. Moreover, It is also a suitable model for businesses with high-priced courses.

However, this model has some downsides as well. The learner would only pay the course fees once and might not reinvest in your eLearning business again. In addition, if you want to focus on multiple topics, you will have to make separate courses for each of them since learners seek specific courses; hence, it is time-consuming.

There are some pros and cons of the night school model that are displayed in the table below:

2. Academy Model

The academy model is subscription-based, where the eLearning platform operates as a virtual school. An academy eLearning business model encourages students to learn and develop multiple skills and provides an extensive library of courses, videos, and other learning materials. The academy model also provides numerous features for the learners, such as live question-and-answer sessions, support groups, and one-to-one sessions with the instructors.

This model creates a long-term relationship between the platform and the learners. It is suitable for creators, fitness enthusiasts, sports fanatics, and professionals in their respective fields. The academy model covers broad topics and then covers each area in detail, attracting learners looking to learn multiple skills.

For example, you want to learn about graphic designing in an eLearning platform . The academy model would provide information about different tools and software such as Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, and other Adobe software.

One of the plus points of this model is the constant inflow of subscription fees from the subscribed learners. Moreover, you can earn more in the future with the increase in the number of subscribers without additional effort to create more content. The pros and cons of this model are listed in the table below:

3. Combined Model

A combined model is the integration of the “Night School Model” and “Academy Model.” This model offers both subscription-based offers as well as stand-alone courses with one-time fees. This model is suitable for those students who are willing to pay extra for additional course material or courses that can help them improve their academics and skills.  

How to choose the most suitable eLearning Business Model?

You have clearly understood all three eLearning business models; now, you can find the best fit between your business and the eLearning business models. Based on your core competencies, you can assess all three options and then opt for the most suitable one.

Edly is providing free eLearning business consultancy and platform demo that you can try out before making a final decision.

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The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your eLearning Business

By Yashpal Singla

Introduction

With everything going online across the entire world, there is a considerable change in customer behaviour leading to the enormous popularity of eCommerce and eLearning businesses.

eLearning is among the top trends that have picked up swiftly in this digital age. It is flourishing and creating new possibilities for the market leaders as it offers ease and flexibility to its end-users.

As per an online study conducted by Guru99.com, the eLearning industry has grown by 900% globally. Since its inception, the online learning market fact suggests that by 2025 to hit the $325 billion mark with over two decades. E-learning takes 40% to 60% lesser time for employees and students than conventional learning. The majority of companies are gradually shifting to e-learning.

If you are someone with vast knowledge to share with the masses along with the entrepreneurial spark, you must know about online learning.

But how do we get started?

Well, setting up a business is no piece of cake. Likewise, establishing an eLearning business too can be demanding, only if you are not starting the right way.

In this blog, we shall determine the concept along with a step-by-step plan that can help you with your dream of starting an eLearning business successfully.

What is eLearning?

Want to build a ground-breaking elearning platform get in touch with us and learn how we can help you achieve your goals and objectives..

Also referred to as online learning, it is a type of distance learning that does not occur in the traditional classroom where a physical teacher moderates and regulates information.

To put it simply, the delivery of learning through digital resources, like computers, smartphones, and alike.

Online learning furnishes you with the convenience of learning from anywhere and anytime, enabling you to achieve beyond modern learning peripheries. Other advantages include flexibility, independence, better time management, and improved self-motivation.

The eLearning is ubiquitous by institutions, schools, and corporations worldwide. On the other hand, the cons include more work for students, and it requires a lot of self-drive and lesser social interactions.

What is the eLearning business?

Thanks to CoVID-19 and the pandemic, the world slowly shifted from its traditional form of learning to eLearning.

Thus, the demand for more and more eLearning platforms has emanated. This is where the position of the eLearning business becomes even more vital in today's world.

An eLearning business provides a platform for teachers and students to communicate online.

Some leading eLearning platforms include: Udemy, Coursera, BYJU'S, GradeUp, TestBook, Toppr, and the list is endless!

Why You Should Start An eLearning Business In 2022?

COVID-19 has startled our method to work, learning, and entertainment. Physical classes have become a distant memory for many of us, making the world shift to eLearning platforms.

Not to doubt that the future of education lies in educational technology, and eLearning will eventually overtake the physical classroom form of education.

The eLearning industry is continuously growing, yielding a lot of revenue for companies.

Why should one invest their time, money, and energy in an eLearning business?

Let us see a few of the reasons that would help you in making the right decision:

• It is a highly profitable sector with a lot of potential
• Flexible mode of learning
• A myriad and a vast number of attributes

These beneficial reasons have contributed to a rise in 3 types of learners:

• Looking to grow and adapt.
• Looking to escape the pandemic blues through learning new skills.
• Looking to learn in COVID-19 safe environments.

Now that we know about the importance of eLearning in today’s world, the eLearning industry insights, and the growth prospects, let us now learn the magic formula of setting up a successful eLearning business.

6 steps to set up your eLearning business.

1. Define your audience:

The foremost step is to specify your target audience.

To identify your target audience, you will have to perform thorough research. The best practice is to find the answers to the following questions about your target audience.

Ask questions like:

• What is the age group of your target audience?
• Where is your audience located?
• What languages do they know?
• What type of courses do they want?
• The reason they are looking for an online course?
• Are they willing to pay for the courses? Or are they seeking free options?

The answers to these questions will differ depending on your niche and what you teach.

2. Identify your core content:

The next step is to focus on the core content that your audience would most desire. That is, identify the specific lessons your audience needs the most.

It will help you ensure your customers are satisfied and help you to attract new customers.

Let’s say you’re building an eLearning business for creative freelancers. You might create your core lessons around:

• →   Paid acquisition
• →   Organic website traffic
• →   Content marketing

Using this information and keeping your target audience in mind, you can decide about your core content based on trends and the niche you are targeting. You can finalize more than one core content with a different cluster of the target audience.

3. Pick and create 1-3 actionable lessons:

We suggest you assemble a few lessons and courses for each core content before launching your platform.

To yield a high success rate, make sure your content quality is top-notch and gives worth to the learner. Generally, the first impression is a make or break the success of your eLearning platform.

4. Select your eLearning platform/technology:

Next is to decide, where will you build your eLearning business , on which platform and using which technology?

As per our extensive research and study, we recommend you use a video monetization platform.

The principal reason for using video is that it is the most effective way of teaching people remotely. It allows you to convey intricate details easily.

Also, we advise opting for a platform that is an open-source content management system (CMS) used worldwide. Open-source platforms offer a flexible and customizable design catering to your specific requirements.

The platform you choose must allow you to:

• Create a controlled learning environment.
• Connect directly with your audience.
• Offer a wide range of payment options.
• Use analytics for both your videos and marketing.

5. Pricing:

Next, we need to decide how to set prices for your eLearning business.

The primary objective of every business is to make a profit, and for that, you need to price your courses smartly. It should not be pricey that no one registers, and neither should it be too low that your expenses are not covered.

The price of courses can vary based on underlying factors like:

• →   The course duration
• →   The experience of the instructor
• →   The niche of the course

You may also want to perform competitor analysis to find the fees of similar courses on your competitor's platforms.

Alternatively, in the beginning, you can offer lesser pricing than your competition or give discount coupons to get more user engagement and settle in the market.

6. Market your new eLearning business:

The final step is to market your eLearning business.

No matter how good your platform is, you cannot be successful without good marketing.

There are thousands of eLearning platforms in the market present already, and the competition is fierce. Hence, it is necessary to make yourself heard to the audience with the help of the right marketing strategies.

You can promote your brand aggressively using one or a combination of the following techniques:

• →   An active presence on social media
• →   Running ad campaigns on Google, LinkedIn, and Facebook
• →   Start your newsletter
• →   Engage your audience with valuable insights about the industry
• →   Collaborate with educational institutions and enrol their students in your offered courses.

Facing a challenge while starting an eLearning website?

✓ delivering a best-in-class elearning experience.

The competition in the online learning platform business is fiercer than ever. And to stand out in the market, we need to ensure that our platform delivers an engaging user experience by adding creativity to the dull & monotonous subjects.

✓ Lack of Motivation Among Learners

While eLearning provides the users with anytime anywhere knowledge, it comes with a set of distractions or lack of motivation.

Hence, it is essential to provide them with an immersive learning experience that matches their interests and aligns with their specific goals.

✓ Keeping up with Technology

Technology is evolving at an unprecedented rate with new gadgets, software, and digital innovations coming to market now and then. It gets tough to choose the best technology that could help to amplify the eLearning business.

Attending eLearning events and technical conferences, reading blogs, and case studies based on technologies can offer help with the latest trends.

Wrapping up,

COVID-19 has adjusted the way people live, learn, and do everything differently. Thus, there has never been a better time to start an eLearning business.

Online learning is the need of the hour, and people globally are increasingly leaning on eLearning methods.

We hope this article served as a valuable resource for entrepreneurs planning to start their eLearning platform, as it is paramount to consider the challenges and technical know-how involved.

Are you looking to build an eLearning platform?

If you are looking to develop your own online learning web app or website, iotasol offers a dedicated team of experienced developers that are talented and known to build best in class digital platforms. We are the best in the market with extensive experience of using various technologies for 12 years now! Contact us today to get a FREE Business Analysis .

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Educational Software Business Plan

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Third Degree I.D.

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

Third Degree I.D. is a limited-liability company (LLC) with three founding partners, located in Savannah, Georgia. The company designs, develops, and markets instructional products and services for the corporate, education, government, and healthcare e-learning industries. It is committed to high quality instructional design and educational new media development, and provides a core deliverable of programs, courses, and learning objects for the distance education, distributed learning, and e-learning markets.

The company employs an object-oriented design methodology that yields flexible, scalable, and reusable content, supporting clients with rich, targeted solutions that are easily replicated and maintained. It seeks a balanced portfolio of clients from a variety of industry sectors, and plans to mitigate business  fluctuations with an appropriate number of local, national, and international clients.

Third Degree I.D. develops strategic relationships and builds its business on a returning customer base and an accumulation of educational content that can be re-purposed and re-sold.

The three founding partners of Third Degree I.D. will each invest $35,000 into the company, and are seeking an additional two-year loan of $30,000 to complete the start-up funding. Roughly $19,000 of this initial funding is required for start-up expenses and assets; the remainder will provide a cash basis for the initial year of operations, during which Third Degree I.D. will provide some at-cost work to influential clients to create a solid reputation for our work and capabilities; this reputation forms the necessary basis for marketing and sales strategies after the first year.

Our market research shows our sales goal of $360,000 in the first year is conservative, for a start-up educational software company with our combined expertise. Growth estimates in years 2 and 3 are based on data from comparable businesses in the same industry.

1.1 Objectives

Key objectives for Third Degree I.D. in the first year are as follows:

• Establish a legal business through appropriate licensing.
• Complete business planning and pursue funding–via venture capital, bank loans, grants, and contracts.
• Establish a web presence and list products and services in industry-relevant websites and publications.
• Contract with six  to eight clients requiring consulting, training, design or development work of an appropriate scope ($50,000 or more).

1.2 Mission

Third Degree I.D. designs, develops, and markets instructional products and services for the corporate, education, government, and healthcare e-learning industries. It affords companies and institutions cost-effective, progressive, flexible and well supported solutions to their instructional design and e-learning operational needs. Its principal goal is client satisfaction, serving client interests as an ally and loyal business partner. The company operates on a for-profit basis and provides an engaging and equitable work environment for its owners, employees, and contractors.

1.3 Keys to Success

Success will be dependent upon:

• persistent and creative client development efforts
• exceptional product and service quality
• time-efficient and cost-effective development processes
• expert management and knowledgeable staff
• cash-savvy growth strategies

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Third Degree I.D. is located in Savannah, Georgia. It sells instructional design products and services to the corporate, education, government and healthcare e-learning markets. The company is committed to high quality instructional design and educational new media development.  It sells program/curriculum design and development, course design and development, program/curriculum and course evaluation, content analyses and revision, rich-media production, e-learning training, e-learning consulting, and additional services, such as market research, editing, document workflow, and translation. Third Degree I.D. employs an object-oriented design methodology that yields flexible, scalable, and reusable content. This approach provides clients with rich, targeted solutions that are easily replicated and maintained.

2.1 Start-up Summary

To begin the business, we require $5,924 in start-up expenses, and another $13,000 in non-cash assets. Details of these requirements can be found below.

Legal Expenses

• Attorney Consultation — $300
• Initial Filing Fee for LLC — $400
• Name and Logo Trademark — $300

Website Expenses

• Website Domain (2 Years) — $14
• Website Hosting (1 Year) — $96

Communications

• Stationery/Letterhead + Envelopes (500 set) — $500
• Business Cards (500 x 3) — $300

Memberships and Subscriptions

• Coastal Beta — $75
• eLearning Guild — $95
• Faculty Finder.com — $745
• Authoring and Multimedia Software for Sony Vaio — $1,000
• Authoring and Multimedia Software for Mac Powerbook — $1,000
• Authoring and Multimedia Software for SH Desktop — $300

Long-term Assets

Computer Hardware

• DS Laptop (Sony Vaio) — $2,500
• MH Laptop (Mac 15″ Powerbook — $2,500
• SH Desktop + Laser Printer + Scanner — $2,000
• Networked Content Server — $6,000

Start-up Investment

Each of the the founding partners will make an equal investment of $35,000 in starting the business. In addition, the partners intend to secure a 2-year commercial loan in the amount of $30,000 to cover the working capital requirements for the initial period of operations.

All startup expenses and funding requirements are summarized in the tables below.

2.2 Company Ownership

Third Degree I.D. is structured as a limited-liability company (LLC), consisting of three executive partners: Susan Hines, Mona Meyer, and Daniel Stanford, who will function in the roles of chief executive officer (CEO), chief learning officer (CLO), and chief creative officer (CCO).

Third Degree I.D. focuses on the following deliverables: program/curriculum design and development, course design and development, program/curriculum and course evaluation, content analyses and revision, rich-media production, e-learning training, e-learning consulting, and additional services, such as market research, editing, document workflow, and translation. For purposes of billing, project management, and client relations, these services are broken down as follows:

• Program/Curriculum Design & Development
• New Program Services
• Existing Program Services
• Course Design and Development
• Learning Object Development
• Other Services

3.1 Program Design & Development

Third Degree I.D. provides development services for clients in accordance with educational best practices and client specifications. It employs a systematic design and development process that produces instructionally sound, engaging programs/curricula that are aligned with institutional goals and exceed applicable accreditation and/or compliance standards.

3.1.1 New Program Services

New program services are available to clients who do not yet possess an e-learning infrastructure or who do not yet possess robust programming that would adequately leverage the infrastructure.

Needs Analysis Report The needs analysis report is the end result of a client-partnered consulting and research effort. The report articulates technology, workforce, and policy/procedure needs for e-learning programs in the general context of any institutional and/or accreditation and/or compliance constraints. Clients are charged according to the scope of the project, which is generally tied to the length and/or number of programs/curricula to be developed. For example, a needs analysis report for an e-learning certificate or academic “minor” (or group of related courses of no more than six) would conclude with a base charge of $3600.

Clients developing multiple curricula receive a 50% discount on the base charge of the lesser fee. For example, an institution or company developing an MA and an undergraduate minor would be charged the full fee for the MA plus half of the fee charged for the undergraduate minor ($4500 + $1800 = $6300).

Funding Assistance Funding assistance is a deliverable provided to institutions or companies that wish to raise funds externally in order to underwrite or mitigate their e-learning start-up and operation expenses. Assistance would include research, reporting, grant and business proposal efforts. The charge for initial consulting is $75 per hour, with subsequent research, reporting, grant and business proposal efforts charged at $50 per hour. Clients may indicate a “not to exceed” clause in all funding-assistance efforts.

Program/Curriculum Prospectus The program/curriculum prospectus is the end result of a client-partnered consulting and research effort. The prospectus outlines the objectives and viability of a given program/curriculum and critiques any development dependencies or any potential implementation constraints; it also includes a market study and a program/curriculum evaluation plan.

Clients who purchase a needs analysis report are given a 20% discount on each program/curriculum prospectus.

Program/Curriculum Development Plan The program/curriculum development plan is the end result of a client-partnered consulting and research effort. The development plan is a report that articulates the program/curriculum specifications according to institutional needs. The document includes a full articulation of curriculum design, including course-series or individual course “look and feel” and functionality requirements. It characterizes the significant development/delivery features of the courses and identifies any course developers, subject matter experts (SMEs), or consultants associated with the individual course projects. The development plan includes a time horizon for the overall program/curriculum with timelines for individual courses and delineated fees associated with project development and management.*

Clients who purchase a curriculum prospectus report are given a 20% discount on each corresponding program/curriculum plan.

*Clients are charged a monthly project management fee of 5% on the overall curriculum design and development charge for the duration of the project development period. A project development period runs from the date of the program/curriculum development plan implementation to the date of program/curriculum development plan completion.

Program/Curriculum Implementation Strategy The program/curriculum implementation strategy is the end result of a client-partnered consulting and research effort. It is a report that recommends ways to optimize program/curriculum support and to leverage the program/curriculum in order to maximize learning and revenues. The report recommends enrollment goals, scheduling, instructor recruitment, content-reuse, and technical support strategies.

Clients who purchase a program/curriculum development plan are given a 20% discount on each corresponding program/curriculum implementation strategy report.

Program/Curriculum Evaluation Plan The curriculum evaluation plan is the end result of a client-partnered consulting and research effort. It is a report that articulates qualitative and quantitative strategies which satisfy accreditation and/or compliance standards and assist institutions and companies in procuring feedback that informs and improves upon their curricula. The evaluation plan includes survey collection instruments for curriculum-level and course-level analysis.

Clients who purchase a curriculum prospectus report are given a 20% discount on each corresponding program/curriculum evaluation plan.

3.1.2 Existing Program Services

Existing program services are available to clients who possess an e-learning infrastructure and deliver programs/curricula, but who wish to enhance or improve upon their offerings. Clients with existing programs may select from the New Program Services, if they wish to add new programs to their offerings.

Program/Curriculum Evaluation Report The program/curriculum evaluation report includes a top-level analysis of a given program/curriculum relevant to institutional or company goals and relative to comparable institutional and company programs/curricula. It includes a systematic analysis of each course within the program/curriculum and provides recommendations for revision of content, structure, and delivery. Recommendations are informed by educational best practices and any institutional, accreditation and/or compliance standards.

Program/Curriculum Strategy Report The program/curriculum strategy report is the end result of a client-partnered consulting and research effort. It is a report that analyzes the institution or company’s current implementation and operations strategy and recommends ways to optimize program/curriculum support and to leverage the program/curriculum in order to maximize learning and revenues. The report recommends enrollment goals, scheduling, instructor recruitment, content-reuse, and technical support strategies.

Clients who purchase a curriculum evaluation report are given a 20% discount on each corresponding program/curriculum strategy report.

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3.2 Course Design and Development

Third Degree I.D. provides course- or project-development services for clients in accordance with established curriculum plans. The company employs a systematic instructional design process that produces instructionally sound, engaging course work, systematically aligned with program goals and learning outcomes and designed to exceed institutional accreditation standards.

Course-design cost estimates are based upon the following assumptions:

• A course or training project contains one or more units of instruction.
• A “unit” consists of approximately 8 pages of content and represents 3-5 hours of instruction.
• A “page” of content covers a single topic and represents information that would be presented to a learner “at once” (e.g. between clicks of a “Next” button).
• A “page” of content contains from 150-1500 words (as dictated by lesson flow and audience requirements).
• A typical unit contains approximately:
• 16 content-related photos or illustrations (an average of 2 per page)
• 1 collaborative discussion assignment
• 2 hands-on or research-focused “homework” assignments, and
• 1 standard assessment (e.g. 20-question multiple choice, true/false, or matching quiz).

Note: A unit may also contain one or more interactive learning objects, which are priced separately under topic 3.3, below.

Development Options

Type A: Courses are developed “from scratch.” Third Degree I.D. is responsible for providing subject-matter expertise, researching relevant content, and developing courses with limited support from the client partner. This is the most expensive development option. Type B: Courses are developed with the aid of a dedicated subject-matter expert employed by the client for the scope of the project (e.g. a faculty member for higher-ed institutions, or a seasoned field professional for corporate clients). Type C: The client partner provides raw content in an existing medium (e.g. textbooks, articles, PowerPoint slides, training manuals, etc.) Third Degree I.D. develops courses that re-purpose and/or supplement the existing content. Type D: The client partner provides both existing content in an alternate medium and a dedicated subject-matter expert. Third Degree I.D. works with the dedicated subject-matter expert over the course of the project to produce courses that re-purpose or supplement the raw content.

Delivery Options

Type 1: Content is designed for delivery by nonprofit institutions under the rules of the TEACH Act. This is the least restrictive option in terms of copyright and, therefore, requires limited investment in new media development and permissions acquisition. Type 2: Content is designed for delivery by nonprofit institutions and education clients under the “Fair Use” guidelines for copyrighted works. Fair Use strictly limits the amount of copyrighted content that can be used within the context of an online course. Therefore, courses developed for this standard require additional investment in new media development and permissions acquisition. Type 3: Content is developed for commercial delivery. This is the most restrictive option and requires that all course content (including media) be developed from scratch or obtained via purchase or agreement with the copyright holder.

Cost Estimates

*Note: A typical course for a higher-ed client is 10 to 12 units in length (representing 30-50 hours of instruction). Multiply the unit price by 10 or 12 to calculate average course cost.

Additional Development Services and Pricing

Third Degree I.D. also offers the following additional services related to course/program development:

*1 audio “clip” = 60 seconds of digital audio

**1 video “clip” = 30 seconds of digital video

3.3 Learning Object Development

Third Degree I.D. designs and develops rich-media learning objects, designed to motivate learners, to increase course interactivity, to provide novel and interesting views of course content, to simulate real-world scenarios, and to provide stimulating alternatives to drill-and-practice instruction. Learning objects are typically authored in Macromedia Flash and range in complexity from single-screen interactions with no evaluation to rich, simulated environments that respond to a variety of user inputs.

Object Types

Level 1: Level 1 objects are typically single-screen environments that respond to user actions but do not evaluate responses. Examples include:

• X-Ray Machine: A custom cursor reveals a hidden layer as the user rolls his mouse over an image. Imagine, in an anatomy course, being able to peer “inside” a simple, illustrated diagram of the human body, revealing the skeletal system, the circulatory system, etc.
• Overlay Engine: Users can toggle various image “layers” on and off, similar to the way transparency overlays can be used with an over head projector. Imagine a map with highways, lakes, and gas station markers that could be hidden and revealed as needed.
• Simple Image Gallery : Users cycle through images with corresponding text. Imagine a menu with five buttons, each displaying a single work of art, the title of the piece, the artist’s name, and the date it was created.

Level 2: These objects are typically 1-2 screen engines, with evaluation and feedback, and are typically used as assessment vehicles. Examples include:

• Media-Rich Quiz: For instance, a multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank quiz with optional areas for displaying diagrams, photographs, or hints.
• Hint/Password Game: The user tries to guess the topic or item that is described by a growing list of clues.

Level 3: Level 3 objects are media-rich resources that are designed to display a variety of media in a unique format. They may combine text, illustrations, photographs, charts and graphs, audio/video clips, and web links to create rich, educational experiences. Examples include:

• Timelines: Imagine an interactive timeline designed to illustrate key points in the development of personal computing. For instance, one event on the timeline could provide photos of the early Apple II computers and later Macintosh models, text describing the growth of Apple as a major hardware manufacturer, sound-bytes from industry professionals, and a link to the Apple website.
• Image Magnifier: Imagine a display engine that allows users to interactively select and view magnified portions of a small image (e.g. a painting or other work of art). The engine could handle multiple images (with a page-turning metaphor), and a text area could provide a description of each work with links to museums featuring work by the same artist.
• Interactive Dictionary/Glossary: Imagine key words or terms hyperlinked from within a course. When a term is clicked, the glossary would open, displaying a basic text definition, supplemented by audio clips, animated diagrams, or illustrations.

Level 4: These are typically complex adaptive learning tools that modify content presentation, based upon user response. Examples include:

• Adaptive Assessments/Tutorials: Content presentation is adjusted based upon user responses. Imagine a quiz that supplies a more difficult question each time a user responds correctly or easier questions when the user responds incorrectly.
• Adaptive Simulations: These are typically games or simulations that replicate real-world problems. Imagine a game designed to test a learner’s understanding of the urban planning process. For example, users might control the rate and quality of road construction, public parks, and commercial/residential zoning. By choosing to spend a significant portion of her budget on parks and residential development, a user may receive feedback that traffic congestion and unemployment have driven potential buyers out of the city.

Cost Estimates—Engine Development

Cost Estimates—Engine “Population” and Media Editing

3.4 Training

Third Degree I.D. provides a number of training options for clients who wish to expand their e-learning skills and knowledge. Training sessions can benefit instructors, support staff and administrators.

3.5 Consulting and Other

Third Degree I.D. charges a flat fee of $75 per hour for consulting, and specializes in a variety of areas, including:

• e-learning strategic planning
• accreditation substantive change documentation
• learning-objects database planning
• content-reuse planning
• “best practices” consulting
• open-source e-learning assets consulting

Third Degree I.D. charges a flat fee of $60 per hour for work that may stem from consulting, such as:

• Copy editing
• Translation
• Illustration

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Third Degree I.D. is competing for e-learning instructional design business in the corporate, educational, healthcare and government sectors. Its emphasis will be on corporate and educational markets, as these sectors are likely to experience the greatest growth.

Third Degree I.D. projects it will do $360,000 worth of business in Year 1, which represents a development objective of at least three  7- to 12-course series (i.e. a professional certificate or masters degree). Of the $360,000, the partnership estimates that 50% will come from higher-ed clients, 40% from corporate clients, and 10% from K-12 clients.

According to the Booz Allen Hamilton white paper, Re-Learning E-Learning,[1] the compound annual growth rate for the three sectors is: higher ed = 25%, corporate=30%, and K-12=30%. These assumptions were used to estimate new-development revenue for each of the three sectors.

In addition, the partnership anticipates generating revenue through reuse and relicensure at a rate of 25% of cumulative revenue, from year to year.

——————————————————————————–

[1] Lee, Reggie with Sumita Bhattacharya, Tina Nelson, and Martin Kihn. “Re-Learning e-Learning” (Booz Allen Hamilton, 2002) <http://extfile.bah.com/livelink/livelink/108290/?func=doc.Fetch&nodeid=108290>.

4.1 Market Segmentation

The e-learning market continues to expand.  According to ThinkEquity Partners and Eduventures, the global training and education market is a $2 trillion industry, with the United States accounting for 37.5% of the market.[1]  The greatest demand for e-learning in the U.S. comes from the corporate sector, which according to Brandon-Hall realizes a “30 to 60 percent” savings over traditional classroom instruction.[2] Thus, businesses and corporations have invested—and continue to invest—in infrastructure that will require a steady supply of content.

Higher education and K-12 are substantial markets, as well—a combined industry representing over 100 billion dollars.[3] With the largest class of high school students in U.S. history graduating in 2009 and a brick-and-mortar system that cannot expand quickly enough to accommodate them, e-learning is becoming a necessity for institutions as much as it is becoming an expectation among students who are increasingly computer savvy.[4] Colleges and universities are also turning to e-learning as a way to increase their reach—to offer branded educational opportunities to students outside of their traditional geographical boundaries.

 While the move to e-learning in the healthcare and government sectors remains slower than in the corporate and educational sectors, these industries are showing a strong interest nevertheless. According to Jones Knowledge, Inc. and CourseShare.com, the healthcare industry shows an 80% interest (with a 30% commitment) level while government shows 50% interest (with 39% commitment).[5]

[1] ThinkEquity Partners, Eduventures (quoted in “The Learning Markets: E-Learning” by eMarketer, Inc., 2003) <http://www.emarketer.com>.

[2] Adkins, Sam. “2002-2010 U.S. e-Learning Industry” (Brandon-Hall Marketing Series, 2002) <http://www.brandonhall.com>.

[3] Brandon-Hall (quoted in “The Learning Markets: E-Learning” by eMarketer, Inc., 2003) <http://www.emarketer.com>.

[4] Howell, Scott, Peter Williams, and Nathan Lindsay. “Thirty-two Trends Affecting Distance Education: An Informed Foundation for Strategic Planning.”  The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration (6.3) 2003 <http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/fall63/howell63.html>.

[5] Jones Knowledge, Inc. and CourseShare.com (quoted in “The Learning Markets: E-Learning” by eMarketer, Inc., 2003) <http://www.emarketer.com>. The ratio of interest to commitment is 75% to 64% in education and 80% to 60% in among corporations.

4.2 Target Market Segment Strategy

Third Degree I.D. is focusing on the corporate and educational markets because they represent the e-learning growth sectors. The partnership is well positioned to tap these markets locally and regionally. Savannah and the Lowcountry is experiencing genuine growth in high-tech businesses and is home to over 20 colleges, universities, technical institutes, and educational centers in higher education alone.

4.3 Service Business Analysis

The educational services industry is comprised of a large number of existing businesses competing in several segments. Historically, K-12, colleges/universities and corporate training providers utilized a traditional instructor-led approach for the delivery of short- and long-term courses. Over the last few years, e-learning has developed into a mature alternative to instructor-led course delivery, as it provides substantial cost savings in both development and delivery of the content and allows service providers to increase their geographical market.

4.3.1 Competition and Buying Patterns

Until recently, the competition in e-learning has been among large, proprietary course management or learning management system (CMS/LMS) vendors and IT-infrastructure companies. However, as less expensive systems and free, easy-to-install open-source systems emerge, the focus and interest is moving (appropriately) from delivery systems to the actual content delivered.

Third Degree I.D. is committed to leveraging the trend toward less expensive and open-source systems by emphasizing user-centered instructional design and by designing object-oriented content that facilitates easy installation and migration into almost any system. The company is dedicated to developing content that meets or exceeds interoperability (SCORM, OKI) and compliance standards (W3 Accessibility, ADA), so that clients can make better decisions about how to serve their content to virtually anyone.

However, the company has extensive experience with the most popular, proprietary CMS/LMS systems, and recognizes a continued investment by its clients in those systems. Thus, it also focuses on design and development for those systems (Blackboard, WebCT), while also maintaining interoperability and compliance standards that allow for easy migration of content (from system to system).

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Third Degree I.D. will focus on four e-learning markets– the corporate, educational, healthcare, and government sectors. While it seeks business from companies and institutions across the United States and abroad, it will make a concerted effort to develop long-term local and regional clients.

Third Degree I.D.’s target customers are the upper-level management of companies and institutions who are charged with the day-to-day operations of e-learning implementation and delivery.

5.1 Competitive Edge

Third Degree I.D. provides its clients the personal touch that large, proprietary systems vendors are ill-equipped to deliver. There is no universal recipe for a “good” instructional design. However, all effective instructional solutions share similar ingredients: a dash of market opportunity, a pinch of business goals, and a generous helping of user requirements. As its name implies, Third Degree I.D. is committed to “interrogating” the relevant stakeholders to determine the appropriate mix of ingredients.

Better questions yield better results. Third Degree I.D. will ask probing questions and deliver superior instructional solutions.

5.2 Marketing Strategy

Third Degree I.D.’s marketing strategy for the first year requires that the company:

• initiate as many personal contacts as possible
• demonstrate excellence with every personal contact
• identify six to eight key clients, and “win them over” through demonstration of expertise with limited initial client investment
• provide excellent custom development services with enthusiasm and a personal touch
• make a name for the company.

Identity Issues The first year of operations will present a marketing challenge for Third Degree I.D. The partnership and identity are newly formed; therefore, the company is relatively unknown in the marketplace. Although the founders have significant experience and many contacts within the e-learning and new media industries, they have worked mainly for corporate or institutional employers during the course of their careers. Therefore, Third Degree I.D. won’t benefit from immediate name recognition.

The challenge is mitigated somewhat, for name recognition isn’t especially prevalent among custom content developers in the industry—even among those who have been successful in the marketplace for years. Brandon-Hall surveyed over 200 chief learning officers, e-learning managers, and training directors to discover that the majority couldn’t name more than five custom content companies.[1]

Selling Services Another challenge stems from the nature of the business. In the first year, Third Degree I.D. will focus chiefly on marketing and selling instructional-design services, although the long-term plan is to obtain revenue from content re-packaging and re-licensure, at which time the focus will shift from selling services to selling products. Services are traditionally tough to market, as clients are wary of spending money for intangibles. They are more likely to buy from a well-known business that offers “good enough” service than to take a chance on an unknown organization that might provide exceptional service.

Photo processing is a suitable example. Many consumers routinely have their film developed at the local drugstore, despite the fact that they are often dissatisfied with the quality of the printing, the speed of the service, etc. In spite of their concerns, most consumers continue to use the drugstore’s service, rather than taking a chance on a non-chain photo lab, a mail-in service, or any of several less familiar options.

Selling Instructional Design (I.D.) The nature of the service provided by Third Degree I.D. presents yet another challenge in that “instructional design” is not exactly a household term. Although many organizations have experimented with e-learning, the field is still very young. Best practices are in their infancy, and every organization does online education a bit differently.

The market is dominated by a variety of course management system (CMS) and learning management system (LMS) vendors, each claiming their products will revolutionize the industry. Despite their lofty claims, most of these systems service providers are ill-equipped to help clients with their most daunting task—that of organizing, restructuring, and enhancing their content to provide meaningful web-based instruction.

Clients are overwhelmed by the choices and confused by the options.

Part of Third Degree I.D.’s strategy is to capitalize on that frustration as well as on the growing awareness of companies and institutions that they actually need instructional design services, especially the services of those who design and develop for the e-learning niche. In February 2004, Brandon-Hall published “Custom Content Developers: Comparative Analysis of 97 Outsource E-Learning Providers.” The study highlights and evaluates the best-known custom content development vendors in the e-learning marketplace.  These are, arguably, Third Degree I.D.’s most traditional competitors. However, it also pays to consider a source that would normally be the last place one would look for competition—the clients themselves. When faced with unfamiliar tasks, clients often try to “do it themselves,” rather than take a chance on outsourcing services, which are traditionally difficult to quantify and measure.

To succeed in this environment, Third Degree I.D. will demonstrate, through cost analysis, that outsourcing content development to a well-equipped development house with streamlined processes is generally more cost-effective than in-house development.

The Personal Touch During the first year of operation, Third Degree I.D. will focus on developing relationships as a conduit for sales. Rather than mounting an advertising campaign that promotes a faceless service, the founders will strive to make as many personal or “insider” contacts as possible. According to Brandon-Hall’s custom content report, the majority of the companies surveyed “chose their outsource partner through simple ‘word of mouth or they selected companies that were in close geographic proximity to themselves.”[2]

Fortunately, Third Degree I.D. operates in a city that is known for its relationship networking. The founders have established and continue to establish their credibility among potential clients, particularly in the higher education and high-tech corporate sectors.

Higher Education Clients All of the company founders have worked for at least one institution of higher education in Savannah, and the company CEO, who has a 10-year employment history in Georgia at several colleges and universities, plans to extend that experience to another Savannah-based university in August. The potential clients for which personal contacts exist include:

• Armstrong Atlantic State University (Savannah)
• East Georgia College (Swainsboro)
• Middle Georgia College (Cochran)
• Georgia State University (Atlanta)
• Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program (Savannah)
• Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah)
• Savannah State University (Savannah)
• South University (Savannah)
• University of Georgia (Athens)

Other States:

• LaSalle University (PA)
• Matanuska-Susitna College (AK)
• Methodist College (NC)
• Tennessee Board of Regents Online Degree Program (TN)
• Thomas Edison University (NJ)
• Saint Thomas University (FL)
• San Diego State University (CA)

Another strategy of Third Degree I.D. is to read about and research the higher education e-learning market continuously. There will be no “cold calling.” Instead, institutions will be approached when there is a natural context for doing so. Institutions in likely need of instructional design products and services include those with high-volume e-learning programs, troubled or ineffective e-learning programs (that may be “on probation”), or ambitious curricula rollouts. Current candidates include:

• American InterContinental University
• Drexel eLearning
• Penn State World Campus
• University of Maryland University College
• University of Phoenix
• University of Illinois at Springfield

Other potential higher education clients may be non-American institutions wanting to establish themselves in the U.S. e-learning market and wanting to utilize designers and developers more familiar with regional accreditation and compliance standards. Countries with high-volume e-learning establishments, such as Canada and the U.K., stand to save substantially on design and development costs, as well.

Corporate Clients While Third Degree I.D. wants to build its reputation in education, it appreciates the need to keep a balanced client portfolio. Recognizing that industries fluctuate and that corporate e-learning is the sector predicted to show the largest growth, the company will work to establish a number of corporate relationships, as well, approaching potential clients through appropriate forums, and via a context that clarifies need (such as a news article or press release announcing a potential client’s new e-learning infrastructure). Third Degree I.D. has already begun to market its products and services to local companies—and particularly high-tech companies–through a number of forums, associations and businesses, including:

• Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)
• Coastal BETA
• Coastal Venture Investment Forum
• The Creative Coast
• OnPoint Digital
• Savannah Economic Development Authority
• Savannah Entrepreneurial Center
• Small Business Chamber of Savannah

It has begun to announce its products and services to the national and international communities through national and international e-learning forums and associations, including:

• eLearning Europa
• Eduventures
• The eLearning Guild
• World Wide Learn

Third Degree I.D. has already secured some limited “spec” work from the University of Ceramic Tile and Stone through The eLearning Guild.

Healthcare Clients Healthcare represents a small, but growing market (relative to the corporate and educational e-learning markets). Clients that are likely to develop e-learning infrastructures are large, university-affiliated hospitals that do a good deal of teaching and research. Third Degree I.D. has already established contacts with the University of Chicago Hospitals Academy and is planning to contact several of the local Savannah hospitals, one of which is Memorial Health, a “medical university” that has been listed as one of the “100 most wired hospitals” three years in a row by hospitalconnect.com.[3]

Government Clients Like healthcare, government e-learning is demonstrating some growth, especially in sectors where training is mandated by law. The recent Forecast of Contract Opportunities for FY 2004 issued by the Department of Homeland Security features a number of projects that will require training that is flexible, mobile and cost-effective. A number of the projects are also based in Georgia and South Carolina.

New and Key Clients While Third Degree I.D. seeks clients who have established e-learning programs and wish to improve upon or extend them, many of its potential clients (particularly the local clients) will be forging ground in unfamiliar territory as they move from traditional educational and training environments to the e-learning arena. They will be uncertain about the benefits of e-learning and protective of their subject-matter expertise. They will be wary of third-party content developers claiming to have the “answer to their prayers.”

The founders of Third Degree I.D. recognize the cautious environment they are likely to face and have realistic expectations for the first year of operation. The general goal is to establish a limited number of key clients and provide high-quality services and exemplary products. Key clients are best characterized as clients with genuine e-learning ambitions who are considering a number of large-scale projects and will require some training and maintenance. Key clients would be returning customers.

To acquire key clients, Third Degree I.D. is prepared to take limited-scope development projects at a reduced rate to prove its capabilities. For instance, the company may offer to develop a single course in a certificate program “at cost,” with the goal of winning a more lucrative through the demonstration of superior service and an exemplary product.

Seeking Excellence Third Degree I.D. will strive for excellence in all personal encounters and development transactions because it recognizes the validity of “the butterfly effect.” In much the same way chaos theorists posit that a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can affect global weather patterns, entrepreneurs know that a single client meeting handled with passion, enthusiasm, and excellence may be the catalyst for many future successful business dealings.

Looking Ahead After the initial year of selling predominantly services, Third Degree I.D. will reposition itself to market the products it has developed both as a result of the service deliverables and some in-house research and development. The central product is the “learning object,” a Flash-based course enhancement that raises the level of course engagement and interaction levels and raises the bar in the e-learning industry. The learning objects bring together high-quality instructional design with compelling, state-of-the-art media design. The objects are also exceedingly flexible, eminently re-purposable, and remarkably scalable.

Because the learning objects are likely to be copied quickly after their release, Third Degree I.D. will need to prepare a special campaign to become “the name” in reusable custom content development. The company will:

• write press releases
• get featured in articles and on websites
• register keywords with major search engines
• approach CMS/LMS vendors and professional organization about linking to our website
• advertise in industry-specific publications
• register with RFP exchanges
• investigate/initiate strategic partnerships
• attend trade shows (as exhibitors)
• present our solutions at conferences and seminars.

As the market demonstrates its needs, Third Degree I.D. will begin to narrow its focus, optimizing those products and services that are most useful, beneficial, and cost-effective. The company will invest in a market research strategy utilizing a number of evaluation and survey techniques to assure its understanding of the market and its staying power within that market.

[1] Chapman, Bryan. “Custom Content Developers: Comparative Analysis of 97 Outsource e-Learning Providers” (Brandon-Hall Marketing Series, 2004) <http://www.brandonhall.com>.

[2] Chapman, Bryan. “Custom Content Developers: Comparative Analysis of 97 Outsource e-Learning Providers” (Brandon-Hall Marketing Series, 2004) <http://www.brandonhall.com>.

[3] Hospitals Connect. “100 Most Wired.” <http://www.hospitalconnect.com/hhnmostwired/archives/100_most_wired.html>. 

5.3 Sales Strategy

Third Degree I.D. promotes its products and services via its website and advertises strategically via portals and publications devoted to e-learning and distance education. Additionally, the company solicits likely customers through direct mailings targeted toward businesses or institutions that are planning large online program rollouts or that are experiencing accreditation problems related to e-learning.

5.3.1 Sales Forecast

While business began in May 2004 and will intensify through August 2004, September 2004 is the partnership’s first month of official operations. The sales forecast (from September 2004 to August 2005) represents a year of operations.

For the purpose of this plan, we treat our development costs as our staff costs. The only direct cost of sales listed here is software packaging, which we project at 5% of the sale price. Although this effectively brings our direct costs to zero, it reflects the fact that all three founding members will, in fact, be directly involved in the development of our products. Our staff costs are laid out in the Personnel Plan. On average, we’ll markup our development costs by 50% to set the final price.

During the first year of operations, all our sales will come from new content and curriculum development. We will strive to make this content re-usable and subsequently re-package it to meet the needs of additional clients. This should decrease our overall development costs in future periods. We plan that 25% of cumulative previous years’ sales will come from such re-used content.

The table below summarizes our sales forecasts.

5.4 Milestones

Our milestones for the initial period are summarized in the table below.

Web Plan Summary

The Third Degree I.D. website will help familiarize potential clients with the company’s unique approach to instructional design and e-learning content development. The website will establish Third Degree I.D. as a sophisticated yet approachable instructional design group with over 25 years of collective experience in educational new media development.

6.1 Website Marketing Strategy

Through sample learning objects and case studies, the website will showcase the type of detail-oriented instructional design that Third Degree I.D. provides. These examples will demonstrate how the company can leverage new media capabilities to create richer learning experiences. The work samples and promotional copy will help clients make the connection between engaging content and effective instruction, while emphasizing the company’s ability to identify and meet learning goals.

In addition to introducing prospective clients to the company, the website will provide supplementary information for those already familiar with Third Degree I.D., its products, and its services. Through a password-protected client extranet, the website will serve existing clients as a means to track project progress and to investigate new opportunities for curriculum development. Message boards in this portion of the site will offer a convenient location where clients can exchange ideas with project managers, subject matter experts, content developers, and instructional designers.

Internationally-known educational media organizations, such as the eLearning Guild, the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, and World Wide Learn, will provide cost-effective opportunities for exposure and drive traffic to the Third Degree I.D. website. Similarly, ads placed online in publications such as the Chronicle of Higher Education will allow the company to reach its target market and establish a network of links to the company website. These links will contribute to higher rankings in search engine result lists, which will lead to increased web traffic and name recognition for the company. Additional web-based advertising will be pursued as needed to improve company visibility and to generate interest in company services.

6.2 Development Requirements

The development of the Third Degree I.D. website will be the responsibility of the Chief Creative Officer. Tasks necessary for the completion of the site include:

• Domain name registration
• Purchase of Web hosting plan
• Development of site look and feel
• Backend programming and database integration for client extranet

The domain name ThirdDegreeID.com has already been registered and hosting has been established for the address. While the website look and feel will evolve over time, creating a web presence consistent with the company’s identity is an immediate priority. Equally vital to the success of the website as a promotional tool is the establishment of a collection of learning objects and other work samples. After meeting this need, the client extranet and other advanced features will be added to the site as resources become available.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Third Degree I.D. is owned and operated by its founders. It is a small company with a lateral, non-hierarchical structure that cultivates mutual input and collective solutions. The company will operate with three full-time employees (also the founders) in the first year, hiring contractor and consultants as needed. As our business grows, we plan to add additional staff, as discussed below.

7.1 Personnel Plan

Third Degree I.D. will be formed with three executive partners, a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a Chief Learning Officer (CLO), and a Chief Creative Officer (CCO). While a number of their job duties overlap, the CEO is primarily responsible for front-end consulting, planning, and project management, while the CLO and CCO are responsible for back-end product development, refinement, and implementation. The partners work together at promoting the business and managing office operations.

Susan Hines, CEO Susan has worked in the educational sector for twenty years. She has seventeen years of teaching experience across a broad range of institutions, including public and private universities, four-year colleges, community colleges, and college-preparatory facilities. She has taught at institutions both domestic and foreign, has been a traditional tenure-track faculty member, and has served—and continues to serve—as online adjunct faculty. Susan was Assistant Professor of English and Digital Art at LaSalle University from 1998 to 2000, before taking a job as an Instructional Analyst with the e-learning company Eduprise, Inc. (now SunGuard Collegis). She was hired by the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2002 to develop its distance education curricula and continues to serve as SCAD’s Director of Instructional Design. Susan holds several degrees in English Literature: a Ph.D. from Georgia State University, an M.A. from the University of British Columbia, and a B.A. from the University of Alaska.

Mona Meyer, CLO Mona holds a B.S. in Information and Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine and an M.A. in Educational Technology from San Diego State University. She has over twelve years experience designing and developing new media learning solutions for a variety of educational institutions and publishers, including: McGraw-Hill, Jostens Learning Corporation (now CompassLearning), Leapfrog, and the Savannah College of Art and Design. Mona specializes in object-oriented instructional design solutions that promote active collaboration. As instructional design manager for McGraw-Hill New Media, Mona led the development of hundreds of titles for the K-12 market in a wide variety of subject areas and played a crucial role in the design and development of the Codie-Award-winning McGraw-Hill Learning Network (www.mhln.com), a large-scale Internet education portal that offers interactive textbooks, multi-player educational games, and a suite of web-based classroom management tools.

Daniel Stanford, CCO Daniel holds a B.A. in Mass Communication and French from the University of Alabama and is currently completing his M.F.A. in Interactive Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. An avid linguist and the recipient of a Capstone International Scholarship for study abroad, Daniel has spent semesters in France and Germany. He began his career in media design at the University of Alabama Center for Public Television, where he collaborated with producers to promote programs and distribute supplementary educational materials via the Web. He has since served as a media designer at the BLR Agency in Birmingham, Alabama, where he contributed significantly to the Birmingham Museum of Art’s Addy-award-winning website (www.artsbma.org). Five years of diverse media design experience led Daniel to SCAD, where he has put his combination of artistic and technical skills to use in learning object programming, graphic interface development, and project management.

Future Staffing As the client-base grows, the partners plan to hire a Technology Director who will work closely with the CLO and CCO to develop database-driven learning objects, as well as with the CEO to develop broader e-learning solutions, such as installation packages for open-source course management and learning management systems (CMS/LMS). In the first year, the partners will rely on outside consultants to provide information technology, instructional design, and media development support, as dictated by project load. As the client base grows and revenue is increasingly generated through content and technology re-licensure, the partners may add additional development staff to support project needs.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

Our financial plan is based on our assumption of achieving desired levels of sales. Our first-year revenues (projected at $360,000) will probably be insufficient to turn a profit in the first year. However, we plan to generate net profit starting in year two. Our initial cash reserve should be sufficient to keep us afloat during the first year. Subsequent years’ cash flows generate a cushion that will allow us to further develop our business.

8.1 Important Assumptions

Our main financial assumptions are summarized in the table below.

8.2 Break-even Analysis

The main development costs of the product will be our staff costs. Our variable costs are solely those related to packaging (5% of sales), since our staff costs are monthly payroll numbers, reflected in the P&L forecasts later in this document. Our Break-even Analysis is summarized in the table below.

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

First-year revenue is generated primarily from curriculum and content development services. The first-year gross income goal is $360,000, which represents a development objective of at least three full MA programs or training programs (10 courses each) or a combination of comparable curricula. It is the intent of the partners that every development project will yield re-usable learning objects that can be subsequently re-packaged to meet the needs of additional clients. The partners also intend to solicit co-ownership agreements that allow Third Degree I.D. to re-license courses and curricula to institutions other than those for which they were first developed.  The reusable learning objects and content re-licensure will provide a low-investment revenue stream that will contribute an increasingly large percentage of gross corporate revenue in subsequent years.

On the expense side, our staff costs are going to be our main cost. These are, technically, are our product development costs, as all three partners will be directly involved into the development of products for our clients. During the first year, we also plan to utilize services of outside consultants and contractors on the product development side. As stated earlier in this document, as our business grows, we plan to add additional staff. We also plan to utilize our CEO’s home office for the remaining part of 2004 and move into a new office space in January 2005.

Overall, we plan to end our first year of operations with a loss. Subsequent years wil show increasing profitability, as summarized in the table below.

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

Our cash plan is based on the assumption that we meet our sales objectives and collect receivables within 60 days. This will be especially critical during our first year of operations, during which our cash balance will also depend on the initial cash contributions of the three founding partners and a two-year $30,000 loan. The combination of the two should be sufficient to keep our cash balance positive during the most critical first year of operations.

The table below summarizes our cash flow forecasts.

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

The table below summarizes our forecasted balance sheet. For the first two years of operations (i.e., until we generate a sufficient cash reserve), receivables represent our main current asset. Our fixed assets should be mostly limited to the computer equipment that we depreciate over 5 years. With manageable liabilities, our accounting net worth should steadily grow over the projected period.

8.6 Business Ratios

The table below summarizes our key business ratios, with comparisons to standard ratios for our industry, Educational Computer Software (SIC Code 7372.9903).

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5 Downloadable eLearning Project Plan Templates

• Jake Wengroff
• April 22, 2022

Project Plan Templates to Keep eLearning on Track

How do you know what everyone is working on, and when it is due?

Project management tools and technology have been around for quite some time and should be familiar to even the smallest teams.

However, how do you know which one works the best for your eLearning project? Project management apps abound—Gartner’s Software Advice portal includes reviews for 1,306 products —but designing and developing learning experiences have their own unique workflows that general project management apps built for a broad business audience cannot address.

For example, instructional design models, like ADDIE, include phases that once completed, might be revisited again. This makes traditional project management tools ineffective to track the typical learning development process. In traditional project management tools, once a project is complete, it is usually archived—over and done with, very rarely to be revisited.

However, in learning development, there is often much back and forth, and so project plans need to build in this non-linear process.

What is a project plan template for learning and development?

A project plan template for learning and development can help L&D teams map out the tasks needed for completion with instructional design principles in mind.

Templates, or pre-formatted guidelines that can be used and re-used, are essential for project management. While no two projects are alike, the underlying instructional design models are the same. As such, a template can easily demonstrate how much time is needed for different elements of a learning project, assign these to the appropriate team members, and determine reasonable due dates.

The project management template can include fields, tabs, or pages that track the following information:

• Each team member, their role, and their capacity
• Each of the tasks required to complete the learning project, including what will be outsourced
• Hours necessary for each of those team members to complete each of their tasks
• Intended due dates for each component to be completed
• Initial outline of eLearning development plans such as learning objectives

Why use a learning and development project plan template?

Some teams might question the value of using an eLearning project timeline template when they can simply use the organization’s project management software that’s already in place—maybe even spending a bit on IT resources to add features or views suitable for L&D’s needs.

That can certainly still work. In fact, it might even be necessary, especially if L&D must work or report closely to other departments, such as HR or Operations, that lean heavily on the enterprise instance of a project management suite.

However, leveraging forms and guidelines built by others that know the training function inside and out can help you focus on the important tasks at hand. These eLearning project charter templates can prevent the team from getting distracted by the other bells and whistles of large-scale enterprise project management tools.

Best eLearning Project Plan Templates to Download Now

Use one—or several—of these templates to keep track of your current eLearning projects. These are built with the instructional designer, course developer, and training manager in mind.

Additionally, these can be uploaded to a cloud-hosted document sharing service, like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, for access and sharing on the go if needed.

1. eLearning project plan template from Cognota (Excel)

For eLearning project managers, designers, stakeholders, and subject matter experts, keeping all the relevant information in one place and maintaining oversight of the project’s progress is key.

With this eLearning project plan template from Cognota, you’ll be able to:

• Record and maintain all the relevant project details
• Develop project milestones and deliverables
• Create a project schedule to keep things on track
• Assign tasks to specific project team members
• Keep track of progress on each milestone

Download Now

2. eLearning project information template by iSpring Solutions (Word)

This template in Microsoft Word is simple and straightforward, as it is essentially a table of empty fields that members of the L&D team would fill in.

This could be helpful if managers and executives outside of the L&D team are curious to understand more about your process. Such individuals might just want a simple rundown of what’s on deck, without needing to log in or search for your project in the enterprise project management software. As such, sending a Word document providing a high-level review might just work perfectly.

3. eLearning course planning template from Elucidat (PDF)

This PDF is a booklet of questions that learning leaders can ask themselves before starting to design and develop a training course in their authoring tools.

Elucidat’s 5C Framework asks questions related to the project’s purpose and target audience, how will success be defined, and how the course will be distributed, among other questions.

4. L&D project plan template from eLearningArt (Excel)

This Excel-based template created by learning consultant Bryan Jones of eLearningArt has a calculator to help you estimate the number of hours required for each project phase. When creating an eLearning project plan, this helps determine the resources you’ll need.

By inputting the percent of the project allotted to specific project phases (i.e., storyboarding, scripting), the total project hours budgeted, the number of working hours per day, and expected delivery date, you will be able to calculate the total project hours by phase and the days the team has to complete them.

5. eLearning project tracker from Learning Carton (Google Sheets)

This Google Sheet has multiple tabs, including a Punchlist (item name, who it’s assigned to, and status), Timeline, and Tracker. Christopher Karel of Learning Carton provides detailed instructions on how to use the spreadsheet on the download page (see below).

He also explains how to use certain features of Google Sheets, such as tagging team members so that they get pinged, so that live collaboration elements can be built into the project.

eLearning Project Planning Software Built Specifically for L&D Teams

L&D teams need to be on the same page at any moment while planning and prioritizing tasks as part of a learning project. The right tools are needed for planning, organization, and collaboration in order to maximize team capacity and ensure that the project is completed and delivered to learners on time.

With Cognota, you can plan and manage capacity, assign tasks and due dates, and standardize your L&D processes, ensuring that projects can stay within a budget and be delivered on time. See for yourself with a 14 day free trial !

• Tags: eLearning Project Management , learning and development , Templates for L&D , Training project , Training Templates

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Start Your eLearning Business From Scratch in 2024 — Here’s How

It’s not just the global pandemic that made everyone obsessed with eLearning. Unpredictable work hours, frequent business trips, unreliable public transport, household chores — all of these things render it impossible for many people to visit in-person classes.

The demand for online courses is skyrocketing. The eLearning market in the US is expected to grow by 36.5 billion dollars during 2022-2025. So, if you are planning to launch your first eLearning product this year, the timing couldn’t have been better.

The question is, how do you go from chaotic docs and video drafts on your PC to a full-speed educational business? We will provide you with a step-by-step plan on how to start an eLearning business, real-world examples, and actionable tips to make sure you start off on the right foot.

What is an eLearning business?

8 reasons to start your elearning business now, how to choose the right online learning business model, selling individual courses for one-time payments, selling learning subscriptions, combining one-time fees and subscriptions, how to start an elearning business in 8 steps, define your target audience, develop your curriculum, work on your positioning, find a scalable elearning platform for business, create your first lessons and get initial feedback, create a landing page presenting your online learning business, start marketing your online learning business, measure the success of your students and share it, ready to give your elearning business a head start.

Before we go any further, let’s define what it is that you are planning to build. eLearning business is a business that delivers educational materials or courses online. Just like any other business, it usually has its unique branding , positioning, and other distinctive components.

Skillshare is a perfect example of a successful eLearning business.

eLearning doesn’t always mean self-paced learning. It’s also common to sell instructor-paced courses as well as downloadable educational assets that have no expiration date.

You can start an online training business completely by yourself — there are enough intuitive online course builders out there allowing you to create, edit, and publish your lessons. That being said, having a designer, a video editor, and a marketer on your side will bring your courses to the next level.

Before you launch your educational business, make sure to check out our guide on how to build online courses !

Want to promote your product or service?

With SendPulse, you can reach your target audience by sending various types of messages through a communication channel they prefer — email campaigns, web push notifications, SMS, and chatbots for WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, or Telegram.

41% of graduate students reported that they found their online college-level education to be better than the same classes taught in person. How could this be? Turns out, eLearning beats the traditional learning format in many ways:

• Diverse toolkit . Quizzes, group chats, activities, tests, certificates of completion, other features, and gamification tools will boost your students’ interest and engagement.
• Personalization. Spark your students’ motivation by allowing them to track and measure their progress and reach their personal milestones.
• Customization. Only you decide how your virtual classroom will look and how your curriculum will be structured.
• Reliability . Easily receive payments and build a stable source of income by selling on-demand courses.
• Cost-efficiency . Using an online course platform is more affordable than renting a space, wasting time on commutes, etc.
• Availability . Learners from all over the world can start, pause, and revisit your courses at any time, so you can tap into new markets.
• Transparency . Analyze your students’ performance, collect feedback, and improve your courses to suit their needs better.
• Borderlessness . You can hire the best talents to teach at your online school instead of limiting your search to one city.

As we transition towards the gig economy and hybrid work, the necessity to travel every day to sit in a physical classroom for an hour quickly becomes obsolete. Online learning helps both students and teachers increase their productivity and unlock new opportunities without having to leave their cozy homes.

Before jumping to the production phase, you need to figure out how to package, price, and sell your educational products. We’ll describe three of the most common eLearning business models and look at their advantages and drawbacks.

If you are working on your first courses and just planning on creating a full-scale online school, this model may be a good choice for you, especially if some of these points apply to your business:

• your educational products are not tightly interconnected;
• each of your courses teaches one specific skill;
• it takes less than a month to complete one course.

With this eLearning business model, you don’t need to postpone the launch until you have tons of content. You can start monetizing your knowledge immediately and adjust your strategy as your brand grows. What’s even better is the fact that the same business model also works for giants of eLearning such as Coursera.

You can charge a one-time fee for single lessons, course series, or bundles . Usually, this business model implies that you grant your students a completion certificate and lifetime access to the contents of the course they’ve purchased.

The only downside of this model is that it doesn’t encourage students to keep coming back to you for more and, as a result, you get occasional spikes in sales instead of a steady stream of revenue. But you can fix it by publishing new content on a regular basis and nurturing your audience with the help of email marketing automation.

If your notebook is packed full of ideas for new courses and you have resources to produce them consistently, consider choosing the subscription-based eLearning business model for your online school. This way, you’ll be selling temporary access to your educational products for a smaller but recurring fee.

Skillshare, for example, offers a premium subscription that gives users access to thousands of online classes. The platform also has a free trial and a referral program — both are steal-worthy features for any eLearning business operating on a subscription basis.

This model has an obvious disadvantage — you can’t expect an immediate return on investment unless you focus on selling annual subscriptions. And to be able to do that, you need months’ worth of content and, once again, a nurturing email campaign in place to keep your long-term students engaged.

Alternatively, you can take the best of both worlds by merging together the eLearning business models we’ve described above. Sell exclusive courses, eBooks, guides, kits, workshops, tutorials, or packs for a fixed price while also offering subscriptions with access to all of your basic courses. Your students will love the flexibility of this model and being able to pay just for the content they need.

Domestika uses this very model. Its users can purchase a premium subscription to unlock exclusive perks, lifetime access to purchased courses, and extra savings, but they’ll still have to pay for individual courses, although not as much as users without a premium account.

This hybrid eLearning business model incentivizes students to invest in long-term memberships and extract maximum value during the paid period. It also ensures that you as an owner get stable earnings by profiting from published on-demand products. The only downside is that this approach is more advanced and thus harder to implement.

Once you’ve decided to set your goals in motion, follow these key steps to launch an educational business that will last.

The first step is to describe your potential students. It will help your target the right audience and make sure they will be satisfied with your courses and spread the word to their peers.

Start their portrait by specifying their:

• demographics;
• learning goals;
• fears and concerns;
• current level of proficiency;

Feel free to edit this customer profile after communicating with your first real students and gaining more insights. You don’t have to keep this description to yourself — in fact, it’ll be even more useful if you reverberate it on your course landing page.

Here’s how The Honey Bee Society promotes its online beekeeping theory courses. This copy precisely targets those who are new to beekeeping and confused as to where they should start.

The main idea here is to convince your website visitors that your course is tailored exactly for them. By addressing your key audience and their pain points and interests directly, you’ll make them feel seen and understood.

What makes people pay for online courses when every type of expert content seems to be available on YouTube for free? The answer is structure. Well-structured, sequential in-depth content on social media is hard to come by because trends change so fast that creators just can’t afford to get stuck on the same topic.

Use this to your advantage by making sure your lessons are systematically organized and logically connected. Prepare relevant handouts, spreadsheets, exercises, or quizzes for each lesson. To see how it’s done, head to Udemy — its courses always have a clear logical structure.

There are three main approaches to building a curriculum: subject-centered, learner-centered, and problem-centered. You’ll be able to choose the right one for your eLearning business after analyzing your students’ goals and expectations.

The online learning market is quite saturated, so your brand has to stand out from day one. Brand positioning for an eLearning business means finding a unique angle, shaping a value proposition so that it will inevitably draw new students in.

Here’s how the language-learning platform Lingoda positions itself.

Lingoda puts emphasis on its flexibility and high-effort-high-reward approach. This positioning effectively distinguishes the platform from the competition and helps the Lingoda teachers attract the most dedicated students.

Craft unique positioning for your eLearning brand with the help of competitor analysis tools !

Keep in mind that your positioning will directly affect your pricing and vice versa. An exclusive, time-limited online course taught by an industry rockstar can easily be sold for $1,000 and higher, whereas a self-made course hosted by a local influencer, valuable as it is, will require a more down-to-earth price tag.

The times when every digital product had to be built from scratch are long gone. There are plenty of intuitive online course platforms out there offering video hosting as well as code-free editing and marketing tools. They allow you to turn existing visual and text-based materials into professional-looking courses within minutes.

We are about to launch our own online course builder , made with creators, entrepreneurs, and HR managers in mind. Sign up for early-bird access!

Your ideal eLearning platform should provide you with enough flexibility and control. Before investing in any particular solution, ask yourself a few questions:

• Does it allow you to create and host a full-scale branded online school?
• Are there enough interactive features to keep students motivated?
• How easy is it to receive and withdraw money from this platform?
• Can you track your course sales and analyze your students’ performance in detail?
• Are there any built-in marketing tools?
• Can you do live streams on this platform?
• How many students and moderators can you add without overpaying?
• Is there a real support agent who can help you quickly solve potential problems?

With the right eLearning platform, you can guarantee your students a high-quality learning experience without having to dig deep into your pockets.

At this stage, you don’t need a website yet. Before investing time and resources into that, make sure you have a viable educational product to promote in the first place.

Test your lessons by sending them to your friends or peers who are at least remotely interested in the subject you’re teaching. If you don’t have a big network, just hire niche freelancers to watch and review your lessons. Then, ask your focus group to give you extensive feedback and describe their overall impressions.

Such a simple procedure can prevent disastrous outcomes by providing you with valuable real-life insights. For example, it can help you catch potential sound issues, clarify vague definitions, or make important slides more legible. Based on that initial feedback, you will be able to adjust your course curriculum and content right before the official launch.

A conversion-oriented landing page is a must for any online training business. Ideally, each of your courses should have its own page. For starters, it allows you to effectively present and describe your offer. Also, you can use your landing page to capture leads and sell your courses directly.

Be sure to include the following information in your page:

• credentials and proof of your expertise;
• benefits and deliverables of your course;
• course curriculum;
• short informative video presenting your course;
• testimonials from previous students;
• FAQ section;
• CTA buttons;
• socials and contact information.

Here’s an example of a killer eLearning business landing page promoting online golf coaching.

A simple yet powerful landing page builder

Create a landing page, online store, or bio link page for Instagram and promote it by sending the link to your subscribers through email, SMS, or chatbot messages — on a single platform.

Think about your marketing and sales funnel . How will your target audience discover your offer? Specify the most relevant channels for your eLearning brand and focus on building your presence and influence there.

Some of the most useful marketing channels for eLearning businesses include:

• social media;
• video blogging;
• guest appearances and collaborations;
• industry events;
• networking.

If you’re just building your first online learning brand, you don’t have to worry about putting all your eggs in one basket. With limited resources, it’s reasonable to focus on one or two platforms and build a functioning funnel specifically for them instead of trying to be everywhere at the same time.

Almost every eLearning platform enables you to manage your course sales, analyze your students’ performance, and make data-driven predictions and decisions.

Besides from course completion rate, you’ll need to measure the following metrics:

• enrollments;
• sign-ups for email campaigns;
• content downloads;
• attendance rate;
• student engagement (through participation in chats and activities);
• course landing page visitors and their behavior.

Feedback forms are extremely useful for gathering student testimonials and understanding their learning journey better. Platforms like Udacity use their student success stories to illustrate the potency of their educational products.

This type of social proof will help you win new students and demonstrate that you deliver on your promises. Also, student endorsements will boost your brand authority and credibility, which is crucial for any new business.

We have just the product for you. Sign up for early access to our new online course builder , and you’ll discover an easy yet versatile platform for creating state-of-the-art courses, onboarding programs, training series, and more.

With our solution, you can seamlessly collect payments and connect with your students through different channels. Also, you can keep track of your deals in our CRM and create landing pages, registration forms, and chatbots without ever leaving SendPulse — it’s that easy.

Date of publication:

April 8, 2022

Good writing makes my heart beat faster. So does a good conversion rate. In my free time, I obsessively learn...

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• Plan Your eLearning Projects

Create an eLearning Project Plan in 3 simple steps (Template and Examples Included!)

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ELEARNING DEVELOPMENT 

• Manage Your eLearning Projects
• Structure & Script eLearning
• Design & Prototype eLearning
• Visualize & Storyboard eLearning
• Develop & Build eLearning
• Publish & Deliver eLearning

Bonus 1: eLearning Development Calculator Bonus 2: eLearning Best Practices Pro Tips

You may be surprised by how much success in elearning development comes down to smart planning and solid project management. Planning, where you think through the details of a project, match expectations and realities to a calendar, and generally visualize the flow of activities, a key part of the project. It’s both necessary and, happily, not too painful. We suggest that you get started by thinking through the five topics we offer here, then take a read through the next section of this guide about eLearning eLearning project management . With those two tasks done, you’ll be well on your way to “Wow!!”

Get our free eLearning project plan template today! Plan out your project with development time estimates by phase. 

Basics of eLearning Planning

The first stage of any significant project brings with it a lot of unknowns. In fact, even for very experienced elearning people, the beginning of a project is more about not knowing than it is about knowing. It’s perfectly normal to be a little vague on the project scope, nervous about working with stakeholders, and wondering if we’ll ever “get” the topic that’s being presented. In short, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, that’s OK.

In the following sections we’ll address the big unknowns that you may find daunting — we know we sure did when we were just starting out! We’ll spell out the details and remove some mystery. Don’t you feel better already?

How to Plan an eLearning Course Project

Well, good news: Everyone starts right where you are, and even the people who build all day every day run into moments when they ask the same question. For planning purposes, if you’re new to any aspect of the project — the authoring tool, the subject matter, the people involved, any of it — you will want to build extra time into your project plan for moving up the learning curve.

It’s not that developing an elearning program is especially difficult. It’s just that there are a lot of aspects to the project, and you’re likely to find some that challenge you. As adults, we don’t necessarily think in terms of needing to learn things to be competent — we’re adults after all! That’s a good idea to let go of right now, before you get much further in your project, because an open mind (and sense of humor) will help you complete the project with pride.

Estimate eLearning Development Time

OK, letting you in on a little secret here: Building learning does take time. That is why any form of procrastination is a baaad idea.

Here’s a key: To ballpark the time needed, what’s helpful to know is how long, in minutes, the end-product of your work effort will be. This is referred to as “run time,” or roughly how long it will take a viewer to complete the program (note that this does not include the time it takes to complete interactions such as a quiz; that’s difficult to estimate, so usually not included in discussions of run time).

For example, maybe you’re developing a 20-minute presentation, or a 10-minute eLearning program. Often, your stakeholders will state how long they expect the program to be, but if you don’t have an idea about the time, take a good guess and confirm it by asking others involved with the project to do the same. An “educated guess” is fine.

Next, multiply the minutes you’ve come up with by a factor between 22 and 240.

Your project will fall somewhere on a spectrum from simple to complex, so adjust the factor you use in the calculation with that in mind. The higher the factor, the more development time. For example:

• Use a factor number at the low end of the range for something like a simple click-and-read PowerPoint with limited graphics.
• Use a factor at the high end for a full, interactive eLearning program that you’re starting from scratch.

Now multiply the factor times the runtime and the result is an estimate of minutes of development time. Then, for the total number of hours, divide your result by 60.

Now you have a guesstimate, in hours, of the time you’ll need to develop your project.

If all that math makes your head hurt, use our handy calculator !

Get Started with Your eLearning Project Timeline

Now that you have a total number of hours estimated to use as a guide, begin by loosely figuring out how you can schedule the hours needed to get your project launched, push it forward, and get it done.

Do this by taking a look at your calendar and workload between now and the proposed deadline. Match the total project hours to your or your team’s availability, accounting for pre-existing commitments such as regular work tasks, other projects currently in motion (or expected to be), vacations, and other availability-impacting factors.

Now, based on your quick calculations, does the deadline seem doable? Can you deliver what’s hoped for by the wished-for date, or will something need to be adjusted? That “something” might be any (or all) of the following:

• Extend the deadline to a more realistic date.
• Reduce the scope of the project to allow fewer hours to be spent on it. (For example, the program could be shorter, or it could be simpler. Fiddle with the development calculator to test scenarios.)
• Take the project in phases, delivering a simpler solution sooner that will serve as the foundation for a more time-consuming solution later.
• Add people to the project. (But note that this solution should be applied with caution! The bigger the team, the more time you must take to manage it. Time is what you’re short on, right?)

If you’ve traveled this far in your project, congratulations!! You’ve started your project. No more worries there.

10 eLearning Project Phases and Milestones

Let’s start toward a project plan by understanding that elearning projects have a logical flow that carries the builder from a messy pile of content to beautiful and engaging elearning. This runs roughly as follows:

Project Startup — Often chaotic and confusing, during this phase the content to be included (or not) begins to be defined (that would be the “scope” of the project) and the order of presentation begins to take shape (and that’s the “sequence”). These aren’t locked down by any means, but you’ll start to get a sense of the project, and, as an added bonus, the people involved.

Project Definition — Here a tighter lock is put on scope and sequence, source material is sorted and captured, people’s roles are defined, and the project, generally, begins to take shape.

Project Design — Not always included, but often useful, is a quick round in which the proposed look and feel of the project is put in front of decision makers. This is often referred to as “prototyping,” and should be polished enough to get the ideas across, but need not be perfect.

Project Scripting — Like movies, videos, and TV commercials, elearning is a script-driven product, so this phase is one of the most important! Here you work out how the content is presented both in terms of audio (voice over) and on-screen text, and think through things like the program framework and flow.

Project Storyboarding — Another activity that’s not always executed, but can be useful. A storyboard pre-builds the slides , matching the script to graphics and providing details on the building process.

Project Build — This is it! Planning, script, graphics, everything comes together in the build phase. Typically for elearning, building will happen in an authoring tool, such as Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, or similar, but this phase is important in instructor-led presentations, too.

Project Review and Revisions — Often blended into the building phase, project reviews allow stakeholders and subject matter experts to look at the project pre-completion in order to suggest any needed revisions. (Note that in many projects, this phase must be managed carefully to avoid seemingly endless rounds of changes. Manage expectations carefully from the get-go about the importance of thorough but limited review cycles.)

Project Finalizing — Almost done now! During this phase, the final steps are completed toward project completion. These can include a final review cycle, an internal quality assurance review (with any required revisions), SCORM publishing and testing, and other get-it-done-right steps. (Caution! This phase often lives up to the aphorism, “He who has a hundred miles to walk should reckon ninety as half the journey.” The final steps can take much longer than anyone, most especially you, think they should, and this applies doubly to projects with more than a single elearning module.)

Project Delivery — A great day indeed! Here, you’ll finish up the final packaging, gather elements that need to be passed back to the client, and get the whole project delivered. Celebrate!!

Project Wrap Up — Complete any tasks needed to leave the project in tidy shape for next time. Likely as not, your project will leave behind a trail of graphics, audio files, scripts, drafts, notes, and who knows what else. Before too much time goes by, get organized (and, if possible, get it off your hard drive — you’ll need the space for your next project).

And that’s it!

Create an eLearning Project Plan

A project plan is a beautiful thing, but before you spend too much time creating one, it’s important to note that plans are born to be broken! So, please take it from the voice of experience: Limit the time you spend on drafting a plan and keep it high level. We’ll show you a quick trick that will help you get something together quickly now.

To build a plan with estimated hours by phases, do the following:

• Figure out which of the phases given above will be part of the project you’re planning right now, and,
• Guesstimate the percentage of total project time that will be taken up in each phase. (These percentages should add up to 100%, but if this is a big project or you’re very new to this kind of project, immediately set aside 10% of the total hours for project management and learning. Then, the remainder of the phases should be calculated to add up to 90% of the total hours.)
• Apply your percentages to the calculation of total hours, and you’ll know how long you have for each phase.

If you want, you can add dates to match the hours for a big, beautiful project plan (subject to change, of course!).

In Conclusion

Even though it happens early in the game, the work you do in regard to project planning can help you get the project done. Soon enough, you’ll be stepping back and appreciating your completed program.

Now jump over to the next chapter of the guide and get started with some great eLearning project management templates and tips

Frequently Asked Questions on Planning

In general, an elearning project focuses on development of a learning-related program that will be delivered through a learning management system (LMS) or other online method. The specifics of elearning projects vary widely, from simple “repackaging” of existing videos to “screencasts” of steps and processes that happen on a computer to full builds of highly-sophisticated full-branching programs … and everything in between!

A general sequence of activities that lead to completing the program creation process is given by the acronym ADDIE. Begin by Analyzing the learning that must take place and matching content to those objectives. Next, Design the program both graphically and in terms of sequencing, scriptwriting, and, optionally, storyboarding. Complete the Development phase next, using an elearning authoring tool, screencasting program, PowerPoint, or other method. Implement the program, making it available to learners. And finally, Evaluate the program in terms of its effectiveness in delivering the expected learning outcomes. ADDIE should be considered an iterative process, so setting an early expectation for reviews and revisions will help ensure that you create the best online training program possible.

We hate to be cliche, but the correct answer here is, “it depends.”. Because the specifics of elearning projects vary so widely, it’s best to really understand the scope of a given project before committing to time allocations. Take a look at our time calculator here to get a sense of what goes into projecting the hours required to complete a project.

Yes, you can create simple elearning even on a tight budget. For example, if you just wish to deliver your content online, you can create an attractive slide deck in PowerPoint, then publish it directly from PowerPoint as a shareable video. Sometimes having a tight budget means thinking outside the box and we’ve heard of projects that successfully deliver learning via email, PDF, and virtual meetings.

Time and cost are very much related when it comes to creating elearning, so the strategies you can use for low-budget projects are also applicable to time-strapped projects. Your goal in producing elearning of any sort is to deliver the learning content in an attractive and orderly format, so your audience can lock in on what’s important. Even in a quickly executed project, it’s time well-spent to use some of your project time to think through how you’ll achieve these goals.

As a field, elearning evolves along with technology. Terms like these reflect the new approaches that arise. “mLearning,” for example, refers to the delivery of learning content on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. In a similar way, the term “eLearning” is thought to be a shortening of the phrase “electronic learning,” and largely replaced the “computer-based training” or “CBT” that came before it. These are all ways of referring to learning that’s delivered in a computer-mediated environment, of course. “Blended learning” extends this to include both digital delivery methods and analog methods. For example, the basic content of a blended learning course may be offered as elearning but extended into the learner’s environment with a printed guide, work aid, or assignment.

Instructional design focuses on how to present content so that it will be actionable, memorable, and useful to the audience viewing an elearning program. An elearning program informed by strong instructional design will begin with well-defined learning objectives that are derived from real-life assessments of actual tasks and how they are successfully performed. From there, program delivery is designed to conform to researched, evidenced-based understandings about adult learning to help ensure that the expected transfer of knowledge from program to viewer can and does occur.

Because instructional design focuses on making sure learning can happen, it’s a critical factor in delivering on the real purpose of an elearning program: learning. Although it may appear to be a luxury, good instructional design sees to it that program-related costs — the time, money, and attention resources required to develop, deliver, and participate in the program — are balanced by actually achieving the desired learning objectives.

Get your free project plan template

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How to Implement e-Learning in the Organization

Table of contents

E-learning systems are not new to organizations. For years, they have been used for consistent training delivery, reduction of costs associated with traveling of employees for educational purposes, and provision of access to training materials anywhere and anytime. Still, to clarify things and give you a better vision of what e-learning can bring to business and how to implement it to achieve success, let’s go through the essentials.

In this article, you will find answers to the questions of what e-learning is and in which ways it can work for your organization, what are the most successful methods of e-learning delivery, what are the existing types of systems, why to invest in e-learning system development, how to smoothly implement the one into the organization, and what the possible challenges are to address. 

What’s eLearning? From Benefits to Types of Existing Systems and Methods of e-Learning Delivery

Whether the talk is about watching an educational video, reading an interesting article, or taking a quiz online or on some digital device — all that is eLearning. While it is true that eLearning can’t replace full-scale education, it is more convenient and easy to customize with VR, AI, or other innovations that take learning up to the next level. 

But what are the crucial pros for implementing e-learning systems into organizations? Let’s try to figure that out by pointing out the benefits these systems bring. 

Benefits of eLearning for Businesses

eLearning is a great business tool because it offers:

Lower training costs

With eLearning, businesses can cut training costs associated with covering travel expenses and renting hotel rooms by simply developing an online course and sharing it with employees.

Wider coverage

Distance learning has no barriers. It allows training hundreds of employees in dozens of offices across the world in a uniform format. 

Single knowledge base

All learning materials are stored in one place, a Learning Management System (LMS). Employees can log in to the LMS at a convenient time from any device, find the course they need, and learn the material.

Faster employee development

Traditional training can be rather slow because it depends on the business trainers’ working hours. An LMS is available anytime, making it possible for employees to study whenever they can, whether during their lunch break or at home.

Easy progress tracking

Most LMSs have embedded analytic tools that show each student’s progress in graphs and reports.

Business adaptability

eLearning helps employees keep up with the company’s rhythm and solve problems in real-time. So if there is a need, for example, to introduce a new product to the sales team, it is possible to create a digital course and deliver it instantly to thousands of employees.

But there are also other ways in which e-learning systems can deliver content. Let’s look at them below.

Types of eLearning Training

The more relevant, engaging, and interactive your course is, the higher its value and the better learning outcomes are. E-learning systems allow using different types of content delivery. So what are these types?

While it’s possible to choose any of these types, the efficiency of your employees’ training depends on many factors.

Steps to Deliver eLearning Efficiently

There are some essential steps a business can take to deliver e-learning in the best possible way. Here they are:

This could be soft-skills training of employees or level-up of qualifications.

Choose appropriate tools

Depending on the educational complexity, you can choose from simple tools like mailouts to more complex ones, like AI algorithms. 

Prepare a plan

Write down a plan in stages and allocate a budget for each one.

Create content

Develop educational materials for your employees, and better start simple.

Get your LMS ready

Once your content is ready, upload it to the LMS and organize it correctly.

Do a test run

When the system is ready, invite a few employees for a pilot run to monitor everything and get feedback, so you can refine the training program before the final launch.

Start training

Invite your employees to the LMS and assign courses. 

Estimate efficiency

Use built-in statistics and gather employee feedback to evaluate e-learning efficiency.

Best Practices of eLearning Implementation

But before you take advantage of everything described above, there are other important things to consider, including the establishment of an e-learning implementation plan that will ensure that the system you are going to develop is tailored to your needs, the analysis of possible challenges, and the establishment of the successful e-learning implementation process. 

E-learning Implementation Plan: How to Make it Right?

When you decide to implement e-learning into your organization , you have to start by building an implementation plan that will address your business needs. So here is a kind reminder of what needs to be considered.

What Are the Possible Challenges a Business Can Face When Implementing e-Learning?

When it comes to the identification of challenges, they can largely vary. Still, here are some that are applicable to any business. They are:

Dry and dull subject matter

Any LMS system, even the most proficient one, will fail to provide efficient learning in case it’s not engaging. So make sure that your content delivery method brings users a sense of satisfaction. Today, this can easily be achieved with the use of innovations like AR but other ways such as gamification can also work well.  

Lack of learner motivation

Motivation is one of the key factors in learning success, and fortunately, there are some proven ways that can help businesses increase it. This could be the delivery of information about the learner’s progress, certain rewards for the successful completion of tasks, and even motivational mailing.  

Unrealistic deadlines

Make sure that people responsible for setting the deadlines are aware of every step involved in the e-learning process.

Staying up-to-date with modern tech

Every year welcomes new tech tools, gadgets, and software that you can use to improve e-learning delivery methods. But, with so much digital transformation, it can be hard to tell which new learning technology is worth the investment. To address this challenge, you can attend tech conferences, events, trade shows, as well as read tech blogs, case studies, and reviews. 

Inexperienced partners

If the company that delivers you e-learning solutions is not familiar with e-learning initiatives, the process of development can become a real headache both for you and the development team. 

That’s why it’s so important to explain in detail what solution you are expecting to get, what your metrics of success will be, and how you’ll achieve your goals.

eLearning Implementation Process in Steps

And now we get to the final stage that will allow your company to ensure that your system is implemented right. 

Define Scope

Carefully define the scope so that it is in line with your organizational goals not to get off track when the development process starts.

Choose a Technology Partner

It’s always better to place your focus on choosing a technology partner who will be capable of providing you with a team that involves specialists for fit-gap analysis, a project manager, an implementation team, and so on. Furthermore, if you don’t have an internal IT department, you will need people that will help you keep your system up-to-date and react to any issues asap, and a technology partner can provide you with such services.

Pick a Platform

You have to decide what mechanism you will use to deliver your e-learning and what tools you will use to make it real. These are critical questions that need to be answered so that you can effectively estimate and manage the project budget.

Define a Budget

Before your project starts, you need to define the budget and agree upon it with your partner if you don’t want to see how costs can add up quickly.

Mind Quality Assurance

Throughout the entire project, and even after implementation, you need to have a means for quality assurance. This includes installing and running the LMS and future updates (both technical and structural). You should have quality assurance stages built into the different phases of your project, so that you can maintain high standards, remain in-scope and on budget.

One more thing to clarify here is that all projects are different and there’s no unified recipe for success. Still, cooperation with a trusted technology partner like your fellow Emerline can free you from all the headaches associated with project planning, development, and implementation. 

We are experienced in the delivery of eLearning solutions for educational institutions, training centers, and other EdTech organizations, ensuring an engaging and results-driven learning experience all the way through. So if you have an idea of implementing e-learning into your business, have some questions, or want to clarify some details, you are always welcome to contact us , at any time.

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Today, there is no sphere of activity for which a strong online presence is not considered one of the key growth drivers. According to Forbes Advisor, in 2023, 71% of businesses have a website, and 28% of all business activities are conducted online.

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How To Start A Business In 11 Steps (2024 Guide)

Updated: Apr 7, 2024, 1:44pm

Table of Contents

Before you begin: get in the right mindset, 1. determine your business concept, 2. research your competitors and market, 3. create your business plan, 4. choose your business structure, 5. register your business and get licenses, 6. get your finances in order, 7. fund your business, 8. apply for business insurance, 9. get the right business tools, 10. market your business, 11. scale your business, what are the best states to start a business, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Starting a business is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences you can have. But where do you begin? There are several ways to approach creating a business, along with many important considerations. To help take the guesswork out of the process and improve your chances of success, follow our comprehensive guide on how to start a business. We’ll walk you through each step of the process, from defining your business idea to registering, launching and growing your business.

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The public often hears about overnight successes because they make for a great headline. However, it’s rarely that simple—they don’t see the years of dreaming, building and positioning before a big public launch. For this reason, remember to focus on your business journey and don’t measure your success against someone else’s.

Consistency Is Key

New business owners tend to feed off their motivation initially but get frustrated when that motivation wanes. This is why it’s essential to create habits and follow routines that power you through when motivation goes away.

Take the Next Step

Some business owners dive in headfirst without looking and make things up as they go along. Then, there are business owners who stay stuck in analysis paralysis and never start. Perhaps you’re a mixture of the two—and that’s right where you need to be. The best way to accomplish any business or personal goal is to write out every possible step it takes to achieve the goal. Then, order those steps by what needs to happen first. Some steps may take minutes while others take a long time. The point is to always take the next step.

Most business advice tells you to monetize what you love, but it misses two other very important elements: it needs to be profitable and something you’re good at. For example, you may love music, but how viable is your business idea if you’re not a great singer or songwriter? Maybe you love making soap and want to open a soap shop in your small town that already has three close by—it won’t be easy to corner the market when you’re creating the same product as other nearby stores.

If you don’t have a firm idea of what your business will entail, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do you love to do?
• What do you hate to do?
• Can you think of something that would make those things easier?
• What are you good at?
• What do others come to you for advice about?
• If you were given ten minutes to give a five-minute speech on any topic, what would it be?
• What’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but lacked resources for?

These questions can lead you to an idea for your business. If you already have an idea, they might help you expand it. Once you have your idea, measure it against whether you’re good at it and if it’s profitable.

Your business idea also doesn’t have to be the next Scrub Daddy or Squatty Potty. Instead, you can take an existing product and improve upon it. You can also sell a digital product so there’s little overhead.

What Kind of Business Should You Start?

Before you choose the type of business to start, there are some key things to consider:

• What type of funding do you have?
• How much time do you have to invest in your business?
• Do you prefer to work from home or at an office or workshop?
• What interests and passions do you have?
• Can you sell information (such as a course), rather than a product?
• What skills or expertise do you have?
• How fast do you need to scale your business?
• What kind of support do you have to start your business?
• Are you partnering with someone else?
• Does the franchise model make more sense to you?

Consider Popular Business Ideas

Not sure what business to start? Consider one of these popular business ideas:

• Start a Franchise
• Start a Blog
• Start an Online Store
• Start a Dropshipping Business
• Start a Cleaning Business
• Start a Bookkeeping Business
• Start a Clothing Business
• Start a Landscaping Business
• Start a Consulting Business
• Start a Photography Business
• Start a Vending Machine Business

Most entrepreneurs spend more time on their products than they do getting to know the competition. If you ever apply for outside funding, the potential lender or partner wants to know: what sets you (or your business idea) apart? If market analysis indicates your product or service is saturated in your area, see if you can think of a different approach. Take housekeeping, for example—rather than general cleaning services, you might specialize in homes with pets or focus on garage cleanups.

Primary Research

The first stage of any competition study is primary research, which entails obtaining data directly from potential customers rather than basing your conclusions on past data. You can use questionnaires, surveys and interviews to learn what consumers want. Surveying friends and family isn’t recommended unless they’re your target market. People who say they’d buy something and people who do are very different. The last thing you want is to take so much stock in what they say, create the product and flop when you try to sell it because all of the people who said they’d buy it don’t because the product isn’t something they’d buy.

Secondary Research

Utilize existing sources of information, such as census data, to gather information when you do secondary research. The current data may be studied, compiled and analyzed in various ways that are appropriate for your needs but it may not be as detailed as primary research.

Conduct a SWOT Analysis

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Conducting a SWOT analysis allows you to look at the facts about how your product or idea might perform if taken to market, and it can also help you make decisions about the direction of your idea. Your business idea might have some weaknesses that you hadn’t considered or there may be some opportunities to improve on a competitor’s product.

Asking pertinent questions during a SWOT analysis can help you identify and address weaknesses before they tank your new business.

A business plan is a dynamic document that serves as a roadmap for establishing a new business. This document makes it simple for potential investors, financial institutions and company management to understand and absorb. Even if you intend to self-finance, a business plan can help you flesh out your idea and spot potential problems. When writing a well-rounded business plan, include the following sections:

• Executive summary: The executive summary should be the first item in the business plan, but it should be written last. It describes the proposed new business and highlights the goals of the company and the methods to achieve them.
• Company description: The company description covers what problems your product or service solves and why your business or idea is best. For example, maybe your background is in molecular engineering, and you’ve used that background to create a new type of athletic wear—you have the proper credentials to make the best material.
• Market analysis: This section of the business plan analyzes how well a company is positioned against its competitors. The market analysis should include target market, segmentation analysis, market size, growth rate, trends and a competitive environment assessment.
• Organization and structure: Write about the type of business organization you expect, what risk management strategies you propose and who will staff the management team. What are their qualifications? Will your business be a single-member limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation ?
• Mission and goals: This section should contain a brief mission statement and detail what the business wishes to accomplish and the steps to get there. These goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, action-orientated, realistic and time-bound).
• Products or services: This section describes how your business will operate. It includes what products you’ll offer to consumers at the beginning of the business, how they compare to existing competitors, how much your products cost, who will be responsible for creating the products, how you’ll source materials and how much they cost to make.
• Background summary: This portion of the business plan is the most time-consuming to write. Compile and summarize any data, articles and research studies on trends that could positively and negatively affect your business or industry.
• Marketing plan: The marketing plan identifies the characteristics of your product or service, summarizes the SWOT analysis and analyzes competitors. It also discusses how you’ll promote your business, how much money will be spent on marketing and how long the campaign is expected to last.
• Financial plan: The financial plan is perhaps the core of the business plan because, without money, the business will not move forward. Include a proposed budget in your financial plan along with projected financial statements, such as an income statement, a balance sheet and a statement of cash flows. Usually, five years of projected financial statements are acceptable. This section is also where you should include your funding request if you’re looking for outside funding.

Learn more: Download our free simple business plan template .

Come Up With an Exit Strategy

An exit strategy is important for any business that is seeking funding because it outlines how you’ll sell the company or transfer ownership if you decide to retire or move on to other projects. An exit strategy also allows you to get the most value out of your business when it’s time to sell. There are a few different options for exiting a business, and the best option for you depends on your goals and circumstances.

The most common exit strategies are:

• Selling the business to another party
• Passing the business down to family members
• Liquidating the business assets
• Closing the doors and walking away

Develop a Scalable Business Model

As your small business grows, it’s important to have a scalable business model so that you can accommodate additional customers without incurring additional costs. A scalable business model is one that can be replicated easily to serve more customers without a significant increase in expenses.

Some common scalable business models are:

• Subscription-based businesses
• Businesses that sell digital products
• Franchise businesses
• Network marketing businesses

Start Planning for Taxes

One of the most important things to do when starting a small business is to start planning for taxes. Taxes can be complex, and there are several different types of taxes you may be liable for, including income tax, self-employment tax, sales tax and property tax. Depending on the type of business you’re operating, you may also be required to pay other taxes, such as payroll tax or unemployment tax.

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When structuring your business, it’s essential to consider how each structure impacts the amount of taxes you owe, daily operations and whether your personal assets are at risk.

An LLC limits your personal liability for business debts. LLCs can be owned by one or more people or companies and must include a registered agent . These owners are referred to as members.

• LLCs offer liability protection for the owners
• They’re one of the easiest business entities to set up
• You can have a single-member LLC
• You may be required to file additional paperwork with your state on a regular basis
• LLCs can’t issue stock
• You’ll need to pay annual filing fees to your state

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

An LLP is similar to an LLC but is typically used for licensed business professionals such as an attorney or accountant. These arrangements require a partnership agreement.

• Partners have limited liability for the debts and actions of the LLP
• LLPs are easy to form and don’t require much paperwork
• There’s no limit to the number of partners in an LLP
• Partners are required to actively take part in the business
• LLPs can’t issue stock
• All partners are personally liable for any malpractice claims against the business

Sole Proprietorship

If you start a solo business, you might consider a sole proprietorship . The company and the owner, for legal and tax purposes, are considered the same. The business owner assumes liability for the business. So, if the business fails, the owner is personally and financially responsible for all business debts.

• Sole proprietorships are easy to form
• There’s no need to file additional paperwork with your state
• You’re in complete control of the business
• You’re personally liable for all business debts
• It can be difficult to raise money for a sole proprietorship
• The business may have a limited lifespan

Corporation

A corporation limits your personal liability for business debts just as an LLC does. A corporation can be taxed as a C corporation (C-corp) or an S corporation (S-corp). S-corp status offers pass-through taxation to small corporations that meet certain IRS requirements. Larger companies and startups hoping to attract venture capital are usually taxed as C-corps.

• Corporations offer liability protection for the owners
• The life span of a corporation is not limited
• A corporation can have an unlimited number of shareholders
• Corporations are subject to double taxation
• They’re more expensive and complicated to set up than other business structures
• The shareholders may have limited liability

Before you decide on a business structure, discuss your situation with a small business accountant and possibly an attorney, as each business type has different tax treatments that could affect your bottom line.

Helpful Resources

• How To Set Up an LLC in 7 Steps
• How To Start a Sole Proprietorship
• How To Start a Corporation
• How To Start a Nonprofit
• How To Start a 501(c)(3)

There are several legal issues to address when starting a business after choosing the business structure. The following is a good checklist of items to consider when establishing your business:

Choose Your Business Name

Make it memorable but not too difficult. Choose the same domain name, if available, to establish your internet presence. A business name cannot be the same as another registered company in your state, nor can it infringe on another trademark or service mark that is already registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Business Name vs. DBA

There are business names, and then there are fictitious business names known as “Doing Business As” or DBA. You may need to file a DBA if you’re operating under a name that’s different from the legal name of your business. For example, “Mike’s Bike Shop” is doing business as “Mike’s Bikes.” The legal name of the business is “Mike’s Bike Shop,” and “Mike’s Bikes” is the DBA.

You may need to file a DBA with your state, county or city government offices. The benefits of a DBA include:

• It can help you open a business bank account under your business name
• A DBA can be used as a “trade name” to brand your products or services
• A DBA can be used to get a business license

Register Your Business and Obtain an EIN

You’ll officially create a corporation, LLC or other business entity by filing forms with your state’s business agency―usually the Secretary of State. As part of this process, you’ll need to choose a registered agent to accept legal documents on behalf of your business. You’ll also pay a filing fee. The state will send you a certificate that you can use to apply for licenses, a tax identification number (TIN) and business bank accounts.

Next, apply for an employer identification number (EIN) . All businesses, other than sole proprietorships with no employees, must have a federal employer identification number. Submit your application to the IRS and you’ll typically receive your number in minutes.

Get Appropriate Licenses and Permits

Legal requirements are determined by your industry and jurisdiction. Most businesses need a mixture of local, state and federal licenses to operate. Check with your local government office (and even an attorney) for licensing information tailored to your area.

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Open a Business Bank Account

Keep your business and personal finances separate. Here’s how to choose a business checking account —and why separate business accounts are essential. When you open a business bank account, you’ll need to provide your business name and your business tax identification number (EIN). This business bank account can be used for your business transactions, such as paying suppliers or invoicing customers. Most times, a bank will require a separate business bank account to issue a business loan or line of credit.

Hire a Bookkeeper or Get Accounting Software

If you sell a product, you need an inventory function in your accounting software to manage and track inventory. The software should have ledger and journal entries and the ability to generate financial statements.

Some software programs double as bookkeeping tools. These often include features such as check writing and managing receivables and payables. You can also use this software to track your income and expenses, generate invoices, run reports and calculate taxes.

There are many bookkeeping services available that can do all of this for you, and more. These services can be accessed online from any computer or mobile device and often include features such as bank reconciliation and invoicing. Check out the best accounting software for small business, or see if you want to handle the bookkeeping yourself.

Determine Your Break-Even Point

Before you fund your business, you must get an idea of your startup costs. To determine these, make a list of all the physical supplies you need, estimate the cost of any professional services you will require, determine the price of any licenses or permits required to operate and calculate the cost of office space or other real estate. Add in the costs of payroll and benefits, if applicable.

Businesses can take years to turn a profit, so it’s better to overestimate the startup costs and have too much money than too little. Many experts recommend having enough cash on hand to cover six months of operating expenses.

When you know how much you need to get started with your business, you need to know the point at which your business makes money. This figure is your break-even point.

In contrast, the contribution margin = total sales revenue – cost to make product

For example, let’s say you’re starting a small business that sells miniature birdhouses for fairy gardens. You have determined that it will cost you $500 in startup costs. Your variable costs are $0.40 per birdhouse produced, and you sell them for $1.50 each.

Let’s write these out so it’s easy to follow:

This means that you need to sell at least 456 units just to cover your costs. If you can sell more than 456 units in your first month, you will make a profit.

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There are many different ways to fund your business—some require considerable effort, while others are easier to obtain. Two categories of funding exist: internal and external.

Internal funding includes:

• Personal savings
• Credit cards
• Funds from friends and family

If you finance the business with your own funds or with credit cards, you have to pay the debt on the credit cards and you’ve lost a chunk of your wealth if the business fails. By allowing your family members or friends to invest in your business, you are risking hard feelings and strained relationships if the company goes under. Business owners who want to minimize these risks may consider external funding.

External funding includes:

• Small business loans
• Small business grants
• Angel investors
• Venture capital
• Crowdfunding

Small businesses may have to use a combination of several sources of capital. Consider how much money is needed, how long it will take before the company can repay it and how risk-tolerant you are. No matter which source you use, plan for profit. It’s far better to take home six figures than make seven figures and only keep $80,000 of it.

Funding ideas include:

• Invoice factoring: With invoice factoring , you can sell your unpaid invoices to a third party at a discount.
• Business lines of credit: Apply for a business line of credit , which is similar to a personal line of credit. The credit limit and interest rate will be based on your business’s revenue, credit score and financial history.
• Equipment financing: If you need to purchase expensive equipment for your business, you can finance it with a loan or lease.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) microloans: Microloans are up to $50,000 loans that can be used for working capital, inventory or supplies and machinery or equipment.
• Grants: The federal government offers grants for businesses that promote innovation, export growth or are located in historically disadvantaged areas. You can also find grants through local and regional organizations.
• Crowdfunding: With crowdfunding , you can raise money from a large group of people by soliciting donations or selling equity in your company.

Choose the right funding source for your business by considering the amount of money you need, the time frame for repayment and your tolerance for risk.

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You need to have insurance for your business , even if it’s a home-based business or you don’t have any employees. The type of insurance you need depends on your business model and what risks you face. You might need more than one type of policy, and you might need additional coverage as your business grows. In most states, workers’ compensation insurance is required by law if you have employees.

Work With an Agent To Get Insured

An insurance agent can help determine what coverages are appropriate for your business and find policies from insurers that offer the best rates. An independent insurance agent represents several different insurers, so they can shop around for the best rates and coverage options.

Basic Types of Business Insurance Coverage

• Liability insurance protects your business against third-party claims of bodily injury, property damage and personal injury such as defamation or false advertising.
• Property insurance covers the physical assets of your business, including your office space, equipment and inventory.
• Business interruption insurance pays for the loss of income if your business is forced to close temporarily due to a covered event such as a natural disaster.
• Product liability insurance protects against claims that your products caused bodily injury or property damage.
• Employee practices liability insurance covers claims from employees alleging discrimination, sexual harassment or other wrongful termination.
• Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical expenses and income replacement for employees who are injured on the job.
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Business tools can help make your life easier and make your business run more smoothly. The right tools can help you save time, automate tasks and make better decisions.

Consider the following tools in your arsenal:

• Accounting software : Track your business income and expenses, prepare financial statements and file taxes. Examples include QuickBooks and FreshBooks.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) software : This will help you manage your customer relationships, track sales and marketing data and automate tasks like customer service and follow-ups. Examples include Zoho CRM and monday.com.
• Project management software : Plan, execute and track projects. It can also be used to manage employee tasks and allocate resources. Examples include Airtable and ClickUp.
• Credit card processor : This will allow you to accept credit card payments from customers. Examples include Stripe and PayPal.
• Point of sale (POS) : A system that allows you to process customer payments. Some accounting software and CRM software have POS features built-in. Examples include Clover and Lightspeed.
• Virtual private network (VPN) : Provides a secure, private connection between your computer and the internet. This is important for businesses that handle sensitive data. Examples include NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
• Merchant services : When customers make a purchase, the money is deposited into your business account. You can also use merchant services to set up recurring billing or subscription payments. Examples include Square and Stripe.
• Email hosting : This allows you to create a professional email address with your own domain name. Examples include G Suite and Microsoft Office 365.

Many business owners spend so much money creating their products that there isn’t a marketing budget by the time they’ve launched. Alternatively, they’ve spent so much time developing the product that marketing is an afterthought.

Create a Website

Even if you’re a brick-and-mortar business, a web presence is essential. Creating a website doesn’t take long, either—you can have one done in as little as a weekend. You can make a standard informational website or an e-commerce site where you sell products online. If you sell products or services offline, include a page on your site where customers can find your locations and hours. Other pages to add include an “About Us” page, product or service pages, frequently asked questions (FAQs), a blog and contact information.

Optimize Your Site for SEO

After getting a website or e-commerce store, focus on optimizing it for search engines (SEO). This way, when a potential customer searches for specific keywords for your products, the search engine can point them to your site. SEO is a long-term strategy, so don’t expect a ton of traffic from search engines initially—even if you’re using all the right keywords.

Create Relevant Content

Provide quality digital content on your site that makes it easy for customers to find the correct answers to their questions. Content marketing ideas include videos, customer testimonials, blog posts and demos. Consider content marketing one of the most critical tasks on your daily to-do list. This is used in conjunction with posting on social media.

Get Listed in Online Directories

Customers use online directories like Yelp, Google My Business and Facebook to find local businesses. Some city halls and chambers of commerce have business directories too. Include your business in as many relevant directories as possible. You can also create listings for your business on specific directories that focus on your industry.

Develop a Social Media Strategy

Your potential customers are using social media every day—you need to be there too. Post content that’s interesting and relevant to your audience. Use social media to drive traffic back to your website where customers can learn more about what you do and buy your products or services.

You don’t necessarily need to be on every social media platform available. However, you should have a presence on Facebook and Instagram because they offer e-commerce features that allow you to sell directly from your social media accounts. Both of these platforms have free ad training to help you market your business.

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To scale your business, you need to grow your customer base and revenue. This can be done by expanding your marketing efforts, improving your product or service, collaborating with other creators or adding new products or services that complement what you already offer.

Think about ways you can automate or outsource certain tasks so you can focus on scaling the business. For example, if social media marketing is taking up too much of your time, consider using a platform such as Hootsuite to help you manage your accounts more efficiently. You can also consider outsourcing the time-consumer completely.

You can also use technology to automate certain business processes, including accounting, email marketing and lead generation. Doing this will give you more time to focus on other aspects of your business.

When scaling your business, it’s important to keep an eye on your finances and make sure you’re still profitable. If you’re not making enough money to cover your costs, you need to either reduce your expenses or find ways to increase your revenue.

Build a Team

As your business grows, you’ll need to delegate tasks and put together a team of people who can help you run the day-to-day operations. This might include hiring additional staff, contractors or freelancers.

Resources for building a team include:

• Hiring platforms: To find the right candidates, hiring platforms, such as Indeed and Glassdoor, can help you post job descriptions, screen résumés and conduct video interviews.
• Job boards: Job boards such as Craigslist and Indeed allow you to post open positions for free.
• Social media: You can also use social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook to find potential employees.
• Freelance platforms: Using Upwork, Freelancer and Fiverr can help you find talented freelancers for one-time or short-term projects. You can also outsource certain tasks, such as customer service, social media marketing or bookkeeping.

You might also consider partnering with other businesses in your industry. For example, if you’re a wedding planner, you could partner with a florist, photographer, catering company or venue. This way, you can offer your customers a one-stop shop for all their wedding needs. Another example is an e-commerce store that partners with a fulfillment center. This type of partnership can help you save money on shipping and storage costs, and it can also help you get your products to your customers faster.

To find potential partnerships, search for businesses in your industry that complement what you do. For example, if you’re a web designer, you could partner with a digital marketing agency.

You can also search for businesses that serve the same target market as you but offer different products or services. For example, if you sell women’s clothing, you could partner with a jewelry store or a hair salon.

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To rank the best states to start a business in 2024, Forbes Advisor analyzed 18 key metrics across five categories to determine which states are the best and worst to start a business in. Our ranking takes into consideration factors that impact businesses and their ability to succeed, such as business costs, business climate, economy, workforce and financial accessibility in each state. Check out the full report .

Starting a small business takes time, effort and perseverance. But if you’re willing to put in the work, it can be a great way to achieve your dreams and goals. Be sure to do your research, create a solid business plan and pivot along the way. Once you’re operational, don’t forget to stay focused and organized so you can continue to grow your business.

How do I start a small business with no money?

There are several funding sources for brand-new businesses and most require a business plan to secure it. These include the SBA , private grants, angel investors, crowdfunding and venture capital.

What is the best business structure?

The best business structure for your business will depend entirely on what kind of company you form, your industry and what you want to accomplish. But any successful business structure will be one that will help your company set realistic goals and follow through on set tasks.

Do I need a business credit card?

You don’t need one, but a business credit card can be helpful for new small businesses. It allows you to start building business credit, which can help you down the road when you need to take out a loan or line of credit. Additionally, business credit cards often come with rewards and perks that can save you money on business expenses.

Do I need a special license or permit to start a small business?

The answer to this question will depend on the type of business you want to start and where you’re located. Some businesses, such as restaurants, will require a special permit or license to operate. Others, such as home daycare providers, may need to register with the state.

How much does it cost to create a business?

The cost of starting a business will vary depending on the size and type of company you want to create. For example, a home-based business will be less expensive to start than a brick-and-mortar store. Additionally, the cost of starting a business will increase if you need to rent or buy commercial space, hire employees or purchase inventory. You could potentially get started for free by dropshipping or selling digital goods.

How do I get a loan for a new business?

The best way to get a loan for a new business is to approach banks or other financial institutions and provide them with a business plan and your financial history. You can also look into government-backed loans, such as those offered by the SBA. Startups may also be able to get loans from alternative lenders, including online platforms such as Kiva.

Do I need a business degree to start a business?

No, you don’t need a business degree to start a business. However, acquiring a degree in business or a related field can provide you with the understanding and ability to run an effective company. Additionally, you may want to consider taking some business courses if you don’t have a degree to learn more about starting and running a business. You can find these online and at your local Small Business Administration office.

What are some easy businesses to start?

One of the easiest businesses to start also has the lowest overhead: selling digital goods. This can include items such as e-books, online courses, audio files or software. If you have expertise in a particular area or niche, this is a great option for you. Dropshipping is also a great option because you don’t have to keep inventory. You could also buy wholesale products or create your own. Once you create your product, you can sell it through your own website or third-party platforms such as Amazon or Etsy.

What is the most profitable type of business?

There is no one answer to this question because the most profitable type of business will vary depending on a number of factors, such as your industry, location, target market and business model. However, some businesses tend to be more profitable than others, such as luxury goods, high-end services, business-to-business companies and subscription-based businesses. If you’re not sure what type of business to start, consider your strengths and interests, as well as the needs of your target market, to help you choose a profitable business idea.

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Katherine Haan is a small business owner with nearly two decades of experience helping other business owners increase their incomes.

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How to Get the Best Car Insurance

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For a lot of people, buying car insurance is like buying sliced bread. It’s not the most exciting purchase, and the options all seem similar. So thrifty shoppers might simply reach for the cheapest thing on the shelf. But like cheap bread, cheap car insurance may leave you wishing you spent a little more on quality.

“The cheapest is not always the best,” warns Jessica McNally, an agency owner with Goosehead Insurance in Dallas. That’s because there are lots of factors that make up a car insurance company. And while price is one of them, it’s best to look at the bigger picture.

Here’s what to look for when picking the best car insurance company.

1. Choose a financially stable company

The best car insurance companies have plenty of money on hand to pay for customers’ claims. It’s important to check an insurer’s financial stability before buying a policy, especially if it’s a smaller insurer you’ve never heard of.

There are several independent agencies that evaluate the financial strength of insurance companies. One example is A.M. Best. You can use its online search tool to find an insurer’s financial strength rating. Companies with a rating of A or higher are considered to have an excellent ability to pay out customer claims.

2. Check customer satisfaction ratings and reviews

Not every insurer is customer-first. That’s why it’s important to research the customer satisfaction of insurers you’re considering.

You can turn to surveys from companies like J.D. Power to find insurers with the best customer satisfaction scores [0] J.D. Power . Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . Or, if you don’t mind doing a little detective work, you can compare customer complaints against insurers by using the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website . But take other people’s emotionally charged comments about companies or agents you might read online with a grain of salt, McNally advises.

3. Look for convenience

A great auto insurer should offer multiple ways to manage a policy. For example, some insurers allow customers to use a mobile app to file and track claims. But it’s hard to tell how simple it’ll be to file a claim or perform other essential tasks, like paying your premium, before becoming a customer.

Some telltale signs that an insurer will be easy to work with are high mobile app ratings, flexible customer service hours and an easy-to-use website with helpful content. Consider asking a company representative to walk you through the claims process to learn what you’ll need to do if you have to file a claim. And pay attention to how the company communicates with you. "If they don't properly communicate, well, that's a warning sign," says Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate for the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America.

4. Pick an affordable company

Car insurance premiums are stretching to record-breaking heights [0] U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS . Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources , and almost half of U.S. consumers shopped for a new car insurance policy in the past year, according to an April 2024 report by J.D. Power [0] J.D. Power . Half of Auto Insurance Customers Currently Shopping for New Policies, J.D. Power Finds . Accessed May 21, 2024. View all sources . The best car insurance companies offer competitive rates and a variety of potential discounts.

It’s not hard to get car insurance quotes online from many companies. Make sure you compare the same coverage options throughout the quote-gathering process. And don’t forget to look for car insurance discounts, like breaks for being a good driver, paying your premium in full or driving a new car.

More tips to find the best car insurance

When shopping for the best car insurance, keep the following tips in mind.

Assess your needs. Before buying car insurance, take a moment to reflect on what’s important to you and your family. For example, maybe you prioritize affordability and a well-polished mobile app, but don’t need accident forgiveness .  

Consider small insurers. There are lots of small insurance companies you’ve probably never heard of. These regional insurers may provide lower rates and better customer service than the big companies you see advertised on TV.

Work with an independent agent. While it may be easy to get quotes yourself, independent car insurance agents and brokers can streamline the process. These experts vet companies and compile quotes from small and large insurers on your behalf. Independent agents and brokers can especially come in handy if you have a less-than-perfect driving record and can’t find insurance on your own.

Do your research. Search online for recent mentions of a company in the news before buying a policy, recommends DeLong. If you find a company has lots of recent lawsuits against it, you may want to think twice about signing on the dotted line. “And if they've had to pay out settlements, that's an even bigger red flag,” DeLong says.

Shop around once a year. Make a practice of shopping for car insurance every year — especially if price is important to you. Insurers adjust car insurance rates regularly, so what might have been the most affordable option last year may no longer be a bargain.

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