In this week’s episode of Creatives on Fire, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Stu McLaren—yes, that Stu McLaren! If you’ve ever considered adding a membership model to your creative business (or are wondering what memberships even are), this episode is your invitation to stop waiting and start creating recurring revenue today.

Stu has been helping entrepreneurs build thriving membership businesses for over 17 years. His guidance helped shape the memberships of creators, bloggers, and even big brands. In this conversation, he shares the why, the how, and the what now for anyone ready to build a sustainable business online.

Why Memberships Make So Much Sense

If you’re already paying for Netflix, Amazon Prime, or a subscription box, you’re part of the membership economy. So why not create your own recurring revenue stream?

Stu shared that memberships are more stable, predictable, and less stressful than relying solely on one-time sales. With algorithm changes, platform instability, and constant pivots in the online world, a membership can bring the peace and sustainability every entrepreneur craves.

“Any creator or business owner can have a membership—and the ones who do are creating freedom and stability.” —Stu McLaren

The 4 Types of Memberships

Stu broke down the four major types of memberships—and you’ll probably see yourself in one (or more) of them:

Product-Based Memberships

Recurring delivery of physical or digital products. Think: printables of the month, subscription boxes, or digital design bundles.

Service-Based Memberships

Perfect for coaches, massage therapists, stylists, or even VA services. Provide consistent support and recurring client care.

Knowledge-Based Memberships

Teach a skill, solve an ongoing problem, or save your members time through tools, tutorials, or lesson plans.

Community-Based Memberships

Foster connection through shared experiences or passions. Think mastermind groups or niche hobby clubs.

How to Start: The Founding Member Launch

This part is pure gold. Stu outlines a simple, no-tech-needed way to validate your idea and get paid before you build anything. It’s called a founding member launch, and it involves these 5 steps:

1. Explain the idea and where it came from
2. Cast the vision for what this could become
3. Invite people to join as founding members
4. Provide a clear call to action
5. Follow up with a payment link

That’s it. No sales page, no tech hurdles—just a message that allows people to say “I’m in.” And yes, you could literally do this by the end of the day.

The Secret to a Thriving Membership in 2025

What makes a membership last? According to Stu, it’s all about helping members experience consistent progress. The more progress your members make, the happier they are—and the longer they stay.

Keep It Simple

Don’t overwhelm members with content. Overwhelm is the #1 reason people cancel. Help them take action, not consume endlessly.

Use a Success Path

Break the transformation into clear, achievable stages. Help members know what to focus on based on where they are in the journey.

Leverage AI to Create Margin

Let tools handle repetitive tasks so you can focus on real connection. People stay for the results—but also the relationships.

Predictable Profits: Stu’s New Book

Stu’s brand-new book Predictable Profits distills 17 years of membership-building wisdom into an actionable, approachable read. He even designed it to be bingeable with bite-sized chapters and lots of visuals (his words: “Yes, I love pictures!”).

You can grab a free copy (just pay shipping) at: 👉 freemembershipbook.com

Ready to Build Your Membership? Join the Free Workshop!

Stu is hosting a free membership workshop starting May 8th, where he’ll walk you through launching your founding membership—even if you have no content or audience yet.

You’ll learn how to get paying members during the workshop itself, with optional VIP sessions that offer live support, coaching, and hot seat feedback.

👉 Click here to join the workshop (link to be inserted)

Final Thoughts

If you’re feeling uncertain about the future of your business, Stu’s approach to memberships might be the lifeline you need. With recurring revenue, you can focus on your mission, serve your people deeply, and stop stressing over every single sale.

This episode will light a fire under you—and give you the exact steps to finally launch that membership you've been dreaming about. offers free consultations and would love to help you share your story with the world!

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Grab Your Copy of Stu's Book HERE
• Join the Membership Workshop HERE
• Spark Coaching + Melanie 24/7
• FUEL Mastermind is HERE
• Free Guide: Start Your Blog Today
• You can GO HERE to subscribe and review (On mobile, scroll down past the episodes to "Ratings & Reviews" section, tap the stars, then scroll down to "Write a Review")
• 2025 Content Planner for Content Creators

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