Business idea · Subscription
Affiliate Marketing for Memberships
Affiliate Marketing for Memberships is a program that incentivizes current members to refer new customers by offering them a commission for each new sign-up. This turns existing members into advocates for the service. It was pitched on The Side Hustle Show, hosted by Nick Loper, in the episode "$500k Revenue From a $9 Membership (Greatest Hits)" (aired September 3, 2026).
At a glance
| Podcast | The Side Hustle Show |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Nick Loper |
| Episode | $500k Revenue From a $9 Membership (Greatest Hits) |
| Aired | September 3, 2026 |
| Category | Subscription |
| Real companies on the episode | Thrive Cart, Liz Wilcox Email Marketing Membership, Cameo, Liz Wilcox, Smart Passive Income (SPI) |
The problem it solves
Many membership models struggle to grow their user base. This approach leverages the existing satisfied customers to organically spread the word, increasing membership without significant marketing costs.
How it makes money
Commission-based, where affiliates earn a percentage of the subscription fee for each new member they refer, enhancing the overall revenue through a performance-based model.
Skills you need
Affiliate program management, marketing strategy, and relationship building to engage and motivate affiliates.
The market, and why this works now
Shopify's affiliate program allows businesses to set up commission-based structures for member referrals, making it easier for membership services to grow. A first-revenue move could involve promoting the program on r/Entrepreneur to attract initial affiliates. Founders will face challenges in managing the payout structure, as balancing commissions with profitability can strain cash flow in the early months.
Our analysis, written after the episode. Not a quote from the show.
Real companies discussed on this episode
- Thrive Cart
Thrive Cart is a shopping cart software that enables businesses to sell products and services online, including managing memberships and affiliate programs.
- Liz Wilcox Email Marketing Membership
A membership program that provides resources and support for email marketing, targeting a diverse range of customers including bloggers and real estate agents.
- Cameo
A platform where users can pay celebrities to create personalized video messages for various occasions.
- Liz Wilcox
Liz Wilcox offers a membership service that provides weekly email newsletter templates for marketers and business owners.
- Smart Passive Income (SPI)
An online business platform founded by Pat Flynn that provides resources and education to entrepreneurs seeking to create passive income streams.
Where this idea came from
Podcast: The Side Hustle Show, hosted by Nick Loper
Episode: $500k Revenue From a $9 Membership (Greatest Hits)
Aired:
Summarized from the episode transcript. The show does not say which speaker raised each idea, so we credit the show, not a person.