This guide answers what people search as "how to start a paid community" or "how to monetize a community". On Allied Tribes the paid group is called a Tribe.
1. Make one clear promise
Write down who the group is for and what changes for them by being in it. "New life insurance agents who want their first ten policies" is a group people can decide to join. "A place for growth" is not.
2. Decide what members get
- A place to ask and get answers, from you and from each other
- A course that takes them through the promise in order
- Live calls on a predictable schedule
- Recognition for showing up and helping others
- A paid upgrade for people who want one-to-one time
3. Price it
Price against the outcome, not against other groups. Common shapes are a monthly subscription, an annual price with a discount, or tiers where the higher tier adds a course or live access. Many people open with a lower founding-member price for the first members and raise it later.
Do the arithmetic before you launch: 50 members at $30 a month is $1,500 a month in sales. On Allied Tribes that costs about $139 a month all-in on Pro.
4. Choose a platform by its all-in cost
A platform's cost is its subscription plus its fee plus card processing, and the cheapest choice changes as you grow. See Allied Tribes pricing, the best Skool alternatives and the best Kajabi alternatives for worked numbers.
5. Set it up
- Create a free Allied Tribes account and tell Freya what your group is for.
- Freya sets up the Tribe and drafts its first posts.
- Add a paid tier, your first Lessons and a recurring live event.
- Connect your Stripe account so payouts go straight to you.
6. Invite your first members personally
Your first members come from people who already know you. Message them one by one, explain the promise, and invite them in. A free level that leads to the paid tier lets people see the group before they pay.
7. Run the first 30 days on purpose
- Welcome every new member by name
- Hold the live call every week, at the same time, even if few people come
- Post one prompt a day that is easy to answer
- Recognize people who help others; points and leaderboards make that visible
- Ask members what would make the group worth more to them
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a big audience to start a paid group?
No. A small group of the right people, invited personally, is a better start than a large audience that does not share one goal.
What does it cost to run a paid group on Allied Tribes?
Nothing to start on the Free plan, with an 11% fee on sales. Pro is $11 a month with a 5% fee. Stripe's processing fee is separate.
Start your paid Tribe
Free to start. Freya sets it up with you.