🔄 Subscription Business

Strategic guides to building businesses around recurring revenue, examining how to attract, retain, and delight customers in the subscription economy.

The Automatic Customer

by John Warrillow • 2015

Nine ways to turn one-time buyers into subscribers, and why the math makes it essential.

4.08

2k+

🏗️ Subscription Models 💰 Recurring Revenue 📐 Business Model Design

The Automatic Customer 93%

Nine ways to turn one-time buyers into subscribers, and why the math makes it essential.

by John Warrillow 2015

4.08

2k+ ratings

🏗️ Subscription Models 💰 Recurring Revenue 📐 Business Model Design

The Forever Transaction

by Robbie Kellman Baxter • 2020

Build a subscription around an ongoing promise, and customers stop looking elsewhere.

4.01

244

🔄 Subscription Models 🌐 Subscription Economy 🎯 Customer Centricity

The Forever Transaction 92%

Build a subscription around an ongoing promise, and customers stop looking elsewhere.

by Robbie Kellman Baxter 2020

4.01

244 ratings

🔄 Subscription Models 🌐 Subscription Economy 🎯 Customer Centricity

The Membership Economy

by Robbie Kellman Baxter • 2015

Why the smartest companies don't sell you a thing anymore: they enroll you in something.

3.73

1k+

🧾 Subscription Economy 🧲 Customer Retention 🚪 Customer Onboarding

The Membership Economy 92%

Why the smartest companies don't sell you a thing anymore: they enroll you in something.

by Robbie Kellman Baxter 2015

3.73

1k+ ratings

🧾 Subscription Economy 🧲 Customer Retention 🚪 Customer Onboarding

The Customer Success Economy

by Nick Mehta • 2020

Customers can walk anytime. A CEO's playbook for turning every department into a retention engine.

4.12

112

🔄 Subscription Economy 💰 Recurring Revenue 🎯 Customer Success

The Customer Success Economy 91%

Customers can walk anytime. A CEO's playbook for turning every department into a retention engine.

by Nick Mehta 2020

4.12

112 ratings

🔄 Subscription Economy 💰 Recurring Revenue 🎯 Customer Success

Customer Success

by Nick Mehta • 2016

In subscriptions, the first sale is the smallest part. The real money requires a retention system.

4.00

1k+

📉 Customer Retention 🔄 Subscription Economy 📈 Product-Led Growth

Customer Success 91%

In subscriptions, the first sale is the smallest part. The real money requires a retention system.

by Nick Mehta 2016

4.00

1k+ ratings

📉 Customer Retention 🔄 Subscription Economy 📈 Product-Led Growth

Software as a Science

by Dan Martell • 2024

SaaS growth has three levers. Pull them in the right order, and plateaus become launchpads.

4.53

169

🚀 Saas Founders 🔄 Subscription Revenue 🧩 Growth Frameworks

Software as a Science 90%

SaaS growth has three levers. Pull them in the right order, and plateaus become launchpads.

by Dan Martell 2024

4.53

169 ratings

🚀 Saas Founders 🔄 Subscription Revenue 🧩 Growth Frameworks

Customer-Led Growth

by David Jackson • 2021

Retention, not acquisition, drives SaaS valuations. The playbook for customer-led growth.

4.31

☁️ Saas Business Models 🤝 Customer Success 🏗️ Organizational Design

Customer-Led Growth 90%

Retention, not acquisition, drives SaaS valuations. The playbook for customer-led growth.

by David Jackson 2021

4.31

13 ratings

☁️ Saas Business Models 🤝 Customer Success 🏗️ Organizational Design

The Seven Pillars of Customer Success

by Wayne McCulloch • 2021

Turn customer success into a growth engine. Seven pillars, from onboarding to advocacy.

4.16

245

🧭 Customer Success Management 💻 B2B SaaS 📈 Scaling Operations

The Seven Pillars of Customer Success Summary

The Seven Pillars of Customer Success 90%

Turn customer success into a growth engine. Seven pillars, from onboarding to advocacy.

by Wayne McCulloch 2021

4.16

245 ratings

🧭 Customer Success Management 💻 B2B SaaS 📈 Scaling Operations

That Will Never Work

by Marc Randolph • 2019

A single mailed CD, and the decade of near-failure it took to build Netflix.

4.22

17k+

📖 Startup Memoirs 💻 Tech Startups 📦 Subscription Models

That Will Never Work 90%

A single mailed CD, and the decade of near-failure it took to build Netflix.

by Marc Randolph 2019

4.22

17k+ ratings

📖 Startup Memoirs 💻 Tech Startups 📦 Subscription Models

Revenue Architecture

by Jacco van der Kooij • 2023

Where the funnel stops, the factory starts: six models for building recurring revenue that lasts.

4.32

🔄 Recurring Revenue Models 🚀 GTM Strategy ⚙️ Revenue Operations

Revenue Architecture 90%

Where the funnel stops, the factory starts: six models for building recurring revenue that lasts.

by Jacco van der Kooij 2023

4.32

74 ratings

🔄 Recurring Revenue Models 🚀 GTM Strategy ⚙️ Revenue Operations

Netflixed

by Gina Keating • 2012

Blockbuster could have bought Netflix for $50 million. They passed. What followed took down a giant.

3.97

2k+

🎬 Entertainment Business ⚔️ Corporate Rivalry 💡 Disruptive Innovation

Netflixed 90%

Blockbuster could have bought Netflix for $50 million. They passed. What followed took down a giant.

by Gina Keating 2012

3.97

2k+ ratings

🎬 Entertainment Business ⚔️ Corporate Rivalry 💡 Disruptive Innovation

Digital Hesitation

by Thomas Lah • 2022

B2B digital transformation fails on pricing, sales, and partnering. Fix them in that order.

4.23

🖥️ Digital Transformation 🔄 Subscription Models 🤝 Customer Success

Digital Hesitation 90%

B2B digital transformation fails on pricing, sales, and partnering. Fix them in that order.

by Thomas Lah 2022

4.23

30 ratings

🖥️ Digital Transformation 🔄 Subscription Models 🤝 Customer Success

The Pricing Roadmap

by Ulrik Lehrskov-Schmidt • 2023

B2B SaaS pricing done backwards: build the structure around who pays, not what you built.

5.00

💰 Pricing Strategy ☁️ B2b Saas 📊 Value-Based Pricing

The Pricing Roadmap 90%

B2B SaaS pricing done backwards: build the structure around who pays, not what you built.

by Ulrik Lehrskov-Schmidt 2023

5.00

1 ratings

💰 Pricing Strategy ☁️ B2b Saas 📊 Value-Based Pricing

Amazon

by Natalie Berg • 2019

The company that started with books now controls the infrastructure for how America buys everything.

3.77

196

🛒 Retail Strategy 📦 E-Commerce 🏭 Supply Chain Management

Amazon 90%

The company that started with books now controls the infrastructure for how America buys everything.

by Natalie Berg 2019

3.77

196 ratings

🛒 Retail Strategy 📦 E-Commerce 🏭 Supply Chain Management

Stop Thinking Like a Freelancer

by Liam Veitch • 2014

Your skill is worth ten times more if you stop selling hours. The freelance-to-business playbook.

3.81

196

💼 Freelance Business 🧑‍💻 Solopreneurship 🧲 Client Attraction

Stop Thinking Like a Freelancer 90%

Your skill is worth ten times more if you stop selling hours. The freelance-to-business playbook.

by Liam Veitch 2014

3.81

196 ratings

💼 Freelance Business 🧑‍💻 Solopreneurship 🧲 Client Attraction

Swipe to Unlock

by Parth Detroja • 2017

Why Google and Facebook give everything away free, and how you can repurpose their strategies.

4.22

3k+

🧩 Tech Strategy 🏗️ Platform Businesses 🔄 Subscription Models

Swipe to Unlock 89%

Why Google and Facebook give everything away free, and how you can repurpose their strategies.

by Parth Detroja 2017

4.22

3k+ ratings

🧩 Tech Strategy 🏗️ Platform Businesses 🔄 Subscription Models

Behind the Cloud

by Marc Benioff • 2009

How a subscription website sparked a billion-dollar revolt against the enterprise software industry.

3.78

5k+

🚀 Startup Playbooks 🥷 Guerrilla Marketing 🎯 Customer Success

Behind the Cloud 89%

How a subscription website sparked a billion-dollar revolt against the enterprise software industry.

by Marc Benioff 2009

3.78

5k+ ratings

🚀 Startup Playbooks 🥷 Guerrilla Marketing 🎯 Customer Success

The Mesh

by Lisa Gansky • 2010

Selling access beats selling ownership. One product, dozens of transactions, and the customers stay.

3.66

1k+

🤝 Sharing Economy 💡 Business Model Innovation ♻️ Circular Economy

The Mesh 89%

Selling access beats selling ownership. One product, dozens of transactions, and the customers stay.

by Lisa Gansky 2010

3.66

1k+ ratings

🤝 Sharing Economy 💡 Business Model Innovation ♻️ Circular Economy

Product-Led Growth

by Wes Bush • 2019

Replace your sales team with a product users try, love, and buy without a sales call.

4.09

2k+

🚀 SaaS Growth 🎯 Go-To-Market Strategy 📋 User Onboarding

Product-Led Growth 89%

Replace your sales team with a product users try, love, and buy without a sales call.

by Wes Bush 2019

4.09

2k+ ratings

🚀 SaaS Growth 🎯 Go-To-Market Strategy 📋 User Onboarding

One Up

by Joost van Dreunen • 2020

Three transformations in four decades, and each one rewarded strategy over creative genius.

4.13

213

🎮 Video Game Industry 🏗️ Platform Economics 📡 Digital Disruption

One Up 89%

Three transformations in four decades, and each one rewarded strategy over creative genius.

by Joost van Dreunen 2020

4.13

213 ratings

🎮 Video Game Industry 🏗️ Platform Economics 📡 Digital Disruption

The Seven Figure Agency Roadmap

by Josh Nelson • 2021

Charge $1,000 a month, not by the project: the playbook for a seven-figure agency.

4.35

486

🏢 Agency Business 🎯 Niche Marketing 🔄 Recurring Revenue

The Seven Figure Agency Roadmap 89%

Charge $1,000 a month, not by the project: the playbook for a seven-figure agency.

by Josh Nelson 2021

4.35

486 ratings

🏢 Agency Business 🎯 Niche Marketing 🔄 Recurring Revenue

Ecommerce Evolved

by Tanner Larsson • 2016

Ditch your online store. Funnels, not catalogs, turn ad spend into recurring ecommerce profit.

4.42

401

🛒 Ecommerce Strategy 🔻 Sales Funnels 🔁 Recurring Revenue

Ecommerce Evolved 89%

Ditch your online store. Funnels, not catalogs, turn ad spend into recurring ecommerce profit.

by Tanner Larsson 2016

4.42

401 ratings

🛒 Ecommerce Strategy 🔻 Sales Funnels 🔁 Recurring Revenue

The Minimalist Entrepreneur

by Sahil Lavingia • 2021

Community first, product second: the art of building a profitable startup without venture capital.

4.20

2k+

🥾 Bootstrapping 📐 Lean Methodology 🗣️ Customer Development

The Minimalist Entrepreneur 89%

Community first, product second: the art of building a profitable startup without venture capital.

by Sahil Lavingia 2021

4.20

2k+ ratings

🥾 Bootstrapping 📐 Lean Methodology 🗣️ Customer Development

Gym Launch Secrets

by Alex Hormozi • 2020

Why cheap trials drain gyms, and the upfront-pricing model that funds growth without ad budgets.

4.47

308

🏋️ Fitness Business 🏢 Brick And Mortar Business 💰 Pricing Strategy

Gym Launch Secrets 89%

Why cheap trials drain gyms, and the upfront-pricing model that funds growth without ad budgets.

by Alex Hormozi 2020

4.47

308 ratings

🏋️ Fitness Business 🏢 Brick And Mortar Business 💰 Pricing Strategy

40 Rules for Internet Business Success

by Matthew Paulson • 2014

Leave your day job behind: build a profitable online business that funds a life you choose.

4.02

213

🖥️ Online Business 🗣️ Customer Validation 💵 Value-Based Pricing

40 Rules for Internet Business Success Summary

40 Rules for Internet Business Success 89%

Leave your day job behind: build a profitable online business that funds a life you choose.

by Matthew Paulson 2014

4.02

213 ratings

🖥️ Online Business 🗣️ Customer Validation 💵 Value-Based Pricing

Web 2.0

by Amy Shuen • 2007

Your users are your best asset: why giving products away builds billion-dollar businesses.

3.32

149

🏗️ Platform Economics 🔗 Network Effects 🆓 Freemium Models

Web 2.0 89%

Your users are your best asset: why giving products away builds billion-dollar businesses.

by Amy Shuen 2007

3.32

149 ratings

🏗️ Platform Economics 🔗 Network Effects 🆓 Freemium Models

Start Small, Stay Small

by Rob Walling • 2010

Stop building products for everyone. Pick a niche, build an audience, and market before you code.

3.95

2k+

💰 Bootstrapping 🎯 Niche Markets 🚀 Lean Startup

Start Small, Stay Small 89%

Stop building products for everyone. Pick a niche, build an audience, and market before you code.

by Rob Walling 2010

3.95

2k+ ratings

💰 Bootstrapping 🎯 Niche Markets 🚀 Lean Startup

The Pricing Roadmap

by Ulrik Lehrskov-Schmidt • 2023

SaaS pricing is a design job. How to build models that customers love and committees approve.

4.49

183

💻 Saas Pricing 💎 Value-Based Pricing 🧠 Behavioral Economics

The Pricing Roadmap 89%

SaaS pricing is a design job. How to build models that customers love and committees approve.

by Ulrik Lehrskov-Schmidt 2023

4.49

183 ratings

💻 Saas Pricing 💎 Value-Based Pricing 🧠 Behavioral Economics

Hair Salon and Day Spa

by Entrepreneur Magazine • 2014

Most salon startups fail on the business side, not the styling. Ten steps fix that.

✂️ Service Business 🚀 Small Business Startup 📋 Startup Playbooks

Hair Salon and Day Spa 89%

Most salon startups fail on the business side, not the styling. Ten steps fix that.

by Entrepreneur Magazine 2014

✂️ Service Business 🚀 Small Business Startup 📋 Startup Playbooks

e-Riches 2.0

by Scott Fox • 2009

Email, blogs, and social media: build an audience, earn their trust, then sell. The online playbook.

3.78

🖥️ Digital Marketing 📧 Email Marketing 📝 Content Marketing

e-Riches 2.0 89%

Email, blogs, and social media: build an audience, earn their trust, then sell. The online playbook.

by Scott Fox 2009

3.78

50 ratings

🖥️ Digital Marketing 📧 Email Marketing 📝 Content Marketing

The Digital Marketing Handbook

by Robert W. Bly • 2018

Email costs ten dollars a customer. Everything else is just a way to get the address.

3.72

🖥️ Digital Marketing 💻 Online Business 📧 Email Marketing

The Digital Marketing Handbook 89%

Email costs ten dollars a customer. Everything else is just a way to get the address.

by Robert W. Bly 2018

3.72

50 ratings

🖥️ Digital Marketing 💻 Online Business 📧 Email Marketing

Blueprints for a SaaS Sales Organization

by Jacco van der Kooij • 2015

In SaaS, the close is only halftime. Build a sales team for the full revenue journey.

4.34

323

☁️ Saas Business Models 🏢 B2b Sales 🔁 Recurring Revenue

Blueprints for a SaaS Sales Organization Summary

Blueprints for a SaaS Sales Organization 89%

In SaaS, the close is only halftime. Build a sales team for the full revenue journey.

by Jacco van der Kooij 2015

4.34

323 ratings

☁️ Saas Business Models 🏢 B2b Sales 🔁 Recurring Revenue

Silent Sales Machine 10.0

by Jim Cockrum • 2012

Find the audience, sell what they want: the multi-platform method for unsinkable online income.

3.82

323

🛒 Online Selling 💰 Multiple Income Streams 🏷️ Retail Arbitrage

Silent Sales Machine 10.0 89%

Find the audience, sell what they want: the multi-platform method for unsinkable online income.

by Jim Cockrum 2012

3.82

323 ratings

🛒 Online Selling 💰 Multiple Income Streams 🏷️ Retail Arbitrage

The Product-Led Playbook

by Wes Bush • 2024

Your product can close deals. The system for unlocking self-serve revenue with a tiny team.

4.42

🧲 Product-Led Growth ☁️ SaaS Go-To-Market 📘 Startup Playbooks

The Product-Led Playbook 89%

Your product can close deals. The system for unlocking self-serve revenue with a tiny team.

by Wes Bush 2024

4.42

55 ratings

🧲 Product-Led Growth ☁️ SaaS Go-To-Market 📘 Startup Playbooks

Company Of One

by Paul Jarvis • 2019

Growth is not the goal. The playbook for a deliberately small, fiercely profitable business.

3.91

6k+

🏪 Small Business 🌱 Sustainable Business 💰 Bootstrapping

Company Of One 89%

Growth is not the goal. The playbook for a deliberately small, fiercely profitable business.

by Paul Jarvis 2019

3.91

6k+ ratings

🏪 Small Business 🌱 Sustainable Business 💰 Bootstrapping

The SaaS Playbook

by Rob Walling • 2023

Build a multimillion-dollar SaaS on your own terms: no VC, no board, just a repeatable playbook.

4.28

944

🏢 B2b Saas 🚀 Bootstrapped Startups 💰 Saas Pricing

The SaaS Playbook 89%

Build a multimillion-dollar SaaS on your own terms: no VC, no board, just a repeatable playbook.

by Rob Walling 2023

4.28

944 ratings

🏢 B2b Saas 🚀 Bootstrapped Startups 💰 Saas Pricing

Productize

by Eisha Armstrong • 2021

Turn professional services into products that scale revenue faster than headcount.

3.84

249

🏢 Professional Services 📦 Productized Services 🔍 Customer Discovery

Productize 89%

Turn professional services into products that scale revenue faster than headcount.

by Eisha Armstrong 2021

3.84

249 ratings

🏢 Professional Services 📦 Productized Services 🔍 Customer Discovery

Anything You Want

by Derek Sivers • 2011

Your business doesn't have to grow. One founder built a $20M company by refusing to.

4.11

24k+

🏖️ Lifestyle Business 🥾 Bootstrapped Startups 💝 Customer Obsession

Anything You Want 89%

Your business doesn't have to grow. One founder built a $20M company by refusing to.

by Derek Sivers 2011

4.11

24k+ ratings

🏖️ Lifestyle Business 🥾 Bootstrapped Startups 💝 Customer Obsession

The Art of Product Management

by Rich Mironov • 2008

Product management is parenting. Sales is scouting. SaaS is cooking. The logic behind each.

3.49

280

🗺️ Product Strategy 👥 Customer Development 🔍 Competitive Intelligence

The Art of Product Management 89%

Product management is parenting. Sales is scouting. SaaS is cooking. The logic behind each.

by Rich Mironov 2008

3.49

280 ratings

🗺️ Product Strategy 👥 Customer Development 🔍 Competitive Intelligence

App Empire

by Chad Mureta • 2011

The playbook for turning other people's code into your passive app income. No keyboard required.

3.67

380

📱 App Business 💰 Passive Income 🤝 Outsourcing

App Empire 89%

The playbook for turning other people's code into your passive app income. No keyboard required.

by Chad Mureta 2011

3.67

380 ratings

📱 App Business 💰 Passive Income 🤝 Outsourcing

The Pumpkin Plan

by Mike Michalowicz • 2012

Fire your worst clients, spoil your best, and build systems so you don't have to run the show.

4.10

4k+

🧑‍💼 Client Management 🔍 Extreme Focus ✂️ Business Pruning

The Pumpkin Plan 89%

Fire your worst clients, spoil your best, and build systems so you don't have to run the show.

by Mike Michalowicz 2012

4.10

4k+ ratings

🧑‍💼 Client Management 🔍 Extreme Focus ✂️ Business Pruning

The Grid

by Matt Watkinson • 2017

Nine forces shape every business choice. A single framework for seeing them all before they collide.

4.10

343

🧠 Systems Thinking 📊 Business Strategy 💰 Pricing Strategy

The Grid 89%

Nine forces shape every business choice. A single framework for seeing them all before they collide.

by Matt Watkinson 2017

4.10

343 ratings

🧠 Systems Thinking 📊 Business Strategy 💰 Pricing Strategy

Uncommon Service

by Frances Frei • 2012

The counterintuitive rule of service: to be great, you must first decide where to be bad.

4.01

784

🎨 Service Design 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Customer Experience ⚖️ Strategic Trade-Offs

Uncommon Service 89%

The counterintuitive rule of service: to be great, you must first decide where to be bad.

by Frances Frei 2012

4.01

784 ratings

🎨 Service Design 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Customer Experience ⚖️ Strategic Trade-Offs

Customer Obsessed

by Eric Berridge • 2016

Customer experience fails in a silo. The fix spans design, data, diversity, and employee engagement.

3.21

🤝 Customer Experience 👥 Employee Engagement 📊 Data-Driven Business

Customer Obsessed 89%

Customer experience fails in a silo. The fix spans design, data, diversity, and employee engagement.

by Eric Berridge 2016

3.21

48 ratings

🤝 Customer Experience 👥 Employee Engagement 📊 Data-Driven Business

Click Millionaires

by Scott Fox • 2012

Turn your expertise into an online income stream that runs itself, no technical background required.

3.60

796

💻 Internet Business 🏖️ Lifestyle Business ✨ Lifestyle Design

Click Millionaires 89%

Turn your expertise into an online income stream that runs itself, no technical background required.

by Scott Fox 2012

3.60

796 ratings

💻 Internet Business 🏖️ Lifestyle Business ✨ Lifestyle Design

Rework

by Jason Fried • 2010

Business plans are guesses, meetings destroy focus, and waiting to launch is a trap.

3.97

176k+

🚀 Bootstrapping 🔧 Lean Methodology ✂️ Minimalist Business

Rework 88%

Business plans are guesses, meetings destroy focus, and waiting to launch is a trap.

by Jason Fried 2010

3.97

176k+ ratings

🚀 Bootstrapping 🔧 Lean Methodology ✂️ Minimalist Business

alibaba

by Liu Shiying • 2009

A math-failing English teacher beat eBay with one rule: give everything away for free.

3.62

125

🏮 Chinese Business 🚀 Internet Startups 👤 Founder Stories

alibaba 88%

A math-failing English teacher beat eBay with one rule: give everything away for free.

by Liu Shiying 2009

3.62

125 ratings

🏮 Chinese Business 🚀 Internet Startups 👤 Founder Stories

Zero to Sold

by Arvid Kahl • 2020

From niche idea to self-running, sellable company: the bootstrapped founder's end-to-end playbook.

4.14

434

🥾 Bootstrapped Startups 💻 Saas Entrepreneurship 🔍 Product Validation

Zero to Sold 88%

From niche idea to self-running, sellable company: the bootstrapped founder's end-to-end playbook.

by Arvid Kahl 2020

4.14

434 ratings

🥾 Bootstrapped Startups 💻 Saas Entrepreneurship 🔍 Product Validation

Super Founders

by Ali Tamaseb • 2021

Most startup advice is folklore. The data from hundreds of unicorns tells a different story.

4.22

1k+

🚀 Startup Playbooks 📊 Data-Driven Business 💰 Venture Capital

Super Founders 88%

Most startup advice is folklore. The data from hundreds of unicorns tells a different story.

by Ali Tamaseb 2021

4.22

1k+ ratings

🚀 Startup Playbooks 📊 Data-Driven Business 💰 Venture Capital

The Long Tail

by Chris Anderson • 2006

Digital shelves flip the economics: niche products collectively now outsell blockbusters.

3.82

30k+

🖥️ Digital Economics 🎯 Niche Markets 🔍 Algorithmic Curation

The Long Tail 88%

Digital shelves flip the economics: niche products collectively now outsell blockbusters.

by Chris Anderson 2006

3.82

30k+ ratings

🖥️ Digital Economics 🎯 Niche Markets 🔍 Algorithmic Curation

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