Having a membership program is often hailed as the holy grail of online business success. And on the surface, what’s not to love about being able to contribute to more people, while having regular recurring income? But look a little closer, especially if you’re a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), and you might find that the membership model could be deregulating to your nervous system.

The allure can be hard to resist though, especially when you see peers launching their programs, surrounded by buzz and excitement. I’ll admit, I’ve been tempted too. The last time I saw a colleagues launch a membership, I caught myself thinking, “Maybe I should create one as well!” But when I played the whole tape through, that enthusiasm quickly faded. Let me share why you might want to reconsider the membership business model if you’re an HSP like me.

— In this article —

What Is a Membership Program?

A typical membership program charges a monthly fee for access to:

A private community forum
Fresh monthly curriculum and resources
Live group calls with the coach

There’s no end date—you keep paying and participating until you decide to leave, often through an awkward cancellation process.

Why I Rethought the Membership Model

It took me a while to pinpoint why the membership model felt off for me, but now it’s crystal clear:

I love bookends: knowing when something starts and ends is important for my wellbeing. This applies to both my business and social life.
Freedom to retreat: being able to completely withdraw my energy and not be accessible until I am ready nourishes my soul. This is not possible with the membership model.
I avoid open-ended commitments: I’m not drawn to group offerings without a clear end date. I need those bookends!
People coming and going: the idea of constant turnover, along with the admin of chasing missed payments, doesn’t appeal to me.
Personal fulfilment: I find it far more satisfying to spend a set period of time with the same group of people, forming deeper connections.
Consistent visibility: I’d feel pressured to show up regularly in the community forum, when what I really want is live, real-time conversations.

Sure, there are workarounds to many of these issues, but I’m not interested in exploring them. This model simply doesn’t align with how I want to contribute to others.

What I do instead

Instead of the membership model, I focus on:

Cohort-Based Courses: the tiny courses I’ve created serve as the foundation for group programs where participants enter and leave together, within a guided timeframe.
Intimate Masterminds: for those who want to work closely with me in a small group over six months or more, where I can provide personalised feedback and mentoring.

This approach feels far more calming and sustainable for my sensitive nervous system.

Are you thinking about starting a membership program? Or perhaps you’re already running one and feeling the pressure to be ‘on’ all the time? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.