How Much Does It Cost To Create an Online Course

  1. DIY (Do-It-Yourself): This is the cheapest option, but it requires you to do everything yourself. You’ll need to create the course content, handle the technical setup, and manage the marketing and delivery. Costs can range from $0 (if you use free tools) to a few hundred dollars (for paid tools and hosting).
  2. Online Course Platforms: These are websites that provide all the tools and features you need to create, host, and sell your online course. Examples include Udemy, Teachable, and Thinkific. Prices typically start around $29 per month, plus a percentage of your course sales (often 3-10%).
  3. Hiring a Course Creation Service: You can hire a company or freelancers to handle the entire course creation process for you. This includes things like video production, graphic design, and course building. Prices for this can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the scope and quality of the course.
  4. Professional Video Production: If you want high-quality video lectures, you may need to hire a professional video production team. This can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000 or more per video, depending on the complexity and production value.
  5. Additional Costs: Depending on your needs, you may also have to factor in costs for things like:
    • Course content creation (e.g., writing, graphic design)
    • Marketing and promotion
    • Website hosting and domain registration
    • Payment processing fees
    • Tools and software (e.g., screen recording, video editing)

In recent times, there has been a significant increase in the creation and enrollment of online courses. This is because online courses offer benefits like flexible learning and the ability to gain new skills without traveling.

The costs of creating an online course can vary widely from just a few dollars to thousands. Here’s a detailed breakdown.

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Approach

The most affordable way to create an online course is by taking the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) approach. This means you’ll be responsible for handling all the tasks required to build and launch your course, such as creating the course content, setting up the technical aspects, and managing the marketing.

The costs for a DIY online course can range anywhere from $0 to a few hundred dollars. If you use free tools and resources, you may be able to create your course for free. However, you’ll likely need to invest in some paid tools and services, which can add up to a few hundred dollars.

For example, you may need to pay for a website domain, hosting, video recording software, or graphics design tools.

The DIY approach can be very cost-effective, but it does come with some tradeoffs. You’ll need to have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle all the different tasks involved.

Online Course Platforms

Another option for creating an online course is to use an online course platform. These are specialized websites that provide all the tools and features you need to build, host, and sell your course. Some popular examples of online course platforms include Udemy, Teachable, and Thinkific.

The typical pricing model for online course platforms involves a monthly subscription fee, plus a percentage of the sales you make through the platform.

The monthly subscription can range from around $29 to $99 per month, depending on the features and services included. The platform will also take a cut of your course sales, usually between 3-10%.

Using an online course platform can be a great option because it takes care of many of the technical and administrative tasks for you. This can save you a lot of time and effort compared to the DIY approach.

The platforms also usually provide marketing and sales features to help you promote and sell your course.

There are some potential downsides to using an online course platform. You’ll have less control over the branding and customization of your course compared to building it on your website.

Hiring a Course Creation Service

If you don’t want to handle all the work of creating an online course yourself, you can hire a course creation service to do it for you.

These services will take care of the entire process, from designing the course content to setting up the technical elements and even promoting the course.

The cost of hiring a course creation service can range anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the scope and complexity of the project. For this price, you’ll get the expertise of professionals who know how to create high-quality online courses.

Using a course creation service can be beneficial because it takes the burden of the technical and creative work off your shoulders. This allows you to focus on the subject matter and the overall strategy for your course.

The final product will also likely be of a higher quality than if you had done it all yourself.

Professional Video Production

One of the most important components of an online course is the video lectures. High-quality video can greatly enhance the learning experience for your students and make your course more engaging and effective.

If you want to take your video production to a professional level, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $5,000 or more per video.

This cost covers things like professional cameras, lighting, audio equipment, video editing, and motion graphics.

Investing in professional video production may be worth it if you want your course to have a polished, studio-quality look and feel. This can help your course stand out from others and demonstrate your expertise.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can still create decent video lectures using more basic equipment and software.

Additional Costs to Consider

When planning the budget for your online course, there are several other costs you’ll need to account for beyond just the course creation itself. These can include:

  • Content creation (writing, graphic design, etc.)
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Website hosting and domain registration
  • Payment processing fees
  • Tools and software (e.g., screen recording, video editing)

Final Words

I hope this guide has provided you with a comprehensive understanding of the various costs involved in creating an online course. From the affordable DIY approach to the investment of hiring a professional service, the costs can vary significantly depending on your specific needs and goals.