Can I Pay Someone to Create an Online Course?

When I first considered creating an online course, I was immediately overwhelmed. The thought of writing scripts, filming videos, designing slides, and figuring out all the technical details made my head spin. I wondered if there was an easier way. Could I just pay someone else to handle all of this?

If you’re asking yourself the same question, I’ve got good news for you. Yes, you absolutely can hire professionals to build your online course, and it might be one of the smartest business decisions you’ll make.

Also See: How Much Does It Cost To Create an Online Course

Why Outsource Your Course Creation?

Let’s be honest—creating a high-quality online course is time-consuming. Even if you’re an expert in your field, translating that knowledge into an engaging learning experience requires an entirely different skill set.

I learned this the hard way after spending three months trying to create my first course. What I thought would take a few weeks stretched into a seemingly endless project as I battled with lighting issues, audio problems, and the overwhelming task of organizing content in a logical flow.

Many successful course creators I know don’t actually create their courses themselves. They focus on what they do best—providing their expertise—and leave the technical execution to professionals who specialize in course creation.

Your Options for Hiring Course Creation Help

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to outsourcing your course creation. Here are the routes I’ve seen work well, depending on your budget and needs:

Hiring a freelancer who specializes in course creation can be an excellent option if you want someone to manage the entire process. These professionals typically have experience with instructional design, content development, and the technical aspects of course production.

When my friend Sarah wanted to create a course on sustainable gardening, she hired a freelancer through Upwork who transformed her rough outline and expertise into a fully produced course. The freelancer handled everything—writing the script based on interviews with Sarah, creating slides, recording and editing videos, and even setting up the course on Teachable.

Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com are filled with talented course creators with varying specialties and price points. Look for those who share samples of previous courses they’ve developed and have solid reviews.

Subject Matter Experts for Specialized Knowledge

Sometimes the challenge isn’t the course creation itself but rather developing content that’s truly expert-level. If you’re creating a course in an area where you have business expertise but not deep content knowledge, partnering with a subject matter expert (SME) might be your best bet.

For example, a marketing agency might hire a social media expert to develop content for a course on Instagram growth strategies, then handle the production themselves or with other freelancers.

The key to success with this approach is finding an SME who can explain complex concepts clearly and is willing to work within your course structure. University professors, industry professionals, and published authors often moonlight as subject-matter experts for courses.

Instructional Design Agencies for Quality

If you’re creating a course that will serve as a flagship product for your business or need to meet specific educational standards, working with an instructional design agency might be worth the investment.

These agencies typically employ teams of instructional designers, content developers, multimedia specialists, and project managers who collaborate to create polished, pedagogically sound courses.

I once worked with a smaller instructional design agency for a client project, and I was amazed at the difference their systematic approach made. They began with a thorough needs analysis, developed detailed learning objectives, and crafted assessments that actually measured whether students had mastered the material, all before creating any content.

This level of service comes with a higher price tag, but for courses that need to deliver measurable results or represent your brand at the highest level, agencies offer a level of quality that’s hard to match with freelancers alone.

Leveraging Course Platform Resources

Don’t overlook the resources available through your chosen course platform. Many platforms like Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi offer marketplaces where you can find pre-vetted professionals familiar with their specific platform.

Some platforms even offer course creation services themselves. Udemy, for example, has occasionally provided production services for instructors whose courses they believe will perform exceptionally well on their marketplace.

The advantage here is working with professionals who already understand the technical requirements and best practices for the platform where your course will live.

How Much Will This Cost Me?

Now for the million-dollar question (though thankfully, it won’t actually cost you a million dollars), what should you expect to pay?

The cost ranges are wide, but here’s a realistic breakdown:

Freelancers: Depending on experience level and the complexity of your course, expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $5,000. A basic course with simple video lectures might land on the lower end, while a comprehensive course with custom animations, professionally filmed videos, and extensive interactive elements will push toward the higher end.

Subject Matter Experts: SMEs typically charge between $100-$250 per hour for their expertise. The total cost depends on how involved they are in the process.

Agencies: Full-service instructional design agencies typically start around $5,000 for basic courses and can range upward of $20,000 for comprehensive, media-rich learning experiences.

Remember that while these numbers might seem high, you need to weigh them against the value of your time and the potential return on investment from a professionally created course.

How to Choose the Right Person for Your Course

When I hired help for my second course, I learned that finding the right fit involves more than just comparing price quotes. Here’s what to look for:

1. Portfolio of past work: Ask to see examples of courses they’ve created, paying special attention to engagement level and production quality.
2. Subject familiarity: While they don’t need to be experts in your field, some familiarity helps them understand the material enough to structure it effectively.
3. Communication style: You’ll be working closely with this person or team. Make sure their communication style meshes well with yours.
4. Process transparency: They should be able to clearly explain their process, timeline, and what they’ll need from you at each stage.
5. References: Don’t skip checking references from past clients, specifically asking about adherence to deadlines and responsiveness to feedback.

Is Hiring Someone Right for You?

Outsourcing your course creation isn’t right for everyone. If you’re on an extremely tight budget or if the personal connection with your audience is a critical part of your brand, you might want to handle certain aspects yourself.

But for most would-be course creators, bringing in professional help, even if just for specific parts of the process like video editing or slide design, can dramatically improve both the quality of your course and your experience creating it.

The online education market gets more competitive every year. Working with professionals who understand what makes courses engaging and effective can give your course the edge it needs to stand out and deliver real value to your students.