Is Selling Online Courses On Stan Store Profitable
Last updated: April 2026 ·affiliate disclosure
Most online course sellers on Stan Store keep net margins between 65% and 80% after all platform fees. You'll pay 10% commission on course sales plus payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, which means a $97 course nets you roughly $76-$78 after costs. This is genuinely profitable compared to other course platforms, but only if you can actually sell the courses—the platform itself doesn't drive traffic to your products. You're responsible for all marketing and customer acquisition. Stan Store handles the hosting, payment processing, and delivery, but you need existing audiences or paid ads to make sales. If you have an email list, social following, or affiliate partners, profitability is realistic. If you're starting from zero visibility, expect to spend heavily on ads before seeing positive returns.
Stan Store Fees for online courses Sellers
Stan Store charges a 10% commission on every course sale you make. On top of that, payment processing costs 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction through their payment processor. So on a $97 course, you lose $9.70 to commission and $3.13 to payment fees, totaling $12.83 in direct costs before you factor in any other expenses. There are no monthly subscription fees to use Stan Store for courses, which is better than platforms like Teachable (starting at $39/month). However, some sellers upgrade for advanced features like affiliate management or custom branding, which can add $20-$99 monthly depending on the plan. If you stay on the free tier, your only costs are the 10% + payment processing fees per sale.
Profit Margin Benchmarks
Good margins: You're selling courses at $97+ with an email list or existing audience bringing organic traffic. You spend minimal on ads, keeping customer acquisition cost (CAC) under $15. Your net margin lands at 70-80% per sale. This happens when you already have 5,000+ engaged followers or email subscribers. Average margins: You're spending $20-$40 in ads to acquire each customer on a $97 course. After all fees, you net around $50-$60 per sale, which is 50-60% margins. This is viable if your course genuinely converts 2-4% of traffic. Poor margins: You're spending $50+ in ads per sale or pricing courses under $47. Your net margin drops below 40%, making it hard to scale profitably unless you can eventually reduce ad spend through referrals or reputation.
Calculate your actual numbers
The margins above are averages. Your real profit depends on your specific price, costs, and volume.
Run Your Stan Store Profit Calculation →Verdict: Is It Worth It?
Selling online courses on Stan Store is profitable if you already have an audience. The 10% + payment processing fee structure is competitive and leaves room for healthy margins. But the platform won't drive sales for you—you'll need your own traffic, email list, or ad budget. If you have zero existing audience and no marketing expertise, expect to burn $500-$1,500 in ads before your first profitable month. For experienced marketers with existing followers, Stan Store is worth trying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Stan Store charge in course fees?
Stan Store charges 10% commission on every course sale plus 2.9% + $0.30 in payment processing fees. On a $97 course, that's $12.83 in total fees, leaving you with $84.17 gross (before taxes and ads). There are no monthly subscription fees on their free tier.
What are realistic profit margins for selling courses on Stan Store?
If you have an existing audience, expect 65-80% net margins after all fees. If you're running paid ads, margins drop to 50-65% depending on your customer acquisition cost. Poor margins (below 40%) happen when you overspend on ads or price courses too low to justify the marketing cost.
Is Stan Store profitable compared to other course platforms?
Yes. Stan Store's 10% commission is lower than Teachable (3% + $0.99 per transaction), and you avoid monthly subscription fees. However, platforms like Gumroad (10%) and Podia (variable %) are similarly priced. The real profitability difference comes down to your traffic source and marketing efficiency, not the platform.
What's the best way to be profitable selling courses on Stan Store?
Launch with an existing email list or social audience of at least 5,000+ engaged followers. This keeps your customer acquisition cost near zero and maximizes your 65-80% margins. If you don't have an audience yet, plan on spending $500-$1,500 testing ads before profitability.
Tools that improve these margins
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| Platform | Calculator | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Beacons | Open calculator → | View full breakdown → |
| Gumroad | Open calculator → | View full breakdown → |
| Payhip | Open calculator → | View full breakdown → |
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