What if your current business model is quietly killing your freedom? That’s the harsh truth Stu McLaren uncovered—and when he made the switch, everything changed. In this episode of The Profit Answer Man, Stu shares the pivotal moment he realized his business, while successful on paper, wasn’t scalable or sustainable for the life he wanted. What followed was a transformation into one of the most respected minds in the world of membership-based business models.
If you’re a coach, creator, consultant, or service provider, and you’re stuck in the time-for-money trap—this episode is your wake-up call.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
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Why a good business can still be built on a broken model
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How switching to a membership model unlocks scalable income and time freedom
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The key mindset shift needed to move from 1:1 to 1:many service
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Tools and strategies Stu used to build a wildly successful recurring revenue business
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How to identify whether your current business model is serving your goals—or sabotaging them
Key Takeaways:
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Your Business Model Should Serve Your Life, Not the Other Way Around. Stu realized his “successful” consulting business was incompatible with being a present father. The solution? A model that scaled beyond his hours.
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Memberships Create Leverage. Instead of solving the same problem over and over in 1:1 settings, he teaches at scale. That gave him freedom, impact, and exponential revenue.
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Look for the Friction. When business success causes anxiety instead of joy, it’s time to reassess the model. Profit is important, but peace is the ultimate metric.
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Teach What You Know, and Package It Smart. Your skills can be transformed into recurring revenue if structured properly. Stu has helped thousands—from fitness to finance—launch profitable memberships.
About Stu McLaren:
Stu McLaren is a renowned membership site expert who has been helping entrepreneurs, authors, coaches, and content creators build recurring revenue since 2008. He co-founded multiple platforms and programs dedicated to scaling membership businesses and is the author of Predictable Profits. Stu’s specialty? Helping you turn your expertise into a sustainable business model that works for your life, not against it.
Conclusion:
More hours won’t solve a broken model. Stu’s journey is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t just about income—it’s about freedom. If you’re burning out trading time for dollars, this episode is your signal to shift.
Links:
Website: https://stu.me/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stumclaren/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumclaren
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman
Sign up to be notified when the next cohort of the Profit First Experience Course is available!
Profit First Toolkit: https://lp.profitcomesfirst.com/landing-page-page
Relay Bank (affiliate link): https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst
Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/
My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/
Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast
Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.
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