What should a Founding Member tier actually include? Here’s how to set yours up effectively
Write For Revenue #6
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The first time someone upgraded to my founding member tier, I thought it was a mistake.
I remember the moment pretty clearly. I was sitting in my car, having a quick scroll through my emails (because, you know, that stuff just can’t wait til you get home), when I saw the subject line:
New founding paid subscriber.
What?!
I opened it up, checked, double-checked, triple-checked… and decided it was real after all.
It wasn’t a mistake, or a glitch, or a weird joke. Someone out there had upgraded to my founding member tier.
I was blown away. I couldn’t believe anyone would think I was worth that. I know it’s something I’ll never forget.
But I’ll also never forget the instant panic that followed that joyous little moment in the car park, and the question that came with it: was I offering enough in my founding member tier?
Was I actually worth the money?
Then I had the call with my first ever founding member, and I realised something I should’ve known all along:
Some readers aren’t just looking for more content - they want more connection.
What should you actually give founding members?
During setup of your publication, Substack gives you the option to create a “founding member” tier. You can alter the name to suit your purposes (I changed mine to “VIP Membership”).
This will be your highest-priced plan for your most loyal supporters. It’s a bit of a thrill when you first set it up. But the moment you activate it, the questions start rolling in:
What do I include?
What makes this worth the higher price?
How do I promote it without feeling like I’m being too pushy?
Too often, founding member tiers are either too vague (“support me!”) or too demanding (bi-weekly Zoom calls, 24/7 Slack groups, etc). Neither works - not for you, and not for your readers.
But when done well, a founding member tier becomes something else entirely: it acts as a bridge to higher-ticket offers like group coaching, courses, or 1-to-1 consulting.
Make it personal (and sustainable)
Your founding members don’t need more content. They want more access to you - to your thinking, to the context in which you operate, and with those, a sense of being part of something more significant than what a standard paid tier can offer.
Here’s what that might look like:
A private call or Q&A
Early access to upcoming products
Quarterly behind-the-scenes posts (your process, strategy, earnings, etc)
Priority access to coaching, consulting, or group programs
A personalised welcome message or short thank-you video
Their name listed on a thank-you page for founding members
When it comes to your founding member tier, think personal, not massive. Think connection, not production.
Subscribers will upgrade to your highest tier to boost their proximity to you, not just get more “stuff” from your publication.
How to set up a founding member tier that works
Here’s a step-by-step process to create a top tier that feels aligned with your values and is actually useful to your readers:
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