How Much Money Do You Make as a Substack Bestseller?
With dashboard and Stripe screen shots
My Joyful Growth to Substack Bestseller Challenge is OPEN, we start 1st May and run for 5days. It’s going to be an absolute sparkle fest!!
You can join us by becoming a monthly paid subscriber to this publication or purchasing the evergreen version here.
Hi guys,
How’s your day going… it’s an interesting time of year for me as I have SO much Spring energy. Lots of my projects are bursting into life.
Perhaps you feel the same?
If you're dreaming of becoming a Substack bestseller (101 paid subs), one of the first questions on your mind after HOW(?) is likely;
"How much money can I actually make?"
The truth is, the answer varies widely, but here’s a breakdown to give you an idea.
As a Substack bestseller, it all comes down to your paid readership.
I run a paid newsletter model and a membership model and both my Substack publications are bestselling publications by design.
Why?
Because I need that ‘social proof’ to do my job. 😉
There’s so much nuance in my wider business eco-system but let’s stick with this for now.
Subscriber Count: Top Substack creators often have thousands, if not tens of thousands, of paid subscribers. A bestseller isn’t always a big name, it’s a creator who has built a loyal and paying following. Although of course it is exciting to be in the same space as George Saunders, Elizabeth Gilbert, Emma Gannon and Austin Kleon.
Revenue Breakdown: Substack takes a 10% cut of your earnings, leaving you with 90%. Stripe, the payment processor used by Substack, also takes a cut 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction, as well as a 0.7% billing fee for recurring subscriptions.
For example, if you charge $50 a year, Substack’s 10% fee would be $5, Stripe’s fees would amount to about $2.90 + $0.30 + $0.35 for the billing fee, totalling $7.10 in fees. This means, after all deductions, you’d end up with around $42.90.
Free Subscriber Growth: The more engaged and loyal your subscribers are, the more likely they are to stick around and share your work and potentially upgrade their subscriptions. Top creators earn millions and lots of ‘normal people’ earn anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand per month. 1
Diverse Revenue Streams: Beyond membership fees, you can monetise your Substack publication through sponsored content, partnerships, and selling digital products like courses or eBooks. In my mastermind and with my Diamond Members these are the conversations we have because your beautiful offer suite is an important piece in not burning out and Substack is likely the lowest ticket product you have. 2
Hi, if you are new here, I’m Claire and I live on the Northumberland Coast in the UK. I’m a slow lived entrepreneur and co-author of the first ever (and bestselling) Substack book - How to Build a World Class Substack. You can buy it wherever you get your books. Tag me and Russell Nohelty on Notes once you have it?
The key to reaching bestseller status isn’t just about growing your audience, it’s about nurturing relationships with your readers, really understanding them, offering valuable content, and building a joyful sustainable, long-term strategy. One that REALLY lights you up.
So, while the earning potential is significant, it's also important to remember that it takes time, effort, and a deep connection with your readers to truly reap the rewards of being a Substack bestseller and you have to want to do the work and really understand this platform.
All the posts for Joyful Growth to Bestseller are saved right here. Like a lovely handbook with more on the way…
A slice of the subscription pie
Below I’m sharing my screen shots from Stripe account on my bestselling Substack publication Creatively Conscious by Claire Venus
I’m neutral about the figures really because my strategy and goal was always to make it a brilliant and bestselling publication. It was always designed to be a small part of my overall income stream, have low customer service and maximum enjoyment (the writing part). One that is often the starting point for those who are interested in my other programmes, courses and my 1-2-1 work.