Will be using Teachable Free Version to Start - Will Students Take Advantage?

I want to move my course off of WordPress and onto Teachable free version at first. With the free version you cannot DRIP content so a student can pay, see the entire course, then put in a refund within the 14 days to take advantage. You are only allowed 1 course under free version so no way to lock up deeper content.

Is this something that happens a lot? Just trying to think ahead and avoid issues. Not ready to take on a large monthly fee without knowing if I will be making money on their site.

Advice?

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It’s a valid concern, especially since Teachable’s free version doesn’t allow you to drip content, which means students can access the entire course right after payment. Some students might try to game the system by paying, accessing all the material, and then requesting a refund within the 14-day window.

While this isn’t super common, it can happen. Here are a few tips to minimize the risk:

Have a solid refund policy: You can be clear in your course description and terms about the conditions for a refund. For example, you could require students to complete a certain percentage of the course or submit assignments before issuing refunds. This might deter those just looking for a quick grab.

Offer valuable bonus content: You could provide downloadable materials or bonus sessions that aren’t directly tied to the course. Since the free version limits you to one course, this would give extra value to legitimate students while making refunds less appealing.

Consider PayPal alternatives: Some instructors prefer using payment processors with stricter refund policies. For example, PayPal disputes can be time-consuming but offer more control over whether refunds are approved.

Monitor behavior: Keep an eye on students who are rapidly completing the course and immediately requesting a refund. You can spot patterns over time and adapt your strategy accordingly.

Test the waters first: Since you’re unsure about committing to a monthly fee, starting with Teachable’s free version makes sense. You could also offer shorter, lower-priced courses at first to minimize any financial impact from refunds.

Once you see consistent revenue, upgrading to a paid plan with features like drip content would give you more control over the student experience.

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All excellent ideas. Thank you.
Does Teachables refund policy supersede the course-creator’s refund policy? If I put guidelines, does Teachable enforce, or just refund?

What exactly are you trying to offer to students? Do you want your own bespoke LMS so you can own the student experience?

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A course on starting your own business. Rather not give details here.

Get some students, then worry about it.

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I prefer to be proactive.

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You’re wasting time worrying about a problem That is minor and unlikely. If you’re making money just buy the teachable subscription and trip the content out.

If no one’s buying a course none of this matters which is the much more likely outcome.

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