Kajabi charges $143 per month before you've sold a single coaching session, and Teachable's Starter plan takes 7.5% of every sale . If you're launching a coaching package on a tight budget, those numbers create a barrier that's hard to justify.
The good news is that one platform covers the essentials—checkout, email automation, and course delivery—on a permanently free plan. Here's the breakdown.
👉 Start selling your coaching package for free here
Why This Cost Problem Happens
Coaching platforms price for established businesses. Kajabi's cheapest annual plan is $143 per month and caps you at 2,500 contacts . Teachable's $39 Starter plan sounds affordable until the 7.5% transaction fee kicks in, which costs more than upgrading to the $69 Builder plan once you cross roughly $533 in monthly course revenue .
Podia removed its free plan entirely. Its Mover tier costs $49 per month and still takes 5% of every sale, while capping email subscribers at 100 . If your coaching package includes email follow-ups—and it should—you hit that ceiling fast.
The root issue is that coaching platforms bundle features you may not need yet: community spaces, affiliate management, advanced video hosting. You're paying for a full suite before you've validated your first package.
Step-by-Step Fix for Launching a Coaching Package on a Budget
Step 1: Define What Your Coaching Package Actually Needs
Before comparing platforms, list the minimum tools required to sell and deliver your coaching offer. Most beginner packages need:
- A sales page that explains the offer
- A checkout system that accepts payment
- A way to deliver session details, worksheets, or a mini-course
- Email automation for welcome messages and follow-ups
If you're selling one-on-one coaching, you don't need community spaces or affiliate programs. If you're selling a group program, you need course hosting but not advanced membership tiers.
Step 2: Check Each Platform's Free Plan Against That List
Systeme.io's free plan includes 2,000 contacts, three sales funnels, one course, and unlimited email sends—with no transaction fees and no credit card required . That covers a sales page, checkout via Stripe or PayPal, course delivery, and automated follow-up emails.
Teachable offers no free plan, only a trial. Podia offers no free plan. Kajabi offers a 14-day trial, then requires payment .
Step 3: Calculate the Real Cost at Your Expected Sales Volume
Take your coaching package price and estimate monthly sales. Then apply each platform's fees.
On Teachable's Starter plan, a $500 coaching package loses $37.50 to the platform's 7.5% fee, plus Stripe's processing fee . On Systeme.io's free plan, you lose $0 to platform fees—only the payment processor's standard rate.
If you sell five packages per month at $500 each, Teachable's fee costs $187.50 monthly. Systeme.io's free plan costs nothing until you exceed 2,000 contacts.
Step 4: Build the Sales Page First
Use your platform's page builder to create a single page that explains your coaching offer. Include a headline, who it's for, what's included, and a buy button.
Systeme.io's drag-and-drop editor works without coding. Keep the page focused on one goal: getting the visitor to purchase.
Step 5: Connect Checkout and Delivery
Connect Stripe or PayPal to accept payments. Then set up automatic delivery—a confirmation email with session booking instructions, a download link for worksheets, or access to a course area.
Systeme.io triggers delivery emails automatically after purchase. You can attach files up to 5 MB or include a download link for larger resources.
Step 6: Set Up Follow-Up Automation
Coaching buyers often need onboarding emails, session reminders, and check-in messages. Systeme.io's free plan includes automation rules that trigger based on purchases or form submissions .
Build a simple sequence: purchase confirmation, welcome email with next steps, and a check-in before the first session.
👉 Build your coaching checkout and delivery for free here
The Easiest Way to Avoid This Issue Moving Forward
The simplest way to sell coaching packages without paying enterprise prices is to choose a platform where the free tier covers checkout, delivery, and email automation.
Systeme.io's free plan includes all three. You can sell a coaching package, deliver materials automatically, and follow up with buyers without paying a monthly subscription .
When you outgrow the free limits, the Startup plan is $17 per month for 5,000 contacts and five courses . Compare that to Kajabi's $143 monthly entry point or Teachable's $69 Builder plan plus payment processing.
For a coach validating their first package, starting free removes the financial risk. You upgrade because your package is selling, not because a trial expired.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Paying for a Platform Before Your First Client
Kajabi and Teachable both charge monthly before you've made a sale. Start on a free plan and upgrade only after your coaching package proves it can generate revenue.
Ignoring Transaction Fees
Teachable's 7.5% Starter fee on a $500 coaching package costs $37.50 per sale . Over ten sales, that's $375—enough to justify switching to a platform with 0% fees.
Choosing a Platform Without Email Automation
Coaching requires follow-up. If your platform doesn't include automated emails on the free tier, you'll either pay for an upgrade or send every message manually.
Overbuilding Before You've Validated
Don't create a complex membership site or community before selling your first package. Start with a simple sales page, checkout, and delivery sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cheapest platform for selling coaching packages?
Systeme.io's free plan includes checkout, course delivery, and email automation with 0% transaction fees . It's the lowest-cost starting point for a coaching package.
Does Teachable have a free plan?
No. Teachable offers a trial but requires payment after. Its Starter plan costs $39 per month and takes 7.5% of every sale until you upgrade to the $69 Builder plan .
Can I sell one-on-one coaching without course hosting?
Yes. You can use a sales page, checkout, and automated delivery emails without a course area. Systeme.io's free plan includes this setup.
How do I deliver coaching materials automatically?
Set up an automation rule triggered by purchase. The email can include session booking links, worksheets, or access instructions. Systeme.io sends these automatically after checkout.
Conclusion
Selling coaching packages doesn't require a $143 monthly platform fee. It requires a sales page, a checkout system, and a way to deliver your materials and follow up with clients.
Systeme.io's free plan covers all three. You can sell your first coaching package, deliver materials automatically, and build an email sequence without paying a subscription or losing a percentage of every sale.
Start with one package. Validate demand. Upgrade only when your coaching business actually needs more contacts or courses.
👉 Start selling your coaching package for free today
Related Reading
Securing a low-cost checkout platform is a huge win for managing your client billing. To map out an entire marketing pipeline to fuel those premium service offers, follow my tutorial on How to Build a Simple Sales Funnel for Free Permanently.