Most guides on how to create an online course tell you to pick a topic, record videos, and then figure out how to sell them. That order is why so many courses take months to build and sell to almost no one. This guide reverses it: validate by pre-selling, design backwards from the result, record the smallest version that delivers it, and improve with real students. It also covers the free tools and the free hosting option, so the “how to create a course for free” question is answered here too.
๐ Host and sell your course on a free plan: Systeme.io
The free plan includes 1 course with unlimited students, a checkout, 3 funnels, 2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, and 0% platform transaction fees, with no credit card.๐ Create your free Systeme.io account (affiliate link)
Last reviewed: October 2026. Plans and limits change, so check each tool’s current terms before relying on them.
About This Guide (and My Bias)
I’m an affiliate for Systeme.io. Links labeled “affiliate link” earn me a commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you. I don’t quote market-size statistics, I don’t include invented student success stories, and any numbers in examples are labeled as assumptions. “Free” in this guide means no software subscription. You’ll still spend time, and you’ll pay payment-processor fees when you sell.
The Order That Works: Pre-Sell, Then Build
The riskiest thing in course creation is spending weeks on content nobody wants. You can reduce that risk by collecting stronger and stronger evidence before you record:
| Evidence level | What it looks like | How much it proves |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Your own belief | “I think people need this.” | Almost nothing |
| 2. Search and community signals | People ask for help in forums, groups, or search | The problem exists |
| 3. Direct conversations | 5โ10 people in your target group describe the problem in their own words | The pain is real and specific |
| 4. Waitlist or interest list | People give you their email for the course | Mild interest |
| 5. Pre-sale | People pay for a founding-member spot before the course is finished | Willingness to pay, the strongest signal |
Aim to reach level 3 before you design anything, and level 5 before you record the whole course. If nobody will pre-pay even at a founding-member price, that’s useful information, and you’ve learned it before spending weeks on production.
Pre-sell ethically: say plainly that the course is being built, describe what it will include and when it will be delivered, set a fair founding-member price, and offer a clear refund option. Then deliver on the dates you promised.
Step 1: Choose a Topic and Write the Promise
Pick a topic where three things overlap: you can deliver the result, your audience feels the problem, and people already spend money on solutions (books, tools, coaching, other courses). You don’t need to be the world’s top expert; you need to be a few steps ahead of your students and able to teach the path.
Then write your course promise in one sentence:
“By the end of this course, [specific person] will be able to [specific result] in [timeframe], using [your method], even if [common obstacle].”
“Meal prep for shift workers” is workable. “Healthy living” isn’t. If your sentence has no specific person or result, narrow it.
Step 2: Validate With Evidence, Not Enthusiasm
| Signal | How to collect it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Search and community questions | Look at what people ask in forums, social groups, and comments, and note their exact words | The problem exists and how they describe it |
| Existing paid solutions | Look for books, courses, or coaching for the same problem | People pay for answers (competition is usually a good sign, not a bad one) |
| 5โ10 short conversations | Ask people in your target group about their biggest obstacle and what they’ve tried | What the course must actually solve |
| A simple interest page | One page describing the promise with an email form (see our funnel guide) | Whether strangers care enough to sign up |
| A founding-member offer | A discounted early-access price with a clear delivery date | Whether people will pay |
Questions that work in conversations: “What’s the hardest part of [topic] right now?”, “What have you tried?”, “What would solving this change for you?”, “How are you handling it today?” Avoid asking “would you buy this?” because people say yes to be polite.
Step 3: Design Backwards From the Result
Start at the promised result and work backward to the starting point:
- Result: what can the student do at the end?
- Milestones: 4โ6 checkpoints that lead to it. Each becomes a module.
- Lessons: inside each module, one idea per lesson, ordered so each builds on the last.
- Cut ruthlessly: anything that doesn’t move the student toward the result goes (or becomes optional bonus material).
An example skeleton for a hypothetical “first email newsletter” course: Module 1: Choose your topic and audience ยท Module 2: Set up your tool and sign-up page ยท Module 3: Write your first three issues ยท Module 4: Grow your first 100 subscribers ยท Module 5: Review results and plan month two.
A lesson template that keeps lessons short:
| Part | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Hook (about 30 seconds) | What the student will be able to do after this lesson |
| Teach | One idea, explained simply |
| Show | A demo or example on screen |
| Do | A short exercise, worksheet, or action step |
| Recap | One-sentence summary and what comes next |
As a rule of thumb (not a research-backed rule), lessons of about 5โ10 minutes are easy to finish, and an action step in every lesson matters more than extra length. Students complete courses when they get a result early, so build a quick win into the first module.
Step 4: Produce It With a $0 Software Stack
| Job | Free option | Upgrade only ifโฆ |
|---|---|---|
| Screen and slide recording | OBS Studio (free, open source) | You need advanced editing features |
| Talking-head video | Your phone or laptop camera in natural light | Video quality is part of your brand |
| Slides and visuals | Canva (free plan) or Google Slides | You need premium templates |
| Editing | DaVinci Resolve (free version) or your phone’s editor | Your edits get complex |
| Audio cleanup | Audacity (free) | You record in noisy places regularly |
| Hosting and selling | A free plan like Systeme.io’s (affiliate link) | You hit plan limits (see Step 5) |
Audio first: viewers forgive average video far more than bad sound. Record in a quiet room, keep the microphone close, and do a 30-second test recording before every session.
Workflow that saves time: outline each lesson in bullet points (not a word-for-word script), batch-record one module at a time, and finish module one completely before recording the rest. That way you refine your style early. Add captions or a transcript where you can; it helps students who watch without sound or learn in a second language.
Step 5: Choose Where to Host and Sell
You need a place to host lessons, take payments, and give buyers access. Compare what matters:
| Option | Cost to start | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systeme.io | Free plan (1 course); Startup $17/month for 5 courses | First courses, budget-conscious creators, selling with funnels and email in one place | Course design is functional rather than premium; plan limits (1 course on free) |
| Kajabi | $179/month ($143 annual) | Premium courses, memberships, communities | Highest cost, 2,500-contact cap on Basic |
| Other course platforms | Varies | Specific features or marketplaces | See our Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi alternative comparisons |
What the Systeme.io free plan gives a first course: one course with unlimited students, a checkout, up to 3 funnels, 2,000 contacts, unlimited emails, and 0% platform transaction fees (see the free plan breakdown). Because the free plan allows one course, structure your first course as a single course with modules rather than several small ones. Upgrading to Startup ($17/month) raises the course limit to 5 (see the pricing guide).
Three practical points to check before you commit:
- Video hosting. Decide whether you’ll upload video files to your course platform or embed videos hosted elsewhere (such as unlisted videos on a video-hosting service). Check any file-size or format limits on your plan.
- Payment processors depend on your country. Not every processor operates everywhere. Systeme.io’s pricing page lists several (including Stripe, PayPal, and region-specific options), so confirm which one works for your country before you plan the launch.
- Your plan’s limits. One automation rule and limited tags on the free plan means you should keep your setup simple, for example one rule that adds new sign-ups to a welcome campaign.
๐ ๏ธ Set up your course area on the free plan and upload your first module.
๐ Start free on Systeme.io (affiliate link)
For the click-by-click setup, see how to sell online courses on Systeme.io and how to use Systeme.io.
Step 6: Price It (With a Worksheet)
Price to the result, not the runtime. A practical way to set it:
- Estimate the value of the result to your student (time saved, money earned, a problem solved).
- Look at the alternatives your audience already pays for: books, other courses, coaching, tools. Your price should sit in a believable range next to them.
- Choose a founding-member price for the pre-sale, then a regular price for the full launch.
- Check what you keep. Processor fees apply on every platform; for example, a typical card fee of 2.9% + $0.30 on a $79 sale leaves about $76.41 (fees vary by processor, country, and payment method). Systeme.io adds no platform transaction fee on top.
An illustrative calculation (assumptions, not a forecast): if 10 founding members pay $79, that’s $790 gross, roughly $764 after typical card fees. It’s not life-changing, but it’s real evidence that people will pay, and it funds your improvements.
State your refund terms clearly on the sales page and checkout. A clear policy reduces hesitation more than it increases refunds.
Step 7: Build the Sales Page and Funnel
A course needs a page that sells it. The elements, in order: a result-focused headline, who it’s for (and who it isn’t), the problem, the curriculum overview, about you, real proof (if you don’t have testimonials yet, be specific about what students get and offer a fair guarantee), price, refund terms, a short FAQ, and a button repeated down the page. For the full funnel (lead magnet, emails, checkout) see how to build a sales funnel, and start from a template with the blueprints in that guide.
Step 8: Launch in Four Weeks
| Week | Focus | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Topic, promise, 5โ10 conversations | A tested promise sentence |
| 2 | Interest page + founding-member offer | Your first paying (or committed) students |
| 3 | Record module 1โ2, deliver to founding members, collect feedback | Proof the teaching works |
| 4 | Finish the remaining modules, add testimonials (with permission), open the public offer | A complete course with a sales page and welcome emails |
Your email list is your best launch channel. Build a short welcome sequence and a launch sequence (see email marketing for beginners and the automation guide).
Step 9: Help Students Finish (Then Improve)
- Send a welcome email immediately with login instructions and the first step.
- Design a quick win that students can achieve within the first day.
- Send reminders that point to the next lesson, not generic “keep going” messages.
- Ask for feedback at the end of each module: what was unclear, what was most useful.
- Ask for testimonials after a result, never before, and get permission to publish them.
- Revise the weakest lessons based on where students stall.
Legal and Trust Basics
General information only, not legal advice; rules vary by country:
- Testimonials and results claims: use only real testimonials with permission, and don’t promise or imply specific earnings or outcomes you can’t substantiate. See the FTC’s endorsement guidance for the US approach.
- Copyright: only use music, images, fonts, and clips you have the right to use commercially.
- Privacy and email consent: have a privacy policy, get clear consent to email people, and include an unsubscribe link and your mailing address in marketing emails.
- Refund policy and terms: publish them and link them at checkout.
- Taxes: sales tax or VAT rules for digital products vary by location; check what applies to you and where your buyers live.
- Affiliate disclosure: if you recommend tools in your course or emails for a commission, say so.
When to Upgrade From Free
- You want a second course: the free plan has 1; Startup ($17/month) has 5.
- Your list passes 2,000 contacts.
- You need more than one automation rule or more funnels than 3.
- You want evergreen webinars: they start on the $47/month Webinar plan.
- You need a more polished student experience: a premium course platform may fit better, at a higher price.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Recording everything before anyone has paid. Pre-sell first.
- A topic that’s too broad. “Marketing” is a subject; “email newsletters for photographers” is a course.
- Over-producing. Clear audio and a clear structure beat fancy editing.
- Treating “free” as “no cost.” Payment fees, processor availability, and plan limits still apply.
- Ignoring completion. A course nobody finishes produces no testimonials and no referrals.
- Using fake proof. Invented testimonials damage trust and can break advertising rules.
- Waiting for perfect. Ship the smallest useful version and improve it with real students.
FAQ
How do I create an online course step by step?
Choose a specific topic and write a one-sentence promise, validate it (ideally with a pre-sale), design the course backwards from the result, record it with simple tools, host and sell it on a platform that fits, set a price, build a sales page and funnel, launch, and then improve based on student feedback.
Can I create an online course for free?
You can create, host, and sell one without a software subscription: free recording and editing tools plus a free plan such as Systeme.io’s (1 course). You’ll still invest time and pay payment-processor fees when you sell, and you’ll hit plan limits as you grow.
How do I validate a course idea?
Move up the evidence ladder: search and community signals, then 5โ10 conversations with your target audience, then an interest list, then a pre-sale. A pre-sale is the strongest signal because it shows willingness to pay.
Is it okay to sell a course before it’s finished?
Yes, if you’re transparent about what’s included and when it will be delivered, offer a fair refund option, and deliver as promised.
How much should I charge for my first course?
Price to the result and to the alternatives your audience already buys, not to video length. Use a founding-member price for the pre-sale and a regular price at launch, and raise it as you gather real results.
How long should an online course be?
Long enough to deliver the promised result and no longer. Short lessons with an action step each tend to be easier to finish than long, padded ones.
Where can I host and sell my course?
An all-in-one platform like Systeme.io (free plan with 1 course, 0% platform fees) works for first courses. Premium platforms like Kajabi suit established course businesses that want more polish at a higher price.
What equipment do I need?
A phone or laptop, a quiet room, and a decent microphone if you can. Free software such as OBS Studio, Canva, DaVinci Resolve, and Audacity covers recording and editing. Audio quality matters more than camera quality.
Conclusion: Pre-Sell, Build Small, Improve With Students
A first course doesn’t need a studio, a large audience, or a big budget. It needs a specific promise, evidence that people will pay for it, a simple structure, and a place to host and sell it. Pre-sell to confirm demand, build the smallest version that delivers the result, and improve it with feedback from real students.
โ The lowest-risk way to start: set up your course area and sales page on a free plan, then pre-sell before you record the whole thing.
๐ Create your free Systeme.io account (affiliate link)
Keep going with how to sell online courses on Systeme.io, Systeme.io for course creators, or how to start an online business with no money.
Affiliate disclosure: links labeled “affiliate link” are affiliate links for Systeme.io. If you sign up through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Example figures are illustrative assumptions, and plan limits were checked in October 2026 and may have changed since.
