How to Use This Calculator
- 1
Enter Course Price
Input the price your students pay for your online course on Teachable.
- 2
Select Teachable Plan
Choose your current Teachable plan: Basic (5% transaction fee), Pro (no transaction fee), or Business (no transaction fee).
- 3
Specify Payment Processing Rate (%)
Enter the percentage fee charged by your payment processor (e.g., Stripe is typically 2.9%).
- 4
Add Processing Flat Fee ($)
Input the fixed dollar fee charged per transaction by your payment processor (e.g., Stripe charges $0.30).
- 5
Review Your Net Payout
The calculator displays your Net Payout, Total Fees, Effective Fee Rate, Revenue Share, and Sales to Reach $10K. The Insights panel shows your fee composition breakdown, per-sale processing costs, and projected revenue at 10 sales.
Example Calculation
A course creator on Teachable's Basic plan sells a course for $197, with Stripe processing fees at 2.9% + $0.30.
Course Price ($)
197
Teachable Plan (select)
Basic
Payment Processing Rate (%)
2.9
Processing Flat Fee ($)
0.30
Results
Net Payout
$181.14
Total Fees
$15.86
Effective Fee Rate
8.05%
Revenue Share
91.95%
Sales to Reach $10K
56
Tips
Consider Upgrading from Basic for Higher Volume
On the Basic plan, a $197 course loses $9.85 to Teachable's 5% fee alone. If you sell 20+ courses per month ($3,940+ gross), upgrading to Pro eliminates this fee and likely saves more than the plan cost difference.
Factor in Payment Processor Fees
Payment processor fees (2.9% + $0.30 via Stripe) are unavoidable on any platform. On a $197 sale, that's $6.01 — always include this in your pricing to maintain your desired profit margin.
Use the Sales to $10K Metric
The calculator shows you need 56 sales at $181.14 net per sale to reach $10,000 in revenue on the Basic plan. On the Pro plan, the same course nets $190.99, requiring only 53 sales — a 3-sale difference.
Calculating Your Net Earnings on Teachable Courses
The Teachable Fee Calculator helps online course creators understand their true net payout after all platform and payment processing fees.
For entrepreneurs building an online education business, accurately calculating these costs is crucial for pricing strategies and profitability.
This tool breaks down Teachable's transaction fees (which vary by plan), payment processor charges (like Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30), and provides your effective fee rate, ensuring you know exactly what you'll earn from each course sale in 2026.
Why Fee Transparency is Crucial for Course Creators
For online course creators, fee transparency is essential for building a sustainable business.
Hidden or underestimated fees can severely impact profit margins, especially for high-volume sales or lower-priced courses.
On Teachable's Basic plan, a $197 course sale incurs $9.85 in platform fees plus $6.01 in processing fees, leaving you with $181.14 — an 8.05% total fee rate.
Knowing these exact numbers lets you set competitive yet profitable course prices and make informed decisions about plan upgrades.
The Teachable Fee Structure Explained
The Teachable Fee Calculator breaks down your net payout by subtracting Teachable's transaction fees (if applicable) and payment processing fees.
Here's the calculation:
Teachable Transaction Fee = Course Price x Teachable Fee Rate (5% for Basic, 0% for Pro/Business)
Payment Processing Fee = (Course Price x Payment Processing Rate) + Processing Flat Fee
Total Fees = Teachable Transaction Fee + Payment Processing Fee
Net Payout = Course Price - Total Fees
Effective Fee Rate = (Total Fees / Course Price) x 100
Estimating Net Payout for a Teachable Course
Let's calculate the net payout for a course creator on Teachable's Basic plan, selling a course for $197.
They use Stripe for payment processing, which charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
- Calculate Teachable Transaction Fee (Basic Plan - 5%):
Teachable Fee = $197 x 0.05 = $9.85 - Calculate Payment Processing Fee (Stripe - 2.9% + $0.30):
Processing Fee = ($197 x 0.029) + $0.30 = $5.713 + $0.30 = $6.013 - Calculate Total Fees:
Total Fees = $9.85 + $6.01 = $15.86 - Calculate Net Payout:
Net Payout = $197 - $15.86 = $181.14 - Effective Fee Rate:
Fee Rate = ($15.86 / $197) x 100 = 8.05% - Sales to Reach $10K:
Sales = ceil($10,000 / $181.14) = 56 sales
For this $197 course sale on the Basic plan, the creator's estimated net payout is $181.14 per sale.
Industry Benchmarks for Online Course Platform Fees
Online course platform fees vary significantly across the industry.
Teachable's Basic plan charges 5% per transaction plus a monthly subscription, while competitors like Thinkific and Kajabi offer 0% transaction fees on their paid plans.
Udemy takes 50-75% of sales but charges no monthly fee.
The industry standard payment processing rate is 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe/PayPal).
For creators selling $197 courses, upgrading to a 0% transaction fee plan saves $9.85 per sale, making it cost-effective once monthly sales volume exceeds the plan cost difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Teachable's pricing structure affect my net revenue?
Teachable's Basic plan charges a 5% transaction fee on each sale. On a $197 course, that's $9.85 per sale. Pro and Business plans eliminate this fee, so you only pay payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30). For the same $197 course, Pro yields $190.99 net vs $181.14 on Basic — a $9.85 difference per sale.
What are payment processing fees on Teachable?
Payment processing fees are charged by Stripe or PayPal for handling the financial transaction. They typically include a percentage of the transaction (e.g., 2.9%) plus a flat fee (e.g., $0.30). On a $197 course, Stripe's fee is $6.01. These fees apply regardless of your Teachable plan.
When should I upgrade my Teachable plan?
Upgrade from Basic to Pro when the 5% transaction fee exceeds the plan cost difference. On a $197 course, you save $9.85 per sale by upgrading. If the Pro plan costs $80 more per month, you break even at about 9 sales per month ($197 x 9 x 5% = $88.65 saved).