About the Company

Paid Memberships Pro is a WordPress plugin enabling organizations to manage memberships and recurring payments effectively. The tool is open-source, serving over 100,000 websites, with approximately 6,000 paying customers who subscribe for premium add-ons and support. PMPro is used by a wide range of clients, including associations, entrepreneurs, and businesses running paid blogs, podcasts, and community platforms.

PMPro offers a user-friendly and highly customizable platform that aligns with the WordPress ecosystem, making it accessible to both developers and end-users. The company focuses on delivering ongoing value through resources like guides, troubleshooting posts, and a robust customer support system.

Idea Behind Company

The Colemans transitioned from consulting to developing a scalable product after growing frustrated with constantly starting new projects from scratch. In 2010, they identified a gap in the WordPress ecosystem for a comprehensive, open-source membership plugin. Observing an unmet demand for managing recurring payments without unnecessary eCommerce features like inventory or shipping, they developed PMPro to cater specifically to membership sites. Inspired by the open-source model of WordPress itself, they aimed to build a flexible platform that could scale and integrate seamlessly with existing tools.

Creating the Company

The initial version of PMPro was based on the Colemans’ proprietary eCommerce plugin, stripped of irrelevant features like inventory tracking. Building an open-source product required additional time and attention to ensure usability, security, and scalability. By prioritizing their unique database structure over traditional WordPress Custom Post Types, they ensured performance efficiency, even as their solution faced criticism early on. Over time, they assembled a specialized team to refine the plugin and its functionality, enhancing the user experience while maintaining their commitment to open-source principles.

Launching the Business

PMPro launched in the WordPress.org plugin repository in 2011 as a free solution, differentiating itself through accessibility and transparency. To monetize, the Colemans introduced a paid support model, later switching to annual subscriptions for sustainability. By addressing common pain points and delivering exceptional customer service, they grew their user base steadily. Marketing efforts included leveraging their blog to provide practical tutorials and guidance, using content as a tool for both user engagement and lead generation.

Earnings

PMPro generates $100K in monthly revenue, with consistent growth of 25-50% year-over-year. The majority of their income comes from annual subscriptions for premium features and support. By reinvesting in their team and focusing on scaling their business, the Colemans have transitioned from hands-on consulting to managing a product-centric company. Their strategy emphasizes sustainable growth through customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and long-term planning.